Monday, May 25, 2009
Ancient Landmarks Bible Conference
What a blessing! I spent the weekend in Lyons,GA at the Landmark Baptist Church with their pastor Paul Jackson. The theme of the conference was "Our duty to our Lord and His church". What a challenging weekend. How wonderfully the Spirit of God teaches and blesses us that I could hear a weekend of my failures and shortcomings, time of repentance, and be so blessed by the preaching. The preaching was powerful, the fellowship was sweet. I pray that what I heard, I will apply.
Monday, May 18, 2009
A. W. Pink on the God's erring saints.
It is not only from acting according to His own imperial right that God withdraws from His people the vitalizing and comforting influences of His Spirit. He does so also that He may give them a better knowledge of themselves and teach them more fully their entire dependency upon Himself. By so acting God gives His children to discover for themselves the strength of their corruptions and the weakness of their grace. Though saved from the love, guilt, and dominion of sin, they have not yet been delivered from its power or presence. Though a holy and spiritual nature has been communicated to them, yet that nature is hut a creature—weak and dependent—and can only be sustained by its Author. That new nature has no inherent strength or power of its own: it only acts as it is acted upon by the Holy Spirit. "In the Lord have I righteousness and strength" (Isa. 45:21): every believer is convinced of the former, but usually it is only after many a humiliating experience that he learns his strength is not in himself but in the Lord
It is rather in a way of chastisement that, in the great majority of instances, God withholds from His people the gracious operations of the Spirit; and that brings us to the human side of things, wherein our responsibility is involved. Ii the saint becomes lax in his use of the appointed means of grace—which are so many channels through which the influences of the Spirit customarily flow—then he will necessarily be the loser and the fault is entirely his own. Or if the Christian trifles with temptations and experiences a sad fall, then the Spirit is grieved and His comforting operations are withheld as a solemn rebuke. Though God still loves his person; He will let him know that He hates his sins, and though He will not deal with him as an incensed Judge, yet He will discipline him as an offended Father; and it may be long before he is again restored to the freedom and familiarity that he formerly enjoyed with Him. (See Isa. 59:2; Jer. 5:25; Hag. 1:9, 10.)
Though God draws not His sword against His erring saints, yet He uses the rod upon them. "If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments, if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments, then will I visit transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips" (Ps. 89:30-34). Then it is our wisdom to "hear the rod" (Micah 6:9), to humble ourselves beneath His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6) and forsake our folly (Ps. 85:8). If we do not duly repent and amend our ways, still heavier chastisements will be our portion; but "if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). When the Spirit’s influences are withheld from the Christian, it is always the safest course for him to conclude he has displeased the Lord and to cry "Show me wherefore thou contendest with me" (Job 10:2).
It is rather in a way of chastisement that, in the great majority of instances, God withholds from His people the gracious operations of the Spirit; and that brings us to the human side of things, wherein our responsibility is involved. Ii the saint becomes lax in his use of the appointed means of grace—which are so many channels through which the influences of the Spirit customarily flow—then he will necessarily be the loser and the fault is entirely his own. Or if the Christian trifles with temptations and experiences a sad fall, then the Spirit is grieved and His comforting operations are withheld as a solemn rebuke. Though God still loves his person; He will let him know that He hates his sins, and though He will not deal with him as an incensed Judge, yet He will discipline him as an offended Father; and it may be long before he is again restored to the freedom and familiarity that he formerly enjoyed with Him. (See Isa. 59:2; Jer. 5:25; Hag. 1:9, 10.)
Though God draws not His sword against His erring saints, yet He uses the rod upon them. "If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments, if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments, then will I visit transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips" (Ps. 89:30-34). Then it is our wisdom to "hear the rod" (Micah 6:9), to humble ourselves beneath His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6) and forsake our folly (Ps. 85:8). If we do not duly repent and amend our ways, still heavier chastisements will be our portion; but "if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). When the Spirit’s influences are withheld from the Christian, it is always the safest course for him to conclude he has displeased the Lord and to cry "Show me wherefore thou contendest with me" (Job 10:2).
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Honorable Marriage: The Exciting Conclusion!
God will not allow homosexuals to inherit the kingdom of God, but proponents of gay marriage will have us believe God will sanction their marriage? I Cor 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. God can and has saved sinners from this life, it is not, after all, the unpardonable sin as verse 11 makes abundantly clear And such were [past tense] some of you [members of the church in Corinth]: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. God delivered some from this sinful activity; He did not wink at it nor condone, nor allow marriage. Marriage could not be between two persons of the same sex because marriage is honorable, and homosexuality is an abomination.
