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Is it true, will it happen? Part 2

“God has accepted this challenge. He has predicted multitudes of events to happen in the future. They have come true exactly as predicted, even though in some cases thousands of years were involved for the fulfillment. God has proved that He is our supernatural God with all wisdom. We have no alternative but to believe.”

Yes, all of it will.

A significant fact for you to absorb, let me repeat that word, absorb; is the fact that over half of the Bible prophesies – over 500 of them have already been fulfilled. Literally fulfilled, and that in itself is overwhelming proof that it’s all true and the rest will come true as written.  This is evidence that should establish confidence beyond any intellectual question to the contrary.  When you read the prophecy take it literally because it literally will happen.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Don’t let anyone lead you astray by saying prophesy in non-literal and needs interpretation.  Forget about it… that thought is contradicted beyond any question due to the fact that so many hundreds of prophesies have already been fulfilled. (LITERALLY!)

If you are a believer, a child of God, that should be very important to you. Because over one-fourth of the Bible was written as prophecy.  This gives you a picture of the future and gives you the hope of a future in eternity with God. Without this hope for the future there would not be Christianity at all. And if you are not a believer and reading this.  Please get your life right with Jesus Christ before it’s too late. Because more half of the prophesies have already come true it should easily provide the basis for your understanding the rest will also come true. It should also justify the conclusion that the Bible is the inspired word of God and the prophecy is a revelation by God and is certain to come to pass. As we go through the book of Revelation, which is the last book of the Bible and it’s closing, it will reveal the power, righteousness, sovereignty of Jesus Christ and His wonderful grace for all those that come to Him in faith.

I said in the last post I would give you more proof.  What do the scientists say about this prophesy thing?   The scientists have developed detailed probability statistics and formulas to determine the likelihood these prophesies could have come true. This information will show that it is God and only God that could do it. And God said, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” (I Peter 3:15)

For some reference on scientific data my Pastor, Raymond Barnett, at The Time For Truth Ministries led me to a book dealing with prophetic accuracy called, Science Speaks, by Peter W. Stoner.

Bye the way, if you want some great Bible Preaching and teaching go to our the church website at http://www.timefortruth.com/ and join us for worship each Sunday in Amsterdam, NY.

It is written, “One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18)  Peter Stoner uses a well-known scientific principle of probability. The following information is taken directly from his book.

“If the chance of one thing happening is one in M, and the chance of another independent thing happening is one in N, then the chance that they shall both happen is one in M times N. The proof of this theory will be found in any college algebra text. In light of time and space.” I will not provide all his background calculations here but you can go to his book for reference.

Peter Stone looked at just 11 early prophesies that have come true.  The probability is listed as well.

The destruction of Tyre 1 in 7.5 x 107

Destruction of Samaria 1 in 4 x 104

Gaza forsaken and Ashkelon desolate 1 in 1.2 x 104

The fall of Jericho 1 in 2 x 105

The sealing of The Golden Gate 1 in 103

Zion Plowed 1 in 102

Jerusalem Enlarged 1 in 8 x 1010

Palestine becomes waste 1 in 2 x 105

Moab and Ammon 1 in 103

Edom desolation 1 in 104

Babylon destroyed 1 in 5 x 109

The probability of these eleven prophecies coming true, if written in human wisdom, is now found by multiplying all of these probabilities together, and the result is 1 in 5.76 x 1059

With those probabilities listed now look at the summary.  Peter stone says, “Suppose we had marked one of these silver dollars, and had stirred it into the whole pile before we had made them into balls the size of the sun. Then suppose we had blindfolded a man and told him to go over all of these great balls and pick up the dollar which he thinks is the right one. What chance would he have of finding the right one? It would be a very great task to look over this mass of dollars. If our blindfolded man were to travel sixty miles per hour, day and night, it would take him five years to go once around a star. This would give him a very poor chance to select what might be the marked dollar from that star, but this amount of time per star would take 500 billion years for each galaxy. Let us suppose our man were extremely speedy, able to look over all of the dollars contained in 100 billion stars each second (instead of 500 billion years), it would still take him about 3 x 109 years to look over the whole mass. This is one half the six billion years back to creation. It is absurd to think that he would have any conceivable chance of picking up the right dollar.  The chance of these eleven prophecies being written in human wisdom, and all coming true, is a similar chance to that which the blindfolded man had of finding the right dollar. But these prophecies, and many more, all came true. We can then draw only one conclusion, and that is that God inspired the writing of every one of these prophecies. What stronger proof can any man ask for the inspiration of the Bible?”

And this powerful statement made by Mr. Stone, “God has accepted this challenge. He has predicted multitudes of events to happen in the future. They have come true exactly as predicted, even though in some cases thousands of years were involved for the fulfillment. God has proved that He is our supernatural God with all wisdom. We have no alternative but to believe.”

WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO BELIEVE.  That statement from a scientist. Believe it!

We will be looking at the prophesies of the “end times” and a “preparation” for the events to unfold.  Jesus tells us about the “beginning of sorrows.” “ “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24: 5-8) Our current events seem to be building up for the future. The forecast is for “perilous times” ahead.

Can you possibly have any doubt the prophesies concerning apostasy are being fulfilled? Even our churches have been tainted with a moral relativism. Denominations are having a hard time defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.  Many religious leaders openly support homosexuality. The Bible is becoming subordinate in the modern church and they are trying to be more appealing.  And leaders can’t even discern between a male and a female today. These are definitely “spiritually perilous times.”

Pieces are falling into place for the “revived” Roman Empire which will hold power before Christ returns.  The formulation of the European Union, and the reunified Germany is certainly shining light on biblical prophecy. Let’s not forget that in 1948, Israel was recognized as a sovereign state. That was a direct fulfillment of Bible prophecy.  Jesus indicated to us that the signs would arise together when His return was drawing near. “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24: 33-34) Do you know that our generation is the very first to see every trend falling into place?  You do now.  Watch ye, and be ready.  Look at these for just a taste of the sign of the times:

  • We were told false Bible teachers would come. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Peter 2:1-2) Lots of people reject the Bible today because they heard it misrepresented by a false teacher.
  • We were told the false teachers would be money-hungry, smooth talkers. “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:3) A lot of TV evangelists twist the scriptures and market to the unwary.
  • The Gospel would be preached to all nations. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14) The Bible has now been translated into over 2400 languages and covers over 90 percent of the world population.
  • Mankind will be capable of destroying all life. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22) When Jesus made that promise the only weapons were swords and spears. We are aware now that with nuclear and chemicals all flesh on the planet could be wiped out.
  • A global cry for peace. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) There is a concerted global effort to have peace at any cost.
  • Ethnic conflicts would be prevalent. “Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Luke 21:10) Today more than ever we have ethnic groups fighting. Have you heard the word racist lately?
  • Jerusalem would be re-built on its own ruins.  “In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:6)
  • Israel which was divided in two kingdoms would be one united nation. (Ezekiel 37:22) And it is! Israel is one nation.
  • Asia would be capable of deploying a 200-million-man army. (Revelation 9:14-16) Today, according to the CIA, China alone has 281 million men ready for military service.
  • Great Earthquakes in places unforeseen. (Luke 21;11) And the seismic activity is ramping up around the world.
  • Men would be lovers of themselves. (2 Timothy 3:1-2) Can anyone say Facebook? Not much more explanation needed.
  • Youth will become increasingly rebellious. (2 Timothy 3:2-3) No comment necessary here either.
  • Humanity will become materialistic and lovers of pleasure. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) we have everything under the sun now to entertain and bring pleasure to the masses.
  • Homosexuality will be flaunted at the end of the age. (Luke 17:28-30) Today, the homosexual agenda is flaunted and forced upon our entire society.
  • Apostasy will occur just before the Antichrist is revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:3) Experience based Christianity and other things have replace the Bible as the standard for saving faith and Christ’s exclusive claims are negated in the name of tolerance.
  • Some would depart from the faith. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1)  In our generation there is an explosion of false doctrines luring folks away.
  • Men will sear their conscience so they can continue in sin. “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:2) There is sinning with knowledge as people ignore God’s moral law and violate their own conscience.
  • Sexual Immorality will be rampant. “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” (Jude 18) The availability of sexual products has exploded in our generation.
  • And what about the Ten Commandments no longer looked at as our moral code. With the words taken down from public places. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

And look what recently happened. The move of the U.S Embassy in Israel back to Jerusalem and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

We are witnessing it now. The book of Revelation is beginning to unfold right before us. We haven’t seen anything yet, anything we are experiencing is the tip of the iceberg.  This pandemic we are in will not be the last. And more natural disasters will come.

Jesus said men will be gripped with fear when these signs occur. “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:26) And others are to be looking up with hopeful expectations. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

Are you fearful?

God will judge every one who breaks His laws. Look at the Ten Commandments. How many have you broken? Keep in mind that nothing is hidden from God’s eyes. But. Listen, God is longsuffering and He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The good news is there is a way to be forgiven and get to heaven. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) And “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Awaken from any spiritual slumber and be ready when the Lord returns “as a thief in the night.”

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51: 1-2)

God will never let you down and everything He has promised will be fulfilled.

Come with me next post as we get back into the book of Revelation.

Until He comes,

The Tubthumper

 

Is it True? Will it really happen?

Jesus is telling everyone, don’t you worry, it will come true because I will be the one doing it. Let not your hearts be troubled.

All of the prophesy will be fulfilled.

It has come to me that you could be reading this as a new believer or maybe as currently unsaved and getting this information for the first time.

With that said I think it’s necessary to back up for a page or two and prepare you for what’s to come before I go into the next chapter of Revelation. Let’s start by establishing some background regarding the fulfillment of prophesy.

Let’s begin where Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the mount.  In Matthew Chapter 5 verses 17 and 18 he addresses His relationship to the scriptures.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  (Matthew 5:17-18) Jesus made the claim boldly that He personally was the fulfillment of God’s plan as revealed in the Law and through the prophets. He declared it in Luke 4: 21 as well.  “And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Then again when John The Baptist sent two disciples to ask Jesus if he was, “the one that was to come.” “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7: 19). And Jesus replied, “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.” (Luke 7: 22) We see the same in Matthew 11:5.   And we see it repeated several times by the savior himself, “I am the One, who came to fulfill the Scriptures.” God’s Holy Words of the Bible. You see… Jesus is telling everyone, don’t you worry, it will come true because I will be the one doing it. Let not your hearts be troubled.

Dear readers, our only hope is that Jesus our Lord comes to set up His Kingdom and rule among men. There will never be lasting universal peace and happiness until He comes.

Some today think there are many roads that lead to heaven. Some think being good gets you eternal life and some simply think everyone goes to heaven. If you have any of those thoughts you should heed the advice of the apostle Paul.  And know  the only way to heaven and eternal life with God is through Jesus Christ.  “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3-6) He is saying that when the Lord comes, He will find multitudes that are unprepared for His return. And he is warning that, sudden destruction will strike the unprepared. Woe to those that are not ready. Do not be in that group.

These are the conditions that will exist when Christ appears. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. (II Timothy 3, 1 to 3) II Peter 3 starting at verse 3 we see there shall come scoffers. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  Verse 10 is clear, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” We need to be ready, for His coming will be when we least expect it. Now verse 14 exhorts us, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” Then in verse 17 we are warned of being led away.  “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

We have the choice, to accept or to reject the Lord Jesus. Many will reject him as they always have. Don’t be one of them.

The Millennium will begin when John’s vision is fulfilled. That happens later in Revelation when we will cover that event so stay with us. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:1-6)

And that’s when The Lord’s Prayer gets answered, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6: 9-13)

Time waits for no person and God and the Bible are no respecters of persons.  The seconds and hours click by rapidly. Prophesy is coming true rapidly right before our eyes. Events for fulfillment before the Lord comes are almost complete and the birth pangs are getting closer. Are you expecting some major events? Are you thinking there will be a major and tremendous crisis?

There are four major things that must happen for His return, 1. The gospel of the Kingdom must be preached to all nations. We are close now. 2. There must come a great apostasy in the church. That has begun also. 3. Jews must return to Jerusalem. They are returning in droves as of late. 4. There must come great tribulation on earth. We are approaching that end. These are all being fulfilled right before our very eyes. There are hundreds of prophesies that have already come true and many, many more to be fulfilled.  So how do we know all of these prophesies will come true?  First, as mentioned above it’s because Jesus said he would fulfil them. Come with me next time and I’ll give you more reasons to never doubt. These prophesies will be fulfilled.

Click here to jump to the next post.

Until He comes,

The Tubthumper

Armageddon On Schedule, Setting the Stage – part 2

The key to understanding Revelation is in Verse 19.  There are three parts, the things John has seen, the things which are now, and the things which shall be hereafter. (The future)

Setting The Stage – part 2

The King is Coming…

“Behold He is coming” (Revelation 1: 7-8) It is another triplet. The imminent return of Christ is the theme of Revelation. “Behold He is coming with the clouds.” And now the triplet:

  1. And every eye will see Him
  2. Even those who pierced Him
  3. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him

He will not return like before. The lowly servant and humble shepherd. No, this time He will return as the king of kings, and the entire world will know it. He will return to judge and unbelieving world.

The words of the apostle Paul will be fulfilled, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

And we see the theme, Christ is both the beginning and the ending. In Him all things were created. (John 1:3) and in him all things will be consummated. (Revelation 21:6) The Lord is described as a savior who 1. “Is” (present tense), 2. “was” (past tense), and 3. “Is to come” (future tense). Another great triplet. As the eternal son of God, just like the Father, He always was, He is, and He always will be. The ever-present One. “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14)

And then we have the Victory.

“behold I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:9-20).  John was exiled to Patmos because of the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. There was no escape from that place. Then he met the risen savior face to face on that rocky deserted island. He heard the masters voice and turned to see who it was.  And as he turned, he saw seven golden lampstands. They were likely in the shape of a Jewish menorah. (Revelation 1:12) These lampstands were representative of the seven churches the book is addresses to. (1:20) In the center of the lampstands, he saw the son of man, dresses in high priestly garments. (floor length white robe with golden sash.) (Exodus 39)   “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” (1:16)   This mention of the seven stars in His right hand are likely the symbols of the leaders or pastors of the churches.  The main word here is messengers.  They are the messengers of God.

