To meet the King

    There is an appointed time in the lives of all humanity when each one of us will come face to face with the creator. This is the most important meeting in all of time; this is when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord. This lord is the one in who the very fabric of time bows down and the molecules of all flesh trembles. The sun, moon and stars never cease to obey Him; he is the author of life. This is where we get the concepts of glory, honor and justice. On that great and fearful day; everyone will be giving this King of Kings the greatest gifts they are able. One by one they will be pouring them out at His feet in reverent per-session.

    But wait there is a section of this great crowd with nothing in their hand to give. They have arrived at this "the grandest of all events" having consumed their lives with a depraved self-serving existence. Woe to you who on this day of honor and glory have nothing to give.

    So what are the gifts that are given? Are they Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh? No - While these gifts have the aroma of Frankincense the value of gold and the healing properties of Myrrh; it is none of the above.

    What we are talking about is what the savior was born in a manger for. The Lamb of God was born in the humblest of circumstances. He fully deserved the worship of all creation; He suffered himself to have none. The Lord of the universe was born to live humbly and die with great despair; to take the place in judgment for self-serving deceitful men. At the throne of judgment you will either be required to pay your own sin debt or it will have been paid by another. Here superstitious religious conjecture will amount to nothing. Here you will either have nothing to give or you will present your sanctified heart to him. What is that you may ask? When someone comes to Christ in this life and God confirms that total surrender by sealing you with the Holy Spirit; the journey begins. For at the cross of Christ; it's not merely a fire insurance policy or a ticket to heaven that was purchased by the God of all glory. He was born to purchase from among men any who would seek Him and be saved from the sinfulness of their hearts; from that which wages war against things pure, just and lovely.

    All men are born in sin yet salvation means being freed from that bondage to sin. Sanctification simply means going to war against the passions of the flesh and pursuing a selfless and self-controlled life; that is the unshakable foundation of liberty. Then at the end of your life when you stand on that day you will present to Him what he gave to you; the priceless treasure of a sanctified heart.

    So confess your sins to Christ and receive from Him the eternal gift that you will carry all the way to His throne.

Angels

    Angels are heavenly beings of strength, power, and an overwhelming force beyond our understanding. Beauty and glory are in their wings – these beautiful creations of God are undone and are compelled to glorify God in heaven; which is well pleasing to all of creation.

Luke 2:

    13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Selfishness

    Selfishness is a terrible wicked beast. Who if it

sees a glimpse of unrestraint from its proper cage

leaps forth devouring your life and family. When you

feed this beast it grows wilder and stronger so that its

former restraints will no longer hold. The only clear

answer is to put this beast to death. Though it be a

gruesome battle and you perhaps may suffer injury.

The only path to peace runs through this cage and

over the grave of this beast.

    Say no to the subtle desires of your heart and yes

to the tremendous beauty of your children.

Dear Son,

                                     

 

    As you grow and learn in our home, I'm sure you have noticed that your parents struggle and sometimes fail to live right before God. Some of this you know and some you don't notice. The choice is yours as you move forward in life. How will you respond to these facts? As you grow in Christ you will become aware of truths that I either don't know or am unwilling to act on. Please continue in a forgiving Spirit, considering yourself. Our desire is to be a support and blessing to you as you lead your family in Christ. When you realize our imperfections small and great, please don't allow pride a foothold in your heart. You don't know it but pride and unforgiveness are family traditions. They have caused us to wonder through history being part of the problem and not the solution. If we are going to fight the systems of Satan and replace them with the systems of Christ. Then we must get our relationships right one generation to the next. So that the strengths of one generation blesses the others. While the weaknesses of each generation are learned from and quickly forgiven.

            In Christ Dad

Reformation

In Sanquhar, more than one protestation was publicly made by rebels, but the reading of the Declaration at the market-cross in 1680 was the greatest in historic interest, as being the first scene in the drama of the revolution in which the reign of the Stuarts was brought to an end. Twenty men raised the standard of rebellion and threw off allegiance to the king. Twenty men, out of a whole nation, with the forces of the crown to crush them, may appear ridiculous to the cynic smiling at the excesses of political zeal or laughing at the vagaries of religious bigotry. These men were traitors and rebels; but to what cause and to what person? They were traitors against organized tyranny that styled itself the Government of Scotland, rebels against the king in whose name they had been persecuted for abiding that freedom which he had solemnly sworn to preserve.

