Come to Order, Pt. 8

Study Guide, March 23, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, how would you like to have one of these guys helping you around your house? [Picture of Robot in home] These ‘domestic automations’…or ‘domestic assistants’ are becoming more and more popular.

But we now live in an AI world…a world that’s fast expanding in the practical use and possible uses of Artificial Intelligence, which encompasses the ability of machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It involves creating systems that can perceive, understand, and react to their environment.

This growth in the knowledge and the use of AI is fantastic, but it is not surprising. The Prophet Daniel foretold of this expansion of ‘knowledge’ as one of the things that would characterize the ‘End Times’. Notice: Dan 12:4- “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” NASU Actually, the primary interpretation of ‘knowledge will increase’ is a direct reference to the growing insights and understandings that God’s people will have about God’s revelation concerning prophecy and the prophetic times. But the application also implies the ever-expanding knowledge of mankind as well. However, in a spiritual sense, there is another Scriptural saying that also applies to so many people who worship the ‘creature’ more than the ‘Creator’… “…always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Tim 3:7 NASU Doesn’t that describe much of people’s problem the world over?! They learn and learn about this world, but they remain so foolish about God’s world…especially about the Creator and Redeemer of the world.

But, again, the potential for benefit from the use of AI to mankind is enormous. But some people are also concerned about AI, because the potential for harm is also enormous. Yeah, it’s that ‘decision-making’ part in AI that has people a little ‘Sus’…(I threw that in there for my Grand-kids…) How do AI developers ensure that AI machines don’t make some decisions that, instead of ‘Oh great’, will be more like ‘Oh No!’ for mankind? That is a genuine concern.

Of course, much of that is being determined not by the ‘A’, but by the ‘I’…as in; Behind every ‘A’ there is an ‘I’. Behind every artificial machine there is an intelligent being. And this intelligent being has been programming the artificial machine in such a way that it should then function according to how it was programmed to function, and to fulfill what it was programmed to fulfill. But, again, the concern is, what if this ‘AI being’ somehow becomes more like a ‘sentient being’ or a ‘self-aware being’, a ‘conscious being’, and begins making decisions that are contrary to the programmer’s instructions or intentions? What if it rebels against its ‘programmer’?

Does this scenario sound kind of familiar? Gen 1:26- “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” NASU Human beings were created in God’s own image…not as an ‘AI’, an ‘Artificial Intelligence’, but as a ‘UI’, or as a ‘Unique Intelligence’. We are each created in the image of God, but in God’s miraculous abilities, He has created each of us as a ‘Unique Being’. You are one-of-a-kind, and you will always be one-of-a- kind. We will each be one-of-a-kind individuals for eternity…yet living out our eternities and our destinies according to what we did in relation to our Creator after our rebellion, or after we went ‘rogue’. And even though God didn’t create us as ‘robots’, it’s like ‘AI’s’ that have gone rogue, we each have rebelled against our Creator. We each have sinned and gone our own way. Now, if we have repented, turned back to God, and placed our faith and trust in the saving Person and works of our Creator and Redeemer, then we have been spiritually reunited with our God and will live out our eternity and destiny with our God in His new world forever and ever. But whoever does not repent will be separated from their Creator for eternity.

But did you see it? As a ‘UI’, as a Unique Intelligent being, we were created by our Supreme Intelligent Being, our God, and purposed with…could we say, divinely programmed with certain instructions and intentions…in essence, to worship and serve our God only! Remember, as the Apostle Paul pointed out, even God’s law is imprinted on man’s heart. Our need for God and God’s will for us, to know Him and to follow Him, is written in our hearts. And even our minds are ‘hard-wired’ to yearn for God. And although we are ‘unique’, just like without an ‘I’ behind an ‘A’, an ‘artificial being has no power or ability in itself to function or to thrive…so too, with us, we neither have any power of life in and of ourselves, nor the ability to function and thrive in and of ourselves in carrying out the purposes for which we were created.

But now that we have been redeemed, spiritually resurrected, and given a new nature that is untied to God’s nature, we can now carry out those purposes and plans that our Creator, our Designer, created us for and created us to do. But even as redeemed people, we still have to be on guard against the programming pressures of this world. Or, as Paul put it in Rom 12:2- “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” NASU The Greek word for ‘conformed’ means to be shaped, molded, fashioned, patterned…and in relation to our theme here, we could also say ‘programmed’. Remember, since we are indeed ‘created beings’, we are indeed always being conformed, shaped, influenced…even programmed by ‘something or someone’. You would have to have created yourself to not be subject to the law of conformity. Everyone is being conformed to something or someone. The question for every created person is – “So, are you being conformed more and more to your Creator, or are you being conformed more and more to your Culture?” Or, for each of us human ‘UI’s’…us ‘Unique Intelligent beings’ we could ask it this way: “Who or what is programming you?” You are either being conformed, shaped, influenced, and programmed by the Creator and Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or, you are being conformed, shaped, influenced, and programmed by the unholy trinity of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. And even as believers, we have to be careful, so as to not be deceived by the programming influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Be wise…choose each day to worship and serve the Lord your God only.

In fact, it is only when you add ‘Worship’ to ‘Intelligence’ that you then produce ‘Wisdom’. Our God intended us to worship Him only and to obey His instructions, His will, His program for our lives. And when we do, we then add the joys of godly wisdom to our intelligence. For without godly wisdom an unconverted person remains an ‘intelligent fool’, as well as already sentenced to separation from God. Actually, the highest evidence of intelligence is the worship of God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any ‘intelligence’ that neglects or rejects the worship of God and placing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a sin-damaged intelligence…and worse…a condemned sin-damaged intelligence.

But, again, in connection with us ‘UI’s’ in relation to ‘AI’s’, a question that people really should be asking about ‘AI’ is: “But really, what is the end game of AI in relation to humanity?” “What is the final outcome of Artificial Intelligence in relation to the people of this world?” Wait a minute…You mean, there really is a way for us to know that? Oh yes…and how like our God, in His benevolence and His revelation, to clearly reveal that to us as well in His revelation of the End Times.

And to better understand that we need to better understand this. One of the important, and really helpful principles for us Disciples is learning that the Bible is God’s gift of ‘Progressive Revelation’ to us. Remember we recently pointed out how in the Old Testament the New Testament is concealed and in the New Testament the Old Testament is revealed. Even as the book of Hebrews begins, it reveals this ‘progression of revelation’: Heb 1:1-3- “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” NIV

There is an entire series of studies in just those three verses. But did you also notice the answer to that question of – “Are we living in the ‘last days’?” We sure are! The ‘Last Days’ began with the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. When God came to Earth in the First Advent, He put the whole world on notice to get ready for His Second Advent! How can people ignore the visitation of God in becoming the Incarnate God and Man and just go on with their lives as though that never happened? And how can people just ignore what was spoken to the world by the Son of God when He came? Oh, it’s not that God has not revealed Himself to this world…it’s that this world has ignored, neglected, and rejected God’s revelation of Himself and of His words, all because they worship the ‘creature’ more than the ‘Creator’!

So, again, throughout the revelation of the Bible there is more and more revelation of God’s works in our salvation and in our sanctification and even in the culmination of the things of this Earth and the things to come in the New Earth. And, remarkably so, we even see the culmination of AI, that is, on this present Earth. For in the New Earth, we can only imagine what God’s redeemed children are going to be able to create and to achieve in arts and engineering and music and construction and technology in and throughout the New Earth and New Heavens. They will make any discoveries of AI on this Old Earth seem like ‘child’s play’.

But, again, the end game of AI on this Old Earth reveals exactly what the Old Enemy of God and Man has always wanted from humanity in the first place. For in the ‘End Times’ of these ‘Last Days’ something happens that changes human life on Earth from anything people have ever known. Let’s look: Rev 13:14-15- “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” NASU

What’s this? These are the final days, the last period of time, the period of the Great Tribulation on Earth. And under the power and pressure of the Antichrist, the world will have reached the stage where there is one world government, one world religion, and with all of it operating within a one world economic system. We think, but with all of the different religions, how can there be a one world religion? Note, it becomes a one world religion out of great deception, and out of great tribulation, and especially out of great force. As for the deception, well, the deception has been going on ever since the Fall of Man into Sin. And as for tribulation, the end times of this present Earth are marked by catastrophic events, which result in the loss of life of over a third of people, over a third of destruction of the seas, and of great pestilence and disease throughout the world. Covid was just a weak preview of what it will be like in the Great Tribulation. Oh, the world will be ripe for the Great Counterfeiter, the Devil himself, to present himself as God in the flesh…it will be the ‘counterfeit incarnation’…of whom we know is the Antichrist. First, he offers his powers and his leadership for people’s problems. But soon he makes it very clear that it’s not just his leadership that he is offering, rather there becomes something from everyone that he is now demanding! Which brings us to this ‘abomination of desolation’ as both Daniel and Jesus warned the world about. The Antichrist then appoints his prophet, this second beast of Revelation, or the False Prophet, which, by the way, makes up the third person of the false trinity…Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet…but the Antichrist instructs this False Prophet to have an ‘image’ made and set up in the reconstructed tribulation Temple. And what this image is, is that it is an ‘artificial image of the Antichrist’. But then, this ‘Artificial image’ is animated with ‘intelligence’ so that it becomes an ‘Artificial Intelligence’…an ‘AI’ agent for the Antichrist’. And it is then that this demonic AI gives this ultimatum to the world, and reveals what Satan has always wanted, for all people to ‘worship him’. And if they don’t, they will be killed.

Which also means, that from that point on, any worshippers of the Lord Jesus Christ will also become either martyrs or fugitives until the Lord Jesus comes to enforce His Kingdom over all the world. And until our Lord does, all other human activity and all artificial intelligent activity will be subjugated to being done in submission to the order of this Supreme Artificially Intelligent Image demanding worship of the Beast or death.

So again, what is the end game of AI on this old Earth? The end game is that one day one particular AI will call for all people of Earth to give their worship to it, as representing the Antichrist, or they will be killed.

And this points out the reality that everything in life, even this amazing development of AI, is not just about what it can do, but about…in ‘whose hands’ will it be done? And even with us, with us ‘UI’s’, in whatever you are doing, whatever you are planning to do, or whatever you are hoping to do…in ‘whose hands’ are you going to do it? Are you yielding yourself to the loving the hands of your Creator…the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to lead and guide you in the plans your God has for you? Or will you allow yourself to be squeezed into it’s mold by the hands of the Culture…which is under the power of the world, the flesh, and the devil? Choose each day ‘whom’ you will serve. After all, you are a ‘Unique Intelligence’…so let your ‘Unique God and Savior’ guide you by His hands and His heart every day!

 

Come to Order, Pt. 7

Study Guide, March 16, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

When we think of things like determination and persistence and perseverance in the animal kingdom, we have some great examples…like these: take the magnificent monarch butterfly for one. These small, but mighty creatures travel up to 3,000 miles, as the Monarchs that breed east of the Rocky Mountains fly to Mexico, and those that breed west of the Rocky Mountains fly to California. And they can fly 50–100 miles per day.¹ Then we have this remarkable bird, which is a flightless bird, called the Adelie Penguin. And it’s a mammoth migrator, too, traveling…mostly trekking actually, up to 8,000 miles every year, from its breeding grounds to its winter grounds. And, of course, part of that journey includes swimming and eating lots and lots of ‘krill’. And ‘krill’ are little shrimp-like critters which just happen to be the most abundant life form in the seas. But most of the Penguins journey of 8,000 miles is simply walking in that funny little swagger they have.²

However, the most amazing migrator, and the world record holder as a ‘flyer’, is the Arctic Tern. This streamlined bird travels from pole to pole and back every year, from Greenland to the Weddell Sea, flying an estimated 55,000 miles a year! And when you factor in that they can live up to 30 years, that means that over a lifetime an Arctic Tern has flown the equivalent of going to the moon and back more than three times!³ Now, in April their Spring migration takes them near the Eastern Atlantic Coast. So if you’re ever out in the ocean, aways out, and think you see them…just give them standing ovation. They deserve it!

What we are getting at is a particular trait that is particularly important, crucial actually, in living out our discipleship. In fact, in order to understand God’s order for living in relationship with God and for living in faithfulness to God it is essential to pattern your thoughts and your behavior around this order. And that order is – Rejoicing in Christ’s performance…and reveling in your perseverance. It’s – Glorying in Christ’s performance…and delighting in your perseverance. It’s – Finding your peace in Christ’s performance…and finding your fulfillment in your perseverance. It’s – Praising Christ’s performance in His obedience and practicing perseverance in our obedience.

What the Scriptures call for us to understand is the difference between God’s part in our salvation and our part in our sanctification. And it’s when believers get these mixed up, or get them confused, that’s when this disorder in their misunderstanding throws a wrench into their thinking and thus their behavior, as well as a loss of peace in their spirit and a lack of fulfillment in their soul. Oh, to be sure, if you get mixed up on the separation between Christ’s performance and our perseverance it will surely mess with your mind and with your life experience.

So, let’s clarify: Remember, Christ’s performance of obedience was sinless perfection.

1 Peter 1:18-20- “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.” NLT

We were redeemed, purchased, ransomed, and made righteous through the perfect and sinless obedience and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why we are called to rejoice in the Lord! We are to rejoice in Christ’s righteousness… to rejoice in His sinless obedience that He then credited to us for our salvation, for our right standing before God, for our eternal relationship with God. Jesus performed perfect righteousness, sinless obedience for us, and thereby ‘earned our salvation’ and then gave this salvation to us as His eternal gift to us!

All right, and now, having been justified in Christ’s righteousness, which was merited through Jesus’ sinless obedience, our part now is to both rejoice in Christ’s performance of sinless obedience, and to revel in our practice…revel in our attempts at obedience, imperfect as they are…knowing that there is forgiveness with our God, so that He may be feared and served.

Ps 130:3-4 – “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared (served).” NASU And in Ps 147:11 – “The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.” AMP

Essentially, we are to rejoice in the performance of Christ’s sinless obedience to God, for that was Christ’s part in accomplishing our salvation for us. And now, we are to revel in the perseverance of our attempts of obedience and service and righteous works for God, again, imperfect as they are. And this…this perseverance in obedience and service and righteous works…this is our part in the sanctification that the Holy Spirit is working to accomplish in and through our lives as we work with God in it.

So now, out of the certainty of our saved relationship with God, which was secured for us through the perfect performance of the sinless merits of Christ’s obedience and sacrifice, our focus can now be solely on our perseverance in offering our works of service and obedience and worship, knowing that this is all that our God is looking for from us! And this frees us from either self-pride or self-pity in our performance of obedience. Plus, it inspires us to persevere in our attempts to obey and serve and fear and worship our God, knowing that even though our works are still imperfect at best…we also know that there is forgiveness with God so that He can and does accept our imperfect works because He loves His children and is pleased with every effort they make in seeking to serve and please Him.

Now, when it comes to the performance of sinless obedience and perfect righteousness, our Heavenly Father looks to Jesus for that…on your behalf. And then, when it comes to what God is looking for from His children…from you and from me…all our Heavenly Father is looking for from us is – our perseverance for Him! That is liberating for our mind and spirit, and freeing for us in our service and satisfaction in our service. And yet, that is also a mandate from our God on what we are being called to do.

But, again, if you don’t know what God is looking for in you, as well as what God is not looking for from you, then there will be ‘disorder’ in your thinking, as well as disorder in your service and disorder relationship with God and others. What God is not looking for in His children is the performance of perfect obedience; for that could only be found in Jesus. And, thankfully, God has already found that in Jesus, as Jesus lived a substitutionary life in performing perfect and sinless obedience on our behalf. God has already credited Jesus’ performance of perfect righteousness to us, as we could never perform that, either before being saved or even after being saved.

This is one point the Psalmist is clearly making when he says: “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” And that’s why the Apostle John calls for us saved children of God to practice the regular confession of our sins…not for our salvation, but for our sanctification, and for our close fellowship with God and for our usefulness to God. 1 John 1:8-9- “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NASU

And it’s as Charles Spurgeon reminded us all: “We are often like a glass of water which has been standing still for hours and looks very clear and bright. But there is a sediment, and a little stir soon discovers it and clouds the crystal. The sediment is our old nature.” He also put it this way: “The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love is cold compared with what Jesus deserves, and our intensest zeal still lacks the full fervor which the bleeding wounds and pierced heart of the crucified might claim at our hands. Our best things need a sin offering, or they would condemn us.” ⁴ Oh yes, thank you Lord for your cleansing forgiveness!

So again, as we pointed out before, neither flatter yourself, nor fool yourself, nor fall into futility about yourself…just rest in the perfect order of knowing that the Performance of perfect obedience for our salvation righteousness was Christ’s part. Only Christ could accomplish that anyway. And He did so on our behalf! Praise God! So now, Perseverance in practicing obedience and righteousness, out of our salvation, is our part. Again, perseverance is both what God calls us to live out in our lives, and perseverance is precisely what God is looking for in our lives. We are accountable to God for our perseverance in worshipping and serving Him. We are to commit ourselves to and to focus upon and to pursue perseverance day after day in our discipleship.

So, let’s put it as a Question: Did you know that this is what God is calling you to pursue? We know we are to pursue – holiness and godliness and faithfulness. But God calls us to also ‘pursue perseverance’? How does that work? Notice 1 Tim 6:11- “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” NASU Now, the Apostle is not dealing with God’s perseverance of protecting and guarding and guiding our position as a saved son or daughter of His. No, this exhortation is about our perseverance of ‘pressing on’ in our continual efforts to do godly works and achieve godly goals…despite difficulties, failure, or opposition, either from others or even ourselves. And where does this ‘pursuit’ part come into play? ‘Pursuit’ means, ‘to follow tenaciously after something or striving with determination toward something’. Basically, it means that you and I commit to ordering our mind and our life around ‘persevering’ in our worship and obedience to God, because of Christ’s accomplishment of His performance of perfect obedience in our place and on our behalf. And although our performance of obedience and service and good works still fall short of all they could be, or all they should be, or all we wish or hoped they would be, still, our happiness can be found in the fact that God takes pleasure in all of our attempts of obedience, imperfect as they are…for there is forgiveness with God in order that He may be feared, and loved, and served…and is, thus, pleased with us!

Again, get a firm grasp on God’s revealed order: When God the Father wants to see the performance of perfect righteousness, He looks to Jesus and finds it…and finds us covered and clothed in this righteousness of Christ. When God the Father wants to see the perseverance of practicing righteousness, in character and conduct, He looks to us, His children…He looks to you and to me. And by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can persevere, we can press on, we can labor and strive to be as useful as we can in the hands of God, and as helpful as we can in doing the works that God given us to do.

So just let go of dwelling on your performance of your works of service and your deeds of faith…for it will either leave you puffed up in self-pride or pulled down in self-pity. Now, certainly, this is not about ‘not’ improving in your works and skills…for we are certainly called to grow in the use of our God-given talents and skills as servants for God, and to do so in our workmanship in all the different areas of our lives. What this is all about is to never think you have ever arrived in any or all of it…as Paul put it in: Phil 3:12-14- “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” NASU

Paul is not talking about any performance for his salvation, but about his perseverance…persevering in his goal of becoming more and more useful to God and more and more of a blessing to others…and also being encourage by the great rewards promised to those who ‘persevere’ for God…who ‘press on for Christ’s sake.’ And since Paul focused not on his ‘performance’ as a Christian, but on his ‘perseverance’ in living out the Christian life…then so should we.

Therefore, focus on your perseverance of pressing on in giving your utmost for God’s highest in your works of service and your deeds of faith. Forget about trying to impress anybody, and just focus on blessing somebody, especially your Savior, who lived a perfect life in your place and died a perfect sacrificial death in your place. Rejoice in Christ’s performance, and revel in your perseverance for Christ’s sake! Pursue ‘perseverance’…and also realize that nothing can stop the blessings that develop out of a saint who sets his or her mind and heart on pressing on in the worship and the service of the Savior, even in spite of anything that comes our way. Note the Apostle Paul’s words on that: Rom 5:3-5- “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” NASB

God will even force the troubles of this life that have been forced upon us to deepen our perseverance. And the deeper that perseverance becomes embedded in us, the more it develops the fruit of every good thing that can come from us…like more and more of the character and image of Christ that we talked about in our last study. It will produce a powerful hope that grows into greater and greater determination rather than into disappointment. And it will enable us to enjoy a deeper, and wider, and higher experience the love of God, that God has poured into our hearts, but is only tapped by a faith that is focused on persevering, for the sake of our Savior and the glory of our God.

Remember, a performance-based faith is a worldly kind of faith, that will distort your thinking, distract your efforts, and diminish your works. But a perseverance-based faith will delight your mind, direct your efforts, and will determine the outcome of your works…which will then be pronounced: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”

1. Birdlife.org
2. Nps.gov

3. Birdlife.org

4. Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon at His Best, p.131

Come to Order, Pt. 6

Study Guide, March 9, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We marvel over God’s created wonders across this beautiful Earth. Some examples are: Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Matterhorn in Switzerland, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Victoria Falls in Africa. But God’s greatest created masterpiece, and even more wonderous than the physical wonders of the Earth, are the physical and especially spiritual components of those made in the image of God.

So now notice: Part of the Redemption of bringing souls back into relationship with God includes restoring more and more of the original order of the image of God in those who have been created in the image of God. For what was lost in the Fall of Man was both a spiritual relationship with God and also the holy moral image of God. Not the image itself, but the holy moral image. Remember, the image of God is what is found in the soul of man…mind, will, and emotions. Every person has an eternal soul. That’s why it’s important to know that in the Fall of Man, as in the words of Dr. Norman Geisler, ‘the soul of Man was effaced, but not erased.’ All people are still created in the image of God, but only those who have been Born-Again have had their spirit raised to life and reunited to God…united to God’s Spirit. And with their spirit united to God’s Spirit, it is thus united to God’s life, or ‘eternal life’. The unconverted soul, too, will live forever, but their existence is called ‘the second death’ or an existence of eternal separation from God.

But now, for the converted, for each person who has turned to God in repentance and faith and had their spirit eternally united to God’s spirit, the goal of their soul is to, more and more, restore what was lost in their image, and that is; the holy moral image of God. And the path to restoring the order of the holy moral image of God in their life…restoring the holy character and conduct of God in their life, restoring the ‘likeness of God’ in their life, is through relating and responding to God according to the order of God’s commandments. That’s why we pointed out how crucial it is to love God with all of our mind, for our mind is a component of our soul that was not only made in the image of God, but is to also function according to the holy moral image of God. Remember, you will become more and more like that which you love, or who you love.

And that requires us to connect the rest of the components of our soul that will enable us to then restore more of the holy moral character of God. Again, this is the essence of the first commandment: Mark 12:30- “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” NKJV As we pointed out in our last study, the mind was designed to know God. And now…the heart was designed to delight in God. One remarkable thing about the Born-Again person is that the Holy Spirit has given us the ability to choose that in which we will delight. However, the unconverted, due to their fallen nature, are pulled about, drug around, and driven to delight in whatever seems good to the senses, a delight to the eyes, and whatever they think has the power to make then wise…sound familiar? Yeah, it’s the same fallen formula that was part of the Fall of Man into sin. But God has a holy formula for God’s people to follow, which includes restoring the order of our heart to delight in the Person and things of our Holy God. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, the converted have the power to choose those things in which they will delight. Like these kind of things:

Ps 37:4- “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Ps 40:8- “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

Ps 119:16- “I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.”

Prov 23:26- “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Jer 15:16- “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” NASU

We once put it this way: Everyone needs something that they can only get from God…spiritual life. And God wants something that He can only get from you…your heart. How caring and kind of God to call out to us: “Give me your heart…and let your eyes delight in my ways.” We trust that you have given your heart to God. When you do, God gives you a new heart…which is a way of describing your new nature that is now and forever united to God’s nature. And now, in this restored relationship, God calls us, commands us, to now restore the order for our soul, to love our Lord with all of our heart…to choose to delight in the Person of our God, to delight in the Words of our God, and to delight in the will of our God. In that Messianic Psalm of Psalm 40 it prophesied Jesus’ own words of how His delight was to do the will of His Father! And as we, too, choose to delight in the Person, and the Words, and the Will of our Heavenly Father, we will find our heart being more and more transformed into God’s own character and likeness…into the holy moral image of our God.

The commandment goes on… “…and with all of your soul…” And here the Greek word for ‘soul’, ‘psuche’, in context with the heart and mind, refers to our sentient being, or our conscious being. We could include our ‘volition’, our ‘will’…the seat of our conscious decisions. You see, there is a created order for the ‘will’ of humans as well. Our ‘will’ was designed to choose to follow God. Remember…not following our God is the central problem to our sin problem. The Prophet Isaiah clearly revealed this. Isa 53:6- “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” NASU Choosing to ‘follow our own way’ is a description of our ‘Sin problem’. That’s why repentance is pictured as turning from following our own way to the intention of following God’s way. Of course, until we are thus reunited to God’s Spirit through our faith in the merits of Christ’s sinless works, and our faith in the sacrifice of His death for our sins, we do not have the power to follow Christ. But through repentance and faith we are given new spiritual life and the Holy Spirit, who then gives us the power to follow through in our repentance, to follow through with our intention to follow Christ!

But again, by our very created order, we were created to choose to follow our God. We were created to live by the order of – ‘Not my will, but Thy will be done!’ That’s what Jesus meant by His words, “If anyone wishes, chooses, to follow Me, he must deny himself…” Deny himself what? Or, deny what in his or her life? Deny their self-will and choose God’s will. Note very carefully here…it’s not the elimination of our will, or, as in Eastern religious teachings…the extinguishing of our will…no, it is the re-ordering of our will to be in its proper order – the order of becoming more and more willing to do the will of God.

This calls for a question at this point? Do you ever struggle with being willing to do God’s will? That’s a rhetorical question…you don’t have to raise your hand. Actually, probably all of our hands could go up on that one from time to time. Well, let’s add some sweet relief to your heart and mind here, for we are in good company on this one. For even the Psalmist said: Ps 51:12- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” NLT It was like David saying, ‘Lord, would You just make whatever adjustments are needed in me so that I will want to obey You more and choose to do Your will more and more?’ How about that? Don’t you feel better now? I know I do. Friends, neither flatter yourself nor fool yourself nor give in to futility about yourself…just accept the reality that the adequacy and the power even to choose and to do the will of God is from the Spirit of God within you. Why do you think we are to ascribe all the power and the glory and the honor to our God anyway? Because it’s all from our God in the first place and the last place!

However, because our Heavenly Father is so gracious, and so loving, and so generous with His children, whenever we do choose to love Him back with our emotions, with our will, and with our mind, our God loves whenever we do that and whatever we do in showing that…and, thus, He promises to reward us for whatever efforts and good works we do in showing Him that! Remember…God is a ‘rewarder’ of those who seek Him, serve Him, please Him.’

And speaking of ‘how about that’… ‘how about this?’ For now we see how the “…love the Lord with all of our ‘strength’ part fits in. This is now the ‘action’ parts to the loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. This is the ‘diligence’ part of our ‘Discipleship’…or, the ‘extreme efforts’ that God is looking for from us. This is the ‘good works’ parts of ‘a faith that works’. This is the ‘bearing fruit’ part of the ‘good tree’. This is the ‘striving and laboring’…this is the ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ parts of what we believe about our God and what we trust our God to do in and through our lives.

How did the Apostle James say it? James 1:26- “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” NASU And how did the Apostle John say it? 1 John 3:18- “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” NASU We are to use whatever strengths, whatever talents, whatever treasures, and whatever time we have to show God through both our worship and our service that we are making God’s first commandment our highest priority of our lives, for the sake of our God and Savior.

And speaking of ‘commandments’…It is also very important for us to carry a right concept and understanding about God’s commandments, like this greatest commandment and the second which is like it. So many people have such a skewed and distorted understanding and attitude towards the ‘commandments of God’. God’s commandments simply reveal ‘God’s order’ for our lives. Many view God’s commandments as restrictions upon their lives, as though they interfere with their personal freedoms and such. But how insidious and how foolish is that! God’s commandments are actually steps of freedom from our otherwise slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Moses even had to explain the good purposes of God’s commandments to the Israelites: Deut 10:12-13- Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” NASU God’s commandments are for our good, they are for our blessing, they are for our very happiness. God’s commandments are not our restrictions, they are God’s rescue and our freedom from slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil.

But even more, for did you catch the connection with God’s commandments and God’s calling to His people, then, as well as to His people today…to us? “…what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” Oh yeah, they are just like Jesus’ words in the Gospels. Which reveal to us that the purpose of God’s commandments is to restore the order for which we were created. We were created to love our God with all of our heart. We were created to love God with all of our soul…our will. We were created to love God with all of our mind. And we were created to love God with all of our strength. But because of the Fall of all mankind in sin, that order was damaged. Praise God, in our Redemption, the reclamation of that order was restored. And the ‘effaced’ or the ‘damaged’ image of God in His redeemed children was rebirthed. But now after this reclamation of God’s image in our life, we are now instructed to follow these commandments so that the transformation into the holy moral image of God can be restored in us. For that is the highest goal of our life. How so? Let’s look!

One of the most consoling statements in the Bible is found in Rom 8:28- “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” How often and how deeply that has consoled and encouraged God’s people when things are not going well at all, when they are facing trials and tragedies and problems of all sorts. No, those things in themselves are not good at all, but none of those things will stop the victory and the reward and the compensation that will be worked together and worked out for the good of God’s child, in spite of those things.

But there’s something even more in this message because of what else is being worked out. For this ‘highest good’ of Romans 8:28 is what in revealed to us in Romans 8:29: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…” To become more and more transformed into the image and character of Jesus Christ is the ultimate good of our life…the ultimate goal of our Christian life. It is to be our daily pursuit and our highest purpose. When we were ‘reborn’ in our spirit, we were united to Christ in our soul and spirit. After that the goal of our life is to then be ‘transformed’ more and more into the image and character of Christ, thus restoring more and more of the ‘holy moral image’ of God in us…His children. Again, this is the ‘highest good’ toward which we are to be pursuing. And when it is, nothing in this world…even the trials or the sufferings or the daily problems of life can stop that transformation. Even more so, anything that the world or the devil means for evil will be conquered by God and turned for good for God’s children, as we make ‘Christlikeness’ the passion of our life.

Remember, we are more than conquerors in Christ. Therefore, we can rest in that. But we are called to restore the whole image of Christ in our life. Therefore, we are to work on that. And the more that we do work on that, the more that we seek to love the Lord our God with all of our mind…seeking to know God better, and with all of our heart and emotions…delighting in God’s words and God’s will and in God’s fellowship, and with all of our soul…our will, choosing to follow our God, and in using all of the strength which God supplies toward being transformed more and more into the likeness of our God, into the likeness of Christ…the more we restore God’s designed order in our life, along with all the blessings of that, both now and in the rewards of that to come.

Come to Order, Pt. 5

March 2, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We have been examining some Biblical principles based upon the understanding that all of life is about ‘Order’. And thus, whenever or wherever there is disorder in the purposes or uses for anything or anyone, then there is also conflict. Now, some things are obvious that they are not going to work. Other things, although they ought to be obvious, due to our natural human reasoning…they are not. And this takes us to back to the most fundamental principle of human life, which, strangely enough, is not obvious to human reasoning. And that is; that the highest purpose of every created human being is to have a personal relationship with our Creator. Everything else in life follows that reality and flows out of the reality of that relationship. And wherever there is an absence of that relationship, or even disorder in that relationship, there is an accompanying discord and a diminishing of the life experience as well.

In fact, because we were created to have a relationship with our Creator God, each part of us has been created to ‘relate to God’! You remember the encounter of Jesus with the religious leaders who came to Him with this: Mark 12:28-31- “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” NKJV

We examined this in an earlier study, but we need to look at it again in a different light. Let’s start with the part that is often most surprising to many in Jesus’ answer. ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind.’ Let’s think a moment about our mind. How wondrous is God’s creation of the human mind. Now here is an image of the human brain. [show pic of brain] There isn’t a picture of the human mind, because the mind is not a physical thing, but a metaphysical reality, like beliefs and ideas and memories and such. You can touch the ‘brain’, but you can’t touch the ‘mind’. One helpful description of the difference between the ‘mind’ and the ‘brain’ is that the brain is a physical organ in the head, composed of neurons, while the mind is a conceptual reality representing our thoughts, feelings, and consciousness, which is considered to be the product of the brain’s activity. Essentially, the brain is the hardware and the mind is the software that runs on it. And this is interesting, as brain research showed that the brain is like a ‘random thought generator’, generating up to 50,000 unique thoughts each day. While you may not be consciously aware of all of these thoughts, your brain is certainly working in overdrive most of the time. No wonder we feel a bit ‘brain tired’ from time to time. And, just another reason the Scriptures call for us to ‘take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.’ Our thoughts tend to run wild, without discipline and direction and order.

But again, the mind is the seat of consciousness and the essence of our being, encompassing our thoughts, feelings, memories, and experiences. The mind encompasses many phenomena, including perception, memory, thought, imagination, motivation, emotion, attention, learning, and consciousness. It also influences a person’s morality, reasoning, and understanding.* Again, how marvelous are God’s works and ways and created wonders…like our ‘mind’.

So think again about our created order. Your mind was designed by God with this in mind – that is, for you and for me to love our God with all our mind! Therefore, since our mind was designed to love God most, to love God first, to love God above all the other things that occupy our minds, that fascinate our thoughts, that capture our interests…it basically means that when this order is not actual and activated, then basically our mind is ‘out of order’! It’s not that our mind is not functioning…it’s simply that there is ‘disorder’ in our mind. And wherever there is disorder in your mind there will be distortion in your thinking. There will be distortion in how you think about God, distortion in how you think about yourself, distortion in how you think about others, distortion in how you think about basically everything in life…all because the basic order for life is for you and for me to first and foremost ‘love God with all of our Mind! Without loving God most with your mind, you will not foremost seek to know the mind of God in your life. And without loving God foremost in our mind and in our life, we inflict ourselves with unnecessary mental and emotional afflictions.

Mark it down: This is a basic order for our life…to love our God with all our mind, which will then lead us to living a life of loving the Mind of our God! For – to love God with your mind is to love the mind of God! It’s only when you love the mind of God that you seek to better know and better understand the mind of God, the character of God, the personality of God, the will of God, and the Word of God.

Yes, it’s wonderful to seek to better understand the things of this world, but it is of utmost importance to foremost seek to understand the God of this world. Listen to what God told us about that: Jer 9:23-24- “Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” NASU

How fascinating to understand that what God wants most from us is for us to better understand Him. And the better that we do come to understand our God, better understand His lovingkindness, better understand His justice, better understand His righteousness, and better understand that God finds His delight in each and all of these things…well, the better we will then understand how each of these things relate to us, and to others as we live out our lives, here and in the hereafter, with our God. Nothing in this world, from our wisdom to our might to our possessions come close to the value and the blessings of understanding and knowing God more and more.

All right, but in coming back to ‘order’, we understand then that the highest use of our mind, the greatest quest of our mind, the very created order for your mind and my mind is to love the Mind of your Creator and Redeemer. Again, loving God with all of your mind leads to loving the Mind of God will all of your mind. And in order for us to do that God has given these two things to us: His Spirit within us and His Word around us. Notice: 1 Cor 2:13-16- “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” NKJV

What a marvelous revelation this is! In receiving Christ’s Spirit into our lives, we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit as well. And as Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will teach us and lead us into all truth…and God’s Word is truth. It is also the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives that enables us to better understand God’s will…God’s plans and God’s purposes, as well as better understand His desire to restore people to a personal relationship with Him through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to see and to evaluate things from God’s perspective, and to adopt God’s values, and to love what God loves and to hate what God hates…sin! The Holy Spirit enables us to better understand God’s holiness and justice and grace and mercy. And He enables us to adopt the attitude in our mind that Jesus had in His mind…Phil 2:5-8 – “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” NASU

By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can choose each day to adopt the attitude of Jesus and empty ourselves of ruling ourselves and instead, and by our created order…we bow to the rightful rule of our God. We take our rightful place as the Steward of our life, and we give God His rightful place as the Master of our lives…the King of our lives…the Lord of our lives. And with this RMA…this Right Mental Attitude, we then conduct ourselves like Jesus in being humble and obedient to our Heavenly Father.

So, to have the mind of Christ is to have the indwelling mind of Christ’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit within us, Who then, note this: Who then leads us into all truth, of which all truth is, God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures!

How about this…in our hands we are blessed to have the Book of Life, the Bible, the Letters of God to us, the Owner’s Manual for Life, and also…the Mind of Christ! Have you ever thought of your Bible as ‘the Mind of Christ’? The Bible was recorded by over 40 different writers, but the Bible actually has only one Author…God! In it, God has revealed His thoughts to us…His mind…the very mind of God. Thus, to love God with all of your mind is to love God’s Word with all of your mind…to love the Scriptures above every other revelation, above every other information, above every other communication in your life. Yes, certainly, be lovers of learning about all the good things in this remarkable world, but be a lover foremost of God’s infinite Word that He has revealed to the world…especially to us, His children.

Develop a growing love of God’s Word like the Psalmist…like this:

Ps 119:47-48 – “I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes.”

Ps 119:97- “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Ps 119:127-128- “Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.”

Ps 119:165-168- “Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, and do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.” NASU

And the more we grow to love the Words of God, which reveal the mind of God, the more we will also experience the blessing of having a mind that is both functioning and thriving according to the order in which it was created by its Creator. Remember, even the book of Proverbs counsels us and cautions us about the proper development of our mind. Prov 1:1-3- “These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way.” ERV

In our Life Groups we have been practicing reading the Scriptures by using the PCQ and NCQ principles. The PCQ is the question that asks, “What are the ‘positive consequences’ of obeying or acting upon this counsel or commandments?” And the NCQ is the question that asks, “What are the ‘negative consequences’ of not obeying or not acting upon this counsel or commandments?” I encourage you to add that exercise to your own Bible readings and then discover what all you can discover by asking and answering these questions.

In using this with this passage in Proverbs we find some positive consequences are the blessings of gaining godly wisdom…learning truths that are obscured to others because of worldly wisdom, learning Biblical maxims and principles for life, receiving God’s instructions and developing godly discernment, being able to comprehend more about our world and finding insights about ourselves. We also then grow in the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, knowledge, and discretion. Again, in following the order of loving God’s words with our mind we discover the joys of developing our mind in the right way.

Whereas some negative consequences of neglecting or rejecting acting upon God’s counsel and commandments are…if the great salvation explained in the Gospel of God’s Word is neglected or rejected, the consequences of that are an existence of eternal separation from God in a land called ‘Gehenna’. But even for the converted child of God, a neglect of loving and learning and acting upon God’s truths leads to the opposite of the good…a lack of discernment, which leads to being vulnerable to false teachings and practices that are contrary to the Scriptures. It leads to being unstable not only in your thinking, but also in your emotions…being tossed about by the shifting circumstances of life rather than being grounded on the rock of God’s Word. It will lead to being resistant to teaching and counsel, leaving you more and more open to compromising your beliefs and morals, and more and more calloused toward others and damaged in a hardened heart. Essentially, the rightful development of your mind will not be developed because of this self-inflicted rejection or neglect of loving God with all of your mind, along with God’s revealed words by which you were created to order your life!

So, what is his is highest purpose of the human mind…of your mind and my mind? The highest purpose of our mind is to love the Lord our God with all of our mind. This is the created order for our mind. This is the blessed order for our mind to both function and flourish, for the glory of God and the gain of His children. Praise God!

 

*(Mind/Brain information from AI and Wikipedia and Neurosurgical.com)

 

Come to Order, Pt. 4

Study Guide, February 16, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, doesn’t it seem that many things that come with instructions just really aren’t all that necessary? But then, when it comes to daily life itself, especially in knowing who we are, why we are here, what we were created for, and so on, oh yeah, we really do need instructions for all of that.

As we began this short series, we stated that life is about order. Order is created into the very fabric of the heavens and the earth, and into the very fabric of our lives, both physically and spiritually. And in order for any of us to achieve and experience what our Creator planned for us, as well as to then also experience fulfillment and wellness in life, especially spiritually, it all depends upon our both discovering God’s order and then disciplining our lives according to God’s order for our lives. And a central part of that discovery is to heed God’s instructions for our lives. For life comes with order, and life comes with instructions. This is one of the great reasons God has given us His counsel for our lives, His Word, the Scriptures…God’s Owner’s Manual for our lives.

Over and over, Jesus said to the crowds, “Anyone who has an ear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying.” And to the churches Jesus said, “Anyone who has an ear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.” And what we have heard is that the truths about life and living which God has revealed do not come naturally for us. It’s just like we pointed out how Jesus said if anyone wanted to become His follower, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus. A willingness to turn from following your own way in order to follow Jesus’ way for your life is what ‘repentance’ is all about. We also learned that the way to be right with God also doesn’t come naturally to us, for to be right with God means we must have the righteousness of God, for we cannot attain salvation righteousness on our own. And Christ’s righteousness is given to us through our trusting in the atoning work of Christ on the Cross and asking for forgiveness and the righteous merits of Christ to make us right with God, which is what ‘faith’ is all about.

And then Jesus revealed another ‘instruction’ about living as His follower, which is completely unnatural to human reasoning, for in a world that is full of finding themselves, focused on finding themselves, and seeking personal fulfillment of the self-life, Jesus revealed that this kind of reasoning and seeking is the complete opposite of the way a person finds what their soul really wants and really needs. He put it like this, remember… “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matt 16:25 NASU

The fascinating thing about this is that Jesus reveals this turning from self to Him as our Savior is not only the way to become saved, it is also the way to then live as a saved follower of Christ. Until you find Christ as your Lord and Savior you are still lost…separated from a relationship with Christ. And then, once you find your new life in Christ, you need to continue to lose who you were in order to find who you are to be. Or, you have to lose who you were, in and of your old self…apart from Christ, in order to find who you are meant to be in and of your new self in relationship with Christ. How strange that people who have been saved from ‘who and what they were’, in and of themselves, so often still try to then live the Christian life from the mindset of who and what they are ‘in and of themselves’. How foolish? How natural it seems to try it…how humanistic in thinking that is, but still, how foolish? That is the same pit that the Galatian believers were falling back into, remember? Gal 3:1-5- “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? NASU

You see it? Paul’s admonition to them, and to all ‘Galatian type thinkers’, was: “Going your own way, trying to be right with God through your own religious works, relying on your own human reasoning about it all was not how you received new life in Christ in the first place. That was not how you became saved. Now, you think you can grow in your faith, become sanctified, become more and more like Christ by still thinking that same way? How foolish! When you were in charge of you, you were always going astray. Do you think you can still be in charge of you and not continue to go astray?”

The divine instructions for life, for both the unsaved and even the saved, begin with: “You were not created to be nor ever are intended to be in charge of you. You were not created to by your own god, ruling yourself…you were created to be a child of God in relationship with your God, following God, who is to be in charge of your life!

Somehow, although Christians understand that their need was to turn from going their own way and their own thoughts as they turned in repentance to follow God, and they then trusted in Jesus forgiveness and His gift for their salvation, then, many don’t seem to understand that their need is to continue to turn from their own ways and their own thoughts in order for them to actually follow God and to then be transformed by God into the person God created them to be. They keep tripping over God’s instructions for them about ‘putting off the old self and putting on the new self’. We’ll come back to that.

No, mark it down: Any quest to find yourself apart from Christ when you are not saved is simply a guarantee of further destruction in your life. And any quest of finding yourself apart from Christ even after you have become saved by Christ is also a guarantee of further confusion in your life. It’s also a guarantee of diminishing your life…of limiting your transformation and forfeiting Kingdom rewards and losing out on becoming the person you were meant to be in a ‘shared relationship’ in union with your Savior.

