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Becoming A Fisher Of Men

(Mark 1:17-18) “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.And straightway they forsook their nets and followed him.” Only Jesus can turn average men into soulwinners, but without one’s surrender to God’s calling there will be  no men caught for Christ. Jesus asked them to 1) Forsake their past. All these disciples new was fishing. These men were asked to leave their old way of  life for a new way of life, and immediately they did so! You and I cannot win men to Christ without this first step. God does not call everybody to be full time pastors and missionaries, but he does call every believer to forsake their old way of life for a new life patterned after Christ. 2) Follow Him Jesus said, “come after me,” which means change your direction and plans for mine. Following is a commitment to surrender one’s will to the will of Christ. God does not force anyone to follow, but He does expect it if we desire to “catch men” for the kingdom of God.…
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The Purpose Of Christ's Temptation

(Mark 1:12-13) “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.” In the above verse the Word of God mentions twice that Jesus after his baptism was directed or driven immediately by the Holy Ghost into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil. The wilderness is a picture of the place of testing just as it was for Israel in the wilderness after coming out of Egypt. For as the Jew immediately was driven into the wilderness for a purpose, so are we after salvation driven by the Spirit to the place of testing to teach us about faith and God’s Word. God directed Jesus to fast for 40 days not to prove that he could but rather to bring him to his weakest point as an example to us that even when weak and discouraged we can have faith in times of testing. For the power of Jesus over Satan was not found in his human flesh but rather in His Father’s Word…
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John's Baptism Is Not The Same AS Our Baptism

(Mark 1:4) “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”The Bible teaches us that all the land of Israel came out to be baptized of John in the Jordon. Why? 1) John baptized the Jew in preparation for the coming Jesus. According to scripture Johnwas sent by God to make Israel ready to hear and receive the words of Christ. Although John used the same method of baptism (by immersion) his baptism was not the same as our baptism is today. 2) Our baptism today is both one of consecration and identification with Christ. When Jesus was baptized it wasn’t a baptism of repentance for sin but rather it was a baptism of consecration, just as the OT priest was cleansed in water prior to serving at age 30, so was Christ.  Jesus’ baptism was a prerequisite of the type of baptism that we practice. Not only are we consecrated as “priests and kings”(Rev. 1: 6) into a new life once we’re saved, we also identify with him and his ministry upon our b…
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"And It Came To Pass"

(Luke 2:1) “And it came to pass…”396 times in scripture these exact words are used. The first is in (Genesis 4:8) as the line of Christ begins, and the last is in (Acts 28:17) with the Apostle Paul’s closing story concerning the Church. You see, the Bible promised man from the very beginning that God would send His Son into the world, born of a virgin in time, to save man from his sins, and the Bible has told the story very well. God kept his word when Jesus came, God kept his word when Jesus died and rose again for the dead, and God kept His Word when He sent His Holy Spirit to start His church upon the earth. All this “came to pass” as the scriptures foretold; but why is there no more “and it came to pass” after (Acts28:17)? The answer, because the end has not yet come to pass. The Apostle John was commanded to write (Rev. 1:19) “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” The things that are “hereafter” have not yet com…
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The Mighty God, Everlasting Father, And Prince Of Peace

(Isaiah 9:6)  “… and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In the above verse it’s important to point out the definite article “The” before each of the last three names of Jesus; meaning that Jesus is therefore the only “mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace,” for there is not, nor can there ever be another besides Him.  1) The Mighty God. For unto us God came, unto us a son was given who was and is “theonly” Son of “The Most High God,” andalthough he is called a son, he is still God Almighty.(Rev. 1:8) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”2)The Everlasting Father.” To this some will say, Well how can this be? For naturally this would be impossible, but not with God. In the Bible Jesus Christ is shown to be God Himself in human flesh. He was and is “The living Word of God,”“The Creator of the world,” “The only…
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"Our Mighty God And Counsellor Jesus Christ"

(Luke 6:46) “And why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say.”  If someone is Lord than they should have both the authorityand the expectation of having their commands met and obeyed. To not obey Our Lord would be a rejection of both His authority and His will, and yet that is exactly what Christians do when they don’t listen to the counsel and commands of Jesus Christ and His Word. In (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus is called both “The Mighty God and Counselor.” Which means that as God he has supreme authority and the unquestionable ability to counsel men in his perfect wisdom. The problem in our world today is that man has increased so much in his knowledge and learning that in many cases he places more trust in what man thinks than in what God says in His Word. For example, just as you wouldn’t go to a Pastor for brain surgery, why then go to the world for spiritual advice and wisdom. The true and eternal wisdom of this world comes solely from God. We are so foolish when we listen …
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Jesus Is a Wonderful Son And Savior

(Isa. 9:6) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Some of the greatest truths taught in the Bible about our Lord Jesus Christ are found in the names ascribed to him in the above verse. 1) His Name Is Wonderful.  (Php. 2:10) "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" 2) Counsellor.He counsels man through His Spirit. (Isa.11:2)"And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;" 3) The Mighty God. (1Ch 29:11) "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:" 4. The Everlasting Father. He is a father forever. (Heb. 13:5) "… …
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New Testament Giving As Seen In (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