The scene at Sanquhar was the work of Richard Cameron. His action was rash, if a deed be rash when a man must die for it. Not many were joined with him in it. The Covenanters were all but crushed under the weight of despotism; and there were few with strength and courage to resist. Yet twenty men in Scotland in 1680 threw off Charles Stuart, as the kingdoms threw off James Stuart [James II.] in the year of the Revolution [1688]

The Reformation is simply symbolized in a few short sound bites;

1. Sola Sciptura      =Scripture alone- is the foundation of truth
   
2. Sola Christus     =Christ Alone- there is no other way to be saved
   
3. Sola Gratia     =Grace alone- salvation is an unearned gift.
   
4. Sola Fide         =Faith Alone- justification is received by faith only.
   
5. Soli De Gloria     =The Glory of God alone- all glory is to God alone.
   

 

1. Ecclesia Semper Reformanda = The Church is always reforming
   

This is where we find ourselves today if we are building on what these faithful servants of Christ have laid before us. As we go fourth generationally, the traditions we pass on are in themselves not the object of attaining righteousness but mere signs pointing to Christ. There are things we are just starting that have been long forgotten and we don't know where the heart of God will lead. I believe we are seeing the change we read about in Malachi 4:6

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

    The ramifications of this are unknown but we should let this fill us with faith and hope.

As we serve Christ right where we are for His glory the world is being changed. When you reach out with the gospel message the world is being changed. When you send out your arrows and they touch others in the name of Christ the world is being changed. Everyone with the spirit of God in them is a world changer, that's what we are here for, to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are to bless the needy and protect the helpless from tyranny. The tyrants vanquished today will not enslave others tomorrow. Reformation is not just church history it is world history. It is the people of God making things "on earth as it is in heaven".

    If you remember this reformation as a church holiday, then you have missed the mark. This reformation is what brought us the liberties we hold dear and because of their great sacrifice we now have hope for the future. We have family, church and civil reformation. When we look upon this creation it all should cry out Glory to God in highest!

 

 

I pray that our posterity is not punished for ours sins and apathy, but that the world would be blessed by our sacrifice.

 

In spite of certain death, a bleeding remnant of 200 Scottish Covenanters at Blackgannoch Moss in May 1685, loudly proclaimed their fervent declaration of faith:

 

"LET KING JESUS REIGN, AND ALL HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED!"

Pietistic Life w/stone Heart

    When a Parent is deceived by a pietistic view of Life it is dangerous for their children. The parents themselves become a self-righteous servant of empty religion. They are also unable to extend a hand to the very children they love. A self righteous servant of empty religion sets up pharisaical parameters by which they live and judge themselves good. "There is none good" These are not necessarily biblical but always religiously self aggrandizing. We know that this is an empty shell because God has said that "all have sinned" and we have a heart for sin "slaves to sin". So it was necessary for Christ to come and "is our righteousness", because we have none and are incapable of it.

    So how does this affect our children? For example let's talk about lying. We are all liars, we have wicked self justifying hearts who serve only themselves. When our children lie we should discipline but we cannot hold up an unattainable standard by which our children will be degredated and will not be able to attain it. We are all liars and Christ made us love the Truth. It is not we ourselves! If our children don't see us at the cross confessing this they may adopt our religious practice of pseudo truth and get a heart for truth. Their hearts won't learn to love the truth which is Jesus Christ.

    When your child sins confess your sins with them while you pray together, tell them how the Lord Jesus Christ gave you a new heart. He is the one who made you love what is true because you love Him! That on your own you were a lost retched liar who deceived yourself into believing you were good. All the while protecting and hiding your sin. When the Way the Truth and the Life came in, your heart became flesh and those same sins became repulsive to you. Tell them without the Cross of Christ all their good deeds will be an offense to God because he supplied the Way and He is the Truth and in Him is Life! If somehow they are able not to lie, they may have a better life but they will still miss the mark, heaven is for lovers of the Truth and judgment for the self righteous.

    Glory to God in the highest, this indeed is good news.

Seeds

We are like seeds blown throughout the creation. In rebellion to God we've turned to weeds. Being noxious and troublesome, affording dishonor and confusion it is mercy that we are not destroyed.

In the masters hand it is quite another story. We are changed in the very essence of our soul, to become useful. When Gods direction is paramount its then that we are planted in ordered rows; we become a bountiful plain as for as the eye can see. We then have purpose –productivity –power –passion. That's Dominion.

Mark 12: 35-44

I'd like to introduce you to a man who lived just west of Edinburgh in the mid 1600s. His name is Reverend William Guthrie of Fenwick. William Guthrie, one of the holiest and ablest of the experimental divines of Scotland, was born at Pitforthy, the seat of his ancestors, in the shire of Angus, in the year 1620. The branch of the house of Guthrie from which he sprang was ancient and honorable. This was a tumultuous time full of intrigue; this spelled success and disaster for the Kirk of Scotland. In the end you must agree that the will of the Lord was done and we simply did our part as the Lord God marches through history. And when the time of the Covenanters arose he made himself heard.  