Remember: The path of finding yourself is a dead-end road…always has been…always will be. That path neither leads to salvation nor does it lead to sanctification. The path of losing yourself in Christ is the way to discover both who you were created to be and to experience it all in a shared relationship with your Creator and Savior. For the Biblical way to find yourself is by losing your ‘self-life’ and finding the ‘shared-life’. The key to finding who you were created to be is by losing who you are in and of yourself, and instead, finding who you are in union with Christ. Remember, the Apostle Paul pointed out that even ‘marriage’ is meant to illustrate this relationship between Christ and His church. Eph 5:31-32- “As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” NLT

Just like the key to a great marriage is to no longer think in terms of ‘Me’, but to think in terms of ‘We’, so it is, and even more so in our relationship with Christ. We are to no longer think in terms of our ‘self-life’, but in terms of our ‘shared-life’…for when we were ‘Born again’ we were united to the very life of Christ. We now and will for eternity ‘share’ in the life and Spirit of Christ. Our identity is now a shared identity, no longer ‘me, myself, and I’, but ‘We, Ourselves, and Us’! (sounds a little unusual, but you get the idea…)

Even the ‘New self’ that the Apostle instructs us about is a ‘shared self’. Col 3:9-10-

“…since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” NASU This practice is to be a daily habit, of course. Like putting on the armor of God, day by day, so we are to daily ‘put off’ our old independent, self-focused, self-serving, self-esteeming, self-centered mindset, and put on our Christ-dependent, Christ-focused, Christ-serving, Christ-esteeming, and Christ-centered mindset. Remember, even the ‘Vine and the Branch’ teaching of Jesus revealed this ‘shared life’ that we now have with our Savior. As ‘branches’ of the ‘Vine’ of Christ, we are now ‘Carriers’, not ‘Controllers’. Christ, as the Vine, is to be the sole ‘Controller’, and we, as His branches, are to be His ‘Carriers’ of all that God has in mind for you and for me to ‘carry’ to our world around us…to carry to our family, to carry to our church family, to carry to our culture, and to carry to our world. Lay aside the old ‘controlling self’. Lose the old ‘controlling-self-centered’ mindset, and put on the new ‘carrying-Christ-centered’ mindset. Find yourself sharing your hopes and your dreams, sharing your plans and your purposes, sharing your goals and your accomplishments with your Savior and God who is the sole source of everything good and godly in your life!

Again, this ‘New Self’ that we are to put on is a ‘shared self’. We now order our life around sharing everything in our life with Christ. Our plans, our pursuits, our pleasures, and our paths are all to be in relation to this ‘shared life’ we now live with our Savior and our Shepherd, as He leads us in paths of righteousness. Remember, Christ is our Vine…we are His branches. Christ is the ‘Source’…we are the ‘resource’. Christ produces…and we pass along what Christ produces. We bear the fruit, but Christ’s Spirit grows the fruit in our lives. And all that Christ is producing and growing in us, is for us to pass along through us to others around us…not only the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…but also the truths of the Gospel, and the teachings of Christ through His prophets and apostles.

And that leads us to another crucial concept for today in understanding God’s order for our lives. And it is once again connected to our crucial need in understanding our position and practice in our Christian life. And when you get a grasp of it, it not only enlightens your thinking, it also inspires your living out this amazing ‘shared life’ that you have with your Savior. It’s one of those amazing teachings of Paul’s, where he reveals to us that there is something in which we are already ‘complete’, and yet there is also something in which we are supposed to ‘complete’ in our lives. Oh yeah, it is amazing for sure. Let’s look.

Col 2:9-10- “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete.” NASU How wonderful is that? In Christ, we have been made complete. What is has been completed? Our salvation of course! Through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus’ death for us, we have been pardoned from our sin and have provision for the forgiveness of our sins. Through the perfect obedience of Jesus’ life for us we have the righteousness of Christ that makes us right with God. That is now and forever our ‘position’ with God…forgiven and righteous in this new shared life that we have with Jesus Christ!

We can also describe our being complete in Christ this way… “Being ‘complete’ in my relationship with Christ means that I am deeply loved, fully forgiven, completely accepted, and forever secure as an adopted child of God’s, based upon Christ’s complete pardon of my sins and His complete righteousness as His gift to me.”

But then the Apostle also reveals this: Col 1:28- “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” NASU What’s this? Since we are already ‘complete’ in Christ, what then is yet to be ‘completed’? Let’s let the ERV help us with that: Col 1:28- “So we continue to tell people about Christ. We use all wisdom to counsel every person and teach every person. We are trying to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be spiritually mature in Christ.”

So here, Paul reveals more about God’s order for our lives. When we become ‘Born again’ we are fully complete in our salvation. And we are forever secure in this ‘Position’ as a saved son or daughter of God’s. But then there is something that is to be ‘completed’ in our lives, or completed throughout our lives, and that is, our sanctification, or our transformation. Since we share our new life in Christ, we are now to share in the image and character of Christ more and more throughout our life. And that is to be the ‘Practice’ of our lives day by day as we seek to follow our Savior, losing more and more of our old selves, and finding more and more of our new selves in becoming more like Christ, our Creator and Redeemer. Forget the ‘self-life’, there is no gain or reward in that. Focus on the ‘shared-life’, the eternal life that you now and forever will ‘share with Christ’, for in that, there is both glory for Christ and gain for others and you, as well as great reward!

“The Way of the Righteous”

Pastor Robert Kornegay

Feb 9, 2025

Come to Order, Pt. 3

Study Guide, February 2, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We’ve begun a study on the order of life. And as we have seen, all of life is about order. Our Creator not only created our physical world with precision and order, but also the spiritual world with precision and order. Plus, we have seen that just like disorder in the physical world causes chaos and damage, so disorder in the spiritual world causes chaos and damage. That is why it is imperative for people to discover God’s order for our spiritual lives and thus, then, order our lives according to God’s order for our lives. So, let’s continue our discovery of God’s points of order for our lives.

In my recent saga of wrestling with my wrist issue, I learned from Nate that in the human body healthy nerves need three things: blood flow, space, and movement to function properly; blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients, space allows for flexibility, and movement prevents atrophy by keeping nerves mobile within their surrounding tissues. As with us in the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Club, when you have compression in that ligament in your wrist, the nerves get damaged from the lack of those three things. Thus, the need to have that order restored in order to restore health to those nerves.

In a similar way, in the human soul a healthy spirit needs three things as well. We find it in the Apostle Paul’s revelation to the Roman believers in Rom 14:17- “…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” NASU In a commentary by Dr. Donald Barnhouse, he said this: “It is important to note the sequence of these characteristics of the Kingdom of God in the heart. Righteousness comes first, peace second, and joy third. This is amplification of Christ’s own words, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matt 6:33). One reason for the terrible frustration of mankind is that peace and joy are sought without righteousness. But without the righteousness of God there can be no peace, and without the peace of God there can be no joy.”¹

The Kingdom of God is all about order…righteousness, peace, and joy. And from the Apostle we learn that these three things not only characterize the Kingdom of God…they are also to characterize our lives as we seek first God’s kingdom. Now, another thing to note before we notice some key things about these three things, is that God continually works through a constant pattern of ‘Position and Practice.’ The clearest example of this is seen in our need to first establish a relationship with God before we are able to then fellowship with and serve God. That was the realization that Nicodemus had to come to, as he had it backwards. His focus was on religious behavior first, until Jesus revealed to him that spiritual birth comes first. Each person must be born again in their spirit before they can then fellowship with and serve God in their life. This is the truth that false religion neglects or rejects.

Actually, all religions that ignore the New Birth Gospel have this same ‘backwards’ practice in their religious teachings and works. Their focus is on religious behavior without first becoming spiritually reborn. Or, they ignore Jesus’ revelation of their need to first become born again. Unbiblical world religions, and many unbiblical groups under the title of ‘Christianity’, also often called ‘Social Gospel Churches’, teach a ‘Behavior based gospel’ based upon human reasoning instead of the Biblical ‘New Birth Gospel’ of Jesus based upon Biblical revelation. And we need to clearly understand that this is the central problem in our religious world around us, because without a new birth of their spirit, their behavior is still falling short of the righteousness of God because their spirit is still dead in trespasses and sin.

The effect that sin had on the human spirit is that sin killed it! Sin separated each person’s spirit from God! As has so aptly been stated: “Jesus did not come to make bad people good; He came to make dead people live!” The Gospel of Salvation is not about religious behavior, it’s about spiritual birth. Christian behavior, or Sanctification, is to follow our New Birth in a saved relationship with Christ. The Gospel of Salvation is not about better behavior…it’s about new spiritual life! Until a person receives new spiritual life from Jesus Christ, they are still spiritually dead in their trespasses and sin. That’s the central message that the world needs to learn because they naturally think mankind is naturally good, and that they already have spiritual life, and that all they need is to just add some religious behavior to their habits and they will then be ‘righteous’, or ‘right with God’.

But that is a false gospel, as well as false religious thinking and unbiblical teaching. For as the Bible loudly states: Rom 3:10- “No one is righteous—not even one.” NLT And then the Apostle goes on: “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Rom 3:21-24 NLT

And, as the Apostle also pointed out, if people could be made right with God through their religious behaviors, then Christ died needlessly. But what an insult that is to God! Rather, it is only through Jesus’ sacrificial death that we can have our sin penalty removed from us and have forgiveness granted to us, and it is only through Jesus’ sinless obedient life that we can be given Christ’s gift of righteousness, or, be given ‘right standing’ with God. The gift of Salvation includes two gifts: ‘Pardon’ from God of our sins and ‘Righteousness’ from Jesus Christ in our relationship with God.

And it is right here that we see that our ‘Position’ in Christ comes first in our New Spiritual Birth, and then our ‘Practice’ as a Christian is to follow, as we ‘follow Christ’ in our spiritual behavior. In fact, and mark it down: The goal of our life then is to make our ‘Practice’ as a Christian reflect our ‘Position’ in Christ! Let this ‘perfect righteousness’ that we received from Christ become what we then ‘practice’ in our lives, day by day.

Another very clear verse about our ‘Position’ in relation to ‘righteousness’ can be seen in how Paul spoke about himself having Jesus’ righteousness instead of his own. Look: “…and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. “Phil 3:9 NASU

That would also be a very helpful way to state the issue of salvation, as in a question: “Whose ‘righteousness’ are trusting in, or depending upon, to save you…Christ’s or your own?” Or, “Whose righteousness do you need to have in order to go to Heaven? Christ’s righteousness or your own?” It can only be one, and it is not ‘ours’, it’s Christ’s righteousness! Even Paul was at one time confused about this when he was a Pharisee. And it’s exactly the false teaching he then said that his countrymen were caught up in. Notice: Rom 10:1-3- “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” NASU

There it is! Again, the issue is: Whose ‘righteousness’ do you need to have in order to go to Heaven? The Bible’s answer is: ‘Christ’s righteousness!’

And why are we spending so much time on this? Because this is also the central problem of the false religions of the world and the false gospel teaching in pseudo-Christianity. They are not subjecting themselves, or submitting themselves to God’s righteousness, or to God’s way of becoming righteous, but instead, they are seeking to establish their own. They are trusting in their own righteousness, or their own religious works and behavior, of which, that is already condemned in sin. That’s why the false gospel is often referred to as a ‘works righteousness’ gospel…people are trusting in, or, they are depending upon their behavior to be considered ‘righteous’. But that is the same thing as ‘not submitting to or not trusting in Jesus’ righteousness’ for their salvation.

All right, so we are to be ‘clothed in Christ’s righteousness’. That is our position: God declares us ‘righteous’ in His sight. Then we are to behave righteously…we are to live and act according to righteousness, or we are to ‘practice’ righteousness. In our Position – we are in right standing with God because we stand before Him in Christ’s righteousness. In our Practice – we are to be living a life that is pleasing to God as we practice our righteousness in our character and in our conduct. Position and Practice…Salvation and Sanctification. This ‘Biblical order’ should be forefront in our thinking and living, as well as in our communication of the Gospel of Christ and then following Christ. Our Salvation is based upon the gift of Christ’s righteousness to us. Our Sanctification and our Kingdom rewards – privileges and service assignments, are based upon our practice of righteousness as we seek to follow Christ throughout our lives.

Now then, this ‘Position and Practice’ is also related to ‘Peace’, as in the Kingdom of God is righteousness (in Position and Practice), peace (in Position and Practice), and joy (in Position and Practice). And that takes us back to our memory verse: Rom 5:1- “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU Remember, there is no real peace apart from a relationship with God. What may masquerade as peace is merely a temporary lull in conflict. True peace is found only in a restored relationship with God. This is one thing you should know about every unsaved person: “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked (the guilty sinner).’” Isaiah 48:22

And, again, to be ‘justified’ is to be ‘declared righteous’… ‘right with God’ in our ‘Position’ in Christ. Similarly, we need to have ‘peace with God’ in our position as reconciled to God before we can have the ‘peace of God’ in our practice of peace. And what is our practice of peace? Remember, as we seek first the Kingdom of God…in our character and in our conduct, the Spirit of God then does things in us. Or, we should say, the Spirit of God ‘grows things’ in us, like…grows the fruit of ‘love, joy, peace…and so on’.

One interesting thing about ‘peace’ is that it is both a ministry of God the Holy Spirit in us and a ministry of God the Holy Spirit through us. This ‘peace’ that God grows in us is a sense of ‘it is well with my soul’. It is a sense of “Come to Me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” It is a sense of trusting in God’s control when your world seems out of control. It’s an assurance that even in the worst of times you know that the best is yet to come. It’s a Holy Spirit grown fruit for you to enjoy!

Then, this ‘practice of peace’ is also a ministry of the Holy Spirit through us, as in:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt 5:9 NASU We are called to be ‘peacemakers. One of the easiest ways to think about what it is to be a ‘peacemaker’ is to think about what it means to be a ‘troublemaker’. It’s the opposite of that! And realize this: troublemaking comes naturally to human nature. To be a troublemaker, ‘all you gotta do is, act naturally’…like the song says. But to be a ‘peacemaker’, what you gotta do is, act supernaturally. Or, you make it your goal to seek to promote understanding, and to encourage reconciliation, and to often act as a mediator to resolve disagreements peacefully. A peacemaker doesn’t just avoid conflict, rather, a peacemaker actively steps in to try to resolve it. A peacemaker tries to understand different perspectives and listens to all sides of an issue before trying to find a solution. And a peacemaker especially tries to help others find peace with God.

But although peacemaking is possible, it is not always probable. I so appreciate what Paul both experienced and then reminded us about in connection with peacemaking. Do you remember what he said? Rom 12:18- “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” NASU Many times it no longer depends on you…it’s out of your control. This verse is our spiritual ‘relief factor’, in relation to our ministry of ‘peacemaker’. For making peace, or the Biblical term, reconciliation, is not just one sided. Reconciliation is a two-way street. And if there is no repentance on the part of the troublemaker, then the peacemaker is released from their ministry to them. Unrepentant troublemakers are not only rejecting the way of peace, they are rejecting the Prince of Peace, who calls for troublemakers to repent and turn to the way of peace instead of giving in to their own preference of causing trouble. Their unrepentance will set their own destruction into motion. But the peacemaker will be rewarded for their attempts either way. Which, in just knowing that, brings even more peace into the peacemaker’s mind and heart and spirit.

And so, what about Joy? What about we explore that next time? But remember the goal, our goal, your goal…Seek to make your Practice reflect your Position. Seek to be as consistent as you can in reflecting your Position in Christ throughout your Practice as a Christian…in your practice of righteousness, in your practice of peace, and in your practice of joy, which we will unpack further next time.

1. Romans: Expositions of Bible Doctrines © 1966 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

 

Come to Order, Pt. 2

Study Guide, January 26, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We see them everywhere. They are really impressive. We usually don’t think about how they work, we just take for granted that they will work, because we depend upon what they do for us and our families and communities every day. We’re talking about…‘Water Towers’. These beauties are on average about 130 feet high, and they hold about…any guesses in gallons? Right, about one million gallons of water! And the really big ones can hold up to 2 ½ million gallons of water! What is also impressive is how they work. Water is pumped up into the giant tank and then by the power of gravity the water flows down and through the water systems to those whom it serves. Of course, some larger communities/cities just use pumps all along their water system. But, water towers are pretty cool!

And have you noticed how some water towers also have huge rods reaching up from the top of them? Because of their height, some telecom companies rent space on top of water towers for their cell towers. That’s just great business cooperation right there!

But we point this out as just another example of how wonderfully orderly our world around us really is. Like we pointed out in our study last time that, essentially, all of life is about ‘order’. Why, even when God was affirming His eternal plans for the national identity and future ministry of Israel, He used His ‘fixed order’ of creation as a confirmation of that. Notice: Jer 31:35-36- “Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord, “Then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” NASU

Oh yes, life is all about God’s ‘fixed order’. We’ve talked about that in how even the orbits of the planets follow a fixed order. Every planet follows a fixed order in their journey around the Sun. We never have to worry about Mars veering from its orbit and cutting in front of the Earth. Like the Earth going, “Whoa…Mars…stay in your lane Bro!” “Oh yeah…Sorry about that!” That never happens. All the planets always stay in their lanes. Why? Because our Awesome God created them to follow His ‘fixed order’…in order for them to always orbit around the Sun. And you know where we are going with this, right?

Yes…for in the same way, and even much more, God created human life with a ‘fixed order’ for our lives as well. Even more than the planets were created to orbit around the Sun, you and I were created to orbit around the SON…the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We were created to live a ‘Son-centered’ life. We were certainly not created to live a ‘self-centered’ life. We were created to live a ‘Son-centered’ life, a ‘Savior-centered’ life…a ‘Christ-centered’ life. And everything else in our life, both in this temporal world and in the world that is coming, is completely dependent upon our living out our daily lives in a consistent and continual orbit around the Son of God. For if we do not follow this ‘fixed order’ of ordering our life, orbiting our life, centering our life around the ‘SON’, we naturally set ourselves upon a course of destructive consequences…actions, decisions, and even destinies that are at cross purposes with God’s created order for our lives!

How remarkable it is to realize that the essential problem with most people’s lives is that their life is simply ‘out of order’. They are trying to live a significant, fulfilling, and rewarding life, all the while their soul is completely out of order…they are ‘out of orbit.’ Again, every person in this world was created to live a life that orbits around the Son of God, around the Savior of the world, around the Peron of Jesus Christ. They were created to live their life ‘centered around the Son’. And to the degree that their life is ‘off-center’ from the Son, to that degree destructive consequences are set into motion, in their life now, and on into their after-life.

Notice the place that Jesus is to have and to hold in each of our lives. In our last study we looked at the passage in Colossians that proclaims that Jesus Christ is both Savior and Creator. He is not only the Savior of our lives, He is also the ‘Sustainer’ of all life, of all that exists in life, physically and spiritually. And now, as this revelation continues, we see this: “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.” Col 1:18-20 NASU

You see it? Christ is not just to have ‘a place’ in a person’s life. He is to have ‘first place’ in a person’s life…and first place in everything! If Christ does not have ‘first place in everything’ in a person’s life…then not only is that person’s life ‘out of place’, but ‘everything’ in that person’s life is out of place…mentally, emotionally, volitionally…physically and spiritually. God is to have a very precise place in each of our lives, for all of life was created to follow a ‘precise order’, in order for our life to both function and to flourish. We saw last time that if the Earth’s position was not in the precise place that it is in relation to the Sun, it would cause turmoil and destruction for life on Earth. Similarly, if a person’s position in relation to the Son of God is not in its precise place, it also causes turmoil and destruction in their life upon Earth…and afterwards, as well. Again, there is only one place that Jesus Christ is to have in anyone’s life…in your life and in mine…and that’s ‘First Place!’ And Christ is to have first place ‘in everything’ in our life.

A way that we can expand upon this ‘precise order’ for us to follow in life is through examining some ‘points of order.’ Like what? Like this: When Jesus was speaking to the curious crowds around Him, wondering what His message for their life was, Jesus said this: (And we’ll use two versions in order to unpack Jesus’ words) Mark 8:34-36- “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” NASU And in the NLT: Mark 8:34-36- “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”

Notice that Jesus is revealing an ‘order for their life’ here in order for them to not forfeit their soul. And what was that ‘order’? Also notice what Jesus began with here: “If anyone wishes to come after Me”, or, “If any of you wants to be My follower.” What Jesus is referring to here is the very thing that makes up part of ‘Biblical repentance’, which is ‘an intention to follow Jesus’. Note this carefully: It is your ‘intention’ that reveals what you are ‘willing to do’ about something. And, mark it down, the ‘will’ is the part that is often left out of a person’s response to the Gospel. What we mean is that ‘repentance’ involves not only the mind and emotions, but also, and particularly, the ‘will’. As in, do you intend to follow Jesus, as opposed to continuing to follow yourself? What did the Prophet Isaiah reveal is the basic problem of mankind and their sin? Isa 53:6- “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.” NLT

Remember, the essence of ‘sin’ is ‘going our own way’ as opposed to ‘going God’s way’. The central problem of sin is following our own way as opposed to following God’s way. That’s one reason ‘repentance’ is often illustrated by the ‘U turn’ sign. Actually, an even more accurate sign than the ‘U turn’ sign is an ‘Upwards turn’ sign. We need to turn our mind and heart ‘upwards’ with the intention to follow God instead of ourselves.

Now, sometimes people have misled unbelievers in their witnessing by leaving out the repentant part of Biblical belief, or Biblical faith. Or, in sharing about a person’s need to trust in Jesus they leave out their connected need to turn to Jesus as they then trust in Him. For just as Isaiah revealed man’s sin problem was ‘going their own way, following their own way’, he then revealed the solution was to…well, let’s notice: Isa 55:6-7- “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” NASU And in the NLT version: Isa 55:6-7- “Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.”

You see it? An essential part of ‘trusting’ in Jesus in faith is ‘turning to Jesus’ in repentance. What makes up saving faith is both ‘turning and trusting’. Remember, Isaiah pointed out that ‘going our own way’ is the essence of sin…it is our central ‘sin problem’. We were created to ‘go God’s way’…to follow God’s way and will for our lives. There should be spiritual message signs all around the world something like the ‘Wrong Way’ road signs. People start out on the journey of their lives spiritually going the ‘Wrong Way’. At some point in their lives, the earlier the better, they need to ‘Turn Back, or Turn Around’ and ‘follow Jesus Christ’, who is both their Creator and Redeemer. The Apostle Paul described the conversion of the Thessalonian believers like this: 1 Thess 1:9- “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” NASU

Mark it down: Saving faith is both repenting and believing. Remember, Jesus first words about the Gospel were these: Mark 1:14-15- “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” NASU When it comes to saving faith, repentance and belief are part of one another. Or, we should say, when it comes to saving faith, repentance and believing are inseparable.

Charles Spurgeon described ‘Repentance’ like this: He said, “If you are asked which comes first, repentance or faith, you may answer by another question: “Which spoke of a wheel moves first when the wheel begins to move?” Great way to put it, right? They move together. And, again, as Isaiah pointed out, turning from following our way with the intention of turning to God to follow God’s way is ‘repentance’, and ‘repentance’ is necessary in order to receive God’s pardon and salvation.

As followers of Christ, we need to dispel a common notion…an inaccurate presumption really, about repentance and belief, thinking about them or speaking about them as though they are two separate things in the Bible. They are not. They have become two separate things in much religious jargon and many aberrant teachings, but they are never separate from one another in the Bible, nor in relation to salvation, and even on into the workings of sanctification. We must never separate repentance and belief in our thinking because the only kind of ‘belief’ that Jesus spoke about was a ‘repentant-belief’…or a ‘belief of repentance’. And the only kind of ‘repentance’ Jesus spoke about was a ‘believing-repentance’…or a ‘repentance of belief’. When the Apostle Paul spoke about his sharing of the Gospel, he said this: Acts 20:20-21- “…I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU Repentance and faith…turning and trusting…these always go together in order for there to be a faith that saves, or in order for one to have ‘saving faith’.

There has always been a danger in the church of an ‘imbalance’ in its teachings and in its message. In some church arenas the caution of not mixing works with grace has gone so far as nearly eliminating repentance from their message of the Gospel. Yes, it is of utmost importance that we make it clear that salvation is a gift from God, and that it cannot be merited or earned by man’s works. We must protect the Gospel of Grace, of the fact that: Eph 2:8-9- “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” NASU We are saved by Christ’s works and not ours. But, as Spurgeon also reminded the Church: “Repentance is part of salvation, and when Christ saves us, He saves us by making us repent.” In describing the salvation of Cornelius and his family in the Book of Acts it states it like this: Acts 11:18- “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” NASU God provides the gifts of repentance and faith for those who respond to the Gospel by believing in their mind and heart, or – trusting in Jesus Christ to forgive their sins, and by repenting in their mind and heart, or – turning from going their own way to going God’s way. They respond to Jesus’ call with an intention to follow Him, which is ‘repentance’, and with their invitation of receiving Him into their life, which is believing in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

To sum it up: We were created to have a relationship with our Creator. Therefore, God has created everything in life with a ‘fixed order’ in order to fulfill that purpose of God’s. And as we follow God’s fixed order, we will not only find that fulfillment in our relationship with our God and Savior, but we will also then flourish in it, both now and in the Kingdom that is coming soon.

Next time, we’ll explore more of God’s fixed order for our lives.

 “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday”

Sanctity of Human Life

January 19, 2025

Come to Order

Study Guide, January 12, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, do you feel like you are tilting just a bit to the right? Well, you aren’t, but our planet is! In fact, the Earth is tilted on its axis 23.44 degrees. And why is that important? How about, because a planet with no axial tilt would not support human life as we know it. Yup, it’s that important! And how did the Earth come to be tilted at that precise order of 23.44 degrees? And how would a Big Bang explosion create a planet that was not only a precise 93.4 million miles from the Sun, so as to be…yes, Goldilocks, ‘not too hot or not too cold, but just right’ to support life, but also leave it tilted at that precise angle of 23.44 degrees so as to not only support life, but to also, as the Earth orbits the Sun…to allow for the seasons of the Earth to exist? How about this…How can anyone have enough blind faith to believe such precise design could occur from blind chance?

As we have pointed out before, the Bible does not state the order of creation of the Universe in terms of a ‘Big Bang’. The Bible states it in terms of the ‘Big Breath!’ Ps 33:6- “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.” NASU The Lord ‘spoke’ His creation into existence! God not only ‘spoke’ our Earth into existence, He even created fixed laws that would order our world in such a way as to not only support life, but to also permit life to ‘flourish’ on Earth. He also created an order for our own personal world that would not only support spiritual life for us, but to also permit our spiritual life to flourish. And we’ll come back to that.

Then, there is this…how did the Planet Earth know how to spin at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour? What if the Earth didn’t spin at all? If this Earth did not spin, there would be no night and day for the people and the places of Earth. If the Earth did not spin, it would be the opposite of the Goldilocks finding, for one side of the Earth would always be too hot and the other side too cold to support life!

And what if the Earth’s spin was erratic…not constant at 1,000 miles per hour? What if it sped up or slowed down, or even stopped once in a while? If the Earth were to stop spinning for even one minute, everything on the surface of the Earth would be destroyed! For everything that was spinning would still be in motion, the atmosphere, the oceans, and such would sweep across the face of the Earth with the force of a thousand hurricanes, along with worldwide earthquakes and tsunamis!¹

But that doesn’t happen. The Earth doesn’t stop and start, nor does it speed up and slow down. We never have to worry that the Earth is going to slam on its breaks or veer off from its track in its orbit around the Sun, or ever stop rotating every 24 hours. Why, it’s just like Someone made it with such astronomically amazing order that the Earth does exactly what it’s supposed to do and does it exactly when it’s supposed to do it. And, it’s just like Someone is watching over it, too, holding all things together and holding them in place in order for the Earth to not only have life, but to have that life abundantly!

Again, how could random chances ever create such precise order and maintain this precise order? How could ‘chance’ be so powerful as to ‘Lord’ its ways and its will over an entire planet, let alone an entire Universe, like a ‘god’? Would you call it the ‘God of Chance’? Would you give thanks to ‘Chance’, and worship ‘Chance’, as the maker and God of our Earth? Strangely enough, many do! And how utterly foolish, of course! It is so clear to see, for any who have eyes to see, that our Earth and the entire Universe was designed and created by our benevolent and gracious God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is exactly as the Apostle Paul reveals it in Col 1:15-17 “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.” NLT Scientists repeatedly state that there is some force, unnamed, as yet, that is holding all things together. Oh, the ‘force’ does have a name. It’s the name above all names, the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh Yes, absolutely, our Lord Jesus Christ is our God and our Creator. And it is by His power and through His constant working that all creation continues and is held together.

Now then, since God created the Earth and the Stars and the Galaxies with such precision and order, can you imagine that He would create His masterpiece, Human beings, who are made in the very image of God…that He would create them without a precise design for their lives, without any order for their lives? Could there be any reasonable postulate that God would not have designed any created order for His ultimate creation, human beings, for them to follow, in order for them to not only to have life, but to have that life abundantly? Would the God of precision and design leave those created in His image to just live out their lives by chance, or as though life was a self-guided tour? Again, how foolish could anyone be to think that God does not have an even more precise plan and an even more precise order for His created masterpieces to follow in living out their lives on this planet Earth, and then on into His New Earth and New Heavens, which are in His plans to next create?

What did Jesus say about why He came to our Earth and why He became Human…why He became one of His own ‘creation’? Col 1:13-14- “For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” NLT We just celebrated the wonder of the Incarnation of Christ. Christmas is our annual festival of Jesus’ becoming one of us so that He could save any of us who would come to Him in repentance and faith for our salvation and new life in union with our God and Messiah. Through Jesus’ death, we have forgiveness of our sins…we are declared ‘pardoned’ through Jesus’ payment of our debt of sin. And through Jesus’ sinless life, we have right standing with God…we are declared ‘righteous’ through Christ’s gift of His ‘righteousness’.

But Jesus also said this about why He came: John 10:10- “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” NASU And the Amplified Version unpacks it further like this: “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” Now think about it: Jesus said to people who were already living, that He came that they might have ‘life’. How about that? Well, again, how about this? Jesus said to people who were already ‘physically’ living, but were already ‘spiritually’ dead, that He came to give them ‘spiritual life’, and to have that new spiritual life in abundance…to have it in full…to have it flourishing in their lives!

First, this ‘life’ that Jesus came to give is referring to the ‘New Birth’ that He told Nicodemus about…that each person needs to be reborn in their spirit due to the fact that all have sinned and that, without the new birth, each person remains spiritually dead in trespasses and sin. Jesus came to give us this gift of His own spiritual life, His own eternal life! But this ‘new birth’ of our spirit is not automatic, of course. In order to have new life in Christ, this ‘new life’ must be individually and personally received. Then, Jesus also said that He came to enable everyone who had received this new spiritual life in union with Him to also then make their new life to be an abundant life…to have it flourish, be fruitful, be impactful, be rewarding, both in this life and especially throughout their eternal life in His eternal Kingdom!

Again, and do you think Jesus had a plan…had in mind some ‘order’ for you and for me to follow in order to experience this ‘abundant, flourishing, fruitful, and rewarding’ life that He revealed here? Of course He did! And we are to know that, even more than the precise order throughout creation in the physical realms, there is a ‘precise order’ throughout the spiritual realms which we are to follow as we follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior! Again, all of life is about ‘order’…it’s about God’s order in both creation itself and in people themselves! And as we start another year, what better resolution to make than to resolve to live our own lives according to this precise order…according to God’s order for our lives! So let’s explore…

First, how about some more ‘how abouts’ here…How about we start at the beginning…as in: Why are we even here? Not ‘here’, as in here…but as in “Why are we here, in this world, at all?” Why did God create human beings in the first place? Think long and hard about that. And we first need to start with God Himself! At the very heart of God is a Parent’s Heart! Why does God want us to call Him our ‘Heavenly Father?’ Mark it down: The deepest reason we exist at all is because God wanted a family…wanted children He could call ‘His own children’…wanted ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ to live with Him forever in His eternal world…in a physical world that He created to be the ‘home’ of His physical and spiritual family! The Earth, the Planets, the Stars, and the Galaxies are essentially God’s gifts that He created for His children…for us! When you look at the Stars you need to think: “God made these for me…and for all His children!” That fact, alone, will make you think differently about all creation!

But, again, as to the ‘Parent heart of God’, do you remember what God said to the children of Israel? Listen to how God speaks to the Israelites in a time of their rebellion and unbelief. It’s one of the most remarkable statements in the Scriptures that reveals the emotions and intentions of our Creator God. God said: “I thought to Myself, ‘I would love to treat you as My own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land—the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling Me ‘Father’, and I wanted you never to turn from Me.” Jer 3:19 NLT

If you ever wonder “why do I even exist?” Foremost, it’s because God created you to have a personal relationship with Him, as Him being your benevolent Heavenly Father, and you as being His beloved son or daughter. In fact, God had His apostle write this to us: “And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you, His heir. Gal 4:6-7 NLT

Have you ever thought about what God thought about you before you were even born? This is what He thought about you… “I looked forward to your calling Me ‘Father’!” The Creator of planets and stars and galaxies delights most in having you and me calling Him – ‘Father!’ And when, through the New Birth…when you were ‘Born Again’, or when you gave your life to Christ and received Jesus’ forgiveness and His life into yours, God becomes our Father, and we become His child. So then God the Holy Spirit reveals that He also wants you and me to call Him “Abba, Father.” ‘Abba’ is an Arabic word. Do you know what the English equivalent of Abba is? It’s ‘Papa’, as in ‘Papa Father’. And, once again, how about that? It seems almost too intimate, too personal to think of the Sovereign, the All-Mighty Lord, and the Creator of the Universe and Redeemer of the world in terms of also being our ‘Abba Father…our Papa Father’. But that’s exactly what God said He wants us to call Him…to call out to Him as our ‘Abba Father’.

Are you looking for a new resolution to this New Year? J.I. Packer once said that what comes into your mind when you think of God as your Father is the most important thing about you. So, what do you think about when you think of God as your Father? Do you think of God as God wants you to think of Him? Do you know God as God wants you to know Him? Do you need to adjust your thinking in any way here, or ways…from maybe projecting your own image upon what your Heavenly Father is like, either in terms of, maybe being too harsh…or maybe being too lenient…or maybe not really understanding what God is really like, character-wise or emotional-wise?

No doubt, we each need to adjust our understanding of our God…to get to better know what our Abba Father is really like…what His heart is really like, and what His character is really like, and what His plans really are for us, in how to think and how to act and what to do and what not to do, and so on. How fascinating, that what God really wants most from us is for us to really understand Him…to really understand ‘Who’ our Heavenly Father really is…what He is really like…and what He really wants in our relationship with Him. Jer 9:23-24- Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” NASU

Our God wants us to better know Him, to better understand Him, so that we can better relate to Him in fellowship and in the services that He designed for our lives. But remember, we only find that out by spending time with our Abba Father in learning more about what He has revealed to us about Himself in His Word…and then put His Word into our practice, as we walk closer in fellowship and prayer…and as we then seek to ‘order’ our lives according to ‘His precise order’ that He has for us to follow as we follow Him. It’s pretty much a continual adjustment in better understanding our God and in better worshipping our God and in better serving our God…or as God wants us to call Him…our ‘Abba Father’.

In our next study we’re going to further explore some essential steps and principles in this ‘precise order’ that God has for lives. For, again, life is all about ‘order’, and the more that we follow God’s order for our lives, the more our lives will then ‘flourish’, just as our Heavenly Father intends for His children.

1. Space.com, What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?

“Something Different”

Pastor Josiah Mitchener

Jan 5, 2025

 “Crown the Year”

Pastor Robert Kornegay

Gifts For a Lifetime: Eternally

Study Guide, December 22, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Each year during our Christmas Family service we get to open presents and then talk about what we find inside. And we imagine that our setting here is like a big living room, and a little more interactive and festive. So if yaou are ready to open presents…and who isn’t…let’s go.

First…

Comfort and Joy! That comes right out of a familiar Christmas Carol. You know the one that’s entitled: ‘Divine Naps for Festive Fellows’! What’s that? That’s the alternate title for what Carol? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Speaking of Alternative Titles: How about we guess the actual names to the alternate titles of some other Christmas Carols?

• Eight P.M. until Six A.M. without Noise! – Silent Night!
• Listen, Aerial Spirits are Announcing! – Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
• Befell During the Transparent Bewitching Hour! – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear!
• Hollowed Post Twilight! – O Holy Night!
• Exuberance Directed Toward the Planet! – Joy to the World!
• Homosapien of Crystallized Vapor – Frosty the Snowman!
• Adorn the Vestibule! – Deck the Halls!
• Cherubim Audited from Aloft! – Angels We Have Heard on High!
• Awesome Hibernal Acreage! – Winter Wonderland!
• Senior Flattened by a Cloven Aviator! – Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!
• Enquiry about Mutual Auditory Perception! – Do You Hear What I Hear?!
• Yonder In a Hayrack! – Away In a Manger!
• Spritely Venerable Benefactor! – Jolly Old St. Nicolas!
• Royal Eastern Trio! – We Three Kings of Orient Are!
• Commencement of Yuletide Complexion! – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
• Perambulating Through a December Solstice Fantasy! – Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

That’s some kind of fun! And just another reminder that Christians have more reason to rejoice than anything else! That was even part of the Angel’s announcement to the Shepherds:

Luke 2:10-11- “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” NASU Even in the midst of their hardships and trials, something else had come into their midst…Someone else had come into their midst – Jesus, the Messiah, Lord of all, and Savior to everyone who would receive His gift of life, forgiveness, and…joy!

And what about ‘comfort’? We know that Hope is really a Person. We know that Truth is really a Person. We know that Peace is really a Person. But did you know that Comfort is also really a Person? Do you remember what Jesus said when He was about to ascend to Heaven? John 14:26- “But the Comforter, (even) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” ASV How wonderful to know that even one of the names of our God the Holy Spirit is ‘The Comforter!’ The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Just think: Comforting you and me is one of the Holy Spirit’s ministries to us. And the Holy Spirit indwells God’s children as well. So not only is God the Holy Spirit seeking to teach us, and guide us, and empower us…He is also seeking to calm us, and quiet us, and assure us, and bring peace to us…to comfort us. We just need to let Him. Let God do what He wants to do in your heart and mind and life. Comfort and Joy…yes, Thank you Lord!

Second…

Grace and Peace! Talk about great gifts! Did you notice in your Bible readings that nearly every letter that Paul wrote he always started it by saying, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” He said it over and over! And one reason he started his letters with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is because everything good in our life starts with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything good in our life is because of God’s grace. Paul also put that this way: 1 Cor 15:10- “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” NASU

And guess what? By the grace of God you are what you are, as well! You see, even our ability to labor, to do good works and such, are because of God’s grace to us. The talents that we have and the gifts we use – mentally and physically, all of our abilities to do good, to seek good, to make good…it’s all because of the grace of God given to us and working within us. Yes, we put forth the efforts, we choose to toil, we put our diligence into motion…but the talents, gifts, and abilities that we have are all from God and His grace in giving them to us!

And grace has been described as ‘God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!” Even in our salvation we need to remember that although our salvation is free to us, it cost Jesus everything. Even though we are not saved by our works, we are saved by Christ’s works. As has been put: The Christian faith rests upon the twin pillars of the Person and the Works of Christ. Jesus earned our salvation for us with His own sinless obedience and His own sacrificial death. God’s Riches to us at Christ’s Expense…exactly!

Even the ‘peace’ that we have is born out of the ‘grace’ of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 5:1- “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” NLT

We have both ‘peace with God’ and we have the ‘peace of God’ because we have found favor…grace, in the sight of God through Jesus our Lord and Savior!

Third…

Light and Life! Praise God for the light and the life He has brought into our lives. You know, the Christmas Story has been told many ways, but it’s never been told quite like this…from these kid’s special telling of it…and we thought you’d enjoy it today. So let’s take a look: (‘Christmas According to Kids’…on You tube)

…never heard it quite like that, but kids have a great way of saying most things! But there we have it…in a different light…but anyway, again, we find that Light, too, is a Person, and Life…life is a Person. Jesus is the Light of the World and the Source of all life! Which means, without Jesus, this world is dark and life-less. Note how the Apostle Paul identifies this world: Col 1:11-14- “May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” NLT

So, yes, our world basically is – ‘a kingdom of darkness’. And the only thing that changes that…the only One who changes that is Jesus. And Jesus did that on His mission, His ‘rescue’ mission. That’s the essence of Christmas, remember…Christmas is Christ’s ‘rescue mission’. A Christian then is one who has been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of light…the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. So even though you and I live in this world, this kingdom of darkness, we belong to another Kingdom…we belong to the Kingdom of light and the life that we now have is a life that is shared with the very source of life, Jesus Christ.

Plus, not only do you belong to the Kingdom of Christ, but you are also even a royal son or a royal daughter of the King of the Kingdom of Light. That makes you an actual Prince or an actual Princess of the King and His Kingdom. And we’re not talking about being a Prince or a Princess from like the story of King Arthur, or something like that, because every born-again son of God is a Prince, and every born-again daughter of God is a Princess of the King of kings and Lord of lords. And you will always be so in Christ’s Kingdom that is coming! How’s your sense of significance feeling now?!

And now we come to the Fourth present…

Love and Lord!

So here we go again…we know Hope is a Person, Truth is a Person, Peace is a Person, Comfort, too…a Person, Light is a Person…and now, Love is a Person. As the Apostle John said: 1 John 4:15-16- “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. NASU God is the source of true ‘love’.

Just think: The reason that God came to Earth…the reason Christ became Jesus Christ…the reason Jesus was on this ‘rescue mission’, was because of this: John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” NASU

“For God so loved…(Your name)…that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” NASU

Christmas is not only Christ coming into our world. It’s Christ coming into this world for you…He was coming for you and for me…and for all who would in return come to Him and be saved by Him. God has always known that He would come into this world for you, long before you even came into this world. He even loved you long before He even came for you, because He knew you even before the foundation of the world. So remember – you don’t have to convince God to love you, for God loved you even before there ‘was a you!’(that has kind of a Dr. Suess sound to it… ‘was a you’). God has both known you and loved you from eternity past. Now, that’s a love story! All you have to do is to let Him…let God love you. And the way that you let God love you is by loving Him in return. Love Him as He is…He is your Lord and your God, for your Savior is also your Creator. And as your Creator, God knows what is best for you…just like these gifts that God has for you. And these gifts are not just for Christmas, they are new every morning, like His lovingkindness and mercies…they are new every morning. And we are to use them every day in our worship and service of our great God and Savior who came to give us the ‘gift of Himself’…for Jesus is the greatest gift of all!

 

Christmas: A ‘H/U’ Celebration

Study Guide, December 15, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So how about this? Christmas is a H/U celebration! How so? Well, before we get to that, think about this: Recently we were reminded of a particular identity that our God has given to His children, even though we don’t quite feel deserving of it. But that’s just the way our God is. And it is actually just the way our God has worked in our lives. He has worked it so that ‘who’ He has remade us into, in our relationship with Christ, is so much more than ‘what’ we have made of ourselves. And ‘what’ God has remade of us is that He has remade us into being His ‘Saints’… ‘Saints in Christ’… God’s ‘Set Apart Ones’. In our relationship with Christ, God remade us ‘Sinners’ into His ‘Saints’.

