What Is Your Choice?

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) 

Tomorrow is election day (11/5/2024) We as Americans will make a choice that will affect our future in this nation. But as important as this is, there is another choice that will affect our eternal future. And that is the choice to make God's Son, Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord of our lives.

In our text, Joshua challenged the people to make a choice, and live with that choice. Was it going to be, to worship the gods of their forefathers, or the gods of the Amorites, (or) the God of the universe, which was Joshua and his family's choice. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (v.15c)

What it comes down to, for us today, is a choice between running after the things of the world, and putting God first and foremost in our lives. Will we allow Him to be our Savior, and Shepherd, all the days of our lives?  Will we live and serve Him all the days of our lives?

What future will you have with the world, compared to what God offers us? What peace, and satisfaction will we have with the world? Things may be good for awhile, but will it last? I think not!

Like Joshua, I challenge us to today, to vote for Jesus, and make Him a permanent choice for our lives, today, and forever! GP

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A Dissertation By Dr. Brian Patterson

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The Binding/Loosing Of Satan In Jewish And Christian Apocalyptic With Special Reference To Revelation 20:1-10

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The Longevity Of Leadership

 

The Longevity Of Leadership 

 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you." (Isaiah 46:3-4) 

 No matter what the leadership responsibility is in the church, the key to having a fruitful ministry is "Longevity." 

 Those who we read of in the Bible who God called to "Lead" faced many challenges. Right at the start, Moses gave God a group of excuses for why he was not the person God should send to Pharaoh, to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage. But once he committed himself to the task, he went the distance to lead the Jewish people to freedom. (Exodus 3-4) 

  Look at the prophet Jeremiah's excuse: "Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you." (Jeremiah 1:6-7) Even though it was hard, Jeremiah went the distance as well. 

 Too many in Christian leadership, throw in the towel too early. "When the going get's tough, the tough are to get going", but instead we drop out, we quit, and leave the work to others, when God called us to use our abilities to make a difference for Him. 

 I believe that we need as Christian leaders, to work on developing a strong maturity. Contained in this maturity, are the attributes of humility, sincerity, purity, commitment, and a desire to obtain longevity in ministry. 

 The apostle Paul, encourages the Christians at Corinth, and us today, with these words: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 

 (1 Corinthians 15:58) I like what Paul says here: "Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord." 

 Let us not just go part way, let's go as far as the Lord will take us. Yes, there will be rough times, yes there will be those times when we will want to quit. But we as leaders must stay the course, finish the race, and fulfill our ministry, no matter how rough it gets, or how far the opportunity presents itself for us to serve.

 There will be times, When we must rest, times when we will relocate, or be redirected, and yes retire, from the task at hand. But we are never, ever, to quit serving the Lord, until He says. "It's Time!" GP

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The Priority Of A Pastor

 

The Priority Of A Pastor 

"And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15)

I remember when I became a pastor, I heard these words. "Pastor's only work on Sunday," and "Church camp is a Pastor's vacation!" Well, it is a lot more than this!. 

"After the death of King Solomon in 931 B.C., Israel was divided into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. While both kingdoms failed in their faithfulness to the Lord, Israel chased after other gods even more than Judah. So, in 722 B.C., the Lord judged Israel through the destructive power of Assyria. The Israelites were scattered, with thousands taken captive. This was the end of the northern kingdom."(Sheherds After God's Own Heart", Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling.Theologyofwork.org)

It is not so different today in the church, as it was during this divisive time with the people of Israel. As Pastors, or shepherds, we are to be among the people, feeding the people knowledge and understanding of God's Word. This is a Pastor's responsibility. Is Jesus the great Shepherd just standing up in front of people lecturing them concerning these things? No, the Lord Jesus Christ is among us. His presence is felt in our hearts, and seen in our lives. And as the disciples on the Emmaus road said in Luke 24:32, "They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Is this not the priority of a Pastor? To be with his people, and to share the Word of God? To encourage the people in his care, to walk the Christian walk? 

That is not to say that the people will listen, and take heed to the instruction and encouragement given. Just as it was in Jeremiah's time, the people did not listen, did not obey God, and suffered the consequences of their actions. As pastors we are not to embrace any kind of guilt, or discouragement concerning the unfaithfulness of the people. Pastors including myself, have done this many times. We are chosen instruments of God, to be the shepherds the people need in order to walk the path God has directed for His people. God does not intend for His leaders to carry the weight of the failure of the people. Pastors need to remember that. We are not called to be successful, as much as we are called to be faithful.