(1Cor. 16:1) “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 1)  The Command of Giving – “as I have given order to the churches” 2)  The Time of Giving – “Upon the first day of the week”  (Sunday) 3)  The Purpose of Giving – “collection for the saints” (for missions and saints) 4)  The Participants of Giving – “let everyone of you”  “so do ye” 5)  The Amount of Giving – “as God hath prospered him”    (Pr. 3:9)  “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”

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Giving Thanks In Everything

(1Thess. 5:18) “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” It has been said that the happiest people in the world are those that are thankful. They are happy because they have learned the secret of trusting in the Lord in every circumstance of life. If we by faith come to the place where we believe that everything happens for a purpose (Rom. 8:28), then we will be able to thank the Lord even when the bad times come our way. For some reason, some believers have bought into the idea that if we are faithful then only good things will happen to us, but God wants us to know that both good and bad happen to all men alike. The difference between those who are thankful and those who are not, is simply in their ability to understand God’s Word, believe it, and trust in it no matter what. Thank God for all the good things that happen to us in this life, but also thank God that when the bad times do come we have the promises of God’s Word to comfort u…
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When there Is No Vision The People Perish

(Proverbs 29:18) “Where there is no vision, the people perish:…” In this verse it is apparent that having “no vision” causes people to perish. The vision implied here is “hearing from God.” To hear from God in the Bible, two things are necessary. 1) A prophet. A man who was chosen by God to give man God’s message. 2)The message or vision itself. God only gave His visions to prophets who would share them correctly.  Not having God’s message not only causes the unsaved to die and go to Hell, but it also causes believers to fall away. The word “perish” means to “go back to a place of wasting.” When any man is neglected the hearing of  God’s Word, he will end up in a place of wasting, but the 2nd half of the above verse is also true; “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” 3)Obedience to God’s vision brings “happiness” or blessings. When any man hears God’s law (or vision) and obeys it, a blessing is promised to him. God’s blessing is only available to those who listen and hear, and t…
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The True Sabbath Rest

(Gen. 2:2-3) "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it:… This verse does not teach that God became tired and rested, nor does it teach that he created a Saturday Sabbath for all men. "…The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath…" (Mark 2:27).  Be careful when it comes to this teaching on the Sabbath that you don’t get the cart before the horse. Man was made after God taught about a day of rest for himself. In fact, a day of rest for man was not commanded by God until He gave it to Israel some 2400 yrs. later. On the 7th day God rested from His labor, giving man an example of the importance of resting both in God’s redemption and provision. (Heb 4:10)" For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."  When  man decides to trust in  Jesus Christ, he enters int…
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Giving Grace To The Weaker

(Rom. 14:4) “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” In the above verse the Apostle Paul is very clear that not all Christians share the same convictions in life. We all should share the same black and white doctrines of the faith, but when it comes to certain things not specifically taught in scripture we ought to be graceful. Why?  Because not everyone is at the same maturity level with God. Growing in the knowledge of God’s Word takes time and learning to be graceful with all brethren does as well. So be careful to give one another the time to grow up into Christ. Just as we don’t expect little children to grasp the mature content of adulthood, neither should we expect instant maturity within the Church. The above grace described by Pau…
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The Christian's Conduct Within The Church (Part 2)

(Rom. 12: 13-16)  “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Again as we look at the conduct of the Christian within the Church, the Apostle Paul continues his list of direct commands. First of all we are commanded to care for one another. It’s one thing to tithe to the church but it’s something else to be willing to financially help others. God never intended the church to be a welfare program, but He does desire us to have compassion on those in need. “Hospitality” means that we are to open up our lives to be gracious and serving to all men. Learning to “bless” those that attack us, rather than “curse” them in retaliation. Our lives need to be uplifting, “rejoicing” with others when things go right and comforting …
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Living The Character Of Christ In The Church

(Rom. 12:10-12) “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” In the above verse the Apostle Paul begins by addressing the need for brotherly love within the body of Christ by using a long list of commands, separated by a series of semi-colons. Meaning that God’s type of brotherly love ought to include all of the above equally. The word “brotherly” refers to the type of fraternal love that brothers and sisters have within a normal family. Where although there may be disagreements at times, kindness and  affection overrules. Believers who care about one another learn to put selfish feelings aside for the “honor” or edification of those they serve with. They put God’s “business” first and are not “slothful” or apathetic toward it. They are “ferv…
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Finding God's Perfect Will For Your Life

(Rom. 12:1-2) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Is it possible to know the will of God for your life?  In the above verse the Apostle Paul says we can. 1) By Presenting your body back to God. God just doesn’t want our bodies, He wants them given back to Him of our own free will, as a sacrifice presented in the old testament. He wants our sacrifice to be holy and acceptable, but also surrendered unto God and His perfect will. 2) Transforming your mind.  Jesus told his disciples that they could only serve one master, and so in order to serve God they needed to choose God over this world. For you to know the will of God for your life, we must turn your mind and heart away from the world and …
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Has God Cast Away Israel