Mark 12: 35-44

It's still Tuesday of holy week, just 3 days before the cross; and the last time Jesus will teach in the Temple. Let us see what God wants us to learn.

1. 
   
   
   Jesus: Messiahship -Mark 12:35-37---Christ is not the messiah the Jews expected He is much larger than they could imagine. They expected a temporal king coming with political and religious justice for them.
   
   1. 
      
      
      At the right hand of God
      
      1. Prophesy- Psalm 110:1 –a prophesy about the messiah
         
      2. 
         
         
         Present-
         
         1. Romans 8:34 – at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Position of power
            
         2. Revelations 3:14 -These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
            
         3. Colossians 1:15-20 -Preeminent
            
      3. Future- Philippians 2:9-10 Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is lord
         

Christ actually was bringing them the gift of forgiveness for sin and to free them from the bondage thereof. Romans 6 – so we could be slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

            Why?

1. 
   
   
   He has given us a cohesive message throughout all time
   
   1. The dominion mandate -Genesis 1:28
      
   2. The Lord's prayer –Matthew 6:9-13
      
   3. The great commission –Mathew 28:19
      

These three stand like pillars of fire showing us the way we should go.

  

Joshua said –Numbers 32:23 "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out"

1. Scribes: Mark 12:38-39 Represent an addiction to man centeredness. Making an outward show with no heart relationship to the Lord of all. We have all seen people like these scribes; they live for the recognition and appreciation of men.
   

1. 
   
   
   idolatry-  Idolatry originally meant the worship of idols, or the worship of false gods by means of idols, but came to mean among the Old Testament Hebrews any worship of false gods, whether by images or otherwise, and finally the worship of Yahweh through visible symbols (Hosea 8:5, 6; Hosea 10:5); and ultimately in the New Testament idolatry came to mean, not only the giving to any creature or human creation the honor or devotion which belonged to God alone, but the giving to any human desire a precedence over God's will (1 Corinthians 10:14 Galatians 5:20 Colossians 3:5 1 Peter 4:3). Standard Bible Encyclopedia
   
   
   
   1. It captures your affections Colossians 3:7 sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry
      
   2. 
      
      
      It demands your service Romans 3:13-18 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."
      
      1. Idolatry is so dangerous because you are controlled by them. Because your thoughts are all about them; they will affect your mood, countenance, attitudes and desires.
         
   3. 
      
      
      It demands your sacrifice. You can spend your life serving false standards. Suicide for instance has this consistent nagging undertone of being so self consumed that you actually take your own life.
      
      1. LPD call " I just want to die" a report came in on the police radio of a lady who had come to the end of herself and her idols would not satisfy, the only alternative in her mind was death.
         
      
      
      

1. 
   
   
   Widow: Mark 12:40-44 - a picture of the path of victory in Christ
   
   1. 
      
      
      The world measures everything outwardly
      
      1. Those who give the most are best
         
      2. The fastest runner is best –physical performance
         
      3. He who has the most children is most godly
         

1. 
   
   
   You give what God has given you
   
   1. God looks on the inside. His perspective is different than ours.
      
   2. We are called to faithfulness
      
   3. 
      
      
      You pour yourself out like a drink offering –that is faithfulness to God
      
      1. When is the drink offering done? 2Timothy 4:6 When it is empty
         
      2. 
         
         
         2 Corinthians 10:12  "Those who compare themselves by themselves are not wise"
         
         1. Our hearts are given to idolatry and we being proud of heart look around and feeling inadequate don't stand up and serve.
            

1. 
   
   
   There is an eternal blood feud between dominion and idolatry. Christ has just laid out who He is and the antithesis between the narrow and broad path.
   
   1. 
      
      
      Dominion is not just something you do; it is the way you live.
      
      1. 
         
         
         We are all called to be those who overcomes
         
         1. Revelations 2:7 I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
            
         2. Revelations 2:11 will not be hurt at all by the second death.
            
         3. Revelations 2:17 I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
            
         4. Revelations 2:26 I will give authority over the nations
            
         5. Revelations 3:5 be dressed in white.
            
         6. Revelations 3:12 A pillar in the temple of my God.
            
         7. Revelations 3:21 I will give the right to sit with me on my throne
            

Being overcomer's is a far cry from coping with tolerance and pacifying sin. We are called to fight in the army of the Lord. The law is our standard and Liberty our anthem that we might serve Him.

            We can=________ our enemies!