Need we even bring up the question of taxes and hospitalization? This logical fallacy is used to appeal to pity rather than the facts and merits of the case. In a land where people can leave millions of dollars to their pet, I know it is not a problem to create a living will for the case of hospitalization if that is a great concern. As for taxes, the United States government recognizes the benefits and blessings of the family, and gives tax benefits to the building blocks of a decent and well functioning citizenry, the family. Again, any benefits that come with marriage are applicable for all who will desire to unite in matrimony, the union of a man and woman for life, but is that any reason to get married, a tax break?
Homosexual marriage will not destroy marriage because it is still God's institution. No matter how man may try to pervert it, marriage will not be destroyed by homosexual advocates. My marriage will not be changed one way or the other by what others do, or what the government may say. It does, however change what people think about marriage, and how matrimony and the family will be viewed by future generations. The continual praise of ungodly and satanic policies by our leaders and from the media will and has begun to change the hearts and minds of the American people. With pulpit profiteers in so-called churches, ignoring or condoning the practice of gay marriage as not to upset the apple cart of book sales, we have, even in professing Christianity some who do not see anything wrong with gay marriage. God help us to stand strong and may God forgive the United States of America.
Need we even bring up the question of taxes and hospitalization? This logical fallacy is used to appeal to pity rather than the facts and merits of the case. In a land where people can leave millions of dollars to their pet, I know it is not a problem to create a living will for the case of hospitalization if that is a great concern. As for taxes, the United States government recognizes the benefits and blessings of the family, and gives tax benefits to the building blocks of a decent and well functioning citizenry, the family. Again, any benefits that come with marriage are applicable for all who will desire to unite in matrimony, the union of a man and woman for life, but is that any reason to get married, a tax break?
Homosexual marriage will not destroy marriage because it is still God's institution. No matter how man may try to pervert it, marriage will not be destroyed by homosexual advocates. My marriage will not be changed one way or the other by what others do, or what the government may say. It does, however change what people think about marriage, and how matrimony and the family will be viewed by future generations. The continual praise of ungodly and satanic policies by our leaders and from the media will and has begun to change the hearts and minds of the American people. With pulpit profiteers in so-called churches, ignoring or condoning the practice of gay marriage as not to upset the apple cart of book sales, we have, even in professing Christianity some who do not see anything wrong with gay marriage. God help us to stand strong and may God forgive the United States of America.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Honorable Marriage (PART 5)
Usually following suite is the excuse that they were born that way, and they can't help it, and simply desire to have what everyone else has. Does that logic prove that homosexuality is acceptable behavior? We are all born sinners, and all have a natural yearning and desire to sin against God. Our minds are enmity against God, yet we are still responsible to God for our actions. A natural proclivity to covetousness doesn't excuse coveting. That sin, like all other sin, must be fled, not fed. Giving in to sin will never make it right. That is only blaming God for their sins and proves the need of a Saviour. All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men says the Lord Jesus, and this sin is no different. What is needed is repentance, turning form sin and trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, believing in the Lamb of God, who taketh away sin, rather than excusing and diving deeper into lusts on the broad way that leads to destruction.
The ever popular “you’re a Christian, you’re not supposed to judge me” line attempts to disqualify you from even discussing the issue, that we are somehow supposed to remain silent and put our stamp of approval on all activity in the name of Christian charity. In some cases, liberal pundits will attempt to say that Jesus would have approved gay marriage. We found in our text a condition but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. The fornicator and adulterers or those that commit sexual sin, God will judge. Yes, we as Christians can and should judge and discern what is right and wrong according to God’s word. The idea that truth is relative to the situation or the individual is not a biblical worldview. Given that God instituted marriage and since marriage is good, and has been clearly defined by the founder Himself, any and all sexual activity apart from the marriage bed is sinful and immoral. God said that homosexuality sinful, thus we can rightly and boldly declare that it is sinful behavior. Indeed, it is, for some, a behavior that they feel is natural, but only because the sinfulness of their hearts. 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, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into 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 working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:21-27) Homosexuality is not a natural or normal, but a curse and plague for idolatry. God doesn’t not condone, nor bless, and certainly does not bless the union of unnatural lusts and vile affections. God gave the people in Romans one over to the lusts of their own heart, and this feeling they had, this love or lust they shared was to the dishonor of their own bodies. Notice in I Timothy 1:10 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. Homosexuals are contrary to sound doctrine. God says that marriage is honorable, and that homosexuals defile themselves. Marriage is a picture of Christ’s love for His church, and homosexuality is classified with murders of mom’s and dad’s. It is a sinful, unholy and profane activity, and in no wise sanctioned in marriage. Jesus did not, does not, nor will not condone or make way for gay marriage because it is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Some liberal ‘theologians’ will say that is OT, and no longer applies to us today, but we live in grace and mercy. An abomination is something that God hates and whether Old Testament or New, He will always hate it, always. Study the Old Testaments use of the word abomination. I’ll give two examples of the usage, first in Leviticus 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you. Next Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Some things God said were an abomination to Him, others were to be an abomination to Israel, thus Peter’s reaction to eating unclean animals, it was an abomination unto him, not God, so that how we can live now without the restrictive dietary laws of the Old Testament, had they been an abomination to God, He would still not allow that diet. What is an abomination to God today, was an abomination 5,000 years ago. God is clear, in His word, concerning sexual activity, and the bounds of marriage. The seventh commandment condemns gay marriage. I believe that GD Boardman well said “It is the divine Lawgiver’s ordinance, guarding the chastity of marriage, the sanctity of home, the blessedness of the household, the preservation of society, the up building of mankind.”
