A Meeting of Mercy and Truth, Grace, Law and Judgment

Strict Bible Interpretation vs. New Thought

2012-01-16T14:37:00.000-05:00

What is a strict Biblicalinterpretation? There are many philosophers that have come and gone, but most share one thing in common. They do not hold to a "strict Bible interpretation" about life on this earth. One such philosophy that has come to my attention recently is that of "New Thought." What do they mean by calling themselves "New Thought thinkers"? It seems to me that anyone can have anoriginal thought. So, the Bible is considered as outdated by such thinkers? A check of Wikipedia reveals the basic philosophical ground of "New Thought". You can click on that link to read what I read if you are interested. However, it seems to me to have some basic tenets in common with "New Age." But, I do not want to go into them here.

Instead, I hope to create some dialog with any philosopher type individual out there who is sincerely and honestly a searcher for truth. Below you can read where I base my thinking, that is upon which philosophical ground.

So I will repeat the original question: what is a strict biblical interpretation?
I can tell you this: There is only one way tounderstand or interpret the Bible, and that is on its own account--letscripture interpret scripture. However, modernism and post-modernism haveallowed philosophers and others who do not hold the Bible as completelydivinely inspired to give their own interpretations of Bible passages and todictate what is useful or intelligent or makes logical sense from the Bible anddiscard anything that does not comport with their intellectual ideas or theirideas of what is believable. Hence, social and news commentators like PeterJennings have been heralded for producing some of the most egregious anddamaging material to the veracity of the Bible--like "The HistoricalJesus." And just where did Jennings get his material? From"researchers" and "social scientists" and philosophers, some likenew thought thinkers, who have the audacity to call themselves theologians.

But there is nothing new about new thoughtthinkers, only repackaged-material from older and now dead philosophers oftimes past. Just given new vocabulary. But no, I don't consider it new, just anew package which takes a while to decipher and then society and philosophymove on to the next great philosophical mantra that can enable them to ignorethe veracity of the Bible and the claims of the divinity of Jesus Christ--totheir detriment I might add.

I will make any honest seeker an offer.Why don't you give me your best understanding and personal philosophy oflife...as I have given mine. Over time as we can have a discussion. Pleaselet no honest-hearted seeker rationalize that just because I base my entire philosophyof life on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and the belief in the divineinspiration of the Bible and therefore the trust in its veracity...please donot rationalize that I am not worthy of the discussion with you. My understandingis that many intellectual people who don't like dogmatic Christians or theirviews will rationalize that they just don't get it and are therefore not worthyof such a discussion. At least I am up front of where my search for truth haslanded--that is the philosophical ground upon which I stand. Everyone stands onsome philosophical ground, even if it may be somewhat unclear to them orundefined.

The ground I stand on is full of assurance. Butit is not hateful, though it may appear that Christianity has exhibited hatefulcharacteristics over the past 2000 years. God has much to say about"wolves in sheep's clothing" who have given a false Christian witnesswithin the realm of Christianity. But false witnesses have also been found in scienceand philosophy which is one reason why science and philosophy are always in flux.There is always a new view emerging that people of new generations begin to adapt and adopt.

However, the Bible is still the same and has notbeen changed. Just the religious denominations that come from it havecompromised because many have accepted modern and post-modern philosophicalthinking in place of much of what the Bible teaches. Hence, the "searchfor the historical Jesus" movement and similar movements that have castaside the veracity of the Bible for the uncertainty but excitement for newideas, which eventually evolve into other new ideas and repackagedphilosophies.

It seems that almostno-one wants to accept the Bible teaching about how sin came into our world,after God created this world in six literal days in perfection. Thus, manyignore the Bible teaching that all humans are sinners in need of the Savior andthat He, Jesus Christ, has provided the only means of salvation, and it isfreely offered through belief in His life, death and resurrection and even faith in His current ministry as the believers High Priest in heaven. Just because the Bibleteaches that and I believe it, however, is no reason to not have a conversationwith me in your search for truth.

You just get to know that whatever I say in sucha conversation, I will try my best to use MY philosophy as the basis for how Ianswer you. We will share some things in common. However, I am at adisadvantage in that I do not know where you are going to be coming from unlessyou elaborate your view point as to why you believe or think a certain way on acertain point.

I am looking for those who are honest in heart and thus are sincerely searching for truth.

If anyone is willing, I am also willing.

A Thanksgiving Vision

2011-11-23T12:27:00.001-05:00

The Title of this, my most recent sermon is, A Thanksgiving Vision.

It is based on the following Scripture: Philippians3:13-16; 4:4-7. I believe Paul's letter to the church at Philippi most clearly articulates his vision for mature disciples. And in this sermon I articulate the answer to that question: What is Paul’svision for mature disciples? As pastor of two small churches I have searched this out in order to better define the vision the LORD God has placed upon my heart.

My purpose is that myhearers may desire to mature as disciples of Jesus Christ and thus both worship andwork together in Christian unity and a bond of love.

Below I have included the beginning text of the sermon:

You may download and listen to the entire sermon here

Philippians3:13-16 ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myselfto have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things whichare behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for theprize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature,have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will revealeven this to you. ¹⁶Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walkby the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Philippians4:4-7 ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always.Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but ineverything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests bemade known to God; ⁷ and thepeace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts andminds through Christ Jesus.

Pray with me: Father,please help us to listen to Your word and walk by the same rule and be of thesame mind. In Jesus name, Amen!

Thetitle of today's sermon is A Thanksgiving Vision. Yousee I have a vision for what I would like to see this church be. What should weas a church be doing to do the works of God? And how should our worship reflectour attitude toward God? Paul wrote about what it means to be a maturedisciple. Do you see it there in chapter 3:15? “Let us, as many as are mature, havethis mind.”My purpose today is that my hearers may desire to mature as disciples of Jesusand thus both worship and work together in Christian unity and a bond of love.Yes, I include not only members of this church but also our visitors and thosewho attend our services. I think that is possible for, “we can do all thingsthrough Christ who strengthens us.”

Doesthat sound too ecumenical? Well hear me out. For I do not believe in unity,just for the sake of unity. But I do believe in unity of belief and faith inGod’s word. That means we should understand the same things. If we are indisagreement on a doctrine, then there cannot be unity. For unity comes throughagreement.

Nowthe Apostle Paul knew this too, and yet He is writing to the Christians inPhilippi, Greece who were a pretty self-sacrificing bunch yet apparently neededsome instruction in unity. Why would they need instruction in unity if theyalready had the same doctrines? For, they were all taught the same bibledoctrines by the Apostle Paul Himself. Good question. Paul is not so muchconcerned with correcting their understanding of doctrine as he is with warningthem about others—outsiders to their community who would try and come in andruin them by spreading disunity or false doctrines.

Ithappened that way in Thessalonica, a city not too far away from Philippi. Andit happened in Corinth and it happened in Galatia. In Corinth, they werespreading disunity because they liked certain pastors or preachers better thanothers. That means some they didn’t like. And as a result they fell intodisobedience of God’s holy law. In Thessalonica some had stopped working andhad become disruptive and undisciplined. And in Galatia, false teachers hadcome in and were teaching false doctrines. The devil doesn’t care how he causesdisunity in God’s church. But we do see that Paul has warned the Philippiansabout these two ways—through teaching false doctrines and through usurping aleader’s authority, or through both.

ThePhilippian church was of a different sort. It began with some godly women whoPaul had met at the riverside. You may remember the name Lydia, a seller ofexpensive purple cloth. Then there was the jailer and his family. You mightremember the jailer who was converted when Paul was imprisoned there the firsttime. He was going to kill himself when he thought all the prisoners hadescaped until Paul stopped him. Paul had compassion on this man who had chainedhim and the man was converted. Yes, and Paul writes to this group and commendsthem for how loyal they were to his work in the Lord and how they supported himwhen other churches had not.

Andwe do see some warnings but mostly we see encouragement. He encourages them tolive rejoicing. He encourages them to be humble. And He encourages them to livea life of faith in Jesus—that means to live out their faith or we might say topractice their faith. And He encourages them to worship and work together inunity. That’s what he means when he says, “be of the same mind!” Seven times inthis little book Paul says to be of the same mind, or be of one mind, or havethe same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Seven times! And an eighth time hewrites that the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard yourhearts and minds…through Christ Jesus.

I hope you will want to listen to the whole sermon. It will challenge those of you who want to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. It is 33 minutes total.

DOWNLOAD: A Thanksgiving Vision

Achieving Excellence, Part 2

2011-11-20T15:23:00.001-05:00

In this sermon, Achieving Excellence-Part 2, I have included the text for the last half of the sermon because it speaks to the theme of my blog very strongly-- A Meeting of Mercy and Truth. You may download the audio for the whole sermon here: Download Achieving Excellence-Part 2

Here is the main point: Paul did not want to befound without the righteousness which is through faith in Christ, because therighteousness from the law could not save him.

Homiletical idea: True excellence and salvationwill only be achieved by righteousness through faith in Christ.

Below is the last half of the Sermon

Wheredo mercy and truth meet? Only in Jesus Christ. In fact, mercy cannot existwithout truth and neither can truth exist without mercy. Those who think thatlove is only a sentimental feeling do not really know love. Love, the Biblesays, is of God! (See 1 john 4:7-8). And thus mercy is of God and truly only ofGod. And God is also true. His character is spotless and pure and He desires usto also be spotless and pure, yes even without sin. That is, He desires us tobe righteous even the righteousness which is from the Law.

        But we are sold under sin from ourfirst act of sin; and, even from our birth since we are born into sin throughno fault of our own. We are born into sin because our first parents, the firsttwo human beings on earth, who were created directly by God Himself, Adam andEve chose to disobey God. Yes Eve was deceived by the devil who was disguisedas a talking serpent. But in reality, she trusted to her own opinion of whatthe serpent was saying about God. And thus, she heard in the serpents words,that she could, "be like God." She forgot, that she was alreadycreated in the image of God and chose to disobey God's simple command not toeat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And so she ate and then wentforward to tempt her husband.

        Now Adam must have loved Eve very much. Here he was not so much as deceived ashe was beguiled. For he chose to trust his own opinion instead of asking Godwhat he should do. And Adam's mind must have thought that he could not livewithout Eve and could figure out no other way. He certainly chose to eat theforbidden fruit and joined his wife in disobedience and in distrust of God.Love was beguiled through sin. Beguiled they were by the serpent, Satan whohimself was the father of sin.

        Satan committed the first sin ever, we are not told when, but where. Satan, whowas created by God as Lucifer, the lightbearer of God, who stood near the throneof God and was the "covering cherub" of God's Shekinah Glory andPresence...the Bible says concerning this high angelic being --by the abundanceof his "trading" (slander against God) "you became filled withviolence within, and you sinned" (Ezekiel 28:16). Sin began in heaven.
        A great number of other angels chose to join Satan in rebellion against God.And the Bible says that war broke out in heaven (see Revelation 12). And Godhad to cast them out of heaven. Now God could have destroyed those rebelsimmediately. But, in His wisdom and love He knew that the best way to handlethe problem of sin would be to allow it to play out. All the other intelligentbeings which included the loyal angels (a 2/3 majority according to Revelation12) would need to see the consequences of sin. God wants everyone to love Himand each other. And therefore, God gives everyone of His created beings thepower to choose. We are not robots or automatons. We are free moral beings withfreedom to choose. And human beings who were the newest intelligent beings ofGod's creation would be protected as long as they obeyed their Creator. Why?For obedience shows loyalty whereas disobedience shows disloyalty.

        To whom you render obedience is the one to whom you show loyalty. And by disobeyingGod, Adam and Eve gave their loyalty to the father of lies. At that point intime all humanity became sold under sin, the wages of which is death. Thusaccording to the righteousness which is from the law—Paul calls this our ownrighteousness—according to the righteous requirements of the Law of God, allhumans have inherited unrighteousness. The Bible says, there is none righteous,no not one! (Romans 3:10, Paul quoted from Psalm 14. Or was it Psalm 53? Twopsalms, nearly identical in emphasizing the same exact thing…No one isrighteous! The Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.All humans fall short of the righteous requirements of the law of God.

YetGod's love for His creatures is strong. He could not let us go and be destroyedforever. It was in God's great plan from the beginning of creation, that Jesuswould become the Redeemer if there was ever a need. The need became real whensin came to this earth and humans became sold under sin. Now, all humans weredoomed to death without the help of the pure and spotless Lamb of God whobecame the Savior of the world. Through the blood of Jesus shed on the crossalmost 2,000 years ago, through belief in His taking the penalty of death inyour place, that is through faith in Jesus and desiring to obey Him any humanbeing may now have eternal life. You are not saved by your obedience. You aresaved by His obedience. You accept His mercy and His truth together for theyare one in Him. And you must receive all of Him. Therefore, the Bible says,"you have died with Christ" and now "you also live with Him. Theold life of disobedience is no more, and you desire to live a new life inChrist, a life of obedience to Jesus.

        The Bible doesn't tell us all the details surrounding Satan's apostasy and"trading" when he was still in heaven. However, I'm sure God pleadedwith him and worked long and hard for his salvation and that of all the angelswho eventually rebelled against God. God also knew that the first two humansmay have sinned, but not to the degree that Satan had. Jesus affirms that theonly sin that will not be forgiven is the sin against the Holy Spirit. Whensomeone continues to refuse the loving and merciful pleadings of the HolySpirit so much so that he/she will never repent of his/her sins, then the HolySpirit respects his/her choice and ceases to plead with such a one. That's theway it was with Satan. That's the way it was with Pharaoh in the time of Moses.That's the way it was with the first king of Israel, Saul. That's the way itwas with Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus and then went out and hung himself.And that's the way it is for anyone who denies his/her opportunity forforgiveness of sins and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

        Mercy is always pleading through the Holy Spirit to us human beings. And mercywill continue to plead until Jesus says, "It is done!" (Revelation21:6). And then Jesus will come again. The Bible says, "Our God will comeand shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be verytempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to theearth that He may judge His people: Gather My saints together to Me, those whohave made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. Let the heavens declare His righteousness,for God Himself is Judge. Selah!" (Psalm 50:3-6).

        And this is truth! Jesus is the Judge and is ever seeking to judge in favor ofHis people (Daniel 7:22). Jesus is seeking to judge His people with HISRIGHTEOUSNESS! This is why mercy has been pleading for so long. It is not thatGod is not Just. He is. Yet mercy is also strong in our God. And He is stillseeking through the work of the Holy Spirit to bring the knowledge and love ofJesus Christ to all who will accept Him as Savior and Lord. If you truly acceptHis mercy, then you must also accept His truth. If you accept His peace, thenyou must accept His righteousness. Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep Mycommandments." And thus we see that willing obedience is the trademark oftrue love. Give your will to Jesus today by choosing to obey Him. Then He willwork in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. This is the fruit of lovingJesus. This is the fruit of obeying Jesus. This is the fruit of mercy and truthmeeting in your life and character. This is the fruit of receiving therighteousness that is from God, the righteousness that is through faith inJesus Christ. Amen!

Achieving Excellence!

2011-11-20T14:23:00.001-05:00

Achieving excellence!

Does that grab yourattention? I hope so because the title of today's sermon is achievingexcellence. At what thing would you like to achieve excellence? Think aboutthat a moment.

Yes I'm assuming that all of us wantto be good at something. When a baby boy is born, his mother may look on himand wonder, what will he be like? Or if the baby is a girl, she may wonder willshe be like or will she be different? And it different, how different? Will my childbecome famous? Or, at what things will my child excel? Will he be good inschool? Will she be good at something? Will she be a doctor? Will he be alawyer? Will she be a good cook? Will he be a good mechanic? The Lord knows Ineeded a couple of good mechanics on my vacation. Will she be artistic? Will hebe athletic?

It doesn't take long for children todevelop the same desires. Yes even children want to be good at something. Doyou know that be true? You were a child once yourself. You should know that,right? Did you want to be good at something as you were growing up? And notjust good, perhaps very good. Perhaps, even the best – better than everyoneelse.

We human beings are hardwired to wantto be good at something and even to want to be the best. When I was young Iwanted to be the fastest miler in the world. I wanted to win the Olympic 1500meter race. I dreamed about it and fantasized about it. It was not to be, noteven close; but, that was something I wanted. Yet, it was something I could notachieve. What happens when--you want something so bad and you can't achieve it.Well generally, you find something else you're good at. Right? Because we allwant to be good at what we do. And if we are just mediocre, then we will tendto find something else that we're good at. Isn't that true?

We want to achieve excellence.Sometimes this is called mastery. And we generally like the things we are goodat. And we generally don't like the things we are not so good at. Of course I'mspeaking in general.

This dynamic is drilled into usthroughout our school years. We are taught, "If you want to be happy findthe things you are good at, and do them." Or, the teacher may say, "Findthe things that you like and try those." Certainly, most of you haveprobably heard that from your teachers as you were growing up. Perhaps you have saidit to your own sons and daughters as they were growing up. Maybe you said it asa teacher; I know I did as a teacher.

The apostle Paul was doing just that –the things he was good at. He probably could have done almost anything. He wasa highly gifted man. He was courageous, independent, and persevering. He washighly talented and well trained in oratory skills and debate. He could reasonwith extraordinary clearness. Thus, he became a zealous defender of the Jewishreligion. In the book, Acts of the Apostles Ellen White writes that theapostle Paul had a, "withering sarcasm" with which "he couldplace an opponent in no enviable light."
Paul was proud of his Hebrewupbringing. He called himself a Hebrew of Hebrews, of the stock of Israel, ofthe tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law ofMoses. Not the ninth day or the 10th day – that was important – the eighth dayjust like the law prescribed. And concerning that law he was a Pharisee. Thatmeans he knew the law well and he upheld it above all things. The law was themost important thing to Paul – to argue about, to debate about…to win debatesabout. To point out to people, "this is what is important in life."

So we might say that what Paul wasgood at is what he considered to be the most important thing in the world. Andthat was probably true about many people in Paul's culture at that time.
Now today some people might think thatwhat is important is to be a great basketball player. They follow the MichaelJordan's, the Kobe Bryant's, the Lamar James's, etc. etc. And, that consumespeople's minds who might say, "We want to be good at that becauseeverybody is watching that."

Well the same principle was true inthe apostle Paul's day. In Paul's day there was not basketball or even a whole lotof athletics going on like today. However, the academics, the intellectuals,and especially the religious elites were looked up to by the masses. Accordingto what Paul wrote in the beginning of Philippians chapter 3, and you can readit for yourself, he considered himself to be blameless according to that law. Iguess we could say when it came to his education about that law he consideredhimself to be blameless... before he met Jesus Christ.

Now imagine that everything was goinggreat for Paul in his own mind – before he met Jesus. He had already, in hismind, achieved excellence. He was the best of the best! And he was just goingforward, striving to get better. Imagine Tiger Woods at the height of his golf game before he fell.

Paul was getting better and better until he metJesus Christ. This great man was persecuting the church of Jesus. PersecutingChristians! And he was very successful at it. Because of his high intelligenceand skill in debate and oratory, those he was persecuting could not win againsthim, nor survive. But that's another sermon for another time.

          In the audio-download of this sermon Iwill talk about… what the apostle Paul counted as loss… for the sake of knowingChrist.

             How much should you be willing to losein order to know Christ?

          Open your Bibles to Philippianschapter 3 and follow along. I will begin reading at verse 7 all the way through to verse 11. Download: Achieving Excellence

God Is At Work

2011-10-11T14:47:00.003-04:00

It has been awhile since my last post. I have preached several sermons since last August of which I think are worthy of an ear. However, I have not written any posts from them to this blog yet. You are welcome to download them from my church websites. I just want to reconnect with my blog today though.

It has been a busy season. I am looking forward to an outdoor church experience on Jekyll Island soon, Oct 22 to be exact. Both the Camden and Brunswick Seventh-day Adventist Churches will meet together that day to worship our Lord at Great Dunes Beachfront Park. We will have several testimonies about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and what it means to us interspersed with songs of praise. For Sabbath School, several teachers each will present a piece of the lesson of Righteousness by Faith.

Right now the Camden church is engaging in meetings with Tony Moore. (You can check out his website at http://biblicalworld.org). Tony is presenting his archaeology series, "In Search of Meaning from the Sands of the Past" from October 7 through Oct. 16. Actually, on October 14 He will begin to present his newly completed film series, "Tracing the Footsteps of Jesus." This is one of the first times it will be seen in a public venue and is the result of over seven months of filming and over four years of travel back and forth between the holy lands of Jesus day and his home in California. I am excited to have our small church host Tony as a gift to the community. Several interested souls have been attending the meetings thus far.

And just to let you know something about how God works, I have had three divine appointments on three separate days last week. God has led me and has trusted me to lead three different men into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. One was recently baptized and is searching for the role God has ordained for him to act in winning others to Christ. Selah! The other two are searching to know truth, and are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I say Selah again! I pray they will continue to remain open as the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS influences them and leads them into more truth through the work of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Memorials To Freedom--Sermon Series

2011-08-15T17:19:00.004-04:00

Herein I am posting links to all seven sermons that I preached in this series. I began on Memorial Day weekend and preached through July 4th, Independence Day:

Words of Christ in Blood Red based on Luke 24:44 – 53 which I previously blogged about and posted on my Facebook page through my blog, http://ameetingofmercyandtruth.blogspot.com . This sermon shows how Jesus opened His mission to His disciples through His teachings, through His cross, and through their preparation to receive the Holy Spirit.

Now I will post the remaining six sermons and let those who want to listen do so. All the sermons show that God has set up memorials in Scripture so that His people may remember Him and "worship Him in spirit and truth" as Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4).

The Earthly Sanctuary and God's Law this is the second sermon in the series based on Luke 24: 44 – 45. This sermon will show listeners the difference between the perpetuity of the law of God and the temporary necessity of the earthly sanctuary. It answers the question, "When Jesus fulfilled all things written about Him at the cross, did He end God's Law, or did He strengthen it with grace?"

The New Testament Speaks is part three, based on Acts 1:1 – 8. It shows that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples so that they might be witnesses to Jesus of all He did and of all He taught. It shows that the New Testament speaks the same as the Old Testament, just more clearly, especially about how to be saved and how to live your life while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.

Our Communion Watch is the fourth sermon in the series based on Matthew 27:32 – 37. It shows the true purpose of communion is to remember, understand and proclaim the Lord's death until Jesus comes again. It will challenge all those who tend to avoid Church when communion is held to consider whether or not they are really following Jesus.

To Have His Fathers Name isthe fifth sermon based on Revelation 14:1 – 12. It shows what it means to follow the Lamb wherever He goes and what it means to have His Father's name written in your forhead. In the last days of earth's history and just before Jesus comes again, only those people who have His Father's name written in their foreheads will be saved. This is a must listen if you love Jesus.