1. out give
   
2. out serve
   
3. out love
   
4. out think
   
5. out fight
   
6. out last
   
7. out die
   

1 Peter 2 -We are a Holy people, a Holy nation that we should bring forth the praises of him who has called out of darkness into his marvelous light

1. 
   
   
   IN 1643 the Scottish Covenanters reflect the standards we are fighting for today in our homes, church and God willing our society.
   
   A rebellion rose up and the National Covenant was signed in Greyfriars Kirkyard on the 8th of December, 1638. The cemetery was filled with folk who'd come from all over the country to witness it, and each one of them (as many as 60,000) swore to uphold it. They all signed their names. Many of them did so in blood. The Reverend William Guthrie was there and this is what he shared with his kirk.
   
   
   
   
   
   

That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace of GOD, endeavor, in our several places and callings, the preservation of the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, against our common enemies; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of GOD, and the example of the best reformed Churches; and shall endeavor to bring the Churches of GOD in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Church Government, Directory for Worship and Catechizing; that we, and our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.

We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdoms, assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be divided or withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the kingdom, and honour of the king; but shall, all the days of our lives, zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same, according to our power, against all lets and impediments whatsoever; and what we are not able ourselves to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed: All which we shall do as in the sight of God.

    If we can't see, know and apply Gods work among the nations than we will damn our children to slavery. But if we humble ourselves before almighty God and serve Him with honest obedience, who knows the blessings he will bestow!

No king but King Jesus!

Existentialism

Existentialism is a society destroying powerhouse, its love child tolerance; tolerates anything but absolute truth. While most Christians see through the hollow self justification of "tolerance" they are deceived by existentialism. Nations without foundations crumble, God help us.

Mothers and Fathers ->Titus1:7 “not self willed”

Mothers and Fathers run and run. Trying to get to the end of their list. Feeling pressure from all sides the thing that gets left out is them. They stare straight into the specter that is their life and measuring it against their felt needs they realize they indeed are slaves. On every ones list they are dead last. Their emotions run hot when given to this thought pattern making them resentful, somehow life has cheated them. This is the road and these are the signs that warn of disaster. If you spend enough time dead in this ditch, your chief desire will be to serve yourself at any cost. Families are thrown off, jobs are cast asunder, and all reason is gone. The only thing left is broken hearts and shattered children.

    When we look at Romans, we realize that yes we are slaves and there are only two kinds – slaves to sin and slaves to righteous. God has called you to be a slave of righteousness; it is Satan that whispers the deceitful words of self gratification. That beast will never be filled.

    It's a wife who concerns herself with the clothing and food for her home, cleaning up during the day and losing sleep at night. When someone is sick they are the nurse when someone has a cut they are the medic. They are occupied with family all the day long. When it is finally night they are restless concerned about the loose ends of life. It's the Godly woman who looks straight through these things and rejoices in Christ. It is her joy to serve him in all the things he has called her to. Christ is your master serve worthily.

    Likewise husbands who toil and work, fighting all the day long. You come home and instead of a brief rest, demands for your life come pouring in like a flood. Sometimes beaten down with your inadequacies you stumble and try catching your breath. You have so many masters, your very life is not your own; you are a slave! Go the second mile, cry out to God. Choose to be his slave of righteousness and consider it all joy to obey him. Put down your bloody expectations that terrorize your mind and serve him with peace.

    If you must walk in the spirit to be a good parent then by definition only Christians can be good parents. I define good as in Abraham who God said commanded his children after him. Then as a logical conclusion the door I'm describing must be walked through. We must then live it consistently in the one place where we are not able to hide. Our spouse and our children are constantly watching and being affected. The negative effects are easily seen and well documented. The positive effects are generational. As we work hard in these areas it would seem to fulfill the "showing mercy to a thousand generations of them that love me" – could it be that self denial is loving and obeying Christ?

It’s Dominion

        As we look at the slumbering hopeless faces of men in our churches. I can't help but ask why? Beside the fact that society as a whole has been at war with Biblical manhood since the fall. The church by and large has not helped by enacting touchy feely programs that seem more appropriate for the effeminate than real men.

    Men are geared for battle, made for war. They need the challenge of a purpose and a goal. They need a job to do in service to God. Dominion is the answer and we must fight for it until Christ comes and says enough.

    Dominion is what puts fire in the belly. It is our purpose for life. It is our politics, our church focus and our generational goal. Our next program should be lets take dominion of this city and when we have that – then the county. Get involved in your water district, your PUD and in everything for Christ. Every Christian should be involved in something and no one Christian should be in everything.

    Our godly wives are dying for godly vision to come beside their husbands and overcome the world.