The ever popular “you’re a Christian, you’re not supposed to judge me” line attempts to disqualify you from even discussing the issue, that we are somehow supposed to remain silent and put our stamp of approval on all activity in the name of Christian charity. In some cases, liberal pundits will attempt to say that Jesus would have approved gay marriage. We found in our text a condition but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. The fornicator and adulterers or those that commit sexual sin, God will judge. Yes, we as Christians can and should judge and discern what is right and wrong according to God’s word. The idea that truth is relative to the situation or the individual is not a biblical worldview. Given that God instituted marriage and since marriage is good, and has been clearly defined by the founder Himself, any and all sexual activity apart from the marriage bed is sinful and immoral. God said that homosexuality sinful, thus we can rightly and boldly declare that it is sinful behavior. Indeed, it is, for some, a behavior that they feel is natural, but only because the sinfulness of their hearts. 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, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into 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 working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:21-27) Homosexuality is not a natural or normal, but a curse and plague for idolatry. God doesn’t not condone, nor bless, and certainly does not bless the union of unnatural lusts and vile affections. God gave the people in Romans one over to the lusts of their own heart, and this feeling they had, this love or lust they shared was to the dishonor of their own bodies. Notice in I Timothy 1:10 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. Homosexuals are contrary to sound doctrine. God says that marriage is honorable, and that homosexuals defile themselves. Marriage is a picture of Christ’s love for His church, and homosexuality is classified with murders of mom’s and dad’s. It is a sinful, unholy and profane activity, and in no wise sanctioned in marriage. Jesus did not, does not, nor will not condone or make way for gay marriage because it is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Some liberal ‘theologians’ will say that is OT, and no longer applies to us today, but we live in grace and mercy. An abomination is something that God hates and whether Old Testament or New, He will always hate it, always. Study the Old Testaments use of the word abomination. I’ll give two examples of the usage, first in Leviticus 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you. Next Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Some things God said were an abomination to Him, others were to be an abomination to Israel, thus Peter’s reaction to eating unclean animals, it was an abomination unto him, not God, so that how we can live now without the restrictive dietary laws of the Old Testament, had they been an abomination to God, He would still not allow that diet. What is an abomination to God today, was an abomination 5,000 years ago. God is clear, in His word, concerning sexual activity, and the bounds of marriage. The seventh commandment condemns gay marriage. I believe that GD Boardman well said “It is the divine Lawgiver’s ordinance, guarding the chastity of marriage, the sanctity of home, the blessedness of the household, the preservation of society, the up building of mankind.”
Monday, May 4, 2009
Honorable Marriage (PART 4)
An argument that is often brought up by the liberals who push for gay marriage is that it is a civil rights issue, but marriage is a moral issue, not a civil issue. Indeed, marriage is recognized by the government, and sanctioned by the government, but not created and maintained by the government. Marriage predated the US constitution, and the bounds of matrimony are not decided by mortal lawmakers, but the Supreme Lawgiver. Since God is the founder of marriage, and God commanded that marriage not be put asunder, and God clearly defined marriage for all of humanity, no group of people have the authority to change what God has put together. Man has no more ability or right to change the definition of marriage than he has to change the definition of church, or change God's word. You may say "that is discrimination!", and you would be correct. That is discrimination, but what is wrong with discernment? To discriminate means to make a difference, to distinguish, to treat differently, and again, what is wrong with that when it comes to gay marriage? We must distinguish between right and wrong, we should treat two men, who falsely claim to unite in marriage, differently than a man and a woman. It is wrong to treat someone poorly because of the way they look, or the way they speak, but we must discriminate between right and wrong. God clearly discriminates between who can and can't be married. I do not discriminate against people getting married, every person in the world can get married, as God defined marriage. The suggestion that gay marriage can be related to racism and civil rights issue is absurd. The homosexual can get married, if they repent of their sins and find a spouse of the opposite sex. How can speaking out and taking a stand against immorality be immoral? How can standing against immoral behavior be a moral crime? They say that this issue is, for our time, what slavery was over a century ago, and that just because marriage always has been, in the past, between a man and a woman, doesn’t make it right. They use the example of the centuries of slavery, and simply because there always was slavery, did not make it right. But time never changes the truth. What was true 1,000 years ago is true today. Slavery that existed 200 years ago, when a man was taken from his home by menstealers and forced to labor against his will was morally wrong, as the slave had no choice in the matter, he was stolen. Homosexual marriage is a conscience choice to sin against the God of creation, and gay marriage is an attempt to and change an existing institutions boundaries that they have no right nor authority to change, which is also morally wrong.