The description of Savior is in this pattern of seven symbolizing His Shekinah glory:

  1. Hair: white like white wool
  2. Eyes: flame of fire
  3. Feet: burnished bronze
  4. Voice: sound of many waters
  5. Right Hand: held seven stars
  6. Mouth: Sharp two-edged sword
  7. Face: shining like the sun

*Regarding the seven stars in the Savior’s right hand J. Vernon McGee writes, “Angels can be either human or divine- the word here is messenger. It could refer to a member of the angelic host of heaven; it could refer to a ruler or teacher of the congregation. Personally, I think that it refers to the local pastors, it is good to hear a pastor being called an angel-sometimes we are called other things.”

Chuck Smith writes, “Now it is always to me a very comforting, and yet an extremely exciting concept, to realize the place of the seven stars. They were being held in the right hand of Him. And how beautiful and comforting it is to realize that as a messenger to the church, your life is being held in the right hand of the Lord. I don’t know of anything more exciting than that and comforting than that. Another thing that is extremely exciting is where Jesus is. He is walking in the midst of the church or the churches, the seven golden candlesticks or the seven churches. So, Christ is walking in the midst of His church. You remember in the Gospels, Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there will I be in the midst”(Matthew 18:20), His promised presence with His people. So, Jesus is here with us tonight. He has promised to be with His people wherever they have gathered in His name. And that is always just beautiful and comforting to realize the presence of Jesus.”

The description of the Savior introduces one of the most powerful symbols in the Apocalypse: the sword of His mouth. Ultimately it will be His word that will defeat the enemy. (Revelation 19:15, 21)

And he had in His right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (Rev 1:16). The Bible says the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. So, His words are like a sharp two-edged sword, because they are “able to cut between the soul and the spirit. They are a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the hearts of man” (Hebrews 4:12).

Then John collapses at the Saviors feet. (Revelation 1:17) He cannot stand up on his own power as his strength is drained from seeing the Holy One.  All through Revelation we will see that approaching God is only allowed by permission of the blood of Christ. (Hebrews 10:19-20)

John laid there prostrate on the ground like a dead dog. The effect of Christ before him was paralyzing. It had been 60 years since he last saw Christ and he sees the Blessed Redeemer in all His blinding glory.  But then Johns loving Lord quickly performed a tender task and reached out and touched His disciple in need to strengthen him. “He laid His right hand upon me.” (Revelation 1:17) Jesus assured John, “I am alive.” (Revelation 1:18) Jesus also assured John that, “I have the keys of death and of Hades.”  There are five keys mentioned in the New Testament and our Lord and Savior carries them all.  The other four are:

The keys of the Kingdom. (Matthew 16;19), The key of knowledge. (Luke 11:52), The key of the Throne of David. (Revelation 3:7) and the Key to the bottomless pit. (Revelation 9:1; 20:1)

The Lord has come for his beloved servant and to unlock the mystery of the future and to unveil the events that would lead to Armageddon and the End Times.

Verse 19 -He commanded John to write those things which:

  1. “You have seen” (past)
  2. “Things which are” (present)
  3. “Things which shall take place after these things” (future)

The key to understanding Revelation is in Verse 19.  There are three parts, the things John has seen, the things which are now, and the things which shall be hereafter. (The future)

The Chuck Smith commentary said, “We are now living in the eras of chapters two and three, “the things which are”. The church continues to exist, and the testimony and the witness of the church, and the witness of Jesus concerning His church, which is even more important. So, there are three divisions of the book. It is important that you catch this, because if you don’t you are going to have a constantly confused and garbled view of the future. You will see the church in the midst of the tribulation and the one hundred and forty-four thousand-you’ll try to twist to be the church. There are all kinds of twisted and exaggerated concepts that have come from the book of Revelation, because people did not catch the key in this first chapter here.”

Hinson wrote, “Many have used that simple threefold designation to outline the entire book: past (Chapter 1), present (Chapters 2-3) and future (Chapters 4-22).  The chapter closes by uniting each of these elements. The Savior who died and rose again in the past is still alive and moving in His Church in the present and will come again in the future.  He has already triumphed, and so shall we!”

Amen!

Come with me next time as I begin looking into Chapter 2 of, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The Tubthumper

Armageddon On Schedule, Setting the Stage – part 1

The Lord has come for his disciple.  The Lord has come with a vision of the future. A message of hope for His church. (For us believers!) What a glorious morning it was.

Setting the Stage – part 1

Welcome back to our walk through the book of Revelation.  I am in the material and I don’t want to stop. Looking to what’s next.  And with that said, the next two posts will cover Chapter 1.

Setting the stage for the great “unveiling.”

For the most part in the book of Revelation, there will be an angel or the Lord himself speaking to John and revealing to him the things that were being revealed to him by Jesus Christ.

Can you imagine things will get much worse than they are now? We are getting shocked daily by open public sinful behavior and expressions of blatant unbelief.  How much time can possibly be left before God say’s now is the time. And then, in the twinkling of an eye Christ returns like a thief in the night.  I am sensing the end is very near.

John has made it clear that he is a recorder. His job was to record and write the things that he had seen and heard.  And he said that we know the record I provide is true, the witness is true.

John was the last personal disciple still alive.  By this time all the rest of the apostles had all been martyred because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They had all been killed by the Roman government. John is the only one of the original disciples left, he is the last one. John is old now and probably is well into his nineties. It was now sixty-five years since the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. John has been and still is faithful. John had been with Jesus since the beginning. Now he is left alone to die in exile.  It is estimated that this was written in 96 AD, and it is estimated that John was approximately the same age as Jesus. That would make John around ninety-six years old.  He is in a little rocky crag out there in the Mediterranean, offshore a little bit from the area of Ephesus. He was exiled to the island of Patmos.

From Chuck Smith’s commentary we get, “According to Usibius in his book on church history, as he records the violent death of all of the other apostles, he says concerning John that there was the attempt to boil him in oil, but he survived the experience of being boiled in oil. So, they exiled him to the island of Patmos. God wasn’t through with John yet. God had one final word for man.  The book of Revelation needed to be written and John was the one that was eminently qualified to write the book. So, there on the island of Patmos, the aged John received this vision of the future.”

He (John) was in the spirit and worshiping the Lord on resurrection day. All the sudden a loud voice came out of the silence that announced, “I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is and who was and who is to come.” (Revelation 1:8) It was the savior!  The Lord had come to care for John and to take him home to glory. Amen.

Lots of things are unanswered in this book, however there are a number of things very clear from this first chapter,

  1. John was exiled on Patmos. (Which was the Alcatraz of that day.)
  2. Christ appeared to him at that place.
  3. The Revelation was given to John.
  4. It was then sent to the seven churches for each of them to read.

The Lord has come for his disciple.  The Lord has come with a vision of the future. A message of hope for His church. (For us believers!) What a glorious morning it was. The old testament prophesies were sealed up. (Daniel 12:9), but this prophesy was open and the Savior came to reveal the future (Revelation 22:10) What a glorious future to see.!

It would be impossible to understand the Apocalypse without familiarizing yourself with this first chapter.  It holds some key elements like:

The Title- The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  He is the author and it is His revelation (unveiling) of the future.  John is the recording stenographer, doing shorthand on everything he saw and heard.

The Testimony- All that he saw. John began with one of the many triplets we will see. In Revelation 1:2 we see the triplet, “Who bore witness to: 1. The Word of God, 2. And the testimony of Jesus Christ, 3. Even to all that he saw.  We get from this passage the Apocalypse is an eyewitness account. No second-hand information here. John has put his apostolic reputation on the fact that he actually saw and heard those things.

The terms- “Blessed is he” (Revelation 1:3) John uses another triple to introduce the first of seven beatitudes. “Blessed is: 1. He who reads, 2. And those who hear the words of prophesy, 3. And heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

The time- The time is near.”  No dates are set. There is no specific time indicated for fulfillment. The only indication is, “The time is near.”

John is identified three times. This is in keeping with the triplets. (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9) John did not know if he would ever see anyone again so he made absolutely sure the churches knew the book came from him. His greeting is “grace and peace.”  Always stated in that order. There is no peace apart from God’s grace.

Reference to the seven spirits is only found here. New Testament scholar Bruce Metzger notes, “John uses this expression to symbolize the plentitude and power of the Holy Spirit.”

And Jesus Christ is introduced with a double triplet, (Revelation 1:5) He is the:

1. Faithful witness

2. First-born of the dead

3. Ruler of the kings of the earth

John was sure to remind the churches who Jesus really is because of all the persecution.  He is the faithful martyr, risen savior, King of Kings. And John states what Jesus did for us:

  1. Loved us
  2. Released us
  3. Made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.

Edward Hinson wrote, “These designations of the Savior remind us that we have both a heavenly and earthly destiny in Him. He is the King of the earth and we shall reign as kings with Him on the earth. (Revelation 5:10) From the very beginning the Apocalypse has an earthly focus. Premillennialists have always understood this, but other eschatological viewpoints have missed this altogether.  We are promised that we will rule with Him on earth, not just in a “spiritual” sense, but literally.”

Come with me in the next post for a look at John’s vision as he drops prostrate seeing the The Lord and the victory at hand,

God bless you’

The Tubthumper       Click here to jump to the next post.

Armageddon On Schedule

Humanity began in the garden and will end in the Eternal City. Beginning in tragedy we will end in triumph. In the beginning was man’s failure but, in the end, there will be exaltation. Between all this there stood a cross. And on that cross Jesus Christ changed our course and the course of humanity forever.

Hi everyone,

It has been a long time since I picked up the pen due to things life has dealt. But now the Lord is prompting me to write about the book of Revelation.  As we are living now in the year 2024 we are seeing prophesy come true before our eyes. Can it be much longer? Many things are still to happen but we are definitely experiencing the birth pangs of Armageddon.  Hearts are waxing cold and evil is ever-present.  It is time to look into the future.  I believe this project will enhance my understanding of Revelation and hopefully enhance yours too. My attempt will be to provide it as clear as I can in a simple way that is easy to understand.  So let us begin with the end in mind as Stephen Covey put it.

The New Testament has guided us Christians for well over a couple thousand years and it clearly shows Christ’s birth and resurrection.  At the end of the New Testament is the book of Revelation that shows us a wonderful picture of the return of our savior the Lord Jesus Christ.  The message of the Bible would be very incomplete without the New Testament.

The Old Testament shows us the message of the coming Messiah.  All through the Old Testament we see evidence of the one that will come to be the King of Israel and savior to all mankind, the savior of the world. When the old testament ends, the coming of the Messiah is an event still not fulfilled. We await the arrival of “The Lamb of God,” to come to us and take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)

Revelation is the most significant book as it relates to prophesy, in the New Testament. It is the finale, the grand and spectacular conclusion to God’s written word and the event we all await.  All of us believers have cherished the book of Revelation, regardless of whether we completely and fully understand it. Why do we cherish it so, because it gives us hope?  It gives us hope of the future time when God will make “all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) And God said right in the verse to, “write these things because what He is saying is faithful and true.”  So even though in our frail human understanding and difficulty to believe such a dream can come true, He is saying believe it and trust it.

The book of Revelation is pretty fascinating and I am sure this will take me some time.  I do not know how long. I do not know how many posts it will take. I am sure it’s a big project for me.  I am excited to be getting started.  Revelation is a look at the end of the world. It is God’s revelation of the end-times. These posts and threads will lead us to Armageddon and beyond. Are you curious?  Do you want to know what happens next?  Follow along with me in the coming weeks and months.

God is revealing for us, the future before it actually happens. Revelation is a prophesy of future events. Hopefully I can keep it simple enough for you all to understand the messages God wants us all the hear. I will focus on the “big picture” and I will strive to not get bogged down in all the details.  Lots of people get drawn in and side-tracked by all the minute details. In my posts I will stay focused on the main message of the book.

There are Seven major points to consider:

  1. The letters to the seven churches.
  2. The seven seals.
  3. The Seven trumpets
  4. The seven bowls
  5. The seven symbolic figures
  6. The seven judgements
  7. The seven triumphs

When we look into the book of Revelation the curtain gets raised and the future is there for us all to view. Through seven visions and a lot of symbolic word and number illustrations, the entire climax of human history gets told in lucid detail.

The term, “Revelation,” means “uncover” or “unveil” or “reveal” everything that was hidden so we can now see it. The Greek term, apokalupsis is translated for us. And this is why the book is often referred to as the Apocalypse.  It is both apocalyptic and prophetic. The very last of the sixty-six books of the Bible bringing it all to a conclusion. The Apocalypse calls itself a “prophecy” of future events. (Revelation 1:3; 22:7, 10,18,19)   It is a final book of New Testament prophesy.  Prophetic visions of the future!

Bruce Metzger, a New Testament Scholar, tells us, “In order to become oriented with the book of Revelation one must take seriously what the author says happened. John tells us that he had a series of visions.  He says he ‘heard’ certain words and he ‘saw’ certain visions.”  Metzger adds, “Such accounts combine cognitive insight with emotional response. They invite the reader or listener to enter into the experience being recounted and to participate in it, triggering mental images of that which is described.”  We have the temptation to read about the future through our eyes of the present. Let’s not do that. There is no guarantee the end will come in our lifetime. What glory that would be though.

Events predicted in the Revelation come in symbolic language.  Many of the symbolic things come from the Old Testament passages. Such as tree of life, Lion of Judah, etc…  Some are also drawn from New Testament passages.  Some symbols have no biblical parallel and are left unexplained and still others are specifically explained and identified. There is a lot to consider.  We should move forward with a guarded caution and keen insight.

We are looking at the “book of the unveiling,” God meant for us to understand it. He gave us the promise, “Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophesy, and heed the things which are written in it.” (Revelation 1:3)

Revelation is very Unique.

The book is based around a series of threes and sevens. The over-reaching three is Past, Present and Future.

  1. Past: “the things which you have seen” (Chapter 1)
  2. Present: “the things which are” (Chapter 2)
  3. Future: “the things which shall take place after these things” (Chapters 4-22)

And the seven visions I mentioned earlier:

  1. Seven churches (1:9-3:22)
  2. Seven seals (4:1-8:1)
  3. Seven trumpets (8:2-11:19)
  4. Seven symbolic figures (12:1-14:20)
  5. Seven bowls (15:1-16:21)
  6. Seven judgments (17:1-19:10)
  7. Seven triumphs (19:11-22:5)

The use of symbolic numbers is found throughout the book. The most significant numbers found in the Apocalypse are:

Three- as in the number of the Trinity. Lots of threes and triplets in the book.