Revelation 14 and the Seal of God is the sixth sermon based on Revelation 14:6-12. It shows that those who preach the three angels messages of Revealtion 14 are preaching the last message of mercy from God to humanity. The messages urge all people to worship God in spirit and truth. They urge all people to accept and receive the seal of God and not to receive the mark of the beast. They show the everlasting gospel includes the hour of God's judgment. It is good news to believers and a warning to unbelievers. And, it shows the importance of keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath of the Lord God of all Creation. It is present truth for all people today. Will you choose to listen? I pray so.

How The Spirit Bears Witness is the seventh and final sermon in the series Memorials to Freedom. It is based on 1 John 5:6-8 and shows why and how the Holy Spirit bears witness about how Jesus came. The Scripture states He came by water and blood. Why so emphatic? What does this have to do with disciples and followers of Jesus Christ and what does it mean for how we should bear witness? Can we bear witness like Jesus did? Can we finish the work of Christ so that He may come again, this time in Glory and reap a bountiful harvest when He raises the dead in Christ and changes in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye those of His people who are still alive at that time?

I hope you will take the time out of your busyness to listen. You may just learn new truth that the Bible has been trying to give to you since you were born. Let God be praised in your life and may He bless you richly in your spirit and heart as you prayerfully consider these sermons. Please let me know how you are affected and changed by them. Thank you.

Grace be with you all,

Pastor Dean Read

Memorials to Freedom I-Words of Christ in Blood Red

2011-07-06T14:07:00.004-04:00

I have preached the first five sermons of this series beginning with Words of Christ In Blood Red for Memorial Day. I will post the next four sermons with less text, but you may listen to them through my links at box.net.

It is at Memorial Day that our nation takes time to remember those who have fought and died to preserve the freedoms we hold dear in this country. Perhaps no other nation on earth has valued its freedoms as this nation has. And yet, our nations freedoms are constantly under attack from the outside, or are being taken for granted on the inside. Freedom comes with a price, the price of blood, human lives lost in battles fought on other continents, and even battles fought here—the Revolutionary and Civil Wars come to mind. So, it is with a great deal of sadness that we let more and more of our freedoms slip away when such a high price has been paid. In the 235 years since our forefathers declared a new nation conceived in liberty, the United States of America have lost more than 1.3 million lives(see U.S. Army Military History Institute; iCasualties.org)in the battles and wars our servicemen and women have fought.

The Civil War alone bled this nation most—623,026 lives according to one source—almost half of all who died in all our wars combined. It was after that war, our nation’s costliest that Memorial Day celebrations were begun in various states of the South and the North.

But is Memorial Day respected today by the general public? Do the vast numbers of immigrants who have come here since the 1970’s know it? Do even the people who have been born and raised here still honor this day. We certainly do not see as many flags displayed from personal residences as we did when I was a boy. Once the Federal government moved the majority of holidays to “Mondays,” something else also changed in the America psyche and the general public began to look forward to its new slew of three-day-weekends, but many forgot to remember the meaning of each holiday. Yet, I suspect there may be many who quietly respect this national holiday now known as Memorial Day. However, even our own local newspaper has lamented the fact that public events of remembrance are not as well attended as they were in the past.

This human tendency to forget is also true of God’s professed people. Our God knows this… so after His Resurrection, Acts chapter 1 tells us that Jesus “presented Himself alive” to His Apostles “by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking” to them “of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Public knowledge of what God has done in the past is apparently important to God, for such knowledge and respect of God’s word is key to understanding what God is doing right now and what He is going to do in the future. And make no mistake about it; God has plans for our future. Not just our future in heaven, where Jesus will take us after He comes again; God has plans for His church – and for all people – before Jesus comes again.

This new sermon series began at Memorial Day and will stretch on through July. The series is called, “Memorials to Freedom,” and this sermon is part I, Words of Christ in Blood Red.

Please open your Bibles and take the time to read Luke chapter 24 verses 44-53. Jesus said, “These are the words which I spoke to you.” When did He speak them? Before He was crucified! And now we find Him speaking them again. Verse 45 says, "He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." After His resurrection, Jesus remained on the Earth 40 days to reteach His disciples about His mission. After 3 1/2 years of walking with Jesus, learning directly from the Master, the disciples still did not understand His mission and most certainly did not know theirs. Without these extra 40 days, they could never be ready for their mission. Not only that, it took something else too. They had to wait. And they had to wait, together. Jesus told them to gather together into one place, and to wait for the promise of the Father. They were to wait until they were "endued with power from on high."

During that waiting time, Jesus's disciples were to prepare themselves to receive the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, well what could anyone really do? I mean, just compare the state of God's church today with His church described in the book of Acts. Is it possible to find a church today like the one described in the book of Acts? In Ron Clouzet's book, Adventism's Greatest Need, we find the following quote from Carl Bates, one-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention:
"If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of our midst today, about 95% of what we are doing in our churches would go on, and we would not know the difference. Yet if God had taken the Holy Spirit out of the midst of the first Christian community, about 95% of what they were doing would have ceased immediately."

I hope you will agree with me, that God requires us as a local church to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. You might even be tempted to think that's all we are missing. Just pray that God will pour out His Spirit. However, our opening passage reveals that Jesus requires His church to make preparations before He will pour out His Spirit.

Jesus opened the mission to His disciples first through His teachings, second through His cross, and third through their preparation to receive the Holy Spirit.
"These are the words which I spoke to while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

His words, His teachings are of first importance. And God has set up memorials throughout Bible history to enable his people to remember the things of first importance. One of the first memorials of God set up is the Sabbath day. He established it at Creation and wrote it with his own finger in the 10 Commandments. He began the fourth commandment, the Sabbath commandment with the word, "Remember." That is the purpose of a memorial is it not? So that we may remember the important events of the past which have a bearing on our future!

Another memorial which God set up was the Passover. In Exodus 12:14, God said, “This day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” One of the reasons the Jewish leaders did not recognize Jesus when He came to this Earth as a human being, God in human flesh, was because they had forgotten the true meaning of Passover.

When Moses came to the burning bush and spoke with God for the first time, God declared that he would deliver His people from bondage. God said, "I AM WHO I AM. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.” God's name and God's work of deliverance is declared a memorial to His people. Even the psalmist in writing about when the Israelites were delivered from Egypt says the following: "Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations. For the Lord will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants." (Psalm 135:13-14)

So God's name is a memorial. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow. His work of deliverance is a memorial which in the past was commemorated by the Passover and now was commemorated by meditating on His cross. And His word is a memorial, for after His resurrection, Jesus repeated the same words to His disciples and "opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures."

They needed to have an understanding of Jesus mission. And they needed to have an understanding of their mission. But why, after walking with Jesus for three and one-half years during His earthly ministry, why did they not understand His mission? It has to be because they had not yet faced His cross. The crucifixion of Jesus, His suffering and His death was a blow to His disciples. They had not expected the cross even though they had been told. So it was after the cross, and after His resurrection that Jesus came to them and retaught them. For forty days He again taught them the same things He had previously taught them, the things from the Old Testament that pointed to Him. Only now, in the light of His cross. For forty days they received from the Master a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of His mission and of their mission.

Yet, they still would not be ready until they obeyed Jesus to "wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard from Me." After Jesus ascended back to heaven, they gathered together in one place. The place happened to be Jerusalem. They prayed together in unity. They put away all differences and desire for the supremacy. No more would they fight over who would be the greatest. They were now humble and brave in the the Lord. 120 souls gathered together in one accord, waiting for the promise of the Father. And then they were ready. And then and only then did God pour out His Spirit upon them to equip them for their mission. And the Bible says that when God poured out His Spirit upon them, 3,000 souls were converted in one day. 3,000 new believers in Jesus Christ through the work and prayers of a few, 120 in number.

Jesus opened the mission to His disciples first through His teachings, second through His cross, and third through their preparation to receive the Holy Spirit. Our hearts will be opened to do His mission through His teachings, His cross, and our preparation to receive the Holy Spirit.

I ask you during this memorial season and freedom celebrations, when our nation honors our servicemen and women who have given their lives to preserve our freedoms, I ask you also to consider what God requires of you as an individual and what God requires of local churches who claim to follow Him to remember. Jesus' cross and His words are worth remembering daily, and His mission to us the Great Commission must be carried out daily. Our hearts will only be opened to do His mission as we receive His teachings, meditate on His cross, and make serious preparations to receive the Holy Spirit.

I will leave you with the following thought also found in Ron Clouzet’s book, Adventism’s Greatest Need. A quote from the tombstone of English evangelist and author Leonard Ravenhill:
“Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for.”

How Do You Do?

2011-06-08T13:24:00.003-04:00

I have written a new sermon based on James 1:16-22. The theme continues with growing disciples. The main scripture that has inspired me for this theme is verse 18. If you would like to hear the whole sermon in context, just select the link below.
How Do You Do?

NKJ James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Today's sermon is a follow-up on my last one. The last sermon was called,” a Disciple Named Dorcas.” Both sermons are about discipleship. About growing as disciples. And because I want to grow in spiritual maturity, and because I want to grow mentally and physically and socially, because growing in grace is really growing in all aspects human upon which our God has endowed us, today’s sermon is titled,

"How Do You Do?"

Ah! You might be thinking, "I know that greeting." But, how about the more familiar "how are you doing?" Or, "how's it going?" Or just simply, "how are you?" Well, I do care about you. And I do care about how you are doing. And I do greet you today. However, the sermon title, "How Do You Do?" is really a pun. It has more to do with the passage in today's sermon than it does with a mere greeting.

Now let's look closely at verse 18. The Bible says, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." This verse has caught my eye. It's important. Perhaps the most important verse in James chapter 1 if not the whole book of James. It is sandwiched in between the Lord's appeal to us to ask for wisdom if we lack it and God's definition of pure and undefiled religion. It is also sandwiched in between verse 16 and verse 22. Verse 16 begins with, "do not be deceived," and verse 22 ends with, "deceiving yourselves."

Verse 16 begins with, "do not be deceived," because God has given us gifts, pure gifts, to use for His service. We are not to make excuses when we fall into temptation as if what God has given us caused us to be tempted. People that make that kind of excuse are called "deceived" according to the Bible. And verse 22 ends with more counsel about, "deceiving yourselves." What kind of people is called deceived in verse 22? The kind of people that are only hearers of the word; but they are not doers of the word.

It is the word of God that is important here. And it is highlighted in verse 18. The Bible says that is by this word, the word of truth, that God brought us forth. Brought who forth? Who does the word "us" represent? Well, the pronouns “us” and “we” are plural; but, the noun and the adjective and the definite article that make up the phrase “to be a kind of firstfruits” are all in the singular form in the original Greek. "Us" is a collective whole. Not only that, the context of this passage reveals that God is addressing His church as a whole made up of many individuals.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:23 about this God-identified firstfruits. After writing about the whole creation, the animals on this earth, that they groan, waiting for the time when Jesus comes again… when they will be released from bondage to death… The Bible says, “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Paul writes in the present tense. That means we have the firstfruits now. That means we are to be the firstfruits now. Before Jesus comes again, right now, today… we are God’s first fruits now!

So, we need to pay attention to this very meaningful verse. The King James says, "of His own will He begat us with the word of truth." The new American Standard says, "in the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth." The New International Version says, "He chose to give us birth through the word of truth." In fact the Greek verb used here means, "to give birth or to bring into being." Or, as the New King James says,” to bring forth.”

God is the creator of this Earth and of the entire universe. But this Earth fell into sin so God had to redeem it. Jesus came to this Earth to redeem it and what He did for us in His life and His death and His resurrection, and what He is doing for us right now as our High Priest in heaven… this is the story of salvation. It is the story of our redemption. It is the greatest story ever told.

Jesus taught us that each one of us must be born again or we won’t see the Kingdom of Heaven. This is called the new birth. We will not be saved unless we are born again. So, I find it very fitting that God is also testifying to us of how He birthed His church. The Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Creator of the Universe, the One who is called Jesus--the Word made flesh, of whom it is written “all things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made”. . . Our God says that He planted His church on this Earth… by the word of truth. In the book Acts of the Apostles, page 12 Ellen White writes, “Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.”

Yes, our God in a special sense has planted His church upon this Earth.
As I was contemplating this Bible passage and trying to gather my thoughts while sitting outdoors on Jekyll Island because I needed a quietous place to write. God the Father has allowed me to sit here under the oaks on Jekyll. As I began to meditate deeply into this verse I saw deep meaning. Even the great oaks were brought into being by God. Sure. No believer would deny that. However, consider the meaning of that to us in this lost world. We know that this old earth is on a path towards a final end. Wars and natural disasters are constantly tearing away at the land. Since sin was set in motion as the result of a poor choice on the part of the first two human beings, this earth has lost much of its original luster. We do not see a perfect world today. We never have. There is much humans could complain about in regards to nature alone. Yet, there is still something of that original luster of Creation,that the power of God has preserved and protected. And we can still see some of that perfection in both nature and in man.

Yes, as I looked up at those great oaks and followed the spread of their massive limbs taking shapes much pleasing to my eye, and giving clear messages of strong lives, long-lived lives… And I’m just talking about the trees. There are many other creatures of God’s wonderful Creation that testify to a grand plan of perfection. Yes, just taking in a look at those trees alone…and I was suddenly awestruck and I could not remain seated. I had to get up and praise God with my voice, out loud.

Here I was trying to research and write for this sermon and so I came to this quiet place to help me stay on task. And when humans are trying to complete a task, the usual tendency would be to not look up. Not look around, for we have been taught to “quit daydreaming” from our early grade-school years. And even when it wasn’t daydreaming, but just getting off-task, our schools and teachers have programed us to “stay on task.”

I am not talking about being distracted. What I am suggesting is "looking up."
Sometimes, we need a broader focus. Sometimes, you just have to look up. And I had to fight the inclination to remain seated, go onto the next point or idea and stay on the task of research and writing. After all, I had a sermon to get done. Yet, I also had to look up. And just for a second or two if even to rest my eyes. And I caught a glimpse of those trees... and the Holy Spirit showed me, that those trees were also created by God for the same purpose. To testify to His greatness and His love for His creatures! Those trees are something special. They have purpose. They have being. They are SOMETHING! They were birthed by our Creator God.

And I remembered the verse, the main verse for this sermon which says the same thing about us. Something about us! His people! His church! Why He brought us into being. Different from the original creation, the creation that was perfect before sin... We are His new creation. We are his church on Earth. We have purpose!

The Bible says, “Of His own will He brought us into being to be His firstfruits now.” How does He do this? The Bible says, "by the word of truth." Well then, how do we do it? How are we to be His firstfruits now? The Bible says, "By hearing, receiving, and doing His word!"
It is God's own will that our church be His firstfruits now, by hearing, receiving, and doing his word.

A Disciple Named Dorcas--A Mother's Day Sermon

2011-06-03T13:24:00.005-04:00

NOTE: I preached this sermon for Mother's Day, yet it is in the theme of Growing Disciples Through Shared Leadedship. I preached this about a week after major Tornados had decimated several areas in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. You may read it, or you may listen at this BOX.NET link: A DISCIPLE NAMED DORCAS

Do you remember Dorcas? The Dorcas Society? Whatever happened to it and is the old Dorcas Society needed again in today’s Church?

For today’s sermon and in remembrance of Mother’s Day, I will be preaching on a tenderly regarded mother of God’s saints. She was a disciple of the New Testament Church. Her name was Dorcas. Her story is found in Acts chapter 9, verses 36-42. The title of today’s sermon is, “A Disciple Named Dorcas.” The question we need to answer is, “Why did God need Dorcas?”

Please open your Bibles and read Acts 9:36-42 now.

Peter was called to the death room where her body was prepared for burial. All the widows were crying and showing and telling Peter about the many things she had made and the many good works she had done for the needy of the local church and the community. And now she was dead.

But just ask yourself this question. Why did God need Dorcas? I mean the Scripture says that "All flesh is grass... The grass withers the flower fades... but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:6-8). So people die all the time, including people of God, called His saints. And Dorcas, kind, tenderhearted saint of God though she was, had also died. It happens all the time and God's people move forward because it is the message of our God that is most important. God raises up people in place of fallen saints to carry on His work of seeking and saving the lost and He will continue to do so until Jesus comes again. That's what those verses in Isaiah 40 really mean.

However, that does not mean that people are not important to God. People like faithful Dorcas. Ellen G. White in the book, Acts of the Apostles writes about Dorcas, "Her skillful fingers were more active than her tongue." We all could do better to be more like Dorcas, talk less and listen and care more about others. And I know this story, this miracle of Dorcas being raised from the dead is preached about to tell the power of God. And it also shows how God honors His servants prayers, those of saints who walk closely with Him, like Peter. After all, Jesus foretold the signs that would follow along with God's servants; demons would be cast out, miracles would happen and even the dead would be raised back to life all in Jesus name. So yes, this miracle of Dorcas being raised back to life by the power of God, does reveal who God honored--the early Christian church that was walking closely with Him in word and deed. And I am sure the miracle caused people to fear or respect the name of Jesus Christ and brought many conversions and many others to have their faith strengthened.

But I don't think that is the only reason that God raised Dorcas from death to life. I think God needed Dorcas because He NEEDED Dorcas! What, you ask? Couldn't God have found someone else to take her place and continue doing her good works in that Christian community? Possibly. However, I think it points to a further need, a need for which Dorcas was especially qualified. A need to train and equip more disciples to do the works of Dorcas.

I think Peter must have sensed the need for him to pray such a great prayer of faith. It was an impossible request by today's standards. When have you ever heard of someone being raised from the dead? I am not talking about medical "miracles" when there is still life in the body to enable a person to be resuscitated. We are talking complete death, no hope of medical recovery at all, and the body already washed and prepared for burial. So, even by the standards of the New Testament Church, this is no simple request.

Which may help us to answer my next question: Why did Peter put them all out before he prayed? Can you imagine the emotion in the room? At the very least it would be distracting. Peter is going to pray not just any old prayer. He is going to ask God to raise Dorcas from death and bring her back to life. This kind of prayer is not easily answered and certainly it is rarely. In fact, when Jesus was preparing to raise a certain 12 year old girl from death to life, He also put everyone out of the room. (Mark 5:37, 40; Matthew 9). She was the daughter of the ruler of a synagogue and the professional mourners were already there waiting and crying, but not really caring. In fact, they broke face from their pretended mourning when Jesus said to them, “Why all this weeping and commotion? … the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Jesus. But Jesus took control and put them all out, except for the parents. And of the disciples, Mark 5:37 says that, “He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James and John.” Then…Jesus raised the girl from death to life. This wasn’t the only time Jesus put other people out of a room.

So Peter was following His master’s model when he put those crying out of the room.
But how did Peter know to do that? Why did he not let them stay in the room? After all, couldn’t they help by their prayers of faith? Sometimes you have to go it alone when it comes to prayer. And sometimes the lack of faith or faultfinding or ridicule can affect you in such a way that it becomes difficult to pray for God to work a mighty miracle, though it is much needed.

For example, I am praying for the churches that I pastor to prosper spiritually and to grow. Yet, I know it is difficult what with church not being run like a corporation. You see, in a corporation or company or business, people work full time and receive a salary or wages. But in a church, most of the members work fulltime and thus little time is left for work in the church. So,we in the church have to be smarter. Organization is needed! And prayerful examination of self! And heart preparation to recieve the Holy Spirit!

We have been through some strange events these past couple of weeks. Many in this country have been relieved at the reports of the death of the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001. Yet, only four days previous to that report several states in the South including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee were in the midst of another kind of destruction wreaked upon us by the forces of nature. EF four and EF five tornadoes destroyed large areas of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa Alabama, Ringgold, Georgia, several homes in Collegedale, Tennessee and especially in the Apison area. Over 300 people lost their lives. Hundreds more perhaps thousands injured. Many homes damaged or destroyed. Some of you have relatives or friends or acquaintances who live in those areas. You know of people who lost homes or their homes were damaged. The people who live in those areas know it firsthand.

The world's worst terrorist may be dead, but those tornadoes and storms and even the rising waters of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers causing massive flooding on an unprecedented scale, or even the major earthquakes that cause massive tsunamis, or the volcanic disruptions, or the hurricanes… None of these were caused by a human terrorist, a human enemy. The Bible tells us there is another enemy out there, Satan and his army of evil angels who may be directly responsible for some of these, what are referred to as, "natural disasters." But I also know since Satan caused our first parents to sin, the so-called, "natural disasters," have been increasing more and more on this old earth. God himself has sometimes brought judgment through an upheaval of the forces of nature. Remember the worldwide Flood in Noah's day, the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah? And certainly, God has allowed all the rest, though the cause has been elsewhere.

The Bible tells us that God does not delight in death or destruction. Jesus Christ came to this Earth to seek and to save that which was lost. One time Jesus asked His listeners if they thought a certain group of people who had died in a certain natural disaster were worse sinners than others. Jesus said, "They were not, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Until Jesus comes again this world will continue to be on a path of destruction and death. Jesus showed by His example how His people are to live and to minister to others until He comes again. We have Good News to preach and warnings to give. But we also have good works to do. Not just during times when natural disasters wreak their havoc, but also during ordinary times. Yes, even during times when people are feeling relatively safe and secure and free from care.

When a disaster strikes, what is a person to do to help? What would a person like Dorcas do? Think about the recent slew of EF-4 and Ef-5 Tornados that caused much death and destruction in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Adventist community services and the Georgia Cumberland conference are there. People, people like you and me, are lending a hand. Some with chainsaws cutting fallen trees out of the way, others supplying food and drink to rescue workers and to residents, tirelessly working without sleep. Like Dorcas, their skillful fingers are more active than their tongues at this particular time.

Read Kristen Cook's story and you'll see what it's like for one young Christian mother to deal with the trauma, care for her children, and provide food and help to relief workers and victims. Kristen is the wife of a pastor, David Cook. They are from the McDonald Road Seventh-day Adventist church, but they live in Apison. Their house was spared. One not so far away was destroyed and four people died. Several areas look like war zones. And yet the relief workers work. The Spirit of Christ is manifest through many of His servants there.

Imagine what it would be like if no one helped. If no one worked to relieve suffering or provide assistance. Imagine what that would be like. When emergency disasters occur, the Spirit of Christ takes hold of His people and many come forward to help. There is something about disasters, there is something about emergencies, that bring out the best in people. In fact even people who are not Christians come forward to help. Even Counties and cities throughout our nation now attempt to prepare for disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes and tornadoes can produce. And I know and am certain that God is pleased when His people step forward to help and assist and partner with our communities for disaster relief.

But I also know that God expects more of us. We are to be actively working for good all the time. The gifts he has given us are to be used to do good. We are a people who make up a local church. As such, Jesus calls us His disciples. Why did God raise Dorcas from death to life? Why did God still need Dorcas? Yes, that miracle helped encourage God's church at a time when they needed encouraging. But there's more. For who was going to replace Dorcas? Who was going to continue her good works? Apparently, there was more discipling to be done. And Dorcas was the one who could disciple others to do what she did. God chose her to continue His work.