    What are you waiting for? Does occupy till I come mean submit to a socialist state that will pamper you to death for a small fee, meanwhile selling you children's future away for a bowl of pottage? If we stand still now and refuse to move then our children will be in the mud pits of the future kingdoms making mud bricks for a system that hates God.

    Dominion is being involved in our society while the Crown Rights of Christ rules our hearts and mind. He is our king. Those early patriots died with those words on their breath and we shall not live in such a way as to make them of none effect. Let all who call upon the lord cry out daily "NO king but King Jesus!" Amen

    This salvation is not game nor is it safe. It will cost you everything and you will be happy to give it. Your salvation is not just for your benefit nor the benefit of your family. You are to bless your nation and the world. You as a Christian are by definition a world changer. Evil strongholds are no longer safe. The order of things will not stand if they are not founded on the Christ and His Gospel.

It's Sleeping

It's Sleeping it's sleeping
Can't you hear Christ weeping.

One day Christ came to see his bride and what he saw was filth and pride.
She was asleep at the plow unable to work, to concerned with herself to see the hurt.
The ground was so hard the seeds wouldn't grow, she'd all but ceased to plow and sow.
When she awoke she jumped with a shout "I don't know why these seeds won't sprout!"
When she saw who it was she broke and was scared, her heart was crushed by the marks that he bared.

He said "Look to me look to me and it shall be done, you've no strength in yourself except Christ God's Son!"

The S.S.

    The Socialist state  is but a bloody harlot who robs God by stealing for itself the Crown Rights of Christ. Demanding homage and that you bow your knee to drink from its rotting trough of intellectual ignorance. All the while squeezing the life from the diligent and chaining the poor with bribes.
     Any self respecting Christian must at the least hate the alliance of theft. At the most they are compelled to live in such a way as to defeat them through a course of life that rejects their use. We must be constantly on the offensive, these gates are but a facade. Though they stretch to the sky a mighty bulwark of steel, when touched by the hand of providence they crumble like sand. Dear soldier will you not march for your Captain and charge for you Lord. On the day of preparation will you not hone your skills and be ready to fill the gap?                                      If peace and security is your pursuit then you will have neither as a slave to your Idol, Narcissism. If the Crown Rights of Christ fills your chest with fire then there is a war to fight. -------------ATTACK!

Dig deep

Only if you close your eyes to the last 2000 years of earth history, can you except the modern churches messages.

Men of Old

Men of God today seem satisfied to fuss with one another in the pulpit and pew about this and that. Not realizing thy have been relegated to a dark corner and made irrelevant in modern society. Men of old confronted kings and stood before the civil magistrate unashamed of the crown of rights of Christ. Allowing no encroachment on that hallowed ground. These warriors fought to the death and were happy to give their very lives for the cause.

Why Cheat

The cheater say’s in his heart, if I cheat I win. The truth is they fear that having done their best they will come up short and not meet the goal. There is no honor among cheaters, only a covetous greed to get there selfish desire fulfilled at any cost. The cheater is actually failing for lack of preparation and commitment. For if they had prepared properly they would be more than ready to meet the challenge.

By contrast the winner is not so consumed by the goal at hand. The winner has beat there body into submission in order to prepare for the battle. On that day they stand well prepared to meet the fiery trial. The focus is a love for honor and the cause. When you have poured your entire self out on the field of battle, you have won no matter what the outcome. If this is what you’ve done than your greatest enemy has been conquered -selfishness. There are no higher goals than love and honor. The victory is the Lords.

The Four P's a Scathing Report

In many homes things are not as they should be. In the very most basic structures that hold up a society in general things are reprobate. The family is under attack and things are so bad that when anyone makes a little headway against this tide of pride. They stop and rest, most never start pushing up stream again, just fighting to not flow back down stream. They become like a worn out salmon who never makes it to the spawning ground but just ends up rotting along the bank of the river.

You have become a priest of apathy and a prophet of preference. Consumed with meeting your own needs while being completely derelict in your duties as husband father and man.

AS Priest you should stand in the gap for your family. Pouring yourself out for their cares and needs. Instead we tend to seek God in a pitiful self absorbed stupor while standing in ignorant pride. Not knowing the real needs of the family and showing a general disinterest.

As Prophet you must lead them to God and guide them in righteousness. Mans natural tenancy is to look to his own preferences or feelings on a given situation making some dictate based on that. Lacking consistency he becomes a tyrant of the moment. His family becomes fearful, direction-less and unable to act aright. Or possibly passive not wanting the pressure or responsibility. Being to consumed with yourself, you can't be bothered.