Another argument is given by homosexual marriage proponents is love. "Here are two people who love each other, and want to become married, what is wrong with that, they aren't hurting anyone, and they love each other", or they say "two people in a committed relationship, desire to make a lifelong commitment, why won't you allow that?” or something along those lines. “Two people who love each other, and want nothing but to express their love just like you did, what is wrong with that?” Well, what is our answer? What do we say to people who say they love someone and want to get married? Does the love for a particular sin ever make it right? A love for a particular evil never excuses the practice. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and thus not a very good gauge for right and wrong. Morality based solely on feelings springs from a desperately wicked, every fickle source. Some people love to be drunk, does that excuse that behavior? Not only do they love to be drunk, but if it were possible, they would live drunk, and forever shun sobriety. They love to talk about strong drink, love the taste, love how it makes them feel. Every fiber of their being enjoys the sin of drunkenness, but does that make it right? Science tells us that some people inherited the propensity of alcoholism, and within their DNA resides a natural longing for drunkenness, but does that excuse the behavior? Some people love to murder, some love to steal. Some love to commit adultery, does their love for those crimes excuse them? Of course it doesn't, and neither will love for any other sin excuse the execution of that sin.
Another argument is given by homosexual marriage proponents is love. "Here are two people who love each other, and want to become married, what is wrong with that, they aren't hurting anyone, and they love each other", or they say "two people in a committed relationship, desire to make a lifelong commitment, why won't you allow that?” or something along those lines. “Two people who love each other, and want nothing but to express their love just like you did, what is wrong with that?” Well, what is our answer? What do we say to people who say they love someone and want to get married? Does the love for a particular sin ever make it right? A love for a particular evil never excuses the practice. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and thus not a very good gauge for right and wrong. Morality based solely on feelings springs from a desperately wicked, every fickle source. Some people love to be drunk, does that excuse that behavior? Not only do they love to be drunk, but if it were possible, they would live drunk, and forever shun sobriety. They love to talk about strong drink, love the taste, love how it makes them feel. Every fiber of their being enjoys the sin of drunkenness, but does that make it right? Science tells us that some people inherited the propensity of alcoholism, and within their DNA resides a natural longing for drunkenness, but does that excuse the behavior? Some people love to murder, some love to steal. Some love to commit adultery, does their love for those crimes excuse them? Of course it doesn't, and neither will love for any other sin excuse the execution of that sin.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Honorable Marriage (PART 3) The Misnomer
First of all, "gay" marriage is a misnomer. Two men can't marry each other, it is impossible. They could go to the court house, say vows, and with all the power vested in every jot and title of the constitution of any state of Union, combined with all the power vested in the United States constitution, pooled with all the power of every elected politician, and every unelected judge behind the bench, all of this power and authority cannot make two men be married. Two women can send out invitations, rent a hall, and hire musicians to play Paschel’s “Cannon in D” as they walk the isle, there could be vows and smiles, rings and tears, nevertheless, at their receptions, they would not be married, because they CANNOT be married. God's purpose for His institution was from the beginning, and always will be, the union of man and woman. That is marriage, and man and woman are the only two parties that can be married. From the beginning God made them male and female, for the purpose of marriage. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:6-9) Nothing can be so clear. Whatever union they believe to have, they are not married because they do not meet the qualifications of two persons desiring matrimony (Matrimony - Marriage; wedlock; the union of man and woman for life; the nuptial state. Webster’s). We must never let ourselves be framed in their debate, but remain strong in our biblical worldview. Once we give way, just an inch, to the possibility that homosexuals could be married, we have already started down the wrong path. Plain and simple, no two men ever have, nor ever will marry.
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