Four- this number is generally related to earth as in four seasons.

Six- this is the number of man, later the number of Anti-Christ 666.

Seven- this is the most significant number, many, many sevens we will see. Seven churches, seven spirits, seven lampstands, seven stars, seven lamps of fire, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven peals of thunder, seven thousand people, seven heads, seven diadems, seven angels, seven plagues, seven bowls, seven mountains, seven kings, seven beatitudes and seven “I ams” of Christ.  Twelve- this is the number of completeness, i.e.- the twelve tribes.

So, what is Revelation all about? 

It is in the title. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the things which must take place. Jesus Christ is the central theme of it all. He is the key to understanding the book. He is both the author and the subject of the book. The purpose is to reveal the future.  From David Jeremiah we get, “The word ‘revelation’ means the disclosure of that which was previously hidden or unknown. The book of Revelation tells us that Jesus is coming again, how He is coming, and what the condition of the world will be when He comes.”

The return of Christ, the risen savior.

Critics of prophecy have often referred to this as a book of doom and gloom. But it is not. It has both negative and positive implications.  For the unbeliever its negative. Sorry but – if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and savoir then you lose. For the believer its good news- our Savior is coming and we win!

The book of Revelation shows us a series of wide views which are then followed by more concise snapshots.  First, we get the big picture and then we get the details.  The pattern is generally, bad news-details to follow, or good news-details to follow.  With that said, things will not come to us in direct sequential order.

The basic Big Picture.

  1. The church will continue to grow.
  2. Satanic oppression will intensify.
  3. Israel will return to the Promised Land.
  4. The church will be raptured to heaven.
  5. The tribulation period and its judgements will follow.
  6. The marriage of Christ and the church will occur.
  7. The triumphal return of Jesus Christ.
  8. The Millennial Kingdom when Jesus will reign on earth for 1000 years.
  9. The final triumph and Satan cast into the lake of fire.
  10. The Eternal State- a new heaven and a new earth.

As we begin the journey through Revelation several things are very clear:

  1. John is looking into the future.
  2. He sees a pattern of events happening in heaven and on earth.
  3. The events he sees will involve some catastrophic judgments on earth.
  4. The judgments will result in the final triumph and the return of Christ with the establishment of His Kingdom. And the millennium.
  5. Then there is the Eternal State- a new heaven and a new earth.

Well friends, humanity began in the garden and will end in the Eternal City.

Beginning in tragedy we will end in triumph. In the beginning was man’s failure but, in the end, there will be exaltation. Between all this there stood a cross. And on that cross Jesus Christ changed our course and the course of humanity forever. Amen!  Hallelujah! What a Savior we have!

Praise the Lord.

Follow along with me and we will have a look to the glorious finish.

The Tubthumper     Click here to jump to the next post.

 

TITANIC MEN, WHERE ARE THEY Part 5 – conclusion

We need to move from FEMINIZATION to BIBLICAL RESTORATION OF GODLY MANHOOD. Men of courage, men who will “Act Like Men.” Men who will face the demands, difficulties and trials of life with faithfulness and courage.

In the last post I asked you to think about the “Intention to Protect” that was prevalent back in the day when the Titanic sank.

Unfortunately, I must say to you the “intention to protect” is no longer there with fathers and has gone down with the ship.  Things have happened to our daughters that never, ever, ever should have occurred.  Fathers were and are missing from the watch.  Men, we are opening up every opportunity for our daughters to be brutalized, opening up a system that will break down their world-view, destroy their womanhood and create havoc in the years to come.

Fathers are AWOL!  For those that have no idea what that is, it’s a military term for Absent Without Leave.  Surprisingly and sadly Christian fathers are for the most part no different from the majority in the world.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

In early times, sons at a young age were out in the fields working with their fathers.  They were with men from the very start and doing manly things.  They were learning how to act like men.  They were hunting, protecting, providing and they learned all about physical labor. They watched how their fathers reacted to things and most important how they responded in demanding and dangerous times. They were being trained to be men.  We have lost that today with the exception being the Amish folk.  I have a bunch of Amish neighbors and I watch as the young boys are out with their fathers all the time.  If the boys are not in school, they are with their fathers.  And they all have responsibility placed on them at a very early age.  I hired the father to do some work for me and guess what, I hired the entire male segment of the family.  Wherever dad was the sons were as well.  That is something I truly admire about the Amish.  They have kept the importance of training their sons to be men.  But, we in our social debacle have lost this entirely.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

How can we ever re-integrate the training of young men by their fathers or other men?  We know and we see the problem but the solution will likely take enormous effort and creativity. One thing is for sure though, nothing is too great for our God.

We as strong Christian men need to be about training our sons and other young boys to be men.  We need to take back our land and restore training to young males.  Boys need to be with men! Sons need to be with fathers!  Fathers need to remove the distractions and the things that get in the way and be true fathers.  Fathers need to disciple their children. I started typing disciplining by mistake but that needs to happen too. I never looked at how close those two words are.  I think there is a message there.

If we want a manly generation, we need to figure out how to have our sons walking beside their fathers and having them teach what it means to be a man.   We need fathers walking them through life.  The entire chapter 6 of Deuteronomy commands that we do this.  Please read it all yourselves and meditate upon it.  “And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” (Deuteronomy 6: 20-25)

In John Eldredge’s book, Wild at Heart, he wrote, “A man must have a battle to fight, a great mission to his life that involves and yet transcends even home and family. He must have a cause to which he is devoted even unto death, for this is written into the fabric of his being. That is why God created you–to be his intimate ally, to join him in the Great Battle.”

We need to move from FEMINIZATION to BIBLICAL RESTORATION OF GODLY MANHOOD.  Men of courage, men who will “Act Like Men.” Men who will face the demands, difficulties and trials of life with faithfulness and courage.

The future of the “family” and the future of the “church” and the future of “Christian civilization” depends on the critical role of the “father.”  Fathers passing the faith on to their sons.

This problem needs to be front and center!

Do our sons know how to teach the word of God?

Do they know how to apply it?

Do they know how to protect their homes?

Do they know how to be grave and sober?

Do they understand how serious the battle is?

We are losing our children; they are walking away from the faith. The faith is dissolving before our eyes and we are losing fatherhood.

Do they understand how high the stakes are?

Do they understand there will be people going to hell because fathers neglected to teach the word of God to their children?

God is sovereign and Dad you are the one responsible! Get sober! Get brave, wake up! The battle is raging right now. You can lose your sons and daughters.  Both their physical lives and their souls are at risk.

“Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.” (1 Samuel 4:9)

Men, you must get engaged.  You must involve yourselves in the battle.  You must be a sober man.  Equip yourselves with the word of God in order to be the man that God wants you to be.

Our God has shown us through his word what it means to be a man and what manhood is all about. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

Can you imagine a world again where men put women and children first?  Can you imagine a world of valiant and courageous men?  Men that say to their wives and children, “I will never leave you or forsake you?”

Imagine a world like that.  You know that the mightiest of men are men who admit their weakness because of sin and then cast themselves to the mercy of Christ. It’s the men that say, “God save me because I am a sinner, I trust in thee Lord and I will take a stand and raise my family in the word of God.”

Men, some of you need to repent, confess, be accountable and take a stand. “Quit Ye Like Men.”

We have never needed you more than we need you now. We have never needed fathers as we need them now.

 

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit I pray that men would wake up and, “Quit Ye Like Men.”  That men would understand what it means to,

Act Like Men,  Amen.

God bless you all,

The Tubthumper

 

 

TITANIC MEN, WHERE ARE THEY? Part 4

The breaking down of men is the most significant social problem we have today.

Major Archibold Butt, a great example of a Mighty Man.  Learn about the major near the end of this post.

 

 

 

 

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

We left off last time with the five imperatives of Christian Manhood.  Let’s continue on this thought.  Manliness is Obedience to God.  It is obedience to the Law of God.

God is the creator of man and we need to submit to God.

When we don’t submit things begin to break down.  Systems always break down when manliness breaks down.  This is a fundamental concern within any civilization.  No matter what civilization we are talking about, when men do not fulfill their roles under the Law of God their systems will come apart at the seams.

I could try to list all the different problems our society is facing right now but I wouldn’t even have room to do it.  Men and women are not even getting married anymore.  Men are not growing.

This is not the time to relax! It is time for the churches to be speaking out on this.  It is time to preach the laws of men and the laws of God.  It is time to address the sacrificial elements and of raising mighty men.  If not, no society of any sort will survive. Freedoms will not be preserved.  We will not have prosperity going forward and that is a certainty, unless we return to raising up mighty men and mighty men of God.

Ever since the Titanic sank the Feminist Movement has been calling for no distinction between men and women. Even among feminists in 1912 they were calling for equality and that women should have given their seats to the men.  The cry of the feminists was there is no difference between men and women. That was the cry of the feminists!  Yes, even back in 1912.

In today’s society we see the movies showing women beating up on men and men beating on women. Is there any wonder why there is much more violence between women and men and so much more violence in the home?

This is far away from the biblical description of how things are to be.  According to the word of God women are the weaker vessel and man is to love her and sacrifice himself for that weaker vessel.  That is what the Bible says.  Feminists don’t like hearing about the weaker vessel issue and would much rather be in a dog eat dog fight the men for control world.  They dream about being kung-fu fighters and beating up on the men.  Men have been culturally feminized in our society.  A very carefully and methodically carried out strategy of the Feminist Movement.

America has come to believe the wrong things about gender, the role of men and women and the role of fathers.

America has come to believe the wrong thing about Gods Law and how it is to be applied.

America has simply come to a hardened heart stage and is completely rejecting and ignoring God entirely.

We will pay for this with dire consequences of which the damages are already very evident.

The reigning paradigm for the last 40 -50 years has been feminism. Feminism has not just been about the rights of women… it is more about the removal of gender distinction.  If feminism wins, they must teach young girls to act like men and teach young boys to act like women.  And it is happening!  I’m sorry but abhor “girlymen.”  I like men to be real men.

Remember it was going on back in 1912.

“Boats for women!”
Was the cry,
When the brave
Were come to die.
When the end
Was drawing nigh—
“Boats for women!”
Was the cry.

We face the problem that fathers are not having a significant role in the lives of their sons.  It is a problem that young men are not with their fathers.  Fathers are absent. Fatherhood no longer exists. Manhood hardly is seen anymore.  Most males are not “grown up” by age 30 anymore.  Males are now the least productive in the history of the world.  That is a sad statement.  Men have just fallen apart at the seams and are only interested in escaping reality.  Don’t get me wrong, here and there we see some small pockets of men acting like men, but for the most part we see all the aspects of our social systems breaking down because of the decline of males acting like men.  The future looks bleak – because men have walked away from the family.  They have walked away from responsibility.

This breaking down of men is the most significant social problem we have today.

If we don’t address this now… if the church does not speak to this issue, we are doomed.  Our society will not survive. History gives us living examples of what “quit ye like men” means.  We have seen courage, valor, steadfastness, fearfulness, failures and a panorama of men acting like men.  The men of the Titanic were a good example. Men going to their death to save the weaker vessels because that was how they were brought up and trained.  Well, not every man I might add.  There were a few men who cowardly snuck onto the life boats.  There were some wealthy men that thought it was their right to be first to survive.  But, the men that led, over 70 percent of them, were a fine example for us.  They illustrate the providence of God, the grace of God, courage, sacrifice and the principle of women and children first.

Major Archibold Butt was a great example.  He personally loaded a majority of the women and children onto the life boats and fought off the cowardly men that wanted to get by him and jump into the life boats. He was one of the most beloved figures aboard the Titanic.  He was a man of strong character.  A man of stiff military protocol.  A true soldier.  Just the kind of man you want around in a crisis.  He was simply returning home from a trip to Rome where he was going to see the Pope and King Victor Emanuel.  He was likely sent there as a personal messenger of the President.  He was on his way back to report to President Taft.  The last moments of his life were spent assisting women and children to safety and he went down with the ship.

Think about the “Intention to Protect” that was prevalent then.  We can address that in the next post.   Come back as we finish this topic.

CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO NEXT POST AND CONTINUE READING

God Bless you,

The Tubthumper

TITANIC MEN, WHERE ARE THEY? Part 3

When I left the last post, I mentioned I would bring up the term “Adolescence.”  This term is largely a creation of our society.  It has to do with growth from child to adult and the emotional and physical experiences to adulthood. Culture plays an important role in influencing childhood development, and what is considered “normal” varies greatly from one culture to the next. Actually, most of what develops in people comes from the parenting skills of those that are charged with training up the youth. Encyclopedia Britannica published that American psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson described adolescence in modern Western societies as a “moratorium,” a period of freedom from responsibilities that allows young people to experiment with a number of options before settling on a lifelong career.  Without clear roles, adolescents may establish their own pecking order and spend their time pursuing irresponsible or deviant activities.  This has become a huge problem for us with the fatherlessness I mentioned earlier. Adolescence is usually a period when the youngster has an adult body after puberty but it still immature.  It is a time when the person would be involved in much foolishness. This so-called adolescence period is accepted in our society, a time of fun for young males, a time that encourages visionless men that are only looking for the next piece of entertainment or a chance to put another notch on their belt. This adolescence thing does not exist in the Bible and it contradicts manhood.

We have all the thousands of abortions and baby killings going on around us and our men do not care.  All they care about is the escape and the entertainment choices they have.  Even within the modern church today some men are not living a life devoted to Christ and are living the ME-FIRST kind of life and not caring about the women and children of the church.  They are not preparing themselves for leadership roles in church and not ministering in a devoted and meaningful way.  It’s all about ME_FIRST!

Jesus did not go through a period of Adolescence.  Growing from childhood into a young man then into manhood.  That should be the model.  THERE SHOULD BE NO SEASON OF FOOLISHNESS.   Raise young men to be “MIGHTY MEN OF GOD.”

Today young men and boys are playing games (literally playing games on their smartphones) while Rome burns!

They just don’t care!!  They just don’t care!