God shows the works He values, and God knew she was of so great value that He raised her from the dead so that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others…because...there is more discipling to be done!
Her skillful fingers were more active than her tongue and the Lord used her for good…to influence many to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
God needed Dorcas because she was faithful to use her talents in His service.
By this story, this small story that God chose to have included in the Scriptures, God is showing us the works that he values. Will we take notice? Do we understand something of what God wants us to do as His disciples?

Perhaps we have become so modern and advanced since the beginning of the Dorcas society and women have become so empowered to take up other lines of work within the church that there are few if any left to do the work that Dorcas did. Does God still need Dorcas? Yes! He shows by this story the kind of work that He values.

In Alabama the Piedmont Seventh-day Adventist church was preparing to burn its mortgage on Sabbath April 30. But on April 27 an EF 5 tornado decimated the building. Their website says that the building was completely destroyed… But the church still stands!

We stand or fall today based on whether or not our actions prove us to be disciples of Jesus Christ. God allows these disasters to happen and people of faith in Jesus Christ are brought together. When Dorcas died, the people in Joppa who were members of God's church were brought together in sorrow and weeping. When Peter prayed, and Dorcas was resurrected from the dead the same people were brought together in rejoicing, began working as disciples and many others were converted to believe in the Lord Jesus.

In Testimonies Volume 5 page 304, Ellen White writes the following about faithful disciples like Dorcas: “Such patient, prayerful, and persevering fidelity as was possessed by these saints of God is rare; yet the church cannot prosper without it. It is needed in the church, in the Sabbath school, and in society… There is always a call for steadfast, God-fearing workers, who will not faint in the day of adversity.” Folks, the days of adversity are now upon this world and it is growing more adverse everyday.

I want you to know that I am praying. I am praying that the community services in this church will grow. I am praying that God will resurrect the Dorcas Society as surely as he resurrected Dorcas from the dead. I am praying that those who have an interest and have such gifts will come forward to do the same kind of work that Dorcas did. I am praying that women and men will work together to grow as disciples of Jesus and to disciple others that they may also to take up their work to which God has called them. Everyone is called to do something. Every member is called to be a disciple. So I am praying. I hope you will join me in this prayer that this church may stand and grow and bring many to salvation until the day that Jesus returns. Amen!

The Covering

2011-06-01T13:17:00.003-04:00

Sermon by Dean Read Title: The Covering
This is a sermon that I preached for Easter. You may read it or you may select the link to hear it: THE COVERING

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-26
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Question: What happens when a disciple becomes like Jesus?
Answer: He/she can expect to be treated like Jesus was treated.

Our opening passage reveals two startling facts. First, that Jesus expects His disciples to be like Him. Jesus said, "It is enough that a disciple be like His teacher and a servant like his master." Second, the more a disciple becomes like Jesus, the more he can expect to be treated like Jesus. Now that second point is like a double edged sword, because sometimes Jesus was treated quite well but other times He was mistreated and persecuted. And in this passage, Jesus is talking about mistreatment or persecution due to envy and jealousy and hatred.

I have been reading a book written by Susan Scott called "Fierce Conversations." Fierce does not mean angry. It means robust, intense, strong… powerful and passionate… eager and unbridled conversations. She has worked with CEO’s of large corporations to help them. Help them do what? Achieve success at work and in life one conversation at a time. In writing the forward, Ken Blanchard aptly summarizes the theme of book. "Our lives succeed or fail gradually, then suddenly, one conversation at a time. While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a business, a marriage, or a life, any single conversation can. The conversation is the relationship."

And so I say, if the conversation is the relationship, then God's conversation with the world today is revealed through how the Holy Spirit works through His disciples.

Ms. Scott advises her students to master the courage to interrogate reality, especially about yourself. Sounds like a Christian virtue doesn't it? The Bible does tell us to examine ourselves. She also says, to "come out from behind yourself into the conversation and make it real." That means to be authentic and genuine. Isn't that what God wants for us too? Whether or not a person is a Christian, the most successful people are those that are genuine about who they are. The greatest leaders in the world, the ones that effect positive change in people and leave a lasting legacy for good are those that live authentic lives for good.

Susan tells the story about a young woman named Nora who was excited when she landed her first job after college. "It was for a large, well-known company, and she was intent on bringing everything she was and everything she had learned to the task at hand. The problem was, her coworkers made it clear in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that if she brought everything she had to the task, she would wreck the curve for everyone else.

Nora said – and this is the part Susan remembers so vividly, the part that went through her like a chill –“within a few weeks, as I was driving to work I psyched myself down for a job that was too small for me. Within a month, I had absented my spirit from work.”

What does she mean "absented my spirit?" Have any of us ever done that? Perhaps you remember a time or circumstance when you felt like that. What a price to pay to be part of a group. Peer pressure, even pressure from peers that you don't particularly like has a devastating effect on us. I’ve seen this happen time and time again, over and over again among men and women at their place of work and among boys and girls at their schools. We psych ourselves down. We want to be cool. We don't want to stand out.

I recently watched an episode of the Walton’s, that old family show from the 1970s. John Boy, the oldest, was attending his first day of college and encountered a good old-fashioned college razing meant to humiliate all new freshman and forced them to be less or act less than what they actually were. But John boy had good character. So he endured the insults about the way he looked, how he was dressed, and how he talked and where he was from. Instead of psyching himself down even though it was a discouraging ordeal, he psyched himself up, because he knew who he was and who he wanted to become.

What is it about being good, about acting good that brings about mistreatment at the hands of others? Which leads me to posit this next question: What would the world be like if all Christians treated other people like they treat Jesus? Hmmm! Hold onto that thought. We’ll get back to it. For now I want to focus on the goodness of Jesus. That’s all I can do because Jesus was only good. So everything about Jesus is goodness. His goodness was obvious to all who saw Him and heard Him.

But there were some people who did not like Jesus’ goodness. Therefore, they did not like Jesus. This is especially revealed in the five trials Jesus had to suffer before dignitaries, Jewish and Roman, and the mockery and blasphemy He endured for our sakes. Let's take a look at how they tried to strip Him of His goodness and even stripped Him of His clothes and hung Him on a cross to die a criminal’s death.

Jesus was all goodness when He walked this earth in human flesh. Yet He had to face the cross. Just go back and read elements form the four gospels Jesus' trial leading up to the cross. In the first trial He was examined by Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest. Yet, when Jesus responded to him after being questioned about doctrine, He was slapped by one of the officers. In John 18:23 Jesus responds, "if I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well why do you strike Me?"

He was sent with his hands bound to Caiaphas the high priest. After hearing Jesus declare Himself to be the son of God, the high priest tore his clothes and condemned Jesus to death. Matthew 26:67-68 records, "then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck you?"

Matthew 27:1-2 reveals their plot further when they bound him again and sent him to Pilate. This is the third trial. Pilate questioned Him for a while and sent Him to Herod.

So, before Herod Jesus is now arraigned for a fourth time. The Scripture says in Luke 23:10 – 11 the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him, and Herod, with his men-of-war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate. The mockery of the robe. Reminds me of Joseph's coat of many colors.

You can read about Joseph's story and Joseph's coat in Genesis 37. Do you know the story? Joseph was the favorite of their father Jacob. Joseph, like Jesus, was good. He obeyed his father. But his brothers secretly disobeyed their father on several occasions and were openly disrectful against their father from time to time. So, Jacob honored Joseph with the gift a special coat. Sometimes this is called a "coat of many colors." But the Hebrew is difficult to translate and could also mean a long sleeved, long robed coat. It definitely covered more of Joseph's frame than the conventional coats others wore. It was probably more intricately woven of the best wools and materials available. T

The brothers definitely were jealous of Joseph's special relationship with their father and of the special coat which seemed to symbolize that relationship. Some think it was a gift of favoritism, and that may be so. But the Bible never portrays Joseph as doing wrong, just the brothers. The father sent Joseph to them in the fields to see how they were doing. When they saw him, they conspired against him and wanted to kill him. Of course, God intervened through Reuben and Judah and Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. That's another part of the story, but for now, I want to focus on that coat.

The brothers took the coat, tore it, dipped it in animal blood, hoping the father would be fooled into thinking it was Joseph's blood and that Joseph was dead, torn by wild beasts. The plot worked. For a time. But God had other plans that also point to what Jesus went through during His trials and His cross.

What did the coat symbolize, that long coat made to cover him? It has to be RIGHTEOUSNESS, a righteous covering that was stripped off. Whatever anyone thinks of the gift Jacob gave to Joseph, whether or not it was a gift of favoritism, the coat to the brothers was a special covering that they wanted to strip away from him and humiliate him and kill him. Only he was not killed, by the providential protection of God who watched over him. We cannot say that about Jesus though. Not that God did not watch over Him. But that God allowed Him to be taken by sinners, stripped of His dignity, and stripped of His clothes and crucified. Jesus died a sinner’s death, and take note that His robe was not mistakenly dipped in animal blood, it was purposely saturated with His own blood through scourgings when the robe was pulled off Him and placed back upon Him after repeated whippings. More of His blood dripping from His thorn-crowned brow spilled onto His robe. And don't forget that purple robe that Herod had placed upon our Lord. That was a robe of mockery.

Then Jesus was sent Back to Pilate for His fifth and final trial before unjust men.
Let’s pick up the story in John 19 (18:39-19:16). Read John 19:1-3, Pilate had Jesus scourged again. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head. Then they put Herod's purple robe of mockery back on His bleeding, lacerated body.
He faced mockery by Roman Soldiers who knew what the purple robe meant. Herod was making fun of Jesus' claim to Kingship. You see, Herod was the Roman appointed King of the Jews.

Matthew 27:27-31 tells how they stripped Him, spat on Him, struck Him and mocked Him saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they put His own clothes back on Him and led Him away to be crucified.

Matthew27:35-37 tells how they cast lots for "His clothing." That would not be Herod's purple robe, but Jesus own robe. The one they stripped off Him in front of Herod and replaced with the purple robe of mockery. Yes wicked human beings mocked the Son of God. Little did they realize Who they were trying to unclothe.

What kinds of things do you think they may have said to Him who now hung on the cross. Like Joseph's brothers, they may have said something like this: "This is that dreamer! The One with the special coat of many colors. Let's make His colors bleed red! How does He look to us now? We have humiliated Him. We have stripped Him. We have bled Him! We have crucified Him. We have defeated Him and proved that He is no better than us." Or so they thought.

Who among my readers has experienced something like that, to be persecuted for being good or wanting to be good? Anything ever happen to you like what happened to Nora at her place of work when she tried to do her best? Or, like John Boy Walton when he suffered a humiliating razing when he was newly arrived at college? Or perhaps something much worse? Remember what Jesus said, “Whatever you have done to the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me.”

Let me close with the same the two points with which I began.
So, back to that question: what would the world be like if all Christians treated other people like they treat Jesus? Well, I think the world is already that way. For however you treat others is how you treat Jesus. That’s what Jesus said, “Whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done also unto me.”

Remember the first point? Jesus wants and expects those of us who believe in Him to become like Him. And thus with the second point, He counsels us not to fear because: Those who become more like Jesus will be treated like Jesus was treated. HE SAID, "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

I ask you, with what do you want to be covered today? In this sermon, we have considered the story of what happened to Joseph when he was last wearing his special coat alongside the story of the cross. We saw how Christ was stripped of His clothes and of all human dignity and crucified as a criminal, sacrificed as a sinner.
But His righteousness could not be stripped from Him, because He was not a sinner. He never sinned. He is all righteousness. He is the Living God. He died yet rose again, because He had power within Himself to take up His life again.
He is the Resurrection and the Life. Only through His cross, His blood shed for us, His death on our behalf and the power of His resurrection… can righteousness be imputed or freely given to those who believe in Him…to those who want to become like Him. Do you want to become like Jesus?

Either we are covered with Jesus' righteousness or we are covered with our own. And if we are covered with Jesus’ righteousness, that and only that is enough. That is sufficient. The more a disciple becomes like Jesus, the more he can expect to be treated like Jesus.

But not just in persecution, but also in exaltation. For He is Resurrected and is ascended to heaven and has sat down at the right hand of the Father, still working on behalf of us mortals who have yet to put on immortality.
As one of my favorite Hymns-Christ the Lord Is Risen Today-says,
Soar we then where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head,
Made like Him, like Him we rise,
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

Do you want to be treated like Jesus deserves to be treated? I do. Then make it your life’s work to be like Jesus. You may suffer here, but you will be glorified there. That’s why He said, “Do not fear!” For when He comes again, He is pictured in Revelation 19:13-14, "clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." And He will so clothe us and He will cover us with His blood shed for our sins, "for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8).

Remember, God's conversation with the world today is revealed through how the Holy Spirit works through His disciples. And so today, let us work for Him to seek and to save that which was lost and let us freely worship Him who is our Creator and our Savior. Let us worship Him who discovers and uncovers our unrighteousness for our sakes. He who removes our filthy garments of pretended righteousness from us and gives us His robe of righteousness as a permanent and eternal covering. That’s the kind of covering I want. How about you?

Experimenting With a New Vision

2011-05-31T16:27:00.007-04:00

This is a sermon based on John 14:12-15,and is a challenge to God's remnant people to come out from behind themselves and follow Jesus' vision for His church. It really is not a new vision, for though Jesus gave His disciples a "new" commandment, to love one another as He had loved them, this really was not new. It was the old original commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself, as you love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind. See Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

The title is taken from our group of pastors in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference who are leading pilot churches through a new paradigm called Growing Disciples Through Shared Leadership. About 12 pastors and Conference leadership along with a core group of laymen from each pilot church have been working to follow Christ's vision for His New Testament Church and His method alone. I challenge you to listen to this sermon, and I will finally write more later this week. Here's the link:
Experimenting With a New Vision
I have four more sermons to post, and I will write more extensively as I post them. Be looking forward to:
The Covering based on Matthew 10:24-26
A Disciple Named Dorcas based on Acts 9:36-42
How Do You Do? based on James 1:16-22

Also, I have begun a new sermon series called Memorials to Freedom. This series will run from Memorial Day through July 4th, hence the title.
I will shortly write a new post including part one of that series. I hope you will look forward to it:
Memorials to Freedom, I: Words of Christ in Blood Red
based on Luke 24:44-49.

Why Abraham Favored Others

2011-04-03T21:03:00.004-04:00

The title of the sermon is, "Why Abraham Favored Others." It is based on Genesis 18:1-8, when God came to dinner at Abraham's place of residence.
It is the second in my series on "grace," the first being, "Why Noah Walked With God."

Have you ever been on the way to do something, say make an appointment for a business meeting, and got sidetracked by an invitation from somebody else? Perhaps you have been invited out for a meal, only to have to decline the invitation because you already had other commitments. Yet, in your heart of hearts, you really would rather accept the invitation and enjoy that meal and the social interaction that goes with it. Maybe something like this has happened to you in the past. Maybe even more than once or twice.

What do you do in such situations? On the one hand, you have this important appointment. On the other hand, you have this invitation to dinner and a refreshing visit with old friends.

And that is exactly the scenario in which we find the three travelers in Genesis 18. But these aren’t just ordinary travelers. No. In fact, we learn that One of the travelers is the LORD and his two companions are angels. All three are on a mission; an important appointment is theirs to meet. They are on their way to bring judgment upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I’m sure most of you know that story, the story of how God brought judgment and destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah by raining on them fire and brimstone—burning those cities up until there was nothing left but residue and ash. And you probably know the story of how Abraham interceded before God on behalf of those cities, and how God answered Abraham’s prayer by saving Lot and his family from the destruction.

This was a very important appointment for God. He had to meet it for judgment and justice are very important to God and it was recorded in the Bible for our instruction and benefit. After all, the Bible says that the Lord will by no means clear the guilty! And God had decided with the wisdom that only He possesses, that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked beyond the possibility of redemption. So, out of a sense of justice and mercy for all human beings, God needed to put a stop to the sinful and evil ways of Sodom and Gomorrah.

But on the way to that appointment, the LORD and two angels appeared on the earth as mere human beings. They looked like travelers who were weary from a long journey. And they walked through Abraham’s neighborhood on their way to Sodom. And the Bible says that Abraham looked up and saw them. Now Abraham did not know who they were or where they were going. But he ran to meet them. That was his way. Abraham was always looking out for others.

In fact, Abraham favored others over himself. The bible teaches us something significant about the grace of God through the story of Abraham’s life. If you read my previous post and listened to that sermon based on Genesis 6, it was called, “Why Noah Walked with God.” Genesis 6:8 said, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” And verse 9 taught us that as a result, “Noah walked with God.”

In the same way, the Bible teaches us that Abraham favored others because the LORD favored him. Look at how Abraham acted when he and his nephew Lot both had large herds of livestock and there began to be strife between their herdsmen. That story is told in Genesis 13, and in verse 8 Abraham said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsman and your herdsman.” And Abraham let Lot have first choice as they separated into different regions. Lot chose the best watered and most fertile of the lands, which at that time was the plain of the Jordan known as Sodom. The Bible says it was “like the garden of the LORD” it was so nice—that is before it was destroyed and turned into salt pits and desert as it is today. Since Abraham gave Lot first choice, the area left was not so well watered. In fact, if you wanted water in those other areas, you had to dig a well. Thus you will read about Abraham (and Isaac and Jacob) having to dig wells.......... and there were controversies over wells because water was so scarce.
God originally said to Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:3). And the bible later said of Abraham that, “he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6).

What are these stories in the Holy Scriptures telling us about Abraham?
They are telling us that Abraham lived out his faith. Since God said that all the families of the earth were to be blessed through him, Abraham practiced blessing others.
Not only did Abraham favor his nephew Lot over himself,
he favored a Pharaoh with intercessory prayer,
he favored a Philistine king named Abimelech in controversy over a well,
he favored his servants with trust, even willing to name one his heir, and
he favored his wife in her decisions and responsibilities for running the household.
At one point he went to war to rescue Lot and also rescued the kings of five cities including the king of Sodom who tried to pay him off. Abraham refused to take Sodom’s money and yet Abraham paid a full tithe of all that he had to another king, Melchizedek, who was king of Salem (Jerusalem) and the designated priest of God at that time on the earth.
Yes Abraham was generous. He was kind to all… and in all that he did he attempted to fulfill the trust that the LORD had placed in him.

Now please take note, the Bible records this simple story for a reason. Most people know the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. But perhaps many don’t remember this part of the story, when God came to dinner at Abraham’s home. So, it behooves us to pay attention to why this part of the story is included. Why this meal. This dinner at Abraham’s place of residence.

I believe this meal sets at least two things apart for us. First, the LORD God considers the building of relationships with His people of more importance than the judgment and subsequent destruction of the wicked. But a second thing that this meal sets apart for us is how we are to treat others. and so this story in particular is central to the theme of God's grace to all mankind. The audio is only 29 minutes and comes from my most recent sermon which I preached for Communion. If you want to know a deeper meaning of God's grace, then take time to listen to, "Why Abraham Favored Others."

Why Noah Walked With God?

2011-04-03T20:32:00.002-04:00

The title of the sermon for you to download is "Why Noah Walked With God."

If you read Genesis 6:1-9, you will find the preamble to the story of the world wide flood that God brought upon the whole earth when Noah was 600 years old. 600 years! Thats a long time to live by modern human standards. It's unbelievable by most people as even most doubt the veracity of the story of the world wide flood in Noah's day. Well, I am different than most. I believe it actually happened, just the way the Bible describes. But before you think I'm out of touch with reality, won't you take a minute to consider, that if it is a true and factual account, then you, like me, might have more pertinent questions about what is going on here. Questions like, who were the Sons of God and who were the daughters of men? Or questions like who were those children that became giants, the ones the Bible calls mighty men of old, men of renown? Or, questions like, “What does it mean when it says, ‘The Lord was sorry that He had made man and that He was grieved in His heart?’” What were people doing at this time that made God so sorry that He had made man? Verse 5 gives us an answer: It basically says that they were acting wicked and thinking wicked thoughts all the time. They had thrown off allegiance to God and were living selfish and sinful lives. And this caused God to be “grieved in His heart.” It can literally be read “grieved to His heart.”

The Lord God, Creator of the Universe, Creator of this world and Creator of man was grieved after having mercy on man and trying to save human beings ever since Adam’s sin.
Could God be thinking, “Is this the end? Is there nothing more that can be done? Must all mankind be destroyed before My promise can be fulfilled?” God made a promise to Adam and Eve, and thus to all humanity, now fallen into sin. God gave fallen human beings grace when He said to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
This was the first prophecy and the first promise of the Savior to come. The Seed who came to save us from our sins is Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago, it was a death blow. Satan tried to overcome God by killing Jesus. But what was a deathblow to God’s Son could not hold Him. For Jesus had power within Himself to take up His life again, because He is the Eternal I Am. And that is why the serpent is said to have bruised the heel of the Seed of the woman. Not only was Satan trying to permanently kill Jesus, he has forever been trying to wipe out the human race.

What about the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan last week? I have heard at least one commentator suggest it was judgment from God. Well was it from God? Or was it the natural course this earth has followed since sin entered the world?
When Noah was called to preach, between the time of Genesis 4 and the time of Genesis 6 it was an evil time. Satan had succeeded in taking almost the entire human race over to his control. Would God’s grace still be sufficient for that? Had the arch deceiver managed to cut all mankind off from the grace of the Most High God?”

This audio of this sermon is all of 49 minutes. However, I think it will be worth your while to have a listen and learn why Noah walked with God. For it is all about God's grace that led Noah to walk with God. Do you really know what grace is all about? What grace is for? This sermon, "Why Noah Walked with God" and the next one, "Why Abraham Favored Others" will help anyone who has a heart and mind to receive the fullness of God's grace.

The Problem With Surrender!

2010-11-10T09:09:00.006-05:00

The title of the sermon is, "The Problem with Surrender!"

What is the human problem with surrender to God? Why does God ask us to surrender our wills to Him? What does it mean to surrender your will to God?

Consider the following:

On June 4, 1940 Winston Churchill gave one of the most famous speeches ever given to the British Parliament. Nazi Germany was invading Europe and France was soon to fall. Evil was conquering the world and the world was not ready. Churchill had to warn Great Britain about a possible Nazi German invasion attempt, while describing a great military disaster. It was an ominous task. Could he by this speech prepare the British Parliament and the British people for eventual victory, even while France was certain to surrender. Churchill's goal was that Britain would "never surrender."

Examine the confidence that Churchill exuded in his speech against invasion or surrender. "…to the question of invasion, I would observe that there has never been a period in all these long centuries of which we boast when an absolute guarantee against invasion, still less against serious raids, could have been given to our people.

“Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

Churchill was so positive in his speech that he said:
"…I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone."
Winston Churchill

Imagine for a moment with me if Christians thought that way about their spiritual life. If in this life God's people would carry on the struggle, not to give into evil and achieve daily victories over sin and until that Day that Jesus comes again to redeem his people.