Again, that’s kind of a surprise to us, for we know that were are Sinners by nature and by practice, yet, now that we have been reborn in our spirit and united to Christ’s spirit and life, we are in fact, Saints…Saints, who unfortunately still tend to sin and need God’s forgiveness for our daily fellowship with God and our usefulness to God, but we truly are now children of God and ‘Saints’ by calling and conversion.

Well, here’s another surprising and additional title for your identity. Have you ever thought of yourself as a ‘Theologian’? You may be thinking, ‘Oh, that only applies to those who specialize in the study of Theology and have become proficient and accomplished in the understanding and the communication of Systematic Theology.” Well, yes, it certainly does, at that. However, Theology is simply the study of religious faith, practice, and experience…especially (and note this) the study of God and of God’s Word and of the relation God and His Word to this world.

Therefore, since you do study the Word of God, you do spend time in prayer with God, and in devotional reading of God’s Word…or, the study of Theology, in that sense, you really are a ‘Theologian!’ And as you do study the Word of God more and more, the more equipped you become at doing what God has instructed His children, His Theologians, to do: 2 Tim 2:15- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV

So add that to your ‘Resume’. Actually, the more that you think of your identity or identities in Biblical terms, the more those identities will then influence both your perception of yourself and the practices of your life. Remember, ‘who’ you are is even more important than ‘what’ you do, because ‘who’ you are will often determine ‘what’ you do.

Well, that was fun, right? But what does being a ‘Theologian’ have to do with Christmas? It has a whole lot to do with Christmas, because Christmas is all about ‘Theology!’ And Christmas is all about Theology because Christmas is all about the study of God! In fact, Christmas is a ‘H/U’ celebration. Oh yeah! It is the celebration of the Hypostatic Union of God! Hypostatic is from a Greek term that means ‘person’ or ‘subsistence’. So in connection with ‘union’ it means the ‘union of persons’. Christmas is all about the ‘union of Persons!’ That was the message of our Responsive Reading. John 1:1-4- “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….14- “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.” NASU

Christmas in unique in the heavens and the earth because this Hypostatic Union…this Union of Persons, is unique in the heavens and the earth because the divine Person of God/Christ united Himself with the human Person of Jesus, and forever became the one Person of Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully human. Christmas is the ‘Incarnation’ of God. It is just as the Apostle John said, ‘God became flesh.’ The Creator of the human body created a human body in which He would unite His Spirit and forever after be both, God and Man. Oh yes, wonder of wonders indeed! There is no greater wonder than the Hypostatic Union of Jesus Christ…the Incarnation of the Perfect God and Perfect Man. And since y’all are Theologians…southern Theologians…this area of study is also called Christology, the study of the Person and the works of Jesus Christ. And this is what you and I are all about – the worship and study and celebration of the Word who became flesh, full of grace and truth.

And that, of course, leads us to the ‘why’… ‘why’ did the Creator become one of His creations?! That’s what the writer of Hebrews explains in Heb 2:14-15- “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” NASU And now, fellow Theologians, we are talking about ‘Soteriology’, or the study of the doctrine of Salvation. The only way for God to save any of us from this slavery of sin and death was to, in fact, become ‘one of us’ and become a ‘substitute’ for us…become someone who could take upon Himself the sentence of our sin, which was both physical and spiritual death, and thus fully satisfy the justice required to pay the penalty for our sins. That is why it is called ‘the Substitutionary Atonement’ of Jesus Christ.

The sinless life of Jesus qualified Him to be able to stand in for us…to take our place in our stead, or instead of us! No other human could ever do that, since every human has already been sentenced to physical death and spiritual separation from God because of their own sins. Only a ‘sinless human’ can redeem or purchase the freedom of another human who is guilty of sins. Think about it: What if a person is standing before a Judge, and he is guilty of a long list of crimes, which will call for the death penalty. And then, another person, who is also guilty of a long list of crimes, which also calls for the death penalty, says, “I’ll take his sentence for him.” “What?” The Judge would say, “You cannot take the place of another guilty person, since you have your own crimes to pay for, which will include your death.” All right…so that is clear. You can’t pay for someone else’s crimes until your own crimes are paid for. And since sins against God require an eternal sentence of spiritual death, eternal spiritual separation from God, that means the sentence has no end date.

But now, if a Person was not guilty of those crimes, then offered to take the guilt of another person upon themselves, and then if the Judge so approved, the guilty one would be set free from the sentencing of that guilt. They would be declared ‘not guilty’ and set free…or ‘Justified’…also ‘Redeemed’. Their freedom was purchased by the person who took their guilt and sentencing in their place as their ‘Substitute’…ie. ‘Savior’. And that is just what the Apostle Peter is explaining to us in 1 Peter 1:17-21- “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; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” NASU

Plus, because of the divinity of Christ, or since Christ is also the source of all life and is Himself eternal, Jesus could then pay this eternal penalty of sins! He could ‘redeem’ everyone who would come to Christ in repentance and faith, because, as the God of all human spirits, Jesus Christ could share His spirit with every repentant sinner. Again, no human being can give his or her spirit to another. Only God, as the Eternal One, can do that!

So for you and me to better understand our salvation we need to picture ourselves, see ourselves, standing before God, the Judge of all the world, knowing that we are guilty of a long list of sins, which will include the death penalty of our spirit…eternal separation from God. But up steps Jesus Christ, and He says, I’ll take his or her sins and their eternal death penalty upon Myself and pay it all in full, so that they can be set free and be declared ‘Righteous’…right with God and be freed from the sentence of their sin…and also then live eternally.” That’s what Jesus did for you and for me. That’s why Jesus was born in a manger in a rock formation, in a Tower of the Flock near Bethlehem. That’s why there is a ‘Christmas’ for us to celebrate in the first place.

And when we do turn our life over to God in repentance and place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, God gives His life to our spirit, which was dead because of sin, and God unites our resurrected spirit to His Spirit, His eternal life, and we become eternal children of God’s. And now we are talking about the theological work called ‘Pneumatology’. Oh yes, Christmas is all about Pneumatology as well. It’s part of the Christmas story, remember? Luke 1:34-35- “Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” NASU The virgin birth of Jesus is a centerpiece of the Christmas story. Again, the Incarnation required the union of Divinity and Humanity, and that was accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit and the miracle of the virgin birth.

Pneumatology is a combination of two Greek words, ‘spirit’ and ‘word’. It is the study of the Person and works of God the Holy Spirit. It is God the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our need for Jesus, Savior of the world. The Apostle John reveals this in John 16:8-11- “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” NASU And how liberating is that to know, as we are reminded that in our sharing God’s truths and God’s gospel with others, that we don’t have to worry about doing the convicting or pressuring for conviction because God the Holy Spirit is the One and only One who can convict a soul of their sins and of their need for God. We are only ‘carriers’ not ‘convictors’! (…kind of made that word up…but you get what we mean…)

And it is the work of the Holy Spirit that then spiritually births the one who turns to Christ and asks Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. John 3:5-6- “Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.” NLT

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to guide us, to counsel us, to comfort us, and to grow fruit in us. Gal 5:22-23- “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” NLT You talk about “All I want for Christmas”, right? These are nine of the best presents in life! And God the Holy Spirit is willing and able to grow these in and through your life, day by day, as you yield to the Lordship of Christ and let the Spirit of Christ be in charge of your mind, and body, and soul.

But then, there is something else that we celebrate at Christmas. For as we celebrate Jesus’ first advent, of His First Coming of Christmas, it calls for us to look forward to the celebration of Jesus’ second advent, His Second Coming. And now, us theologians here, are talking about Eschatology. And especially here at the Chapel, we love the study of what the Bible says is going to happen in the end times, and especially about the return of the Christ of Christmas…the Christ of our conversion…the Christ of all creation! We are all about what the Apostle Paul says we are to be all about in Titus 2:11-14- “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

NASU

Christmas is not only looking back at the manger, but also looking ahead to the Throne! The One who was born a king is also coming again to rule as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are people of Eschatology. We are ‘eschatological’ people! (And that really is a word…so go for it.)

And next Sunday we are going to unwrap some other special presents and look into them, but we wanted to also give you these special presents as well, these ‘Theological presents’ for God’s Theologians…Christology, Soteriology, Pneumatology, and Eschatology. Plus, that’s just a whole lot of Christian and Christmas fun right there!

Back to Bethlehem

Study Guide, December 8, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

How many have been to Bethlehem? Today, Bethlehem is the home to over 27,000 residents. Those who live in Bethlehem are considered citizens of Palestine. Two million tourists provide 65% of the town’s income. Christians from all over the world travel to Bethlehem to see and experience the birthplace of Jesus Christ. When we visited Bethlehem, we were able to go into the Church of the Nativity, which was built by Constantine around 330 AD. The door to the Church is much smaller than it was originally, as we were told that marauders on horseback used to ride into the Church and damage things. That’s the same reason the doors on the Chapel are smaller than they used to be…there’s always a few that ruin things, you know? Tradition states that a cave under the church is the place of Jesus’ birth. And there is a Latin inscription over it that says, “Hic De Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est”…‘Here Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary.’

But Bethlehem is amazing in many ways. The most amazing, of course, is that it’s the birthplace of our Lord Jesus. But also, Bethlehem has a fascinating history. And since I knew that you would want to know…here we go.

One of the other fascinating things when you are touring around Bethlehem is while you are filled with the wonder of Jesus’ birth occurring right there, the tour guide then points out a different tomb near the entrance of the city and says something like, “And here is the traditional burial site of Jacob’s wife Rachel, who died in childbirth with Benjamin.” Really?! Think about it: You are already back in time 2,000 years thinking about the birth of Jesus, and now you’re transported back another 1,400 years to Genesis with Jacob and Rachel! And we think the town of Jamestown, Virginia, is an old town!

But just before Jacob’s own death, as he was blessing his children, he recounts to them this burial of Rachel in Ephrath. Gen 48:7- “Long ago, as I was returning from Paddan-aram, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still on the way, some distance from Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). So with great sorrow I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath.” NLT Throughout much of the Bible, Ephrath, also Ephrathah, is a description for members of the Israelite tribe of Judah, as well as for the possible founders of Bethlehem. But again, we’re talking about a 3,400-year-old city!

But then, Bethlehem is also known for another famous group of people. Look at this. “In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.” Ruth 1:1-2 NLT Plus, we know the rest of the story… For when Naomi returns to Bethlehem, her daughter in law, Ruth, just happens…providentially that is…just happens to glean from the fields of a landowner named Boaz, who soon becomes Ruth’s Kinsman-Redeemer and Husband.

Now, do you happen to remember the name of Boaz and Ruth’s son? His name was Obed. And although you may not remember Obed’s name, you remember Obed’s grandson’s name…for his name was ‘David’…as in ‘King David!’ So now we’re up to around 1,000 B.C., as David’s family’s hometown was Bethlehem. Note this: 1 Sam 16:1- “Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” NASU Also in1 Sam 17:12- “Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah.” NLT

And as time goes by, even the town of Bethlehem itself, along with the name of ‘Ephrathah’, acquires an additional name. Remember what that was? ‘The City of David.’ What? When did Bethlehem become the “city of David”? That title had always been given to Jerusalem. Remember, after King David conquered the Jebusites, Jerusalem became the capitol city of Israel, and especially the holy site of the Temple under King Solomon. And around forty times in the Old Testament, Jerusalem is referred to as the city of David, and no other city in the Bible is ever called by that name…until Luke’s gospel, that is.

Luke 2:4-6- “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.” NASU We also see it in Luke 2:8-11- “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” NASU

So now we have two cities, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, both called ‘The City of David!’ How remarkable that two Kings, King David and King Jesus, were both born in…well, you know how the song goes: “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by…” Again, how remarkable that God planned it so that both the King of Israel and the King of all kings would begin in such humble beginnings. They were both from ‘O little town of Bethlehem’…a humble town…a Shepherd’s town. Remember how caught up the proud religious leaders were about ‘where someone was from’? Like even with Jesus’ in Nazareth…when Philip told Nathanel about Jesus, Nathanel repeated the common saying of the time… “What? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Oh yes, even then the problems of bias and status and power and worldly wealth infected both the power-hungry religious leaders and the people who followed them.

But just like the last verse of the song says… “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be ‘born’ in us today.” Now we’re talking about a ‘second birth!’ The first birth is the birth from below, from this earth, and the second birth is the birth from above, from Heaven…from the Holy Spirit…from the Spirit of the Holy Child of Bethlehem. Life is not about where you are from…it’s about where you are going. Where you are from is important, yes, but where you are going is everything!

We pray each one here and with us today has been born twice…once from below, on earth, and once from above, from the Lord of Heaven and Earth. If you are not sure, make sure, while it’s still called ‘Today’.

But now, on the other hand, when it comes to a prophecy about where you are going to be from…now it becomes something else altogether. For now it becomes ‘proof’…proof that not only are you from where the prophecy said you would be from, but since you exactly fulfilled the prophecy of where you would be from, it means that you are also ‘Who’ the prophecy said you would be. Remember Herod’s question to the religious leaders? Matt 2:3-6- “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'” NKJV It’s interesting that these leaders actually left out part of the whole prophecy, because the Prophet Micah revealed even more about ‘Who’ it was that was being prophesied about! Notice: Mic 5:2- “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” NASU

Oh my! So not only would this child be from Bethlehem, He would actually be ‘from the days of eternity past.’ And that could only mean the He was the Eternal One! And since He was the Eternal One, not only would He be the King of Israel, and not only would He be a King on Earth, He was in fact, the King of Heaven and all Creation! Herod should have been even more troubled, even more disturbed, even more afraid than he was, and should have bowed his head and heart before God to be saved! God had just come to Earth embodied in the child that was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem!

It’s like that Christmas song of ‘Sweet Little Jesus Boy’, that says: “Sweet little Jesus boy, They made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child, We didn’t know who you were. Didn’t know you’d come to save us Lord, To take our sins away. Our eyes were blind, we could not see…We didn’t know who you were.” But that’s another reason for the prophesies, or as we like to say, ‘The Proofs, you see!’

How spiritually blind could these religious leaders be, to not see that the very One they were talking about was fulfilling a 500-year-old prophecy right before their very eyes! Again, we’re talking about a Prophet giving a specific prophecy about where the Christ child would be born over 500 years before it happened. That prophecy is even twice as old as the existence of the United States of America…as from 1776 to 2024 is 248 years!

Remember, fulfilled prophecies are all over Christmas. One scholar, J. Barton Payne, has found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to or describe or reference the coming Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah or His times. Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry. The whole ancient world should have expectantly been looking for the Messiah’s coming! Just like the whole present world should expectantly be looking for the Messiah’s second coming!

But there’s another fascinating thing about Bethlehem that we have spoken about before, but it is so fascinating that it will fascinate us again. And here it is…Bethlehem was also significant because the area around it was not only a place where shepherds watched over their flocks by night…it was where ‘Temple Shepherds watched over their temple lambs by day and by night! So now, back to Jacob again: Gen 35:19-21- “So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day. Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-eder.” NLT

And what and where was this ‘Migdal-eder’? The name of this place means ‘herding tower’. It was a rock formation that shepherds used to protect their animals from predators and to care for them. Again, we’re talking about a place for shepherds and a practice by shepherds that goes back some 3,500 years! Not continuously, of course, but this is still the same location. Or, it had been going on for 1,500 years even before the final ‘Lamb of God’ came to be cared for in a manger near Bethlehem. In fact, near Bethlehem you can see more of these shepherd’s towers than anywhere else in the world.

And why so many towers? Because, again, these shepherds were not raising your average sheep. These sheep were being groomed as unblemished lambs for sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem. Bethlehem was about five miles from Jerusalem. The Prophet Micah even uses these towers of the flocks in another prophecy of the Messiah’s coming rule over Jerusalem, that is the Kingdom rule over Jerusalem. Note what he says: Mic 4:8- “As for you, tower of the flock, Hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come —Even the former dominion will come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” NASU

So again, these towers in that area were well known, along with their special use for caring for the sacrificial lambs. The priests would come from Jerusalem to Migdal-Eder to inspect the lambs and choose those identified as ‘kosher’, or ‘proper and fit’ according to the laws of the Torah, or the five books of Moses…the first five books of the Old Testament. And, get this, after inspection they would wrap the lamb in swaddling clothes and place it in a manger until taking it to Jerusalem.

And now, do you hear what I hear? Luke 2:12- “And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” AMP What was the sign? The sign was that they would find the Messiah, the Lamb of God, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, looking just like how a sacrificial lamb that was being prepared for temple sacrifice would look.

Oh yes, our God is a God of wonders…even in the wondrous ways that He prepared the world for the Messiah to come, and for all who would come to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Lamb of God, who takes away their sins.

 

A Christmas Passover

Study Guide, December 1, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

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We think of January as the head of the year, as ever since 1582 most of the world has followed the Gregorian Calendar…with its 365.24 days…most years having 365 days and an extra day added every four years. Just a little conversation material there for your Christmas dinners…

Also, some have proposed that Christmas may have been in the Spring, since Luke states that the Shepherds were out in the fields watching their sheep. Many assume that Spring was the lambing season. However, that might be the case in the West, where a single spring lambing season is the norm, but that’s not the case in Israel. The flocks there stay out in the open all year round, if the weather permits, or they are given shelter during the coldest months and driven into the fields in early spring to graze until fall. In Israel lambing season is from late November to late March. So we are still left with the fact that the Bible doesn’t give us the date or exact time that Jesus was born.

What we do know is that when Jesus gave up His life on the Cross, it was in the Spring, because it was during the Feast of Passover. This is the exact setting in which Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper. Matt 26:17-19- “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”‘” The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.” NASU

Again, the time of Passover is in Springtime. So does this give us any indication of when Christ’s birth may have occurred? If so, how so? Since the Bible doesn’t indicate the timing of Jesus’ birth, the celebration of Christmas has mostly just been according to tradition. And the traditional reasoning was based upon the response of the early Church to the Roman’s observance of their mid-winter festival in late December. They called it ‘Saturnalia’. It was a festival dedicated to the so-called god of agriculture, Saturn. It was a time of gift giving and family and community gatherings. And the festival ended with a day they called ‘Sol Invictus’, or ‘the Unconquered Sun’…as in ‘S-U-N’, held on December 25^th. And that was particularly connected with ‘Sun worship.

Therefore, as tradition states it, in response to this false worship many in the early church used this opportunity to proclaim the worship of the one true ‘Unconquered Son’ – ‘S-O-N’, the Son of God, and, thus, the celebration of His birth into the world as the only God and Savior of the world.¹ But there’s another side to this historical story, for in other early church writings, even including men like Augustine, the timing of Christ’s birth was still believed to have a connection with the timing of Passover, as in, the timing of the Cross.

History reports that Jesus, our Messiah, was crucified during Passover of AD 33. He gave up His life in the ninth hour. And in this, the Scriptures are very specific about the time of day that Jesus gave up His life. Luke 23:44-46- “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.'” Having said this, He breathed His last.” NKJV

In the Jewish tradition, the day began at sundown and was divided into 12 seasonal hours. The Jewish hours of prayer were:

• Third hour: Around 9 AM, the first hour of prayer, known as “Shacharit” (morning)
• Sixth hour: Around 12 PM
• Ninth hour: Around 3 PM, the second hour of prayer, known as “Minchah” (gift-offering) 

The ninth hour later came to be called “the hour of great mercy for the world”, as it related to Jesus’ sacrifice. So whenever it’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon and someone asks you what time it is, you could say, “It’s the hour of great mercy for the world!” That’s a pretty great witness tool!

But now we get even closer to connecting Passover with Christmas, because it was at Passover, at the ninth hour, that the Temple Priests would have been sacrificing the Passover Lambs. How ironic, and sad, that these Priests were right by the actual sacrificial Lamb of Jesus, of whom all the lambs throughout history pointed to as the final sacrifice to remove the penalty for their sins that these symbolic sacrifices could never do. But they did not have eyes to see their Savior, nor ears to hear those prophecies that were shouting out to them throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. How sad, that still, so many of both Jews and Gentiles fail to recognize the Lamb of God, Yeshua the Messiah, as being their only hope of forgiveness and eternal salvation.

But also how amazing…how intricate are God’s ways, that even Jesus’ sacrificial death was timed to coincide with the timing of the sacrificial lambs, as Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. And Paul called Jesus ‘our Passover’…Passover Lamb…1 Cor 5:7-8- “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” NASU

Now, back to Augustine…In his writing of On the Trinity (c. 399–419) he writes: “For He [Jesus] is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day also He suffered; so the womb of the Virgin, in which he was conceived, where no one of mortals was begotten, corresponds to the new grave in which he was buried, wherein was never man laid, neither before him nor since. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December the 25th.” How about that? And even Tertullian, who was a Christian theologian and historian from Northern Africa, earlier, around 200 AD, pointed out that since our God does all of His works according to orderliness and planning, and that all of His ways in which He works are intricate and interwoven, that as they thought about the connection of Passover with the Cross, they also thought of Jesus’ Conception in connection with the Cross. And thus, if there was timing of connection between the Passover and the Cross, surely there would be a connection concerning the timing of Conception with the Cross. And thus, that would make Christmas be a December celebration, as that would be a ninth month separation, counting from the Cross, that is.²

Plus, there is also this: Luke 1:26-28- “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” NLT So we do know that Elizabeth was in her sixth month carrying John the Baptist. For centuries, there has been a celebration of the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24^th. If John’s birth occurred on June 24^th, then his conception would have been nine months earlier in late September/early October, near the time of the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles and just after Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement).

So now, and this is really fascinating, for six months from John’s conception is awful close to March 25^th. Or, as the author of this research put it… “should we say ‘awe-filled’ close to March 25^th.” And nine-months from that time…well, that is the time in December when Christians have celebrated the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ for over 1500 years.³

Again, we do not have Scriptural revelation about the exact timing on these events of Christmas. But do remember, that whenever historical relevance and sound logic and honorable evidence are both supportive and consistent with the revelations that we do have from God’s Words, we can use them to encourage our faith and to celebrate the fact that this is God’s world, and there are so many things that are declaring the glory of God throughout His world and throughout history…or, ‘His Story!’ So remember: Build your faith on the solid rock truths as revealed in the Scriptures, but go ahead and enjoy great historical traditions that honor God, like Christmas!

And when it comes to the Cross, we even have the writings of Daniel’s revelation of the countdown from Daniel’s prophecy of the coming Messiah and His death. So we really can calculate the timing of the Cross pretty closely. And, concerning the events themselves, these events are precisely revealed to us in the Scriptures. Not only are the events of the Conception and the Cross revealed to us, we also know that although the Cross followed in the events, they were planned together. Say what? Acts 2:22-24- “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know — this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” NASU

From eternity past, God planned that the Son of God would become a Son of Man in order to become the Savior of the world. Conception…Christmas…and the Cross were all planned together as God’s plan of salvation for you and for me, and for all who repent and believe in the Christ of Christmas. They are all connected. Why, even as the Star of Bethlehem was shining its light over the babe in the manger, there was also the shadow of the Cross on the horizon. For the Cross was the reason for the Conception. The Cross was the reason for Christmas. The Cross was the fulfillment of Passover. The Cross was why Christ came at Christmas. Jesus, who is the light of the world, lived His whole life in the shadow of the Cross. Jesus is the only person who has ever lived who was born for the purpose of dying.

Let’s put that another way – Jesus was born to die in order to take your place and my place of death. Now, of course, our physical bodies will still have to experience ‘death’, that is, unless Jesus comes back in the Rapture of the Church before we physically die. But the effects of the presence of sin in the physical body is that it changed it from being immortal into being mortal. And mortal means ‘the state of being subject to death’. Death is the separation of the immaterial life of a person from the material life of a person. But the immaterial life of a person, their mind, emotions, and will, or ‘Soul’ can also be separated from the Giver of Life…who is Christ the Lord. But that’s why Jesus took both, our place of physical death on the Cross so that we could be given a new physical life in an immortal body, and He also took our place in spiritual death. Jesus was separated from God in His time on the Cross so that we would not have to be separated from God for all time, or for eternity. That’s why the Apostle Paul told us: 2 Cor 5:21- “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” NASU

Martin Luther called this verse that describes the Gospel as ‘The Great Exchange.’ Our Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God, takes our judgment of sin upon Himself and gives to us His righteousness…credits us with His righteous life.” Thus, the greatest gift in the world, from Conception to Christmas to the Cross. Jesus Himself is our greatest gift! Make sure that you have made the great exchange…that you have given your life to Christ in repentance and received Christ into your life by faith as your Savior.

1. Biblicalarchaeology.org, How December 25 Became Christmas
2. Ibid
3. Drydenlutheran.ca, The Dating of Christmas: John the Baptist Luke 1: 5-27, 34-37

 

 

The Beginning of Wisdom

November 24, 2024

Pastor Robert Kornegay

 

Psalm 111^[a]

Developing Our A.O.G.

Study Guide, November 17, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

On Thursday the Chapel Preschoolers had an early Thanksgiving program. It was great. The Teachers do a great job with these little people. I think the Parents wanted to get in on the motion songs…especially the ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ song…with the ‘stomp your feet’ part! You’re probably wanting to do that one right now, right? Anyway, we appreciate the Preschool Ministry here and the Chapel is happy to support it all. Now, you can stomp your feet about that happy part!

But we shared with the kids and the parents that developing a thankful habit is a life-long practice. And so we gave them a little help in developing it further. In fact, we gave them 1,000 reasons to give thanks to God…in the form of this little booklet called ‘The Bible Promise Book’. It has 1,000 promises that we can use to help us in the giving of our personal thanks to God. As you read a promise, then turn it into a prayer of ‘Thanks’. It can be a great help in further developing your A.O.G…your Attitude Of Gratitude! So the Chapel has a gift for you when you leave. You can pick up your own copy of this Bible Promise Book. There are two different translations…one is the King James Version and the other is the New Life Version. Either way, the promises are the same and just as powerful and inspiring.

Actually, we reminded the Preschool parents that another reason for these promises from God is that they are intended to be superimposed over the problems of life. We all have problems of various types and degrees. But, we also have God’s promises to put on top of our problems in order to have God’s victories over the seeming defeats of our problems. So be sure and pick up your copy and start walking through these promises, turning them into thanksgiving prayers as you go along. It will greatly help your A.O.G.

Now then, why is it that ‘gratitude’ has to be taught, but ‘grumbling’ just comes naturally? With children you never hear Parents reminding their children – “Now, remember to complain today, okay?” “Remember to grumble!” What? Griping and grumbling doesn’t have to be taught…kids of all ages, young and old, just by nature already know how to do that! What you hear Parents saying is “Remember to say ‘thank you’.” “Remember to give thanks!” A thankful habit has to be taught. Even the Psalmist, as an adult, was still reminding himself of this critical need and was still developing his A.O.G., as he said – Ps 103:1-2- “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” NASU In fact, 168 times throughout the Bible we are called to ‘remember’ various significant and important things!

One thing we should clearly know about our OSN, or our Old Sin-Nature, is that we are prone to grumbling. Grumbling is clear evidence of ONT, or Old Nature Thinking. (As you have already noticed, I’m kind of into acronyms…they are just so helpful for remembering things…the military is permeated with acronyms…which is great…like your DOD – Department of Defense, and MOS – Military Occupational Specialty, and JCS – Joint Chiefs of Staff, and so on) But what spiritually Born-Again people are to be focused upon and led by is our NNT, or our New Nature Thinking, particularly as in our focus here…particularly in relation to our commitment to walking in ‘gratitude’ instead of stumbling in ‘grumbling’. And here are just a few Biblical statements about just how serious God is about His people refraining from the sinful habit of grumbling. Notice:

Phil 2:14- “Do all things without grumbling or disputing…” NASU Now, It’s normal to have questions…it’s fine to have concerns…and it’s okay to express frustrations…but it is not alright to grumble about them in the ears of God and others!

James 5:9- “Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” NLT Grumbling and complaining and destructive criticisms of others means that we are going to have to give an account to God about doing that, and we will wish we had not done that!

1 Cor 10:10-11- “And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” NLT Remember, the sinful practice of ‘grumbling’ before God was a major reason that many Israelites forfeited their inheritance of the promised land. Oh my! Plus, remember that the Promised Land was not a symbol of Heaven, or salvation, but a symbol of their inheritance privileges or loss of inheritance privileges. It was based upon ‘obedience’ to God, just like our Kingdom inheritance privileges are based upon our ‘obedience’ to God.

Ex 16:8- “…the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.” NASU Next time you are moved or tempted to grumble or gripe or destructively criticize something or someone, remember that God takes your grumbling as grumbling against Him! And you don’t want to grumble against God! Nothing good becomes of that…only judgment!

And one more passage here: Ps 106:24-25- “Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe in His word, but grumbled in their tents; They did not listen to the voice of the Lord.” NASU Grumbling indicates that we have not been listening to, and learning from, and honoring our God. So again, there is no gain to be found in grumbling…only loss.

And here is something else that we need to add to our understanding of why grumbling is so offensive to God. We need to understand just what grumbling actually is. Note this: The Hebrew word for ‘grumble’ is made up from two words. One is ‘Lun’…and ‘lun’ connotes ‘growling’. Yes, ‘growling’, as in a disgruntled animal. Or, sometimes you even hear Parents say to their children as they listen to them griping and complaining…they say, “What are you ‘growling’ about?” And the other word is ‘Ragan’. (Ra-gahn) And ‘ragan’ indicates a ‘whispered rebellion’. We often see it translated as ‘murmuring’, or a muttering underneath a person’s breath, as they say. This grumbling person has a cantankerous sort of personality. But again, no wonder God is so serious in His commands for us to not give in to our sin-nature and to not act upon the sin of grumbling…for grumbling comes across as ‘growling before the Lord in a rebellious spirit.’

So grumbling and griping and complaining are not only dishonoring of God, but they are destructive to the very character that God desires to develop in His children. A grumbling Christian who is following his own sin-nature is acting more like a non-Christian than a grateful Christian who is trying to follow Christ in his character and conduct. Plus, when you destroy your character by grumbling and complaining you also destroy your testimony for God and thus, your usefulness to God. And you are tearing down whatever good you have tried or hoped to build up in your life.

Remember, no one wants to get close to a growling animal, and neither is anyone drawn toward a growling person, whether they call themselves a Christian or not. The only way to get closer to God and to make it so that others want to get closer to you is to become a person of gratitude…become a grateful Christian…become a person who exudes ‘thankfulness’ toward God and others.

And the ‘grateful Christian’ is the Christian man or woman, boy or girl that is pleasing to God, and one that God is pleased to use, and others are pleased to draw closer to them as well. And that is why we have to be so adamant about rooting out any habit or practice that we have of grumbling and complaining and destructively criticizing others. It greatly disturbs God…it damages our character and our personality…and God will not use us then for the works that He planned to do through us. Basically, grumbling is one way to ensure that you will miss God’s will for your life. You will miss out on God’s works in and through your life.

So when it comes to grumbling about your life, murmuring about others in your life, or complaining about this, that, or the other thing in your life…give it up! Resist it! Fight against the sin of grumbling! Instead, seek to develop deeper and further your AOG…your Attitude Of Gratitude! For, whereas a grumbling person is a ‘weak person’, a grateful person is a ‘powerful’ person. How so?

A grateful attitude has the power to…let’s explore that. How about on the physical level? Remember that your behavior affects your biology. Gratitude not only blesses spiritually, it also blesses chemically. God designed us in such a way that when we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin into our system. These are the crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, or…they are the ‘good feelings’ chemicals that God created within us. Plus, they also enhance good relationships with others as well.

We should mention that ‘grumbling’ also affects chemical reactions in our body. Cortisol is a hormone that, at healthy levels, assists us in dealing with stress, and helps our immune system, and lowers inflammation, and regulates energy levels and such. However, when we let our brain set off onto grumbling and complaining, it pushes our cortisol levels into very ‘unhealthy levels’. It stresses this ‘stress hormone’ and turns it into doing just the opposite…into damaging our ability to deal with stress, and damaging our immune system, and raising inflammation…basically harming our bodies in many ways. Essentially, by letting yourself grumble and complain you are in fact harming yourself. You are actually doing damage to your own mind, and body, and soul! So, in addition to resisting giving into grumbling for God’s sake, and for other’s sake…resist it for your own sake as well.

But on the contrary, the effects of gratitude, when practiced consistently, can be the same or better than medications. Our God created us to be grateful and to practice thankfulness. And when we do, it benefits us in body, soul, and spirit. It produces feelings of long-lasting happiness and contentment. Just going through some expressions of blessings to the Lord and giving thanks to God is like going through a ‘detoxing session’ for your mind and body. How amazing is that? And how about the effects on our brain?

A brain filled with gratitude and kindness is more likely to sleep better, and can better handle stress, even reducing anxiety and depression. By merely acknowledging and appreciating the little things in life, we can rewire the brain to deal with our present circumstances with more awareness and perception. That makes us think of Rom 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” NASU

How kind of our God, to create our brain with the ability to be reorganized or rewired throughout our lives. As we develop godly thinking patterns and practice thankful disciplines, the very pathways in our brains are changed. We have a great example of this from a passage in 2 Corinthians. Problems in life like afflictions, confusion, persecution of various sorts, and just feeling struck down by the troubles of life can push even believers to turn to grumbling and griping and complaining…which only makes things worse anyway, and even damages their health and personality, like we pointed out.

However, the Apostle Paul gave us a ‘key’ to turn these trials into triumphs…a way to have victory over these seeming defeats. Notice: 2 Cor 4:7-10- “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” NASU

You see that? We have to deal with the same troubles and trials and messes and stresses that others have to deal with in this cursed and sin-damaged world. But because we have been re-united to Christ in our spirit and have immortality in our soul, and one day will also be immortal in our body, we have a new power to deal with them all. The ‘power’ is not from ourselves, but it is the power of God working in us. So we can now say to afflictions, confusion, persecution, trials, and troubles… “But God has overcome them all. And in my union with God in Jesus Christ, I, too, will overcome them all!” And that also inspires a whole host of things to then thank God about! And, once again, whereas grumbling weakens us…gratitude strengthens us…strengthens us to face troubles and trials with more and more victories rather than defeats.

And just like in our reading this morning, the practice of giving thanks is the very pathway to getting closer to God and connecting more deeply with God. Ps 100:4- “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” NASU Thanks and praise are both how we enter into a deeper and more vital relationship with God, but also the way that God works deeper in our mind and heart and life. God takes up residence in the place where thanks and praise live.

And we’ll wrap this up with a remarkable thing about the Hebrew word for ‘Thank you’. The Hebrew word is ‘Toda’. The first letter represents a covenant, an everlasting covenant. The second letter symbolizes a nail. The third letter represents a door. And the last letter in the word is a symbol that depicts a person holding up their hands in prayer. So even the Hebrew word for ‘Thanks’, ‘Toda’ makes us think of Yeshua…Jesus, who made an everlasting covenant with us through His sacrifice on the Cross for us, and who, Himself, is the door through which we enter into a relationship with God, which all leaves us in a prayer of thanksgiving to our God who loves us so and made a way for us to be with Him forever. What a great way to think about what giving thanks is really all about…both giving thanks to God and giving ourselves in thanks to God for Him giving Himself to us.

(Some biological information gleaned from – Uclahealth.org)

(Hebrew word information from: David Phillips, Thanksgiving: The Deeper Meaning Behind the Word ‘Toda’ Midnight Call)

 

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 10

Study Guide, November 10, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, what kid doesn’t like skipping rocks? Kids of all ages, right? We did a lot of skipping rocks around Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. (for some reason the rocks at Lake Superior seemed a little better…anyway) One of the best places for skipping rocks is up at Fort Macon, around the Rock Jetty. They have some really smooth and flat stones that are great for skipping rocks. Just a little helpful community information there. No, but actually, one of the greatest discoveries in history was made from a kid throwing a rock…not on water, but into a cave.

In 1946 a young shepherd was searching for a stray goat and came upon this cave. So he threw a rock into the cave hoping to scare the goat to come out. Instead, he heard the breaking of pottery. And soon he came out with seven scrolls…the beginning of several discoveries which would make up a collection of over 930 documents we now know as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Some of you may have visited the Museum in Israel called the Shrine of the Book, which has many of the Dead Sea Scrolls on display. They are absolutely stunning. And not only because of their archaeological value, but because of their historical testimony! They are the oldest copies of the Old Testament that we have today. There are portions of every book of the Old Testament, except for Esther. They date from 250 B.C. to 65 A.D. They immediately became copies that were 1,000 years older than the oldest manuscripts we had of the Old Testament.

And here’s where the celebration got even greater. For when they compared these manuscripts to the Old Testament manuscripts we have today, there was a 95% accuracy! The 5% differences were in word spellings or word choices…for example – like using ‘over’ instead of ‘above’. How wonderful and amazing is that?! And what another powerful testimony of the fact that our faith truly is built upon the solid rock of God’s words preserved for us precisely as recorded in the Holy Scriptures! Amen? Upon reviewing these documents, the director of the British Museum said, “…the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed.”

Oh yes…The Bible is exactly as Jesus said: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Matt 4:4 NKJV The Scriptures that we have are God’s words of truth and instruction for us and for all people. They are God-inspired…or God-breathed, and are, as the Apostle Paul recorded: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 NASU

So in our look today of Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes we see that just by looking at a several examples of historical and archaeological discoveries do we see even more proof that the Bible is fully and completely reliable as the solid foundation for our faith and the guide from our God on what is ‘truth’ and how we are to then live according to God’s truths! The Bible truly is God’s Owner’s Manual for all people on Planet Earth.

Here’s another example from a display at the Creation Museum that we recently were privileged to visit. It may be hard to make out on the slide here, but what it shows is a comparison of the amount of New Testament manuscripts and their early recordings as compared with other historical accounts that everyone readily accepts as fact, but with far less actual evidence. For example: There are only 150 manuscripts on the History of Rome, dating from 400 years after their events. But everyone readily accepts the History of Rome as actual history.

Then we are familiar with the writer of the Iliad…a Greek named ‘Homer’. The literary work is about the Trojan War, and the siege of Troy, with some exploits of the Olympian gods thrown in of course. Now this work has a remarkable 1,757 manuscripts. But still, there is about a 400-year gap between the events. Homer also authored the Odyssey, as in the Iliad and the Odyssey…with that one about the hero, Odyssey’s trip home after the War, from Troy to Ithaca. But, again, people naturally accept the historical reality of these events of Greece, at least about the Trojan War. But then, when you compare the evidence of those with the evidence of the New Testament…we are struck with the fact that there’s really no comparison, because when it comes to Biblical manuscripts, there are 5,795 manuscripts of within only 40 years after their events! It’s like the Lord said to the world… “If you are looking for evidence…here it is!” This is a great testament to the historical realities of the events, and the people, and the teachings of the New Testament Scriptures! Plus, when these ancient manuscripts are compared to our Bibles today there is a 99% comparison accuracy…again, only spelling differences!

As Psalm 19 states…not only are the Stars declaring, yelling out, the glory of God, but also Planet Earth itself is declaring, yelling out, the truths of God’s Word! As more and more historical findings and archaeological discoveries are made, they all confirm and affirm the accuracy and the reliability of the very Scriptures that we treasure and seek to follow as we follow the Author of the Scriptures, our Lord Jesus Christ!

Take a look at this: This is an Ossuary…this is the ‘Bone box’ or ‘Ossuary’ of Joseph Caiaphas. Who was Joseph Caiaphas? Matt 26:3-4- “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.” NASU Yeah, that ‘Caiaphas’! In fact, there are Ossuaries all over Israel with the bones of the real people that the Bible identifies as same people that were part of the real events that really took place in the days of Jesus and the times of the New Testament. And ‘bones’ don’t lie! Well, they lie in the ground and such, but they don’t lie about who they are!

Then, there’s this: When you visit the archaeological site of the port city of Caesarea you can see this. It’s called the ‘Pilate Stone.’ It was discovered in 1961 while excavating in the area of an ancient theater built by the decree of Herod the Great around 22–10 BC, along with the entire city of Caesarea. And on the inscription is the name of Pontius Pilatus…the same Pontius Pilate in the trial of Jesus. And history also tells us that Pilate made his base at Caesarea, since that city had replaced Jerusalem as the administrative capital and military headquarters. Pilate travelled to Jerusalem only when he needed to oversee Jewish matters in the province.¹

Again, all the accounts that we read about in the Scriptures are accounts of real people in real places that really occurred. So when you think about what’s really going on with people who cast doubts on the reliability of the Scriptures, it’s this: One of the real reasons that many people don’t want to face the fact that the Bible accounts are true, just as we have them in our Bibles today, is because they do not want to be accountable to the accounts of the Bible! Mark Twain is quoted as saying, tongue-in-cheek, “It’s not what I don’t understand in the Bible that bothers me…it’s what I do understand that bothers me.” Yes, it’s not that the Bible is not reliable…it’s that many people do not want to repent about what all the Bible calls for them to repent! When people think they can dismiss the accounts of the Bible, then they think they are no longer accountable to the God of the Bible, nor to the commands of the Bible. But their dismissive attitude and their denials of the reliability of the Scriptures do not in any way change the fact that they will give an account of their lives, account of their deeds, account of their beliefs to the Author of the Scriptures and the Judge of all people. And because of their neglecting and rejecting so great of salvation, they will reap the condemnation of their sin of unbelief and their sins of disobedience to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Here’s another example of a great Biblical discovery: Guess whose hometown this is? These are the ruins of Ur in southern Iraq. Ur was the hometown of Abraham. Yup, Father Abraham! We’re talking some 4,000 years ago. The thing is that skeptics once considered Ur a myth and thought that even if a man called ‘Abraham’ existed, he would not be anything like the civil leader and educated man described in the Bible. How condescending is that? But then in the 1920’s, the ruins of Ur were discovered and uncovered. Abraham’s hometown was exactly where God said it was. And as for education at that time? Note this: Along with the discovery of Abraham’s hometown, they also discovered one of the largest schools ever found in ancient Mesopotamia.²

But how ironic that so many so-called educated people are so uneducated about things that are the most important things for people to become educated about…that is, the real people and the real places and the real things of which people need to come to learn and by which people then need to rightly and righteously order their lives! It is completely indefensible for modern educators to make so many uneducated statements about the veracity of the Bible and the teachings of the Bible, when the very rocks themselves and manuscripts of history are crying out about their reality and their reliability. But isn’t that the way it has been, not only in our modern age, but in ages past, as well?

The problem with many people’s resistance against the teachings of the Bible is not about the evidence of the Scriptures, oh no, it’s about the unwillingness of their souls. One of the clearest types of evidence of that was the response of many religious leaders after the raising of Lazarus. For what the Pharisees said and did, after learning that Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, is one of the most hard-hearted, depraved, and foolish things anyone of any group of people could ever do! Notice what their response was: John 11:47-48- “Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow Him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in Him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.” NLT

What?! Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead! Only God can raise people back to life who are already dead and buried! They should have been amazed in their minds and repentant in their hearts! They should have realized what had just been revealed about Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah and Son of God! It meant that Jesus truly was the Messiah, whom all people needed for their salvation. These Teachers of the Law needed to believe in and to turn to this One who gives physical life to the physically dead, and gives spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead. They needed to turn to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins and their personal salvation! But instead of repenting, they were trying to figure out how to stop Jesus from doing these miraculous things, like if He kept that up, why, they might lose their public status and power over the people. How hard headed and hard hearted! They were far more dead than Lazarus had been!