As Protector we must defend our families. We as men fill ourselves with pride and think to ourselves in the recess of our mind"ya if a vile man comes to hurt my family I will surely take them out". While your sitting there in your easy-chair you have earned no real credibility. Self control being the lifeblood of Liberty has a great deal to reveal in this area of fatherhood. The point of interest is that the family needs protection primarily from you father and your sinful heart. The would be villain makes a rare appearance but you are there everyday. So in a real world practical sense we would say a "man must protect his family first from himself and then from the enemy without".

As a provider we should concern ourselves with all the needs of the family. We sing that song "We bring the sacrifice of praise" and in a sense its true. God says obedience is better than sacrifice , so before you go praising God check yourself!. Men are called to be the priest, prophet, protector and provider. Somehow we ignore most of them and claim to provide. So they beat their chest and demand honor. They work, they brought home the money and it is theirs. Some families go without as a result of this kind of tyranny. Instead of loving and blessing their family, pride and arrogance are closely related to the ignorance of themselves and their depravity. The hand is no better than the foot yet this pride drives the wives down, telling them that their worth is measured in dollars. This personal egocentric depravity kills families. All of their possessions should be possessions of service.

If you were publicly educated then your more than likely a brainwashed practical humanist and pseudo socialist. You are blind and dumb and then mute for ignorance sake. The church today has confronted this problem by creating counterfeits to prop up in your place. Instead of challenging and equipping you they ;lacking trust in Christ or you; seek to supplant you for fear of numbers and failure. Repent from these sins of idolatry and be healed. Seek God and cry out to Him for wisdom. Start small in the fear of the Lord and watch it grow. God is very big!. His mercies are new every morning. :-)

Study to show yourself approved

A superstitious view of religion is practically crippling..... It is then that we seek protection from Gods sovereignty and support tyranny.

Simple Truth

If you Hate God with your life don't expect his protection!

Christening

As I was reflecting on the purpose of a father; on our hope to commit before God the desire to raise our children as vessels of Christ. The type and purpose thereof being his choosing. It has become overwhelming to me that I am to deliver our children’s first love and kiss to the marriage altar unmolested. Where they will bestow the gifts of Love, Honor and purity.

I know this is but a small stepping stone in the path of their life but it is one that requires their heart. This is a precious gift entrusted to me by God. While it is satins’ desire to steal it any way he can.

We in fact must be practical and sure, a hollow religious act will only be sufficient to deceive ourselves.

What we are committed to is

1. Diligent Discipline= understanding we are sinners as well.

2. Purposeful Discipleship= always learning with our children.

3. Practical Protection = from ourselves first and then the world.

4. Affectionate Appreciation= loving them daily in many ways.

Mark 6:1-6 – read - Prayer

6:1 and he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

- Jesus left Capernaum, the home town of Jairus. Where he just raised the girl from the dead and healed the lady from the issue of blood.

-Capernaum is located in the territory of Galilee; it is a sparsely populated farming country. The topography consists of mostly rolling hills.

-Nazareth is 30 miles away from Capernaum - that would take 10 hours to walk without breaks. This would be the second visit to his hometown during his ministry.

I must first visit Luke 4 to lay the ground work for Mark 6. That is his first journey home to Nazareth, Luke 4:14-17. --Read--

A. Jesus left the wilderness 4:14

B. Filled with the spirit went to Galilee. 4:14

C. He taught in the synagogues being glorified by all. 4:15

-up until now he is being well received and his fame was spreading through the land

-upon entering Nazareth he heads to the synagogue to teach on the Sabbath

- Synagogue - is the center of the city

1. Place of education

2. Place of fellowship

3. Place of Prayer 4. Accountability

5. Justice - hand out the judgment

-On that Sabbath they gave him the scroll of Isaiah, Jesus unrolled to Isaiah 61:1-2

Luke 4:18-19 (Isaiah 61:1-2) Greek/order

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, on account of which he anointed me to announce the glad tidings to the poor, he has sent me to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim to captives deliverance and to the blind recovery of sight, to send forth the crushed in deliverance, to proclaim the year of the Lord acceptable.

1. Announce the glad tidings to the poor.

2. Heal the broken in heart.

3. Proclaim to the captives deliverance.

4. Blind recovery of sight.

5. Send forth the crushed in deliverance.

6. To proclaim the year of the Lord acceptable.

A study of the life of Christ and world history would show this is the true work of the Gospel of Christ.

WE must understand that these poor people of Israel where under the judgment of

God. They new it, paying taxes to foreigners who are ruling over them. Troops are stationed in their land eating their substance. They were faced with these harsh realities everyday. When they awoke they knew God is not happy with His People! Their heritage was the mighty work of God on their behalf. This meant everything to them, much like us today.