Surrender to evil is something we never wanted to do. No, never should do.
But, what about surrender to God? Should you surrender yourself to God?

My purpose today is so you may know and understand the importance of surrendering your will to God. Not just your actions, but your whole self, your will. Because if we are to win the battle against evil, we must be fully surrendered to God. The Bible teaches...if we are not fully surrendered to God and His will, then we will lose--and evil will finally conquer us.

What is the problem with surrender? Simply put, we don't like to surrender. And when we think about surrender to God, we usually get it wrong because of our sinful human baggage. Too often we "sanctified" humans work on surrender of our outward actions and practices but never really surrender our wills. That's called legalism and does not lead to salvation. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for this.
You see, surrender of actions does not necessarily lead to a full surrender of the will. Yet, surrender of the will always leads to a surrender of actions, of habits, of personal practices, and even of thoughts.

But, how do you know, if you have done that? How do you know, if you have surrendered your will to God? Good question!

Let's look at Isaiah chapter 30 and read the opening passage found in verses 15-18.
For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, 16 And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" -- Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses" -- Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! 17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill. 18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

Pray with me please: Father, it is my prayer that everyone reading this blog or choosing to listen to this sermon will determine in their hearts to make a full surrender to you. Be with each one who seeks to understand your message to them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Let's take a look at that question. How do you know? How do you know, if you have surrendered your will to God? I believe it is not by any one act or lack thereof. I believe it is found in the general pattern of your life. It is in the general pattern of your life that your character is revealed. Ellen White writes in Steps to Christ, that it is "not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts."

"Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies?"

May I talk with you about symptoms? If you were a doctor, you would use the symptoms of a particular patient to make a diagnosis, wouldn't you? The symptoms help you determine and diagnose a particular disease. Well, what we just read from the book Steps to Christ are symptoms. Not of a disease, but of spiritual health. They are symptoms of surrender.

"If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.

"Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Steps to Christ pages 38-39.

What does the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel of old and spiritual Israel today... What does God have to say to His people about surrender?
We read in Isaiah 30:15, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

God says, this is how you shall be saved! In returning and rest.

2nd question: How do human beings, even God's professed people generally respond?

Answer: Isaiah 30:16 -- "No, for we will flee on horses."

Now, if you want an explanation as to what that means, to "flee on horses," just begin reading Isaiah. Study Isaiah and you will know about the backsliding of God's people and their desire to establish their own righteousness. To work their way to heaven in spite of what God said. However, in the book of Romans Paul explains this rather succinctly. Romans chapter 10, verses 1-4 says:

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

It is that word, “submitted” that we are talking about. You will not find the English word "surrender" in the King James Bible. But you find words like submitted and consecrated and consecrate. You definitely find the principle that we should surrender our will to God. And the apostle Paul writes that many people are unwilling to submit their will to God.

It's that legalism again and it is a problem with both "conservatives" and "liberals." Conservative legalism tends to work on surrendering actions without surrender of the will. Liberal legalism tends to work on nothing at all and just claim "saved by grace" not understanding that presumption is a legalism that says, "God must save me because I asked, even though I really don't plan on changing too much, if at all." The liberal group of legalists tend to lack faithfulness and self-control among other things. Yet they still claim legal justification--but really show they don't love Jesus because they do not obey His commandments (See John 14:15).

Neither group has the "symptoms" of surrender and thus neither is really in possession of the fruits of the Spirit. Or, as it says in Romans 10, "they have not submitted to the righteousness of God." They have not surrendered!

3rd question: What is the result of the human solution? -- To “flee on horses,” so to speak, even "swift steeds," or establish their own righteousness, being ignorant of God's righteousness?
Answer: Isaiah 30:17 -- 1000 flee at the threat of one, till you are left "as a pole on top of a mountain."
What a lonely place to be. But God allows us to come to such a place so that we might return to Him and find true rest. As Jesus said, "Come to Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle and humble in spirit and you shall find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).

4th question: Then does God give up on them? After all, He called them to "Returning and Rest" and they refused. They can be saved no other way and they refuse. Wouldn't it be natural for them to be given up because of their stubborn refusal to surrender. God could choose to simply give up on them and they would be eternally lost.
Answer: Isaiah 30:18 -- no, He waits.

5th question: Why does He wait?
Answer: Isaiah 30:18 --
So that he may be gracious to us.
So that he may have mercy on us.
For He is a God of Justice. And justice is the "legal" term of salvation.

So, the Bible says God is waiting to have mercy on us. In fact, God cannot have this mercy on us unless He waits.

This brings us to another question.
6th question: What is God waiting for?
Answer: For our surrender. Not just of actions and habits, but of our will.

In fact, God cannot save anyone who does not fully surender his or her will to God's will. And that must be in every aspect of your life. A complete surrender is required for the blood of Jesus to save you from your sins.

As it is written: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

What is it about surrender, that is so hard? Why do we humans find it so difficult? First of all, we don't like change...

Want to know more? Download and listen to the sermon, "The Problem with Surrender!"

Developing Confidence

2010-10-12T14:09:00.003-04:00

It has been several months since my last blog. However, I have been posting my sermons on the Camden and Brunswick church websites. I just have not been blogging them. So here goes.

My latest sermon is called, "Developing Confidence." What an irony, that it took this sermon about confidence, for me to begin blogging again. I hope that it will be a blessing to those who care to download and listen to the sermon, as it was for me to write it. All of my sermons have definitely been that for me, confidence builders. I suppose it is also that way for other pastors. Perhaps not for all. But it certainly is true for me, when studying the Bible and writing sermons. God speaks to me. No not audibly, but through His Word. He speaks to me strongly. And He builds my confidence through knowing Him.

Do you have confidence in knowing God? The Bible says in Proverbs 14:26, "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have a place of refuge."

But does that also have meaning for your practical everyday life? I say it does. And if you listen to this sermon, you will see how. Even unbelievers will benefit if they take the time to listen to this .

Click the link to download, "Developing Confidence."

Freedom and Worship

2010-07-26T13:56:00.002-04:00

Joel has never set foot in the Camden church building, but he is a member. Joel used to be an inmate at D. Ray James Prison where I have done a weekly ministry since October 2007. He was one of the first men to join my group as we began studying from Steps to Christ and later the books of Daniel and John. He came under conviction from the Holy Spirit that the Adventist message is firmly grounded on Bible truth and joined the Camden Seventh-day Adventist Church in January of 2009. While in prison, he firmly committed himself to serving our Lord Jesus Christ, began keeping the Sabbath and stopped smoking. Joel was personally responsible for bringing several others to our group to hear my presentations. He was my greatest supporter.

On Sabbath, the day before Father’s day he was released from custody and took a bus to Atlanta to meet family. Later, we arranged to meet at the 59th General Conference session. While in Atlanta, I met up with many old friends and ministry partners; but, the highlight of my week there was being able to sit next to Joel during the Sabbath morning church service in the Dome. And for Joel, it was his first time to attend a Seventh-day Adventist Church service on the Sabbath day and worship with fellow Seventh-day Adventists. What a high Sabbath it was.

What God Wants

2010-04-27T10:12:00.002-04:00

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
The title of the sermon is, "What God Wants." Have you ever asked the question, “What does God want me to do?” When I was a boy, I remember thinking about this from time to time. In fact, I remember telling different people at different times, “I want to do what God wants me to do.”

But then self can get in the way of even the best of intentions. Don’t you wish Adam and Eve would have stuck with their original intention—to do what God wanted them to do.
So what does God want you to do? The Scripture says that you need to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Is it reasonable to assume that God wants us to be healthy. Sure. The Scripture says in 3rd John 2: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health.” One of the best ways to stay in good physical health today is to eat right and to exercise.

How about your family relationships. Does God want us to have healthy family relationships? Of Course. Spending time within the family unit is part of our social fitness. Does God want us to appreciate the beauty of a waterfall from time to time? Or how about the starry heavens? Does God want us to consider the work of His hands in space. Sometimes when you think you are looking at a star in the night sky, you might actually be looking at an entire galaxy.
And sometimes a star, like in the Orion Constellation may actually be a nebula of cosmic gases creating strange and awesome designs under closer inspection.

But what about those words, ”that you present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Are we to be like salmon swimming upstream to spawn, only to die after laying eggs for the birth of the next generation of salmon? Or perhaps like the honey bee workers, who only live a few weeks each in order to preserve the life of the hive. Certainly, God does not mean that you should work so hard until you are burned out and your life forces ebb away.

And yet, there is something we can learn from the bee about being a living sacrifice. For the worker bee lives for the entire hive and not just for herself. And that is the key here—to live. Paul wrote that you should be a living sacrifice. Yes there may come a time when you might have to “lay down your life for your friends” as Jesus called the greatest form of love. But Paul is not writing about that aspect of sacrifice here. He is writing about a “living sacrifice.”

This sermon will challenge you for it will demonstrate what God really wants from those who believe in Him. Are you willing to be challenged? Then download and listen to, "What God Wants." And spread the word.

Cure for the Downcast Soul

2010-04-27T09:52:00.004-04:00

The Title of the sermon is: “Cure for the Downcast Soul.”
It is based upon Psam 42 when David asks,
"Why are you cast down O my soul?"
What is the cure for being downcast, or may we say being depressed?
I assure you that the Psalmist does give an answer.
His question is found in verse 5: “Why are you cast down, O My soul? And to emphasize the point he restates it in these words: “ and why are you disquieted within me?”
Who is he talking to?
Himself.
Have you ever done that?
What is his answer?
“Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance”

Wait a minute though. Does that answer the question? The question was, “Why?” Did he tell why? Not here in this verse. In fact, the whole psalm never gives an answer or a reason for “Why?”
But isn’t that what we all want to know when we are going through struggles in our life? Why is this happening to me?
In this sermon you will hear short stories of people who suffered from depression or being "downcast" caused by different sources. What is the source or cause of being downcast? Have you ever been downcast? What is the sure cure that always works in all cases? You may never learn why bad things happen to you, but you can learn what the Bible says you should do about it. Listen to the sermon , "Cure for the Downcast Soul."

Two Sermons That Most People Don't Believe

2010-04-25T13:59:00.004-04:00

This first sermon is titled, "Why Would God Rest?"
Do you wish to know a fuller meaning of why God gave the Seventh-day Sabbath as a gift to man? It may give you pause to consider if God ever changed the day of worship to the first day of the week, commonly known as Sunday. What did Jesus himself actually teach about the Sabbath day and our relationship to it and to Him? Be bold those of you who go to church on Sunday and take the time to listen to this sermon, "Why Would God Rest?" Then if you have more questions, go back to my February list and download "What's Creation Got To Do With It?" My prayer is that these two will enlighten you to pure Bible truth, the pure milk of the word.

This next sermon is titled, "The Time of Noah".
Do you believe the Bible account? Is it literal. Did a world-wide-flood really happen, caused by the power of Almighty God, the same God who claims to have created the earth in six literal days and then rested on the seventh-day? It cannot hurt you to listen to this since for most of your life you have listened to just the opposite.

A Collection of Sermons from February 2010

2010-04-13T13:28:00.002-04:00

The First Sermon is "What's Creation Got To Do With It?" based upon Genesis 2:4.
The Scripture reveals, "This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens."
What is this story saying?
In other words, "Is the Genesis account of creation a literal account, or does it even matter?" But as you pause to reflect and answer that question, you must consider the Genesis historical account.
This story is boldly declaring that it is the history… the genealogy… the historical record… of how God created the heavens and the earth.
Therefore, the Bible reveals that,
"The history of salvation stands upon the ground of Jehovah God’s Creation—and that is rooted and grounded in the blood of Jesus Christ.
The history of a literal Seven-day Creation is rooted and grounded
in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Creation and salvation are inseparably linked from the beginning to the end.
If you are a Christian who is unsure about this, then you need to listen to this sermon, "What's Creation Got To Do With It?"

The next sermon is “Soldiers of Christ" based upon Ephesians 6:10-20: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

In writing to the Ephesians, Paul the Apostle says, “Finally my brethren.” Finally. Well if he is saying “finally” we are at the end of the letter. Obviously, something has come before. What was it that Paul struggled with? One of the things that he struggled with was that he was an “ambassador in chains.” And in that prison cell, praying there, he had another problem? Paul wanted to know something. He wanted to know how to teach the people that he was writing to, how to spread the gospel. This was the problem. And today we also have the same problem. But, the question I ask today is not “What is the whole armor of God?” I believe most of you if not all of you probably already know that. The question I am asking today is, “Why do you need all this armor? Is every piece essential? And if we ask that question, then could we also ask, “Are there some things that I could leave behind, say if I was in a hurry?” Must we always act like Soldiers? Like, "Soldiers of Christ."

The next sermon is "Buying & Selling" based upon Matthew 25:1-13.
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
Where else in Scripture do we find this concept? Who will be selling in the time just before Jesus returns. Jesus is saying there will be a time, just before He returns, when the gospel will no longer be able to be “sold.” But what should the “buying and selling” look like? How does God consider it for His people? Listen to "Buying & Selling" to find out.

The last sermon is "Abraham's Shield" based upon Genesis 15:1-8. "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'"
And Abram believed God and it was accounted to Him for righteousness. And God told Abram that he would inherit the land. Then He said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it." However, the book of Hebrews revealed that Abraham never received the promise of that land. Even Abraham himself asked God in Genesis 1:8, "Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?"
This sermon reveals the truth behind the Abraham's inheritance and ours, the truth behind the symbol of "Abraham's Shield."

A Collection of Sermons from January 2010

2010-04-13T12:33:00.004-04:00

I just posted my last sermon of 2009, which was the last in a series called, "The Path To Glory." Because I am three months behind in posting the following are my January sermons for 2010:

The first sermon is , "Walking The Heart."
based upon Ezekiel 36:23-27.
The question should be asked, "How is God’s great name sanctified among the nations?"
Ezekiel's answer, "When He is hallowed amongst His people before their eyes."

And how is God hallowed amongst His people?
Answer, when His people walk in His statutes and keep His judgments.
And what does God do and what should His people do so that may happen? In other words,
what does God do so that His people may walk in His statues and keep His judgments?

Stephen Covey tells the following story about Rocks in a Bucket.
An instructor was lecturing on the subject of time and he started with a bucket and enough big rocks to fill it up. He put the big rocks in the bucket and asked us "Is it full?" Everybody said yes. Then he put small stones in around the big rocks and asked us if the bucket was full. "Probably not," we said. Next he dumped in some sand and gave it a shake and asked us again, "Is it full?" "No," we said. Finally, he grabbed a pitcher of water and filled the bucket to the top with water.
"Now it's full!"
Then he asked, "What's the point?"

If you are interested in hearing the point to the above story, and in understanding the spiritual application to how God can "cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them," then all you need to do is click the link and download the sermon, "Walking the Heart."

What are your goals? What about your goals as a Christian, as a person who
believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
If your goals are to be a Christian, that is to follow Jesus and love Him and therefore obey His commandments, then what do the parts of the bucket represent?
The rocks are your goals. The sand and small gravel and water are your
everyday tasks and appointments and general things to do that fill every day.
What is the point? If you fill the bucket (yourself) with the everyday tasks and details first, then you will never be able to fit in the big rocks—your goals as a Christian—or should I say, God’s goals for you as His child. The big rocks therefore represent what? Your personal time you spend with God to establish His goals and plans for you.

The next sermon is "Jesus' Hope" based upon Ephesians 1:15-23.
Verse 18 encourages us to "know the hope of His calling."
Well, what is the hope of His calling?
The passage teaches us that the hope of His calling is what we need to know that we may demonstrate the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The next sermon is "Hope Never Disappoints!" based upon Romans 5:1-5
A thought provoking verse is Romans 4:18 where the Bible says of Abraham that He “Contrary to hope, in hope believed…”
According to the Bible, Hope never disappoints!
My purpose in preaching this message is to help the people see that they should not complain or be disappointed about trouble or poor circumstances; rather they should rejoice in hope of the glory of God (vs. 2).

The next sermon is, "The Test of Love" based upon 1 Corinthians 13.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians chapter 13
What is the truest test of love?
The truest test of love is First Corinthians 13.
The truest test of love…suffers long.
The truest test of love…is kind.
The truest test of love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
The truest test of love never fails and always succeeds!
My purpose in preaching this is to awaken in us the greatest thing we all need and always need, and to help you know it is the one thing that will remain when everything else is gone from you, if God is truly with you. For God is love! And God remains. And for you to remain, after all is said and done in this world, then you must answer to God… the God who is love…

The Last In a Series--Path To Glory

2010-04-13T12:14:00.002-04:00

A Season For Gifts. What season am I talking about? The time when Jesus came to this earth and "became" a human being. When God the Son stepped down from His throne in heaven, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made Himself of no reputation and took the form a of a servant, coming in the likeness of men (despising the shame) and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. The fact that the Scripture (Philippians 2:8) says Jesus became obedient to the point of death on the cross, already accepts that He had become obedient to the point of becoming human flesh. He was born as a human being, despising the shame. Here we see the true gift. The gift of God in His Son Jesus Christ. In all other religions, man tries to work his way to heaven. But the Bible teaches that is not possible. So, God came down to this earth and "the word became flesh and dwelt among us." This is why Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, even at Christmas time. It is the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus that true Christians remember and celebrate everyday. God's gift of salvation to humanity, to save "all who believe" from their sins and give them eternal life.

The Path To Glory--Epilogue of the Resurrection

2009-12-21T19:04:00.002-05:00

What is the "Epilogue of the Resurrection"? Isn't an epilogue the result or aftermath of the end of a story? So, in this case, what then is the result of Jesus' resurrection? I believe the result is found in the expectations that Jesus has for those who believe in Him. Just what are those expectations? What did Jesus say to them?

For those who are saved by grace, through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus on their behalf, the bible calls them disciples. And Jesus said three basic things to His disciples the first time they saw Him on Sunday night. He told Mary Magadalene, the first and only human being to see Him on resurrection morning, to go and tell His brethren that He was ascending to "My Father and your Father." Mary obeyed her Master and they must have wondered what might happen next. So they gathered together in a hiding place, "for fear of the Jews" and waited. What were they waiting for? Confirmation? Criminal charges and arrest? And while they were waiting, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said three basic things.

First He said "Peace be with You." And then He repeated it, "Peace to you." And then He said the all important second thing, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." This is part of the "peace." You may have heard of the gospel shoes of peace." Disciples are sent with peace, the same kind of peace Jesus was sent with. The peace of salvation through belief in His death to atone for their sins. So the second thing, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you," is really attached to the first thing, "Peace to you."

But, since Jesus said He was sending them as He Himself had been sent, then He must send them with power. They needed the Holy Spirit, for without God, they could do nothing. So, the Scripture says that Jesus "breathed on them" and said "Receive the Holy Spirit." Now this sounds like a third thing, but it is really part of the second. For Jesus "breathed on them" to confirm "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." You see, there is power in the breath of Jesus. It was this same Jesus who created the heavens and the earth. He stood alongside God the Father during the Creation week of this earth. And it was Jesus who said, "Let there be light." And it was Jesus who said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures." And it was Jesus who said, "Let Us make man in Our image after Our likeness." And after Jesus had spoke everything else into existence by the word of His own mouth, the Scripture reveals that this same Jesus knelt down on the ground and with His own two hands, the holy hands of the Son of God, He formed a man of the dust of the ground and named him Adam, whose name means ground. And then Jesus breathed into Adam's nostrils the breath of life and Adam became a living soul.

Imagine that. The same Jesus who breathed into Adam's nostrils and gave him life is now breathing on the disciples and saying, "receive the Holy Spirit." Are you His disciple too? Feel His breath on you today. Receive from Him the Holy Spirit and realize that you are also to be sent in the same way that the Father sent Jesus. With Power. With the power of the resurrection. It was the Apostle Paul who desired nothing more than to "know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead." Do you know Him like that? Do you know the power of His resurrection. I am not talking about sentimental feeling or mere intellectual knowledge concerning the resurrection of Jesus. I am talking about true, pure and raw power. Because that's what the Bible is really talking about when it speaks about Christ's resurrection. Remember that Jesus Himself said, "I am the resurrection and the life."

I am talking about a power, not only to resurrect the dead just before Jesus Comes again to redeem His own, but also about power to live your life today. Right now. Before Jesus returns. Power to live the Christian life as Jesus intended His followers to live it. To go and sin no more. To say, not my will but God's will. To die to self and take up your cross and follow Jesus. To live with power. The power of His resurrection. Do you want to live like that? Feel Him breath on you as He breathed on His disciples and send you out to do His will. To lead lost souls to the foot of Jesus' cross and believe in Him and receive the power of His resurrection to live a new life in Christ. If by any means you might attain to the resurrection of the dead.

And if you do that, you just might learn what Jesus meant when He said that third thing: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." If Jesus' modern day disciples take this power seriously, the power of His breath on your very soul, then many more people will come to know Jesus before He returns to redeem the saints.
The epilogue of the resurrection is almost over. How many people's sins will be retained because many of Jesus' modern day disciples have fallen short of reaching them for Christ. May your sins be completely blotted out before the epilogue of the resurrection comes to an end.

Click the link to download the sermon and listen to:
Epilogue of the Resurrection

The Path To Glory, Part 7--The Cross

2009-12-02T16:45:00.001-05:00

The Cross. What can you say about it? What does The Cross mean to you?
In this sermon, you will be challenged to not just look at the suffering of Jesus. My purpose is not to emotionally move you to tears, though that may happen. How many people get emotionally moved by the cross, and then later walk away as if nothing had happened. It was Winston Churchill who said, "Occaisionally a man may stumble across the truth. But most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on as if nothing had happened."

But I want you to take a deeper look at The Cross. What does it mean to you, not just spiritually, but also practically? I think all Christians will be challenged by what is spoken here, but especially Seventh-day Adventist Christians. The Bible teaches that a "shaking" is coming in the last days just before Jesus returns. Seventh-day Adventists have taught this for over 150 years. But what is that shaking? And what does that shaking have to do with The Cross? Do you feel like your church is headed down the road of apostasy? Or do you feel that your church is not progressive enough? Perhaps you will benefit in taking a close look at The Cross.

No! Wait a minute. If you refuse to take a close look at The Cross then you will lose all benefit that Jesus wants to give you. It is not a perhaps. It is an imperative. It is your greatest need if you are to survive the shaking and not be shaken out. Jesus is coming soon and this is the only way that anyone can get ready to receive Him at His Coming. It is time to take a deep look
at The Cross of Christ and really know. Be prepared to own what you know.