But that’s just how deceived and deluded the sin-nature of mankind really is! They can even watch a ‘Resurrection’ and go… “We need to stop this!” But God is so merciful and so benevolent, that even though God knows that the real reason that many will not repent is that it’s actually a matter of their will and not the evidence, still, God has given mankind tons of evidence of His Lordship and His Saviorhood, nevertheless. And for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear and a willing heart, they will become overwhelmed by it all and they will become ‘overcome’ by their need to turn to God in repentance and receive Jesus Christ in faith as their Lord and Savior.

Evidence like this: Again, rocks don’t lie, and neither do ‘Walls!’ I remember standing by these Walls of Jericho and it kind of transported me back to Joshua chapter six, with the priest blowing the trumpets and the people shouting and the walls of Jericho falling down. It was stunning to the senses! And catch this: Every archaeologist who has excavated Jericho has come to the same conclusion. It is the only place where they have found a city wall that had completely fallen down…exactly as the Bible describes that it did. In fact, by the wall falling down, it would then have formed a ramp-like shape by which the Israelites could have quickly entered the city.³ Archaeologists also cite the burn marks along the walls that reveal that, after the victory over Jericho, the city was burned, exactly as Joshua 6:24 records it.

Let’s wrap this study up with the question that’s pretty much on everyone’s mind. And that’s the question of: “But what about the Hittites?” Don’t you hear people asking that all the time? No? Not lately, I guess. But seriously though, many Bible critics often pointed to the Hittites as an example of this just being another figment of imagination by those who believed the Bible. They ridiculed those who believed that the Hittites were real people…that is, until they were…or until archaeologists uncovered numerous monuments and stones with inscriptions all about the Hittites and the powerful influence of this Hittite nation among the others as mentioned in Deut 20:17- “…the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.” NLT The Hittites empire once extended from the Black Sea to parts of modern Turkey, and they were a powerful force even for countries like Egypt to contend against. And yet, just because they disappeared from the pages of history, that doesn’t mean they disappeared from the reality of history.⁴

But again, this is just another example of the short-sightedness of the sin-nature of people. It’s not that the facts of Biblical history cannot be found, or that the realities of God’s Word cannot be discovered, or that the truths of God’s Word cannot be believed. All of these things and so much more are all out in the open for anyone to discover and to find that it is all true! No, the reason that so many are in the dark about these realities of the Bible is because so many hearts are so darkened by their sin, and they do not want to come to the light because the light will reveal their sin, and then they will have to bow before the One who is the Light, who is the Truth, and who is the One to whom they need to turn to in order to be forgiven and saved.

And yet, for all who have received the Truth, who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, all these discoveries are simply more reasons for us all to rejoice in our great God…our God who is the God of world history and God of our eternal future!

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate_stone
2. Tom Meyer, Archaeology and the Bible, pp. 20,21
3. Ibid, pp 31,32
4. David Down, The Archaeology Book, pp. 30-33

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 9

Study Guide, November 3, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble going back to sleep? Yeah, that’s pretty common. And sometimes your brain is just going off, like it somehow got a jolt of caffeine or something. One person put it like this: ‘Here’s your brain at 3AM: “I can see you are trying to sleep, so I would like to offer you a selection of every memory, unresolved issue, mistake, or thing you should have said or done today, or in the past 40+ years!”’ Right? You just want your brain to stop and unwind, but it’s zipping around like a racecar!

One great way to deal with that, of course, is to quiet your mind with Prayer. Use the sleep interruption for a Praise and Prayer session. That not only does Kingdom work, but it also restores peace to your spirit, and sleep for your body…and your brain.

In our look Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes today we’re looking at Prayer…not only the wonder of prayer, but the preeminence of prayer in our life and ministry. Actually, today is designated as International Day of Prayer…particularly for the Persecuted Church. And we can each devote some of our prayers toward the provisions, and protections, and blessings on our persecuted Brothers and Sisters in Christ around the world. But we also want to use this opportunity to rally us each to use our prayer ministry to impact all the arenas of our lives…from our families to our church and to our country, especially at this crucial time of elections.

Now, if you are following our Bible reading calendar, you recently read through Daniel. And in Daniel we see an absolutely remarkable ‘behind the scenes’ encounter with Daniel and Gabriel in connection with Daniel’s prayer ministry. So let’s look: Dan 9:20-23- “Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.” NASU

For one thing, Daniel is teaching us an important aspect of prayer by ‘how’ he was praying. What was his mindset and his attitude, which gave him a hearing before God and a powerful influence before others? It was ‘humility’ before God and others! Mark it down: It is the virtue of ‘humility’ about yourself that gives you a hearing before God and a powerful influence in the lives of others. And your humility before others is developed by your humility before God; particularly in the practice of confessing your sins before God and confessing the sins of your people before God. It’s back to that need that, even though the penalty for our sins has been completely removed from us in our salvation, there is still the daily need for us to be cleansed from the presence of our sins for our daily fellowship with God and for our usefulness to God. Plus, again, this habit of confession in prayer helps to develop ‘humility’ in our character.

We also see that our prayers set things into motion, like here, when Daniel began praying, God sent Gabriel on mission. Now, we may not always be able to identify all the things that are set into motion by our prayers, but we are to know that things are set into motion, nevertheless. And one day God will show us how each of our prayers did set things into motion and were used by God to weave His plans and works together. That’s how important our prayers are and how necessary our prayer ministry is!

Plus, we are informed here how God thinks about His people who are humble in character and committed to the practice of prayer – Gabriel informed Daniel “…for you are highly esteemed.” How important are God’s prayer warriors to Him? God highly esteems His people who pray like Daniel prayed. For a child of God’s who God can count on to be active in intercessory prayer…that is a child who God highly esteems. And when God highly esteems you, that’s as highly esteemed as you can get! That’s being ‘blessed indeed!’ And when you are highly esteemed by God you have God’s permission to let yourself enjoy God’s blessed estimation of you and God’s feelings toward you. Remember, the greatest feeling in the world is feeling God’s pleasure over you. Ps 147:11- “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” NKJV And the greatest motivation for godly living is to let yourself feel God’s pleasure over you and His love toward you.

Now then, in looking further behind the scenes we see a stunning revelation that we have talked about before, but this is particularly pertinent in connection with our own country’s governmental elections going on. Check this out: Dan 10:12-13- “Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” NASU

What a key revelation for us all to realize and to know and which then gives us greater understanding as to what’s going on behind the scenes of world governments. Here, Gabriel is revealing to Daniel, and to us, the reality of the spiritual warfare that was not only going on in the kingdom of Persia, but the reality of the spiritual warfare that is going on in every kingdom of the world, every nation of the world, every government in the world. Gabriel was not referring to human rulers here, but to the rulers, and the powers, and the world forces of this darkness…the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places that influence and affect earthly governments all over the world. (Eph 6:12 NASB)

We are to realize that when we speak about cultural wars within nations, within our nation, that a powerful reason for the cultural war that is going on is because of the spiritual war that is going on. Government leaders are being pressured and influenced by spiritual forces of wickedness to carry out policies of wickedness that destroy people and nations. Fortunately, some leaders are resisting those forces of wickedness, and many are looking to the King of nations for guidance and direction for their roles and their decisions that they make in holding to values and carrying out policies that will honor the King of kings and will bless the people and the families of the nation.

That’s why the most important step in government and political action is Prayer, particularly with God’s people. 2 Chron 7:14- “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.” NIV You and I…we, are the ‘Daniels’ of our day and to our nation. The mantle of prayer for our churches and our country has fallen on us. And just like with Daniel in Babylon, we are not responsible for the outcomes of the choices of those in our government and nation, but we are responsible for the outgoing of our prayers and the actions of our works as Dual Citizens of both Heaven and Earth. Gal 6:9-10- “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” NASU Our duty to do good extends to whatever good we can do for ‘all people’…not only those who are of the household of faith, although especially to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, but to ‘all people’…all of the people in our communities and in our country and our world!

And the ‘good’ that we are to do is defined for us by the godly principles and values delivered to us in the Word of God…the Scriptures…things like the Sanctity of Human life, the Created order of God of marriage and family, the rewards of wages earned for honorable works and labor, the protections of those who are law-abiding and the punishment of those who are law-breakers, and especially the freedoms for sharing the Gospel and living out your Biblical faith and beliefs in every area and every arena of your life from your homeplace to your workplace! That is the ‘Good’ that we are to be doing, that is the ‘Good’ that we are to be speaking, that is the ‘Good’ that we are to be promoting, that is the ‘Good’ that we are to be supporting, and that is the ‘Good’ that we are to be personally guided by in our virtues and publicly guided by in our voting as both God’s citizens of Heaven and God’s citizens of His earth, of whom all are accountable to the God of all creation and the Lord of all nations!

Remember, there is no such thing as the difference between the sacred and the secular in life…there is only the difference between ‘faithfulness unto God’ and ‘unfaithfulness unto God’, between ‘obedience’ to the Lord of all or ‘disobedience’ to the Lord of all. God’s rule doesn’t stop at the doors of His churches. NO! God’s rule extends to every courthouse, every schoolhouse, every company and every country on the face of the Earth! And every person is going to give an account to the God of all people for everything they did in their homes and in their churches and in their communities and in their country. Heb 9:27- “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” NKJV

And in our connection with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, how strange that in our so-called ‘Land of the Free’, that Biblical followers of Jesus Christ no longer experience the ‘freedom’ and the ‘respect’ and the ‘honor’ that was once afforded to Christians in America. Persecuted Brothers and Sisters of other countries have often cited the progression of persecution. It begins with Social Persecution, where Biblical Disciples begin being maligned and misrepresented by social institutions of media and education and business and government. And that spreads to being ostracized and then excluded from certain social groups and from certain areas of social influence. And that spreads to being refused certain jobs and opportunities, even losing employment and status in certain industries.

And every one of these descriptions is now being experienced by followers of Christ in this once ‘Land of the Free’. And of course, when that is allowed to go on and on, this Social Persecution always leads to Physical Persecution. Again, many of God’s people now live in countries where both Social and Physical persecution have become the status quo. And note this: those who minister to the persecuted ones are called to prepare themselves for the persecutions they will face. Here is an actual example of one of the pledges that some believers are making to one another: They say this: “I am as right with God as I know how to be – I have said “Goodbye” to my friends and family – and I will not run.”

Sobering to be sure. But, again, this is another reminder of the great need for us all to not only be prepared to live for Christ and share His gospel and His truths, in spite of the dangers, but to be prayer-warriors for the sake of those facing physical danger day by day. Again, those dangers used to be thought of as just happening in foreign lands. But now, this has come closer and closer to our own land. Pray that this persecution will be pushed back by the influence and the leadership of more and more in our own government and in all places of power and influence. We are each to be powerful prayer warriors and public Gospel ambassadors. We pray that our message and our lives will be met with peace. We pray that the Words of Christ and the Will of Christ will be more and more welcome in our communities and in our country. But we also know that both history and prophecy teach us that there are times and places when God’s words and God’s people are not welcome. Remember what Jesus said about that? John 15:18-21- “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One who sent Me.” NIV

When the world, when the culture, when those in your community resist or reject the Biblical message you share and the Biblical values that you hold, yes, it certainly feels personal, but it is right here that we are to know that behind the scenes of the one or ones rejecting you is someone who is rejecting another Person besides you…they are rejecting the Person of Jesus Christ, whom you worship and seek to follow. They will scorn the ambassador because they are scorning the One you are seeking to represent. And unless we regain the religious freedoms in America that were once respected, unless there is a repentance and a revival of hearts and minds toward the truths of God’s Word, unless there is a reversal of the direction of the insidious abandonment of God by America, we, too, may have to practice the prayer that our persecuted Brothers and Sisters are pledging to God and to their families: “I am as right with God as I know how to be – I have said “Goodbye” to my friends and family – and I will not run.”

This is a time when we are to stand firm, to be firm in our faith, to be God’s ‘Ambassadors’ of light to a culture of darkness, for we, too, have been appointed for such a time as this. And as we do so, all things are possible, as we pray and serve and carry out the Great Commission, there could be ‘Revival’…or…there may be further judgment. But either way, as we stand firm and faithfully do our duty, we can be assured of what Paul told us all: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is never in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor 15:58 NASU

 

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 8

Study Guide, October 27, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, today is our annual Trunk or Treat, along with our super chili cook-off. Really looking forward to it all. I’ll always remember the year that the winning chili had ‘Bear meat’ in it! It was ‘beary’ good chili. Way to go Cecil Bell! But these annual times are also referred to as Fall Festivals, and, of course, the traditional holiday of Halloween. And since the reputation of the holiday itself has been a mixed bag…pun intended…candy bag…many Christians have tried to make it as positive of experience as they can.

Going through the whole history of Halloween would take quite a while, but to get to where we are going today in our continued look behind the scenes of our salvation, particularly in continuing our study of our ‘Eternal Security’, we’ll notice something we can use even from this holiday. It’s this: From around 800 AD in medieval England, this Celtic originated festival began also being called “All Hallows”, with its eve known as ‘All Hallows Eve’. It also had an ‘All Saints Day’ on November 1^st, followed by an ‘All Souls Day’ on November 2^nd. And we could expound on those as well, but we point out part of this to say that ‘All Hallows Eve’ later morphed into the commercial holiday of ‘Halloween’. But it’s this ‘All Saints Day’ that we want to expand upon because of what is one of the most surprising things that many followers of Christ are surprised to learn about their very own identity.

So, what is a ‘Saint?’ And who qualifies to be identified as a ‘Saint?’ Some traditions hold that in order to be identified as a ‘Saint’ you have to have accomplished several different tasks and have performed several specific religious feats…and, oh, by the way, you have to be ‘dead’! What? Yeah, well, let’s take another look at this. In fact, let’s take a look at the name that God calls His redeemed children, not only those who have passed through death and on into Heaven, but also those still alive on Planet Earth. Here we go…

Ps 16:3- “As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.”

Ps 34:9- “O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.”

Rom 1:7- “…to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Rom 8:27- “…and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

1 Cor 1:2- “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours…”

Col 1:12- “…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” NASU

And we could go on for another 62 verses, because 68 times in both the Old and the New Testaments God has a special name for His redeemed children…and it is ‘Saints’, His ‘Saints’, God’s ‘Saints’. The word ‘Saint’ is in the Greek, ‘Hagios’. And ‘Hagios’ is the same word that is used for ‘Holy’. Thus, a ‘Saint’ is by definition a ‘Holy One’. And before we begin injecting ‘behavior’ into the concept of being a ‘Holy One’ God tells us exactly how we, who were ‘Sinners’ by nature and practice, but now saved by God’s grace through our faith, are now identified by God as His ‘Saints’, His ‘Holy Ones’. Look at Heb 10:10 – “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” NIV And these two words ‘made holy’ is one word in the Greek, also meaning ‘sanctified’. And here’s the power affect of it: It is in the ‘Middle Perfect’ tense, which in the Greek means… ‘it is a completed action that produces continuous effects!’ That’s eternal security!

One of the great ‘freedoms’ that many Christians discover in working through a study like ‘Freedom in Christ’ by Dr. Neil Anderson, is this very discovery of the name that God has given to His spiritually reborn children of God. And when you learn your true identity in Christ and begin to think of yourself as God thinks of you, and begin to identify yourself as God identifies you, it can give you both…a whole new sense of your freedom from the bondage of an unbiblical self-image, plus a whole new attitude toward others, especially toward your fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Mark it down: When, in repentance, you turned from sin and self to follow Christ and, in faith, to trust in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, God not only resurrected your dead spirit into union with Jesus’ own eternal life, but you were eternally ‘set apart’, or ‘made holy’ in your identity as now belonging to God and to God’s forever family! This ‘holy condition’, or ‘holy position’, was part of the ‘gift of salvation’ that Christ accomplished through His perfect works and through His perfect sacrifice. In fact, this gift is also called something else by God that confirms our eternal security in Christ. And we’ll come back…

The point is back to this: Again, in order to rightly understand who we are in our union with Christ and to understand our true identity in Christ we first need to see ourselves through God’s point of view…or to see ourselves as God sees us…and to understand who we now are according to who God says we now are! And who we now are…who you now are, as a Born-Again child of God’s, is that you are a ‘Saint’, both by calling and by conversion. Saints who unfortunately still sin, and need God’s forgiveness for fellowship and service, but ‘Saints’ nevertheless!

You want to experience something rather unusual? Okay…we talk about people like Saint Paul, or Saint Mark, or Saint Patrick, and so on. Try this out and see how it feels…think about your name, but first add the title to it – ‘Saint’ and ‘your name’! Whoa! How about that? How does that make you feel. Kind of weird huh? Kind of like, “Wait a minute. You don’t know me. I’m no ‘Saint’.”

Oh, to the contrary. If you are a Born-Again follower of Christ, you certainly are a ‘Saint’. Now, whether you have been or are living up to your calling and your position in Christ, that’s another matter. That’s an ‘obedience’ matter, or a ‘behavioral’ matter. But again, your eternal identity is not a matter of your temporary behavior, but of your eternal ‘Birthright’! Now certainly, your fellowship with God certainly is related to your behavior…your obedience, and your usefulness to God as a child of God certainly is, and your privileges in God’s Kingdom certainly are dependent upon your obedience and behavior, but in relation to ‘who’ you eternally are and what is your eternal identity since you came into a saved relationship with Jesus Christ, you certainly are a ‘Saint!’ You are a ‘Saint’ by calling and a ‘Holy One’ in your position in Christ!

And not only that, but since you truly are a ‘Saint’ by calling and conversion, even though conscientious Christians would no doubt think that they don’t feel worthy of being called a ‘Saint’, it is right here that we should stop and thank the Lord Jesus, that although we are not worthy in and of ourselves, our worthiness is found in our ‘Union’ with Jesus, Who has clothed us in His perfect righteousness, granted to us His worthiness, and removed the penalty of our unworthiness, our sin, and is providing even now for the provision of daily forgiveness and cleansing of the presence of our sins!

And it is right here that we have both the right and the privilege to fully enjoy both the assurance of our salvation and the eternal security of our salvation, because our salvation is God’s eternal gift to us based upon His sinless obedient life and His perfect sacrifice to justify us from the penalty of our sins! And once, in repentance toward God and in faith in Jesus Christ, that you ask for Jesus’ gift of His salvation, God not only gives you His gift, but God Himself makes this pledge to us, His Born-Again children…Rom 11:29- “…for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” NASU The pledge that God has given to us is that once God gives to us His gift of salvation, that gift of salvation can never be taken back or removed from His Born-Again son or daughter. And our God cannot lie or break a promise of His to us.

Again, our God wants us to be secure in our saved relationship with Him…to ‘feel’ secure in our salvation. In fact, it means even more to Him than it means to us that we have assurance of our salvation because it not only inspires us, but it honors Him. It comforts us and it pleases our God. It motivates us and it glorifies God.

And, of course, it also means that along with our great privilege of our eternally saved position, that we also have a great responsibility for our daily service in our practice…in our faithfulness and obedience. For while we rejoice in Christ’s righteousness and rest in our position of having been made righteous in Christ, made holy in Christ, and made a ‘Saint’ in Christ, we are now called to walk in a manner that is worthy of our calling. Notice: Eph 4:1-4- “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Col 1:10- “…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”

1 Thess 2:12- “…so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” NASU

God is calling us to commit to living up to the name that we have inherited in our union with Christ. ‘Christian’ is now our spiritual name…actually our spiritual ‘Surname’. ‘Christian’ is our spiritual ‘last name’. When people call you a ‘Christian’ they are really calling you by your ‘last name’, the family name of Christ. You are one who has been spiritually birthed into the family of Christ. And your first name is now not only the one given you by your Parents, but also this additional name that has been given to you by your Heavenly Father, which again, is ‘Saint’.

Now, you may not want to go around introducing yourself by your full name: “Hello, my name is Saint Tom Johnson-Christian”, or “Hello, I’m Saint Jane Smith-Christian”, and so on… Most people wouldn’t understand that this really is your God given identity. And we wouldn’t feel comfortable calling ourselves ‘Saints’ to people we meet, like ‘Hi, I’m ‘Saint Bob’ or ‘Saint Rebecca’ and so on, even though a ‘Saint’ truly is the true identity of a Christian!

But, again, don’t get your behavior confused with your birthright! Your birthright is not based upon your behavior as a Christian. Your birthright is based upon your spiritual birth as a son or daughter of God. And your birth was God’s gift to you based upon Christ’s works and sacrifice and then your repentance and faith in Him. And thus, your relationship with God is based upon Christ’s works for you and Christ’s gift to you of His eternal life, which makes your spiritual life ‘an eternal in union with Christ.’ And therefore, your salvation is thus eternally secure.

In fact, your spiritual birth into God’s family makes your salvation so secure that it would be impossible for you to lose your salvation. Think about it: If a child of God could lose his or her salvation, that would mean that along with the unsaved, unregenerate, spiritually dead people in Gehenna Hell, that there would also be some regenerate, or spiritually Born Again, children of God in Hell with them who are there, due of their disobedience to their Heavenly Father. As though, God, the Heavenly Father would cast His own children into Hell! Never!

Do you realize how dishonoring and disparaging that kind of reasoning is to the Name and Character and Personhood of our loving God and Father! How unbiblical, illogical, and unreasonable is that kind of thinking! There could never be a Born-Again child of God in Gehenna Hell. Once you become saved by Grace through faith, you are an eternal child of God’s and an eternal citizen of Heaven. You share God’s own spiritual DNA and become united to His own eternal life! So keep your position in Christ and your practice as a Christian separate in their place and separate in your understanding. Yes, we know that there will be children of God in Heaven who were not as obedient and faithful as they should have been in their days upon Earth. That’s why God meets with each of His children to review their faithfulness to Him and their service for Him after He saves them. Their spiritual behavior will certainly affect their spiritual privileges and rewards in the Kingdom of Heaven, but once a person is born into the family of God, they will always be God’s children, a spiritual member of His family, just as someone born into a human family is always a biological member of that family regardless of their obedience or disobedience. There may have been times or seasons when we were not as obedient or responsible to our earthly parents. But our behavior could not change our biological identity or our biological relationship as a son or daughter related to our parents. And neither can behavior change the spiritual identity and spiritual relationship of a son or daughter of our Heavenly Parent…our Heavenly Father.

This is the very issue that Paul was addressing the Corinthian Christians about. Remember, to these believers, whom he addressed this way: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours…”, he now says this: “…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Cor 2:14-3:4 NKJV

So Paul reveals that there are three identities of people in the world: The Natural man…or the one that is still unsaved, not yet Born-Again. Then there is the Spiritual man…or the one that has been saved, been Born-Again, and a ‘Saint by calling’. And then the one who is Carnal man…or one who has been saved, been Born-Again, a ‘saint by calling, yet is behaving like a natural man, or an unsaved person. Again, yes, God has some children who behave like they are not God’s children. But still, even though their behavior affects their fellowship with God now and their privileges for God later, their spiritual behavior doesn’t change their relationship that was established through spiritual birth.

And we need to expound on that further in connection with the difference between Judicial forgiveness and Parental forgiveness, but the solid point we are pointing out today is the fact that our eternal security is part of our eternal salvation that God wants us to enjoy in our eternal relationship with Him as our eternal Heavenly Father. It means a great deal to God that we trust in His promises to us and then rest in the assurance of this eternal security that He has given to us. And one of the greatest ways we can honor our God and Savior is to rejoice in our eternal security that is part of the gift of His great salvation to us and for us. One of the greatest ways to please our Savior is to trust that He did indeed save us just like He promised. Jesus has promised us this: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” John 6:37-38 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47 NASU “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5:24 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:23 NLT

So Brothers and Sisters, let yourself rest each day in the gift of your eternal security which is part of the gift of the eternal salvation that our eternal Heavenly Father gave to you when asked Him to save you and grant you His free gift of eternal life in an eternal relationship with Him. It will change your life and you will more fully experience your true freedom in Christ and your worship of Christ and your service for Christ!

Is God in the Storm?

October 20, 2024

Pastor Robert Kornegay

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

Pastor Josiah

October 13, 2024

“A Moment of Passion”

 

 “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” –  Psalm 84:2 ESV

Jesus Cleanses the Temple – Mark 11

15When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 16And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’e? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’f”

18When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

19And when evening came, Jesus and His disciples wentg out of the city.

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 7

Study Guide, October 6, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

One of the great study series for Churches was developed by Ray Vander Laan, who developed the curriculum – ‘That the World May Know’. He did on-site Bible studies of various ancient lands and cities. The Chapel has gone through several of these studies together. Some examples are like these ancient sites of Jericho, and Athens, and Ephesus. And many of the Bible studies talked about what God had done there so that the world may know…may know God and what God wanted in His dealings with people the world over. It’s like Pastor Robert pointed out last week that God has given all people the world over the witness of Creation and the witness of Conscience in order that they may know that there is a God and Creator whom they need to seek and to come to know.

But then in relation to those who have already come to know God as their Lord and Savior, there is something in particular that God cares deeply about that He especially wants His children to come to know. In fact, God had one of His Apostles dedicate an entire New Testament Epistle or Book to this special truth that God wants His children to know. And it’s this: 1 John 5:11-13- “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” NASU

So, a question: You that have believed in the name of the Son of God, do you know that you have eternal life? Do you know…are you sure…do you have assurance…are you secure…are you eternally secure? One more question: Does God want you to be secure about your eternal security? The answer to that is exactly what God had the Apostle John write to you and to me and to every person who has turned to God in repentance and trusted in Jesus Christ through faith to be their personal Lord and Savior.

In fact, as the Apostle stated, it is very important to God that you have assurance of your salvation. Why? Well, let’s take a look behind the scenes of the Biblical scene of our Salvation in order to see what we can see through our eyes of faith.

Think about it: One of the most amazing things about our awesome God is that our God, who has no ‘needs’, did have a particular ‘want’. And that particular ‘want’…was you! Dwell on that a moment. Actually, dwell on it all the time…but for now, dwell on this fact; that even though God does not have any needs, still, He wanted ‘you’! God wanted you to become His son or daughter for all eternity! How significant is your ‘sense of significance’ now?! That pretty much maxes out our sense of significance!

Yes, what our God wanted most is that our God wanted a ‘family’…both a spiritual and a physical family. And thus, His creation of a physical universe and a spiritual and physical human family. That’s why you and I even exist. It’s not just that our parents wanted a family, but even more…God wanted you in His family. Some people have grown up wondering if they were ‘wanted’ or ‘just came into being’ for another reason. But know this: if you have been ‘Born Again’ through faith in Jesus Christ, you can be absolutely assured that you were ‘wanted’ and are ‘wanted’ as a son of daughter of God’s, more than you can even imagine.

And this is essential to know, because in order to properly understand our personal salvation we have to understand it from God’s personal point of view, not ours. In fact, here’s a mental habit that will change your life: ‘You need to start looking at you from God’s point of view!’ ‘Look at you through God’s point of view!’ In other words, stop using your own reasoning about matters that can only be understood through Divine Revelation. Or, in order to rightly understand our personal salvation, we have to understand it from God’s revelation about it, and not from our own reasoning about it.

So what we are going to do in our look behind the scenes of our salvation is to peer into the provision of our salvation and then to peruse some implications of our salvation. So, are you ready to ‘peer’ and ‘peruse’? Has anyone ever asked you that before? I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that either…Anyway, here we go. What we clearly know is that soon after God created His spiritual and physical family, with the freedom to choose to love God most or the freedom to choose to love ‘self’ most, His children soon chose ‘self’, and the wants of ‘self’ above the will of God…and thus, human sin entered the world. And ‘sin’ brought death to both the spiritual life and the physical life of humans.

How strange, that after thousands of years of human history, most people still do not understand what ‘sin’ did to both the human spirit and the physical body. When our first parents sinned, when they chose ‘self’ above God, their human spirit died immediately. Sin killed their human spirit. Their spiritual life was separated from the spiritual life of God…or they became spiritually dead. And that has continued to be the condition of all spiritually unsaved, or spiritually unregenerate people throughout history.

And their human body, which was created as an ‘immortal body’ immediately became ‘mortal’…meaning that it was ‘dying’. Therefore, what sin did to the human spirit is that sin ‘killed’ the human spirit of mankind. And since all people have sinned, sin has killed the human spirit of every human being. We’ll come back to the fallout of that shortly.

The other strange reality is that most people have no understanding that from the moment of conception the body begins physically dying. From the moment of conception, the body they have is a ‘mortal body’, which means that it is not only temporary, but that it exists in a state of decay. Say what? And why? In theology, Adam is referred to as our ‘Federal Head’, meaning, that Adam was the representative human being. He did what every human being would do and chose what every human being would choose. That’s why the Apostle Paul explained this in Rom 5:12- “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” NASU All sinned ‘in Adam’, our Federal Head, the Representative Man.

Sometimes you hear people challenging the reality of the sin nature of human beings. But they do so without considering the implications of what they are saying. Think about it: If someone were to think that if they had not inherited Adam’s sin nature…then what? Do they think that they would they have lived a perfect and holy moral life of sinlessness? Do they think that Jesus would not have had to die for them…that they would have lived a sinless life, like Jesus did? Do they think that they would have been morally superior to Adam and Eve…like – “I would not have done what Adam and Eve did.” Oh my! But isn’t that called ‘self-pride’, which is the chief of all sins? No, they would not have been morally superior to our first parents at all! They, too, would have sinned, for the sinfulness of every human that has ever lived, apart from Jesus Christ, is clearly seen and it is clearly stated: Rom 3:23- “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” NT The Psalmist also knew of the truth of the sin nature of all human beings as he said: Ps 51:5- “For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” NLT The point was that the sin nature was and is present from conception.

So not only has every person shared in the representative sin of our first parents, but everyone has also personally sinned and fallen short of the righteous standard of God. And just like with our first parents, sin killed our human spirit, separated us from God’s spirit and eternal life…and made our human body become mortal…in a state of physical decline and decay due to the presence of sin in the human body.

Which, by the way, is such an ironic thing about mankind’s quest for immortality, because, apart from removing the sin-nature of humans, the human body can never become immortal, for it is the presence of sin that is the cause of the body being subject to sickness and disease and decay. Sin and disease are symptoms of the decay, not the source. The presence of sin within the sin nature is the source. And only the Creator of the human body will be able to one day remove the sin nature from those humans who have become reunited with God’s spirit through their New Spiritual Birth, and thus, granted a new spiritual nature that is without sin in its union with God. At death, your new spirit and your new nature are separated from your mortal body and your sin nature. And your new nature will also then be clothed with an ‘immortal body’ that will never decay nor be subject to any sickness or disease or pain or suffering ever again!

Now back to the condition of the human spirit. The Apostle Paul made this clear when he told the newly Born-Again Ephesians this: Eph 2:1-2- “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” NASU And from the ERV: Eph 2:1- “In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.”

What God has revealed to us here is that every human being who has not become reunited to God through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, the only Messiah, is still separated from God in their spirit, or their human spirit is still dead in trespasses and sin. That is why salvation is first a matter of spiritual birth and not first a matter of human behavior. And the confusion of this has always been the Achilles heel of religions throughout history. Or this has been the ‘cart before the horse’ problem of religions. Or, this has been the ‘train cars before the train engine’ issue of religions based upon human works instead of the Gospel of Grace.

Now, permit me to use these simple illustrations to clarify the confusion that false religions have made of Biblical Salvation. Mark it down: Behavior cannot take people where they need to go without first being Born Again any more than a cart can take itself where it needs to go without having a horse to take it where it needs to go, or without train cars having an engine to take them where they need to go. Behavior follows Spiritual Birth, like the ‘cart’ follows the horse or the ‘train cars’ follow the engine. Yes, these are simple illustrations, but they have profound implications, because just like without the New Birth, behavior will not take you to God, just as without the horse or the engine, neither the cart nor the cars can take them where they are meant to go!

But here is where it gets really strange, because how do false teachers of false religions teach people? What do they speak to people about? What do they focus upon concerning how people become right with God? They focus on religious behavior. They talk to people about religious works, as though it’s their religious works and behaviors that will take them to God. But again, that’s like talking to ‘carts’ and ‘train cars’ about what they are supposed to do and where they are supposed to go, before they become connected to a horse or an engine! The cart or cars have no power in and of themselves to do that!

Now, let’s take this a step further by way of this stark illustration, because it gets even stranger. Realize that Paul revealed to us that when we are talking to spiritually unsaved people that we are actually talking to spiritually dead people. And so the real question is, what does a spiritually dead person need? And the answer is that spiritually dead people need spiritual life through the New Birth of their spirit!

So now picture this: Again, the reality is that people who have not yet been spiritually Born-Again are people whose spirit is still dead. But again, false religious teachers the world over talk to spiritually dead people like they are talking to spiritually alive people, all the while they are still dead, telling them what they should be believing and what they should be doing in their behavior and such. But that is like a religious teacher going to a cemetery and preaching to those who are entombed there about what they should be believing and what they should be doing in their behavior. How absurd is that?! Those who are buried there are dead! Rehabilitation is not what dead people need. What dead people need is ‘Regeneration!’ They need to have their spirit brought back to life.

That’s what Paul went on to explain to these Ephesian believers, who had recently been ‘Born-Again’, or had recently had their human spirit regenerated, basically spiritually resurrected from the dead. Notice: Eph 2:4-6- “But God is rich in mercy, and He loved us very much. We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against Him. But He gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with Him in the heavenly places.” ERV

Until a human being is spiritually resurrected, until new life is given to their ‘dead spirit’, they are still ‘dead’…separated from the eternal life of God. And that is what false ‘behavior based…or works righteousness’ religions and religious preachers and their followers are neglecting or rejecting in their religious teaching.

Paul revealed this truth again in Titus 3:4—“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” NASU

Spiritual resurrection…spiritual regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit that is performed in the human spirit of one who turns to God in repentance and trusts in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And this gift of salvation is God literally ‘spiritually birthing us’ into union with God’s own eternal life and eternal family. And thus, this gift of God’s own life is the basis of our personal security…our eternal security. For, again, what God gives to us in His ‘gift of salvation’ is His own eternal life! And that is one of the foundational reasons that our salvation is secure…eternally secure. When we are ‘Born Again’ we become united to God as our spiritual Father…birthed into God’s forever family. Thus, our very identity is forever changed, and this spiritual life that has been given to us is, by definition… ‘eternal!’ And our eternal life, of our soul and spirit, begins, not after we physically die, but when we are ‘Born-Again’, before we die.

We are going to continue this look behind the scenes of our salvation, because we have much more to say and much more to celebrate about our ‘Eternal Security’.

Declare His Glory

September 29, 2024

Pastor Robert Kornegay

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 6

Study Guide, September 22, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

When you hold the Bible in your hands, you are holding a miracle. The Bible is a miracle book. It is the only book whose Author is from outside of Planet Earth. In fact, the Author of this Book is not only the Creator of this Book, but also the Creator of this Earth, the Sun, and the Stars. This book is also the only Book that has 40 sub-authors or scribes who were inspired by the original author to record His record and revelations to this world. Yes, God allowed them to use their own personality and writing styles, but the message they compiled was God’s message. In fact, the Bible was written over a span of 1600 years by kings, fishermen, diplomats, prophets, shepherds, lawyers, doctors, soldiers, historians, and many others. It is really 66 different books, whose writers wrote on hundreds of subjects, including life, marriage, family, worship, work, eternity, and more, but all in perfect harmony in its message of redemption and the values for living life, now and throughout eternity. It is a miracle indeed! And it contains wondrous revelations for us to learn and to live out and to celebrate.

Even the wonders of the early followers of God in their ceremonial sacrifices still speak to us today. We started looking into those wonders last week as we looked behind the scenes of the Levitical sacrifices to see not only what they were all about then, but even how they still have lessons for us today. So let’s return and look deeper into Leviticus.

Last time we explored the ceremonies of the Burnt Offering and the Grain Offering, with the Burnt Offering picturing Christ’s perfect and sinless sacrifice to remove the penalty of our sins and to provide for the forgiveness of sins, and the Grain Offering picturing Christ as the giver of both life and the provisions for life. Let’s now look behind the scenes of the Peace Offering and both its purpose and its many applications. We’ll open it up through what is stated in Lev 7:11-14- “These are the instructions regarding the different kinds of peace offerings that may be presented to the Lord. If you present your peace offering as an expression of thanksgiving, the usual animal sacrifice must be accompanied by various kinds of bread made without yeast—thin cakes mixed with olive oil, wafers spread with oil, and cakes made of choice flour mixed with olive oil. This peace offering of thanksgiving must also be accompanied by loaves of bread made with yeast. One of each kind of bread must be presented as a gift to the Lord…” NLT

Among the remarkable things about the Peace Offering is that it allowed for ‘different kinds of offerings’. Let’s explore. For one thing, this offering served as being an opportunity for God’s people to celebrate their peace with God. This is the only offering in which the worshiper received a portion of the offering as well. This was a direct picture of the wonder of the peace and the fellowship that we can have with God. And of course, that was made possible for us through the final offering of Christ Himself to make peace between God and man. Paul put it like this in Rom 5:1-2- “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” NLT Through the loving sacrifice of our Savior we have both peace ‘with’ God and the peace ‘of’ God. As we have pointed out before, many people want to have the peace ‘of’ God in their life, but they have not first come to God in repentance of their sin and faith in Jesus for His forgiveness in order to make peace ‘with’ God. Peace ‘with’ God precedes any experiential gift of the peace ‘of’ God.

But, whenever anyone turns to God from sin and self to follow Christ and trusts in Christ’s sacrifice to forgive them, Christ then grants then both His forgiveness and His life, along with peace ‘with’ God and the peace ‘of’ God.

Plus, this offering not only allowed for a deeper communion with God, but also a deeper communion with others, as the offering could be shared with family and friends. It pictures something else that Paul said about what Christ’s ‘peace’ offering accomplished. Look at this: Eph 2:14- “For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”, 17-18- “He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from Him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” NLT

Because of the sacrifice offering that Jesus Christ made of His own life, He both brought reconciliation between us and God, but also reconciliation between God’s people of Israel and God’s people of His Church. This part of God’s plan was a mystery for thousands of years until this final Peace Offering was made by Jesus Christ. Then, as Paul explains: Eph 3:3-6- “As I briefly wrote earlier, God Himself revealed His mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by His Spirit He has revealed it to His holy apostles and prophets. And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.” NLT

God’s plan and covenant promises for believing Israel will be fulfilled, but so will God’s plan for His Church, as both those who believe from the Gentiles and those who believe from among the Jews all become the forever children of God, and also His personal heirs who will inherit His New Earth and New Heavens, along with all the privileges that come with being fellow heirs with Christ.

Let’s look into the next offering…called the Sin Offering. Lev 4:1-3- “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.” NASU

One of the fascinating things about this ‘Sin offering’ was that it was not a provision that depicted their restored relationship of salvation, like with the Guilt offering, but it depicted having restored fellowship with God. This offering was about their sanctification…about how they could be cleansed from their sin in order to have fellowship with God and then be used of God. This ‘Sin offering’ was to the believing Israelites what 1 John 1:9 is to the believers of the Church Age. Notice: 1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NASU As those who have once and for all been forgiven the penalty of our sins, this is the means for us to be forgiven from the daily presence of our sins. And although the presence of our sins cannot cause us to lose our salvation, still, if we do not ask God for their forgiveness, it will cause us to lose our fellowship with God, and it will interfere with our usefulness for God.

It’s like with what we find in the teaching of Timothy concerning the usefulness of our lives. 2 Tim 2:20-21- “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” NASU Day by day we choose how useful to God we are going to be. And part of the answer to that is how much we desire to be cleansed from the presence of our sins, so that our lives become more and more consecrated to our Master, who can then use us in doing the works that He planned for us from the foundation of the world. Remember, the definition of true success in your life is: Usefulness to God. Success equals ‘Usefulness to God’! If you are not ‘useful to God’, and yet seemingly succeed in every other temporal aspect of your life, then you have failed in the purpose for which you were made and saved. Again, the measure of your success in life is the measure of your usefulness to God. And we can only be as useful as we are committed to being sanctified…to living under the Lordship of Christ, being more and more cleansed from the presence of sin and becoming more and more like our Savior in character and conduct.

So, if coming to God in daily confession of sin for the purpose of closer fellowship with God and greater usefulness to God has not been a practice in your life…make sure that you add that to your daily habits. Make coming to God for your daily cleansing from the presence of your sins a holy habit of your life. It will not only make you more sensitive to God, but it will also allow the Spirit of God to both use you and to grow the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you, which is the most fulfilling way to experience life anyway. Plus, just like in this ‘Sin offering’, John tells us that if we confess the sins we know about, God will also cleanse us from the other unintentional sins that we are not aware of… How gracious and merciful is our great God!

But now there was another aspect of this sacrifice that puts a perspective on the attitude we need in order to live as a sanctified or set apart follower of Christ. Notice: Lev 4:11-12- “But the hide of the bull and all its flesh with its head and its legs and its entrails and its refuse, that is, all the rest of the bull, he is to bring out to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.” NASU ‘Outside the camp?’ Now where have we heard that before? Remember, these offerings that were begun in Leviticus were given as symbols of what the Savior would accomplish. These sacrifices were previews or pictures of what the Messiah would fulfill as He completed His perfect offering of sin on behalf of all who would believe. So the writer of Hebrews uses this very picture to exhort all followers of Christ to courageously identify with the Savior and to refuse to compromise with the world or with any religious system that distorts the Gospel of Christ. Notice: Heb 13:11-13- “For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” NASU

Remember, Jesus was crucified outside the city, as the false teachers deemed Jesus to be unclean and defiled in the eyes of their arrogant and judgmental religious attitudes. Much of the world still treats followers of Christ as unclean and defiled, to be removed from their religious or social associations. But just like our Lord Jesus stood up to the crowds of the world and took a stand for truth and righteousness and justice, we too, as His followers, are to take the same stand of loyalty to our God and to not compromise the message of the Gospel and the truths of Christ’s coming Kingdom. And remember, God plus one is a majority in any crowd!

The last offering was referred to as the Guilt offering, or Trespass offering. And if only the whole world would practice the principles that we see in this Trespass offering, our justice systems would work 100% better than they do now. What do we mean? Well, let’s look. Lev 6:1-7- “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the Lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering. As a guilt offering to the Lord, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process, the priest will purify you before the Lord, making you right with him, and you will be forgiven for any of these sins you have committed.” NLT

Now we’re on to something! This passage should be posted in every jail house and every courthouse and in every place where the laws of the land are taught and carried out. This Law of Restitution was not only ‘just and fair’ but it was also a powerful deterrent to crime among the people. If you knew that if you stole 100 sheep or oxen or cattle from someone else’s property that you would not only have to return the 100, but in addition, you would also have to give them back twenty more in restitution, you would be powerfully influenced to not steal them in the first place. And this deterrent factor would rise as the crime or crimes got worse, whether they would be crimes of property or crimes of physical harm. The restitution for your crime would grow heavier and harsher for the criminal.

But can you imagine the impact for good if all people everywhere, if America, would follow the legal requirements for justice as revealed in the Scriptures? If they would just follow this Law of Restitution alone it would bring an immense change for good in the lives of people in every town and county and state in our country. But, once more, this is the difference between choosing to live according to God’s wisdom or to stumble and fall according to man’s foolishness.

But another lesson for everyone from this is to understand that sin always costs you. The devil deceives people into thinking that there is ‘gain’ in sin. But the truth is that whatever the sinner thinks will be ‘gain’ will always be ‘loss’. For the unrepentant sinner, there will be the loss of their soul in Gehenna Hell. For the saved, but yet unfaithful saint, there will be loss of rewards and loss of privileges in the Kingdom of Heaven. Choose wisely…always choose God’s revelation over man’s reasoning.