Luke 4:20-22

And he closed the book and he gave it again to the minister and sat down and eyes of all them in the synagogue were fastened on him and he began to say unto them, this day this scripture is fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness and wondering at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, is not this Josephs son?

Jesus Christ quoted Isaiah 61 and identifies himself as the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy. The men in the synagogue had two choices.

1. Stone him a heretic

2. Serve him as God

They came up with a third; identify him the son of Joseph the carpenter, a man who does great things. Thinking what will he give us?

Using flattery they would try to receive preferential treatment. Notice they said son of Joseph, giving him honor.

Luke 4: 27 and many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian. 28-30

Jesus there hoped messiah was then not going to obey there desire for signs and wonders but goes so far as to suggest that their only hope for National liberty could be spent on another -even Gentiles.

-Christ being committed to his fathers will would have none of it. He is the savior for the world and not Israel only.

-The men of the synagogue filled with wrath tried to throw him off of the cliff which their town was built near. Passing through the midst of them he left.

Mark 6:1 - 2^nd visit

-It is important to note that his Disciples are with him on this journey home. I think it is important because he had no disciples during his first visit to Nazareth. I believe it is because Jesus wanted to give an object lesson in rejection; family rejection can be the hardest. I am 1 of 8 but since I received my new heart, I have felt some of that.

Mark 6:2

And when the Sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, from whence has this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hand?

-They were astonished by his sayings, he being from Nazareth learned and worked with them but he was not one of them.

- He spoke as one with authority because when speaking about the word of God he was not referring to something foreign to him but about himself.

John 1:1 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

-His works were not earthly but signs from God. Remember he had just showed his authority by calming the storm (Mark 4:39), healing the demon

possessed man (Mark 5:8) and healing

the woman and Jairus’s daughter

(Mark 5: 29, 41).

The proper response to this is astonishment and fear; just ask the disciples. (Mark 4:41)

It’s obvious they don’t know who Christ is.

Mark 6:3

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

-Calling him a carpenter, was a way of suggesting that he was a man of lowly estate and should not espouse to such heights. The works of Christ are true and they attest to them here. If anyone should support him it should be the people of Nazareth. He lived a sinless life before them; instead of support they questioned his birth, while associating him no better than his family.

-To name Jesus the son of Mary and not Joseph was to question the legitimacy of his birth and besmirch his name.

Deuteronomy23:2

A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord. (Normal fellowship)

-The real problem is that the message is broken and the heritage is lost. God demands a godly seed! They are calling Jesus an outcast unable to obey god. A social terrorist as it were. Threatening our national covenant with God by your way of life.

Mark 6:4

But Jesus said unto them, a prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

-Familiarity breads contempt is another way of saying this. What I think we are getting at is that being thus familiar we lose our natural fears to things.

1. Would you like to travel @ 400mph while it is -45 degrees?

For a flight on a 747, this is normal.

2. How about bringing a deadly and explosive gas in your house that you can not see or smell for the purpose of heating?

Millions of people heat their homes with natural gas.

This being God incarnate in flesh.

The creator and sustainer.

The way the truth and the life.

Yet they missed it because of familiarity. They were use to his honest heart and his gentle spirit did not impress them. Jesus being very man and very God had 675 titles before the one true God for us to understand.

On one hand we are comfortable with our knowledge of Jesus Christ and yet on the other we are quite ignorant of whom he is and the reverent glory due his name. For if we were to see him in truth the shame of our own putrid hearts would kill us. We are fearful beggars before a Holy God.

He is the only one who can open the ancient Gates

Psalms 24:7-10 Lift up your head O ye gates and be lifted up ye everlasting doors and the king of glory shall come in. Who is this king of glory? The lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your head O ye gates; even lift them up you everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in. Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory. Selah

-He walked the path of righteousness and sinlessness for his bride the church. The gate that closed behind Adam is opened for us

Mark 6:5 and he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Is God limited by the actions of man? Is man an apposing force that God can’t overcome? A foolish thought to say the least but upon our first reading that’s the ideas that come to mind. That should cause you to fear, because it reveals a glimpse as to how much you have been influenced by the culture around you.

Proverbs 16:9 a man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 21:1 the kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he wishes.

-God is sovereign.

In truth Jesus was judging the sin of the people who were rejecting him.

Mark 6:6 and he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Unbelief requires no action but allows apathy towards the subject. Ignorance is one thing and that’s why we are to preach, they are ignoring the facts so as not to be held accountable. What we have here is a purposeful denial of truth because the ramifications of it are unacceptable to our egocentric lives. After living a sinless life and the mighty works that were done Jesus simply walks away and leaves them out in the cold.