Just what does The Cross mean to you?
Take a look inside. Download the sermon:
The Path To Glory, Part 7
The Cross

The Path To Glory, Part 6--Jesus' Prayer

2009-11-23T16:01:00.002-05:00

This sermon is about Jesus' Prayer in John 17. Why did Jesus pray that prayer? Examine the passage and you will see who He prayed for. First, He prayed for Himself. Next He prayed for His disciples and then He prayed for those who would believe in Him through His disciples words. He did not pray for the world, He prayed for believers. This is the sixth sermon in the path to glory series. The path to glory for Jesus was the path to the cross. This whole series of sermons surrounds the last week of Jesus' life on earth. We have examined the passages from John 12 up through John 16 in the previous five sermons. We have found one underlying theme in these sermons concerning Jesus' path to His glory. That underlying theme is love. Love for God and love for our neighbor. Jesus loved us so much that He stepped down from the glory He had before the world was, stepped down from His heavenly glory equal to that of God the Father, stepped down to this unglorious earth in order to save and redeem sinful human beings.

The last sermon, from John 16 dealt with how the Holy Spirit would glorify Jesus. How you ask? The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus by guiding disciples of Jesus into all truth. We saw that the Bible teaches two aspects to that truth. One aspect is knowledge of intellectual truth, the facts of the Bible. The other and greater aspect is to intimately know Jesus and the Father. And that is why Jesus prayed the prayer of John 17.

Look. It is there in verse one. Jesus prayed to the Father to "Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You." And then He directly connected that glorification to giving us eternal life. That's right, Jesus' path to glory which is the path to the cross was a path that He took so that He could give eternal life to His disciples. It is right there in verse two. But wait a minute. There is something else there too. Something about His glory. Something about our receiving eternal life. Jesus states it boldly in verse three. Do you see it? Jesus said, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

So Jesus connected His glorification and our having of eternal life to our intimately knowing God the Father and Himself. Do you know Him? Do you really know Him? Intimately? If you do then His prayer is for you. He said so Himself. He said, "I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me." "I pray for them." (see verses 9 ). So if you know Him, then His prayer is for you. And if you want to know Him then His prayer is also for you, because He also prayed, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word." (verse 20).

What specifically did He pray for them?
1. That He would be glorified in them.
2. That they would be protected from the evil one.
3. That they would be kept by the Father through Jesus' name.
4. That they would remain in His word which they had received from Him.
5. That they might have His joy fulfilled in themselves.
6. That they would know that the world hated them because they were not like the world.
7. That they would not be taken out of the world, but be kept from evil.
8.That they would be sanctified by the truth as they are sent into the world
9. That they may be one just like the Father and Jesus are One, so that the world may believe that God the Father sent Jesus into the world.
10. And that the glory which the Father gave Jesus, Jesus in turn has given to His disciples.

We as Christians are called to join Him in His path to glory, which is the path to the cross, for we are all called to take up our own cross and follow Him. We are called to bear witness about the character of God in everything we do. So that whatever we do, someone is watching and judging about what the God called Yahweh is really like--by examining the lives of those who claim to be Christians.

What kind of picture do you paint about God by your daily habits and practices or words and deeds. Can you say that you know Him. That's why Jesus prayed the prayer of John 17. He knew we would be weak erring human beings who did not always give an accurate representation of the God in whom we believe. So He prayed for us so that we could and would. It is possible. But without Him we can do nothing, so we must abide in Him in order to paint the right picture of Him to the world.
Remember, He prayed,
"that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me."
"And the glory......................................................
which You have given Me..................................
I have given them...............................................
that they may be one..........................................
JUST AS WE ARE ONE."

Download, The Path To Glory, Part 6--Jesus' Prayer

The Path To Glory, Part 5--Into All Truth

2009-11-11T12:22:00.002-05:00

The Path To Glory, Part 5--
Into All Truth

I would like to make this blog brief. After all, I am not sure who really reads this blog anyway. It is my purpose to catch peoples attention with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, here is the scripture that the sermon is based on:

John 16:12-14 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you"

This is the path to glory for Jesus, which is the path to the cross. In part five of this series, the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus. How does the Holy Spirit glorify Jesus? Examine the passage. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would "guide you into all truth." That is a strong statement, especially when you consider that much of the so-called Christian world no longer believes in absolute truth. Truth has been relativized by philosophers ever since there were people who fancied themselves as thinkers.

However, thinkers and reasoners who do such apart from the Bible have always relativized truth. Even Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. the famous Supreme Court Jurist of the early twentieth century developed and promoted the idea of "legal realism." What's that you ask? Legal realism's essential tenet is that all law is made by human beings (not by God) and therefore is subject to human frailties and imperfections. Holmes was a "Social Darwinist" who believed that law was to be determined by examining the human struggle and then improving upon it through the judicial system. It is that philosophy of moral relativism that has framed the thinking of our recent modern and now post-modern eras.

I am not saying that the founders of moral relativism and the like do not make some good and valid points. I think that many of them were honestly trying to make improvements according to their world view that there is no absolute truth. After all, those who have held the reigns of power within Christianity within the last 1500 years have made some horrible blunders in the name of truth. Even the prophesies of the Bible have revealed that there would be "Antichrist" powers within the Christian Church who would "cast truth to the ground" (Daniel 8:12). It was Winston Churchill who astutely observed that, "Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on." Churchill's statement has been borne out within both the Christian and the non-Christian world. But, that does not relegate the Bible to being just another book along side the myriad of philosophical books that have been written. And that does not make truth relative.

The Bible still cries out to be heard as the fountain of absolute truth. And Jesus Christ took His path to glory, the path to the cross, so that the Holy Spirit could "guide you into all truth" who love God and want to do His will. As Jesus spoke, many believed in Him...

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Now I am not just talking about an intellectual truth. That is included. But, I am talking about something so much more. It is two fold and I hope you will take the time to listen to this sermon. Do you really want to be free?
Download the sermon and see if this helps you in your quest for truth:
The Path To Glory, Part 5--
Into All Truth

The Path To Glory, Part 4--How Can We Glorify The Father?

2009-11-01T13:49:00.002-05:00

Well, How Can We Glorify The Father?
This sermon is based on John 15:7-8. What did Jesus say?
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire,
and it shall be done for you.
"By this My Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit;
so you will be My disciples."

This really is related to grapevines and production of grapes. Did you know that grapvines, when left to themselves will not produce many grapes. In fact, it takes more energy for the plant to produce the fruit than it does to just grow branches and leaves. So left to themselves, grapevines will grow wildly, reach all over the place and look real good from a distance. They will even climb up other trees and the branches will grow real thick woody parts, but you probably won't find many grapes or even big, juicy and luscious grapes on them.

Many pruners know they need to cut away the dead and dying branches. But the expert pruner knows how to cut away much of the "live" wood and branches so that the plant will do what it needs to do--and that is produce grapes. Not just a few small grapes, but many clusters of big, juicy grapes.

How does this relate to you as an individual Christian and churches in general? Your heavenly Father knows how to prune you as an individual and the church as a whole. But pruning means to cut away something. Ouch! That sounds like a painful process. And indeed it is painful.

I believe God prunes us for two basic reasons. First to help you develop in character and second to help you find your lifepath in service to Him. And He does that so that you can "bear much fruit" and thus glorify the Father.

Do you want to mature as a Christian? The alternative is not to mature. What if you choose not to respond to the Father's pruning. Read John 15:2. The branches that produce no fruit are "taken away." Then what? Where are they taken? Read verse 6. They are withered and thrown into the fire and burned. Are you getting concerned?

You see, Jesus said some troubling things. Things that trouble even me. In John 14:12, He said, "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also." Now that is troubling to me because Jesus, being just one man, did many many works. Has the church kept up with those same number of works?
But it gets more troubling. Jesus also said, "And greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." Greater works! Have we as a church done greater works, when we are having trouble just keeping up with amount of works He did?

But Jesus is stating this as if it is a fact. It is a fact, I believe, if we respond to the Father's pruning. Only then can we produce fruit, for Jesus also said, "Without Me you can do nothing." And Jesus is showing us by this "bearing much fruit" that we glorify the Father. So, the fact becomes true when we are abiding in Him. If we are abiding in Him, then we will be willing to submit to the Father's pruning process, painful as it may be.

That does not mean that all your pain comes from pruning. Some pain comes when you sin. Then it's not pruning you need, it's repentance. Some pain comes from living in this world of trouble. But some of it comes from the Father's pruning process directly applied to your character and lifepath.
How can you tell the difference? Do you want to know more?
Click the link and listen to:
The Path To Glory, Part 4
--How Can We Glorify The Father?

The Path To Glory, Part 3--Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

2009-11-01T13:18:00.002-05:00

This sermon is based on John 14:1-6. Jesus said,
"Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also in Me." Why did Jesus say that? Didn't they already believe in Him? Why yes, of course. But many troubling things had happened that week. And so the disciples were probably unsure of the path Jesus was taking. It is the path to glory for Jesus. It is the path to the cross. But the disciples don't see it that way.

What had happened that week? It is the last week of Jesus' life on earth. But the previous Sunday began as a high day. Jesus had rode into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling the Scripture that said,

"Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold , your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey's colt."

It seemed like everyone was shouting,
"Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
The King of Israel!"

But the high day with great expectations soon turned into trouble. The disciples did not understand that Jesus must go through suffering and die on the cross. They were expecting Him to take the throne of David and conquer the Romans. They expected Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. But instead, Jesus began to do many troubling things and make many enemies of the Jews and the priestly class.

He began by cleansing the Temple and driving out the money changers. Then He cursed a Fig tree simply because it bore no fruit at the time He inspected it. It was full of leaves. It looked good from a distance. But on closer inspection, it showed that it was lacking fruit. The pretty leaves should have been a sign that fruit was present. But all Jesus found was a tree full of leaves, a symbolism for the Jewish nation that bore no fruit and was getting ready to crucify their Lord.

You want more? Take a look at Matthew chapters 21-23. He told two parables that also revealed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Jewish religious elite. He was not making many friends here. But it got worse. Matthew 23 reveals Jesus pronouncing many woes on the Scribes and Pharisees. Examine the passage. What do you think was going through the disciples minds?

Want to know more? Click the link and listen to:
The Path To Glory, Part 3
--Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Peter's Offense

2009-10-23T17:06:00.002-04:00

A short sermon for communion. In Matthew 16:21-23, the scripture records how Jesus was offended by Peter. What did Peter do? He told Jesus, "Far be it form You, Lord; this shall never happen to You." What? Peter meant that Jesus would not have to go to the cross, for that was an offense to Peter and to every Jew for that matter. But Jesus knew, the path to glory for Him was the path to the cross. Jesus had to take the full offense of sin. He was already despised and rejected by His own countrymen and friends (Judas, and the Jews who were supposed to be His friends). In fact, the prophecy of Zechariah 13:6 predicts how Jesus would be "wounded in the house of His friends." Yes, wounds and bruises and putrefying sores were the lot predicted for Jesus by the prophet Isaiah (chapter 53). And all this was an offense to Peter.

But what about today? Are the principles that made the cross an offense to Peter still surviving in Christianity today? Do you call yourself a Christian? What kinds of things do we as Chrisitans do today that would cause Jesus to say to us, "Get thee behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

I say simply this: When the Church is not mindful of the things of God, then it becomes an offense to Jesus. Put in a more positive way: When the Church is mindful of the things of God, then it is a blessing to Jesus. Offense or Blessing. What kind of Church are you a member of in this regard?

This is a shorter sermon than I usually preach. But then Peter's offense was short and to the point. And Jesus' rebuke was even more to the point. Click the link and download to listen to
Peter's Offense.

The Path To Glory, Part 2

2009-10-22T21:37:00.002-04:00

This sermon is based on John 13:31-35. It is the latest in a series I have been preaching on the gospel of John. And, it is the second in the Path To Glory series.

What is the path to glory for Jesus? It is the path to the cross. But what does that mean for Christians today? And what does that mean for those who have not yet heard the good news of the gospel in Jesus Christ? In John chapter 13, we see that Jesus washes the feet of His disciples, including Judas Iscariot who would betray Him. Why is this part of the path to glory for Jesus?

Since Jesus already existed in eternal glory with the Father in heaven, why would He leave that glory and come to this earth? What we can glean from scripture shows that Jesus did not count it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and stepped down from the glory He had in heaven, and humbled Himself to meet sinful humans on a sinful planet called earth. There was no other way to save humans lost in sin, unless Jesus stepped down from His glory.

But, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." This He said, after Judas left the room to betray Him. Why did He say that? Jesus already lived in glory. And then He came to this earth in human flesh and God's glory was veiled. He did not appear glorious to finite human beings. In fact, He appeared lowly and of humble background. He was despised and rejected of men. He was cursed and became a curse for sinful human beings. How is God glorified in that manner?

It is the path to the cross. But again I must ask, what does that mean for us today, 2,000 years later. I tell you the truth. The answer is in John chapter 13. What is the greatest proof, the greatest evidence of Jesus' path to glory? You will need to listen to the sermon and find out, or you can read John 13 for yourself, which you should do anyway. This is the most important evidence to show that you believe that Jesus' death on the cross should draw all peoples to Himself. Click the link to hear what Jesus wants from His followers to validate His death on the cross and find out how the church can receive power to lead sinners to Christ.
The Path to Glory, Part 2

The Path To Glory, Part 1

2009-10-06T23:17:00.002-04:00

"The Path To Glory, Part 1" is a sermon based on John 12:20-23. The Bible says that "certain Greeks" came to the feast. What feast? It was the Passover, and not just any Passover. This was the last Passover Feast that Jesus would attend on earth, because He was going to be crucified. But no one among Jesus' followers were ready for that. The Jews were supposed to be lightbearers to the Gentiles, yet they had failed to properly witness. Instead, they turned inward and expected God to continue to favor them. And so they treated the Gentiles with indifference and contempt. Yet even with that, ther were still some among the Gentiles who believed in the God of the Jews as the One true God. Among those were "certain Greeks" who wanted to see Jesus.

This reminds me of other Gentiles who wanted to see Jesus. You might think of the Roman Centurion who asked Jesus to heal His servant. Do you remember? Jesus was willing to go to his house and heal the man's servant. But the Centurion had great faith and said, "I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. But only say the word. For I also am a man under authority. I say to one go, and he goes and to another do this, and he does it." And Jesus rewarded the Centurion's faith and remarked that He had not found so great a faith even in all of Israel. And there was another. A Woman from Syro-Phoenicia who wanted her daughter healed. Do you remember? Jesus told her it was not right to take the chidren's bread and throw it to the little dogs. Yet the woman had great faith, just like that of the Centurion. She replied, "Yes Lord. But even the little dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table." And Jesus again remarked in the presence of the Jews that He had not found so great a faith in all of Israel.

Now, at the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, just before He would give His life for the sins of the world, these Greek worshippers of the Jewish God, Jehovah, came to the Passover Feast to worship and they wanted to see Jesus. But there was a problem. Jesus was probably located near the Temple porch, a place that Gentiles were forbidden to go on pain of death. There was a boundary line that they were forbidden to cross. So they could not see Jesus without Jesus coming out to meet them. So, when Jesus heard that the God-fearing Greeks wanted to see Him, He answered with a remarkable statement. Jesus said, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified."

Don't miss the deep meaning behind Jesus' reply. Do you think that He did not go and talk to the Greeks? Do you think He just ignored the Greeks request, with the cross looming over His head? I don't think so. I think He went and talked to those Greeks as He continued talking. I think the Greeks as well as His disciples heard Him say, "Father, glorify Your name." And they must have heard the voice from heaven, when the FATHER was speaking, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."

Do you want proof? Then listen to the sermon, "The Path To Glory, Part 1." The evidence is deep, but it is very strong right here in John 12. John quoted from Isaiah twice and commented how Isaiah had seen God's glory. What is this glory? How was God glorified? How was Jesus glorified? Yes, at the cross, Jesus was glorified. But the Father said He had already glorified His name, before the cross. In fact, Jesus said, "Now the hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified." When did He say that? When the Greeks requested to see Him.

You see, it was the glory of God to spread light to the Gentiles, as the nation of Israel was called to do. But they did not do that. So God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ did. Jesus went to talk to the Greeks. And God was glorified. Jesus said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth will draw all peoples to myself." That's Glorious for God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Jesus, should not perish but have everlasting life. It is God's intention and plan to provide salvation for all who want it. That's through Jesus and Jesus alone. That's Glory. A light to the Gentiles, to all peoples. Jesus, the manifested Glory of God veiled in human flesh.

So, I believe that Jesus stepped down from the Temple porch and walked across that boundary line which the Greeks could not cross, on pain of death, and met with them, revealing Himself to them as ready to be lifted up on the cross to draw all peoples to Himself. In a similar way, all the people born on this earth were born into sin. We were separated from God. We cannot see God and we cannot cross that boundary line between heaven and earth, on pain of death. For our God is a consuming fire. Yet God did not want to lose us, even though we were already lost. So Jesus, who lived in Glory in heaven with God the Father, the Glory that Isaiah saw, stepped down from heaven and came to this earth. He came so that we could see Him who is equal with God the Father. He came to this earth, because we could not cross that boundary line. But He could. But only on pain of death. Ours or His. And because He did not want us to perish, He chose to give up His glory in heaven and die for our sins. And that's what Jesus called glorious. The hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified. For Jesus to go to the cross and draw all peoples to Himself. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and gooodwill to men.
Click the link to download, "The Path To Glory, Part 1."

The Power of the Keys

2009-09-30T13:46:00.002-04:00

"The Power of the Keys" is the second in a two-part series based on Matthew 16:13-20. In this sermon, verses 18 and 19 are the focus. The first sermon, "Who Is He To You?" explored some of the depths of the blessing of knowing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is now time to explore just what Jesus meant when He said to Peter and the twelve, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Who is the rock? Is it Peter? Or is it Jesus? Roman Catholic theology teaches that Peter is the rock to who Jesus referred. Therefore, Roman Catholic theology uses this passage to teach that the succesion of Popes is unbroken from the time of Peter, who they teach was the first Pope. But is that really what the passage is teaching?

In this sermon, I show some simple things about this passage. Simple things such as, who is the subject. Beginning at verse 13, the subject is Jesus. Peter never becomes the subject of the passage. Jesus Himself is the subject. If Jesus is the subject of the passage, then Jesus is the rock on which the church is built. I also go into the differences between the Greek word for "Peter" (Petros-meaning a small rock or even a rolling stone) and the Greek word for "rock" (Petra--meaning a large immovable rock or mountanous rock-cliff). Several scriptures are also highlighted which clearly teach that the Bible writers believed that Jesus Himself was the rock or chief cornerstone on which the Church is built.

But even that is not the main thrust for this sermon. Instead, it is the Keys. You ask what Keys? Why the very Keys of the Kingdom. Jesus said He would give these keys to Peter and the disciples, because they knew that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Again, though, Roman Catholic theology teaches that they and they alone have these keys, because of their view that Peter is the rock and the first Pope. Well, again I must take a different stand. Not because I want to, but because Scripture does. I must be true to the teaching of Scripture and thus to the true meaning of Jesus' words.

So, what is the true meaning of Jesus' words? What are the keys to the kingdom of heaven and who has the ability to use these keys? Clearly Jesus gave the keys to His church. But there are many churches and denominations today including Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. Do they all possess these keys? If so, then things would be too confusing. So in this sermon I will examine the Scriptures to show the true meaning of the Keys and the true meaning of "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

I believe that Scripture is clear. God has a true church on earth today. Within God's church are people. Some are true believers who know what it really means to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If you still question that then listen to "Who Is He to You?" before you listen to this sermon. Then, if you believe that you are ready to serve God only and serve only Him--not the Pope or priests or pastors or any other religious leaders who are only human and also supposed to be God's servants--listen to this sermon, "The Power of the Keys." True Christians must know they have this power and then be responsible for opening the doors of human minds to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is the power of binding and loosing.

Do you, as a Christian desire to know the deep meaning behind the "keys of the kingdom of heaven" and the reason behind "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven?" Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." There is freedom in understanding Scripture from it's own point of view. This sermon uses Scripture to define the terms in this passage so that you will be able to know whether this teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority. If you really desire to do God's will, then you will be able to know, through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So pray about it and then click the link to downlaod the sermon:
"The Power of the Keys"

Who Is He To You?

2009-09-30T12:02:00.002-04:00

Who Is He To You?
I preached this sermon on September 19, 2009. It is the first of a two-part series based on the passage in Matthew 16, verses 13-20. In the second sermon, the "Keys to the Kingdom" are defined from scripture. But, in order to properly understand Jesus' words about the "Rock," the "Keys," and the "Binding and loosing," you must first understand the most important question that Jesus ever asked His disciples. For that question is the subject of the entire passage. Jesus made it the subject. What was the question? "But who do you say that I am?" Or as I titled this sermon, "Who Is He to You?"

Jesus began the questioning process at a time when He was retiring from public ministry. They had tried to kill Him the year before in Jerusalem. But, it was not time for Him to die yet. His work on earth was not finished yet. So He left Jerusalem and the region of Judea, because it was too "hot" there. He went back to Galilee and ministered there for awhile. And after some time, it became too hot there also. Even in "His own town," as Matthew called Capernaum, it became dangerous. Again the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him. And there were spies everywhere. So, where was He going to go now? The time of the cross had not yet come. Satan was constantly agitating men to take Jesus by force and try and kill Him. They tried to stone Him. They tried to throw Him off a cliff. The spies would follow everywhere He went and cause division among the people and His followers. Whenever He would heal someone, it became an occaision for contoversy.

So, what did Jesus do? He retired from public ministry among the Jews and went into the region of Caesaria Philippi. This was the region of the Gentiles, a people who worship foreign gods. They were not worshippers of Jehovah. Why would Jesus go there? One reason had to be because it was not "hot" there. And the "spies," who were Jews, would not lower themselves to travel into the land of those who worshipped foreign gods. If you think that this is strange, note what Mark writes about the healing of a blind man in Bethsaida. Bethsaida was in Galilee at the top ot the Sea of Galilee. Jesus passed through it on His way to the region of Caesaria Philippi.

Mark 8:22-26 records the details of the healing. Read it for yourself and take note of how Jesus healed Him. Not in town. Jesus took him by the hand and led him out of town, away from the notoriety and away from the spies. Then Jesus spit on him and put His hands on him and asked him if he saw anything. What? And the man answered, "I see men like trees walking." What again? I thought Jesus was able to heal with just a touch. I thought Jesus was able to heal with just a word. Why this protracted process?

Then Jesus touched the man again. A second touch. He touched his eyes. And then "He made him look up." There has got to be a deep lesson here. But what is it? It is closely connected to the two questions that Jesus asked His disciples. Who do mean say that I am?" And, "But who do you say that I am?" When did He ask these most important questions? After the healing of the blind man outside the town, and after a serious time that He spent in prayer (Luke 9:18).

His mission to become the sacrifice for the sins of the world was greatly misunderstood. The Jews did not want a lamb-like sacrifice. They wanted a conquering king to defeat the Romans and give the Jews the greatness of their own kingdom again. Even the disciples had misunderstood Christ's mission and who He was. For almost three years He had ministered through teachings, healings, feedings, and signs of His divinity. But He had not yet announced to the crowds or the religious elite that He was the Messiah. In fact, He told the healed man, "Neither go into the town nor tell anyone in the town."