(Rom. 11:7-8) “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.”  There are some that believe that Israel as a people have been cursed and rejected by God, and that they have no hope of  restoration; but is that what the Bible teaches?  Israel as a nation has been set aside temporarily because of their unbelief of Christ as a nation, but individually they can be saved if they place their faith in Jesus Christ, just like anyone else. The only difference between a Gentile and a Jew is that God has placed upon Israel a judgment of spiritual blindness. The word “blindness” means: ”to render insensitive to or to be not interested in.” Why did this happen, because they have chose to trust in their religion more than in God’s Word, causing a blindness of heart. Toda…
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America, A Government After God's Own Heart

(Rom. 13:1)  “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” In the above verse the words “powers that be” refer to the gift of government to mankind. God’s intention for government officials are to rule for Him. Unfortunately, in this world all governments are not the same, and that’s precisely why we as American’s should be thankful for our form of government that is patterned after God’s ideology and not this world’s. Our Constitution, Amendments, and Declaration of Independence were all written by our founding fathers with the will of our Bible’s God in mind, as well as a personal dream of having a free country where every man has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as he sees fit. As Americans we have a tremendous heritage to remember and never forget. A heritage not only patterned after God’s Word, but a heritage that has been handed down to us by faithful men to protect and defend…
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It's Man That Chooses His Eternity Not God

(Rom. 9:11,13) “For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Because of the above verses, many a scholar have concluded falsely that God choses some men to be saved and others to be damned; Just as He chose Jacob in the above verse over Esau in the book of Genesis, and Israel over Egypt. What a sad commentary to believe that we are nothing more than pawns in the chess game of God, where we have no choice of salvation, nor any choice in changing or determining our future and eternity.  Oh listen, the above verses teach us that God is sovereign and that He can do what He wants, but He is also bound by His Word. God would not teach here that the fate of some is set by God’s unchanging will and then tease man later in scripture and say we do have a choice or freewill in the matter. No, His Word teaches…
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What Does God Expect Of Fathers

(Deut. 6:5-7) “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” Before Israel went in to posses the Promised Land, the Lord warned Israel’s leadership of the importance of the above commandments. 1) To Love God first above all. God wanted the Fathers of Israel to give first place in the hearts to Him. Why?  Because He knew how quickly they would forget Him if they didn’t. If the fathers forget so will the family; therefore God commanded them to make God the Lord of their heart, soul, and might. 2) To Know the Word of God.  How can a father teach to his family that which he knows not himself? How sad it is when the leadership of the home does not know or study what they are to live and teach. Therefore, God expects fathers to study the Word so that the Word directs the home and not the world. 3) To Tea…
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God's Promise To Those Who Love Him

(Rom. 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” It takes a certain type of Christian to praise the Lord in all things, because that would mean that he/she would have to praise God for the bad as well as the good. The above verse however only works for those that love God, for if someone does not love and trust God in every situation, that person will become discouraged and even bitter in life. God wants all His children to believe in Him, but to also know that no matter what happens to them in this life, He has promises that we will see it turned for good if they will just love and trust Him. Too often God’s people think that God owes us an easy life, but just the opposite is taught in scripture. (John 16:33) “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” You see,even though we have…
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The Promise Of God's Blessing

(Rom. 8:17) “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” One of the greatest truths of Romans Chapter 8 is that we who are saved are promised the blessing of God now, and in eternity. 1) We have the promise of an “heirship” with Christ. Meaning that all that Christ inherits from his Father in eternity, will be ours as well. Why, because of our salvation we have been adopted into His family and are now “the sons of God.” 2)We have the promise of His Holy Sprit’s help. Once saved, God’s Holy Spirit not only indwells the believer forever, but also guides and comforts him as he travels life’s journey. He is our intercessor with God. Not only does He pray constantly for us (26,) but he also possesses and reveals to us the perfect will and way of God. And if we as believers communicate with God’s Spirit, we will glory in the perfect will of God. 3) We have the promise of his purpose in suff…
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(Romans 8) - God's Promises To Every Believer

(Rom. 8:17) “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” One of the greatest truths of Romans Chapter 8 is that we who are saved are promised the blessing of God now, and in eternity. 1) We have the promise of an “heirship” with Christ. Meaning that all that Christ inherits from his Father in eternity, will be ours as well. Why, because of our salvation we have been adopted into His family and are now “the sons of God.” 2)We have the promise of His Holy Sprit’s help. Once saved, God’s Holy Spirit not only indwells the believer forever, but also guides and comforts him as he travels life’s journey. He is our intercessor with God. Not only does He pray constantly for us (26,) but he also possesses and reveals to us the perfect will and way of God. And if we as believers communicate with God’s Spirit, we will glory in the perfect will of God. 3) We have the promise of his purpose in suff…
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