But how fascinating to see in these Levitical ceremonies both the practical daily laws for these Old Covenant Israelites and the prophetic teachings and lessons for us New Covenant believers. How amazing that these sacrificial offerings all pointed to the Savior’s ultimate offering of His own life and death to both fulfill these laws and to fulfill everything necessary to redeem God’s people and provide a way to have daily fellowship with our Creator and our Savior.

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 5

Study Guide, September 15, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

When is the last time you had a conversation about the four stages of wound healing? Say what? Well, we have all talked about the healing of our wounds or cuts and such from time to time. With kids, all you have to do to get them talking is to ask them about their ‘Boo boos’ and ‘Ouchies’….or tell them about your ‘Ouchies’. But, once again, even the healing process of ‘ouchies’ or wounds is just another testament to the wonders and awesome ways that our Creator has made us…has made the human body.

Last time we pointed out the marvels of the workings of the human eye, which is second only to the brain in its complexity. But even the most common part, and most extensive part of the human body, is marvelous beyond description. We’re talking about ‘our skin’. For when skin is wounded, either accidentally or surgically, the body sets into motion four stages of wound healing.

The first stage is Hemostasis. As soon as there is a wound to the skin, the blood vessels constrict to reduce blood flow. And clotting agents are sent to the site of the wound to seal the broken vessels. The second stage of wound healing is Inflammation. In this stage white blood cells rush to the wound area to clean up and absorb damaged cells. That’s why the skin feels warm to the touch, with that battalion of little cell soldiers rushing around the wound site. You can also think of them as like little Pac Man cells gobbling up the bad bacteria and such. Then the third stage is Proliferation. The body sends fiber type cells to begin filling in the wound. It is also called ‘Granulation’, as these collagen cells connect with each other to fill in the damaged area. And this process continues and expands into the fourth stage of Remodeling. Sounds like a house remodeling job. This is where more collagen fibers work to rebuild tissue and remodel the wounded area.

Fascinating, right? Makes us think of the Psalmist’s words of Ps 139:14- “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” NASU Everybody should know it very well, because the wonders of the human body can only be explained through the wonder working of the Creator of the human body!

But now, just like there are four stages of wound healing for human skin, there are five stages of healing for the human soul. And we first see them outlined for us in everyone’s favorite devotional book – the Book of Leviticus! What? Isn’t that your go-to book for your personal devotions? Well, yes, Leviticus is a bit technical with its many instructions of ceremonial laws and dietary laws and daily health laws and such. But still, there is a fascinating section which reveals the provisions for how the wounds of the soul can be healed, not only for now, but for all eternity. These five stages of soul healing were in fact, previews and symbols that all found their fulfillment in the healer of souls Himself, our Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. And our God heals not only human bodies, but also, and foremost, human souls. Plus, they still hold powerful principles for us to practice in our own lives today for keeping our soul healthy and equipped for helping others as well.

So, let’s take a look behind the scenes of these five stages of soul healing that we find in Leviticus. And remember, these five ‘Offerings’ were foremost symbols that served like neon lights for nearly 1500 years pointing to the One who would fulfill all of these offerings in His life and ministry as our only Savior and God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Which is another fact that is very helpful and inspiring for us, God’s people, to know and to think about as we walk through the pages of the Scriptures…that behind the scenes of nearly everything we see in the Bible is our glorious Messiah. As has been pointed out: You can write one word across the whole of your Bible – Redemption. The message of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation is the message of Redemption…Redemption by our God who loves us so much that He came to redeem us from the penalty and the power and even one day, the very presence of sin. No wonder that great hymnwriter, Fanny Crosby wrote: “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever I am.”

So, here we go. Now if we were to thoroughly walk through each of these five stages or offerings, it could turn into a series on its own. So we’re going to just highlight some of the remarkable teachings and symbols of these stages of soul healing. But one thing to note right away is that each offering points to a specific ministry of Jesus and of His fulfillment of these offerings.

Again, the purpose of these offerings was that they provided a temporary way that the people could experience healing in their souls through having their sins forgiven and have themselves restored to fellowship with God. These offerings, or sacrifices, were necessary until, as is stated in Gal 4:3-7- “So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” NASU

Speaking of “Abba! Father!”…Can you believe the Creator and Lord of the Universe wants you and me to call Him ‘Abba! Father!? He does! In fact, long before you ever knew God as your personal Lord and Savior, God longed for the day when you would call Him ‘Father’…call Him ‘Abba’, your Creator, Redeemer, Savior…Father. J.I. Packer stated that what comes into your mind when you think about God as your Father is the most important thing about you. What comes into your mind when you think about God as being your Heavenly Father?

If you will let into your mind what God has said about how He thinks and feels about you…it will change your life. It will bring solace where there is stress. It will bring comfort where there is crisis. It will bring peace where there are problems. It will bring encouragement where there is discouragement…all when you begin to let yourself believe that your Heavenly Father does love you more than the height of the heavens above the earth, when you let yourself believe that your Heavenly Father delights to show mercy to you, when you let yourself believe that your Heavenly Father takes pleasure in each of your attempts to please Him, even as imperfect as those attempts are, knowing that there is forgiveness with God, so that you can freely fellowship with Him and serve Him…Oh yes, it will definitely change your life now and forever.

Now then, back to the sacrifices. Yes, the animal sacrifices were serious and startling…but they were absolutely necessary in order to bring healing to the soul, for they symbolized that the sentence of sin was death, and that one day the final sacrifice would die in order that we could live. So the first offering was The Burnt Offering. Lev 1:3-4- “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.” NASU One thing we see in these offerings is that they were to be without defect. Again, every instruction about their present sacrifice had a connection with a characteristic of the coming Savior. Do you remember what Peter said about Jesus? 1 Peter 1:18-19 – “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” NASU The Old Covenant animal sacrifices were to symbolize the New Covenant sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who was without defect…sinless, and therefore able to cover our sins with His sinless blood.

‘Cover’? That’s what ‘Atonement’ refers to…a covering for our sins. For thousands of years, animal sacrifices ‘covered’ or ‘atoned’ for the sins of the people. It was a temporary covering…until the final sacrifice would accomplish something even more than covering their sins, and ours. Oh yes, Jesus’ sacrifice still covers or atones for our sin, but when Jesus came, He did something else that could never have been done through the symbol sacrifices of the Old Testament. When John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God, he said something that could have never been said before that time. Notice: John 1:29- “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” NASU That was the first time that a sacrificial lamb, this time a human sacrificial Lamb, was declared able to ‘take away’ people’s sins. Now, the Scapegoat sacrifice symbolically ‘carried away’ people’s sins, but it was impossible for any animal sacrifice to literally ‘take away’ people’s sins from their soul. Note: Heb 10:4-7- For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'” NASU

Plus, the offeror also laid his hand upon the offering, as a sign of complete identification with the offering as being a substitute for himself or herself. Yes, Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but He is also our Lord and Substitute. He both lived and died in our place…in place of us…instead of us. When you think – “Jesus died for me”, you need to add – “Jesus died because of me.” Those sins that put Jesus on the Cross, and for which Jesus died, were not just someone else’s sins…those were your sins and my sins that put Jesus on the Cross and for which He died. It was our sins that put Jesus on the Cross…but it was Jesus’ love for us that held Him there…held Him there until the redemption price was paid in full. And in pronouncing “It is finished”, He then gave up His life in death in order to remove the penalty and the power and one day even the presence of sins from our lives.

If there had been only two crosses on the hill of Calvary that day, we would still be under the penalty and the power and the presence of our sins. But on the third Cross was a Substitute…our Substitute. When we ask Jesus to come into our life and be our Savior, Jesus comes into our life as both our Savior and our Substitute. We will never have to bear the penalty of our sins because Jesus bore that penalty for us, as our Substitute. His sacrifice both covers our sins and also takes them away…as in never having to be condemned because of them. That’s why the Apostle rejoiced in stating: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom 8:1 NASU

And here’s another remarkable thing about this Burnt Offering for the covering of sins. For those who were poor and not able to provide a bull or sheep offering, they could bring doves or pigeons. Why does that sound familiar? Luke 2:22-24- “And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.” NASU

Just think…the Owner of the Universe let His Son be born into a family that was so poor that they could not afford to offer a bull or a lamb for their sacrifice. The King of kings and Lord of lords grew up in a poor family, with little materially, but with everything spiritually. 2 Cor 8:9- “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” NASU This is just another picture of how Jesus has come for everyone and for anyone who will come to Him to receive His forgiveness and His life. He will even give to us the riches of Heaven and Earth.

As you can tell, we are not going to get through all of the five offerings today, but we will get through this next offering: The Grain Offering. Lev 2:1-2- “Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it. He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.” NASU

Also, the offering included something Southerners are going to love. Look at this: Lev 2:16- “The priest shall offer up in smoke its memorial portion, part of its grits and its oil with all its incense as an offering by fire to the Lord.” NASU How about that? So God loves grits, too? There you go! So you can add grits to the menu at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. Plus, we know the Lord loved seafood, so maybe one of the dishes will be ‘Shrimp and Grits’!

What’s going on here? Actually, a whole lot is going on here, but one thing that’s not going on is that this offering is not about atoning for sins, but about thanksgiving to God. This was the worshipper’s opportunity to share a ‘thanksgiving meal’ with God. Except, the worshipper offered every part of it to God as a symbol that everything that he or she owns has been provided by God and belongs to God. In a similar way, our practice of tithing or grace giving unto God is similar to this Grain Offering or Thank Offering. In our giving a portion of what we have, we are recognizing that we are ‘Stewards’ or ‘Managers’ of what truly belongs to God, since God is the actual owner of all things. Yes, Praise God, He credits us with the labor that we do. God credits us with the service we offer to Him. God credits us with the good works we do with all He has provided. But, as children of God, we still understand that God is the real Owner of all that we have. Even what we do have is due to the gracious provision and power God gives us to do what we do. We understand what God revealed to His people in Deut 8:18- “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth.” NASU We are to clearly understand that our very talents and aptitudes and abilities all come as gifts from God to us all…not to mention our very ‘breath’!

So again, this ‘Thank Offering’ for God’s people was a special way of giving thanks and rededicating their lives…their time, their talents, and their treasures to their loving God, who gave them good gifts to enjoy and to share. And we can still practice this very offering in our own lives in our stewardship habits. That’s why we say that our whole life should be a ‘Thank Offering’ to our God. When you give of your time, and your talents, and your treasures unto the Lord, it’s like you are there in Leviticus offering your Grain offerings, your Thank offerings to the Lord.

And as you are doing that, do you know how your God is responding? It says that when you give your offerings of your service and your abilities and your finances unto the Lord, He receives it like a ‘soothing aroma’ unto Him. It’s like when you come into the room where a thanksgiving feast has been prepared and you say, “Oh my, that smells so good. I can’t wait to enjoy this feast!” Well, this passage in Leviticus 2 tells us that’s how God responds to your thank offerings as well. We certainly love what God gives to us. But how great to know that God loves what we give to Him, in our time, and talents, and treasures. How amazing that you and I can bring to God, our Heavenly Father, that much joy and that much pleasure.

So here we have another ‘behind the scenes’ scene that we should be seeing. As you serve the Lord and give of yourself to the Lord in a ‘Thank offering’ to the Lord, remember to think about, and through your eyes of faith, to see God’s response to you. Remember how God receives it all. Remember to see your Heavenly Father’s smile as He enjoys your offerings as being like a soothing aroma to Him. And then think about this: Making God smile is all the motivation you will ever need to worship and serve Him with your ‘Thank offerings’ day by day. And as you do, your own soul will grow even healthier and more and more whole.

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“Worth More than Gold”

September 8, 2024

Pastor Josiah Mitchener

We see Gold as the standard of perfection, wealth and immunity to decay.  What is MORE valuable than gold?

Psalm 19

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

Proverbs 8:10-11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. / For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Psalm 119:72
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!

Proverbs 3:13-15
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, / for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. / She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 4

Study Guide, September 1, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

There is a whole lot going on behind the scenes of even what we see. Even as we look around and see each other, over two million parts in our eyes are networking with more than 100 million light sensitive cells to help give us the images that we see. Even the images that we see first have to be manipulated by our brains before we can see things as they really are. Meaning what? For example: When we look at each other the shape of our cornea and lens first turns us, and all images, upside down. But when this image reaches our brain, or our Occipital Lobe, it turns the image right side up. And all of that happens even faster than the blink of an eye.

Plus, that means, in reality, that we actually see with our brain, not our eyes…because the eye is like a video camera that captures light and data and sends it all back to the brain, which then tells us what it is that we are seeing. Plus, the eye is a most amazing camera, because a good digital camera has resolution of about 5-20 megapixels. But the human eye has 576 megapixels! Awesome God for sure!

We could go on for the rest of our time describing the wonders of the human eye. My brother is a retired Eye Doctor, and he is still amazed at what God created in the human eye, which is second only to the brain in complexity. Even Charles Darwin stated that the chances of the complex functions of the eye developing by natural selection are, as he put it… ‘absurd to the highest degree!’ However, since he would not bow to the Creator of all things, he still held to the evolution of it someway somehow anyway! When your heart is hard toward God, your mind and even your eyes will be hard toward God as well. How sad…and utterly foolish! There are some accounts that Darwin may have repented toward the end of his life, but those accounts are conflicting. We pray he did…but the damages and destructive consequences of evolution still continue on.

But these wonders of the human eye are a clear example of how much is going on behind the scenes of what we see. And that is especially the case with what we see going on behind the scenes of our physical world in the spiritual world that surrounds it.

Let’s look together into a Biblical example of this. Let’s go back in time to around 740 B.C. and join Isaiah in the temple, for he has something to show us. Isa 6:1- “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.” NASU

What a scene! Isaiah was so excited he even called out to his horse ‘Is-me’, remember…he said, ‘Whoa! Is-me!’ No, he didn’t really say that…it was “Woe is Me”. Anyway, God pulls back the spiritual curtain here and Isaiah sees the Lord. This could have been a Theophany, or the pre-incarnate Christ. For remember, whenever God showed Himself in physical form, He did it in a preincarnation of Christ, or a Theophany. Just like with Abraham, for as Jesus told the religious leaders – “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” John 8:56 NASU Abraham saw the preincarnate Christ! Amazing!

But just think, even more so today, if God pulled back the curtain to the spiritual dimension and like Isaiah and we saw the Lord, it would no longer be the Pre-incarnate Christ, but the actual Incarnate Christ! For just beyond this spiritual veil Jesus Christ is enthroned in Heaven in His eternal and immortal resurrected body. And like the Angels told the Disciples in Acts 1:11- “They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” NASU This ‘same’ Jesus is returning in the ‘same’ way in the ‘same’ resurrected body in which He ascended, only Jesus will ‘descend’ back to this ‘same’ Earth to rule in glory over the Earth that even now is filled with His glory. Although this time He will take this ‘same’ Earth and completely renovate it to be His Millennial Earth before He completely resurrects it to be His Eternal Earth! Friend, this is your future!

Which brings up a couple more things to see…to spiritually see, that is. One is back to those Seraphim. ‘Seraphim?’ Here in Isaiah is the only place where this order of Angels is identified as ‘Seraphim’, which literally means ‘burning ones’! What are they burning about? These Seraphim are all about the holiness of God. Their chorus was “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts.” Holiness is the very essence of God. Holiness is what we are called to practice. Holy is what we are commanded to be – “…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV For the Christian, that’s always the short answer to the question of what you should be when you grow up…or just be all the time! “Be holy, for your God is holy!” Whatever else you are or ever will be…first and foremost – ‘Be holy!’ And what is it to be holy?

Have you ever heard the saying…not so much ‘You are what you eat’…although there is something to that, but even more – “You are what you dwell upon!” And what are we called to dwell upon? “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Phil 4:8-9 NASU This is in essence a description of ‘holiness’, and a depiction of God who is the ‘summon bonum’, or highest and ultimate of all of these things; true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellent and worthy of praise’! And therefore, this is what we are commanded to dwell upon and commanded to seek to be, for we are commanded to ‘be holy, for our God is holy’.

Think of holiness as ‘likeness’. The degree of your likeness to God is the degree of your holiness in life. How much are you all about – ‘truth, honor, righteousness, moral purity, love, a good reputation, excellence in pursuit and praise of God’? That is how much you are like God. It is the measurement of your ‘likeness’ to God. And it is also the measurement of how ‘holy’ is your own life!

So remember, those who are closest to God, like these Seraphim, are all about ‘holiness’. If you want to get closer to God, and in order to get closer to God, you must become more committed to being more holy unto God.

And even here these Seraphim help us out in doing just that! For what they did there is an illustration of what we should be doing all the time. What do we mean? Look again: “…each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” Covering their faces with two wings indicates their humility before God. Covering their feet with two other wings denotes their service to God. And their flying speaks of their ongoing activity in proclaiming God’s holiness and His glory.

So there we go…thank you very much Sir Seraphims! To be useful to God we must be humble before God and humble before each other. Humility always comes before honor in God’s family. And to be helpful to God we must be active in service to God. For he who is great in God’s world is the servant of all. And to be honorable and loyal and obedient to God we are to be proclaiming God’s words of holiness and God’s place of glory wherever we live and go. And although we decide how faithfully we will practice these things, the consequences of how faithfully we did them will follow us throughout God’s Kingdom forever and ever. So choose wisely in how you live! Live humbly, live as a servant to God, and live proclaiming God’s glory and God’s truths however and wherever you can.

Now then, speaking of God’s glory…the other thing these Seraphim declared and revealed when this spiritual curtain was pulled back on this world was this: “The whole earth is full of His glory!” Is that what you see when you look at this world? Do you see a world full of the glory of God, or do you just see a world full of the bleakness and desolation of man? Well, yes, this world really is bleak and vile and profane. It surely is really messed up! Remember how Jude describes our world in these last days? “The Lord is coming with countless thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” Jude 14-19 NLT

Yes, what a mess this world is in for sure! It looks about as bleak as it can get! And yet, as Warren Wiersbe often said: “When the outlook is bleak, try the up look!” Our ‘outlook’ is not to be the only thing that we see. We’re actually supposed to, daily, be superimposing our ‘up look’ over our ‘outlook’ in order to rightly look at whatever we are looking at through eyes of faith.

Now, that rings a Scriptural bell, doesn’t it? Check this out: Col 3:1-4- “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” NASU

Much of what we are seeing in this life depends upon what we are seeking in this life…or seeking first we should say. As is, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33 KJV Now, be careful here…for if you are seeking first the things below rather than the things above, then most of what you will be seeing will be the problems of the things below. But if you are seeking first the things above, especially seeking first the things of God’s kingdom and seeking first to live righteously in this kingdom as you look forward to God’s coming kingdom, then much of what you will be seeing will be the promises of the things above. And remember: It’s the promises of the things above that will give us victories over the problems of the things below.

But back to the ‘glory factor’ that we are to also factor into this life. For behind the scenes of this messed up world is the glory of God’s majestic world! Even though this world is full of sin and full of sinners, in a very real sense, this world is still filled with the glory of God. Even the Stars are declaring…are yelling out God’s handiwork! Ps 19:1-2- “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.” NLT

Although we live in a world of rebellion, God is still on His throne. Amen? We may not get to have Isaiah’s vision, but we sure ought to get the fact that God is still on the throne! We ought to clearly be seeing through our eyes of faith that our God is still the one true God and the one rightful owner of all the Earth and everything it contains. As Abraham Kuyper put it: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” The Earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains! Oh yes, the glory of God fills the heavens and the earth! But you can only hear it being declared IF you have ears to hear! And you can only see the amazing reality of it all IF you have eyes to see!

The Psalmist said: “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions.” Ps 119:18 NLT God’s word is not only the truth about life and this world…it is also the lenses through which we are to look in order to see the truth and in order to see this world as it really is, as well as to see the world the way it is soon to be when the King comes back! But without the lenses of the Scriptures everything people see is a distorted picture of reality and a darkened understanding of everything in life. Again, only when we set our minds on the things above, and look through the lenses of the Scriptures at the things below, can we see life as it really is, see our life as it really is, see other’s lives as they really are, and most importantly, to see God as God really is!

We’ll continue this look behind the scenes of seeing the unseen, but we’ll close with this. Let’s read it together: 2 Cor 4:17-18- “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” NASU

Beyond God’s Help?

Pastor Robert Kornegay

August 25, 2024

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 3

Study Guide, August 18, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

How remarkable that every planet in our Solar System is named after Roman gods and goddesses, except for one. Mercury is named after the Roman messenger god. Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Mars is the Roman god of war. Jupiter was the supreme god of the ancient Romans. Saturn was the king of the Titans who ruled before Jupiter. Uranus was the Roman sky god. Neptune was the Roman god of the sea. And Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld.

So every planet was named after ancient gods, except for one. Our planet already had a name… ‘Adamah’, given by God and recorded by Moses some 1500 years before the Romans were even around. Gen 1:1- “In the beginning God created the heavens and the (adamah-eres) earth.” NASU Earth is the Anglo-Saxon word which is derived from these Hebrew words meaning, ground and soil…or Earth.

But we point this out as an illustration of how mankind has a history of adding so-called gods to this world in which there is really only one God, the one True God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End…the Lord Jesus Christ, who is one with the Holy Trinity of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All other so-called ‘gods’ or ‘goddesses’ are not gods at all…although they certainly are real! They are real spirits! Oh yes! Let’s explore as we look behind the scenes of some Biblical scenes of gods and goddesses.

Here is something that is essential to understand in order to understand what is really going on in our world around us. Yes, we live on a physical planet, but we live in a spiritual world. Underline that in your mind – We live in a spiritual world! But here is the problem: Most people of this world believe that this world is ruled by human rulers, particularly as in nations and governments and such. But it is not! No, this world is not ruled by human rulers…this world is ruled by spirit rulers, who rule the human rulers who think that they are ruling over this world.

Remember, the Apostle Paul pulled back the curtain on this world and revealed what is really going on behind the scenes in this world. Eph 6:10-13- “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” NASU

Yes, the struggle plays out in flesh and blood…it displays itself in the physical realm of people and families and governments and nations, but the push and the pull and the temptation and the deception all come from the relentless pressures from the spiritual forces of wickedness that actually do rule over this world. (The Women’s Tuesday night Life Group will be studying spiritual warfare this Fall) Remember, Daniel revealed that behind every nation’s governmental rulers are corresponding ‘spirit rulers’ that are directing and influencing the minds and hearts of those who do not belong to the One rightful ruler over the Heavens and the Earth, the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, be very clear about this: the gods and goddesses that we see named and described in the Old and New Testaments that are referred to as the ‘Ancient gods’ are much more than ‘Ancient gods’. For although they are ‘Ancient gods’ they are very much ‘Active gods’ all around in our present world! The ‘Ancient gods’ are still ‘Active’, and they are still ruling the hearts and minds of people and nations all over this world.

If you want to read some clear examples of this, Jonathan Cahn, an American Messianic Jewish Pastor, has written a fascinating book entitled ‘The Return of the Gods’. And we will glean some thoughts from this as we look behind the scenes of some Biblical scenes of these ‘gods’ as revealed in the Scriptures. But to help us identify the true nature of these ‘gods’, again, we learn from the Apostle’s revelation that they are not gods at all. What they are is that they are demonic spirit rulers that rule alongside of their ruler…the ‘god of this world’. 2 Cor 4:3-4- “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” NASU

The Apostle John also confirms the devil’s powerful influence over this world by stating this: 1 John 5:19- “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” NASU And the NLT puts it this way: “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.” And remember what Paul stated in 2 Tim 2:26? “…and (that) they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” NASU

We are often rightfully disturbed by so many immoral and unethical things that so many in our government and in our nation are doing. But we should never be confused about ‘why’ they are doing these immoral and unethical things, because not only is their sin-nature bent toward immoral and unethical things, but the devil and his fellow demons are relentlessly driving them to choose and to do that which is immoral and unethical! And the power that the devil and his fellow demons wield over those who will not repent toward God is so strong that these unrepentant souls are in fact living as captives and doing the will of the devil in their personal lives and in their public lives. And, again, even though people are not calling these ancient gods… or demons gods…by their historical names, they are still worshipping and following these ‘gods’ nevertheless.

For example: Look who’s back? Over the last several years there has been a replica of an ancient arch that has been on tour across the world. Here is when it was on display in London, England. [Pictures of Palmyra Arch in London] And what is the history of the Palmyra Arch? One of the centers of Baal worship in ancient times was Palmyra, Syria. The Romans erected an arch there to lead to the Temple of Baal. So the worshipers of Baal would walk through the arch and approach the temple in which they would then worship and venerate their god.

So of all the replicas of ancient artifacts that could have been chosen, government leaders chose this Arch that was a part of Baal worship to go on display in New York City, in the park outside of City Hall. It also had a visit to our nation’s capitol. [Picture of Arch in DC] And isn’t this picture also a commentary on the state of our nation today?

Num 25:2-3- “For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel.” NASU So who was this god called ‘Baal’…or who was this demon god of Baal? Baal was the chief god of the Canaanites. His name meant ‘lord of Heaven’. Early on we see that Satan, who is the great counterfeiter, now gives this counterfeit god to the nations of Canaan, and even to Israel in times of their departures from God. Baal was the god of provisions and prosperity, of fruitfulness and increase, and basically, the god of materialism. Later the Greeks would refer to him as Zeus, the head of the Greek pantheon of gods.

But primarily, this demon god of Baal would pressure people to worship at the altars of materialism. Even people like Israel, who had worshipped and had been consecrated to their Maker, at times succumbed to Baal’s pressure to abandon God and to worship at the altar of the material. You see, Satan knows that human nature is prone to worshipping the things that been made more than worshipping the Maker of all good things. People are bent toward worshipping creation more than the Creator, and Satan and his demons keep pushing them more and more into the love of mammon over the love of God.

But once people or a nation turn from worshipping the Creator to worshipping created things they detour onto the road to corruption and destruction. So how do you destroy a nation…how do you destroy its people? 2 Kings 17:15-18- “They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the Lord had commanded them not to do like them. They forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him. So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight; none was left except the tribe of Judah.” NASU

Remember, that’s what happened to Israel in the fall of 722 B.C. to the Assyrians. And although our own nation was not brought into a covenant relationship with the Creator, like with Israel, still, just like for every person and nation on Earth, all are subject to living according to the civil righteousness that the Creator of Earth expects for all people and nations living on planet Earth. Even our Declaration of Independence gives homage and honor to our Creator as the Giver of our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…with said happiness based upon honoring the rightful rule of our Creator! But again, there is another ‘god’ that seeks to rule both people and nations. And he is that ‘god’ that Paul and John told us about. He is the ‘rebel god’ or ‘the devil’ that is behind the other ‘gods’, or demons, that seek to deceive and destroy both people and nations.

So that is why Baal is back. And even though Americans don’t call their worship at the altar of materialism ‘Baal’, they still worship there just the same. But now notice that whenever people turn from worshipping the Creator to worshipping the things of creation, they also fall into the worship of another so-called god as well…for that passage went on to say…‘and (they) made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal’. So now we have another god…Asherah, or Ashtoreth, as we also see in the Bible. And who is this? Asherah or Ashtoreth is first a ‘demon’, remember? But Asherah was connected with Baal, and often appears as his wife or consort. In the Canaanite world, she was also called Astarte. In Babylon she was Ishtar. To the Greeks she was Aphrodite. And to the Romans…Venus. And if Baal was thought to be the lord of heaven, Ashtoreth was thought to be the queen of heaven. But what Asherah really was, what she really was the queen of, is that she was the queen of immorality! And if there is one idol or god or goddess that is worshipped in our own country today it is ‘Asherah’…this goddess of immorality. And along with this immorality Asherah was also ‘the destroyer’, particularly the destroyer of marriages and families. Asherah worship not only promoted physical relationships apart from the covenant of marriage, but also promoted physical relationships apart from the created order of humanity itself, causing confusion among genders and the destruction of families and communities. Asherah worship has swept over much of the American landscape today, destroying marriages and families and industries and institutions and universities, and much of the government.

But wherever you have the worship of Asherah, the worship of immorality, you will also find the worship of another god…and that is the god of Molech. Because once you sacrifice morality on the altar of immorality, you will then need to sacrifice the fruit of that immorality. Remember what followed the worship of Asherah and Baal? “Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him.” And Jeremiah described what it was like for the nation that had turned away from God to follow these gods of the nations, right before the destruction of Judah: Jer 32:31-35- “Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger — they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” NASU

Molech worship involved human sacrifice, particularly the sacrifice of children, a sin the Lord called an abomination so inhumane that it wouldn’t even enter His mind to do it. The Lord calls it an ‘abomination’. The world calls it ‘abortion’. It’s the same thing. But if you worship at the altar of Asherah, or immorality, you move on to sacrificing the children to Molech, in abortion. Child sacrifice was the essence of Molech worship. And it’s also striking to learn that the setting of Molech worship in the land of Israel was ‘in the valley of Ben-Hinnom’. Why does this ring a bell? Hinnom had been the place where the idolatrous Jews sacrificed their children to Molech. After the Exile, in order to show their abhorrence of this location, the Jews made this valley the dumping ground for the city. Plus, for the destruction of the debris, a fire was supposedly kept constantly burning there. And so, this valley of Hinnom became a symbol of the abode of the wicked after death. It came to signify Hell, or Gehenna, which is the Greek form of Hinnom. Jesus used this name and place to symbolize the place of future punishment. In fact, He used it eleven times in His discourses.

But how ironic that both people and nations fail to realize that in spite of people making plans and having plans for their own lives, that really, their life is always being played out between the plans of two entities. One is the plans that the Creator has for their life, which first is life itself, both temporal and then eternal through the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And second, Jesus’ plan for people who repent and receive Him, is for them to have an abundant life in following His will of blessings now and in His coming kingdom. But the other entity…the devil, also has plans for every person’s life. And for those who will not repent and receive Christ as their God and their Savior, he has plans for the destruction of their life, especially in Gehenna. His name is ‘the Destroyer’. And his plans for the unsaved is – ‘to steal, to kill, and to destroy.’ (Jn. 10:10)

And the way that this unholy god of this world destroys people’s lives is that he pushes them to go ahead and live out their own plans for their lives, as long as their plans don’t include surrendering to God and God’s plan for their lives. And, since he knows that people are religious by nature, and that they are going to worship something or someone, through the help of his fellow demons, he gives them gods for them to worship. And even if they don’t call them by name, like Baal, and Asherah, and Molech, still, they will be worshipping what these demon gods are pushing them to worship, like so many unrepentant Americans are worshipping the god of materialism, the god of immorality, and the god of child sacrifice…abortion. But those gods always destroy both people and nations!

And that’s why we both pray and communicate the Gospel of salvation righteousness for people in our nation, and we pray and call for civil righteousness to be lived out in our nation. For civil righteousness exalts a nation, but sin destroys it.

Ps 2:10-12- “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” NASU

(Some information gratefully gleaned from The Return of the Gods, Jonathan Cahn)

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes, Pt. 2

Study Guide, August 11, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

All right, Let’s try a little exercise together. For about 60 seconds let’s see how quiet we can make it in here…we’ll close our eyes, and in the quietness listen for any sounds that you hear. Are you ready? Here we go on 3…1, 2, 3…start…

Okay, that was interesting, huh? So what sounds did you hear? The AC fans…shuffling of paper…hopefully, no snoring…

That was great, but there is a place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that is recognized as the quietest room in the world. It is an anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories. (anechoic means ‘without echo’) The room is so quiet that it absorbs 99.99% of Sound. They use it for research purposes, like medical products, and testing for NASA, and such. But visitors can also see what it’s like to be in a soundproof room. Usually, a person can only stand it for about 45 minutes, because it begins to take on an otherworldly quality, as you yourself become the sound. You hear your own heart beating; sometimes you can hear the rushing sounds of your lungs, you hear the noises of the fluids in your head and in your stomach, along with blood flowing through your body, and you can even hear your own bones moving. And you can easily become disoriented by it all. It’s amazing how loud it can be in such a quiet place!

We bring this up because in our look behind the scenes of Biblical scenes there is a book in the Old Testament that we could refer to as the quietest book in the Bible, that is length wise and attention wise. But as quiet as it is, it has a very loud message. So, let’s check it out together. We turn to Obadiah.

Now then, the Book of Obadiah is listed along with the Minor Prophets, which by the way, are called ‘Minor’ only because of their length, not their importance, but the account of it occurred much earlier. But first – who was Obadiah? In Old Testament times, Obadiah was a common name. There are about 12 guys throughout those times that were called ‘Obadiah’. But it’s believed that Obadiah the Prophet was actually a contemporary of Elisha. Some place him later along with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, as he references a fall that sounds like the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. But another destruction occurred earlier with the Philistines and Arabians as well. So this would have had him ministering in Israel during the times of Elisha’s exploits with the Angelic Army overpowering the Syrians with blindness, and the healing of Naaman’s leprosy, and the raising of a Shunammite’s son from the dead. And on the other side of the world, a young man named Siddhartha Gautama was beginning his teachings to the people in Asia. They would soon call him ‘The Buddha’, and his followers would be called ‘Buddhists’.

But with all of this going on there is one particular nation that had become a particular thorn in the side of the people of Israel throughout their history, but now this nation’s cup of sin had become full, which called for the judgment that Obadiah would announce. And along with that, this book highlights one of the worst cases of ‘sibling rivalry’ in history. It records the example of how the roots of bitterness can spread from being a family issue to even becoming a national issue.

But before we get to the ‘why’ of the judgment, let’s go to the ‘what’ of the judgment. Obad 2-4- “The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. But even if you soared as high as eagles and built your nest among the stars, I would bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.” NLT

This really is a loud message indeed! So the time had come for the judgment of Edom. But their capital city was such a remarkable fortress that they thought they were untouchable. Have any of you been to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan? It is pretty spectacular. This city was carved out of the rose red cliffs that are near the Dead Sea. And it was considered impregnable against attack. But the Lord would bring them down from their eagle heights and their nest among the stars.

So now to the ‘why’ of the judgment. Obad 10-14- “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune. You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble. You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such a calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.” NLT

This is a sibling rivalry gone horribly bad. Why do we keep saying ‘sibling rivalry’? Because this animosity between the Israelites and the Edomites goes all the way back to a conflict between Jacob and Esau…who eventually parted ways. And Esau, who was later also called ‘Edom’, moved to the land of Seir, southeast of the Dead Sea. And his descendants became the Edomites. But the Edomites persisted in being Israel’s enemies. They refused to let the Israelites pass through their land on the way to the Promised Land. And for centuries they were hostile to Israel with Saul, David, Joab, and Solomon all having problems with the sons of Edom. They even encouraged Babylon to destroy Jerusalem. Now that’s a bitter root with a lot of bad fruit!

The Edomites later settled in Idumea, which was the Greek name for southern Judea. And yet with all this ancestral hatred and spite toward Israel, one particular Idumean, or Edomite, happened to become a King over Judea. And that Edomite was Herod the Great, the King of Israel when Jesus was born. Uh oh! How ironic that Herod would be a King of the Jews. Yes, Herod’s family had been converted to Judaism, but his heart was still bitter toward Israel.

So here we have the original conflict between Jacob and Esau. Before that it was Isaac and Ishmael. And before that it was Cain and Abel. Remember that ‘brother’s keeper’ thing? It’s like the school of herring that were swimming along, and one of them swam away. And one said to the other: “Where is he going?” And the herring answered: “What? Am I my brother’s ‘Kipper’?” Anyway, Even Jesus had problems from His own brothers. Remember, He said in Mark 6:3-4 – “And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” NASU So just because there is a biological connection, that does not ensure that there will be a personable and considerate and lovable connection. No, over and over, it is those who have not come close to God to deal with the hardness in their own hearts that are then hardest on those who are closest to them, like their own family…their own relatives. But just like with Cain and Ishmael and Esau, if you don’t repent of your sins and let God change your heart and mind, your sin just sets into motion more harm to others, often to those in your own family, but it especially sets into motion more judgment to come for yourself as the consequences of your sin. Remember, you always reap what you sow. You sow harm to others…you will reap harm to yourself. You sow blessings to others…you will reap blessings upon yourself.

But now then, like in those times when the Israelites were obedient under God fearing kings, God protected them with protective boundaries from nations around them that meant them harm. It’s like in believer’s lives today, as the Apostle Paul pointed out to the Church in Corinth, that they too were to have protective boundaries against those who meant them harm by not dealing with the sin in their lives. Look at this: 1 Cor 5:11-12- “I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” NLT So there are times and situations when believers are to set up boundaries to protect themselves and to protect those, they love from even other believers who do harm or are abusive toward them. We are instructed to not even associate with them until these abusive people demonstrate genuine repentance. It’s just like John the Baptist told the hard-hearted Pharisees…they were to demonstrate fruits of their repentance of their harmful and abusive ways…not just mouth the words.

So, again, the judgment on Edom was a loud message of God’s righteous anger against man’s self-pride, both in individuals and in a nation. Obad 2-3- “The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride.” NLT Two things about self-pride here. One is that the Hebrew word for man’s pride is ‘zid’ or ‘zadown’. And a word picture associated with those words is that of boiling mud. Self-pride is like boiling mud! It’s as though when people are boasting in themselves or displaying an arrogant spirit, it’s like watching a boiling mud pit…spitting mud up into the air. That’s quite a depiction of a proud arrogant person! A boiling mud pit, spitting into the air… And the second thing is – How ironic that our culture esteems what God condemns…self-pride. Do not forget: Self-pride is the first on the list of seven things God says that He hates: A proud look…eyes of pride…a proud heart…an arrogant look… (Prov. 6:16) Also, Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” James 4:6- “But He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” NLT

So self-pride is one sin that there should be no question about how sinful it is in God’s sight, and no question as to how much God is opposed to it, and no question how much you will be judged by God for it, whether you are a believer or a non-believer! No one can be filled with God’s spirit if they are full of themselves. No one can be filled with love for God and love for others if they are full of themselves in self-pride.

Then consider Edom’s other sin which incurred God’s judgment. Look again: “You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.” Sounds like we’re reading from today’s newspapers!

But here Edom’s other great sin was assisting the enemy in attacking the Jews. As is stated here from The Bible Exposition Commentary: “It was bad enough for people to do nothing to help their brothers, and to stand and rejoice at their brothers’ calamities, but when they gave aid to the enemy, that was carrying their ancient “family feud” too far. The Edomites entered the city and shared in dividing up the spoils, thus robbing their brothers of their wealth. (Later, Edom’s wealth would be taken.) The Edomites also stood at the forks in the roads, ready to capture the fugitives who were trying to escape; and they turned them over to the enemy to be imprisoned or slain. What the Prophet Jehu asked King Jehoshaphat is applicable here: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord?””

How hard of heart so many people are and are so slow to listen to God’s warnings to people and to nations. God’s words always come to pass! People and nations always reap what they sow! Like here with Edom, the Edomites would not repent of their sins against their brothers, therefore they suffered the consequences of God’s judgment. Obad 15-16- “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history.” NLT

And that is exactly what happened. The Romans conquered Idumea, and from that time on ceased to exist as a nation. But Obadiah was not finished with his warning of this judgment to come. No, for then he reaches far into the future, all the way into the Millennial Kingdom and reveals not only how it ends for Edom, but how it will be for the believing remnant of Israel. Check this out: Obad 19-21- “Then my people living in the Negev will occupy the mountains of Edom…The exiles of Israel will return to their land and occupy the Phoenician coast as far north as Zarephath. The captives from Jerusalem exiled in the north will return home and resettle the towns of the Negev. Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the Lord himself will be king!” NLT

God has a plan for those from the Jewish peoples who receive the Messiah as their Lord and Savior. Remember, God has made everlasting promises to the believing remnant of Israel. But we are to understand what’s been going on and what is going on now. We are to know that from the days the Messiah walked the Earth until now, and even into the Tribulation Age, many from Israel are still of that spiritual condition of a hardened heart toward Jesus Christ, the Messiah, that Paul described in Rom 11:25-30- “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery — so that you will not be wise in your own estimation — that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” NASU

And we must understand that God said to Abraham: Gen 12:2-3- “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” NASU So remember, God still has a purpose and a program and a place for the remnant of believing Jews in His both His Millennial Kingdom and His Eternal Kingdom.

And so, from this quiet book of only one chapter, Obadiah shouts out about the justice of God upon all who mistreat God and mistreat God’s people. Obadiah shouts out about God’s protective love toward all who love Him. Obadiah shouts out about God’s Kingdom that is coming, and the King will rule over His Kingdom. Obadiah shouts out that the time is coming, and is coming soon, that God’s will…will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

 

Behind the Scenes of Biblical Scenes

Study Guide, August 4, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

   Watch video on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/eichapel/videos/1820549648435571

Have any of you been out at night looking for the meteor showers? There are actually two meteor showers going on for another week. The Perseids (Persee-ids) and the Delta Aquariid meteors have arrived together. But you have to get away from the lights to see them. I imagine Cape Lookout has been pretty busy at nights lately, since the Cape has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park. Have you been to any of their special Dark Sky viewing events for that? That’s on our bucket list!

But if you miss seeing these meteor showers, actually, you have seen more meteor showers than you might imagine. Yes…we call it ‘Rain!’ Say what? Oh yeah! A lot of the rain that falls carries with it what are called ‘Micrometeorites’ in the rain drops. [Show picture micrometeorites] These examples were simply collected from rain off of some rooftops. And some of these little iron pieces are even left in rain gutters. This is basically ‘Space dust’ that falls to Earth every day in the droplets of ‘Rain’. In fact, tons of micrometeorites daily fall to Earth in raindrops that pick them up. You know, that kind of puts a new spin on the song ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head’. Of course, ‘Micrometeorites Keep Falling on My Head’ just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it…you need an Umbrella for that. (By the way, the guy that invented the Umbrella originally thought he should name it ‘Brella’, but then he paused…ummm…)

But we bring all this up as an example of how much is often behind the scenes of familiar scenes. And this is especially so with the Bible…with the scenes in the Bible, like the Books or Letters themselves, and the Characters, and places, and events, and such. So we thought it would be very helpful for us to take a look behind the scenes of some Biblical scenes to see what we can glean that will both inform us further and inspire us more in our walk with our Savior and our edification with one another. So…let’s explore.

Let’s take the Book of Ecclesiastes for our first look behind the scenes. Many people read Ecclesiastes with the same mindset that they would read other Bible Books, as like it being all instructional, without realizing that Ecclesiastes is first very intentional…before it is instructional. It first has a very intentional message that God is revealing to all people, which then calls for the urgency of its concluding instructions. What do we mean?

For example. I once worked with a guy where we had a lot of time for discussions about faith and life and the Gospel. He was the kind of guy that was open to talking about faith in theory…just not so much in practicing it in his life. And in one of our discussions of the Bible he said that he did have one particular book of the Bible that he liked…it was Ecclesiastes. And I thought…that pretty much explained where he was in his life…as I realized he was no doubt he was referring to a popular verse from Ecclesiastes that gets repeated a lot, out of context of course, but it states: “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.” Eccl 5:18 NASU Oh yeah, he was all about that ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ idea as pretty much being his faith motto. A lot of people have adopted that motto as well, religious or not.

But the context of the passage was not promoting a ‘just go ahead and live it up kind of life attitude toward life’. No, that was not the Author’s intention, nor his message. And if you don’t first seek to understand the intention, you will confuse the message…you will confuse the instructions. And that’s what is called ‘Eisegesis’, or reading your own ideas into the Scriptures of what you want to see and what you want to do, rather than ‘Exegesis’, which is letting the Scriptures speak out to you as to what you are to see and to believe and what you are to also then do about it! Remember, people often look for what they want to see in the Bible in order to justify what they intend to do anyway, rather than looking for what God intends for them to see in the Bible and then seeking to do what God wants them to do about it.