Belief on the other hand has action associated with it as well. There are expected behaviors that you consider acceptable with the belief of certain facts.

-If you believe a plane is going to crash it would not be unacceptable to weep or pray. While not believing it, a crossword puzzle or a nap may be in order.

-Believing is not magical, belief in belief will not avail you anything. It is simply what you trust to be true so-as to act upon it. In a very real sense it is your perception of reality.

-Why? Presuppositionaly what you think is true controls your actions. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who love god with all their heart mind soul and strength. The resulting actions are found in the B-Attitudes. Blessed are the peace makers …ECT. These are the natural outcomes of your belief in God, in his Holy Spirit empowered sanctification process.

Or you don’t believe and the actions associated with it are self indulgence and idolatry. You live for you, this being the normal state of men it is dreadfully sinful.

When saved you are drafted into the service of the most high God. Immediately you begin boot camp with your new heart and the Holy Spirit.

Be ye saved! It is not the words you can say or actions do. It is God. God gives repentance; pursue it as treasure with faith in his forgiveness. If you are saved no one can tell but only God alone.

His spirit testifies with our spirit that we are his. Romans 8:16

So I exhort you now think on Christ the author and finisher of our faith!

Hebrews 12:2

Reality? 2

Secondarily if we were not raised in a Christian home. Where our hearts were given to Christ and then in response to His love we pursue hard after His truth in every area, we have a problem. If He is not the beginning and the end of every subject of our pursuit, then we are in danger of Godlessness. Since nature abhors a vacuum we will be filled with the most subtle forms of evil, rotting our soul. For me, being raised in a non Christian home and totally brainwashed by the state educational system I loved, pursued and defended the false god of secularism (Mr. Cool). I was totally unable to understand and perceive the truths of Christ. Never mind fight the culture war in me. All of my presuppositions were emphatically anti-Christ. After Christ’s saving work a lot of shifts were made in my affections from secular idols to Christ instead. Then after coming a long way I became proud. Pride being a stumbling block, I then set myself up as judge of truth in my world. I neglected the fact that my savoir is truth. It is only from Him that I am able to see and participate in what is real and true. Of course the world hates this; it is the antithesis to Satan’s lies. Worldly men are emphatic and fanatical about what they believe is true. Just living for Christ shines the light on their lust for what is putrid. Make hard decisions to purify your mind and life. Christ gave His all, what have you given? Don’t consider that giving up a few affections for worldly lusts a place to stop and rest. This is a race; we will rest in eternity from these battles within.

B.A.Worel

1/15/08

Reality War?

Yes, if you are alive in the 21’st century than this battle is raging all around you. For the lost there are no problems except which brand or flavor of reality do you wish to subscribe to. Like a pair of shoes you choose what feels good to you and make decisions off of that. Easy enough to change and compensate for your changing preferences and desires. Sadly enough most Christians have adopted this form of self deception and subjugation. Not realizing that the Lord Jesus Christ died for their liberty. When you ask Him to be your savior and king, you just might want to bow your knee. By this I mean admit that He alone has the keys to truth and righteousness. If you are walking through life as a servant of Christ than His will must be paramount. In any given subject you have got to visit the throne of grace and ask the King of kings for His ruling. Scripture comes first, fallowed by the laws of nature and proven through all of history. If we have questions there are answers aplenty if our eyes would just open. This is particularly why modern entertainment is so dangerous, there is no in-between. Either something is glorifying to Christ or is against Him. We are sheep, so easily discouraged or deceived. In general today’s entertainment offers false realities where the laws of God do not apply. Nice people with good hearts suffer needlessly and the audience is upset and wants to defend them. In reality these people are practicing all matter of lewdness and rebellion against God. They need to suffer in order to see the need for a savior. If we want to defend sinners from God then what have we become? Worse than this, today’s entertainment also portrays people in rebellion against the institutions of God, then are blessed for it. All the while there is never any repentance or need for it. When you go deeper than this, some of the things that are most dangerous are the presuppositions and ascetics. They are the most deceptive also. We can rail against bad characters or plots. While missing the fact that the false presuppositions and ascetics have crept into our hearts and made themselves a home. The only way to clean these things out is through scripture and to separate yourself from them. You can not play with the plague without getting you and your household getting sick. If you have ungodly entertainment that defies the laws of God around you, don’t be surprised if your poisoned. That after all is their very purpose for being. If these scoundrels have to remove profanity and perversion from their craft in order to keep feeding this deception to us, they will. It’s more about placating a false sense of reality in us than anything else. Remember satan comes as an angle of light and the best lies sound like the truth. God have mercy on us for being so lazy minded.

B.A.Worel

1/14/08