And speaking of adolescence, I just got a little distraction I can’t go without mentioning.  Surprisingly I bumped into an article on my browser this morning that was written by one Mark Manson and was titled “What’s the problem with Masculinity.”  I saw that he had a number of sources cited none of which was the Word of God.   He used a bunch of pretty crass swearwords (most of the media today think that is cute to do) and early on asked the question, “Why are men such dicks?”  Reading his article had me pretty much dis-believing this was a male writing.  He pretty much slammed the young male species as being cruel and used an example of a boy picking on a girl.  Well, I am here to tell you there are probably more cruel young girls than boys as I have seen it.  The girls mature faster and usually are larger than the boys and there has been no lack of girls picking on boys. My wife tells me stories about how she used to feed her little brother actual mud pies.  Oh my… I don’t know where this guy is coming from.  He wants to know why us? Why men? He asks if its biology or evolution or some other cultural issue.  Well Mr. Manson could follow these posts and also read the stuff on the Masculine Journey for some answers. He actually claims the answer is both biology and culture.  I agree about the cultural thing which is evident in my writings but there is nothing inherently wrong with males that is biological.  God made man in His own image. Plain and simple.

Mark Manson says that masculinity evolved for socially-beneficial reasons that are not applicable to today.  Again, I believe he is dead wrong. He says violence has declined.  I say where? He says and I quote, “Male advantages in strength and expendability are no longer necessary for a healthy society.” Again, I vehemently disagree with that statement. History has shown us that the decline of masculinity and the loss of the warrior in the males of society will lead to that society being destroyed.  History is there for the benefit of knowledge for today.   Lastly, he says we are more conscious of women’s rights and equality with masculine aggression presenting economic and liability damages.  To that I say how could we not be more conscious of equality and women’ s rights with it being shoved down our throats daily for the last 100 years.   And the women are becoming the aggression group now. Little girls are fighting in the schools not only with other girls but boys, like has never been seen in history.  Maybe Mark has not been paying attention to these issues or the female’s massive male bashing in our society today either.

Another quote from him is, “The male body is becoming outdated tech” is he off his rocker or what? And he says we need to evolve our definition of masculinity and bring new worth like honesty, integrity, emotional openness etc.  You are out of touch, Mark, those qualities have always been important. But along with those qualities it’s ok to be man and it is ok for us to have friends that are a man’s man.  Keep your sissy’s they need not apply here.

Oh, one last thing on his article, he said this, “Men are so emotionally incompetent without women, getting married is literally the healthiest thing a man can do.”  Women are the most emotional beings on earth!  And guess what? It is supposed to be that way.  Are you married Mr. Manson?  Women are historically the most emotional side of the equation.  At the risk of making the weaker vessel upset I will simply say that your comment is pure hogwash and those female emotions are probably why the Bible says its good for man to remain alone if he can.

Well although it provided some entertainment for me that is enough on Mark Manson’s article.

I need to explain the “Five Imperatives of Christian Manhood.”

Remember the key verses: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.” (1 Cor 16: 13-14) Men this is an exhortation to you.

The five imperatives of Christian Manhood.

  1. Be watchful and aware of the dangers in the world. Protect!
  2. Stand fast in the faith- know what you believe and be courageous men willing to stand regardless of the cost.
  3. Quit you like men… Or in other words, ACT LIKE A MAN. Conduct yourself like a man should.
  4. Be strong- carry your responsibility and exercise manly strength.
  5. All things are to be done with charity. All the above things need to be done in the spirit of love.

“And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.” (Daniel 10:19)

Men, God will provide our strength.   I will say more about this in the next post.  Satan’s work is all around you/us and the devil wants you to fail so call upon the Lord for your strength and the devil will flee.

“Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.” (1 Chronicles 19:13)

“Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.” (2 Samuel 10;12) 

Be of good courage, and let us be strong: Courage and strength are not matters of feeling and circumstance. They are matters of choice, especially when God makes His strength available to us. We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1: 6-9)

Men, God is saying, “Keep the law and don’t deviate from it for this is the way to prosperity and success. Observe it day and night and meditate upon it. As we turn to the first Psalm, we read, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law does he meditate both day and night, he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”(Psalm 1:1-3). Are you looking for prosperity, are you looking for success?  God has given you the rules. Meditate in it, observe it, and thus shalt thou make thy way prosperous, for these are the rules to prosperity. These are the rules to success. So, the conditions upon which he can know the power, the presence, the victory.

Be in a partnership with God and victory will be yours!

We continue to ask what did the men on the Titanic know that men today do not.

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Please come back for the next post as we continue this quest for Titanic Men,

God bless you all,

The Tubthumper

 

TITANIC MEN, WHERE ARE THEY? Part 2

It’s a rainy day in April (to bring May flowers) so I’ll delve into part two of this important topic.

 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Society surely has lost this definition for men.  We have the gender distinction issues raging these days, or should we call it the gender war.  Along with the effort to feminize the male gender.  The well orchestrated project of making sissies out of our men.

This was written in the news just weeks ago: The Equality Act, sponsored by Representative David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.) and promoted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), “would add sexual orientation and gender identity to characteristics protected by the 1964 Civil Rights Act.” Presumably, this would enshrine in federal law a standard dictating that a man claiming womanhood must be allowed access to the women’s arena (e.g., bathrooms, locker areas, sporting events). In reality, transgender ideology seeks to erase women and men: The whole idea is that people have “gender” (a psychological designation), that gender should take precedence over “sex” (a biological designation), and that it’s fluid. The ultimate reality, the theory goes, isn’t that you’re a “man” or “woman” but that you reside somewhere on a spectrum. (Also note that there are plenty of women claiming manhood and access to men’s private spaces.)

But look, the article goes on to say, “In fact, studies show that upwards of 80 percent of girls and 90 percent of boys who strongly “identify” as the opposite sex naturally outgrow the psychological problem.”  A psychological problem and a sin problem, I say.

Here is an excerpt from a topic I wrote on long ago called the Masculine Journey. If you haven’t read that yet and you are a man you should go there later and be enlightened.  So here is what defines a male from the Bible as written in that post.  “This Hebrew word describes maleness in a basic and fundamental anatomical way.  The Hebrew word zakar is the word for “male” in the phrase “God created man ‘adam, male zakar and female”, Genesis 1:27.  If you check the Hebrew lexicons you will see they list the root of this term as “the male protrusion or male phallus”.  According to Dr. Hicks, “This word reflects the phallic male in his most distinct sexual aspect”.  We at our most primal level are sexual beings. The Bible is clear on this and does not pretend we are anything other than stated.  To be a male means you are a phallic kind of guy and you do not have a need to apologize for being that way.  You should never, ever allow it to be denigrated by women or by some crazy or crass individuals calling themselves men.”

So, there you have it.  If the doc looks down and sees a penis, he says “It’s a boy.”  And guess what, It’s a boy.  Congratulations you are a male. And if there is a vagina he says, “It’s a girl.”  Simple as that folks.  And you cannot make one out of the other. All you can do is pretend.  And pretend in sin they do. You can wish to be something all you want but God defined your gender when you were first conceived and before you were born.

Back to the father thing, 42% of males are born with no fathers.  Many leave after the males are born so statistics are low.  Boy’s don’t know what it means to be a man any longer. Fathers are not real fathers and have lost the ability to do the job. Fatherhood has declined and it continues to drop like a rock.

Fathers have been completely distracted with having too many interests, too many sports, too many hobbies, and everything seems to be getting in the way of discipleship of their children.

It is not only happening in the secular world and there seems to be no difference between Christian men, fathers and husbands from most men in the world.  Sadly, most men that call themselves Christians are carnal or cultural Christians and they blend in with the worldly or pagan counterparts.  There are a few strong Christian men that stand out of the crowd, but the majority are unseen. Can we re-claim the Christ honoring definition for manliness and if-so but how?

Many women survived the R.M.S Titanic sinking to tell the story of April 14, 1912.  Communication back then was by newspaper predominately. It took a week for the news to get out across the land. 75% of the women were saved but 80% of the men were lost.  That was because of the old law of the sea and the Bible “women and children first.”

An elderly woman was interviewed recently and said, “that was back in the day when men were gentlemen.”  Today things are different, and the men would throw the women overboard. With exception, however, true Christian Men would lay down their lives to save women and children because they would follow the pattern of Christ. Christ is the Sacrificial Lamb that rules, protects, leads and guides which is the proper way for men.  On the other hand, paganism uses women.

Christ defines manhood and what headship should look like.  All that is needed is to look to Jesus Christ. Jesus is love, Jesus is sacrificial, and love is service to others. Jesus taught that when he gave himself on the cross for us.  I find it ironic that I am writing this today which is the day before Easter and the day after Good Friday.  Good Friday is our Christian Holiday commemorating the day when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross at Calvary to save us all from sin.  And tomorrow it’s Easter, the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and held (in the Western Church) between March 21 and April 25, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox. He is risen!

Christ is the bridegroom and biblical manhood understands what love is.  The bridegroom gave his life for the bride, which is His church. You and I if you call yourselves Christian. Love is sacrificial it is not sentimental, and it is service to meet the needs of others.

We should be very concerned with this generation because they don’t care about the Bride. Nor do they care about the Bridegroom.  They don’t care about the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we have our young males not caring bout the bride of Christ how can we expect them to care about a bride (a woman) they going to marry.  The bride we are called to sacrifice for is the Church of Jesus Christ.  The second bride we are to sacrifice ourselves for (if married) is our wife. A man must be sacrificial, Paul said in Chapter 5 of Ephesians that men should give themselves up just as Christ did. (Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.)

The Bible has all our instructions and men should be following the Pattern of Christ.  What is happening in our societal breakdown is that humans out there want to change things and erase the important laws and historic things provided to us. They certainly want to change or erase the Bible when it does not agree with their agenda. These people try to infect the thoughts of Christians with the idea that there is no divine pattern in the Bible, and they have the right to change things to fit our culture or whatever we deem necessary. Sadly, many of these change artists are teaching our children. Did you know that 90% of Christian parents send their children to public school to be controlled for 7 hours a day where there is no mention of God? That in itself is scary but then again in most Christian homes when the child gets back God isn’t mentioned there on a regular basis either.  For these people to reject the idea that God has given us a divine pattern to follow is to reject the Scriptures themselves because they clearly teach that we are to follow God’s Word. For example, Paul told Timothy: “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13) So you see, Paul says there is a divine pattern while the people that want to change it say there is not. The writer of Hebrews quotes what God says to Moses, “For He said, “See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” (Hebrews 8:5) Reading this passage shows there was a divine pattern that Moses had to follow and there is a divine pattern for us to follow under the new covenant. Let us all strive to follow it.

Please allow me to spotlight the captain of the Titanic, Archibald Gracie.  Mr. Gracie was groomed for greatness and he sprang into action. It was women and children first and he made no bones about it. He went down with the ship. He was able to climb on a piece of something floating, was rescued and testified about the incident but later died from his internal injuries sustained when he went down. He was a courageous man because as a young man his father modeled how to be a man.  His father modeled what a Christian man is to be like, and he mentored his son into manhood. He was prepared by his father and his family and he was used by God to save many.

I’m out of space and time today folks and I’m just beginning, so please come back next time and I’ll write about our societal thing called Adolescence and the “Five Imperatives of Christian Manhood.”

If you are a male and wondering how you can possibly rise above all the attacks and be strong enough to stem the tide just stay with this and the answer will be revealed.

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God bless you all and Happy Easter,

FJ1

 

 

 

 

The Tubthumper

TITANIC MEN, WHERE ARE THEY? Part 1

TITANIC MEN, WHERE ARE THEY?

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”                        1 Corinthians 16:13

Are you a man or a mowess?  So said the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz.

All joking aside, back in January of 2013 I did a workshop for the men in my church where I showed a movie titled, Act Like Men that was made by Biblical Worldview Media.  In the movie they documented everything I already knew along with most men.  We are in trouble.  We are seeing a decimation of manliness. It was clear as a bell then how things have been decimated and a cure needed to be administered and since then nothing has improved in-fact everything has become much, much bleaker.

In this segment I will address the decline of manhood in our nation and world along with the feminism movement and the destruction it has wrought.  I will also address the self-inflicted failure of men because we are partly at fault.  I will also touch on other destructive forces that are on men today.  A lot of women won’t like what I am writing, and a lot of men won’t like it either. I am personally ashamed of where my fellow men (mankind) has fallen.  I will not apologize for bringing forth the truth.  I am coming from a biblical perspective and so if you have a problem with what you are reading, I suggest you take it up with God and simply click to something more soothing for you.  Keep in mind however that God’s plan will never be altered.  In the end He will always be in control.

A lot of material I will present here came directly from the movie documentation and other sources which I will site when necessary.   This topic will take many posts to cover and I hope you will stay with it for the duration and summary.

Men are struggling and that is no secret.  History shows that civilizations fall when manhood breaks down. Years and years of ridicule, political correctness, feminist attacks, gender distinction wars, drug addiction and more have left men confused, passive, lazy and selfish about their identities. Men are under attack and have been for years.  The feminist movement has carefully orchestrated the attack for 100 years but most fiercely in the last 40.  And sadly, they have been quite successful partly due to men weakening and giving up their God given role. Our civilization and society are in a shambles. fatherlessness, immaturity, divorce and crime is at an all-time high. The destruction of the family as we once knew it is close at hand or already dead.

The warrior has been taken out of men as well. I don’t want to get distracted with this, but you can go to my post called, “Gibbor: The Warrior” for more detail if you wish. This is a quote from Robert Bly, “The disciplined warrior, made irrelevant by mechanized war, disdained and abandoned by the high-tech culture, is fading in American men. The fading of the warrior contributes to the collapse of civilized society.  A man who cannot defend his own space cannot defend women and children.”  Any men that do not discover the warrior aspect of their being are not real men. They are as Bly calls them, “mother-bound” boys still in need of a sword to cut them away from their mommies. Think about this as you can relate to the masses of sissified males in our current society.

What did the men on the Titanic know about manliness that now has been forgotten?  Will our civilization survive this decline of masculinity?  What does it really mean to be a man? I plan on exploring these issues and exhorting my fellow men to seek to reclaim our biblical vision for manliness.