So What was God’s intention or purpose for having Solomon keep a record of his personal experiments in life to then be included in the Bible as the Book of Ecclesiastes? God wanted to give the world this record of the difference between a life lived first for yourself and your self-will verses living your life first for God and God’s will. And if you don’t understand that, then you will distort most everything else that is said in the Book. Ecclesiastes doesn’t start with ‘Eat, drink, and be merry’, as my friend assumed. No, Ecclesiastes starts with: “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?” Eccl 1:2-3NASU That’s where it starts!

Ecclesiastes is a message comparing Humanism with Theism. Solomon starts off in a backslidden condition before he repents and proclaims his God-fearing conclusion. Remember that 700 wives and 300 cucumber vines problem he had? (or concubines) So It starts with the focus on life lived apart from God, or man centered…self-centered, or living life for yourself. That’s what the statement ‘under the sun’ refers to, which is repeated 29 times! It is a grand experiment of living a human-centered, self-centered life as opposed to living a God-centered life. It even begins with a question which is basically, “What is the meaning of life?” And then he starts answering the question. And the answer is: ‘Apart from God, it’s all ‘vanity of vanities’, meaning that ‘it is meaningless apart from God!’ There is no real meaning or overall purpose or lasting value to life on planet Earth apart from living it in a faithful relationship with the Creator of life and this Earth…which the author gets to at the conclusion of the book.

Ecclesiastes was Solomon’s ultimate experiment on behalf of mankind’ of living your life for yourself as opposed to living your life for God…and then his conclusion about it all. And along the way, he records lessons that he is learning. At times the context reveals that he is giving godly instructions for faithful living, which he is learning in connection with his experiment. But again, the context of it and the confirmation of other Scriptures reveals those to us. Remember, the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself! But then there are other times when they are simply observations that he making, based upon how a natural person would naturally think about things, like, for example again… that whole ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ thing. Granted, many people do make that the purpose of their life, but no…that’s not the purpose of life, nor does it actually work!

In fact, this record of Solomon’s is a demonstration of the ultimate experiment in everything that man naturally thinks where meaning and purpose and fulfillment will be found. Solomon put to the test the very formula that the enemy of mankind gave to our first parents. And it is the same formula that Satan has been using to trip people up and keep them trapped in it ever since the Garden of Eden. And the thing that is so ironically foolish about it all is that so many people continually fail to learn how futile it is to fall for this formula, and they refuse to learn this lesson from this King who tried it all…how it always ends in ‘vanity of vanities!’ They just fall prey to the devil’s lies, and somehow think it will be different for them, not realizing that kind of thinking right there is just another form of insanity.

What’s the formula that mankind continues to pursue in foolishness and futility? “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Gen 3:6-7 NASU And later the Apostle John repeats the warning about it in 1 John 2:16- “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” NASU Notice how each of these God-given gifts with which God intended to bless His children: godly moral pleasures, the godly use of pride about your God and about other God-fearing people, and the godly use of possessions, have all been taken and twisted by Satan and then offered in the forms of self-pleasure, self-pride, and possessions for yourself!

And so along comes Solomon, and again, in his backslidden stage of life, he sets off on this ultimate experiment in finding meaning and purpose and lasting value through experiencing the limits of this twisted version of God’s gifts. And of course, he also gives us the ultimate answer or conclusion of pursuing pleasures for your self first, regardless of the moral nature of them…even pursuing immoral pleasures. He also tested the heights of self-pride, glorying in his learning and abilities and such. And then he tested the ultimate accumulation of possessions for his own sense of fulfillment and happiness. And then he gives the whole world his conclusions of the tests of Satan’s formula of worldly pleasures, and worldly pride, and the worldly use of possessions. Remember, the devil promises that by putting yourself first in pursuing all these things that it will result in self-happiness and self-fulfillment, and self-satisfaction. But Solomon exposed Satan’s false promises and the destructive affects on a person’s life by following this formula. In his conclusions he uses words that are meant to be clear warnings for all people. Notice the words he chose to describe the results of his tests. Solomon’s words include: ‘madness and folly, striving after the wind, meaningless, grievous and painful, futile, vanity, of no profit under the sun! These are words of warning to people of: “Don’t waste your life and ruin your future by chasing after ‘self-pride, self-pleasures, and possessions to use in selfish ways!”

Solomon’s experiment exposed the lie of Satan that he first gave to our first parents and the same lie that he has been whispering in the ears of people throughout history. And Solomon’s concluding message to the entire world was that no one ever needs to try this experiment ever again. Ecclesiastes is a warning to the world: “It’s a lie of the Devil! Don’t live your life for yourself. Don’t live your life apart from God. Don’t live your life pursuing pleasures for yourself, especially immoral pleasures. Don’t live your life in self-pride, with an arrogant mindset and a boastful mouth. Don’t look for self-happiness in amassing possessions for yourself while you neglect the needs of others around you. It’s all a lie, and you will regret it forever!

You know, One word that will be flashing in the minds of the unsaved forever and ever is the word: ‘Regret!’ The unsaved will forever regret not doing the one thing that would have changed their entire life and future, and that is the word ‘Repent’. Jesus warned the world, “Unless you ‘repent’, you will die in your sins.”

Even surveys show that the one thing that people tend to wrestle with at the end of their life is ‘regrets’. Even for some Christians, they regret some doing things they did…and they regret not doing some things they should have done. Actually, wisdom in the Christian life includes – not doing things now that later you will regret that you did, and doing things now that later you will regret that you didn’t do.

And to help with this, if you start with one particular focus you can be assured that you will eliminate many of the regrets that others will have to face if they don’t start with this. So start with this: Start each day with a focus on: ‘Fearing God in reverence and love. Worship and serve the Lord your God’ day after day.” Put God first day after day. Love the Lord wholeheartedly and serve others with humility in your present days. And by doing so, you will eliminate those regrets from your future days. But if you don’t put God first in your present days, you’ll have to face many regrets in your future days. You decide which it will be by what you decide every day.

You know, sometimes a movie or even a book will start with its ending…its conclusion, and then goes back and shows how it got that way, or what went on before that. In the Christian life, we too are to start with the conclusion…we are to live our life based upon the end of our life, or rather, based upon how we want our life to be in our experiences and reward privileges in the Kingdom of God. No doubt Solomon wished he would have lived his life much differently based upon his conclusion rather than his experiment. Remember his conclusion? Eccl 12:13-14- “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” NASU

Solomon’s conclusion to his grand experiment was what he also wrote again and again in his collection of Proverbs. Prov 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 9:10- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” NASU The fear of the Lord is understanding and acting on the fact that the only thing, and the only One that has the right to rule our life is – our God! Wisdom is to give God His rightful place in your life, which is first place in everything in your life…in everything from the rightful pleasures that God wants us to enjoy, to the rightful use of pride…again, in God and others, and the rightful use of possessions, as blessings from God for us to enjoy and especially to share. And in doing so, you can then live with the confidence that when you do give an account for your life, and for all the things in your life and about your life, you can look forward to being filled with rejoicing rather than regrets.

Remember, wisdom is to follow Solomon’s conclusion, not his experiments.

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 10

Study Guide, July 28, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

As we wrap up our sojourning adventures through 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, I’m reminded of a remark by a little boy that we were giving a ride home from an AWANA group meeting. He was probably only about 6 years old. And as we just started off from the parking lot he said, “So, what did we learn today?” That was great! How many times do you think he had heard that before?

And so here we are considering where we have been in our travels and what we have covered in the Apostle’s teachings for these Thessalonian believers and us as well, and now thinking: “So, what have we learned today, and from all the ‘todays’ before ‘today’?”

We have learned to ‘Look Up!’ Certainly one of the most encouraging things of all is that we have learned that Jesus is about to return to Earth, first to gather His Church, and then to reclaim the Earth as His Kingdom! Amen? I think we pointed out, and even if we did, it bears pointing out again, that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s Second Coming throughout the Bible! In fact, one out of every thirty verses in the New Testament teach us about the return of Jesus Christ to this Earth. In our sojourning through these two letters of Thessalonians the return of Jesus Christ is taught in every chapter. No wonder Paul said to us all: 1 Thess 4:18- “Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.” AMP

What is more comforting and encouraging than knowing that everything about this world is on the verge of a major merge into an entirely new lane of life on Planet Earth. The King has been preparing for His return for over two thousand years. And even James said: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8 KJV (Now, James didn’t use the King James accent, but I like it: ‘the Lord draweth nigh!’) (I’ve always been tempted to put on our church sign what I saw in a meme: “Madeth Thou Looketh!” …but that might sound a little flippant to some…still funny though.)

But really, the Earth is looking more and more like Jesus said it would when He descends from Heaven…Matt 24:37-44- “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming…44- You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” NLT

That makes you think of that worship song: “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”. God’s Church, God’s Born-Again family members will be ready. But everyone who has not been Born Again will not be ready, and so, they will be left behind. But still, even as God’s people we need to be ‘R&R’ – we need to be ‘Rapture Ready’. And not only ready because of our saved relationship with Jesus our Savior, but also ready because of our sanctified commitment to Jesus…ready to see Jesus because we have been setting Christ apart every day as being the Lord of our Life. Remember, we honor Jesus’ Saviorhood by living under His Lordship! And living under His Lordship is to be daily looking up, and living in the light of the reality that this could be the day of the long-awaited Rapture of the Church.

I recently saw an advertisement of some teaching materials that have been made for Believers to leave behind for those who are ‘Left Behind’ when Jesus comes to ‘catch away’ or to ‘Rapture’ His church. It’s information on what just happened, and instructions on what to do now, and how to get right with the Lord. That’s a great idea! Of course, the Bible is the ultimate revelation to the world, but helpful instructions for those ‘Left Behind’ will also certainly be ‘welcomed instructions’, because it’s going to be ‘tribulation’ on earth like this world has never seen before or will ever see again.

So to be Rapture Ready we need to be ‘Looking Up’. And we also need to be ‘Looking Within’…and not within ourselves, but within the Word of God! That’s what characterized these Thessalonian Christians. As Paul commended them in 1 Thess 2:13-“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” NASU They received the Word of God as a ‘treasure trove of truth’! That’s what the Scriptures are – a treasure trove of truth! In Jesus High Priestly Prayer He prayed this over us: “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17 NASU Truth is not only instructive; Truth is also ‘protective’. Leaning God’s Word, learning more and more about the timeless truths of the Scriptures us not only instructs us more and more about our God, about God’s world, and about God’s world to come, but these ‘truths’ also protect us more and more from the damaging effects of falsehood upon on own lives and our family’s lives, and the lives around us.

God pointed out in Hosea that people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hos 4:6 NASU. This is knowledge about the truth of God and the truth about themselves and the truth about others, and on and on. Lack of knowing and living by God’s truths leaves people vulnerable to the destructive forces of falsehoods. But, Praise God, God has given us His truths to enlighten our minds and even protect our lives. And, as Paul revealed to these Thessalonians and to us…as we look within God’s Word and let it live within us, it performs its work in us who believe!

God’s word is not only magnificent…it’s also miraculous! It changes our outlook…it changes our up look…it changes our down look…why, it even changes how our ‘looks’ look! When Believers are letting God’s Word rule in their life you can often see it in their ‘looks’…see it in their face…see it in their eyes…no more the proud and self-centered look, but a humble and servant-hearted look.

And so we have learned to “Look Up” for the Lord’s Return and to “Look Within” the Words of God. And have also learned to ‘Look Away!’ What do we mean? Well, let’s ‘look’! 1 Thess 4:1-3- “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” NASU

Mark it down: There is no way to live a life that is more pleasing to you than to live your life being pleasing to God! For whatever pleases Jesus is what will please you. As you look away from yourself as the center of your world and make your Savior become the center of your world you find a new blessed order of peace and pleasure and purpose that cannot be found any other way. Just like the Planets were created to orbit around the Sun, People were created to orbit around the Son of God. If the planets were to dislodge from their orbit around the Sun to orbit around themselves or each other, there would be chaos and destruction of each Planet. And that is the very reason why so many people’s lives are filled with chaos and destruction, because they are seeking to orbit either around themselves or each other, or both. No one was created to do that. When you live at cross purposes with the purpose for which you were created it is self-destructive. Only when you orbit around the Son of God, only when Jesus becomes the center of your life, only when seeking to please Jesus is your highest goal in your life does your life achieve peace and order and fulfillment from living out your created purpose.

Part of the beauty of the Earth is that it looks toward the Sun each day. Why, even the pleasure we get from the Moon is that it reflects the Sun. It’s the same with our lives…your joy, your peace, your pleasure in life depends upon how much you become a reflection of the Son, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Look away each day from yourself to your Savior, seeking to please Jesus each day, and then watch how much happier and how much more pleasing your journey of life becomes.

So we have learned to Look Up for the Lord’s Return, and we have learned to Look Within the Word of God, and we have learned to Look Away from ourselves to our Savior. And then, we have also learned to ‘Look Around’…and to ‘Look Around’ with a particular intent. And what is that intent? 1 Thess 4:9-10- “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more…” NASU

It is no coincidence that there are over 50 ‘one another’ commands in the Scriptures for God’s people to carry out. If you ever have a day wondering what you should do today, wonder no more. For the Scriptures have plenty of God honoring, people blessing, and our personal reward instructions of things for us to do day by day. Some examples are: Serve one another, encourage one another, employ the gifts that God has given you for one another, pray for one another, exhort one another, look to the interests of one another, speak truth with one another, honor one another, build up one another…and more and more! We never have to ask what there is to do in a day ever again! God has given us over 50 things to do right here with these ‘One Another’ instructions! And did you notice how these ‘One Another’s’ even affect our very identity? 1 Thess 5:11 gives it to us: “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” NASU Remember some time ago we pointed out that we are each to add into our identity this aspect of being a ‘Body Builder’? We are instructed to make it a goal to seek to build up our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It’s simply part of this ‘One Another’ ministry that God has given to His family!

But as we get enthused about all of these things we have learned and have gotten inspired about, since the Apostle Paul has revealed to us how God has given us these tools of truth to use and even showed us the steps to take in carrying out our God given tasks, there is something else that is essential that have learned and must learn to look for…and it is this: We must also ‘Look out!’ 2 Thess 3:3-5- “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” NASU

We must learn to ‘Look out’ for the strategies of the enemy. Do not imagine that your worship and works for the glory of God and the gain of others will go uncontested by the evil one. Remember, the Apostle Peter reminded us to not be surprised by the resistance you get even from those you are trying to help know God better and grow in grace deeper. There is a poignant saying: ‘No good deed goes unpunished’. It seems that way sometimes. And maybe…from the world that is, but we are to know for sure that ‘no good deed goes unrewarded’ from our God. Our God is a rewarder of each and every good deed done by His children for the glory of God and the gain of others.

But Peter reminded us: 1 Peter 5:8-9- “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” NASU So, yes, the enemy will contest our plans and our works in our walk of faith for our Lord. And, yes, that can be demanding, that can get frustrating, and that can get tiring, but it should not be surprising. That’s why it’s called a battle for truth and for souls. But one thing that is to be so motivating for us to continue to fight this good fight of faith for our Lord and other’s help is that the Victory has already been won by our King Jesus! And that makes you and me a ‘Victor’ over the world, the flesh, and even the devil, as we resist him, stand firm in our faith, and come alongside others who are facing these same kinds of trials. But again, we triumph over trials because “the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

So we thank our Lord that in our sojourning we have learned to “Look Up” for the Lord’s Return, to “Look Within” the Words of God, to ‘Look Away’ from ourselves to our Savior, to ‘Look Around’ in our ‘One Another’ ministry, and to ‘Look out’ for the strategies of the evil one. And as we do so, in all these things we are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ!

It’s been great to sojourn with you through Thessalonian! Our further adventures await us!

Psalm of Supplication

Pastor Robert Kornegay

July 21, 2024

Psalm 28

Of David.

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 9

Study Guide, July 14, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

In thinking of our sojourning through the letters to these Thessalonian believers, before we finish our journey, there’s a need to pause a moment and focus again on Paul’s counsel for these believer’s personal sanctification while living in the midst of such a spiritually calloused culture…much like our own. Some of this is expressed in these opening verses to the third chapter. Take a look: 2 Thess 3:1-5- “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” NLT

Here Paul addresses the priority of prayer, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the sinful society around them, as well as dealing with sin in their own lives. And we’ll look again at those things, but he always comes back to connecting their spiritual growth to it all. So, think about this: D. L Moody was once delivering a message on spiritual growth. The people had been discussing wrestling with sin in their lives…how they should deal with besetting sins, how to remove sin…their focus was on dealing with their sin. Certainly, a noble intention, but a frustrating task, if your focus is faulty. What do we mean? D. L. Moody set out a glass and asked the question: “So how can we remove the air from this glass? They discussed it a bit and then suggested maybe using a pump of some sort. Then Mr. Moody took a pitcher of water and filled the glass with water and said, “Now there is no more room for the air.”

And then he began sharing how we often have our focus on the things themselves that we are dealing with in our lives, as in how to remove this sin or remove that problem and on and on. But the Scriptures turn our focus not first to removing these troublesome things in our lives, but they turn our focus first onto filling our lives with something else, or with Someone else, the Spirit of Christ. And then, it is as we become more filled, as we become more focused on the Spirit of Christ, as we turn our attention to looking to God the Holy Spirit to fill our lives, to fill our thoughts and purposes, then there is less and less room for these lesser things in our lives…especially things like besetting sins and such.

So often our attention naturally turns onto how to remove this problem, and that sin, or this difficulty, and so on. And in just focusing on those things that we are trying to remove, we then lose our focus on that which God has given us which He intends to replace what needs to be removed. In other words, ‘removal’ requires ‘replacement’. Unless the removal is connected with the replacement, the right replacement, you are still left with the wrong solution. Remember: Removal without replacement still leaves a space that’s going to get filled with something. As followers of Christ, we need to make sure that what fills the spaces in our lives is the right thing even if we do remove something that is wrong. And the right thing to replace everything is the ‘filling of the Holy Spirit’, or submitting to the control of God the Holy Spirit. We are to daily look to God the Holy Spirit to fill our spirit, fill our life, fill our mind, fill our heart, fill our habits… What we are seeking to do is to replace the presence of what is there naturally with the presence of what is there supernaturally …replace our focus on what is naturally there in our lives with our focus on the Spirit of Christ, who, although He daily indwells us, we need to let Him daily fill us, to be in charge of us, to be in control of us!

Remember, the renewal of our mind and heart is done not by removing what is there, but by replacing what is there…replacing what is in here…mind and heart…with what’s in here…the Scriptures, which reveal the very mind and heart of God! Make it a daily habit, a daily practice, to fill, to refill your life, your mind and heart, with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. And then throughout your day, focus on your filling, or focus on the One that you have asked to fill your spirit with His Spirit. And you see, then, it will not be by your might, or it will not be by your power, but it will be by God’s Spirit that you will then be better equipped to deal with things such as persistent problems, or besetting sins, or spiritual warfare through drawing upon God’s might, and God’s power, and God’s Spirit for it all.

Think about it: In the gift of our salvation, when we received Christ into our life, we received all of the Spirit of Christ, all of the Holy Spirit. Now, we are to, day by day, let Him have more of us. We have all of God. The question is: Does He have all of us? We are called to daily give God more of us…we are to make more and more room for Him in our heart and mind, so that what’s in here (the self) is being more and more replaced by what’s in here (the Scriptures) and by Who is in here (in the Scriptures). Think of it as ‘Spiritual Replacement Therapy.’ Hopefully, that will help us all in our progress of Sanctification and in our victories over the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Speaking of which, we see that Paul called for these Thessalonians to engage in their spiritual warfare with specific strategies. And the first and foremost strategy of course was prayer. Paul said: “…pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

Not only does our fellowship with God start with prayer, but our preparation for warfare starts with prayer. Prayer is both the first and the last steps in our training manual for spiritual warfare. In Star Wars the Jedi were called to use the ‘force’. In the Scriptures, God’s warriors are called to use the ‘Prayer force’. We are soldiers in God’s ‘Prayer-force’ who are called to use the ‘Prayer force’. For one thing, Prayer is a work of preparation. Note how Paul pointed out that prayer is what pre-pares the work of the Gospel. Prayer is what prepares people to honor the Lord’s message, as well as prepares hearts to be receptive to the Gospel. Prayer is actually the first step in preparing for any work or for any activity at all!

Remember Paul’s answer to the question of what should we pray about? It was one word: ‘Everything!’ Pray about everything! And we know that God has chosen to use prayer as a way of changing us, but He has also chosen to use prayer as way that He changes others…and changes other things. For, as Paul also points out to these Thessalonians, prayer is not only a ‘preparation’ for the works of God, but prayer is also a ‘protection’ in the warfare that God’s people face. He says, “Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people.”

There’s a reality check for us all! And where do we find wicked and evil people? There were certainly some in Thessalonica. And there were some in Corinth, and in Galatia, and in Athens, and Jerusalem, and Rome…and basically…everywhere there are people, there will be some wicked and evil people. Now certainly, there are degrees of wickedness and of evil…that’s one reason there are degrees of sentencing in Gehenna Hell. But what this reality calls for us to understand is that God’s people are to use the protective nature of prayer to help protect others in the spiritual warfare that is going on in every community and in every country in our world. God’s people are to be a praying people who serve as a ‘prayer force’ in protecting others from the wickedness and evil that infects our world. And while we are not responsible for the wickedness and evil that is done in this world around us, we are still responsible for praying against whatever wickedness and evil that is being done in this world around us. God has given us certain responsibilities to carry out as His children and servants. Prayer is a daily responsibility that we each have as we serve God through serving others by praying for them!

In fact, ‘responsibility’ is another strategy for victory in spiritual warfare, and it is to be one of the key characteristics of God’s people. Followers of Christ are to be the most ‘responsible’ people anywhere. Responsible, in terms of, we can be counted on to do what is right, when it is right, for whom it is right, and for the right reasons.

And why do we point this out? Because in Paul’s inspiring teachings on the prophetic events ahead for God’s people, like the coming Rapture of the Church, and the events of the Tribulation to follow, and the final return of King Jesus with His Church to rule and reign over the Kingdom upon Earth, some of these Thessalonian believers began using the imminence of the Lord’s return as an excuse for not carrying out their daily responsibilities. Take a look: 2 Thess 3:6-15- “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” NASU

Could it be that the saying “They are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good” started with some of these Thessalonians? Actually, that saying seems a little off anyway though, because followers of Christ are to be the most heavenly minded people on Earth…but at the same time also the most responsible and faithful doers of good on Earth as well! In fact, one of the most striking descriptions of Jesus is from Acts 10:38- “…He went about doing good…” How great is that? And how’s that for answering what you and I should do each day? Like Jesus, you and I are to just go about doing good! Now, we’re not talking about copping a judgmental attitude of being a ‘do-gooder’…but we are talking about adopting an attitude of being a ‘good-doer’!

But that was the problem with some of these Thessalonians, in that they were no longer doing the good for God and for others that they should have been doing. Instead, they were using these prophecies of the Lord’s soon return as an excuse for their irresponsibility. Rather, the prophecies of our Lord’s soon return are to inspire us even more to be doing whatever good we can be doing in doing the works that God has given us to do, knowing that our good works and our faithfulness not only matter to God, but they will also be rewarded for eternity.

But nowhere in the Bible does God ever reward bad behavior. Paul told the Thessalonians not to allow others, even other believers, to manipulate or take advantage of others who were trying to be faithful and responsible in both their daily worship of God and their daily work for the help of their families and others. God is a God of ‘Justice’ as well as a God of ‘Mercy’. No one manipulates, or takes advantage of, or abuses others without God taking note of it, and it will be judged by Him.

Remember the principle: Privileges are the rewards for responsibility and faithfulness…. Losses are the results of irresponsibility and unfaithfulness. That principle runs throughout the Bible and on into the Kingdom of God. It’s supposed to guide families and churches and communities and countries as well. But that’s another study…or studies! Remember, America needed another statue…we have the Statue of Liberty…we also needed a Statue of Responsibility!

We have some more to cover as we conclude our sojourning here, but we can conclude with Paul’s counsel to us all to ‘go not grow weary of doing good.’ Where have we heard that before? Gal 6:9- “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Certainly, the doing of good can get ‘tiresome’, but it doesn’t have to be ‘wearisome’. We may tire in our physical energies, but we don’t have to grow weary in our spiritual energies. And why” Because in verse 10 Paul says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” NASU Doing good for others, and especially for fellow believers are opportunities to please God. Our service for others always pleases Jesus. And everything that pleases Jesus will bless us, will bless you even more than the good that you did for others. God will see to that…some now and even more in His Kingdom that is soon coming.

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 8

Study Guide, July 7, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, did you get to see some fireworks shows? It’s estimated that Macy’s spends about 6 million dollars on their fireworks spectacular. The Scriptures tell us that there is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents unto salvation. It’s like a celebration in Heaven when someone turns to God in repentance and receives Christ by faith into their heart and life. I wonder if there are like some celestial fireworks that go off…

But we bring this up because in our sojourning through 2 Thessalonians Paul pauses, as though taking time for some moments of celebration over the salvation of these Thessalonian believers. Take a look: 2 Thess 2:13-14- “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU Sounds like a celebration! Actually, our salvation is a cause for celebration and for rejoicing every day! ‘Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.’ The ‘Solid Rock’ indeed! This gift of eternal life that we have received is the very life of God. We have been united to the eternal life of Jesus Christ Himself. So now, even death itself has lost its sting, because we already have victory over death through the life of Jesus Christ!

Now, in many places throughout Paul’s epistles he uses salvation language such as ‘chosen’ and ‘called’, along with ‘predestined’ and ‘elect’. The question often arises of how the sovereignty of God and the freewill of man are compatible, somehow implying that it has to be either one or the other. But did God ever say it has to be one or the other? No, He didn’t! In fact, the Scriptures never infer that these are ‘either or’ doctrines. No, the problem is that various people at various points throughout history have ‘assumed’ that they are ‘either or’. And whenever you begin with a wrong assumption you will inevitably arrive at a wrong conclusion.

Pardon me while I inject an odd illustration of this. When I was in college, I often broke up saltine crackers in my salad…it was sort of the poor college guy’s croutons. One night I assumed my supply of crackers were still good…a little old, but still okay. It wasn’t until I looked away from the football game that I was watching to look at the salad, only to see that little mealworms had invaded my crackers…and I had already eaten nearly the whole thing….YUCCK! I felt fine, though…and probably got all kinds of protein out of it. Mealworms are edible you know. So, there’s a new salad topping for you right there…

The point is: We seem to be strongly bent toward making assumptions about our beliefs…about theology. The thing is though, that very often our theological assumptions are theologically full of worms, like my salad! And these worms often arise due to another strong bent we humans have…we have this theological bad habit of ‘adding and subtracting’ to and from the Scriptures. And the thing is, God knows humans have this bad habit, so that’s why in both the beginning and in the middle and in the end of the Scriptures God warned us: “Don’t do that!”

Deut 4:2- “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”

Prov 30:5-6- “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.”

Rev 22:18-19- “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” NASU

It’s pretty clear that God is pretty adamant about ‘adding and subtracting’ from His words! And just because we don’t fully understand all the divine revelations of God’s Word doesn’t give us the right to add enough human understanding to them or subtract enough human understanding from them until we do. No, don’t do that! God says what He means and means what He says regardless of how much we understand about it. In fact, Moses clearly told us that the things that God has revealed belong to us. And we are to fully believe them and then seek to obey them. But all of the secret things, or the things that we do not yet understand, don’t yet belong to us, but belong to God. Deut 30:1- “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” NASU

Did you ever notice how people tend to jump to conclusions about what they believe, but then they drag their feet about what they should obey?! ‘Just saying…’ (I heard that was a very popular exercise program, too… ‘Jumping to conclusions.’ I got that one from Roger…good one.) But think about it: Just because believers do not fully understand how the sovereignty of God and the freewill of man can be compatible does not give anyone a green light to start adding to or subtracting from the revelations of either one. The only reason that some people naturally find them controversial is because some people are controversial by nature! But remember, God said: “Don’t do that!”… and “Stop doing that!” Our part is to proclaim God’s Word as God revealed it, and to then obey it…not to add to His words or subtract from them.

I’ve always appreciated the insight of Dr. Theodore Epp on these doctrines. He’s the former President of Back to the Bible. He said: “The sovereignty of God and the free will of man are like two parallel tracks that only intersect in the mind of God.” Now certainly God will explain it all further to us when we are Home in His Kingdom with Him, just like many other miraculous things God has done that we don’t understand. As Charles Swindoll pointed out: “Remember, God is too kind to be cruel, too wise to make a mistake, and too deep to explain Himself.” That’s good! Actually, there are many wondrous revelations of God that we do not understand. How about: I don’t understand God creating the world out of nothing…but I revel in its truth. I don’t understand the miracle of the New Birth of our human spirit…but I revel in its truth. I don’t understand the miracle of the indwelling Holy Spirit…but I revel in its truth.

So when it comes to what God has revealed about His choosing, calling, and election…right alongside of His invitation to whosoever will may come, and His desire for no one to perish, but for all to come to repentance, and His knocking on the door of our hearts, wanting to be invited in… we are to simply revel in these truths and proclaim the words of our awesome God to all people.

For example…here are some revelations of God’s sovereignty in our salvation:

Eph 1:3-6- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” NASU

Rom 8:29-30- “29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” NASU

And then here are some revelations from God confirming our free will in salvation:

John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

2 Peter 3:9- “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

1 Tim 2:3-4- “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” NASU

“It is a biblical truth. Both predestination and personal responsibility are true—God is completely in control and humanity makes choices and is completely accountable for those choices. The Bible does not present these as irreconcilable truths (as theological traditions sometimes have done and still do). Since God is great enough to be the Creator of all, then He is not stumped by the mutual existence of His sovereignty and human volition, choice, and responsibility.”¹

It’s as C.S. Lewis stated that God will ultimately respect the free choice with which He has endowed His creatures. Said Lewis: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done”, and those to whom God says, in the end: “thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no hell (for men)² It is also sometimes illustrated this way: There is a sign coming into Heaven that says, “Whosoever will may come”, and then when you come in and look back it says, “You did not choose Me, I chose you”. Amazing indeed!

To think about the sovereignty of God and the free will of man in summary form, one help is to remember this: ‘Who came to whose door knocking and waiting to be invited in?’ God is the initiator! Jesus is the One who comes to the door of our heart, knocking, and convicting us of our need for His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life. But He does not knock our door down. He waits to be invited in, to be asked into our heart and life. Rev 3:20- “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him…” NASU

So now Paul turns from their standing in their salvation to their taking a stand in their sanctification. Let’s look: 2 Thess 2:15-17- “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” NASU

Here’s a question: So in our standing firm and holding to what we have been taught, where are we to take this stand? Now, the traditions here refer of course to the teachings of the Prophets and the Apostles. But we are to take this stand wherever we walk! In other words, followers of Jesus Christ are to stand for Jesus Christ and His will and His words wherever they walk…wherever they work…wherever they live. For example: In our memory verse, even though it is very familiar to us all, what is not as familiar are the implications of this verse for both God’s people and for the culture in which God’s people live. Look again: Prov 14:34- “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” NASU

What nation? Any nation! And what kind of ‘righteousness’ is God calling for that a nation is responsible for unto God? Before we answer that, what kind of ‘righteousness’ is the church responsible unto God in calling for from a nation? Note carefully: There is one kind of righteousness that a nation is responsible to call for, and then when it comes to the Church – there are two kinds of righteousness that the church is responsible to call for. The nation is responsible for calling for and carrying out ‘civil righteousness’. And then the Church is responsible for calling for people to both ‘salvation righteousness’ and to ‘civil righteousness’. Salvation righteousness is the Gospel of how anyone becomes saved…of the need for each person to become spiritually Born Again by God’s grace through our faith in Christ. All people need to hear that the problem for all people is what the Apostle Paul revealed in Rom 3:21-23- “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (the righteous standard of God)…” NASU

And the Gospel solution of course is also from Paul’s testimony: Phil 3:9- “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” NLT No person is born with nor can make themselves righteous before God. No one can become right with God apart from turning to God for the forgiveness of their sins and trusting in Christ’s sacrificial death and sinless life to both pardon them and grant them His righteousness…salvation righteousness…right standing with God. And that is the offer of the Gospel of this Great Commission that Jesus has given to His Church to now share with people the world over! We are to take a stand for ‘Salvation righteousness’.

But we are also called to take a stand for ‘Civil righteousness’, which refers to God’s rightful rule over all people and all nations due to fact that God is the Creator and Benefactor of all people and nations. Psalm 24:1 makes God’s ownership of the Earth as clear as can be stated: Ps 24:1- “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” NASU And Ps 2 makes God’s expectations as clear as can be stated that both civil authorities and people the world over are to submit to God’s rule in their civil lives, their social lives, their national lives. Ps 2:10-12- “Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal Son, or He will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—for His anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in Him!” NLT

And it’s wonderful how when Paul was teaching in the synagogue in Antioch from Acts 13, he pointed out from this very teaching in Psalm 2 that ‘God’s royal Son’ whom David was prophesying about was not just the King of Israel, but the Messiah of the whole world! How amazing is God’s Word! But again, what this Psalm reveals to us is that God expects both civil authorities and its people to submit to God’s rule over their nation!

Again, we are not talking about the Government doing the work of the Church of proclaiming the Gospel and discipling people, for God has given that commission, that Great Commission, to the Church. But we are talking about the responsibility of the Government to do the work of the Government that God has given it to do, which is to submit to God’s authority and carry out His instructions on all things concerning civility in their social and cultural and national life…or to practice ‘civil righteousness’ in their nation. And the thing that is foremost surprising to many is that this ‘civil righteousness’ is foremost based upon the morality of God’s Words. Remember, even our first President, George Washington stated that a nation stood upon two pillars: Religion and Morality.

So, is there any question why our present nation is crumbling all around us so badly? The two pillars upon which our nation is to stand are both being attacked and are both badly damaged. America’s greatest threat is not from foreign powers, but from its own governing authorities and citizens who are living in direct rebellion against God’s Royal Son. They are tearing off the cords of God’s instructions on civility and morality for a nation, and they are tearing down the pillars of Religion and Morality.

But….but there are still those who are still standing. And yet, we need to understand that those who are the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ are now the last ones standing. Those who love the Lord and seek to submit to His rightful rule over both their private life and civilian life are the only ones left standing against a culture that is in complete rebellion against the rightful rule of the Creator and Lord of all nations. But greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world! Amen? God’s remnant has always reigned in the end and will reign in the end! God’s people will reign and will rule with the King of kings over the nations when the King returns. However, we still have the responsibility to call people the world over to both receive the Salvation righteousness of Christ for their personal relationship with God, and to also submit to the Civil righteousness of God for their public and civil life as they commit to living under God’s rule over all nations. And our daily strength and hope is found in knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself mightily loves us, and by His Spirit within us will give us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, as He daily comforts and strengthens our hearts in every good work and good word!

1. gotquestions.org, Who Are the Elect of God?
2. Dr. Norman Geisler, Chosen But Free, p. 48

Pastor Robert – “Abide in God’s Tabernacle” – June 30, 2024

The Character of Those Who May Dwell with the Lord 

A Psalm of David.  – Psalm 15

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 7

Study Guide, June 23, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, why do we have Fahrenheit and Celsius? Well, we have Celsius because people like those energy drinks. Oh, not that Celsius…although those are pretty good. Teens are all about Celsius drinks. My granddaughter saw that I was drinking one and thought that was pretty cool.

But when we say ‘Fahrenheit’ we could also say ‘Daniel Fahrenheit’, because he was the German scientist that came up with that thermometer in 1724. And it was also decided that 32 degrees would be the freezing point of water and around 212 would be the boiling point. Why? Nobody knows! However, in 1742 a Swedish astronomer named Anders Celsius had another idea. And with his measurement it simplified the readings as Zero degrees for freezing and 100 degrees for boiling point. Although, they had that backwards for a while until they flipped it to make better sense. But most of the world went with Anders’s idea, while America and a few other islands still use Daniel’s scale…kind of like how ‘Soccer’ is called ‘Football’ to the rest of the world, but it’s ‘Soccer’ to us, nevertheless. That’s so that we could use ‘Football’ to call the game where we mostly carry and throw the ball! That’s just how we do things in America!

But we say all of that to say that things can be a little confusing, until we examine their origins and purposes. Which brings us back to where we left off describing the difference in the ministries of God the Holy Spirit during the Age of the Old Testament and the Church Age and on into the Tribulation Age. And what we discovered is that the Apostle Paul reveals in 2 Thess. 2:6-8 that the Holy Spirit, the Restrainer, will be ‘taken out of the way’ at the time of the Rapture of the Church. And since the unique ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age is the ‘indwelling ministry’, when the Church Age is completed, then the Holy Spirit’s ministry to those in the Tribulation Age will return to being the same ministry as in the Age of the Old Testament. Which still includes what? Let’s just briefly summarize that.

We pointed out that the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit will continue in the Tribulation Age. God will still be granting a new birth of the spirit to all those in the Tribulation Age who repent and receive the Messiah as their Lord and Savior. In fact, if you are reading through our Bible Reading Calendar, on Thursday you read in Revelation 7 of the salvation of the 144,000 representatives of every tribe of Israel, who are no doubt also special evangelists, along with this: Rev 7:9-10- “…a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” NASU Praise God, multitudes will be saved during the Tribulation Age!

The Holy Spirit will also continue His empowering ministry to the saved. In Haggai God told the people that His spirit was among them, basically empowering them, just like He also said in Zech 4:6- “Not by might nor by (human) power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” NASU The Holy Spirit also will continue His equipping ministry with various skills and talents for various services and tasks. It’s like with those who worked on the Tabernacle. God said this about them: Ex 31:2-7- “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship. And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you…” NASU

Where do you think people’s talents and abilities originate anyway? It’s like Paul pointed out, in reference to man’s skills, talents, intelligence, musical and artistic abilities and so on: 1 Cor 4:7- “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” NLT All of the talents and abilities that we have are simply gifts of God’s grace to people…actually, just start with ‘Breath’, and then go from there!

Also, that wonderful presence of God the Holy Spirit will be with the saints in the Tribulation Age, just like every other age. But, again, what will be different is that even though the Holy Spirit will be present with the believers in the Tribulation Age, equipping and empowering, and basically sanctifying or developing and maturing their minds and hearts, still, this ministry of the Holy Spirit is better understood as a ‘coming upon’ ministry for various tasks and services, like that in the Old Testament, rather than a ‘dwelling within’ ministry of the Church Age. In many different instances in the Old Testament, we see God saying that the Spirit of God ‘came upon’ different ones for different tasks, like with the Prophets and Kings, and even the Judges of Israel. We often wonder about how much God used Samson, coming upon Samson for various battles and such. You know, Samson was not exactly the model of morality that you want your children to follow. But what this does show us is the amazing grace and mercies of God and the working of God the Holy Spirit in the lives of His people, often in spite of their wavering in their spiritual maturity and faithfulness.

But there is one specific example that reveals this change in this ministry of ‘presence’ and ‘indwelling’ between the Old Testament believers and those in the Church Age. Some are often confused by something that the Psalmist said in Psalm 51. This is after his repentance and confession before the Lord over his sin. Take a look: Ps 51:11-12- “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” NASU What is David talking about… ‘do not take Your Holy Spirit from me’? It’s certainly not talking about him losing his salvation, like some misled Bible teachers have suggested. Spiritually Born-again believers cannot lose their salvation due to their behavior anymore than a child can lose their biological relationship to their parent due to their behavior. Once a person is regenerated in his or her spirit, they are forever united to the very spiritual DNA of God, the very life of God. And he or she will always be a child of God’s. There won’t be any children of God in Hell because of their disobedience. There will be some children of God in Heaven who were disobedient children while on Earth, but that is what the Judgment Seat of Christ is for, to reward the obedience of God’s children and reveal the loss of privileges because of the disobedience of God’s children.

So, even with David, his loss was not his salvation with God. His loss was his fellowship with God. And yet his prayer itself reveals a difference in this ministry of ‘presence’ of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Old Testament believers and those in the Church Age…similar to like we pointed out about the difference between being in the courts of the Temple to being in the very Holy of Holies within the temple.

Hopefully, that helps in better understanding this wondrous ministry of the Holy Spirit in the different Ages…those past and those still to come. Particularly it should cause us New Testament Priests to not only be amazed that we have full access to the inner courts and throne of God, but to never take God’s presence and promises for granted. Rather, as children and priests of God, we are to come daily before the Throne of Grace to find mercy and grace, and to then offer up our sacrifices of praise and our services to our King and Savior!

Now then, we turn to the ‘then’ of 2 Thess 2:8-12- “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” NASU

So now Paul’s revelation really ramps up…ramps up into rejoicing over the victory that is coming with the coming of the Lord Jesus after the three- and one-half years of the Tribulation and the three- and one-half years of the Great Tribulation. And now it’s time for very great tribulation, or very great trouble, to fall on this ‘lawless one’ and on his ‘false prophet’…and the days of judgment to begin to fall on the Devil himself. Revelation 19 describes what happens to the Antichrist and the False Prophet. Rev 19:20- “And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.” NASU

As we have pointed out before, the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be the first two residents of Gehenna Hell. All the unsaved are now being confined in Hades, awaiting their sentencing at the Great White Throne Judgment. After their sentencing there, then they will be removed to Hell, the land of eternal separation from God.

And as for the Devil, John tells us this: Rev 20:1-3- “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.” NASU Why a thousand years? Satan is bound 1000 years because this ‘1000 years’ is the Millennial rule of King Jesus and the Millennial reign of the King’s children. Plus, this final 1000 years before the Eternal Kingdom begins is the final gathering of the family of God from humanity, along with the final rebellion of the devil at its conclusion. But a study on the Millennial Kingdom is a complete study in and of itself. We’ll get to that sometime soon.

But Paul is both unveiling this great victory and revealing a warning to what will be happening spiritually in the days of the Tribulation Age before King Jesus returns. Notice that he said many will be deceived ‘with all power and signs and false wonders.’ Friends, something that has been a fault of human nature throughout history, which the devil has really exploited, is that people have been prone to being easily deceived by signs and wonders, regardless of who or what is behind the signs and wonders. The devil and demons have been able to perform signs and wonders from the beginning of the world. The false priests of Pharoah were able to mimic most all of the miracles of Moses…that is, until Moses had Aaron strike the dust, and from that, life was created out of the dust becoming gnats. That’s when the priests said to Pharoah…. “this is the finger of God!” Only God can create life. You see, the devil can manipulate life and living things, but only God can create life…can create living things! Again, the devil can manipulate what has already been created, but he cannot create what has not already been created. ‘Ex nihilo’ is God’s alone…creating out of nothing!

But there are still a lot of things the devil can manipulate that are seen as ‘signs and wonders’ in the eyes of so many, and that’s why so many are so often deceived by signs and wonders. It is no challenge for the Deceiver to deceive people with signs and wonders. He’s been doing that throughout history! And the only way you can keep from being deceived by ‘wonders’ is by being devoted to the only One whose very name is ‘Wonderful’…the Lord Jesus Himself!

So now, what is the lie that so many in these Tribulation days will believe? The lie that they will believe will be the ‘Second lie’. The ‘Second lie’? What was the ‘First lie’? Remember, the ‘First lie’ was Gen 3:5- “…and you will be like God.” NASU The First lie from Satan to mankind was ‘you can be god to yourself!’ And ever since this lie was given much of mankind has acted that way as a result. But now the second lie of Satan to mankind will be: ‘But now, I am going to be your god. And if you don’t worship me…you die!” Remember 2 Thess 2:4- “…he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” NASU That has always been Satan’s dark desire…to be worshipped as God. And many will be deceived into doing just that in the last days of the Great Tribulation.