And then He asked them who others thought He was. And, they gave the usual answers. Elijah. Jeremiah. One of the prophets. John the Baptist. And now Jesus knew the time was right. He had His disciples full attention. A year earlier, they had to leave Judea due to threats on Jesus' life. Now they have to leave Galilee for the same reason. So Jesus used the healing of the blind man as an object lesson to His disciples, for He certainly could have healed him with the first spit in his eyes or the first touch or the first word. Why that second touch and second word to heal the blind man? Obviously, to teach His disciples, and you and me today, who He is. For that is a question that you must not take lightly. It is the most important question of all time. Who is He to you? Or as Jesus asked it, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered the question for all the disciples. Peter knew. Peter had been through three years of life with Jesus. And this is Peter's moment to shine. Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

How do I know that Peter knew? Because Jesus said so. Jesus said Peter was "blessed" by His Father in heaven. For truly only the Father in heaven could reveal such a thing. Peter had been paying attention for three years to Christ. And Peter stuck with Jesus from the beginning and did not leave like some other disciples had done earlier (John 6:66) when Jesus began to teach about the cross of discipleship. This sermon, "Who Is He To You?" explores this blessing further.

Would you like to recieve such a blessing as Jesus pronounced upon Peter at this time? Do You believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Do you know what that means? Do you really? Take some time and listen to this sermon and seek the blessing that Peter had, the blessing that the Heavenly Father is waiting to bestow on any who are willing to receive it.

Just click on the link to download:
"Who Is He To You?"

Repentance and Belief

2009-08-25T22:53:00.003-04:00

Repentance and Belief. What does repentance have to do with belief? The passage for this sermon is John 10:22-30. The word repentance does not appear in the passage. Belief is there, but not repentance. So, you may be wondering how I can justify preaching on repentance from this passage. Well, repentance may not be in the passage in word; however, it is there in deed. The key is that Jesus is the only one who can give repentance (Acts 5:31) and He is constantly seeking to give it to His hearers.

However, many still resist. They don't want to receive the gift, because it means a change away from their sinful lifestyle. So, how is repentance connected to belief? Simply this. Jesus said His believers "follow Him" because they know His voice and He knows them. And no one can snatch them out of His hand. But for those who are not of His sheep, who don't believe in Him, they don't follow Him. To follow Him means to turn from the way you were once headed and to go in a new direction. That is, the direction in which He is leading.

So, true belief (faith) knows His voice well enough to follow in the right direction. But mere intellectual belief, does not follow Jesus. For even the demons have that kind of belief, and the scripture says that they "tremble." Why did some angels get kicked out of heaven and become demons? Because they refused to repent. And why did the Jewish leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees) and others not have the true belief to know Jesus' voice? Because they refused to repent. And since repentance is received as a gift from Jesus, it is rather easy to refuse it. They refused the gift because they did not desire it. Repentance means a change in lifestyle, desires, habits and practices which many are just not willing to lose.

But Jesus loved even them who accused Him of having a demon. Accused Him of blasphemy. Accused Him of healing by the power of the prince of demons. And accused Him of many other horrible things. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, loved them enough to be willing to die for them. But first He must urge them to receive Him, because He is the only way that any of us humans can be saved. Jesus' sacrifice on behalf of human beings is God's plan A. And there is no plan B. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we might be saved. So, Jesus told them, "Unless you believe that I AM HE, you will die in your sins."

But what about you? Do you want to know how to really believe in Jesus and have assurance of eternal life? Then click the link and listen to this sermon on:
Repentance and Belief

Sheep On A Mission

2009-08-17T15:44:00.002-04:00

The title of this sermon is "Sheep On A Mission." It is based on John chapter 10 and verses 1-5. Jesus tells a parable of a Shepherd and his sheep. Yes the Bible does compare God's people to sheep. Most people think that is because "sheep are basically stupid." Well, I believe there is another reason, because sheep are really not so stupid. Their intelligence has been favorably compared to that of cattle and pigs. In fact, sheep are intelligent enough to recognize faces, both of other sheep and also of humans. And before the modern industry of "sheepherding" was developed, sheep were found to be intelligent enough to stay in a group and follow one human Shepherd. They would only follow the one Shepherd because they could recognize the Shepherd's voice. And because of their desire to bunch together, they are easily lead. Yes, that is the way sheep have been raised for centuries in the Eastern lands--to follow their Shepherd, and of course to make more sheep.

But come on. Who ever heard of sheep going on a mission? Jesus talked much about mission in regards to His church. Aren't you stretching things just a little, Pastor Read, to use this passage to talk about mission? No, I don't think so. You can take several key ideas from John 10 and preach on each one separately. I want to show my readers that "MISSION" is an integral part to this parable. So read the passage and then notice the following:
1. Jesus said that the Shepherd enters by the Door of the sheepfold.
2. The thief does not come in through the Door, but still manages to get in some other way.
3. The Doorkeeper only opens to the Shepherd, which is why the thief, or wolf has to sneak in.
4. When the Doorkeeper opens to the Shepherd, then the Shepherd calls His sheep by name and leads them out.
5. As the Shepherd "brings out" (the Greek means "He puts them out") the sheep, he does not drive them like cattle or the way sheepdogs run sheep today. He "goes before them" and "the sheep follow him" because "they know his voice." He leads them. And they make a choice to follow him because they know their shepherd's voice.

Jesus was talking to people 2000 years ago who were familiar with the ways of the Eastern Shepherd. But verse 6 says "they did not understand the things which He spoke to them." So He made it clear beginning in verse 7. However, before I continue, I must make some things clear so Twenty-first century humans might understand.

First, a sheepfold might contain several flocks, each owned by a different Shepherd. There was a doorkeeper who knew each Shepherd and would only open the door to them. When a respective Shepherd came to the door and called his sheep, only his sheep would come out. Imagine that. The other flocks did not leave the fold until their own individual Shepherds came to get them, and call them out.

Now Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd (vs. 11). He also said that He had other sheep which were not of this fold (the Jews), but He must go and get them also, for "there will be one flock and one Shepherd" (vs. 16). Jesus said this so that all would know that HE is the only way of salvation for all human beings.

So, Jesus said He is the Shepherd. But He also said, "I am the door of the sheep." What did this mean? Same thing. Only one way to be saved, through Him. So Jesus is the Shepherd and the Door. But who is the doorkeeper? (Hold onto that thought. It has to do with mission.) The ancient people knew the ways of the Shepherd. When he would lead his sheep out to pasture, and they would eventually tire and need rest, he would build a temporary shelter out of branches and brush. This temporary shelter would serve as a haven of protection from the hot sun as well as from predators. Where was the shepherd? He was laying at the door also resting, and watching. He literally became the door who the sheep entered through and to keep out predators and thieves. That's why Jesus said He was the door, and all who enter by Him will be saved. But the wolves and thieves came in some other way. Like the Pharisees, who refused to accept Jesus as LORD and Savior, came in through another way. What way? Probably salvation by works.

Others today, come in by cheap grace. What do you mean by that pastor? Only this. In Jesus' day, He was new to the Jews. Yes, they claimed to believe in God. But they refused to recognize Jesus as the Son of God in human flesh. They called Him a liar and worse. Said He had a demon. Cruelly treated Him. And later crucified Him. But they could not escape the Truth of who Jesus was and still is. The Sent of God for the salvation of mankind. Jesus was just too new.

Are there people like that today? Do they refuse to believe in Jesus? No. What? You mean they believe in Jesus? No again. I mean they say that they believe in Jesus. You see, Jesus is no longer new. 2000 years of Christian history have produced many "Christians" who are just like the Pharisees who refused to believe in Jesus, but said they believed in God and Moses. Today, in a similar way, many people say they believe in Jesus and want to be saved; however, they refuse to accept many Bible teachings of Jesus of which they dislike or do not agree. They are just like the intolerant Pharisees, and they, like the Pharisees, will also be judged as really not accepting Jesus as LORD or Savior. That's why Jesus told the parable of separating the sheep from the goats. But that is for another sermon for another time. Today we are talking about sheep. And more specifically, "Sheep On A Misson."

What is their mission? The key is in verses 3 and 4. Jesus goes to the sheepfold and brings them out and they follow him. Imagine that your church building was the sheepfold. If all you ever do with your Christianity is attend Church, then you are pretty much staying in the sheepfold and never following your Shepherd out. Or imagine that your home is the sheepfold. If you stay in your house most of the time where you only know the comfort of family or alone time, then you are pretty much staying in the sheepfold and never following your Shepherd out. Some people spend most of their time online and hardly ever meet people face-to-face. But it is the face-to-face encounter that Jesus especially blesses.

The Sheep have a mission. What is that? To follow the Shepherd and of course to make more sheep, and to care for the lambs. Ewes give birth to lambs mostly outside, in the pasture, not in the sheepfold. But Jesus compared us to sheep, not because theyr'e stupid; but, because they are timid and vulnerable. Yes we humans are like that. Many Christians are too timid to go outside the sheepfold. But notice verse 4 again. It says the Shepherd "puts them out." Yet, He goes before them and they follow Him.

So you can see that the sheep do have a mission. To follow the Shepherd and to make more sheep. And thus we must follow Jesus in all things, including being put out of our cozy church/home comfort zones and to teach people about what Jesus has done for us, so that they may also choose to follow Him.

But who is that doorkeeper? Yes God is the doorkeeper too. But He also has another doorkeeper that He relies upon heavily. Who is that? Revelation 3:20 shows us that the one who is to open the door is you. Is me. Is each one who believes in Jesus as LORD and Savior. Is it just the door of your heart? No. It is, but it is so much more. It is the Door to the sheepfold. And Jesus is that Door. Who opened the Scriptures to you that you first came to know Christ? And who will you open them for today? Tomorrow? Next day? Time is running out.

King David wrote, "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness." Will you sign up to be a Doorkeeper for God and open your testimony and the Scriptures to people within your sphere of influence? If you still want to hear the sermon, then click the link:
Sheep On A Mission.

If you want to hear the 36 minute version then go to http://brunswick23.adventistchurchconnect.org and click "Listen to Sermons"

Jesus and Judgment--The Mission

2009-08-10T20:44:00.003-04:00

This sermon is about the mission that Jesus undertook when He came to this earth and became a human being. The title is
"Jesus and Judgment--the Mission."

Wait a minute. I thought Jesus said, "Judge not lest you be judged." And didn't He also tell the Pharisees that "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one." (John 8:15). Yet, just a day or two later, after healing a man born blind so that the works of God would be revealed in him (John 9:3), Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." (John 9:39).

What did Jesus mean, that He came into this world for judgment? Well He also said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b).
So, He came for judgment and to give us life? Hmmm? Sounds like we need to unpack this. And that's just what this sermon does. So click the link to downl0ad and listen. It's just 30 minutes of your time. Such a short investment to realize such a great potential benefit.

Or, are you afraid of the concept of judgment? Never fear. It is explained right here so that you will never fear judgment again. Why? Click the link and find out.
Jesus and Judgment--The Mission

When A Blind Man Sees

2009-08-03T18:29:00.002-04:00

The title of this sermon is,
"When A Blind Man Sees."

When can it be said that a blind man sees?
It is only one or two days after the Feast of Tabernacles. The last Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus would ever attend before He was crucified. The Jewish leaders already had it in for Him. They wanted to kill Him because His mission clashed with their mission--their ideas of religion. The previous day they had tried to stone Him for blasphemy. He had claimed to share the name of Jehovah God when He said, "Before Abraham, was I AM." But He only made such a bold claim because it was true. And even more so, because He knew there was only one way humans could find salvation, and that was through Him. By believing on Him and on His sacrifice, soon to be completed on the cross of Calvary.

I imagine that I can hear the passion in His voice as He confronted the Jews who seemed to be so blind to who He was. He had spoken to them again, at the Feast, and some listened and believed, others had given themselves over to unbelief and accused Him of having a demon, and still others were confused by the religious teachers who were resisiting Jesus.

Yet, Jesus still dared to speak to them again. And that demonstrates the deep love Jesus had for humans who were lost in bondage to sin and Satan. Jesus knew that He only had about five months left before He would make the ultimate sacrifice of His own life on the cross. He needed to speak to them again, but this time with a deep object lesson. Opportunity presented itself when Jesus passed through the imminent danger of being stoned and then passed by a man who was born blind.

The Apostle John who wrote this Gospel makes a transition to catch the attention of readers: Jesus escaped the murderers as He "passed by"and then He chose to "pass by" the man who was born blind. It is a Divine appointment and Jesus knows it well. He will have one more opportunity to teach who He is by healing this blind man.

But as He passed by the man born blind, the disciples asked Jesus, "Who sinned?" They believed that either this man or his parents must have committed some grievous sin that caused him to be born blind. The Jews of that day commonly believed that if people were sick or diseased it was because God was punishing them. As a matter of fact, many people believe like that today. But Jesus came to correct that false view about God. And so He answered the disciples' question, "Who sinned?" with, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in Him." And that is the key verse to the whole passage of chapter 9.

As you listen to the sermon you will hear the answer to the question, "When does a blind man see?" According to Jesus, it is when the works of God are revealed in Him. "When A Blind Man Sees" and what a blind man sees is not what the Pharisees see. For when the works of Jesus are revealed in this man, he sees with a clearer vision than any sighted person. And I'm not just talking about physical eyesight.

The same is true for you as an individual. You will never really see until the works of God are revealed in you. And the same is true for a church body. It has to do with mission. If you want to know the connection to a church's mission and the connection to your own walk with God, then click the link and download the sermon, "When A Blind Man Sees."

Is Jesus Jehovah?

2009-08-03T16:48:00.002-04:00

No doubt, the question "Is Jesus Jehovah?" has stirred controversy since He walked this earth as a man 2,000 years ago. But it is a question that must be faced by everyone. For if He is Jehovah, then He is equal with Almighty God that the Jews believe in. And He would also be equal with with Allah who the Muslim's believe in. And if we miss this opportunity that God has given all human beings during our sojourn on earth to find out the answer to this question of most importance, then we miss the opportunity to really find LIFE. Yes eternal life. But also, the abundant life now during our mortal and temporal existence here on this planet called earth.

Jesus came to reveal who God is and in doing so, almost got stoned for blasphemy. That is He claimed to be the "I AM." I AM is the name God used when talking with Moses at the burning bush. Check it out in Exodus chapter 3. Moses asked, "Who shall I say has sent me?" And Jehovah God answered, "Tell them 'I AM' has sent you." Now it is plain that Jesus also used that name for Himself when He said,"Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham--WAS I AM."

Pastor Dean Read thinks everyone who claims to believe in Jesus for any reason, needs to take this question seriously. Also, anyone who has ignored belief in Jesus, that you may just consider again, a chance to believe in the God of love by examining Jesus' claims about Himself, made for the sake of lost human beings that they may know the Savior and LORD of the world. And so, here it is presented differently than you may have heard before. This sermon is based on John chapter 8 and primarily verse 12. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Bold statement.

Who can speak with such authority? I maintain only One and that is God Himself. No created being could command such authority, though at least one creature has tried and that is Satan. But Satan could not succeed in his quest to be exalted above Jesus. Why not? If Jesus is not Jehovah, then was God unfair in His treatment of the angel who rebelled in heaven?
If you want to hear the controversy made clear, then click the link and listen to the sermon,
"Is Jesus Jehovah?"

Which Ones?

2009-07-20T14:46:00.003-04:00

The title of this sermon comes from the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. Do you remember what the young ruler said to Jesus? He said, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Do you remember Jesus' answer. Jesus said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Do you remember the young ruler's comeback? The young ruler said, "Which Ones?"

The young ruler wanted to know which ones of the commandments he had to keep to be saved. But, this sermon is not about that. This sermon is about sin. More specifically, it is about willful sin. It is based upon Hebrews 10:26-31. Verse 26 says, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." I think then that we must learn what the Bible means when it says, "sin willfully."

Apparently, willful sin is such a killer, that it makes Christ's sacrifice on the cross of no account. In fact, the Scripture says it makes such a person an adversary of God. Such people deny the truth, trample upon Jesus, and insult God's Holy Spirit. How can I or anyone else keep from "willful sin" since it seems that most sin is committed as an act of the will? What is the Bible actually saying here?

This is a very important topic that all Christians should hear. "Which Ones?" the ruler asked Jesus. Pastor Dean Read has used those words to ask, "Which Ones?" of all sins or types of sinning are the ones that will keep you out of heaven. Is it possible that even many Christians may be "sinning willfully" and not even realize it? Yes is the short answer. It happened in Jesus' day and it still happens today. Jesus knew this and dealt with it like only Jesus could. How should Christian pastors and teachers deal with sin today? Listen to the sermon and find out.

This is not a pretty topic by any standard of measure. Most "Christians" and even Christian "pastors" go out of their way to avoid it. But Jesus did not avoid it. He confronted it head on because He loved people and wanted to save them. And according to Hebrews chapter 10, even Jesus' blood will not atone for people who go on sinning willfully. That's why Jesus had to confront sin and sinners with the truth about this deadly topic. And that's why Pastor Dean also confronts it here, for anyone willing to listen. The Scripture says, "His name shall be called Jesus for He will save His people from their sins." It does not say that anyone will be saved "in" their sins.

Sin is a killer. Do you want to know if you have truly been forgiven for all of your sins or for "Which Ones?" you may not be forgiven? Then click the link to download the sermon and listen to:

"Which Ones?"

What Happens When You Drink Living Water?

2009-06-28T16:33:00.004-04:00

Jesus stood up in the midst of the people and His voice rang out in trumpeting tones. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" John 7:37-38.

Would you like to receive this "living water" that Jesus said would "flow" out of your heart? Would you like it right now? Would you like it every day?

Well, then you only need to meet two conditions. The first condition is to "believe" in Jesus, and the second condition is to "come to Him and drink." It is as simple as that. The problem for most Christians and other people is not that they don't believe, but that they don't come to Him and drink.

Jesus was speaking to believers here. So any believers out there who may be reading this blog are invited to listen to the sermon,
"What Happens When You Drink
Living Water?"

But beware. Because Jesus said that if you drink from Him, then this "living water" would flow out like a river from your heart. In fact, He actually said it would flow out from your "belly." That's what the original Greek word means. What did Jesus mean that it would flow out from your belly? The "belly" actually means your innermost self. The belly implies the deepest recesses of your heart and the deepest recesses of your mind. Uh Oh! Watch out. Isn't that where your secret thoughts lurk. You know. Those thoughts that you don't share with just anyone and perhaps with no-one because they are too evil. You wouldn't want anyone to know how you really feel about them would you? So isn't it easier to just withold your blessing from them, to not wish them well? Isn't that okay? After all, someone once said, "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all."

But Jesus' words mean that you can't hide those secret thoughts from Him. After all, God knows you and He knows what you really think and how you really feel about others. All others. So be careful, because if you drink the living water all that is going to change. Unless you don't want to bless others. Perhaps there are some people that you just do not like. That's understandable. But even those people you do not like will be blessed by you if you drink the living water. So, if you don't want to bless others then what? Then, don't drink the living water. It's that simple. Because if you drink the living water, then you will know the answer to the question in this sermon,
"What Happens When You Drink
Living Water?"

A Man for the Times

2009-06-21T17:13:00.003-04:00

A Man for the Times--Brunswick version
A Man for the Times--Camden version (The Camden version is more for Seventh-day Adventists who want to be reinvigorated)

This sermon deals with deep truths from John chapter 7, verses 6-8. It deals with a contrast between God's time and man's time. But understand this: Jesus kept His Father's time and humbled Himself to save mankind."

Jesus' own brothers had just confronted Him about His "too secretive" methods of working. If He really was the Messiah, they reasoned, shouldn't He show Himself to the world openly? Shouldn't He go up to the Feast of Tabernacles and proclaim Himself King? After all, they must have reasoned, it was time.

Several months earlier Jesus had rebuked the peoples' efforts to make Him King. He had fed the 5,000. But He would not allow them to rise up and make Him King. He sent them all away. But then they found Him and questioned Him again. This time Jesus would have to answer their questions:"Rabbi, what are you doing here?" "When did you come here?"

John chapter 6 shows there was a crisis in Galilee because Jesus had fed those 5,000. They did not understand the miracle and what it meant. They wanted such a miracle everyday, like the manna that fell everyday for forty years in the time of Moses. But Jesus tried to explain why they did not understand. He also told them what they needed to do if they would understand. What did He say? He said they needed to pay attention to how His Father was drawing them. Jesus boldly stated, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him."

What inference can we draw from Jesus' statement? Obviously the reason those people were having a problem with Jesus' method of working was because their heart's desires were not in agreement with God the Father. Jesus was basically telling them that "the perception and appreciation of truth depends less upon the mind than upon the heart." This is also the case with His brothers several months later when He told them in John 7:6, "My time has not yet come." In fact, He emphasized it again two verses later when He said, "My time has not yet fully come." On the other hand, He told His brothers, "Your time is always ready."

What did Jesus mean by that? What deep truth lurks below the surface of those words? The Greek word used here for time is kairos. There is another Greek word for time, chronos, which is used for calendar or clock time. Kairos can include calendar time, but it means more than that. It also means a special time or special occaision. So Jesus is saying "My special time" has not fully come, meaning when He would be crowned as King. First, He must face the cross. But His brothers, the Jewish leaders, and everyone else for that matter, did not understand that.

Do most Christians think they undersand that today? I tell you they really don't. If you listen to the sermon you will learn why. Jesus had new truths to teach His followers. But He warned them that His teachings were like new wine. And you can not put new wine into old wineskins or the wineskins will be destroyed. Jesus' teachings are compared to new wine. Even the LORD Himself said through the prophet Isaiah,
Thus says the LORD: "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, 'Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,' So will I do for My servants' sake."

Look at what God says. He gives a blessing through the new wine, which symbolizes Jesus' blood. But this new wine also symbolizes Jesus' teachings. For it was Jesus who said, "I am the living bread which came down form heaven...unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:51, 53). These were symbolic words, because Jesus also said "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). And then He added, "There are some of you who do not believe." Whoa! Strong words! Could HE be speaking those words to many Christians today?

I believe that most of the Christian world has ignored many "new" truths that the Bible teaches. Contained in John 7:6-8 is a strong hint of those truths that Jesus wants His followers to know and accept and teach. To my knowledge, only one group knows and teaches them today. That group is the Seventh-day Adventists. That is why I became and still am a Seventh-day Adventist, because I have found they teach the closest to the Bible truth over any other group, be they Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox. However, even many Seventh-day Adventists may have grown tired of these truths. After all we are talking about time here. And understanding the prophesy of time that details the exact time of Jesus' baptism anbd crucifixion is only a matter of mathematics and chronological (chronos) time. Or is it? Jesus spoke of His special time as kairos. That strongly implies more than the chronological, mathematical, or logical. It implies that there is a blessing in it as in the new wine found in the cluster.