Back in 1912 when the R.M.S Titanic hit that iceberg and sank an amazing number of men paid the ultimate price to be sure the women and children were saved. The “Law of the Sea” came from the Bible and is “women and children first.” Is this law of the sea, “women and children first” even relevant today?  I think not. How many men would give up their place on a lifeboat today for women and children.  Would you?  I think most men today would push women out or throw them overboard to get their spot on the lifeboats for themselves.  After all, that’s what women wanted is equality. I always say to be careful what you ask for. Sadly, because of the Feminist movement and the attempts to minimize the male role this has come about. And ladies, if we end up going to war again you will be subject to the military draft same as men. You won’t like it, but hey, it’s what you asked for. To an extent, males have allowed all this occur through passiveness, poor performance as leaders and simply just giving up.  For that as a man I am truly ashamed.  The pattern of Christ regarding leadership for men is to lay down your life if necessary. (I will never leave of forsake you.) There are many destructive forces working on men today. Entertainment, obsessive hobbies, self-interest, pornography, drugs, worldly diversions, lack of commitment, temptation, women’s movement and feminism (Darwin) and I could go on and on.  Men yield to temptation and passiveness much too easily.  We (men) have let it happen! As men, it is our fault.  Men gave up their God given place in the pecking order long ago.

The biblical role of men is to be obedient to God.  To know where you are going and to where you will take your family and your sons. Men are to be the protectors and the leaders.  And men that are “passive in worship will be men passive in life.”  “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Women have struggles too, this I know.  Some of those struggles come from what I am writing about.  I want you to know I acknowledge issues women face but this topic is about the men.

Are women the weaker vessel?  Yes, they are according to scripture they are.  It doesn’t take much brainpower or common sense to understand that.  Again, don’t get me wrong.  In some aspect’s women are much stronger than men.  But in the context of the protectors and the biblical subject at hand women are the weaker vessel.  Darwin’s introductions and the feminism movement did much to increase the passiveness and destruction of men.  It did begin there but regardless of what crazy things are happening in mainstream society and what is being taught, “God’s teaching and His principles will prevail.” Shame on the males of our land! Men have become incredibly passive and have retreated to try and escape reality.  Many are currently strung out on opioids while the women and grand-parents are raising their children. Men, it will be hard to survive this.  I do believe however, that women do want men to lead. They want the leaders that God develops. They do not want some barbarian or Neanderthal to drag them around by the hair muttering “my woman” she is mine.  If a man conducts himself as outlined in 1 Cor. 16: 13-14 the weaker vessel will follow the courageous lead.

This is no new phenomenon.  It is to our (men’s) shame.  We are deluged with boys born with no fathers and fathers leaving. The only way to survive this will be through Christian and Godly men that disciple, mentor and train younger men. We need to get back to the basics and do it one on one and one by one. If men don’t care about the “Bride of Jesus Christ” they won’t ever care about the other brides, the women, children or anything else.

WE ARE LOSING OUR CHILDREN. WE ARE LOSING FATHERHOOD. MEN WILL GO TO HELL FOR NOT BEING FATHERS. It is written.  “Be a sober man.”

Well, now that I have opened the can of worms let’s get into it.  Please come back for the next post as I begin the quest for Titanic Men. There are lots of stories of courageous men on the Titanic.  Imagine a world back where women and children came first and there was respect and honor for men.

God bless you all,

FJ1

 

The Tubthumper

 

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The Powerhouse of Grace, Part 2

Four important Spiritual Laws.    

The first one was to know (Know YE), and the second is to Reckon.  

“RECKON YE”- Count it as a fact regardless of how you feel.  The word “reckon” is “to count, compute, to take into account.” We are appropriating the victory of Christ.  “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)  Yes, God is working in me.  God is working in you even though you don’t feel like it. Feelings have nothing to do with it. Look at it like a train. God is the locomotive chugging along on you. You are in the passenger seats and your feelings are in the caboose.  It don’t matter what’s going on in the caboose, the locomotive is still chugging away up front.  The human body does not feel changed, saved and dead from sin.  Bu that is beside the point: When Jesus says it is, then it is. Salvation does not depend on feelings. Salvation depends on facts from God’s word and from the work of Christ. You must have faith. Remember: The Just Shall Live By Faith! You must believe!

John Phillips in his commentary said this, “On the authority of God’s word, the sinner can know his sins are forgiven no matter how he/she may feel in this regard.  It goes the same with the saint. It must be accepted as fact, that at Calvary God dealt with the body of sin and you must believe that God means what He says in Romans 6:6.  Feelings are quite incidental.  A certain man was accustomed to rising at six o’clock to catch a train each morning at seven.  His wife usually saw him off to work; but one night the little ones had been particularly restless and his wife was just settling down to a deep sleep when the alarm clock went off.   Oh dear, she groaned. Is it six o’clock? When her husband told her it was, she said it doesn’t feel like six o’clock. Now here is the point. It did not feel like six o’clock but the sun, moon, stars, earth’s orbit and the entire heavens declare it to be six o’clock.  But it did not feel like six o’clock!  It is the same with the great biblical truth that the believer is dead with Christ. We may not feel very dead, but that is beside the point. God says we are, and the entire workings of redemption declares it to be fact. The resurrection of Christ is a liberating truth and we must learn to appreciate the victory of Christ!” (page 104)

The third Spiritual Law is to Yield.

We have a physical principal to bring our body into subjection. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (Romans 6:12)

And then we have a Moral Principal: We are not to yield to sin. We must have an act of the will and we must be responsible. YIELD YE, “ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Romans 6:13)  And lastly there is a spiritual principle involved.  We must give in to God’s will. The Holy Spirit is resident in every believer; but we must submit to Him so the He can liberate us from the shackles of sin. We must also get hold of God’s word. And we must get a grasp that sin has no dominion over us.  “For sin shall not have dominion over you. For ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14) (Phillips, page 108)

The fourth Spiritual Law is to Obey.

When we think of this subject to Obey, let us review a comparison of Saul of the Old Testament and the Saul (Paul) of the New Testament. “A good name is better than precious ointment;” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)

  1. Physically, Saul of the Old Testament was exceedingly large, being head and shoulders above any other of the kingdom or of his people. Saul of the New Testament was probably a very small, frail, squint-eyed Jew.
  2. Saul of the Old Testament was called by God to be a king. Saul of the New Testament was called by God to be an apostle, a servant and a prisoner.
  3. Saul of the Old Testament answered the call but was disobedient. Saul of the New Testament answered the call and “was not disobedient” (Acts 26:19).
  4. Saul of the Old Testament was against God’s people (David, Jonathan and others) after he was called or chosen. Saul of the New Testament was against God’s people (he persecuted the Christians) only before he was called or converted.
  5. Saul of the Old Testament finally said, “Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly” (I Sam. 26:21).  Saul of the New Testament finally said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” (II Tim. 3:7,8).
  6. Saul of the Old Testament died, falling upon his own sword, for the sake of upholding his own name, that his name might not be dishonored by the fact that he died by the hand of the enemy. Saul of the New Testament died upholding the name of his Lord and Savior, and caring not for his own name.

  What about testimonies from the past?  

“Ye were the servants of sin” (Romans 6:17)

Let’s break down Romans 6:17 onto three parts. A, B and C.

Here’s the entire verse, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

St. Augustine’s testimony as delivered by the great Charles Spurgeon: “We are dead to thee, O world!” One of the early saints, I think it was Augustine, had indulged in great sins in his younger days. After his conversion he met with a woman who had been the sharer of his wicked follies; she approached him winningly and said to him, “Augustine,” but he ran away from her with all speed. She called after him and said, “Augustine, it is I,” mentioning her name; but he then turned around and said, “But it is not I; the old Augustine is dead and I am a new creature in Christ Jesus.” That should be the answer of every true servant of Christ: “I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. Thou art the same, but not I.  I have passed from death unto life, from darkness into light.

And Paul, the chief of sinners: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  (1Tim 1:15) 

The scriptures show Paul at that time as a zealous persecutor of the church whose attacks are described as the persecution of Christ himself (Acts 9:4-5, 22:7-8, 26:14-15).  Paul persecuted the saints “unto death,” (Acts 22:4) and pursued them even unto “strange [i.e. foreign] cities” (Acts 26:11).  Paul’s hostility was so great that he is described as persecuting the church “beyond measure” (Gal 1:13) and destroying the faith (Gal 1:23).  Despite has labour for Christ after his salvation, Paul says that he was not fit to be an apostle because of his persecution of the church.

“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”  (1Cor 15:9)   Paul, prior to his conversion was a servant of sin. “YE WERE THE SERVANTS OF SIN” (ROMANS 6:17a)

“YE HAVE OBEYED FROM THE HEART” (ROMANS 6:17b)

Do you know the distance between Heaven and Hell is only 18 inches?  Yes, that is the distance between your head and your heart. It is the distance between carnality and spirituality.  What you learn about God must transfer from your head to your heart.  You must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“That form of doctrine” (Romans 6:17c)

Doctrine is a dirty word today in some circles. It is said that, “Doctrine Divides”.  Doctrinal division is a necessary reality in this present evil age in which error persists (in all of us), and part of what it means to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:2) implies pursuing truth and resisting error.  People today seem to think that truth is invented when it’s convenient.  No so… The truths we are to believe—including doctrinal truths—are to be handed down from generation to generation, and believed and confessed with increasing confidence and clarity. Nearly two thousand years after the death and resurrection of Jesus and the establishment of the church, the church ought to be able to say more with confidence and clarity, rather than less. Doctrine is important. And more so, Doctrine leads to Sanctification! As with sanctified objects, people must be cleansed from their impurities in order to be made holy and set apart for God’s purposes. This is why sanctification is often connected with the doctrine of Justification.

What fruit had ye then?

What about the fruit? “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” (Romans 6:21) Prior to salvation most of our fruit is the friends we had, the money we made, and the health we had, and maybe in the what-not’s and joys of life itself. But trust me, you cannot keep those and take them with you.  But through Justification and Sanctification you will have something concrete to take with you.  “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (6:23)

But now you have something you can take with you. Jesus made a promise, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).  The promise is meant to be open ended. There is no circumstance too hard; no wall so strong; no person so obstinate that God cannot break down or lead us around. His promise leads us into a world of hope and expectation.  The promise means “You can take it with you.” All the blessings in your sanctified life, you can take with you.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Sanctification is summed up by John Phillips again in his commentary, “Our emancipation from sin guarantees unqualified success in this life, fruit unto holiness, and unqualified security for the next life, eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The new master makes us holy and gives us life forevermore. Amen!

And that wraps up this post. I am sorry for the length but felt I needed to leave all of this together.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The payment of sin is death, and Hell is the place to receive it. But because of what Jesus did for you on the cross, you don’t have to receive that payment. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ died for you! Today, are you willing to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Are you willing to believe in your heart?

Pray to God: ask Him to save you from your sin, and put your total trust in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Confess to Him that you’re a sinner, in need of saving grace. Ask Him to come into your heart today and save you.

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

If you haven’t done it yet, do it now. There is no guarantee you have until tomorrow.

God bless you,

The Tubthumper

The Powerhouse of Grace – Part 1

In the last message about the “Trial of the Ages” we covered the steps to Justification.

  1. You are a lost soul.
  2. You cannot save yourself.
  3. You realize that only Christ can save you.
  4. You must ask Christ to save you and believe on Him for salvation.

In this message we will understand the roadmap to sanctification.

I will help you to relate to our death with Christ.

I will outline the significance of the believer being baptized into Christ.

I will help you understand how a believer is both dead to sin and free from sin.

I will make sure you know the difference between Justification and Sanctification.

I was saved at a young age. I often wondered if it was different than God saving someone at an older age that was deep into sin. I now believe that being saved at the young age of 10 is just as much a trophy of the Glory and Grace of God as is a person that is saved from the very depths of sin and debauchery.  It takes just as much grace to save a person and keep them out of those things throughout their lives as it does to bring a person from the depths of sin. Amen.

Let us meditate on being in union with Christ and dying to sin.  Relate to “old man vs. new man.” The battle between flesh and spirit. Old nature vs. the new nature. Newness of life.

The Powerhouse of Grace     

Justification

Is an act.  It’s a legal declaration whereby God declares a vile sinner to be righteous.  It is the means… That removes the guilt and the penalty.  Justification works FOR us.  It is a one-time act.

Sanctification

This is ongoing work.  It is to set us apart for the work of the Lord.  It is the End – that removes the power of sin.   Sanctification works IN us. It is a progression.

Romans Chapter 6 opens with: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (verses 1 and 2)  You see as a believer we have already died.  We have been buried with Christ – into His death. Think about this, something or someone that is dead will be unresponsive.  You can’t get any less responsive than dead. Trust me on that one.  You can do anything you want and that dead thing will not respond.  Just like that God “Rekons” a believer to be unresponsive to sin.  That’s where we died. Please get a grasp of the believer’s death with Christ. Here is the truth—

Jesus not only died for us… He died as us…Baptizing us into death. Baptism actually means—”To be identified with.”

“How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  We should all be experiencing in our lives the reality and the experience that of our death with Christ to the point where we are unresponsive to sin. In God’s plan sin is to evoke not a glimpse from us.

Lest you think I am perfect and maybe I am throwing stones at you please understand I am a sinner.  Sanctification is NOT the irradiation of a sinful nature.  It is hopeful that we will sin less with the grace of God. It is not baptism by the spirit that Paul is talking about here.

Four Spiritual Laws: (1 Thess. 4:3) “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”

Spiritual Law #1-

“KNOW YE” – That we have been planted with Him in likeness of His Resurrection and that we are dead to sin and freed from sin.

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:5)  The word planted has the meaning of “united together.”

John Phillips in his commentary on Romans stated, “Paul is seeking to convey the remarkable truth that Christ’s death was our death; His burial was our burial; His resurrection was our resurrection.  He not only died for me; He died as me! So far as God is concerned, we are already on the resurrection side of the grave and it but remains for us to realize this truth and appropriate it, and victory is assured.”

The Powerhouse of God’s Grace brings me out of my sin and the Powerhouse of God’s Grace keeps me from my sin.

The first command is “Know”- “Know ye”  Ye shall know the truth.” (John 8:32)

About the Know Ye- A few things Paul wants us to know:

Know Old Testament History and don’t be ignorant:  “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.” (1 Cor 10:1) If you remember God used the cloud to guide them. As the cloud moved, they would move. Then he used the cloud to shield them and parted the sea. The following of the cloud was Israel living in the will of God and following His guidance.

