Some call it science

     A nameless faceless evil has swept over our land. The religious and secular alike have been tainted by this subtle poisonous liqueur. It has corrupted them at the most basic levels of their existence. I'm talking about something that is turning our nation into a barbarous and heathen one were few forms of darkness are left for the dark. The problem is a deep seeded superstitious paganism we call Evolution. It has poisoned the fountain of our fathers and we have grown up with a taste for it. We must throw off this hideous ignorance and remember the long lost principles of science that are not controlled by emotion; a shameful cover for our immorally blackened hearts. Truth reality and wisdom are found at the fountain of Living water. That water of eternal life which is a man; Jesus the Christ.

Cowardice – rejecting God for an effeminate life.

            The outspoken sin is usually confronted or at the least given some credibility based on the honesty of it. I believe the worst sins are those below the surface. They are the ones that give shock and awe to an unsuspecting spouse or that cause a co-worker to suddenly snap and fly way off the handle. These are the protected secret sins that are the worst; held secret in darkness for shame or disgust.

            It is a deep cowardice that lies and guards itself lest there be a quarrel and the real monster is seen. Being a people pleaser is one form of this cowardice. As Christians we are called to stand alone. Not always but at times and how much more so for a man who must lead and protect his family; sometimes in spite of them. Being a people pleaser means dishonesty plain and simple. Dishonesty to others and to yourself; while disobeying God. A lot of times it simply means not giving the clear answer to questions you have been asked. You are locking yourself up and loneliness will overwhelm you. I firmly believe that a man should and must be a decision maker. This cowardice will cause him to teeter on indecision putting himself and his family at risk.

            This cowardice will bring with it a subtle doubt that darkens and distorts; ever growing and moving. This far reaching disease will be crippling, discouraging and defeating.

            The coward’s life will be uncorrected and un-kept. The spouse won’t be washed where they are dirty and the children will not show proper honor for lack of correction. In most cases dishonor will go unnoticed because it doesn’t even come to their mind, that they should receive it. That is proved by the bewilderment seen when confronted with the issue.

            Our culture is head over heels in a pandemic of narcissism. Of course a totally feminism culture will follow. Our judgment is depraved and our men castrated. Feminism is where emotions lead and rule over justice logic and right. Narcissism is where you are hyper sensitive to your own feelings and desires while not being too concerned about others. Feminism says rebellion against God is not optional, when you have rejected order, honor, integrity and morality what’s left but brute emotionalism as your guide.

God help us.

The revalutionary christian life

We come up to this passage and understand completely that God indeed has made a change. The promised Messiah has come and gone; the whole world is upside down and they just don’t know it yet. The precious and vital Holy Spirit has been released on that group in the upper chamber and now it seems there will be no end to it. God is assembling His forces to wage a different kind of war, a war for the souls of men. The weapons of our warfare are self-sacrifice, selflessness, beauty, truth, hope, and service all of which is totally worthless without what? What ties it all together, what’s the most important aspect of a Christian’s daily life? In warfare throughout the ages if you could control this one thing you could not fail. In fact, it is an amazing study all of its own to see how different nations have gone to extreme measures to protect this one asset knowing without it they are doomed.

Imagine 1000 soldiers, a Battalion scattered through the jungle with no form of communication- they are lost men. They have a commander but he can’t reach them, chains of command break down and every man does what is right in his own eyes. But with it they will overwhelm and overcome the objective.  Christians are much the same only we have the third person of the trinity, the seal of our salvation and in our daily lives. Directing and controlling an innumerable force moving through history accomplishing his desired goals.

Read Acts 3:1-11

1)      What are the basic facts?

a.       The ninth hour –about three in the afternoon. The church was still practicing prayer at 9 am 12am and 3pm according to Jewish tradition like Daniel

                                                              i.      A transitional time.