It is an awesome task, the work of a Pastor. And we cannot do it alone. We need the guidance and strength of our Lord Jesus, as well as the cooperation and support of the people. Please pray for your pastor, and encourage them every opportunity that comes your way. They definitely need it. GP

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Keeping The Main Thing, The Main Thing!

"For just preaching the Gospel isn't any special credit to me---I couldn't keep from preaching it if I wanted to. I would be utterly miserable. Woe unto me if I don't." 

(1 Corinthians 9:16) 
To the Apostle Paul, it was a privilege to preach the Gospel. Whether he was paid to do it, or not, it was his main responsibility It is the same with us as Christians. We are to share the Gospel message to those who are spiritually dying. Because Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth, He commissions us to "go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To teach them to obey all the commands I have given you..." (Matthew 28:19-20) The main call upon our lives as Christians, is to share the Gospel. Which in essence is the message that the sin debt for man-kind has been paid, by Jesus' death on the cross.
We have the hope of eternal life, because Jesus arose from the dead, and made a way for us to follow that same path. As we journey though this life, so many things become important. But those things can never be as important, as this call upon our lives. So many people are needing this message.
If they don't hear it from us, who will they hear it from? To have people leave this life without hearing the Gospel, is like a doctor, knowing what medicine will help, but never making the patient aware that it exists. How important was the Gospel message to you? Did it change your life? It must be the main thing, or lives will perish forever.
It is a call to share, because we care,
That those who are lost, will come to Jesus.
It is a privilege to bear, a priority to wear,
To share the Gospel to all who are lost among us. ---GP
Photo by Stuart Miles. Published on 23 August 2012 Stock photo - Image ID: 10098825
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Sustaining Self-Control

 

Sustaining Self-Control 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) "For what I am doing, I do not practice, what I hate, that I do." (Romans 7:15) 

The battle of not giving in to our fleshly desires, is a strong challenge indeed. This one fruit of the Spirit the apostle Paul names as self-control, is a hard one to sustain. I am not going to name the various vices to which man-kind becomes enslaved to; you know what you personally deal with. There are those vices that find their way into addictions, such as; the use of alcohol and drugs, the viewing of pornography, the activity of gambling, and over-eating, and several more. 

 But the question of this post-article is: "How can we sustain the fruit of the Spirit: Self-control? There are three things we must seek, if we are to sustain self-control. 

1. We are to seek a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ 

"But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8) When Jesus becomes first place in our lives, that is when we will begin to sustain self-control in our lives. When we look at our own selfish fleshly desires as rubbish, compared to the desire to know all about the Lord Jesus, and His love, and His will for our lives; that is when we will allow the Holy Spirit to have control in our lives. And if it takes answering the question over and over again: What would Jesus have us to do? Than so be it! 

2. We are to seek a knowledge of ourselves. 

"Let us search out and examine our ways. And turn back to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40) We must do as James tells us in James 1:23-24, "for if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." When we look into the mirror of God's Word, we see what kind of people we are. We see our weaknesses, and the way our fleshly desires have led us down a path of sin and destruction. The perfect law of liberty will help us to see the changes we need to make. 

3. We are to seek a knowledge of the consequences of our sinful thoughts and actions. 

"....just as I told you in time past, those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God."(Galatians 5:21b) In the passage of Scripture prior to Paul's words here, he lists a number of sinful activities that come from walking according to the flesh.(5:19-21) 

If we continually do these things, the consequence is to not inherit all of God's blessings contained in His kingdom. In other words, we will not have the hope of heaven, but we will have the reality of hell. Is this what we want? I would not think so! And if this is not enough to frighten us concerning our eternal future, I don't know what will? 

Just like sustaining the other fruit of the Spirit, it takes discipline, and determination. It all begins with a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Do we have that today? If we don't, I pray that we will! GP 

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He Watches From The Shore

 

He Watches From The Shore

"Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by." (Mark 6:47-48)

The disciples did not always have a secure feeling, when they were out in their boat fishing. Out on the sea of Galilee, storms could come up quickly and violently. Here is some information I found that is pertinent to the disciples experience:

Storms on the Sea of Galilee could come up suddenly and violently due to a combination of factors, including: 

Location: The Sea of Galilee is 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills. 

Wind: Winds from the southwest can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. 