Know about your Spiritual Gifts and their true operation within the church: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” (1 Cor. 12:1)

Know all about The Rapture: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” (1 Thess. 4:13) No sorrow because we have hope.

Know about the tactics of Satan:  “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Cor. 2:11

Know about Israel’s blindness:  “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25  The fullness of the Gentiles refers to the number of Gentiles that will be part of the kingdom of God. Many invited to come in by His Spirit but they did not come so blindness happened in part to Israel. There is walking on earth the one last person that will open the heart to Jesus Christ.  The day that happens we (saints) will all be caught up to meet the Lord.

How then?  Paul’s Question: “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2)

If you are Sanctified, you are set apart from the world-to the Lord.  But don’t ever think you could not fall. As a human you have weaknesses.  Sometimes we forget and the old-nature begins to grow back within us. Then the devil can move in and sanctification get erased. The old man and old nature gets resurrected. That is called a fall from Grace. We have seen it time and time again. Guard your heart my brothers and sisters. Just because you are born again and the old self is dead you cannot just go ahead and live in sin thinking that grace will abound. That is just ridiculous to even consider because if you really died to sin you shouldn’t be living in it any longer. Perish the thought! Our old self is crucified with him… Romans 6:6 but it is not annihilated.

There is a little poem that reads, “When the danger least thou fearest, then the devil’s snare is nearest.”

Watch, my soul and pray; Put thee in array;

For the tempter’s snares are nearest, When the danger least thou fearest:

Such is Satan’s way;  Watch my soul and pray.

Come back next time for the other spiritual laws and the conclusion of “The Powerhouse of Grace.”

 

 

Stiff Necked Children

Submit to God   

As I was preparing a short devotion for a men’s breakfast about submitting to the will of God I became more interested in the subject and found more information than I needed.  That led me to expand my thoughts and to write this post.  There is much difficulty in Christians submitting to God. Starting with myself I might add.

I have always been a guy that wants to be in control.  Control and submission are like oil and water I regret to say.  I know the control issue is an issue of the flesh and the submission issue is something done through the spirit.  And so the battle rages on.  Why do I have such a problem doing this?  I believe most people in the Christian community continue to be hard headed and fail to submit as well, why ?

It’s not a new phenomena as we see in the Old Testament writings.  Submission to God has always been avoided by the human race.  And this occurs even when we know that the wrath of God will come.

In a discussion with my pastor this morning we agreed that less than one percent of God’s Church today is in submission to God.  What a rebellious society we are living in.  God’s word says to submit to His will, however most of us are not doing it while claiming to be Christians.  What is the answer to this and how can we please the Lord?  It’s clear that without submission there is eventually a price to pay.  At the very least something negative will occur in our lives that we could have been protected from if we had submitted to God’s will.  We know this yet we continue.

The definition of submit from Merriam Webster is to yield oneself to the authority or will of another or to surrender. Definition of surrender is to give oneself up into the power of another or to yield. The definition for yield is to give way to pressure or influence: submit to urging, persuasion, or entreaty.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

God’s word, the Holy Bible, clearly indicates we are to be in submission to God.

 

 

 

“Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.” (2 Chonicles 30:8)  This was written by Hezekiah after the Assyrians came and took the northern kingdom. They took the people captive and there was not much of the people left.  He is telling them to turn back to God. He is saying if they would turn back to God then God will provide and their families that were taken away will returned. He is practically begging them to turn their hearts to God and worship Him. He told them if they were to turn back to God then surely God would bless them because God is gracious and merciful.

For the people that will not submit to God and reject His grace and mercy, their lives do not go very well and then destruction occurs. God is merciful and compassionate, but He won’t protect us forever if we choose to remain out of His will and fall under the control of Satan.  Eventually you will reap what you sow and everything that goes around comes around. When that happens to people they blame God for the judgement that comes on them. But the only thing that can keep you from the judgement is God’s protection.

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” (Job 22:21)  In other words, submit to God and you will have peace and some good will come of you. 

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, “Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.” (Exodus 10:3) In other words – how long will you refuse to submit to me???

“Serve the LORD with fear, rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2:12) The bottom line: Blessed are those who put their trust, or, happy are those who put their trust in Him. Submit to God’s royal son.  

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)  Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about daily needs and to seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, then all these things will be added to them.  So let us have a good look at this, we know that the Kingdom of God is where the Lord reigns. That is where God is. If we have God reigning over our lives then we have the Kingdom of God within us.

So then, if we keep our priorities in order and do what is right we would, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Moses said to the children of Israel, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I have testified to you this day, and you shall command your children to observe and do all the words of this law. It is not an option for, it is your life.” (Deuteronomy 32:46)

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)

In other words- submit to the father…He (Jesus) is declaring that He is in perfect harmony with the Father with all the work He is doing. Then He told Philip, “The works that I do I do not of Myself, but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” And this is the same kind of testimony he gives here, “What I’m doing, I’m only doing because I’ve seen the Father do it. I’m doing the works of the Father in your midst.”

Jesus modeled submission to the Father. We would be wise to take the example. 

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)  No transformation without submission. Do the will of God. 

“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; and 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” (Ephesians 6:6)

Do what you do as unto the Lord, not to please men but to please the Lord, as a good witness for Him.  Submit to the Lord. 

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7)  You will need the help of the Holy Spirit to be able to submit to God. You won’t be successful on your own fighting the battle of the flesh.

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8)

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:17)

This passage is from a commentary by Check Smith:

You see, our problem is that we so often lose sight of eternity. As we are in this world we get so involved in the worldly things, that our vision becomes clouded and we lose the sense and the consciousness of the eternal. And when you lose the consciousness of the eternal, then Satan can just really do a trip on your mind.  The seventy-third Psalm, Asaph speaks about that trip that Satan did on his mind, when he got his eyes upon the world and the people in the world. He said, “Now I know that God is good, but when I sought to understand a few things I was almost wiped out. Because I began to look at the prosperity of the wicked, I began to see how they got along and they didn’t seem to have any problems,” and this that and the other. And Satan just really started to put a real trip on him. And he said, “When I sought to know these things, I almost slipped.” He said, “It doesn’t pay to try and serve God. It doesn’t pay to try and be good. And when I sought to know these things I almost slipped. Until I went unto the sanctuary of God and then I saw their end.” In the sanctuary of God his vision was corrected and he got sight now of the eternal.  “God, what are You doing? God, how can You say You love me? God, if You love me, why is this happening to me?” It’s because I have my eyes on the temporal, material advantage and God is looking at the eternal plan and the eternal advantage. It’s important that we step back and we get the long view and realize that the world is gonna pass away and the lust thereof. He who does the will of God abides forever.[1]

So why are we – men and women alike so hard headed?  We must learn to listen and we must obey and submit.  We are stiff-necked children.  We want it our way and we keep doing it our way. We want to be in control instead of letting God take the wheel.

Let’s try it Gods way.

Pray that we will kindle a deeper relationship with God. Pray that all Christians would be convicted toward turning to God and another great awakening takes place. Praise the Lord, King of Kings.  Pray for healing in our land and that our nation would turn back to God.  Lord have mercy on us. Please save us from ourselves Lord for we have lost sight of eternity!

 

God bless you,

The Tubthumper

[1] Smith, C. “C2000 Series on 1 John 2:12 – 3:24 by Chuck Smith.” Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 1 Jun, 2005. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/c2000_1Jo/1Jo_002.cfm

 

Here Comes the Judge Part 4

The Sentencing:   

DEATH!  YOU ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH

The Sentence: “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23, Gen 2:17)

Death – in Bible means (separation) Gen: 2:17 Man experienced the first death. (When Eve took of the tree of life it introduced death to mankind.)

Physical Death- separation of the person from the body.

Spiritual death- separation of the person from God.

Eternal separation of the un-repentant sinner to Hell.

And now there is an announcement in the court.

YOUR SENTENCE HAS BEEN PAID – YOU ARE FREE.     You can go free.  Your sentence has been paid by the judge.  The judge has taken your place.  Your offenses have been forgiven. The indictment is sealed.  

OH MY!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????   The Judge took my sentence.  How do I deserve that?  Could that be possible? 

Oh yes, it is so. Jesus was put to death on the cross for you.  He paid the price for your sins and the sins of all mankind.  

The Judge paid the sentence. Amazing!!! 

The Miracle “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This is Justification, The Gift of God is Eternal Life.

The nature of this miracle, it is free… “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24)– “Justified Freely”- without a cause. Because of his Holy grace.

The persons in the miracle, He for you. – God sent forth… “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:25) This word PROPITIATION is very important. It’s a Biblical word that we don’t often use in our vocabulary.  It means that an atonement has been made through a sacrifice of blood.  A sacrifice of Christs blood and His death on the cross has saved us.

  1. Satan- fought it
  2. Father – wrought it (shaped, fashioned, hammered out)
  3. Holy Spirit- taught it                   1 – 3 is the Justification miracle.
  4. Son- bought it

See the trinity at work?

5. Rich Man (Nicodemus) – sought it

6. Thief on the cross- caught it

7. I’ve Got it!

Saved! Saved! Saved!

The source of the miracle (3:24,28)      Freely by His grace (v. 24)   By faith (v.28)   Without the deeds of the law (v. 28)

The scope of the miracle- “Unto All”- unlimited (Rom. 3:22,29- John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall not parish but have everlasting life.”

The Bestowal of this miracle – limited (Rom. 3:22,26) Only to those that believe.

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (v24) God does this freely because of His grace and love for me, I am an undeserving sinner and I have been made an heir of His glorious kingdom to spend eternity in His glorious presence in the fullness of joy and pleasure for evermore. Amen! 

If you have never, as of yet understood “Justification.”  Please understand it now.  Justification is a one-time act of God and an extremely important doctrine.  Sanctification is a continual process until you are taken to be with the Lord. We will talk Sanctification another time.  Understand this Justification by Faith Alone doctrine first.

Because man’s condition was totally ruined by sin, salvation is based on a truly remarkable principle.  We are justified freely by His grace.  Pay close attention to the words “justified,” “freely” and “grace,” those three words summarize how God meets ruined man’s needs.

“Justification is the legal and formal acquittal from guilt by God as the Judge, and the pronouncement of the believing sinner as righteous in His sight. This verb is in the present and continuous sense and shows a constant process of justification in the succession of all who believe and are justified.” Can you see the difference between being forgiven and being justified? When you are saved you can plead not guilty and your case is dismissed. The Lord Jesus has fully discharged all our obligations so there is no legal ground for charges to be pressed on us anymore. We have a perfect standing before God and are fully acceptable in His sight. And we are justified freely, he does not charge us anything. “By His grace.” Just to be clear… Grace is unmerited favor. It is getting something we do not deserve. How remarkable!!! 

I think it’s important to clarify this as well.

Salvation is free, but it is not cheap.  It cost God his only begotten son and it cost Jesus the agony of dying on the cross. The blood Christ shed for us is very precious.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1: 18-19) The cost of Calvary is far beyond any human comprehension. It is!   

The witnesses of this miracle. “Witnessed by the law and the prophets.” (Rom. 3:21) It is totally scriptural. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise” (Heb. 11:39) “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.” (1 Pet. 1:10) – Prophesied of the grace.

The Legal accomplishments of the miracle – To reconcile God’s justice and God’s mercy by a mediator or bridge. We said it before, God set forth Christ to be a propitiation. (Romans 3:25) The sinner must be condemned, God wants to save the sinner.

The harmony between law and grace can be seen in the miracle. Do we need to keep the law? Yes, The Law cannot justify us but by following it but the Law can bring us to despair and cause us to take Gods alternative of committing ourselves to faith in Christ. “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31)

The Bible is not the record of man searching after God, but it’s the record of God searching after man.

The judge died for the defendants.

It’s a miracle- The just dying for the unjust.

The three major Imputations of the Bible.  Impute= add to     1. Adams sin was Imputed to the human race. 2.  My sin and yours was Imputed to Jesus Christ.  3. God’s Righteousness was Imputed to all Believers.

The miracle of Justification is that we are sinners and Christ died for us. We are justified with His blood.

Because of Justification we have Hope.  Our hope concerns the future. Something good in the future, something possible in the future- the coming again of Jesus Christ. That is our hope.

(Romans 5:6-11) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Back in the days of Moses the High Priest went to the Holy of Holies once a year.  Because of Justification we have access to the Throne of God immediately.  We don’t need to wait. I don’t need to provide a sacrifice.  My sacrifice was already offered by the savior Jesus Christ.

Let me be clear however,

Justification is only for “him which believeth in Jesus.”  I cannot say that strong enough.  Please hear me…

God justifies only those who believe in Jesus.  Everyone believes in something and everyone serves someone.  THE ONLY BELIEF THAT COUNTS WITH GOD IS BELIEF IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I have the invitation. You have the invitation.  If you haven’t accepted it do it now.

Don’t ever forget the Judge paid your fine.  The Judge took your punishment.  It is the only Judge that will ever do that for you.  Enter the Kingdom. Tell Jesus you believe, you understand you are sinner and want to be saved by his grace.  Ask Him into your heart to save you from the chains of Hell.

God bless you all in the pursuit of Him,

The Tubthumper

Here Comes the Judge Part 3

The Defense 

We hear the Pagan Man’s defense.  – He thinks he should be acquitted on grounds of ignorance.

The Plea of ignorance is rendered and the plea gets refuted- because he has the gift of conscience, nature, etc.  Men seem to put human reasoning on the throne and place Devine revelation in the basement.  What a mistake.

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:19-22)

We also hear the Moral Man’s defense. (Rom. 2: 1-16)  He makes a comparison- he is not as bad as the Pagan.

The plea gets rendered – the Moral man thinks he is a good person.

The plea is refuted- “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” (Romans 2:1)

The moral man underestimates the awesome knowledge of God.

The plea gets reviewed.  It is determined there is indifference to the forbearance and goodness of God. God’s forbearance is holding back his wrath, His goodness is His grace.

Religious Man’s defense.  (Rom. 2:17-3:8) He says, “I know the Law.” (I teach courses in religion.)

His plea gets rendered. His plea is refuted.