It's kairos time. It is Jesus' time. Jesus kept His Father's time and humbled Himself to save mankind. It also impies that Jesus' followers must keep up with His time and His timing. He is soon to return in Glory and the saints will already have been favorably judged as worthy of the first resurrection. But until that time, here is a sermon to help keep your attitude inline. You may choose from the two versions, or listen to both. If you like, leave me a comment on my blog or facebook. Or sign the guestbook on either the Camden or Brunswick Church websites.

A Man for the Times--Brunswick version
A Man for the Times--Camden version (The Camden version is more for Seventh-day Adventists who want to be reinvigorated)

The Sound of War

2009-06-15T13:59:00.004-04:00

Have you ever heard the sound of war? No doubt, American men and women who have served in the armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan or other counries have. But Americans have not heard the sound of war on this continent in a long time. Wars have been fought in this American land from before we became a nation in 1776. And the Revolutionary war was fought in our homeland. However, the last time Americans heard the sound of war in their homeland was when the nation of Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. Before that time, the last time we fought on American soil was probably the Civil War between the North and the South. And only a select few Americans were in danger from bombs during the battle of Pearl Harbor. During WWI and WWII Americans at home were largely protected from falling bombs and troop invasions threatening their neighborhoods, unlike the people of the nations of Europe. We have been privileged in America t0 not see war in our cities. Yet we supported the war effort in both WWI and WWII. There are people alive today who well remember the rationing of gas, rubber, oil and other goods during WWII. The women worked in the factories to replace the men who were at war overseas. But then came Korea and Vietnam, two wars which were not well supported at home. There seemed to be no need since we were such a powerful nation and the initial prevailing thought was that we could dispatch the enemy quickly and would not be there so long... But then the wars lingered, and the lack of home support told on this nation. Now we are engaged in both Iraq and Afghanistan, yet we don't see what the Iraqi and Afghani people see. We don't hear what they hear daily. The sound of war.

In a similar way, Christians have been involved in a war for the past two thousand years. Yet, not all "Christians" have been fighting in this war and not all have been supporting the war effort. Not all have heard the sound of war. Why? Have you heard the war-song? Revelation 12:17 makes a bold claim that the devil is at war. With who? Just who is the devil at war with? Is he at war with everyone? Some may say yes; but; the Scripture gives a different testimony. According to Revelation 12:17, the devil is at war with a small group of people defined by the following three characteristics:
1. They are the "rest" of the woman's offspring
2. They keep the commandments of God
3. They have the testimony of Jesus Christ

If you do not fall into those three characteristics either as an individual, or as a church body, then the devil is not at war with you. Oh yeah, we know the devil may be messing with you. He messes with everyone, even his own satanic followers. Some people are so evil they just love to kick a dog when he's down, and the devil and his legions of demons are no different. They mess with alot of people. But the devil and his army are not at war with most people, because as Marvin Moore writes in his book about the endtimes, "Could It Really Happen,"

"Satan is furious that he lost the war in heaven, and his anger is driving him with bitter intensity to win the war here that he lost there. In the cases of most people, Satan has actually won the war. They’re his allies! The object of his wrath today is the few people who still resist him.” Emphasis mine.

What do you mean pastor, "war in heaven?" Just read Revelation 12:7, "War broke out in heaven." But the purpose of this sermon, "The Sound of War" is to get Seventh-day Adventist Christians and any other group who believe they are included in the above three characteristics to realize they are in fact in a war. Not only that, Satan is directly engaging in war against them--for they are the world's last hope before Jesus returns in glory. They must warn the world about the wrath of God to come for anyone who accepts the false doctrines of Babylon and is setup to receive the "Mark of the Beast".

Who is Satan at war with? The remainder of the true people of God. Satan is at war with the Law of God and with the Testimony of Jesus Christ. But the testimony of Jesus, according to Revelation 19:10 is "the Spirit of Prophecy." So Satan is not only fighting against God's law, trying to destroy faith in it, he is also trying to destroy faith in the prophecies of the Bible. Look how many so-called-Christians no longer believe the law of God matters and look how many so-called-Christians no longer believe in the prophecies of the Bible. Yet Jesus, highlighted both God's law and the prophecies of the Bible. He emphasized law and prophecy. He said, anyone who loves Him will keep His law. And He pointed His followers to the great prophecies that spoke of His first coming and death on the cross and of His Second Coming which is still in the future. And He spoke in a real way of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. But, His return will be sooner then anyone expects.

So, Satan is at war to prevent the people who know these things from spreading the True Gospel. Just like modern Americans who have never worried about or faced the reality of war in their own country, many "Christians" and even many Seventh-day Adventist Christians don't face the reality of the war in which the Scripture says we must be engaged now. Have you been in this category? Then listen to the sermon and be encouraged. For the hope of all those people that Satan has already won the war against depends on you fighting the spiritual warfare on their behalf. Other people who do not know the way of salvation need to be saved. Their salvation depends on your prayers and your spiritual warfare so that they may be released from bondage and come to know the Savior of the World Jesus Christ.

The Sound of War

In Pursuit of Perfection

2009-06-07T16:27:00.002-04:00

Jesus said we are to be perfect as even His Heavenly Father is perfect. What does it mean to be perfect? No doubt, non-believers have an idea of perfection that does not agree with the Bible teachings. They know what it means to do right and then make fun of Christians in general because of what they observe to be un-Christian like behavior. Interesting. They themselves (unbelievers) don't do right, yet they seem to know what is right when they accuse Christians of hypocrisy.

But this sermon does not argue that point. Instead, this sermon simply explores from scripture, Jesus' greatest teaching about love. He told His disciples on the night before He was crucified, "to love one another" even as He had loved them. Pastor Dean Read explores this by examining the book of Hebrews, specifically Hebrews 10:19-25. In fact I will post both versions of the sermon, one preached at the Brunswick Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the other preached at the Camden Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Camden sermon is divided into two parts for easier download and listening time.
Both highlight similar aspects of the theme: that we should not forsake the assembling together of others since it is by assembling together with other believers that we may do the most important job that God has ever given to any man--to love one another. How do we do that? By encouraging one another so that each may have endurance to last until the time Jesus returns in Glory to redeem His own.

This is a sermon for believers. It will not be useful to unbelievers and critics who do not want to come to the truth and be saved. But, it will encourage believers to stand firm (endure) and remain in the Church even when it seems too much of a hardship to do so. Do not let the devil get to you through the weakness of fellow church members. Do not abandon your faith. Hold fast your confidence to the end and boldly enter the Holiest of All through the living way Jesus provided through His blood shed on your behalf. Therefore, and especially Seventh-day Adventists, remain in church so that you may be encouraged and in turn encourage others. That is the role the Holy Spirit has given to everyone. He stands by your side and comforts you so that you may personally represent Jesus in the same manner. Remember, He said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." So, please follow His example and do not leave His people. Click a link to listen to your choice:

In Pursuit of Perfection--part 1--Camden Church
In Pursuit of Perfection--part 2--Camden Church

In Pursuit of Perfection--Brunswick Church

Sin and the Holy Spirit

2009-06-07T16:07:00.003-04:00

I preached this sermon two weeks ago and posted it to my churches websites, but not yet to this blog. So I am finally catching up after participating in Camp-Meeting for one week and then taking a vacation for the next week. I believe this sermon is really worth listening to, since most people have a world-influenced idea about how God is with them. It is God who put eternity into the hearts of all humans, and so it is natural that people have a general idea that somehow God is with them. But that is not what the Bible actually teaches. God is with those who believe on Him or have faith in Him, but He is not necesarily with those who do not believe. Jesus Christ cleared up any misconceptions when on the night before His crucifixion, He gave His final and greatest teaching to His disiples. He prayed for them and for those who will BELIEVE in Him through their word (the Bible writings). He did not pray for the world. He then promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would abide with them (believers only) forever.
What else was the Holy Spirit to do?
1. To bear witness about Jesus
2. To teach us all things and to bring all things to our remembrance,
that is the things we have learned from His Word.
3. And to abide with us, commune with us forever.

As for the world, the Holy Spirit would convict all of
1. Sin--because they do not believe in Jesus
2. Righteousness--because Jesus went to His Father, and is now with His Father
3. And Judgment--because the world and the ruler of this world (the devil) is judged

So, he who has ears to hear the truth that Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and about human sin then listen in.

Click the link to download,
"Sin and the Holy Spirit"

A Messiah of Choice

2009-05-19T12:04:00.003-04:00

This sermon is titled
"A Messiah of Choice"
The Gospel of John chapter 6 demonstrates
a very intense crisis that occured
2 1/2 years after Jesus began His ministry.
Jesus chose to be the Messiah for all who would believe,
But not everyone who followed him believed.
Why?
What precipitated this crisis, when
"From that time many of His disciples went back
and walked with Him no more." (John 6:66)
I know it made Jesus very sad to see them walk away,
but He Himself knew that
though they called themselves His followers,
they really did not believe His words.
Jesus said,
"Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father
comes to Me." (John 6:45)
What does this imply about people
who call themselves Christian
but do not obey His word?
He obviously was the Messiah
by His own choice.
However, He was not a Messiah of their choice,
of those who did not believe.
How about you?
Is He really the Messiah of your choice?
I hope you will take a thoughtful timeout today
and listen to
"A Messiah of Choice"

Keepers of the Heart

2009-05-19T11:48:00.003-04:00

This sermon, "Keepers of the Heart," is a mother's day tribute.
But it is meant for all. I preached this on May 9 at both
the Brunswick and Camden Seventh-day Adventist Churches.
I believe that parents, and especially mothers are to be
the keepers of God's heart for their children.
Mother's are to be
the keepers of their children's hearts.
I believe this is also true of husbands and wives--
They are to be the keepers of each others hearts.
I hope this sermon will inspire those who listen to it
to a higher calling,
The very call of God.
to be "Keepers of the Heart."

Listen to special music from the Brunswick Church,
Anne and Kathleen sing
"Fairest Lord Jesus"

Mercy & Truth Meeting--Presents the Gospel

2009-05-06T14:13:00.007-04:00

Click on images to enlarge and read.
This is a Bible Teaching Ministry of
the Brunswick and Camden Seventh-day Adventist
Churches in the Golden Isles of Georgia

The Breaker

2009-05-03T22:38:00.002-04:00

What is a breaker?
Isn't it an underwater reef or rock formation
that causes a water wave to break?
And then there is an excavator that runs
a large hydraulic-powered hammer
used to demolish man-made concrete structures.

But Jesus also was a breaker.
That's what they called Him in John chapter five.
Who?
The Jewish leaders mixed of Pharisees and Sadducees
Those who believed in the Resurrection of the dead,
and those who did not.
These two groups were envious of each other
But they were even more envious of Jesus.
Why?
Remember when He drove them out of His Fathers House
with a whip of cords? See John chapter two.
They never forgave Him for that.
They wanted Him dead for that,
And for healing that man one year later at the very Passover Feast,
That sinful, paralytic man--and on the Sabbath Day.
Breaker!

But I say to you, that I agree it is true
Jesus was a breaker.
Not only was, but still is
A breaker of human ideas,
false ideas that is,
And a breaker of human misleading traditions
and every false teaching found in religion
and in the world.

In fact, John chapter five is so deep and alive
about who Jesus was and still is
the Son of God and the Son of Man.
Jesus, Who's very Name means "Yahweh is Salvation"
Comes not only to face the Jews in John five,
But you and me today, in our places of worship or non-worship
On our days of worship or non-worship,
For, as He told the woman at the well,
The Father seeks those who will worship in spirit and in truth.

Are you ready to have your ideas of God broken?
Or will they stand the test of Jesus?
Only one way to find out,
Read John chapter five
And meditate on it this week,
And click the link to download the sermon
and hear Pastor Dean Read speak about
The Breaker

And if you would like to hear
Anne and Ryan sing special music
then click here to hear "Come to Jesus."

Dedication of Hannah

2009-04-27T23:29:00.002-04:00

This is a 7 minute audio recording of
the dedication of my granddaughter Hannah.
She turned 18 months on Sabbath April 25, 2009.
Kathleen sings the dedication hymn called "Like Jesus,
Stephen gives the opening prayer,
I read the scripture and give the charge to the mother,
and then Christina accepts the covenant to
Raise her child in the Lord.
It was a beautiful ceremony.
Enjoy if you wish
Hannah's Dedication.

I.Q. Development

2009-04-27T23:13:00.002-04:00

With all the rage about I.Q. in the news,
Pastor Read speaks about the true intelligence,
The Internal Question that we must all ask ourselves.
This sermon is for Christians who want to follow Christ
And know that they are doing right
And eating the food that leads to eternal life.
What is that food?
It is what Jesus said it was
To do the will of Him who sent Him
And to finish His work.
Do you know your Internal Quotient?
Have you asked the Internal Question?
Jesus said to "Look at the fields,
for they are already white for harvest."
Have you looked?
Do you know how to recognize the ripened grain?
Whether you are a sower or a reaper,
Every true follower of Christ is born...
into the kingdom of God as a missionary.
Etch those words into your mind,
and then listen to the sermon
I.Q. Development
based on John 4:27-38
And the object lesson Jesus taught His disciples
That day at the Samaritan well.

The Sting!

2009-04-19T22:09:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been stung by a bee? I have.
Have you had the sting put on you by your fellow human beings?
Remember the movie from 1973 starring Redford and Neuman,
When a con put the sting on a mafia Don?
And the Don tried to kill the con to exact his payback.
Would you like to see a playback?
There is no need, for the sting will still be,
Until when you ask me
A Preacher preaching about The Sting!
Until Jesus comes again and death is swallowed up in victory.
O Death, where is thy sting?
(from the verse in First Corinthians Fifteen)

This sermon is the second on resurrection and death
after the first called, "Would You Have Believed."
If you take the time to listen, you will learn the truth
About the original stinger and the first sting,
And why we all are under the curse of death's sting
No matter what any human might believe,
In Jesus or not,
Walk with God or not,
Be you Christian or not,
Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or not,
Believers or not, Unbelievers too,
Death comes upon us all.

It says in First Corinthians 15:56, "The sting of death is sin..."
And how does a wise man die? asks Soloman
...a wise man dies in the same way as the fool,
And even the animals too,
"As one dies, so dies the other.
Surely they all have one breath;
Man has no advantage over animals,
For all is vanity!
Or is it?

Is there a cure for the sting?
Remove the stinger naturally.
But who can do what has not been done,
for all still die and live not again, until...
Until when?
Until the stinger is removed and death is swallowed up in victory.

But how do I, a believer in Christ live until then?
For sin you see is confusing to me,
By not becoming immune to the sting of death called sin,
By dying daily to self and living in Christ.
It is the only treatment as the sermon teaches
from 1 Corinthians 15 and 2 Conthinans 4 and 5.

Take a lesson from the bee,
learn what its sting teaches about sin and immunity
Just click the link and listen to...
THE STING!

Would You Have Believed in the Resurrection?

2009-04-12T17:48:00.003-04:00

This is no ordinary sermon on the Resurrection.
In fact, I have read news that many pastors struggle
with how to preach on the Resurrection
year after year after year.
To some it is just the same old story
and "you hear it every year at Easter anyway."
Perhaps, some pastors may even compromise the integrity of the Scripture
in looking for some "fresh" approach to preach about the Resurrection.

But I say, if you heart is right with God,
and you call yourself a man of God,
then preach the Resurrection in all of its glory and in all of its truth.
However, the trouble is that many don't really believe
in the resurrection of the dead.
Don't most Christians believe
in the non-biblical doctrine of the immortality of the soul?
Yes, most do, even though it really is not true.
Not according to the Bible. The Bible teaches that people die.

Imagine that. A novel concept to consider.
People actually die, and their body disintegrates into nothingness.
But what about their eternal soul, you might ask?
Well, if the soul is not inherently immortal, then the soul is also not eternal,
not until Jesus resurrects His own people in the first resurrection
of which Revelation has more to say.
But that is for another sermon, for another time.
First things first.

What is first?
To believe that there actually will be at a future point in time
a resurrection of the dead.
For the Apostle Paul wrote, if their is no resurrection of the dead,
then neither is Christ risen. And if Christ is not risen
then your faith is EMPTY!
Meaning?
What do you actually believe
about the resurrection of the dead,
and even about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself.
Did He really have power within Himself to take up His life again?
Did it really happen?
Can you have faith to believe without coming up empty?

Pastor Dean Read preaches from 1 Corinthians 15 and shows
that as it was in Paul's day, so it is today.
It is not just unbelievers and skeptics that deny the Resurrection.
It is in fact most of the Christian world today.
What? But how?
Through the false belief that came from ancient Greece,
the doctrine of the immortality of the soul of which the Bible does not teach.
Click the link and listen to the sermon:

Would You Have Believed?
based on First Corinthians 15.

For Anyone Who Might Desire to Know the Truth, Because God is Love...

2009-04-09T14:49:00.005-04:00

I am presenting the following summary of my beliefs
that come straight from the Bible.
I hope that anyone who reads this might desire to know the truth.
Time is short for this world, and will soon be at an end for human probation.
And God is watching, and waiting,
and hoping, and interceding.
Truly, the history of humanity has revealed corruption within the human heart.
The rich get richer; yet, both rich and poor are still in want.
The world's failing economies and political practices
have clearly demonstrated that greed is the rule of the day across all classes.
Is there anything left where humans can find hope for a better tomorrow,
even for a better today?
Now would be a good time to find out, don't you think?
Why not take a few moments and read the following beliefs
of this blogger and pastor named Dean C. Read.
If you want to know more about these things,
just leave a comment on the post,
or email me at discovermercyandtruth@gmail.com

...BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE
I believe the Bible is the fully inspired word of God and as such
reveals the love of God
through Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of the world.
I believe that salvation is only through Christ and that we are saved by grace
through faith in Him, alone.
I believe the Ten Commandments are still valid
and that those who love God will keep His commandments through His grace.
The Seventh-day Sabbath is God’s holy day made for man
to enjoy and worship his Creator
and is a memorial of the God who created this world
in perfection in seven literal days.
I believe sin entered this world when Satan caused the fall
of the first two human beings, Adam and Eve;
yet, God intervened and brought the plan of salvation to rescue humans
from sin through His Son Jesus Christ.
...because God is love.

...Because God is love
I believe this same Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again
almost 2000 years ago,
is now judging in favor of those who kept faith in Him,
and will soon return in glory to resurrect those who have died
(yes I believe humans actually die
and must wait for resurrection day before they live again--
the first resurrection for those who will live with Christ forever
and the second resurrection for the wicked,
who will be destroyed forever after meeting their judgment)
and to gather the living believers together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and then we shall always be with the Lord Jesus.
In order to be prepared for Jesus' return,
and in order to live our daily lives by His grace,
Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth
and to commune with us through the Invisible Presence of God.
Thus, God has not left His children alone,
but remains with us through the Holy Spirit.
...because God is love.

Not only that, at the first resurrection,
Jesus will give the saints new and perfect bodies
that will never be subject to death or disease again.
The books of judgment will be opened before the resurrected believers
and God will wipe away every tear during the millennium in heaven.
...because God is love.

Then Jesus and the saints will return to this earth
and the second resurrection will occur
when the unsaved will stand before the judgment seat of God.
The unsaved will not burn in hell forever,
but will be consumed by fire from heaven
and then God will recreate this earth.
On the new earth, Jesus Himself will dwell with His human children
and there will be no more death or sorrow or sickness or pain.
...because God is love.

...Because God is love,
Truly, the future with Christ is full of hope.

Would You Have Asked?

2009-04-04T23:45:00.002-04:00

It is a familiar story to most Christians. The woman at the well.
But, how does it speak to your heart? Have you ever asked the question,
"Why did Jesus need to go through Samaria?"
After all, that was not the usual path for Jews to travel from Judea northward to Galilee.
The usual path was through the Jordan Valley, not through the mountainous region of Samaria? Why, you ask?
Because the Jews hated Samaritans. The Samaritans were that mixed race of peoples
who were left over when the Northern Kingdom was destroyed by Assyria over 700 years previous.
It was the Samaritans who "by force of arms"tried to stop the Jews from rebuilding the Temple around 520 B.C.
They were enemies of God's people. They worshipped idols, and the list goes on.
Then why would Jesus make a special trip through Samaria?
I believe there were at least three reasons.
The Disciples, the Samaritans (Gentiles), and the woman.
Jesus had to teach the Disciples what the true mission was,
"to be a light to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 42:1, 6;44:1).
And Jesus had to be that light to the Samaritans and set the example for His Disciples.
But I believe the main reason in this story is for the sake of the woman.
Jesus was making a Divine appointment just for her. And it was also just for each one of us today,
if we take the message to heart that Jesus gave to the woman that day at Jacob's well.
Are you curious what that message is for you? Are you thirsty?
Do you want to know how Jesus can take you from where you are right now spiritually,
and bring you to where He wants you to be? Where He is.
Click the link to listen to the sermon:

Would You Have Asked?

Waiting for the Good Wine

2009-03-30T01:53:00.002-04:00

There is a song by the group SUM 41 called "Still Waiting." Some of the lyrics say:

So am I still waiting
For this world to stop hating
Can't find a good reason
Can't find hope to believe in

Ignorance and Understanding
We're the first ones to jump in line
Out of step for what we believe in
But who's left? To start the pleading
How far will we take this
It's not hard to see through the sickness

So tell me what would you say
I'd say its up: to me

It's a secular song, but it makes a good point. Human beings are waiting for something better.
An improvement in our world's way of life. World peace would be nice.
But while we are waiting for that
We find ourselves waiting for other things. Even things that we may never be able to have.
So, we find ourselves standing in lines--
To get the best seats at concerts and the best deals on automobiles or houses,
Or any other myriad numbers of various materialistic things.

But what about those who stood in line in Jesus' time on earth 2,000 years ago?
Were they any different from us today?
Many were eagerly waiting to meet their Messiah if He met their expectations.
But what were they expecting? What did they think they were waitng for?
Many of His disciples, after they found out what Jesus was really about,
Were not willing to make the sacrifice He asked them to do,
So they turned away from following Him.
Humans today will not accept the teachings of Jesus and are still waiting today
For something else, something better than they currently have.
But Jesus is the One who turned water to wine.
A seemingly mundane miracle compared with most miracles that the Bible says He did.
Could it be that this first of Jesus' miracles has a deep meaning
For those who are "still waiting" for something better?
There are only two ways to find out: Read the story for yourself and pray for understanding...
Or click the link to listen to the sermon:

Waiting for the Good Wine

Based on the Wedding Feast of John chapter 2 verses 1-11

A Summary of My Beliefs

2009-03-25T12:06:00.003-04:00

I am posting a summary of what I believe that God has clearly revealed in His word so that anyone who reads this might desire to know the truth. After all, Jesus also said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31, 32) If anyone is attracted to the following and would like Bible studies in order to learn what the Bible itself actually teaches, then please visit:http://www.bibleschools.com/schoolHome.html?id=1229 for free online bible studies produced by the Voice of Prophecy.