And Paul says that the reason that many are deceived is because of something in particular. And we’ll wrap up this study with this. He put it this way: 2 Thess 2:10- “…because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” NASU Of all the virtues, there is something dynamic and powerful in connection with ‘Truth’. Why is it that whenever this virtue is spoken of or presented or postulated, that there is often so much push back? Why does this concept…even the very word itself, ‘Truth’, elicit so deep of a response in the hearts and minds of men? It’s because this virtue of ‘Truth’ is directly connected with its source…connected with the One who is, The Way, The Truth, and The Life! Truth is more than a construct, more than a virtue…truth is an attribute of God! Truth is a Person! Truth is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ himself!

That is why ‘truth’ is often so resisted. That is why the idea of there being such a thing as ‘absolute truth’ is so threatening to so many people. It’s because their soul is bent toward rebelling against truth…resisting the conviction of truth. How strange that so many people dismiss followers of Christ and His Gospel with ideas like: “That’s just your truth!” And then they claim to have their own truth, or that there are many different ‘truths’, and on and on. It’s basically related to how people the world over claim that there are different gods, with different teachings…different ‘truths’, all the while their teachings and beliefs conflict with one another and contradict other teachings and other so called ‘truths’. How strange that so many people can accept absolute contradictions as being true…as being the ‘truth’, but yet they cannot accept absolute truth as being true…as being the ‘truth’!

Yes, it’s strange, but it is not surprising, because when it comes to mankind’s sin nature and sin-bent resistance toward the Creator and Savior, all spiritual reasoning and logic and sense of what is true and what is false is completely damaged and distorted. Note how Paul describes what is involved in repentance unto salvation in 2 Tim 2:24-26- “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

NASU

To live your life apart from repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ is completely senseless. It is a life of ‘non-sense!’ It is to live your life being spiritually unreasonable, illogical, irrational, and adverse to the knowledge of the truth. But when a person becomes willing to seek the truth, willing to seek with all of their heart the One who is the Truth, they will find Him. They will find ‘Thee Truth’. They will find God. They will come to their senses and escape the bondage and the lies of the devil, and they will become a saved and reborn child of the One God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 6

Study Guide, June 16, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

One of the great things about everyday life is that there is always more to learn about everyday life. For example, we tell the time of day by using AM and PM. We say it all the time, but what does AM and PM really mean? Well, we need to start by asking what does the ‘M’ mean? The ‘M’ stands for ‘meridian’. And ‘meridian’ is Latin, which means ‘midday’. Then the ‘A’ stands for the Latin ‘Ante’, which means ‘before midday’…or AM, and the ‘P’ stands for the Latin ‘Post’, which then means ‘post midday’…or PM.

Actually, there is a Prime Meridian, which is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, England. Ever since the decision was made in the 19^th century, the Prime Meridian at Greenwich has served as the reference line for Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT. But, again, when you tell someone it’s 10AM, you are saying it is 10 Ante Meridian…or 10 before midday. And similar for 10 PM or 10 Post Meridian…post midday.

Another ‘actually’ is that ‘actually’ there really is no 12AM or 12PM, because neither are before midday or after midday! They are right at midday. You can have 11:59 or 12:01 AM or PM, but not 12AM or 12PM, because then they are either 12 Noon or 12 Midnight. Isn’t this fun?

As we have seen in our recent series, there are everyday things going on now and things to come that we often don’t consider as to what is ‘really going on’ and ‘what will really be going on’. But the revelations from the Scriptures about what is really going on are really way more fascinating than even learning more about AM and PM, or Fahrenheit and Celsius…which we can talk about their origins later.

But to catch what we mean let’s return to where we were in 2 Thessalonians. And what we need to further explore is this wondrous ministry of the one that Paul referred to as ‘he who now retrains’. Let’s look: 2 Thess 2:7- “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.” NASU

Last time we pointed out that the ‘One who is now restraining’ is a reference to God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the restraining influence on the present evil and tribulations of this world and also is the One who is restraining the Evil one from starting the works of the 70^th week of Daniel, or the Tribulation and Great Tribulation Age. But a really good question that comes up about it all is what it really means that ‘the Restrainer is taken out of the way’? What will then become ‘unrestrained’ in this world? And how will this relate to those who do repent and receive the Messiah in the Tribulation Age. What will their relationship be like with God the Holy Spirit then?

One thing right away that we learn is that there is a change coming in how God the Holy Spirit will be ministering from His present ministry in the Church Age and in His future ministry in the Tribulation Age. And the remarkable thing about that is that the key to understanding how the Holy Spirit will minister to believers after the Church Age in the Tribulation Age is to first understand how He ministered to believers before the Church Age, or in the days of the First Testament, or the Old Testament.

One ministry of the Holy Spirit in all ages is that of ‘regeneration’. And that ministry is one that will continue in the Tribulation Age. In Paul’s letter to Titus we see this ‘regeneration ministry’ clearly stated: Titus 3:5- “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…” NASU Spiritually, it means that God brings a person into new life from a previous state of separation from God and subjection to the decay of death (Ephesians 2:5). Until a person is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, the Bible reveals that the person is still dead, spiritually separated from God because of their sins. The Bible also refers to regeneration as a spiritual resurrection. How amazing it that to realize that you, as a follower of Christ, have already been resurrected…in your spirit. Your spirit was resurrected by the Holy Spirit!

This regeneration is also referred to as being ‘Born Again’. When you repented toward God and placed faith in Christ, God united your spirit to His spirit, and you were spiritually born again. When you think of this term ‘Born again’, what passage of Scripture do you usually associate it with? John 3 in Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus. And what is something else that is remarkable about what Jesus told Nicodemus about this new birth, about being born again, is the rebuff Jesus gave to this Teacher of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Remember what Jesus asked him? “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?” John 3:10 NASU

How come the Pharisees stopped teaching people about spiritual regeneration? How come Nicodemus didn’t know about the need for each person to become spiritually reborn? How come Nicodemus didn’t associate the Messiah with being both the sovereign God and the sacrificial Savior?

Well, let’s first ask some more questions…How come social gospel churches of today don’t teach people about their need to become born again? The answer about this false teaching is the same as for the false teachers of Jesus day and before His day. It is because they have drifted away from the revelations from God in the Bible about needing a personal relationship with the Messiah through spiritual regeneration. Instead, this Gospel has been replaced by their humanistic ideas that people are basically good and only need to keep trying to be good people, all the while ignoring God’s warnings that people are basically dead, spiritually dead, and they are separated from God because of their sin. Plus, by insinuating that people are not spiritually dead in trespasses and sin they are rejecting God’s words and are insulting Jesus, by dishonoring His sacrificial life and death as the only way they can become saved! Just like the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2; to try to be saved by works is the same as saying that Christ died needlessly…that the Cross was a mistake…that God made a mistake. How insulting to God!

From the days of the Garden of Eden God revealed that the Messiah, who would be both God and Man was coming to live and die as a sacrificial substitute to redeem, to purchase our freedom by His sacrifice, and to regenerate man’s dead spirit by uniting His life…uniting God’s life with each one who would repent and receive the Messiah as their Lord and Savior. The Psalmist called out to the Messiah as his Savior. Isaiah gave the revelation of the Messiah’s sacrificial death and His gift of clothing us in His righteousness as our only salvation. Ezekiel even declared the need for man to have his heart of stone…sin dead heart, replaced by a heart of flesh, or a new heart and new life in union with God…a new birth of spiritual life…regeneration!

Essentially Jesus rebuke to Nicodemus was… “How can you be a teacher of the Scriptures, yet ignore what the Scriptures teach?” Well, in another time here is exactly what Jesus said about that: Mark 7:6-8- “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…” NKJV

And this is exactly what Jesus is saying today to every church in America that is not teaching people that every person must be spiritually born again in order to have a relationship with God. False teachers let people continue to think that they are already spiritually alive and if they just try to do good and be good people, and just try to practice some things that their particular religious group says they should do, that they will be fine and be ready to go to Heaven. But that’s basically the same thing the Pharisees were teaching, and also the same thing that Jesus was rebuking them about…blind guides leading others into Hell. Those are Jesus’ words.

There was a Chaplain in Prison ministry that made famous a saying that became the theme to share in prison ministry. And that was this: “Inmates don’t need rehabilitation. What they need is ‘Regeneration’!” Exactly! In fact, that’s what all ‘Inmates of Earth’ need! First, because every person is an ‘Inmate of Earth’, a prisoner of sin, until they become set free in Christ. And second, every person needs to become regenerated…spiritually born again, just like Jesus told this Pharisee who had been ignoring the truth. You see, physically alive people naturally think they are already spiritual alive…until they learn from God through His word and the Gospel that they are spiritually dead…until they become spiritually alive when they repent of their sins and receive the Messiah, receive Christ into their lives! ‘Christ’ is the Greek form of the Hebrew ‘Messiah’.

So, regeneration was a ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and in the Church Age…and will be a ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Tribulation Age. What will be different about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Tribulation Age from the Church Age is what is referred to as ‘the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit’. Remember, Jesus said that a change was coming for believers for this Church Age. He put it this way in John 14:16-17- “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 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.” NASU This was different…the Holy Spirit would now indwell believers in the new Church Age. Paul helped us further understand this by revealing that the Holy Spirit of God no longer resided in a temple, like Solomon’s temple, but that every believer in Christ was now a ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’. That’s what Paul said in 1 Cor 6:19-20- “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” NASU And that, Friends, is one of the most amazing realities of life, that our body has become a temple in which God the Holy Spirit indwells. In this Church Age, we have a special privilege of having both amazing access and special fellowship with God. Perhaps a picture of the Jerusalem temple will help with this.

Remember, only once a year the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple on the Day of Atonement. Of course, the people had access to the courts around the Temple, but only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies. The people were certainly close to God and they sensed His presence and His pleasure upon them as His children. But entering directly into the inner Temple, as in right before the throne of God, was a special privilege for the High Priest.

Guess what? On the Day of Pentecost and all through this Church Age, God has bestowed this special privilege upon each one of us…each Born Again child of God. Peter tells us that God has made us each Priests unto the Lord. And get this…the presence of God has moved out of the temple of stone and moved into the temple of the bodies of His children. And we each now have direct access to our Creator and Savior, as His children, His priests. Note: Heb 4:14-16- “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” NASU

Our God has granted us special access and a special fellowship with Him in this Church Age that is wondrous beyond description. And we’ll let this lead us into our special time of Communion because we remember that it was at the Cross, after Jesus gave up His life to deliver us from our sins, that the veil in the Temple was split from top to bottom. This direct access to the throne room of God was now open to all His children.

We’ll continue with the rest of this study next time, but for now let’s go to prayer in thanks to our wondrous Savior.

Chris & Melissa Stephenson: Cadence International  – June 9, 2024

 

Ministry to the Military in Germany — https://cadence.org/

Sharing the gospel and our lives with the military community.

 

Pastor Robert – “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep”     June 2, 2024

Answer Me When I Call – Psalm 4 ESV

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Message from Youth Pastor Josiah Mitchener – May 26, 2024

Jesus wanted the disciples to have faith that even if the boat went down and sank they were in God’s will and He would always be with them.

Jesus Calms the Storm – Mark 4

35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

 

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 5

Study Guide, May 19, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Loona is a Pet-bot…a pet robot. It has a high-definition camera, and it recognizes faces…it understands many of your gestures, and even plays fetch like a dog. Plus, it can also serve like a mobile Alexa or Echo. And advertisers tell us that in the next five years, Pet-bots are going to be very popular. So, do you think you would want a Pet-bot or a real pet? Maybe both…the Pet-bot could play with your dog or cat while you are away.

Welcome to the world of AI! Artificial intelligence is already in so many of our everyday lives, from our smart phones to our smart appliances to our smart cars. Some AI products can create and perform music and art and even write stories. Hopefully, AI will be a great benefit to aiding in medicine and in helping with the healing of sicknesses and diseases. Of course, in a world that is bent toward sin, you know that AI is also going to be used for evil. The criminal world is already using it to counterfeit people’s images and voices and to steal their private financial information and such. Some groups are working on making AI into war machinery. Some are even purposefully making Mentally ill AI machines, perhaps for research, but others for evil purposes. And, get this, some Humanoid robots already have been given their own nationalities and passports for travel. That would be a weird conversation, sitting next to a Humanoid on an airplane. “Can I have your pretzels? You don’t eat food, right?”

But what, we asked last time…what will be the End Game of AI? What will be the culmination of the activity of Artificial Intelligence in relation to Humanity? That is where we are going in our study passage that we opened up last time. So let’s explore.

2 Thess 2:3-4- “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” NASU In this revelation to these believers in Thessalonica, and to us, the Apostle Paul just tied over 500 years of prophetic teachings from Daniel to the prophecies that would be given in another half century ahead of him in John’s final prophecies in the book of Revelation. And Paul reveals that in the final days of Earth’s present history, that there will be a world ruler that proclaims himself as being God to the whole world. And one of the ways he enforces world-wide worship of himself is through the use of one particular AI…one unique Artificial Intelligence. And what is the particular assignment that is given to this particular Artificial Intelligence? That’s what the Apostle John reveals. Let’s look.

Rev 13:11-18- “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” NASU

The final days, actually, the final three and a half years on Earth before the Lord and King Jesus returns to rule over His created world…these will be the worst times, the greatest times of tribulation that have ever been experienced in the history of mankind. It will be a time that the Earth is ruled by the unholy trinity. And the unholy trinity is made up of Satan, and the Antichrist…which is the ‘first beast’, and the False Prophet…which is the second beast. Again, Satan counterfeits everything he can of God’s, so there is even a counterfeit ‘Trinity’…Satan as the Father, the Antichrist as the Son, and the False Prophet as the Holy Spirit. Yes, but what about the ‘AI’? This particular ‘AI’ has also had another ID throughout history. This ‘AI’ is the same as the ‘AD’ that both Daniel and Jesus said was going to be on the scene in the End Times. And what did they say? Let’s look at that, too.

Dan 9:27- “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” NASU

Matt 24:15,16 – “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.” NASU

This ‘Abomination of Desolation’, this ‘AD’ that both Daniel and Jesus spoke about is the same ‘Image of the Beast’, or ‘AI’, that John reveals will be animated by Satan, or given Artificial Intelligence by Satan through this False Prophet. And this AI’s mission is to enforce world-wide worship of this Artificial Image of the Antichrist. My oh my…And we thought Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship his statue was bad…that was small potatoes next to this Artificially Intelligent Image of the Beast!

Actually, there was even a preview of this coming event in the historical experience of this ‘abomination of desolation’. And that is something to make special note of…of how the Scriptures are also fascinating in how in several different prophecies there are ‘partial previews’ of their fulfillments that happen before the complete fulfillment, like with Isaiah’s prophecies of Jesus’ birth, and Joel’s prophecies of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, and now with Daniel’s prophecy about the Antichrist. For example: In 167 BC, which remember is about 400 years after Daniel prophesied this… (Remember the other word for Prophecy is ‘PROOF’!!! Prophecies are ‘Proofs…you see!’) Anyway, in 167 BC a Greek Ruler by the name of Antiochus 1V came onto the scene. And we realize right away that something was really wrong with this guy, since he called himself “Antiochus Epiphanes”, with means, ‘Illustrious one’ and ‘god manifested’! He went to war against the Jews and even desecrated the temple by setting up an image of Zeus on the altar and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

And as horrible as that was, still…it was only a preview of worse things to come. But he was only a foreshadow of the Antichrist, as he did not establish any covenant with Israel, nor did he animate that image or statue that the Apostle John spoke about, and so on. Plus, nearly 200 years later, Jesus said that the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ that Daniel talked about was still in the future…it was yet to happen in the End Times…in the worst tribulation that has ever been upon the Earth.

Back to this ‘man of lawlessness’. By the way, how ironic is it that the Antichrist, this ‘man of lawlessness’ will enforce more laws upon the whole world than you can imagine! What makes him the ‘man of lawlessness’ is not that he doesn’t force others to live according to his laws, but that he refuses to live under the laws of the Supreme Law Giver of the Universe…the Lord Jesus Christ!

Plus, you know, that’s always been a historical ‘red flag’ principle to watch out for… ‘The weaker the leader or leaders, the more laws they make for others.’ Like with the Pharisees, they had 613 laws for others…Jesus had 2! “Love God with all of your heart, mind, and soul…and Love others like they were you!” Jesus said all of God’s laws are summed up in obeying these two. Watch out when you see this principle in action, for it’s the same with churches, and families, and businesses, and governments: Many laws equal weak leaders. Few, but godly laws, equal strong leaders.

Now, where were we again? That’s the thing about Prophecy…it’s like being in an Amusement Park…there are so many things to see and do! So, again, what is the culmination of Artificial Intelligence in relation to Humanity? We learn from this prophecy in Revelation 13 that Artificial Intelligence concludes with focusing on the historical issue of ‘who mankind will worship’! Will mankind’s worship be given to Satan, even if unwillingly, or willingly offered to God? Just think about that: All of man’s work…all of man’s inventions…all of man’s ideas and aspirations through the centuries of human existence will all come down to this one issue of: ‘Who will you worship?’

For all those living on Earth in the last days of the Great Tribulation period, it will not matter what world religion a person identifies with or even if they choose to have no religious affiliation at all, because the image of the beast, this Artificial Intelligent entity will demand that all people of Earth give their worship to it, as it represents the Antichrist, or they will be killed. That’s why believers in the Messiah will be fleeing to the mountains or wherever they can to elude the reach of the Antichrist. Some will…some won’t. But that is the ‘End Game’ of Artificial Intelligence in the ‘End Times’. Whatever man does with AI until then, this is what the Antichrist is going to do with AI when he gets ahold of it in the End Times.

Which also reveals that for every person that has ever lived or ever will live, regardless of anything else they have ever done or will do; the first issue of life is always: “Who will you worship?” If a person does not choose to worship their only Creator and the only Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, then they will be forced to worship the actual Antichrist…Satan. Even if they think they are not worshipping anything or anyone, by default, by reason of their captivity in sin and to the devil…Satan is claiming it. Life always comes down to: ‘Who will you worship?’ And your answer to that determines every significant thing about your life now and for all eternity! There are only two choices. One is the only true God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the other is the little ‘g’ god, the temporary god of this world system, Satan. There are no other Gods in existence.

Now then, Paul did also give these Thessalonians and us another clue as to the timing of the revealing of the Antichrist. We saw it last time, and we have a little time to check it out this time. So let’s check it out: 2 Thess 2:6-8- “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming…NASU

And the $64,000 question is: “Who is ‘he who now restrains’? Of course, the other question is: Why is it always the $64,000 question? Maybe it should be the ‘One-million-dollar question’ now, with inflation and all…Anyway, the question has historically been asked if Paul was referring to a Person, or was he alluding to an influence? Plus, if he was referring to a Person, was he referring to a Person of the Trinity of God, or to an Angel working on behalf of the Trinity of God? First of all, notice that in verse 6 he says, ‘you know what retrains him now’. So, first he reveals that there is a restraining resistance going on that is keeping Satan from his desire to not only enforce a governing influence upon the world, but to also enforce this world-wide worship of himself through his human representative. Which, by the way, the Antichrist is just another example of Satan’s counterfeiting ways…as it counterfeits the Incarnation of Christ Jesus, who is both God and Man. In this demonic possession of a human being Satan has taken on an incarnation of both Spirit and Man…albeit an ‘Un-holy Spirit’.

Another question about this resistance is ‘what is this resistance all about…or why is there a resistance to Satan’s end times working? The resistance does have several aspects, but remember that the central focus of Satan in the End Times will be his demand of worship or death. There will no longer be the religious freedoms that now exist in the world. Although much of this freedom is our world is being more and more stripped away due to rising persecutions world-wide, but still, the liberties to spread the Gospel of the Great Commission are greater now than they will be in the Great Tribulation. There will still be a great response to the Gospel in the Tribulation Age, but the conditions for the Great Commission will be greatly affected.

But the central thing is this: What is Jesus doing in this Age, this Church Age? Right, He is building His Church! And Who is the One doing the work of convicting of sin, and righteousness, and judgment? Who is the One who is regenerating, converting, sealing, indwelling, and placing or spiritually baptizing people into the body of Christ…the Church of Christ? The Spirit of Christ…the Holy Spirit! But Paul said that once this ‘Fullness of the Gentiles’ is completed, which is a reference to the completion of the Church Age, then this ‘Restrainer’, who is ‘the Holy Spirit’ will complete His restraining influence that allowed for the world-wide building of the Church. He will be taken out of the way…in the sense that God the Holy Spirit will then permit the events of the End Times of the Tribulation Age to happen just as God foretold through His prophets.

Plus, in connection with and in fulfilment of Daniel’s prophecy, this completion of the Church must occur before the fulfilling of the 70^th Week of Daniel’s prophecy. So what God the Holy Spirit is also restraining is that He is restraining the events of this 70^th Week. He is restraining the timing of the Tribulation Age until the Church Age has been completed. The Holy Spirit is restraining the Antichrist from commencing with the events that will unfold in the last Age of Earth before the King returns to establish His Kingdom upon the Earth.

Prophecy is not only amazing…it is also ‘Fun’! But this brings up another Question: So what will the ministry of the Holy Spirit be like in the End Times? Since God the Holy Spirit is no longer working on this restraining ministry, what will His ministry be? We’ll explore that in our next study together!

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 4

Study Guide, May 12, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

In thinking about previews of Heaven, I was thinking about that feast the Chapel had for the Town employees Thursday. Not only was it a great feast, but ‘feasts’ themselves are previews of the ‘feasts’ of Heaven. Why, even the Millennium starts off with a great feast…the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! I’ve been putting in my requests for the feasts of Heaven for some time now…so go ahead and put in your requests. God will either say yes or no, or “You’ve got to be kidding!”

But ever since we started our sojourning through the letters to the Thessalonians our minds have been filled with the wonders and the anticipation of Heaven and the things related to preparing for Heaven. Over and over the Apostle Paul tells us that these prophetic teachings are to be great encouragements for us all, for even though God’s people will always have to deal with troubled times and trouble makers in this short life, knowing more and more about the things to come for God’s people in God’s Kingdom equips us both to better deal with whatever comes our way now, and to also thrive in our victorious faith in the midst of it all.

So this brings us to one of the most significant and revealing prophecies in the Scriptures concerning the events of the End Times. Let’s look: 2 Thess 2:1-6- “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.” NASU

Is this a boatload of prophetic cargo here or what? And there is no flotsam or jetsam here! That would be good names for twins, don’t you think? This is ‘Flotsam’ and this is ‘Jetsam’. I was recently watching a program where they were on a boat talking about that. ‘Flotsam’ refers to the floating wreckage of a ship. And ‘Jetsam’ refers to cargo that is thrown overboard to lighten the load of a ship in danger of sinking. So, maybe those wouldn’t be good names after all. Anyway, I just thought you would like to know that for when you’re out talking some ‘boating lingo’.

Anyway, in this short passage the Apostle speaks of the Return of the Lord, the Rapture of the Church, the Day of the Lord, the revealing of the Antichrist, the Abomination of Desolation, the change of the present ministry of the Holy Spirit to return to pre-church ministry, and…and a reference to what could be the answer to the question of: Just what is the end game of AI…what will be the culmination of the activity of Artificial Intelligence in relation to Humanity? This passage deals with all of that? It certainly does. So let’s sojourn before we adjourn.

Remember, in Paul’s first letter to these Thessalonian believers he encourages them with the revelation of the Rapture of the Church. But in the meantime, others had discouraged them by writing and talking about the events of the End Times in such a way that they thought something was wrong, as though the Tribulation times had already begun. And thus, Paul lays out this picture of End Time events to both calm their fears and to fill in this prophetic picture even more.

Now then, his wording of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” is very important, as it gives us a contextual clue to the other revelations he gives. Like what? Well, historically there have always been two scenarios given as to what was meant when Paul said this: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed…” And the reason there have been two different scenarios is because the Greek word for ‘apostasy’ can be translated two different ways.

In the first scenario the Greek word for ‘apostasy’ or ‘apostasia’, can be translated as ‘a falling away’…even ‘a rebellion’. So in this sense Paul would be saying that the times of the tribulation, which is the beginning of the times referred to as ‘the Day of the Lord’, which is a period of time following the Rapture of the Church and even to the final conflict of the Millennium…he says this will not happen until there is a great falling away from the faith. Now this word ‘apostasia’ is more than just a wholesale neglect of truth or just the historical distortion of beliefs about God and the habit of people to follow their own ways in disobedience and ungodliness. For that has characterized mankind since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden.

Rather, this ‘apostasy’ points to an ‘abandoning of a position that was once held’. It is a particular rebellion that takes place within the professing church. It is characterized by so called Christians or professing only Christians, but not possessing Christ, replacing Biblical doctrines with cultural preferences. We see this described in 2 Tim 3:1-5- “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” NLT

Paul is pointing out that this ungodliness in both beliefs and behaviors is coming not only from within non-religious settings, but also from within ‘religious settings and from people who profess to be religious…from within the bounds of what is called ‘Christendom’. We have seen much of this happening especially from the early 1900’s on, where Universities and Seminaries and Churches that once held Biblical worldviews have drifted off and have fallen away into Humanistic teachings and immoral cultural behaviors. And this drifting of doctrines continues to worsen in our own country and around the world. In Barna’s research, their findings show that less than 10% of professing Christians even in Evangelical churches have a clear Biblical Worldview that defines the way they believe and the way they conduct their lives.

So, yes, the world has been falling away from faith and obedience to the Lordship of Christ since the days after the Fall, but now, in these Last Days, there is a falling away and a rebellion against even the inerrancy and the authority of the Bible from within Christendom itself. So, again, this scenario is very apparent even now, and will become even more apparent as we see the Return of our Lord getting nearer and nearer. And there are many solid Bible teachers and commentators who support this explanation. However, there are other solid Bible teachers and commentators that explain that this scenario can also be included as a part of an even greater picture of what the Apostle is revealing to the Church here. And by filling in the rest of this picture, it reveals an even greater reason for encouragement and inspirational living for all those who are looking for the Blessed Hope, looking for ‘the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.’ Let’s look at this!

Again, the Apostle told these Thessalonikans this: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed…” Now, in the other fifteen times in the New Testament that this word of ‘apostasia’ is used, three of them refer to a falling away from the faith, and the others refer to a ‘departure’ or a ‘disappearance’. It’s remarkable that the first seven English translations of the Bible, like the Wycliffe Bible, the Tyndale Bible, the Geneva Bible, and such all translated this word as either ‘departure’ or ‘departing’.

So, what we have in this second scenario is a scene where in the context of both of these letters, Paul is still talking about the Rapture. In Paul’s first letter he revealed to these believers that they were to be encouraged over the fact that a great gathering of the Church…the Church’s departure from the Earth, was being prepared for by the Lord Jesus. It would occur before the period of the ‘wrath of God’ which is coming upon Earth in the end times. Again, because of some influence they were confused about the timing of this, so in this second letter Paul reminds them that this ‘gathering unto the Lord’ would come before this period of the ‘Day of the Lord’. In fact, he said, it will not come until a particular sign came first. Yes, a ‘falling away’ from faith would be a sign…but that is pretty general by itself, and it has been going on for a long time and in various ages and stages. But what would be definitive enough to constitute a clear sign? If this ‘apostasy’ was referring to the ‘departure’ of the Church, as Paul had been talking about in his first letter and now his second letter, then that would be as clear a sign as could be, as well as being as encouraging as could be for all believers.

Therefore, if when these Thessalonian believers read this letter as: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the departure (the Rapture of the Church) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed…” then their fears would have been completely relieved, and their faith completely encouraged! And, so is ours, if we include this scenario in this revelation. The remarkable thing is, either way, the Rapture is still going to precede the appearance of the Antichrist and the Tribulation period upon the Earth. What great hope and daily encouragement this gives God’s people as we watch a world decaying before our eyes morally and mentally and physically and spiritually. You know, when Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, we know that the Disciples wanted to go with Him. Well, one day, soon and very soon, we all will!

So now, following this gathering, this catching away, this Rapture of the Church, yes, then the man of lawlessness is revealed. As to how soon after the Rapture the Antichrist shows his hand…that timing is not specified. And the reason there could be some period of time in between is because of Ezekiel’s prophecy of a war in the Middle East he calls ‘Gog and Magog.’ This is not to be confused with the final world-wide conflict of Gog and Magog at the conclusion of the Millennial Kingdom. That is the final rebellion before the Eternal Kingdom is ushered in. So keep this in mind, that there are two ‘Gog and Magog’ battles ahead. And each of these require their own studies, so we’ll just point out that in Ezekiel’s prophecy what is very striking is that he points out that this victory will have an impact on some of the people of Israel, but on others…well, let’s see. Daniel informs us that something happens between Israel and this man of lawlessness that Paul speaks about, and it is this: Dan 9:27- “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” NASU

So here we have a covenant that the Antichrist makes with Israel, then a break in the covenant in the middle of that period of time, and then the abomination of desolation occurs. In Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks, he not only reveals the timing of the death of the Messiah, but also the timing of the final years of tribulation upon the Earth. And he also reveals something that begins the timing of the period called ‘The Tribulation Period’. And what begins it is not the Rapture of the Church, which certainly precedes it…and then it soon follows the Rapture…but what starts the countdown of the 70^th week of Daniel, and the specified number of days that the Apostle John points out in the book Revelation, which equals 7 years, is this covenant that the Antichrist makes with Israel. Once this covenant is signed, then…the final countdown of these 7 years of Earth’s history begins before the King descends to where He once ascended from on the Mount of Olives.

How amazing indeed! Plus, how just like our Lord Jesus to physically return to Earth exactly to the very place He physically left the Earth! Zech 14:4-9 “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light. And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.” NASU

Oh yes! The King is coming! As sure as we are sitting here today, the Lord Jesus is going to stand again on the Mount of Olives when He returns to Earth with both His angelic army and His raptured saints. In the meantime, we are to be getting ready for His return…getting ourselves ready, getting our families ready, getting our churches ready, and helping whosoever will in our communities get ready for the return of the King. As we like to say, every day is training time for reigning time…even days like Mother’s Day. And Mothers love prophecy…they are really good themselves at predicting things, so I thought they would be okay with us continuing our prophetic study here…

We’ll explore those other prophetic wonders that we pointed out further in our next study.

 

 

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 3

Study Guide, May 5, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Have you seen some of those crazy laws that are still on the books? For example: Here are some just from North Carolina. If you are walking around the scenic city of Asheville, NC, and you feel a sneeze coming on, you might want to stifle it, because it is illegal to sneeze on city streets in Asheville! And in Nags Head you can be fined for singing out of tune for more than ninety seconds! Then, although you might like to do this, don’t do this in Kill Devil Hills, because it’s illegal to ride a bicycle without having both hands on the handlebars! And in the early days of settlement around Raleigh, before a man could ask for a woman’s hand in marriage he had to be ‘inspected’ by all the barnyard animals on the young woman’s family farm, to ensure there would be harmonious farm life! (So, you might be all right with the hogs, but if the chickens get all riled up when they meet you…well, that might be a deal breaker right there. Chickens know stuff, you know?)

Again, there are a lot of crazy laws people have come up with…but then there are universal laws that were put into place at creation that are immutable. One example is the physical law of ‘Gravity’. Gravity does not change nor does any belief about it or conduct of mankind remove it. It is the same with another law, a spiritual law, that does not change, nor will any belief about it or conduct of mankind remove it. We see it throughout the Bible, but it also comes through in the passage of 2 Thessalonians that we introduced in our last study. So, let’s return to it.

Let’s look again at 2 Thess 1:6-8- “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” NASU The law is referred to as ‘The Law of Compensation’, and it is an immutable spiritual law, and every person that ever has or ever will live is subject to it. And it works both ways, either in retribution for wrong that is done or in reward for right that is done. And here, Paul assures these persecuted believers in Thessalonica that any injustice done to them will be justly judged and avenged by God, who, by His very nature, is a God of justice. In a passage to the Galatian believers Paul reinforced this truth in another description of this Law of Compensation as being the Law of Reaping and Sowing. Note that one: Gal 6:7-8- “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.” NASU

This ‘Law of Compensation’ or ‘Law of Sowing and Reaping’ is one of the first laws that should be taught in homes and in churches and in schools, for it is a foundational law of life on Earth. It is the law of accountability, and everything is recorded. And yet, few people, especially unbelievers from all ages, seem to understand that God has a record of their entire lives. Every deed, every word, every thought, every motive…all is on their record that God has recorded in the ‘books’. And everyone has a ‘this is your life’ appointment with the Sovereign God of Creation and Judge of all mankind. For the redeemed, thankfully the record of our sins was nailed to the cross, and we have forgiveness. So our record is about our service, and not our sins. But for the unrepentant, their sins remain on record. That, too, is revealed in Rev 20:11-12- “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” NASU

We have discussed the Great White Thone judgment many times, but just to reinforce its impact upon all life, remember that this judgment is for the unsaved, for those who neglected or rejected the great salvation offered to all by the Lord Jesus Christ. Their unbelief determined their destination in Gehenna Hell, and now this judgment is of the record of their deeds, all recorded in these ‘books of justice’. And this will determine their sentencing while they spend eternity in Gehenna Hell.

Point being: As we see the sinfulness of people on full display day after day, in our own country and around the world, we need to see it all in light of each of these unsaved people standing before the God of Justice at the Great White Throne Judgment. We need to see them having the record of their lives revealed to them by God, and then being taken away to Gehenna Hell to carry out their sentencing for whatever justice their sins require of them.

Remember, one of the purposes of Prophecy is to project pictures of future truths into our present experiences. We need to regularly superimpose ‘prophetic pictures’ over our present times. Otherwise, like with a book of Anatomy, we will only be looking at the skeleton of this world, without laying the other pages of the human anatomy over it. This is the only way that we can have a better understanding and can live with a realistic perspective concerning everything that is happening day by day…and will happen in due time.

Every day, people are sowing what they will reap in due time. This Law of Compensation cannot be changed or altered or removed, for God is not mocked, and He has already warned everyone of His justice that will be done! Fortunately, for the believer, for the follower of Christ, this Law of Compensation also is a powerful comfort in knowing that no injustice done to them will go unavenged. Remember what God told us about that? Rom 12:18-19- “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.” NASU

To the persecutor to the troublemaker of God’s people, God is going to enact His vengeance upon each of them for their treatment of His children. You can be certain about that! And, since we have also taught much about how ‘The Law of Compensation’ blesses the faithful follower of Christ, we’ll simply remind us all here of what the Apostle Paul revealed about that in Eph 6:7-8- “With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.” NASU Our great God is a great rewarder, and He will reward each and every good thing His children have done in their worship and service for Him. And He is also a great compensator, and will compensate each child of His for each and any harmful thing they have ever had to face or experience from this world, the flesh, and the devil. Our God is ‘The Great Compensator!’

Now then, what does it mean ‘to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus’ as Paul stated: “…those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus”? The Apostle John once stated it similarly when he said: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 NASU

This is an important point to focus upon since it gives us the opportunity to reinforce the Biblical hermeneutic or principle that reminds us: ‘Every teaching of the Bible that is not apparently clear is always in harmony with every teaching of the Bible that is completely clear.’ In other words: We are to interpret every dimly lighted passage in the Bible in connection with every brightly lighted passage in the Bible. For example: The Bible is completely clear in its teaching that salvation is a gift from God based upon Christ’s works for us, and thus is not something that can be earned or merited by our own works. Eph 2:8-9 is as clear as it gets on this teaching…this truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” NASU Therefore, whenever we find a statement like we do here in 2 Thessalonians or in John 3:36 with wording of “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus”, we then realize that the Apostles were equating ‘obedience to the gospel’ with ‘saving faith’… not with ‘works for salvation’. Again, the ‘clear truths’ clarify any truth that may be ‘unclear’. And that principle applies to every teaching of the Bible. This is a great help for each of us in our own study and application of the teachings of the Bible.

It’s remarkable that also in the Book of John is an account that speaks to this very difference between works and faith. A crowd of people were listening to Jesus’ teachings and were also asking Him questions. And being of the same mindset as is common in religious thinking, the humanistic idea that people can be made right with God or merit salvation by doing right works, they asked Jesus which ‘works’ would be the ‘right works’ for them to do to be made right with God. Here’s what Jesus said about that: “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:28-29….”For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 NASU

Again, we clearly see here that a relationship with God, and the possession of eternal life, is not about ‘doing religious works’ as a way to merit salvation, but about ‘believing in the Person of Christ’ in order to unite with God in an eternal relationship with Him. Remember, because all have sinned, all are spiritually dead in sin. And no one can work their way out of spiritual death. You need new life from Christ before you can do good works for Christ. Plus, Jesus even went on to illustrate that the kind of ‘belief’ that saves is not a head belief about the Messiah, but a whole life reception of the Messiah. He said that believing in Him was like eating and drinking of bread and wine…like spiritually partaking of His flesh and blood. He was saying to them that they needed to receive all of His life into all of their life. Again, saving belief was not just head knowledge, but a heart and life reception of Him.

In the beginning of John’s Gospel, he equated ‘believing in Jesus’ with the ‘receiving of Jesus’. Point being: Salvation is not about doing works in your life for Jesus…salvation is about uniting your life with the life of Jesus. And once you have united your life with Jesus, then you are expected to do the works that Jesus instructs you to do out of your new union with Christ and out of your saved position in Christ as an eternal child of God. This is what we can help people better understand, since so many people have grown up in some religion, doing religious traditions, but they have never come into a personal relationship with Jesus. They have never asked Jesus to come into their life and give new life to their dead spirit. People are religious by nature, but a relationship with God begins by a new birth of their spirit when they receive the Person of Christ into their life.

Now then, back to the passage: 2 Thess 1:9-10- “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed.” NASU

From the time of the devil’s skeptical question in the Garden of “Oh, has God said?” to these present times, people have been skeptically questioning God’s words about all kinds of things. And one of them is their skepticism about the duration of Hell. Many either deny the existence of Hell, or diminish the punishments of Hell, or dilute the duration of Hell. But the Scriptures do not allow for anything other than the eternity of Hell. Hell is always referred in the Scriptures as being eternal…as being everlasting. Jesus did not allow for a temporary Hell nor an annihilation in relation to Hell. Rather, He equated the duration of Hell with the duration of Heaven: Matt 25:46- “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” NASU Even the wording Paul uses here in verse 9 of ‘eternal destruction’ does not allow for ‘no longer existing’. The word for ‘destruction’ here means the same as ‘ruined’, especially ruined in relation to its original purpose.

Remember, God created humanity to be His physical family…to live in an eternal relationship of love and joy and the shared rule and management of His entire created universe! But He did not make robots…He made humans who, like Moses said, could choose the blessing or the curse, who could like John said… ‘whosoever will’ – could believe in Him or perish…who like Peter said, “God is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Pet.3:9 NASU Sadly, as Jesus said in Matt 7:13- “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” NASU

God made humans for Heaven not for Hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his demons. But if people reject God and His Heaven, then they will join the devil and his Hell. Which is another somber, but serious picture to also superimpose over people. For when Paul and John and Peter looked at people, they also saw them as either fellow brothers and sisters of Heaven, or as prisoners and residents of Hell. Remember, every person on Earth is either a citizen of Heaven, awaiting their escort home to Heaven, or a prisoner of Hell, awaiting their removal to their residence in Hell! Include that realistic picture in the picture of every person that you see, and then see what it does to the way that you see them.

Also remember that we not only have been called by our God unto salvation, we have also been called to continually live a life worthy of our calling. 2 Thess 1:11-12- “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU

We often hear of some people as having a calling on their life…as for doing this or that task or service and such. Guess what? Each of us has a calling on our life. You have a calling on your life. And you don’t have to wait for a feeling about it. God has called each of us into the ministry…into the ministry of His Great Commission, of going and making disciples through sharing the Gospel with the lost and teaching His truths for the saved to live out in their lives. You have a calling to live a life that glorifies your God in every area of your life. And in doing so you then bring glory and honor to your glorious Savior. And as Paul revealed, as you honor your Savior, He will honor you and grant you privileges and positions of honor in the ages to come in His glorious Kingdom. Every day is your opportunity to give glory and honor to your Creator and Redeemer. And, in doing so, you will also be laying up privileges and rewards for your personal inheritance in the Kingdom of God. So be wise. Live wisely. Make the most of your opportunities before the King returns.

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians, Pt. 2

Study Guide, April 28, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

One of the most valuable gems on Earth is, of course, a diamond. A diamond is categorized among the rare and precious stones on Earth. But get this, on another planet, on Saturn, it’s a different story. Here is something that scientific researchers have discovered about Saturn that is absolutely fantastic, and it is this: Because of the extreme atmospheric pressure, carbon atoms that fall onto the surface become crystallized into diamonds. They estimate that as much as 2.2 million pounds of diamonds rain down on parts of Saturn every year! Talk about a planet with ‘Bling’! There are so many astounding things that we have yet to discover about ‘creation’…about our own world and the heavens above us. Many of these wondrous discoveries have already been revealed to us in the wondrous Scriptures that God has given us to help us better know our God and our world…and especially, to better understand wondrous things about the world to come!

And so, let’s continue uncovering more wonders as we further our sojourning through 2 Thessalonians. But we do need to unpack some issues that are identified in these statements that the Apostle makes. And one of them, you recall, was that the Thessalonian believers were now experiencing persecutions…sufferings and afflictions due to the response of their culture to their surrender to Christ and His truths. Their new allegiance to Christ as their only Lord and Savior provoked those who were still captive by the devil in falsehood and immorality. As a result, many hateful people around them lashed out in social and physical attacks against God’s people. So first, let’s look at the passage, and then we’ll begin unpacking it.

2 Thess 1:6-12- “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU

Here we go again…what a vast amount of revelation in just a few verses! One thing we need to address in order to gain a Biblical perspective on these things is this issue of persecution of God’s people. In other words, what kind of mindset do Christians need to have in order to rightly think about and deal with suffering and persecution in this world? In 1814 the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society chose a seal that would picture their submission to God and their readiness for service, regardless of what they might have to face from those who would not repent. Their seal pictures an Ox standing between a plough and an altar with the words above it: “Ready for Either”. These Christians were declaring to the Lord and to the world that their purpose in life was to serve God in a lost and dying world, whatever the cost. They knew that as they shared the Gospel and God’s truths that there could either be repentance from sinners unto salvation or rejection from sinners and potential persecution. But either way, they were ready for either!

What a great motto for every follower of Christ in every generation until the Lord returns. Plus, it also provides the right perspective, or we should say, the right expectation to carry while living in this broken and condemned world. And why do we say that? Because many believers, and most all the unconverted world, have faulty expectations about how life ought to be in this present world. But if you begin with faulty expectations about how things ought to be, then you will be wholly unprepared to rightly deal with the reality of how life really is while living in this world of trials and tribulations. Rather, what we should expect in this world are – trials and tribulations.