His plea is reviewed. (They don’t practice what they preach.)

The Jew had a National advantage but no spiritual advantage.  The Bottom Line- the Law could not save them, Circumcision could not save them and birthright could not save them.

Like so many people today in Christendom, they look at themselves like they belong to the church of Christ and they are heirs of Heaven simply because they were baptized at a baby. (A little sprinkle of water on the forehead.) And the Jew thinks that circumcision gave him a special status with God. A mere religious ordinance will not profit the soul without a vital and personal experience with Christ. It is circumcision of the heart that matters.

God see’s all—you cannot commit an undetected crime.

Smile because God loves you, but, Fear, for God will someday Judge you. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God’s Wrath.

On to the trial of the Ages!

Back in the courthouse of Law.

The Charge- High Treason

The Defendants- Pagan Man, Moral Man and Religious Man

The detailed indictment:

The Jury- 4 members – Conscious Man, Deeds Man, Works Man and Law of God Man.

The Defense

Based on testimony from expert witnesses: A search was launched throughout Heaven and no man was found worthy.  None righteous, not one. As it is written “All have sinned and come short the Glory of God.”  No fear of God, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)

None were righteous, none understood, none were seeking God.

Not even Mary was righteous, she was the very first to call Jesus Savior. (Luke 1:47)  She needed to be saved like all sinners. We all need the Savior!

The VERDICT: GUILTY, all are GUILTY!

Man’s Character is Sinful.

“They are all of them gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable; there is none that is doing good, no, not one” (Rom 3:12)

In other words they have chosen to go some other way than the way of God.

“There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Sin = Hamartia– (ham-ar-tee’-ah) TO MISS THE MARK– that which is done wrong, sin, an offense, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act.   Man misses the target.

Man murders his brother and mocks his God.  “their feet are swift to shed blood” You see murder was always in the heart of man.  Nothing new and killing is a heart problem and cannot be blamed on anything else.

Man originally was good but has gone bad since Adam.

Man’s conversation is sinful. 

And now Paul the court recorder is quoting from the Psalms. “Their throat is an open sepulcher, with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:13-18)

We see here God’s indictment – God is declaring that mans condition is apart from God.   Man has no connection to the Lord.

The sting of a vicious viper…

The stink from a tomb…

Cursing and bitterness…

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

GUILTY!  GUILTY!  GUILTY! 

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5)

MAN IS GUILTY AS CHARGED! 

 

Come back for the last post as the sentencing occurs.

We will see what the sentence is

And we will see the most amazing thing happen

In the “Trial of the Ages!”

God bless you all,

The Tubthumper

 

 

 

Here Comes the Judge, Part 2

The Court Proceeding

The Charge  

HIGH TREASON!  You are charged with High Treason against God.  A very serious charge… not against your country but against God! The Savior will be the judge.

It’s the Creator against His creatures. (Sinful) The defendants are the humans that God made and God the creator is the prosecution.

Jesus is the judge.  Not the Father, but the Lord Jesus. The Father entrusts Jesus to judge.  Whom He hath ordained & raised from the dead.

The defendants:

           Moral man- the heathen, they enthrone human reasoning and dethrone divine revelation.  Becoming consciously irreligious and consequently irrational. Basically it’s their darkened heart. He becomes conceited and foolish, or rather- very stupid.

           Pagan man- the hypocrite, thinks other people’s sins are worse than their own.  They compare themselves to others and think they are high and mighty.  They flatter themselves but foolishly are measuring themselves to the wrong standard. God’s standard of measurement is the Law and the sin of the hypocrite is that of being indignant at the shortcomings of others while being indulgent of his own. The hypocrite places himself on very thin ice. He faces the judgement of God himself.  “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds.” (Romans 2: 5-6)

            Religious man- the Hebrew, False religious systems enslave people both sensually and spiritually.  All were charged with High Treason. This is the man with a powerless religion. Mere orthodoxy in religion does not make a person more acceptable to God. Having access to an open Bible will greatly increase a person’s responsibility in the sight of God.  A persons access to the truth will increase their accountability to the truth. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (V.13) “The Truth shall set you free!”

Let’s review the detailed indictments: (V. 21-32)

First Indictment – (V.21) Ingratitude, not thankful for creation or redemption. And Pride, they had a heart problem.  Thankful people are not prideful and a lack of thanks leads to Apostacy.  Self-will and Pride both seem to be severe sins in the Bible. Lucifer and Adam had those traits. The Antidote for Pride is Thanksgiving.

Second Indictment– (V.22) An unsanctified philosophy, insolent fools- professing themselves as wise they became fools- morons. It’s a fool that says in his heart, there is no God. Let’s face it folks people are right now further away from God now than ever before. Man is self-sufficient. God is dead they say. But there is a reckoning coming.

Third Indictment– (V.23) They turned away from God and preferred idols. Man, birds, beasts and creeping things. They made God like man. They thought of God in terms of man.  They sought to bring God down to man’s level. It was man seeking to corrupt God.

Fourth Indictment– (V.24-27) Sexual Perversions, homosexuality, lesbianism, vile affections, everything under imagination… “God also gave them up to uncleanness [or filthiness] through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: for they changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” (Rom 1:24-25).

Fifth Indictment– (V.28-32) Incorrigibility, a reprobate mind, not convenient, depraved. “For this cause God gave them up to unnatural affections: for even their women did exchange the natural use for that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men doing that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was necessary. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are [unspeakable,] not convenient, [not proper]” (Rom 1:26-28)

  1. Fornication
  2. Wickedness- (Mentioned 360 times in the Bible.)
  3. Covetousness- (the one of the 10 Commandments impossible to keep)
  4. Maliciousness- (unusual cruelty)
  5. Envy- (unlawful desire of something or someone)
  6. Murder- (the only sin that can never be forgiven by the victim)
  7. Debate- (contention or strife)
  8. Deceit- (bait or snare)
  9. Malignity- (harbored hatred)
  10. Whisperers- (secret slander- “devil” means “to slander”
  11. Back Biters- (open slander)
  12. God haters.
  13. Despiteful- (insolence and insulting)
  14. Proud- (with a swagger)
  15. Boasters- (in word)
  16. Inventors of Evil- (torture and evil intentions)
  17. Disobedient to Parents- (The beginning of Anarchy)
  18. Without understanding- (Blindness of the heart and “darkened” Eph 4:18-19)
  19. Covenant breakers- (their word is worthless)
  20. Without natural affection- (without love)
  21. Implacable – (2 Tim. 3) (unforgiving, unsparing and unappeasable)
  22. Unmerciful

No one has an excuse. All are guilty before God.  As John said, man is “condemned already”, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) 

The Jury

            Conscience of man (1:19) – Conscience is a goad but not always a guide. The conscience must be educated and monitored by the Word of God.

“Because that which may be known of God is manifested in them; for God hath shown it unto them.” (Rom 1:19) God has inscribed certain things into our hearts. We know what is right and we know what is wrong. God has shown it unto us. That’s what the word manifested means. We have Intellect- we know whether an action is right or wrong.  We have Sensibility – what would I like to do about it?

We have a Conscience- what should I do about it? The question is what shape is your conscience in?

An evil conscience, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:22)

A defiled conscience, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15) – “guilty”

A weak conscience, ” Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” (1 Cor. 8) A bit immature- don’t have all the facts.

A good conscience, ” And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” (Acts 23:1) – This is what we want.

A seared conscience, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:2)  This is the worst.

What a devastating day it will be when God calls into the light all the hidden works of darkness. We all have guilty secrets, things we have done which we should not have done and things we didn’t do that we should have done. Those secrets will not be overlooked or forgotten by God.  One day it will all be exposed.  “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:16)

               The Will– what I am going to do about it.

The deeds of man- good deeds cannot save anyone. “Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6)

“But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment”. (Matt. 12:36)

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20: 11-15)

The Works of God. The invisible God is revealed through His creation and the Heavens declare the Glory of God. (Rom. 1:19-20

The Law of God. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves.” (Rom. 2: 12-14)

We have seen the charge, looked at the  defendants, the indictments and the jury.

Join me next time as we look at the defense and continue in

the Trial of the Ages.

God bless you all,

The Tubthumper.

Here Comes the Judge, Part 1

The Trial of the Ages.

Please allow me to set the stage here.  We are about to witness a major trial and we are in the Court House. Can you see the Jury in your mind and the two attorneys about to argue the case?

We are in the courthouse of Law.

We have a trial in progress.

We need to introduce the Court Reporter.  It’s the Apostle Paul.  He comes with good credentials.

Paul declared the righteousness of God in these passages and it’s really what the book of Romans is all about.

  1. God is Righteous!
  2. God demands Righteousness!
  3. God provides Righteousness!

There must be a basis of righteousness in order for sin to be forgiven. If a judge wants to totally dismiss the charges against a guilty person he can but that’s not righteous.  So God can’t simply tell you, “You are forgiven.”  Not without that righteous basis. FOR GOD IS RIGHTEOUS!

For your sins to be forgiven there must be that Righteous Basis. And where is that basis found?  It is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The sinner was sentenced to death (SINFUL MAN) and God established that righteous basis because Jesus Christ became the substitute.  He took your sin upon Himself and He died in your place.  It’s trading the righteous for the unrighteous. You are forgiven! He took your place!  He died for you!

The righteousness of God is revealed from FAITH TO FAITH. As it is written,

“THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Verse 17.

And then we also see the WRATH OF GOD… which we will look at during the trial.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)

Let’s look quick at the very first verse in the book of Romans:

“Paul, a bond slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1)

So he was a servant… a bondslave… Paul was not his own person after being called. WE ARE NOT OUR OWN PERSON- WE BELONG TO CHRIST- HE PURCHASED US.  We are debtors to everyone unsaved once we become a Saint and become separated unto the gospel.

He was called apostle.  He was DECLARED! HE WAS SENT FORTH! In order to be an Apostle you must have seen the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul saw Jesus at least 7 times that we know of.  And God called him directly. Keep in mind this is now 25 years after Paul first came to Christ.  And he said, “Who art thou, Lord, that I may serve thee?” 25 years later he is still saying I am a bondslave!  I am an Apostle. He made his calling and his election sure. We should do the same… whatever it is that God calls us to do we should do. Nothing more nothing less. Whether it’s to be a greeter or bass guitar player or a preacher.  Whatever it is just do it.

My birth was no accident— Your birth was no accident— God desires to work the good works through his servants. (Bondslaves) He separated us unto the Gospel to do for Him…

Do you know the will of God for your life?  I want you to know that 90% of determining the will of God is being willing to DO-IT.  So just do it.

Separated unto the Gospel of God. – We are first separated from our mother’s womb and then separated from sin and the world to Christ as Paul is explaining.

Paul let us know in the written word the Gospel is not new and it’s still not new. (IF IT’S NEW IT AINT TRUE)

Paul presented the message of the Gospel right up front as he began to share the court record. Christ is the center of the Gospel message and Paul introduces Christ in a threefold way.

  1. He is the REVEALED ONE, the one “Promised Afore” (v.2), for the Gospel of God has its roots deep into the Old Testament.
  2. He is the REIGNING ONE, He is “Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” (v.3) The New Testament opens and closes with Jesus referred to as the “Son of David.”
  3. He is the RESURRECTED ONE, the one “Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (v.4)

It is all about Christ’s Deity… Jesus was 100 % God, 100% Man, 100% of the time.   And Paul is making that clear.

Paul had complete confidence in the Gospel because of its sufficiency and its supremacy.  He wrote, “It is the power of God unto salvation.”

John Phillips in his commentary on Romans wrote, “The world does not need a better system of education, more social reform or new ideas in religion.  IT NEEDS THE GOSPEL! The Gospel message grips the mind, it stabs the conscience, it warms the heart, it saves the soul, and it sanctifies the life.  It can make drunken (or drugged) men sober, crooked men straight and profligate women pure. It is a message sufficient to transform the life of any who believe.”

“IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION “TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.”  Could anything be any simpler than that?  It is simple, trust in God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as your personal savior from sin. Simple as that!

The Just shall live by Faith.

The Gospel MUST be received by FAITH.

Habakkuk 2:4- The Just shall live by Faith.

Romans 1:17- The Just shall live by Faith.

Galations 3:11- The Just shall live by Faith.

Hebrews 10:38- The Just shall live by Faith.

THE COURT RECORD

Lets look at the COURT RECORD– First 3 Chapters of Romans.

If you look around, it’s even likely here within our group, there are two kinds of people throughout the world.

  • People that have been delivered from the Wrath of God because they have sought God’s righteousness.
  • Everyone else, whom the wrath of God abides upon.

Paul indicated that those that are called and delivered from the wrath of God are to be called Saints. (v.7) This is not some special class of people within the church, but it describes all that have trusted Christ as their savior.  It means, “One set apart for God.”

You are either a Saint or a Sinner. More appropriate is to say a sinning saint or just a sinner for no one is righteous, no not one.  I am a Saint, but… I am also a sinner.

J Vernon McGee used to say, “There are two kinds of People in the world, The Saints and The Aints” 

During this trial God’s righteousness will be revealed, but then God’s Wrath will also be revealed.  Throughout the New Testament we see both God’s Righteousness and God’s Wrath.

God’s Righteousness was/is revealed to man by Nature, Human Conscience and by Human History. There is no excuse for being unaware of God.

God’s Wrath was/is revealed by His Word, the Natural World, and by The Cross.

Paul lets us know that the bad news of human sin comes before the good news of salvation.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” (V. 18)

Paul said Gods wrath is revealed for three reasons: First it’s revealed because of human ungodliness, second because of human unrighteousness, and third because of human unbelief.

I think it important to give some clear definitions at this point:

Wrath of God: Please note God’s wrath is not due to Anger on His part, it is a reaction to unrighteousness. The wrath of God is His judgment regarding sin and is a standard that reveals His displeasure toward sin.

Ungodliness: Having the wrong attitude toward God and having spiritual failure.

Unrighteousness: The wrong conduct toward God and fellow man and moral failure.

Stay tuned for the “TRIAL OF THE AGES.”