SUMMARY of My Beliefs:
Seventh-day Adventists believe the Bible is the fully inspired word of God and as such reveals Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of the world. We believe that salvation is only through Christ and that we are saved by grace through faith in Him, alone. We believe the Ten Commandments are still valid and that those who love God will keep His commandments through His grace. The Seventh-day Sabbath is God’s holy day made for man to enjoy and worship his Creator and is a memorial of the God who created this world in perfection in seven literal days. We believe sin entered this world when Satan caused the fall of the first two human beings, Adam and Eve; yet, God intervened and brought the plan of salvation to rescue humans from sin through His Son Jesus Christ.

We believe this same Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins almost 2000 years ago, is now judging in favor of those who kept faith in Him, and will soon return in glory to resurrect those who have died (yes we believe humans actually die and must wait for resurrection day before they live again--the first resurrection for those who will live with Christ forever and the second resurrection for the wicked, who will be destroyed forever after meeting their judgment) and to gather the living believers together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and then we shall always be with the Lord Jesus. In order to be prepared for Jesus' return, and in order to live our daily lives by His grace, Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and to commune with us through the Invisible Presence of God. Thus, God has not left His children alone, but remains with us through the Holy Spirit.

Not only that, at the first resurrection, Jesus will give the saints new and perfect bodies that will never be subject to death or disease again. The books of judgment will be opened before the resurrected believers and God will wipe away every tear during the millennium in heaven.

Then Jesus and the saints will return to this earth and the second resurrection will occur when the unsaved will stand before the judgment seat of God. The unsaved will not burn in hell forever, but will be consumed by fire from heaven and then God will recreate this earth. On the new earth, Jesus Himself will dwell with His human children and there will be no more death or sorrow or sickness or pain. Truly, the future with Christ is full of hope.

The Spirit of Debate and the Truth

2009-03-24T13:52:00.005-04:00

I have deleted a former post that was not intended for public discussion. It was a letter that I wrote to another blogger in response to her post. I recognize that to respond to someone in a personal way is a difficult task on a blog, when the thoughts are open to public scrutiny and thus can be either criticized or praised depending upon one's frame of reference. Frame of reference can make all the difference in whether or not two people understand what each other is saying. Thus, it takes a period of getting to know each other in order to understand another person's frame of reference or "affective filters." That being said, we humans (including myself) still make reasonable attempts at the communication process. For Christians, such communication should be seasoned by the grace of God as we attempt to understand another person's feelings and yet also be bold enough to actually lead them into truth.

In trying to lead others into truth, some Christians have been accused of having a "wrong spirit." Sometimes such accusations are justified and othertimes they are not. I was accused of this concerning the post I just deleted. And I deleted it because I never should have let it be open to public exposure. And perhaps, because I did not know the person to whom I responded, I never should have written her in a blog comment, since then it is not just between the two of us to work out for true understanding of each other's frame of reference. However, Jesus maintained that truth is so important that He prayed for His Father to"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." Jesus demonstrated that the Holy Spirit would, "Convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." And, Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth." (John 17:17; 16:8, 12, 13). Note, Jesus had many "private" conversations with people like Nicodemus, and told others not to make what He did for them known. I believe Jesus did this because the individuals that He spoke with privately like Nicodemus, perhaps could not "bear them now" if others were involved in the conversation to counteract the truth as Jesus revealed it.

My desire is not to injure the cause of Christ by things that I say or write; rather I hope to lead others into truth. I made a mistake by opening the entire contents of that letter to the scrutiny of public exposure by placing it on this blogsite. This opened my comments to debate, pro or con. And I received comments from both perspectives. However, I do not believe in debating as this never leads anyone to Christ, and yet my own post had the spirit of debate and therefore judgment within it.

My intentions are not to cause reactions, but just to make a defense for the simple truth of the Gospel, and try to demonstrate that Jesus is love and that everything Jesus has done for this world and for His church is based on His love for us. Now I do not intend to debate the love of God here either. However, I do intend to explain what the Bible says about God's love as opposed to what human beings say about it. Because love is not rooted in one's feelings, but it is rooted in loyalty to God and keeping His commandments. Especially the two greatest commandments, to love God with all your heart and soul and strength and mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself. And I do intend to speak and write truth as the Bible mandates. Such truths may "cut" as "the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12) And this I will strive to do by God's grace with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Why do I intend to do this you may ask? Fair question. Because I believe God wants to save all people, but they can only be saved by one way. And that way is only through Jesus, by believing in His perfect life on their behalf, by believing in His death in place of their own death, and by believing in His resurrection that they may also be resurrected when He returns, and by believing in His high priestly ministry on their behalf right now, to deliver them from sin and bondage to satan and bondage to the world. To believe like this means to have faith in Jesus' Righteousness as imputed to each one who accepts Jesus as Savior and as Lord. Note, if Jesus is Lord than He is master and that means He must be obeyed. Not my way, but God's way is the only way.

Now I do understand that some people have been abused by "the church" and therefore many think that Christianity is a sham. But that is on those who have misrepresented the God of the Bible and not on those who were abused. However, I do believe that God reaches deep into everyone's heart (even those who have been mistreated by "Christians") so that each one can seek the truth that God has already revealed in His word. And, I will still do my best to speak only truth to them, and not soft pedal God's word. Truth is so important to God that Jesus came to this earth to die for the sins of the world that denied God's truth, that He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.

I will only add one more thing here, a summary of what I believe that God has clearly revealed in His word so that anyone who reads this might desire to know the truth. After all, Jesus also said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31, 32) If anyone is attracted to the following and would like Bible studies in order to learn what the Bible itself actually teaches, then please visit:
http://www.bibleschools.com/schoolHome.html?id=1229 for free online bible studies produced by the Voice of Prophecy.

SUMMARY of My Beliefs:
Seventh-day Adventists believe the Bible is the fully inspired word of God and as such reveals Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of the world. We believe that salvation is only through Christ and that we are saved by grace through faith in Him, alone. We believe the Ten Commandments are still valid and that those who love God will keep His commandments through His grace. The Seventh-day Sabbath is God’s holy day made for man to enjoy and worship his Creator and is a memorial of the God who created this world in perfection in seven literal days. We believe sin entered this world when Satan caused the fall of the first two human beings, Adam and Eve; yet, God intervened and brought the plan of salvation to rescue humans from sin through His Son Jesus Christ.

We believe this same Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins almost 2000 years ago, is now judging in favor of those who kept faith in Him, and will soon return in glory to resurrect those who have died (yes we believe humans actually die and must wait for resurrection day before they live again--the first resurrection for those who will live with Christ forever and the second resurrection for the wicked, who will be destroyed forever after meeting their judgment) and to gather the living believers together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and then we shall always be with the Lord Jesus. At this first resurrection, Jesus will give the saints new and perfect bodies that will never be subject to death or disease again. The books of judgment will be opened before the resurrected believers and God will wipe away every tear during the millennium in heaven.

Then Jesus and the saints will return to this earth and the second resurrection will occur when the unsaved will stand before the judgment seat of God. The unsaved will not burn in hell forever, but will be consumed by fire from heaven and then God will recreate this earth. On the new earth, Jesus Himself will dwell with His human children and there will be no more death or sorrow or sickness or pain. Truly, the future with Christ is full of hope.

What Are You Saying LORD?

2009-03-15T14:55:00.002-04:00

How does God speak to you? Many people today claim to be spiritual, but with so many versions of truth out there in a relativistic society, how can anyone be sure what God may be trying to say to them? With so many different voices competing for your attention, is it possible to really know God's will for your personal everyday life situations?

I claim the answer is yes, and in this sermon I tell you of a time when I was about 19 years old that I asked this same question, while sitting on a beach with a friend? We came up with a way that we both thought would work. Three years after that beach experience, I came to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. A few years later I learned about a story recorded in the Bible that was almost identical to the situation my friend and I had discussed on that beach so many years earlier, where God actually answered the question,
"How can anyone really know what God's will is for their personal everyday life experiences?"

I invite anyone who would like to know the answer to click the link and download the sermon,
"What Are You Saying LORD?"

Nathanael's Testimony

2009-03-08T12:48:00.002-04:00

This is a 30 minute narrative that every Church member
and everyone who believe's that Jesus is the Son of God needs to hear.
I believe it will make a big difference for good in the Church
and in your walk with Jesus Christ.
Click to listen to:
Nathanael's Testimony

God Calls His Next Witness

2009-03-05T11:44:00.003-05:00

This is part two of this two part series called, "The Witness of John the Baptist."
In part one, "John the Baptist Speaks...Today!" we saw the Elijah message preached by John the Baptist to get the people ready to meet the Messiah, Jesus Christ. That was a message of repentance. WHO is God's next witness? What is the message of God's next witness? Click to listen to the sermon, "God Calls His Next Witness"

Is the Message of John the Baptist Relevant Today?

2009-02-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

And if John's message is relevant today, then what does that mean for the way I live my life as a Christian? And what does that mean for people who are just now coming to Christ?

Click the link to listen to the sermon--

John the Baptist Speaks...Today!

--the first of a two part series.

Talking with My Lord--Musings on Psalm 41

2009-02-19T13:36:00.000-05:00

I was talking with my Lord today and wondering why so many do not believe in Him and many others who claim to believe in Him have either left His church or do not attend church any more. And I asked Him what was the meaning of Psalm 41? It was written by King David but was applied to Christ in the New Testament--"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me." Yes, King David's own son Absalom, betrayed him. But also the commander of his army, Joab, and others betrayed him. So how is this applied to Christ? Jesus Himself said this scripture was fulfilled on the night of the Last Supper--the night Judas Iscariot betrayed Him.

Jesus sent His prophets and apostles and pastors and teachers and followers as witnesses about Him, but many do not receive their witness. Why? Because if the TRUTH is preached, then it begins with repentance. That was the message of John the Baptist to prepare people to meet Christ. But who even wants to meet this Christ today? So that is why people tend to stay away from places where they might just hear truth. Our's is a very troubled society in great need of what God alone can provide through Christ.

But some people have as verily betrayed Christ today as Judas did in his day. Many false witnesses have gone forth, speaking lies in the name of Christianity and thus giving an excuse to thinking people to stay away from the Bible. So today, TRUTH in Christ alone is relegated to the ash heap and a new version of truth is accepted such that it is claimed that nobody can really know or have the truth, for the false witnesses claim, "truth is relative." And this false gospel is taught by so-called Christian leaders and it is followed blindly by the masses to rationalize their excuse to stay away from Church and from the Bible.

But I am hear to tell anyone who is willing to listen that repentance is not a bad thing. It is a turning away from your sins and a turning back to God. So you see, I do not allow anyone an excuse for staying away from truth and staying away from His True Church. But how can you find His True Church? First, you must start by turning back to God. Open up your dust-covered Bibles and begin reading. Challenge God by praying, "If You are True and if You really have a Truth for me to listen to, then help me to understand what I read in the Bible." And lead me into the Truth that Your Bible claims are "pure words" (Psalm 12:6).

And You can find God's true church if you really want to. It is not that hard! (it's not rocket science). Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." What is the guidelline for God's true church? The Bible answers: "They keep the COMMANDMENTS of God, and the FAITH of Jesus Christ" Revelation 14:12. The commandments include keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath holy and not Sunday. Revelation 12:17 says that the devil makes war whith those people "who keep the commandments of God and have the TESTIMONY of Jesus Christ. Having the testimony of Jesus means that they are not afraid of Bible prophecy and actually teach and preach the true spirit of Bible prophecy the way that Jesus taught it (Revelation 19:10).

It is not too late to accept Jesus as Savior and as Lord. But if you continue to stay away from Him and from His church, you are in great danger of betraying Him as verily as Judas did.

Righteousness by Faith IX

2009-02-16T18:06:00.000-05:00

Two Faithed Religion

Righteousness by Faith VIII

2009-02-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

How Should You Live?--part 2, at Brunswick

Righteousness by Faith, Part VII

2009-01-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

"How Should You Live?"
Sermon based on Romans 1:16-17 and the book of Habakkuk

Righteousness by Faith, Part VI--"You Must Be Born Again"

2009-01-18T12:26:00.000-05:00

"You Must be Born Again"--Brunswick version (41 minutes)

"You Must Be Born Again"--Camden Version (57 minutes)

Righteousness by Faith, Part V--"Up Against a Wall?"

2009-01-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

"Up Against a Wall?"--Brunswick version (36 mins)

"Up Against a Wall?"--Camden version (46 minutes)

Righteousness by Faith, Part IV--"The Alluring"

2009-01-04T19:21:00.000-05:00

Brunswick Church version (42 minutes)

Camden Church version (59 minutes)

Facebook | Dean C. Read

2009-01-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

Facebook Dean C. Read

Righteousness by Faith, Part III--"The Sword of Christmas"

2008-12-21T15:01:00.000-05:00

Righteousness by Faith, Part III--"The Sword of Christmas"

Listen to Special Christmas Music by Anne and Kathleen

Righteousness by Faith, Part II--"The Bread"

2008-12-15T17:33:00.000-05:00

"The Bread"--Sermon at Brunswick--(shorter version)

"The Bread"--Sermon at Camden--(longer version)

Based on Mark 8:14-17

Righteousness by Faith, Part I--"The Seed"

2008-12-12T15:34:00.001-05:00

Prison Ministry Testimony from Dec. 6 2008

Sermon based on Luke 8:5-8
"The Seed"-- Dec 6, 2008 at Camden

"The Next Feast" Sermon on November 15, 2008

2008-11-18T15:17:00.001-05:00

Based on Luke 10:38-42

The Next Feast. November 15 2008.WMA

"My Sister Mary" Sermon on Nov. 8, 2008

2008-11-18T15:13:00.001-05:00

My Sister Mary. November 8 2008.WMA

Smyrna Suffers Persecution. Is There a Blessing?

2008-02-15T12:24:00.000-05:00

My wife Tracie is standing in front of a fountain located in the underground excavations of the ancient city of Smyrna. The modern city of Izmir, Turkey surrounds this excavated site. What was the church at Smyrna famous for? According to Revelation 2:8-11, the One called "the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life," (that would be our Lord Jesus Christ) said He knew their works. They had good works. But they also suffered tribulation and poverty. Yet Christ said they were rich. Well, how could they be both poor and rich? They were poor in this world's goods but rich in the things of the Spirit of God. They were blessed by Jesus. What is this blessing you may ask? They were not prosperus financially nor wealthy in material goods. In fact, the Scripture indicates these true-hearted Christians also suffered many things at the hands of false believers. These false believers were people who claimed to be Jews (Christians) but were really a synagogue of Satan. So again you may ask, where is the blessing? Is there a blessing in being persecuted? Is there a blessing in being impoverished? The answer comes in verse 11. "He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." That means these persecuted, suffering Christians will be awakened to new life with new bodies at the first resurrection. They will live with Jesus eternally. "Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no power." Rev. 20:6.

What happened in the history of Christianity that validates the prophecy of the Church at Smyrna? Remember, the Ephesus era ended about 100 A.D. Then the Smyna period should begin. If you follow the timeline from 100 A.D. to 313 A.D. you will find some interesting corrobative facts. First, it was during this period of time that God's Ten Commandments began to come under attack by fragments within the Christian groups. In fact, Justin Martyr began to write during the second century, that the Sabbath was no longer binding on Christians as it was the Jews. Justin was a convert to Christianity who became one of the first Sunday worshippers. But, 1 John 2:4-5 says, "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this, we know that we are in Him." But the vast majority of Christians still kept the true Seventh day Sabbath of the Lord thy God. It would not be until after 313 A.D. that compromise began to really infect the Church. I will explain that more in my next post.

Compromise amounts to blasphemy. If you claim to speak for God and deny His commandments, the Apostle John says that you are a liar. The devil is the greatest blasphemer of God and is called the "father of lies." So, humans who pervert clear Bible teachings and claim to speak for the Most High God also become blasphemers. They become part of "the synagogue of Satan." Persecution tended to keep the Church pure. It was in the third century that Tertullian wrote, 'The blood of Chrisitans is seed." "The oftener we are mowed down by you, the more in number we grow." During the third century, many Christians who would not compromise to burn incense to the Emperor were martyred. But, some Christians, in fear of their lives chose to burn incense to the Emperor and left the Church of Christ. Can you see how prophecy is fullfilled? God said some would claim to be His people ("say they are Jews") but were really a synagogue of Satan. In fact, this set the stage for the next church era to come on the scene, the Church at Pergamos, which Scripture shows indeed to be a compromising church.

How can we know when the era of Smyna ends and that of Pergamos begins? Let the Scripture tell us. Revelation 2:10 shows the end point of Smyrna's time. The verse says, "The devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life." Since prophetic time in the Bible shows a prophetic day to be equal to one year in Earth's time, (Ezekiel 4:4-6), then we could expect a ten year period to fulfill this prophecy. And that is exactly what is found. In the years 303-313 A.D. the Emperor Diocletian carried out a massive persecution against Christians. His intent was to destroy Christianity from the face of the Earth. These tribulations tended to keep compromise out of the Church, and thus the Church was still fairly pure up to 313 A.D.

But you still ask, where's the blessing in all that persecution? I point you to the words of Jesus and to His word alone. Jesus spoke the Beattitudes or blessings upon a people who did not feel blessed. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5 shows that the "poor in spirit," "those who mourn," and "the meek" and "the persecuted for righteousness' sake" are among those whom Jesus calls blessed. Remember that Jesus said, "you will have treasure in heaven," but while on this earth you are "to take up your cross" and follow Him who was poor in this world's goods, who suffered and died for our sins. So the blessing must still be true, because Jesus said it. He spoke it. It was His word that gave the blessing. This same word created the heavens and the earth. His word has power. Power to change a corrupt heart into a pure heart. The experience of knowing salvation in Christ brings peace and brings the blessing. You may not feel it. But you can accept it by faith. You can believe you are blessed even when you don't see it in material prosperity or feel it in human philosophy. You can believe it because Jesus spoke it. And thus He said to those who believed in Him at Smyna, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Jesus is saying to you today, being a true Christian is not an easy experience, but it is a blessed one. The road may be getting harder to travel. But Jesus is travelling it with you. Hold on to him. Look to Him. Meditate on His life, death and resurrection and you will find the blessing he has promised. Look again at the picture of the fountain where my wife is standing. Do you see that the fountain is running? That flowing fountain should remind you that Jesus did not leave us orphans, but sent us His Holy Spirit to be with us always. Can you see the Holy Spirit with your eyes? No. But if you believe Jesus then you must believe that the Holy Spirit really is here. Right now. And whenever you need Him. The Presence of the Holy Spirit with you is also God's gift of His grace. That truly is the BLESSING. Hallelujah.

May the grace of God be with you all,

Pastor Dean Read

Ephesus and the Seven Churches of Revelation

2008-01-23T12:19:00.000-05:00

Here I am standing with my friend, Pastor Shane Davis, in front of the ruins of the Theater at Ephesus. Ephesus is the first church listed in the Seven churches of Revelation. All seven churches are located in modern Turkey, and have been excavated to reveal the ruins of Roman civilizations long extinct. It is interesting to me that the Apostle Paul planted a Christian church in Ephesus and many other locations throughout Asia (Turkey), but those churches are also long since extinct. In fact, Islam is the national religion in modern Turkey and Christianity is not welcome there. The question then becomes, "To who is Revelation 2:1-7 written?" The book of Revelation is obviously written to people who would live after Christ's resurrection all the way up to the end of prophetic time. Thus the seven churches of Revelation seem to prophetically categorize "Christian" history from the time Revelation was first written up through today.

Then what are the characteristics written to "the angel of the church of Ephesus" (Rev2:1) and to whom do they apply? It is described in terms that can only be associated with early Christianity--that is the Churches as planted by the Apostles up to about 100 A.D. It was a church showing perseverance, laboring for Christ's names sake, but (by about 100 A.D.) had left its first love. Jesus tells this church to repent and return to the first works or He would remove its lampstand from its place. The seven golden lampstands actually represent the identity of the seven churches. (See Revelation 1:20 where it says "the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.") Therefore, if Jesus removes the lampstand "from its place," that era would end and a new era would begin, which leads to the church in Smyrna.

I will be conducting an evangelistic series this fall at the Camden Seventh-day Adventist Church. On this blog and at the evangelistic meetings I will show how the Bible reveals that God already is conducting this "judgment" now. After all, Revelation 14:6 states, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come..."Until then I will be posting to this blog a series of short articles dealing with the hour of God's judgment. This is the first of that series. I encourage reader comments and questions.

May the grace of God be with you,

Pastor Dean Read

Church Members of Brunswick and Camden

2007-12-09T11:35:00.000-05:00

As you have heard the series of sermons called, "The Truth About Grace," I hope you will post comments on my blog. If you have questions about any of the Bible teachings that I spoke about, feel free to ask them here.

I also encourage anyone who lives nearby the Brunswick or Camden Seventh-day Adventist Churches to visit us for worship service. You can get directons to either church from the respective websites. The links are at the bottom of this page. So if you live in Southeast Georgia (Glynn and Camden counties and adjacent counties) or if you live in Fernandina Beach or Yulee Florida, or even Jacksonville, stop by on Saturday for church.

The Brunswick church meets at 5661 New Jesup HWY in Brunswick at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday. The Camden Church meets at 891 May Creek Drive in Kingsland. Church begins at 11:30 a.m, with Bible Classes beginning at 9:30 a.m.

First Post

2007-10-03T18:56:00.000-04:00

The purpose of this site is to provide a discussion on the seemingly opposite ideas expressed in the Bible. Mercy seems to be in opposition to truth. Justice seems to be in opposition to grace.
Grace and Law seem to be opposed to each other. However, the author of this blogsite will take the position of Psalm 85:10 which says that "mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other." I have studied the grace of God from both the Old and New Testaments and find that the Bible teaches that the law of God was not done away with and that grace is given for obedience to the faith. See Romans 3:31 and Romans 1:5. I maintain that you cannot claim to be saved by grace and willfully break God's laws. Jesus taught in Matthew 5:20 that He did not come to destroy the law. He came to fulfill the law. He came to save His people from their sins and not in their sins (Matt. 1:21). Therefore, I challenge the common evangelical understanding of grace as well as the Roman Catholic understanding. Roman Catholics believe that their work has merit whereas the Bible teaches that our works earn no merits toward our salvation. Many evangelical groups believe in a "once saved always saved" philosophy, where once they obtain grace they can never be lost. Again, the Bible does not support that either. Instead, the Bible teaches that you can fall away from grace (see Hebrews 6:4-6). I welcome discussion if you are searching for truth as I am while also believing that you are saved by the grace of Jesus who took your place and died on the cross for your sins, so that you may be able to receive His GRACE.