Air currents: In the evening, warm, moist air from the water rises, while cooler air from the hills descends, creating high winds at the water's surface. 

Water depth: The Sea of Galilee is relatively shallow, with a maximum depth of 250 feet, which can cause larger waves when wind speeds are high. 

I can see why the disciples were very anxious, when they got caught up in one of these squals. But the application I want to get to is this: While the disciples, who were supposed to be at Capernaum by now, were straining against the wind, Jesus is watching them from the shore. He sees their situation, and later He comes to them, walking on the water. Here's the question, does Jesus know where we are, and what we're dealing with in our lives? Indeed He does. He knows the trials and trouble we are experiencing. And when we pray, and ask for His comforting presence in our lives, He shows up. I have felt His strengthening presence in my life many times. The hymn that I posted an article about today, asks the question: "Does Jesus Care?" The answer: 

"Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares 
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary
The long night dreary
I know my Savior cares"

Today, Jesus is watching you from that eternal shore, and He sees the storms you are in engulfed in. Have faith, if you ask Him to come to you, He will, and through His presence, and providence, He will provide the help you need. GP

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The Cry Of Our Culture

 

The Cry Of Our Culture

"When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34)

What is the cry of our culture? Are we crying as a culture? Are we "like sheep without a shepherd?" Are we reaching out for help? Or are we so set in our minds, to do the sinful, evil, worldly activities in our lives, that we don't care about getting any help at all. We don't even feel we need any help, especially from God. 

But look at our society, we are a mess. The selfishness, the hatred, the immorality, violence, etc. Is so disgusting. We reek of worldliness, before our righteous God. But yet, He loves the world, and gave His beloved Son to die for the sins of this dark, and depraved world. 

So as the Church, what is our role in the relationship between God, and our culture, that is needing a Savior today? Well, Jesus has done His part, in being the sacrificial Lamb, dying on the cross to atone for the sins of the world. Now, it's up to the church, to bring the "good news" of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to a lost, and dying world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Too many churches are just maintaining a comfortable agenda. Just come to church, throw your offering in the plate, and call it a week. Is this the call of the great commission? (Matthew 28:19-20) The call to reach our culture, is to GO with the gospel, and reach as many lost souls as we can. It's time, church, to get to it! GP

Photo: CharlVera - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www.pixabay.com

Leaving Our Upper Room

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) 

I heard a preacher this week talk about when Jesus showed Himself to the disciples in the upper room following the resurrection. He said that a lot of pages from Bible commentaries have dealt with how Jesus came through the wall, and left through the wall. But the greatest challenge was how Jesus got those disciples out those locked doors, to get the message of the gospel to the world. They were afraid, and did not want what happened to Jesus, to happen to them. 

Let's look at two questions concerning our work of evangelism today. 

1. What Is The Purpose Of The Church? 

 According to our text, Jesus told His disciples (and us today) that we are His witnesses. And even though we were not there to witness Jesus! resurrection, we can testify to how the Lord has been present in our lives, and has ministered to us, in our Christian walk. How will people know about Jesus, unless we tell them? How will they come to accept Him as Savior, unless we share how He has saved us, and keeps us in His providential care? The church is not to have it's focus on social activities, special programs, and activities. But we are to be involved in personal evangelism. Who can we influence for the cause of Christ. 

Are there not people in our families, in our social circles, at work, at school, who have not accepted Jesus Christ. Without a saving relationship with Him, where will they be in the eternal scheme of things? This is urgent, and we as the church, need to leave our upper rooms, and fulfill our calling to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

2. What Is The Phobia Of The Church? 

The church in America, as well as all around the world, needs to have a boldness to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that in different places in the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith. 

And we need to expect that if we take a bold stand for Jesus Christ, persecution in various forms will come our way. We are not called to crawl in a corner and not be heard. We are called to share the "good news' concerning Jesus Christ. That through our accepting of Him, we have freedom from our sins, and the hope of eternal life. The Lord is counting on us to be salt, and light for Him (Matthew 5:13-16). 

The apostle Paul told Timothy (and us) that..."God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7) We need to leave our upper rooms, and walk in the strength of the Lord, and boldly share concerning our faith, and the hope that we hold in our hearts. 