 

Join me in the next post as we proceed on to the court record as the trial begins…

God bless you,

The Tubthumper

 

Guiness and Hearing Loss- Part 7 for your health

New Study Suggests Guinness May Stop Hearing Loss

by

Irish Around The World July 20, 2017

While this is not my material and I am simply repeating it here I thought it a good addition.  In the early posts about how and why Christians were consuming this beverage they did mention health reasons.  This article just came out and seems appropriate to save. If you imbibe in a Guiness or two once in a while you will appreciate the benefits you are getting.

New research indicates that drinking a pint of Guinness a day can actually prevent hearing loss.

We heard before that Guinness has many health benefits and how its high iron content might combat hearing loss.

The new research, published in the Journal of American Medicine indicates the benefits of Guinness. Previously, Guinness was given to patients in recovery, now the iron in the iconic Irish drink, is to prevent hearing loss.

The research at the Pennsylvania State University found that high level of iron in our bodies helps prevent hearing loss.

The research was conducted on over 300 000 patients and the results speak for themselves.

Over 30% of the worlds population is anemic, lacking iron and is on the way to hearing loss.

The researchers at Pennsylvania University found that the lack of this valuable mineral can cause damage to the cochlea, nerve pathways and cause problems with the middle ear bones.

The study also showed that Iron supplements do not help due to DNA damage to the blood vessels. This all clearly shows that Guinness can be the answer to this increasing problem.

Although I do not recommend getting drunk with Guinness or any other alcoholic beverage it might actually be good for us, as we get more iron this way. As the ole advertising slogan indicates ‘Guinness Is Good For You’, a pint a day can lead you to better hearing.

And I think a pint a day is ok.  But leave it at that.

Don’t forget, “everything in moderation.” As always , I wish you the best in the Lord.

 

The Tubthumper

 

 

 

The Sage: ZAKEN; The Fulfilled Man

“Delighted to be but wise, for men improve with the years.”  William Buttler Yeats

Well guys, this is the last stop on the “Masculine Journey”.  This last stage of life is ideally conceived in the scriptures and we will try our best to portray it here.  I think it’s appropriate and perfect that I’m writing this on Father’s Day.  I’ll ask forgiveness up front for the length of this one but assure you it’s a good read.

Zaken is a Hebrew word that literally means “Beard”.  The Zaken is the gray headed man.  The meaning is a time of being old or becoming old. Getting to the Zaken stage and title is the goal of manhood.

  • Today in our society men are burning out at alarming rates. We feel as though time is running out and we are not there yet.
  • Scriptures provide a much longer look at manhood than we do. At 40 we just kids, guys.
  • Moses wrote a song- to remember what God had done. “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.” (Deuteronomy 32:7) This is so when one generation is denying what God had done and the ability of God, they would bring in the elders; The elders will tell what really happened.
  • It’s about what was learned from life, not what was accomplished. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)  Your goal men, is to be gray headed and to pass great wisdom on to the next generation.

However, having gray or silver hair alone does not mean you are wise. “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” (Psalms 119:100)  “And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I [am] young, and ye [are] very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.” (Job 32: 6-9)  To become wise you must have the study of scriptures, faith in God,, trust in Christ and the obedience to the truth. You must be doing things while you are young to ensure that when you are old you have the wisdom through scriptural insight and obedience.

THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Respect and honor for the elder is rooted in the Ten Commandments, where God says, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

Please don’t miss the interesting concept here.  As we give respect to our older parents we ensure that we have greater longevity for ourselves. So, read between the lines men, if you do not want to live long go ahead and treat your parents with animosity.

“Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32)  In other words, stand up when your elder enters the room and have some respect. Do this because you have the fear of God in your heart. This isn’t an old wives tale from the south. It was part of the law of Israel.

“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22)

If these verses were obeyed, if people today heeded these instructions it would make our society so much better.  “This one section of biblical admonition could radically change our culture,” says Robert Hicks. It would change how parents are treated, how grandparents are treated and how seniors are dealt with and with no question, the change would be for the better.

ZAKEN: A Time of Fulfillment

Our society is looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places and all the wrong times. We constantly sacrifice the good of the present for the might-bes and wannabes of the future. We are rarely satisfied. Ultimately God must be the source of our satisfaction. Jesus said it, “Only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (which comes from God) will ever find it and be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)

We do not think about how we want to die.  We are going to die and this culture does not prepare for it. We are a death-denying culture.  People today do not want to come to grips with death.

From a biblical perspective the Zaken is the time of ultimate fulfillment.  It is the time to prepare for a natural death. A natural death with all business taken care of and with all relationships reconciled.

If you notice how most people die today they go to death cantankerous, bitter, demanding and regretful.  And this is not totally because of physical pain and discomfort.

Three conditions make the Zaken time less than fulfilling.

  1. No Zakens in the family. “Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all [the wealth] which [God] shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, [whom] I shall not cut off from mine altar, [shall be] to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.” (1 Samuel 2:30-34)  Eli died alone with no other family and no connections.
  2. Grieving the needless loss of life from unnatural causes. “Moreover, thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.” (1 Kings 2:5-6) This is reference to both needless killing and also death from accidental means.
  3. Suffering the loss of our own young. Our children should never precede us and when it happens it takes a major toll. It robs a man of the joy of old age.

The two things these three issues have in common are the loss of life and the loss of family connections. The number one commonality on people that live long lives is the ability to suffer loss and move on from it.

The key to fulfillment is RECONCILIATION, having our important relationships maintained. We should do our best to reconcile any relationships severed or harmed in earlier times.

Zaken: It is a Time of Significant Contribution

We should not be short sighted and in a hurry.  Life is not over at age 40, not at 50, not at 60, 70 or even 80.

The Zaken of Israel defended their region.  “And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon. And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head?0 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.” (Judges 11:5-11)

The Zaken defended their families and their cities. “And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying, Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour; Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand? And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.” (2 Kings 10:1-5)

The Zaken furnished counsel along with the priests and the prophets. “Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.” (Ezekiel 7:26) “Then said they, Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.” (Jeremiah 18:18)

Zaken is a Time for Mentoring

The concept of mentoring is coming back full-circle. All the major companies today are adopting mentoring concepts and relationships. Mentoring gives you a brain to pick, a shoulder to cry on and sometimes a good swift kick in the pants.  A mentor cares for a younger man in the totality of his life. A mentor helps the student to become successful in Life.  Not in accumulating things but successful in how to live.

There is a huge need for elderly (Zaken) mentors for young people today.

As a professor at the Dallas Seminary, Dr. Howard Hendricks always passed an anonymous paper to every one of his students. So here it is:

ADVICE TO A BORED YOUNG MAN

“Died age 20; buried age 60. The sad epitaph of too many Americans. Mummification sets in on too many young men at an age when they should be ripping the world wide open. For example: Many people reading this page are doing so with the aid of bifocals.  Inventor? B. Franklin, age 70. The presses that printed this page were powered by electricity.  One of the harnessors? B. Franklin, age 40.  Some are reading this on the campus of one of the Ivy League universities. Founder? B. Franklin, age 46.  Others in a Library. Who founded the first library in America? B. Franklin, age 25. Some got their copy through the U.S. Mail. Its father? B. Franklin, age 31.  Now think fire. Who started the first fire department, invented the first lightening rod, designed a heating stove still in use today? B. Franklin, age 31, 43, 36. Wit, Conversationalist, Economist, Philosopher, Diplomat, Favorite of the capitals of Europe.  Journalist, Printer, Publisher, Linguist, (spoke and wrote 5 languages).  Advocate of paratroopers (from balloon) a century before the airplane was invented. All this until age 84. And he had exactly two years of formal schooling. It’s a good bet that you already have more knowledge than Franklin ever had when he was your age. Perhaps you think there is no use trying to think of anything new, that everything’s been done. Wrong. The simple, agrarian America of Franklins day didn’t begin to need the answers we need today. Do something about it. Tear out his page and read it on your 84th birthday. Ask yourself what took over in your life, indolence or ingenuity!”

Zaken keeps connecting, keeps contributing and makes his reconciliations.

JESUS IS THE VOICE OF GOD!

Men, Jesus moves us from one stage to the next. Jesus is the only one that can empathize with us where we are. He can help us because he experienced the same stages. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Because Jesus is the second Adam he was very much human. He was tempted in every way.

He was a warrior.

He was a wounded male. See Luke 22:39 through Luke 23:25.

He was the mature man during the resurrection. Wise beyond His years. (And that is an understatement!)

He is our sage.

It is FAITH men, day by day, event by event, stage by stage, that gets us through to the other side. New expressions of FAITH EVERY DAY!

I hope you got as much out of this Masculine Journey as I did.

Many thanks to Robert Hicks and his book The Masculine Journey, Understanding the six stages of Manhood.

God bless you men.  “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

Until next time,

The Tubthumper

It Grieved Him at His Heart, Part 3

We have now come to the key chapter of Genesis that bears the burden of the subject at hand which is God being grieved at his heart for creating the wicked and degenerate people on the land.  We are talking about mostly every human alive in that time with a few exceptions.  I believe we are close to that again now.  The Lord will never use a flood to destroy the earth again, next time it is fire.

I must note for clarity that the earth populated very fast with descendants of Adam and Eve.  As you read the genealogy and see the lines of families produced from Adam and Eve you might have a major question. Why don’t we hear about these family lines and people? When reading Genesis there is evidence that enough offspring were generated from some key people to build entire cities.  The human race was exploding!  One thing to keep in mind is that the Lord allowed men to live long, long lives and procreate the world.  A man can make a lot of babies in 1,000 years. The population at the time of the flood was great as it is now.  The population was high.

For some examples, we have just learned of Enoch in the last post.  Enoch’s father Jared lived 962 years. He fathered Enoch at the age of 162 and the Bible says he went on and begat sons and daughters for another 800 years. Enoch was taken up by God at age 365 but beforehand he begat sons and daughters one of which was Methuselah.  Methuselah lived 969 years and begat sons and daughters. An important fact is that Methuselah was the father of Lamech who was the father of Noah. Lamech lived 777 years and again this man fathered many sons and daughters.

The point I need to make here is the Bible will focus on the line that leads to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  All other lines are unimportant to the story.  Pay attention to Noah and his 3 sons he had at around 500 years of age.  Shem, Ham and Japheth.  If you are reading this you are a descendent of Noah and one of his three sons.

We are now in Chapter 6 of Genesis and up to Chapter 9 we will have a drastic change in the way God treats mankind.  He allowed these men to live over 900 years but during that time they became too wicked.  Mankind had broken every single command the Lord gave except the command to procreate the world. They kept that command well. God will severely limit how many years a man can live going forward. I won’t address the Sons of God and daughters of men here because there is a special post on that subject you can go to. Please do … you can click the link at bottom of this page.  In short there was an outpouring of Satanic activity. One thing I will mention about the Sons of God and Daughters of men is that mixed marriages occurred that went against the will of God. Believers were yoked with unbelievers.  All of humanity was depraved and wickedness in both word and deed was universal and unparalleled. We have a full account of the worlds degeneracy, it’s apostacy from God and the rebellion against Him. Back in Chapter one and verse 28 mankind had a blessing. (Be fruitful and multiply.) What has happened is man’s corruption abused and perverted the blessing to the point of a curse and the sin that God forgave became more exceedingly sinful. It says in Proverbs 29:16, “When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth.” The more sinners there are the more sin increases and the multitude of offenders emboldens men.

And that brings us to the key verse which is verse six of chapter six.  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:5-8)

And then… woe to mankind… All humans and life except Noah and his family and what they were commanded to save in the Ark.

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.” (Genesis 7:4)

“Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.  And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:  All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.  And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.  And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” (Genesis 7:20-24)

And so, at one time God saw that all was good, but now there was a change, a repentance, because it grieved God at his heart. He no longer saw it as good.  Can you feel his grief?  How terrible a situation where the evil became so bad that God had to wipe all life from the face of the earth and change the lifespan of man along with other things.  It grieved him at His heart. Oh my…

Noah lived to age 950. And then we have a period called “The confusion of all things”, and the “Origin of Nations.”

Men unified to honor themselves and all spoke the same language.  They built a huge city to keep together which was a breaking of God’s command to fill the earth. God separated them for their disobedience. He punished this evil attempt and separated mankind into small ethnic groups by confusing their universal language into many different dialects.

So now we have the origin of nations. The nations were all formed from the descendants of Noah’s three sons.

The first nation was the descendants of Japheth and would be Gomer (Germany), Magog, Tubal, and Mechech (Russia), Madai (Persia), Javan (Greece), Tiras (Italy), Togarmah (Armenia), Tarshish (Spain) and Kittim (Cyprus).  Can you identify a land you are from?

The second nation was from the descendants of Ham and would be Cush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (Egypt), Phut (Africa), Canaan (the Canaanites of Palestine), Nimrod (Babylon and Assyria), Sidon (Phoenicia), Heth (Hittites), Jebus (the Jebusites, the occupants of Jerusalem before King David’s reign), Philistim (the Philistines) and Sin (Possibly the Asian people of China, Japan, India, etc.).

The last nation was made from the descendants of Shem and were through the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: the nation of Israel. And through the Abraham, Ishmael and Esau: the Arabic countries of the Middle East.

I will end with a writing from the Anthropologist Arthur Custance, “And thus we conclude that from the family of Noah have sprung all the peoples of the world, prehistoric and historic.  The events described in Genesis 6 to 10 and particularly the prophetic statements of Noah himself in Genesis 9:25-28 with respect to the future of his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together combine to provide us with the most reasonable account of the early history of mankind, a history which , rightly understood, does not at all require us to believe that modern man began with the stature of an ape and only reached a civilized state after a long, long, evolutionary history, but made a fresh start as a single family who carried with them into an unpeopled earth the accumulated  heritage of the pre-flood world.”

And so there you have it. So many times, God said it was good and it was, until the will of man and sin entered the picture.  And it got so bad that God repented and it grieved Him at his heart. And then His wrath prevailed with the culmination of the great flood and the making of the nations of the future.  All in the master plan.  When I read this section it just tugs at my heart as a father.  Can you imagine the huge family you have created becoming so evil you had to kill them all?  Well, we cannot think like God thinks because we are human and he is the Almighty.  I know what the death of a dream is and I know the love a father has for his children.  All we can do is think like humans so it tugs at my heart.  I hope you received something from these posts.

Click here to visit the Sons of God and Daughters of Men post.

God bless you,

The Tubthumper