                                                            ii.      The church is being created in order to be scattered

Like Samson’s foxes through the wheat fields of the world.

b.      Beggar in the gate

                                                              i.      Because of Levitical law there was in Israel a cultural compassion on the needy. Gleaning- jubilee- gifts for the poor-widow and fatherless were all ways God led Israel to care for others. Leviticus 19:10; 23:22

                                                            ii.      The gate beautiful

1.      A tall double gate at the entrance to the main temple

a.       Doors 50 cubits tall – 82 feet

b.                  40 cubits wide- 65.6

c.       Made of Corinthian brass with silver and gold plates

d.      Extremely heavy needing 20 men to close it at just under ten thousand pounds @6”

2.      Situated on the east side of the temple facing the Mount of Olives. Inside was the court of the women followed by the court of the Israelites and then the court of the priests, then the porch, sanctuary and finally the holy of holies

3.      Because of this man’s position at this gate everyone knew him

a.       He was in his forties Acts 4:22

b.      Lame since birth Acts 3:2

c.       Cultural custom to take care of him Leviticus

2)      What’s the real story?

a.       Before- Three main biblical descriptions

                                                              i.      Blind –Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.

                                                            ii.      Deaf - John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

                                                          iii.      Lame -Proverbs 26:7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

                                                          iv.      Gods answer àLuke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Jesus introduction of his ministry.

1.      Superstition= unreasonable belief lacking actual evidence.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Cross fingers – break your word

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Good things come in threes

                                                                                                                                  iii.      Our prayers can be superstitious when we babble. Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

1.      When the world puts up signs that say love faith and hope, it is false and it is superstition without Jesus.

2.      Faith Hebrew 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.-“Faith is trust standing on the ground of relationship” Brad Worel.

a.       Assurance-5287 Hupostasis=(hoop-os’-tas-is) assurance, substance, reality

b.      Conviction-1649 Elegchos=(el’-eng-khos) a proof, persuasion

“Faith must have adequate evidence, else it is mere superstition.”  ~ A. A. Hodge (Leader in the American Presbyterian Church)

c.       Saving faith =”It’s were the head and the heart come together about sin and the savior.”

                                                                                                                                      i.      Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

b.      After

                                                              i.      Such as I have Acts 2:36 What? -Titles

1.      The Christ = Christos =Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ.

a.       Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

                                                                                                                                      i.      The world is suffering and hopeless not knowing they are slaves and lost. – Preach the word.

2.      The Lord= Kurios =Lord, master, siràproperly, a person exercising absolute ownership rights

a.       Sovereignty= the creators prerogative to direct his creation. Acts 4:11 –13 “capstone”  

                                                                                                                                      i.      Holds it all together- order-peace-successful economies – liberty

"For the first time in 400 years, the Geneva Bible is available again … This Christmas, as we celebrate the Word becoming flesh (John 1:1,14) through the birth of Christ, I want people to see that the Geneva Bible ultimately inspired the end of slavery and the caste system, the solidification of free enterprise and private property, the Puritan work-ethic which animated the scientific and industrial revolutions, and the wholesome, uplifting literature which we all treasure today." -Marshall Foster, historian

            Any action or policy from a magistrate of any kind must be in accordance with God’s word or it is direct rebellion to Jesus the Messiah Lord of all the earth.

3.      Holy Spirit –

a.       Comforter- John 14:26 But the Comforter/Helper/Attorney, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

b.      Communicator-

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Romans 8:26-27 26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning’s too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

                                                            ii.      Give I unto you (Familistic and cultural)

1.      Who God has made us

a.       We are the light and salt

b.      Blessed and confessed by God before angels

c.       We are not condemned

d.      Disciples and sons

e.       Friend of Jesus

f.       His witnesses

g.       Accepted and justified

h.      Reconciled

i.        Dead to sin and alive to God

j.        Servants of righteousness

k.      Heirs and conquerors

l.        Temple of the Spirit

m.    Debtors to God

n.      The Lords

o.      Sanctified

p.      Ambassadors

q.      Abrahams seed

r.        Gods workmanship

s.       A chosen generation

t.        A royal priesthood

2.      Share what we’ve seen and heard

a.       Acts 4:20 -for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

b.      1 John 1:1-3 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ

c.       Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

3.      It’s not superiority no it’s a quality gift – no room for religious pride.

a.       I am saved and you need to clean your life up like I did-no

b.      I was broken and lost and Jesus saved me! What you now see before you is the imputed righteousness of Christ. Repent and be saved!

4.      What are you giving

a.       Husbands what are you giving to your wife and children? – sacrificial love

b.      Wives what are you giving to your husband and children -selfless patience

c.       Children what are you giving to your Father and mother – genuine honor

d.      Christian soldier what are you giving to this savior and to the world. – humble obedience to God (Daniel/Joseph)

(Love humility and meekness) Speak the truth.