We are to influence our culture for the glory of God. It's time for us to leave our upper room. Jesus has died, and He has risen, and He is always with us, in our witnessing for Him. It's time church, to GO and Get To It! GP 

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A Somber September Day To Remember

 

  The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th, or 9/11) were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks consisted of suicide attacks used to target symbolic U.S. landmarks. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) 

  The title of Alan Jackson's Song "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning?)" directs us to remember what happened on this horrific day. I hope that we will stop and say a prayer for the families who lost loved ones that day, and ask God to be with our nation, as we face the reality and challenges of terrorism. "O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more." (Psalm 10:17-18) 

  As Christians, (in light of this day of showing tribute to those who gave their lives on 9/11) let us diligently give our lives, to sharing about Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace; so that our nation and the world will no longer be a place of fear, but a place of peace. GP 

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A Promise For Peace

"Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise." (Isaiah 60:18) 

Our prayers go out to the families of the victims who lost their lives in this senseless shooting at the Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, (9/4/2024) 

I am not going to spend time talking about the school shootings in other parts of the country, but I do want to address the problem of violence in our land.

The verse of our text is taken from a passage of Scripture that prophesies of a future time when God will set up a kingdom on earth, and it's capital will be Jerusalem. Because of the captivities the nation of Israel went through, there would be much despair. But the people are told in Isaiah 60:4 to "Lift up their eyes, and look around them." and see that the former things, such as violence in the land will be gone." (v.18)

This should be our prayer, and our priority pursuit, that we strive to treat one another with love and respect. Why are we treating one another with such anger, and violence? Is this the will of God for us in this nation? If we truly submit our lives to the Word and Will of God, this violence, and senseless loss of life, will not dominate our society.

It is a choice we must make, and one that we must determine to keep with all of our hearts! GP

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The Sower And The Soil

 

The Sower And The Soil 

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” (John 8:47)

How great is the frustration of a Bible preacher or teacher, when time and time again they share the Word of God with those in their congregation, and it falls on deaf ears. Some wonderful truths from God's Word are shared, but you wonder and ask, "are they getting it?"

"Being deaf and dead to the Word of God is evidence of not belonging to God. Scripture tells us the Word of the Kingdom of God must bring forth fruit – if not, the blame certainly does not point to the Seed, rather to the poor soil upon which it falls. (https://www.sharing-bread.com)

As a preacher of the Word of God, I have felt this frustration, even to the point of deep discouragement. Where is the fruit of hearing the sermons you put much time in preparation? Why is the congregation not living out the messages I am sharing? Have they determined that they do not want to "be of God?" They are so focused on themselves, that they have no desire to allow God to have a say, in the way they think, and live their lives.

I came to the realization that, it is not the fault of the transmitter, but the fault of the receiver. You cannot force people to accept the truth, of God's Word, and live it out in their lives. As a sower of the good seed, the Word of God, you sow, hoping that the soil will receive it well, and produce good fruit of righteousness. In many cases, it's just like the words of this song that says; "It's easier to sell a lie, than to give the truth away." I say to all the preachers, and teachers, "Don't give up, don't become discouraged; because you never know when you will really touch someone's life with true, solid, Biblical truth. 

"Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” is a quote from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:16. The verse continues, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me”. The verse is interpreted to mean that telling the good news is a duty and an obligation that God has imposed on the speaker, and that it would be terrible if they did not do so. 

To a lost, and dying world, we are called to share the Gospel, and to our church, we are called to encourage with the good seed of God's Word. God is counting on us to do this. May the Lord find us "Faithful", no matter the outcome! GP

Photo: rcascoherrera - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www.pixabay.com

Let's Go To School

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

 Where I am, here in Iowa, school will be starting next week. Let's offer a prayer, for all the young people, teachers & staff, who will begin school this week!.

To gain much, in the area of learning, means that there must be a submissive attitude. A submissive attitude, leads to an open mind, and heart. To be willing to take in what you see, and hear, and apply it to one's life, is the beginning of the development of productivity, in one's life.

That's is the way it must be in our spiritual life. As our text says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." We are not going to mature, in our Christian walk, if we don't first, fear the Lord, and allow Him to teach us, what He wants us be and to do. Spiritual knowledge will not come, if there is a wall of pride, and apathy, standing in the way.

There are many people who feel that they have it all figured out.
They do more talking, then listening. There are those who don't believe God exists, and secondly, if He does, He has nothing to say, to better their lives. Talk about delusions!

The state of our society tells me, we have a lot to learn from God.
And it's time that we go to God's school, and get the instruction we need! GP

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