‘Ready for Either’…are you? Take another look at what the possibilities are for us. This is from the account of the ‘heroes of the faith’ chapter of Hebrews 11. In this passage we see two sets of believers with two different experiences. Both are beloved children of God, both are described as faithful believers, with both having the same care and concern of God for them. And yet….let’s look: (First, here’s the service part) Heb 11:32-40- “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; (And now, here’s the sacrifice part)…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. (meaning…completed) NASU

Again, nothing was wrong with the faith of the last group. Nothing was at fault in their lives that brought about these sufferings, nor was there anything at fault with God’s care or compassion in their sufferings. Rather, it clearly demonstrates that this is the harsh reality of the possibilities that God’s people face while living on this present battlefield of Earth. And mark it down: Both groups would experience great victories and great rewards for their battles, but one group experienced great victories during the battles of sufferings, others experienced their great victories after the battles of sufferings. Remember: Our relationship with God does not insulate us from suffering…it assures us of victory!

These believers of Hebrews 11 were ‘ready for either’…and so must we be ‘ready for either.’ But we can only be ‘ready for either’ if we carry the right expectations into the battles of life. Remember: Faulty expectations lead to a faulty faith. So don’t build your faith on your expectations. Build your faith on God’s revelations. Which brings us to the other crucial reality to understand about this present world in order to carry right thoughts about what we are to expect from life in this present world. For example: If you are not expecting pain and suffering from this present world, then you will be undone if or whenever you do experience pain and suffering.

Again, there was nothing deficient about the love and care and compassion of God toward those dear children of His that faced the pain and sufferings described in Hebrews 11. And neither is there any deficiency about the love and care and compassion of our God if and whenever we have to face pain and suffering. In fact, there could never be any deficiency on the part of our God since our God is the perfection of love and the perfection of care and the perfection of compassion in His relationship with each of His children. Meaning that… if, while seeking to live as a follower of Christ in this world, if and whenever we face pain and suffering in this present world and we do not understand what’s happening in the midst of it all, we can be assured that it does not mean that anything is wrong with our faith, nor does it mean that there is anything wrong with the faithfulness of our God. Rather, what is wrong is that this world is presently a world where everything has gone wrong concerning how people choose to treat one another, gone wrong in how filled the physical world is with sickness and disease, gone wrong with how hard it is to live righteously in a world that is sin-bent toward living unrighteously, and basically just all gone wrong in how it was supposed to be.

Which leads us to the most asked question concerning God and this world…and that is this: “Why is there so much pain and suffering in this world?” It is a valid question…and it deserves a valid answer. And yet, we have to realize that often this question is asked with an underlying assumption that because there is so much pain and suffering in this world that there must be something wrong with God, who created this world. That subtle accusation is often just beneath the surface of that question. But that is a very distorted and dangerous thing to even suggest, because if there was anything wrong with our God, then we would have a much greater problem than the problem of pain and suffering. If we had an imperfect and capricious God instead of a perfect and compassionate God, then all mankind would be in much more serious trouble than it is already in! There would be no hope for anyone in this world at all. So, again, when it comes to the question of pain and suffering, the problem is never in our God…in His love or in His care or in His compassion or in His works, rather the problem is always in this sin-filled world.

Unless you know what in the world is wrong with this world, you will most likely stumble in dealing with ‘why’ there is so much pain and suffering in this world. Therefore, as ‘People of the God of love and truth’, one way we can help others who wrestle with this question is by adjusting the question to better deal with the real issue…which is – “What in the world is wrong with this world which has made it become a world where there can be such a thing as so much pain and suffering?” What is the cause of all of this pain and suffering?

That is where the Scriptures start in explaining the answer. Rom 5:12- “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…” NASU The presence of sin in the original sinless world that God made became the poison that has brought deathly damage to everything in this world, from the plant and animal kingdoms to the human and environmental kingdoms. The original sinless world became a sin-filled world where it is now filled with sin-filled hearts and sin-filled minds and a sin-filled environment, which all produce the opposite of peace and happiness…but rather pain and suffering. The presence of sin in this world turned the original sinless planet into this present battlefield of Earth. And until a person understands that Earth is presently a ‘Battlefield’, they will never understand why there is so much pain and suffering in this world.

What happens on battlefields? What should you expect to happen on a battlefield? People…whether they be captives of the devil or soldiers of Christ…people on battlefields get hurt in battle. People often ask: Why do bad things happen to good people? On a battlefield, good soldiers can also get shot…get hurt. Therefore, what is to be expected on battlefields is pain and suffering.

Fortunately, for soldiers of Christ, for God’s children, both the battlefield and the sufferings are only in this world…for God is preparing a new world, a sinless world, much like the original sinless world, only far…far better and far more beautiful in every way…a completely wonderful world described like this: “…the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Rev 21:3-5 NASU

But until we get to that world, we will still live in this world, where there still is death and mourning and pain and suffering. But for God’s children, although there may be pain and suffering, there is also God’s presence and power and sufficient grace to take us through whatever valley it is that we are going through. And while with some of our individual questions about specific problems that we don’t understand…we will have to quietly wait on that. But the reason we can quietly wait is because God has already given us the loudest answer to any question about His immeasurable love for us…about how much He loves us. Through the Cross of Jesus Christ, our God shouts out to us every day: “This is how much I love you!” And that is the greatest reason for our daily peace and our blessed assurance while temporarily living on this battlefield of Earth.

We’ll unpack some more wonders in our next study in 2 Thessalonians.

 

Isa 49:13-16- “Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.” “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands. Always in My mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.” NLT

“Say What”

Pastor Robert Kornegay

April 21, 2024

Praise for the Lord’s Mercies

A Psalm of David.

Further Sojourning…Now Through 2 Thessalonians

Study Guide, April 14, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

By The Way…as we concluded our sojourning through 1 Thessalonians, we highlighted a key practice for both faithful living and victorious living, which was to ‘Rejoice always’. And we saw that the Apostle Paul had a particular secret to being able to do that, which was, as we pointed out from Phil 4:4- “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice!” NASU And from this we learned that rejoicing in the Person of Christ and in all things related to Christ was to be our primary focus, as well as it being the liberating way to live life, by practicing this rejoicing and victorious attitude. And what we meant by this is that our freedom that is found in rejoicing in Christ and in all things related to Christ, releases us from being controlled by our circumstances or our relationships or accomplishments or just the everyday happenings of life.

However, this does not preclude or exclude also rejoicing in the things that we discover or experience as blessings in our circumstances or blessings in our relationships or blessings in our accomplishments by God’s grace or just the blessings of everyday happenings of life. Rejoicing in all blessings is simply part of experiencing the goodness of God towards His people, even while we sojourn through this broken and cursed world. Paul pointed that out in 1 Tim. 6:17 when he stated that God supplies us with good things to enjoy! So it is both good and godly to rejoice in both the Lord and in the good things God brings into our life to enjoy.

However-however…that’s a double ‘however’ there…so…However, it is imperative to understand the difference in ‘rejoicing in the Lord’ and ‘rejoicing in the blessings of life’. And what is imperative to understand is that one is ‘essential’ and the other is ‘additional’, as in ‘extra’ or ‘not essential’! And understanding the difference between the ‘essentials’ of life and the ‘additional-but-not-essentials’ of life is the key to victorious Christian living. Paul said it best in Phil 4:11-14- “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.” NASU

What, or Who, was Paul’s essential? Christ! His relationship with Christ and his resources in Christ were his essential focus and the reason for his rejoicing in Christ! And what were the additional-but-not-essentials? Everything else in his life. Sure, when he had prosperity, it was good, and he could enjoy his abundance. It was additional goodness in his life, but it was not essential for godliness or for rejoicing…because Paul’s reason for rejoicing was in Christ alone! And then in times when he was hungry, when he suffered in need, he still didn’t need anything else in his life in order to still rejoice, for not only did he find all he needed for life and godliness in his relationship with Christ, but he found all the strength to do all the godly things he needed to do in Christ’s sufficiency in strengthening him to do all of those things.

Point being: Therefore, we are being called to look for our reasons to rejoice NOT in the additional things of life, but we are to look for them only in the essential things in life…particularly in the Person of Jesus Christ and in all that we have now and forever in our relationship with Christ! Again, certainly, we can rejoice in the additional-but-not-essential things in life, but we are to essentially rejoice in the Lord, for rejoicing in Christ is essential in our life! Plus, as we pointed out…it is the key to victorious Christian living. And note this: Nothing and no one can defeat the follower of Christ who rejoices in Christ alone!

Which now leads to our second BTW…because while still in Corinth, approximately twelve months after writing to the Thessalonians, Paul learns that after his revelation to them about the return of the Lord Jesus concerning the Second Coming of Christ – first for His Church, and then to the Earth following the tribulation events during the period called “The Day of the Lord”…Paul learns that, among other false influences, that someone or ones had written to them another letter, but it contained false information about those things which Paul had just written to them!

Real communication is a tricky deal, even when false information is not intended. For example, when you communicate with someone you convey about 6 messages. 1 – what you meant to say, 2 – what you actually said, 3 – what the other person heard, 4 – what the other person thinks he or she heard, 5 – what the other person says about what you said, and 6 – what you think about what the other person said. So, do you see any potential for miscommunication here? It’s like the example of: “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I said.” A little tricky for sure! That’s why American business industries spend millions and millions of dollars on improving communication skills in the workplace! It’s important for all of us to try to be as clear as we can about what we mean to say before we say it. And be careful about how we say it so that others will hear what we really meant to say.

But, again, whether it was purposeful misrepresentation or just well-meaning, but false information, some of the believers in the Thessalonica Church were causing a lot of confusion and division among the Brethren because of it. And, on top of this, because so many of the faithful believers were living out the truths of the Gospel and sharing the realities of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they were experiencing more and more push back and persecution from their culture around them. So Paul had to address both the problem of this faulty information and encourage them in the midst of persecution.

So let’s look into all of this as we further our sojourning into Paul’s second letter to these Thessalonian believers…and to us as well. 2 Thess 1:1-5- “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.” NASU

That’s not only a ‘mouthful’ of doctrine, that’s like a ‘houseful’ of amazing teaching right there. And it’s only going to get deeper and higher and wider from here. But note that Paul and Silvanus and Timothy were back in Corinth, teaching and ministering to the church in Corinth, to which Paul would later write two letters to the Corinthian church also. It’s interesting to note that the letters in the New Testament are not in the order that they were written, but rather, they were placed in the order we have them starting with the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. in Turkey. Nicaea is now called Isnik, Turkey. But their order was based upon the decision to group them according to similar teachings more than a chronological order. In Paul’s writings Galatians was his first letter, then 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, followed by 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians and so on. Just some helpful historical insights for us all there…

Paul frequently began his greeting with ‘grace and peace’…and he did so intentionally. And the reason he began with ‘grace and peace’ is because in everything we are to start with ‘grace and peace’…start with God’s grace…God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense and His sufficiency for you, and start with God’s peace, as Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27 NASU Remember, God’s grace provides our sufficiency in everything, and God’s peace provides our stability in everything. God’s grace and God’s peace…don’t leave home without them!

Then, Paul gives them another dose of thanksgiving over them, just like he gave to them in his first letter concerning their faith, hope, and love. And note how Paul exemplified what we are each to excel in: “…we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.” And notice that here is an example of the rightful place of pride…the rightful use of pride…and that is, to be proud of God and proud of others…proud of God’s people. Remember, be humble about yourself, but be proud of God and others, especially of God’s people who are seeking to grow in their faith and show their love and who persevere in the face of problems and persecutions. This is a great encouragement to others…it builds up others. And this edification of others is a primary responsibility of ours towards one another. And how like our God to see to it that as we humble ourselves and express pride in others instead of in ourselves, God then exalts us….God expresses His pride in us, and exhorts other Brothers and Sisters in Christ to express their pride in us too, as that is part of their ministry of edification towards us.

The world has this totally backwards. The world promotes self-pride and the exalting of the ‘self’, boasting in themselves, glorying in themselves…not even realizing that self-pride is a form of self-worship. They are full of themselves, instead of emptying out the self and being filled with the Spirit of God. Self-worship or worship of anyone or anything other than God is sin. Worship belongs to God alone! Remember what Paul wrote to the Galatian believers that he would never glory, except in the Cross of Christ…meaning the Person and sacrifice of Christ?! We are to glory in Christ alone, not in ourselves. However, it is both good and beneficial to our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ to express our pride in them, as Paul said to these Thessalonians, because that aspect of ‘pride’ is not the worship of fellow-man, but the expression of their worthiness of the commendation of ‘well-done’!

Which, by the way, is exactly the kind of ‘worthiness’ that Paul talks about to them and to us… “…you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.” What kind of ‘worthy’ is the Apostle referring to here? He is referring to the kind of ‘worthiness’ here that is the same as ‘faithfulness’. Being ‘worthy’ of God’s kingdom here is not talking about being worthy to enter Heaven, as in being based upon our works in order to be saved, because that is not possible. Rather, what Paul is referring to here is being worthy of being rewarded in the Kingdom based upon being a faithful son or daughter servant of the King!

Be very clear about this: Although every person has worth in the eyes of God, as each human is made in the image of God, still, because all have sinned against God and fallen short of the righteousness of God, no one is worthy by their own works to enter into the Kingdom of God. Only one human being ever sinlessly obeyed the righteous commandments and laws of God and thus, earned Heaven by His own merits…and was, thus, worthy to enter Heaven through His own works. And that is Jesus Christ alone! That’s why Paul told the Galatian believers: Gal 2:16- “…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” 21 – “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” NASU

If there was any way that anyone could be worthy of Heaven based upon their own merits or deeds, then Jesus Christ would not have had to die on that Cross. But there was no other way, because all people are dead in trespasses and sin…and the wages, the debt of sin is eternal separation from God. No amount of good works can remove the debt of sin and the sentence of sin upon every sinner. Only a sinless person can then do sinless works that then merit or earn them a place in Heaven. And, again, only one Person who ever lived was sinless and righteous and thus worthy of entering a sinless world called ‘Heaven’. And that One person was and is Jesus Christ alone! That’s why we call Him ‘Savior’…our Substitute who earned our salvation for us and paid the sentence of spiritual death in our place. And when we, who are unworthy of Heaven, give God our heart in repentance and receive Jesus into our life by faith, we are both forgiven that debt of our sin and we are also credited with Jesus’ righteous life of sinless obedience. It’s God’s gift of salvation to us!

So here’s a wrap up review of this concept of ‘worth’, which the world has so confused and distorted. Certainly, all people have worth, they have intrinsic value, or value by their very nature, since all people are made in the image of God. Every life is thus sacred, made by God and for the purposes of God. The world asks, and even sings the question in movies: “What was I made for?” Our Maker has already answered the question. God tells us throughout the Bible: We were made to love our Creator who loves us…we were made to share life with our Lord who sacrificed His life for us…we were made to serve our King who has eternal plans for us in His kingdom…and we were made to live for the glory of our God who gives us life and breath and all good things to enjoy! They need to make another song with God’s answers to their question!

So, because God created us, we have intrinsic value…we have worth. But our sins made us unworthy of entering the sinless Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, Jesus was both sinless and righteous and thus…He IS worthy of entering Heaven. And since Jesus is also God, His worthiness is enough to cover each of us…enough to credit each of us with His worthiness, that is, for each who turns from their sins to follow Him, and trusts in His sacrifice to forgive their sins and to give them His eternal life. And when they do, they can then demonstrate their love in return through their obedience and service for Him. And through their faithfulness, or their demonstration of ‘worthiness’ in being a faithful son or daughter of God, they then become worthy of rewards in God’s Kingdom for their faithful service on Earth.

How great is our God, indeed!

 

Sojourning Through Thessalonians, Pt. 11

Study Guide, April 7, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Oftentimes when groups come to an end of a particular study that they have been walking through together they conclude with what are called some ‘Takeaways’. Those are particular points or principles that they can ‘take away’ from the study, and they serve as special things to remember and practice. Well, in our sojourning through the first letter of Thessalonians, as we come to the ending of the fifth chapter, it’s almost like the Apostle Paul concluded with a series of ‘takeaways’ for these believers in Thessalonica, and for all believers. Let’s explore.

1 Thess 5:12-15- “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.” NASU

Remember, the Apostle Paul had just finished teaching them, and us, about the great prophetic revelations of the Rapture of the Church and the coming events of the Day of the Lord in the Tribulation Period to follow. And so, they were all amped-up…pumped up…excited about these wondrous days ahead. And we certainly ought to feel that way about the things to come. But in the meantime, Paul reminds them and us about how we are to deal with the everyday things that come each day. Again, it’s the ‘balance’ issue of properly preparing for what’s coming and properly practicing doing what’s right with what comes each day.

Notice how balanced is God’s counsel about things like our ‘interpersonal relationships’. Like in the church Paul basically calls for the body of believers of a local church to ‘encourage the Equippers’. We say ‘Equippers’ because in the letter to the Ephesians Paul referred to Pastor-Teachers and leaders, as in Elders, as those who ‘equip’ the saints to do their works of service. And it doesn’t refer to the age of the Equippers, as some may have been older, and it appears in Thessalonica, there may have been some that were younger as well, as in young ‘Equipper-snappers’! I just had to throw that in there… But the counsel to appreciate and esteem in love those who worked hard at teaching and guiding and leading and equipping the members of a local church was based upon the work and will of God that these leaders had committed themselves to do.

Biblical leaders want to serve God for God’s glory and the gain of God’s people. But to do so means that they will have to be ready to do battle against their culture and against the forces of evil. And that can take a toll on leaders in God’s army. That’s why they need the encouragements and the empowerments from the body of Christ to continue on in their fighting the good fight of faith for the sake of the King and for the sake of the good of the King’s sons and daughters.

And, of course, the Chapel family has been exemplary in carrying out 1 Thess. 5:12 and 13! I’m sure the Apostle Paul would give a ‘shout out’ of ‘well done’ to the saints of Emerald Isle Chapel By The Sea on how the members have encouraged and supported the leadership team here throughout its ministry. Thank you very much Chapel family!

Now, note again how orderly God is and how orderly He calls His family to be, or we could say, His soldiers to be. And why do we say ‘Soldiers’? Look again: “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” The Greek word used here of ‘unruly’ was often used as a military term that referred to a soldier that was being insubordinate and disruptive to the mission of the army. That’s really interesting because Paul frequently reminded the church of the necessity of connecting everything they did and were doing to the overall objective, or objectives of the church. In other words, every church body, every local church body of believers, was to always be aligning their plans and their practices with their overall purpose of why they were a local church body of believers in the first place!

In other…other words…the very reason that the church exists at all is to be the driving factor that directs all that the church does, after all! The reason every local church exists at all is to ‘exalt’ the King and Kings and the Lord of all! And we exalt the Lord of all by carrying out His purposes for us all…which is to seek to save the lost, to build up the saved, and to work for doing His will on Earth as it is done in Heaven. Again, remember, the mission always defines and directs the ministry. So all of these admonitions are so that the soldiers of the Cross will better focus on their mission and better serve together as fellow soldiers.

And then we have what can be called ‘The Trinity of a Triumphant Attitude’. Let’s take a look. 1 Thess 5:16-18- “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” NASU There we have it…three actions that produce a triumphant attitude in the mind and life of a disciple of Christ’s. And the first is also a fun Bible Trivia answer to the question of ‘What is the shortest verse in the Bible?” And nearly everyone answers with “Jesus wept.”, from John 11:35. And rightly so, in English. However, in the Greek there is an even shorter verse than “Jesus wept.” For in the Greek ‘Jesus wept’ contains 16 letters. But in 1 Thess. 5:16 there are two Greeks words that contain only 14 letters, and it’s “Rejoice always.”

But how in the world can we ‘rejoice always’ when there are so many things in our circumstances, things in our world, things in others, and even things in ourselves that provoke us to fussing and fuming rather than rejoicing? Some may recall that wacky song that Buck Owens and Roy Clark sang on the TV show Hee-Haw some years ago. It went: “Gloom, despair, and agony on me; deep, dark depression, excessive misery…if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all, gloom, despair, and agony on me.” Remember that? That’s funny, but strangely reasonable, if we’re only looking to rejoice in the things of this world.

But in order to ‘Rejoice always’ you have to know the secret to rejoicing. And the secret to rejoicing always is what Paul said in his letter to the Philippians. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Phil 4:4-5 NASU The words “in Christ” are used 90 times throughout the New Testament! Why? Because Christ is the source and the solution to living out our lives in succeeding in all the ways and in all the things in which God calls for us to succeed, in both our attitudes and our actions. And the only way we can succeed in having a Christ-like attitude is to choose to rejoice not in our circumstances, not in the things of this world, not in others, and not even in ourselves…but to rejoice in the Lord…rejoice in Christ – always! Rejoice in Christ’s salvation for you…as we also remember in the Lord’s Supper here soon, rejoice in Christ’s attributes, rejoice in Christ’s creation, rejoice in Christ’s coming Kingdom, rejoice in Christ’s plans for you and His pleasure upon you…rejoice in His perfect sacrifice for you to save you from your sins, rejoice in His perfect life of sinless obedience for you to credit you with His righteousness, rejoice in His rejoicing over you in watching you practice obeying His commandments and seeking to do His will, and so on. Everything you need in order to ‘rejoice always’ is all found in Christ and therefore, rejoice always…rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say, rejoice!

The second practice of the Trinity of a Triumphant Attitude is: ‘Pray without ceasing.’ One little guy thought it was ‘pray without sneezing’…but that seemed kind of odd to be a commandment from God…like God was saying… ‘Okay, wait till you’re all done sneezing, and then try your prayer again.’ No, to pray without ceasing means that we are to develop the kind of attitude where prayer is simply a consistent part of our attitude. In other words, we get to a place in our walk with Christ where we include Christ in every part of our walk. Leave everything else out of every part of your life before you leave Christ out of any part in your life. Remember, in order to live like Christ, you have got to walk with Christ. And in order to walk with Christ, you have got to talk with Christ…which is to include Christ in your plans, in your hopes, in your dreams, and so on.

Remember, one of the reasons Christ saved you was to share His life with you. That means in return, we are to share our life with Christ. Share your cares, share your concerns, share your joys, share your sorrows, share your thoughts…which is basically sharing your prayers…which is essentially praying without ceasing!’

And as you do so, be sure and do so with the third part of having a triumphant attitude: “In everything, give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Now, this one kind of throws some Christians for a loop here, until they realize what God is NOT saying. God is NOT saying ‘For everything, give thanks…’ Of course God isn’t saying give thanks for pains and for sufferings and for sorrows and struggles and problems and problem people, and so on. That’s neither a right nor a righteous attitude towards the tribulations of this world. Instead, God IS saying that it is both right and righteous to give thanks IN everything…or IN the MIDST of everything.

And how can we give thanks in the midst of everything? Because in the midst of everything is a provision for everything that enables us to deal with anything with a triumphant attitude and certainty of victory. Paul discovered it in the midst of his severe trials that he was going through, for God revealed to him… 2 Cor 12:6- “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” NASU In the midst of anything you are going through or will ever go through will be a power supplied to you that is called ‘sufficient grace’. And it means that there will not be anything that comes to you that God and you cannot handle through the ‘sufficient grace’ that God is supplying for you. And that’s enough right there for us to be able to ‘give thanks’ for God’s sufficient grace in everything.

So there we have it, this ‘Trinity of a Triumphant Attitude’. Plus, this triumphant attitude takes on even more urgency when we realize just how important it is to practice these virtues of ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks’…because what? Because, as Paul reveals… ‘Because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!’ Whoa! Now this attitude has just moved from ‘optional’ to ‘essential’! How about that? God not only has a plan for our actions…He also has a plan for our attitude. And when we begin our obedience with our attitude, we will discover that we will be much more inclined and inspired and enabled to carry out our obedience in our actions! Does God know us or what?! Of course, He created us, and therefore He knows what is best for both our actions and our attitude. So do a daily attitude adjustment with the Lord even before you head out to do your duty for the Lord.

And for a wrap-up, check out these final takeaways from 1 Thess 5:19-28- “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” NASU

It could take several studies just to unpack this part, but let’s just take away a few. Another way to think of how not to ‘quench the Spirit’ is to not interfere with what God the Holy Spirit is trying to do in and through our lives. Remember Paul said we are to daily be ‘being filled’ with the Spirit. For it is through this filling of the Spirit that the Spirit produces spiritual fruit which then enables us to spiritually grow and carry out the work of the Spirit through us. Remember, it’s as Spurgeon reminded us: “We are all leaky vessels. The only way to stay filled is to stay under the tap of the Holy Spirit.” Makes good sense!

As for despising prophetic utterances, the ERV states it: “Don’t treat prophecy like something that is not important.” The prophecy here relates not only to the things the prophets foretold to people to know, but also is related to the things the prophets told for the people to do. It’s similar to Jame’s declaration in James 1:22- “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” NASU Certainly it’s important to hear, but it’s even more important to ‘do’…to act upon what God has enabled us to hear. Remember, people may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do. The world may doubt what you say you believe, but they will believe what you do about what you say you believe. And when others see you doing what God says in His Word, the Spirit of God uses what you do to make a powerful impact upon a watching world around you. Plus, the hearing of God’s Word changes our minds, but it’s the doing of God’s Word that transforms our character. And many who do not ‘do’ God’s Word, but merely hear God’s Word, remain deluded instead of discipled. Their minds become changed, but they remain stuck in their old character. Remember, it is in the ‘doing of God’s Word’ that God then does His work in transforming you more and more into the character and likeness of Christ, along with all the fruit that is then grown through you. So yeah…just do it…just do the Word after you hear the Word and learn the Word!

Well, one thing about the Scriptures, like gold in the ground, there’s always more to dig up and enjoy. So we’ll wrap up our sojourning through 1 Thessalonians with Paul’s benediction of: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

 

Resurrection Sunday – March 31, 2024

Sunrise Service – Pastor Clay 

Click here to watch Sunrise Service on Facebook

10 am Service – Pastor Robert

Sojourning Through Thessalonians, Pt. 10

Study Guide, March 24, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Often times in communication there is a difference between what is said and what is meant. That is readily apparent in lighthearted things such as like this: “So, two Privates were digging in a hole underground, but the Corporal was just standing there with his shovel. So one Private asks, “Hey, why isn’t the Corporal digging?” And the other said, “Oh, he has ‘Corporal Tunnel Syndrome’!” Yeah, kind of like ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!’ Some of you have had that…I’m wrestling with it now, too.

But it’s amazing how the context of the communication can help clarify the whole thing. In Bible Hermeneutics, or principles of interpretation, there is a saying: ‘A text without a context is a pretext’…or a false text. In our sojourning through Thessalonians we come to a great example of just how much the context helps us better understand the text and the meaning of what the Apostle Paul is revealing to the Church. So let’s explore.

For the past couple of weeks, we have been examining the wonders and the encouragement of the Rapture of the Church as explained in chapter four. But now Paul turns our attention to the next prophetic discussion of the Day of the Lord. And the context reveals that this period, or this season, ‘times and seasons’, not only follows the great translation of the Church to Heaven, but has a very specific purpose, which does not include the Church. What do we mean? Let’s look.

1 Thess 5:1-11- “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” NKJV

So now we see a change in Paul’s revelation from teaching us about the Rapture of the Church to the ‘Day of the Lord’. And the key to the events of the ‘Day of the Lord’ is to see that the Day of the Lord is in relation to ‘the times and seasons.’ ‘Times and Seasons?’ Where have we heard that before? When Jesus was with the disciples on the Mount of Olives for His last commission for them, and for us, just before He ascended into Heaven, He told them this: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8 NKJV

Even then the Disciples were still wondering about God’s promised plan for Israel. But Jesus said, that was not their mission at this time. There would be a time when God will continue His plan for Israel, but it would be in the times identified as ‘the times and seasons’. As for then, and for now, what did He tell them that He was doing in these times, or in this ‘Age’? He told them that He was ‘building His Church’. Thus, their mission, and ours, is to be His witnesses to the world so that all who will receive Him as Lord and Messiah will become part of His Church! And when this part of God’s plan, this Church Age, has been completed, then God will continue His plan and will fulfill His promises to Israel during the ‘times and seasons’ of the end times and on into the future.

Now then, we know that the Disciples, along with many of the Jewish followers of the Messiah, knew of the many prophecies and promises that God had made concerning Israel to have a national identity forever, and to have lineage forever, and to even have a homeland forever. In the Abrahamic Covenant God had made this promise: Gen 17:8- “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” NASU Later in the Davidic Covenant God made this promise: 2 Sam 7:16- “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” 24 “For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.” NASU And then in the New Covenant God made His everlasting promise as certain as can be made by saying: Jer 31:35-37- “Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord,

“Then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord.” NASU

God is declaring that the laws of the Universe and the Heavens themselves would have to cease to exist before His everlasting promises to Israel would cease to exist. And, notice, God pointed out that not even their deeds would cause Him to cast off the offspring of Israel from having a national identity and a purpose and place in His kingdom forever. They would be judged, of course, but they would not be cast off. And just a note: Wherever the Bible says ‘forever’, it means ‘forever’!

However, the Jewish followers of God and students of the Scriptures also knew that God had promised that He would have to judge disobedience or idolatry or apostasy in Israel. Joel 1:15- “Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.” NASU

Zeph 1:6- “And those who have turned back from following the Lord, and those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him.” 14-15- “Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness…” NASU

Note here the association of ‘wrath’ with the ‘day of the Lord’. ‘Wrath’ is a description of ‘judgment’. And one people group is pointed out particularly in having to endure this ‘Day of the Lord’, or this ‘period of time’ or this time referred to both as ‘times and seasons’, and also as ‘Jacob’s trouble’. Note Jer 30:7- “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.” NKJV

Again, those who knew about God’s promises to Israel to have an eternal identity, a constant lineage, and an actual homeland, also knew of this period of time in the ‘end times’, this time of ‘Jacob’s trouble’, as being a reference to Israel, when God would purge His people in a judgment of them, and also, and especially, a judgment upon a wicked world in a period of time, which Jesus said, that in this world there had never been, nor would there ever be anything like it again…a time otherwise known as ‘the Tribulation Period’. In the end times, God will pour out His judgment on this unbelieving and wicked world, even those, to whom as Jesus said, ‘He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him.’ But remember, Paul had also said, ‘all Israel will be saved’. What did he mean? He meant those who are Israelites both by birth and by spiritual rebirth…they will turn to their Messiah and be saved and will inherit these forever promises that God had made in the Abrahamic, Davidic, and the New Covenants.

So think about it: Why the attempted eradication of the Jews by Pharoah of ancient Egypt? Why the attempted eradication of the Jews by Herod in the days of Jesus? Why the attempted eradication of the Jews by Hitler in WW11? Why the attempted eradication of the Jews by Hamas and many in other nations of the world today? It’s all Satan’s continued attack against both the people group God chose for special purposes and plans and against God’s promises to them. It’s Satan’s continual attack against God’s plans and God’s promises. But just like the Church is God’s remnant from the nations of the world, so believing Israel is God’s remnant from that nation, as more and more Israelites by birth also become true Israelites by rebirth in receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Messiah-Savior. That’s one reason we are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem…both for the sake of those who will believe and for the sake of God’s precious promises to all of God’s people!

In fact, even though the Tribulation period will be a time of great judgment upon unbelieving Israel and the other nations, it will also be a time of great evangelism and salvation for countless believers from among both Jews and Gentiles of the nations. Notice: From out of the Tribulation period we see this: Rev 7:2-4- “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.” These are just part of the Israelites who will receive their Messiah. They have a special work and witness in the Tribulation period. And then it continues with this: 9-10- “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” NASU

How amazing, that in the midst of these final seven years of this present Earth before the renovation to the Earth for the Millennial Kingdom, that it will be a period of unprecedented judgment upon the Earth, and yet it will also be a period of unprecedented evangelism and salvation upon the Earth!

But now, back to Thessalonians. So now, this period that is referred to as the Day of the Lord, not like a 24 hour day period, but this unique ‘end times and seasons’ period…this ‘Day of the Lord’ period has a specific purpose of judgment that is characterized by God’s wrath upon an unbelieving world, out of which, thank the Lord, many will repent in the midst of that wrath, from both Jews and Gentiles, before the King descends to the Mount of Olives and then declares and imposes His rightful rule over all the Earth. Which is a long way to say this specific truth that we find in verse 9 – “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

Earlier Paul told these Thessalonian believers that he did not want them to be ‘uninformed’ about the next fantastic event of the ‘catching away’, or of the ‘translation’, or the ‘Rapture of the Church’. And now he tells them that even though they have learned some things about the end times, he doesn’t want them to be ‘misinformed’ about the following events of the times and seasons of the ‘Day of the Lord.’ He even reminds them that they no longer belong to this world that is destined for ‘wrath’, for they are no longer ‘people of darkness’, but they, and we, are ‘people of light’, as he says in verses 4 and 5. Remember, that’s what the Apostle also wanted the Colossian believers, and us, of course, to know as well. Look at this: Col 1:11-14- “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” NLT

This is something very important that God wants us to be very clear about; that we no longer belong to this unbelieving, unrepentant, Christ-rejecting world…this kingdom of darkness. As spiritually reborn people, God has already transferred us into a new realm, into a new kingdom. We are already permanent citizens of the Kingdom of Light. We belong to God’s Kingdom, God’s world, God’s forever family. This world is passing away. Yes, we are still God’s stewards of the planet, but as far as this world’s system of false beliefs, along with the condemnation that it is under and the judgment that is coming upon it…we are only strangers, travelers, sojourners, who are simply passing through this passing world.

And, yes, although God’s people have always experienced persecutions and tribulations, just like Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulations, still, as Paul pointed out in Thessalonians, and as John pointed out in Revelation, and as Jesus pointed out in the Gospels, there is a particular period of Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, the day of wrath, that is coming upon the world in the end times that has never been seen nor ever will be seen again on the Earth. And Paul says to the Church, to all who no longer belong to this world that is under this judgment of wrath…the Apostle essentially says, ‘But we are not destined for this ‘wrath!’ This period of judgment, this ‘Day of the Lord’, is not intended for the Church. We are destined for what will happen when the Lord descends from Heaven with a ‘shout!’ We are destined for deliverance from those final days of wrath upon the Earth!

So while we watch for the Lord’s return we are to do the work that the Lord has given His Church to do – to be His witnesses of the saving Gospel of life to a lost and dying world. We have to be alert and clear-minded. We are to daily be dressed for battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. And then, just as the Apostle closed his teaching on the Rapture, with: “Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”…he also closes this teaching on the Day of the Lord with: “Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

Again, you can’t get any more comforting teaching than the fact that as Born-Again members of Christ’s Church, our soon deliverance from this dying and decaying world could come any day now. And you can’t get any more encouraging teaching that, as Christ’s Church, we need not fear the coming unprecedented judgments of the ‘times and seasons’, of the Day of the Lord, that will come upon the world soon after the great deliverance of the Church!

And thus, from out of this unique comfort and out of this unique encouragement we are to build each other up in our unique relationship with Christ and to also help each other carry out our unique commission of witnessing to this lost world.

Maranatha! Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Sojourning Through Thessalonians, Pt. 9

Study Guide, March 17, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, what comes to mind when you hear the name, ‘Methuselah’? Right, the oldest man to have ever lived…remember how old? 969 years old! I can imagine him saying something like, “Oh, to be 800 again!” But, of course, that was before the Flood, for after the Flood ages were shortened. The pronouncement of Genesis 6:3, of numbering man’s days at 120 years, has been thought by some to refer to lifespan, but the context there indicates a period of respite before the judgment of the Flood. And many Creation Scientists believe the changes in lifespans afterwards were due to the lack of the protective canopy which covered the Earth before the Flood, producing a greenhouse effect on the Earth. But once that was gone, along with the growing effects of the Curse of sin upon the Earth, ages were greatly shortened.

But the next question is, so who was the father of Methuselah? Right, that would be Enoch. And what is super significant about Enoch? Let’s see: Gen 5:21-24- “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” NASU It’s like ‘Rapture #1!’

All right, jump ahead a couple thousand years. 2 Kings 2:11-12- “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more.” NASU Now we have ‘Rapture #2!’

We move ahead another thousand plus years to this: Acts 1:9-11- “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” NASU And here is ‘Rapture #3!’

Then we find, what we could call, a ‘mini-rapture’ with Philip after the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:39-40- “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.” NLT So this could be a half-Rapture, like ‘Rapture #3 1/2!’

And who can forget the Apostle Paul’s ‘rapture experience’? Paul will certainly never forget it: 2 Cor 12:2-4- “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows — was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.” NASU Sometimes people are confused about this statement of ‘the third heaven’. But that was common thought in Jewish expressions about Heaven, where the heavens were considered the clouds and atmosphere above, with the next of the sun, moon, and stars, and then the third, the very residence of God, where Paul was permitted to see the indescribable Home of God and God’s people.

By the way, when I was in Moscow a Pastor there said to me: “You know the language of Heaven is Russian, right? Yeah, Paul said that he returned from Heaven with words he could not speak. So that had to be Russian!” It is a tough language all right! But now we have ‘Rapture #4!’

Which brings us back to 1 Thess 4:16-18- “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” NASU And now ‘Rapture # 5!’ Point being: This world has already witnessed many previews of the coming Rapture of the Church. And we’re not talking about Sci-fi stuff – “Beam me up, Scottie!”. These were actual transfers from the Earth to Heaven by real people in real time into a real place of Paradise…Heaven. So when we think of the upcoming Rapture of the Church, this will not be the first time that God’s people, even the Lord Jesus Himself, have been ‘caught up’, ‘taken up’, from the Earth into the very presence of God in Heaven! That’s what the word ‘Rapture’, from the Greek ‘Harpazo’, means: ‘caught up, or taken up’. Although, it will be unprecedented in how all the followers of God on Earth will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.

By the way, one of the fun discoveries in the study of Greek…and ‘Yes, Greek can be fun!’, and one such example of just how fun Greek can be is when you come to another Greek word that the Apostle Paul chose to use in this prophecy of the Rapture. For in the Greek there are two different words for ‘air’. One word is ‘aer’ and the other is ‘aether’. Now, ‘aer’ is a reference to the lower air or lower atmosphere around the Earth, and ‘aether’ is a reference to the upper air or what we would think of as ‘space’ or ‘outer space’. Now a question: Which word for ‘air’ do you think Paul chose, or we should say, which word do you think God the Holy Spirit had Paul choose in revealing this prophecy about the Rapture? Or, let’s ask it another way: Just how, if we could put it this way….just how anxious is the Lord Jesus to return to gather His church to Himself in preparation for then establishing His Kingdom upon the Earth? Think about it: The Lord Jesus would not even have to descend from Heaven to ‘rapture’ the Church. He could simply call the Church up from His throne. But, in keeping with Prophecy, but even more so, our Lord and Savior is so anxious to come for His Bride, the Church, that He will descend as close as the ‘aer’…the lower air, the lower atmosphere around the Earth to call us all to meet Him and be with Him forever!

Remember, in a teaching moment with the Disciples, which was patterned almost exactly after the steps of a Jewish Wedding, which also must have stunned them again…Jesus had told the Disciples: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 NASU That part right there, of the ‘descending from Heaven’ part in the Rapture, is Jesus, the Bridegroom, coming for the Bride, the Church. And this is important to note on another note, because when you think about how anxious you are for the coming of the Lord Jesus in the Rapture of the Church, just think about how much our Savior is looking forward to that day…the day the Bridegroom comes for His Bride! Jesus is even far more anxious for this first stage of the Second Coming than we are! And the more that we think about that from Jesus’ point of view, actually, the more we think about everything from Jesus’ point of view, the more impact it will make on everything in our lives! For, remember, ‘Perspective is everything!’

That’s one of the reasons we spend so much time and emphasis at the Chapel on Prophecy…on the prophetic teachings of the Scriptures. Does knowing the next events of the Second Coming of Jesus have a great impact on the way you look at your life and the way that you deal with everything else? Of course it does! Does it encourage you to press on when things are hard, knowing that any day now, everything is about to become beyond wonderful? Of course it does! Does it inspire you to know that you know what is about to happen on this Earth and to this Earth when so many around you do not know, or even have a clue, and thus are so stressed and depressed about most everything? Of course it does! And does it comfort you to know that soon and very soon you are not only going to see the King, but you are going to be with the King forever and ever? Well, back to our passage: “…and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess 4:16-18 NASU

The teaching on the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church, and the subsequent events that usher in the Kingdom on Earth, but especially the reality that soon and very soon you and I will forever be with our Creator and our Savior…you can’t get any more comforting truth than this! It’s a reminder of what we once pointed out – that there is a part of you, the real you, your soul and spirit, the New Man or New Woman, the son of daughter of God that you really are…that part of the real you is something that the world, the flesh, and the devil cannot touch! You belong to God alone, fully and completely, and there’s nothing this world can do to change that nor change who you are ‘in Christ!’

That’s one of the reasons that Satan and his demons, who are also working through the ungodliness of others…that is one of the reasons the devil is so disturbed and distressed, because he knows that there is something about every Born Again child of God, about you…that he cannot touch! Why, not even death has the sting that it once had! We have even won that victory and the devil has forever lost it! In that twin passage about the Rapture and our Immortal bodies Paul expressed our victory over death in ‘neon lights’! Check it out: “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:55-57 NASU

Certainly, death is harsh and hard, but death is completely defeated as well! Every time you pass by a cemetery or go to one, you can think and say: “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” You can say – “My body may one day lie here temporarily, but because I have Jesus in my life, I have the victory over death and the grave. Devil, you might touch that, but you can’t touch this…my soul. And even one day my mortal body will rise to immortality, and you can’t touch that either!”

You and I need to carry around a pocketful of prophecies all the time, so that we can pull them out and think about them, dwell on them, and then share them with others. The prophecies of the Bible are meant to be a major part of our understanding of the faith and a major part of our attitude about our life. This is evident since prophecy is a major part of the whole of Scripture. Sixty-two of the Bible’s sixty-six books contain predictive information. That’s 94 percent of the Bible! The number of verses in the Bible are numbered at 31,124. And get this: 27% of those verses refer to prophetic issues. That’s 8,352 verses! And 22% of all prophetic verses refer the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! Plus, there are 333 specific prophecies that deal with Christ’s two advents. One-third describe Jesus’ First Coming, and two-thirds are connected to Jesus’ Second Coming!¹

Now, you’re not going to fit all of those into your pockets, but do carry some of these amazing prophetic truths around with you as often as you can. For, you see, the prophecies of the Scriptures are not some additional information that God gave us to only give us a glimpse as to what’s going to occur someday. No, the prophecies of the Scriptures are essential teachings that God gave to us to ground us in Biblical faith, and to strengthen us against the madness of this world, and to motivate us to live each day for the glory of God and the coming of His Kingdom. Even in the Lord’s Prayer when we pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven’…that is not an observation that we are making. No, that is a petition that we are making for God’s Kingdom to come, and for God’s Heavenly will to done…for God’s will to be imposed over this Earthly world! Yes, this lost and dying world must go through its ages and its cycles during these times of opportunities for repentance before the Judgment, just like the days before the Flood. (Which, in reality is what the days and weeks and years of this present Earth really are – they are days and weeks and years of opportunities for people to come to repentance before the day of judgment comes). But there is an end-day coming, and it’s coming any day now. Actually, even now, everything in Creation, from the galaxies and stars, from the animal kingdom to the kingdom of man…all are groaning in anticipation of their redemption. The world around you that you see every day, even though there are still remnants of beauty on the Earth and expressions of blessedness among the redeemed, still, every day you are looking at a world that is wearing out like a garment, a world that is unraveling in spiritual and social and moral decay, a world that is separated from the Creator because of their sin, and a world that is under the Curse and the destruction from sin.

But all of that is about to change! For one day, soon and very soon, the King is going to say – “Times Up!” – and the change will start. And it will start with: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God…” 1 Thess 4:16 NASU

Watch for it…Wait for it…Be looking for it!

1. Dr. David Jeremiah, The Great Disappearance, pp.247,248