            Just as we didn’t get what we deserve, we give what others can’t earn.

                                                          iii.      The lame man responds

1.      Acts 3:3-8

2.      Humbly looks to (perceive/discern) Peter- Acts 3:4 (we are the children of God and have something to give)

3.      Empty of pride he obeys-

a.       Peter touched him – God heals

                                                          iv.      What’s the big deal – You are the temple

1.      You are the light of the world(repeat)

a.       The world has been clothed in darkness for thousands of years. And now his light goes out into the darkness

                                                                                                                                      i.      You are that light.

1.      The whole world is in bondage to sin, controlled and motivated by self- the very thing God set you free from. They are in chains you are free!

2.      Hudson Taylor- We are supernatural people, born again by a supernatural birth, kept by a supernatural power, sustained on supernatural food, taught by a supernatural Teacher from a supernatural Book. We are led by a supernatural Captain in right paths to assured victories. The risen Saviour, ere He ascended on high, said: 'All power is given unto Me. Go ye therefore."

3)      What do we do with it?

It would be foolish to say this is just a miraculous phenomena of the past far removed from our reality.

When what we really have is an analogist display of truth showing the transformation of Gods covenant and of all reality.

      This is a new world order under Christ

Ephesians 4:20 17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. 28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, (other focus) as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

“Emotional flamboyance is of the flesh, it is false selfish and grieves the Holy Spirit.” B.A.Worel

A.     The application of the Spirit in your heart

a.       Humility – modest-respectful-grounded-(from the earth/low)- a correct response to God

b.      Pride- self preserving- self-serving -inflated view of self

"Idolatry=getting a sense of purpose joy or security from something besides God."B.A.W

c.       There is a critical need for humility in the body of believers. A lack of humility is an indication of a larger problem, it’s a can worms. Let’s just crack the lid and look inside. How do you know if you are prideful? You never seem to need to confess sins to others; you were justified in your actions. The fault never seems to land on you. You will as a matter of course defends your actions and attitudes; which means you will be defending sin. Why would you do that? Emotional immaturity and selfishness. You have a problem with selfish emotional passion that is self-serving and self-seeking. You may be a Christian but you’re acting like a babe! Be broken from all your self-preserving ways!

                                                              i.      Our problem is we think we are ok when we must surrender or be doubleminded. James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. -----Through confession and repentance!

                                                            ii.      Consider others better than yourself- Philippians 2:3

                                                          iii.      Confess your sins one to another. James 5:16

                                                          iv.      Jesus humbled himself to become a man – Follow him. His humiliation is our exaltation- how corrupt is our pride! Philippians 2:7

                                                            v.      “Maturity in Christ is not about knowledge it is about Character!” B.A.Worel

B.     Let’s be practical

a.       Find a place of self-sacrificial service within your realm of life and serve diligently until it is your pleasure and delight. Let Christ rule in you richly and he will meet you at that point where the flesh dies and the spirit lives. Serve your brother serve your sister serve your mother and father, serve the week and serve your enemy just serve-serve-serve!

                                                              i.      You say you can’t and that’s right because the spirit is at enmity with the flesh and you serve your selfish sensual heart!   Christian soldiers are unstoppable because they delight in the selfless service of others unto salvation and the order and riches of Christ being lived out in every area.

                                                            ii.      Your thoughts are about yourself and your way and you shield that from others, you are lame blind and deaf. 

                                                          iii.      We are called of God to live selfless lives building up and empowering others in our homes churches and community guided by the holy Spirit- it’s a vision of victory for the kingdom of God

                                                          iv.      The welfare state reinforces a spirit of entitlement and selfishness that empowers the state at the expense of character.

Jesus died so parents would not be soiled with the blood of their children in abortion.

Jesus died so men and women would not dirty their lives with immorality

Jesus died so you would not curse yourself with other men’s goods.

Jesus died so your mouth would not devour your life with deception.

The most single fact in all of history is that Jesus of Nazareth lived died and who rose again on the third day he is the Messiah!

HE LIVES

Jesus lives that you will be content.

Jesus lives that you will have selfless patience.

Jesus lives that you will have fellowship.

Jesus lives that you will delight in service and sacrifice for others!

Does he live? Most assuredly!

He is the rock the builders rejected and he is my Salvation!

When the Holy Spirit leads you past a poor lame man --what will you have that you may give?