War and Rumor of War

Matthew 24: 3-14

³And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

 ⁴And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

 ⁵For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 ⁶And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

 ⁷For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

 ⁸All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 ⁹Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

 ¹⁰And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

 ¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

 ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 ¹³But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

In these verses Jesus is speaking about the nature of things in the run-up to 'the end of the age,' or, the end of the current era. To refer to this as 'the end of the world' is somewhat erroneous as things do not actually end but are transformed into something different--a 'new heaven and a new earth,' as the Bible calls it.

And this brings us to the proper interpretation of the term 'the last days.' Paul and the writers of the New Testament believed they were living in the last days. And they were. We are living in the last days today.

The Bible says that 'a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day.' Thus, 'the last days' is a symbolic term referring to an era of history--the period of time between the death and resurrection of Christ and the return of Christ which represents the beginning of a new era, the new heaven and the new earth.

During this lengthy intervening period in which we now live, some things are to be expected. War and rumor of war. Nations rising against nations. People turning against people. False prophets will arise. Christians will be persecuted.

While these things have always taken place since the death and resurrection of Jesus, they will only intensify prior to the beginning of the new heaven and new earth that will be ushered in by Christ himself. And when that new era begins, all wrongs will be corrected.

Only then will there be peace. Only then will people 'beat their swords and weapons into plowshares.'

Contrary to the teachings of Christian pacifism, as taught by such far-Left purveyors of Marxism masquerading as Christianity as Jim Wallis and Sojourners, Jesus never taught his followers to become pacifists. Nor did He teach them to push for government social programs. Individual Christians and churches are to engage in helping the poor and needy by their own voluntary action. 

Thus, Christians must wake up and realize that until the new heaven and new earth where peace will reign, there are some things worth fighting for and necessary to protect--by force.

Song: 'King Jesus' by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Joy

1 Thessalonians 1:6

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁶And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

Joy is a benefit of being a follower of Christ. Joy is not the same thing as 'happiness,' for joy is not dependent on circumstances. Rather, a person can be filled with overflowing joy even in the midst of severe suffering. It may seem contradictory or impossible, but those who belong to the Lord know exactly what I mean.

While happiness is fleeting, ebbing away when troubles comes, joy on the other hand is an inner knowledge that with God all is well, that we are kept in His care, and that in His will we are part of the greatest work that could ever be accomplished on earth. His presence alone fills our hearts with assurance, comfort, and yes, joy, no matter what the circumstances.

This does not mean we never get worried or that we are never troubled within. Those things are the natural human response to trouble. But joy comes in our hearts and minds when we realize that the God of all the universe dwells within and that with Him we are secure.

Praise the Lord.

Song: Ernie Haas and the Signature Sound Quartet sings 'Happy Rhythm.'

Just a Little Talk

^{Acts 12: 5-16}

⁵Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

 ⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

 ⁷And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

 ⁸And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

 ⁹And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

 ¹⁰When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

 ¹¹And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

 ¹²And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

 ¹³And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

 ¹⁴And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

 ¹⁵And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

 ¹⁶But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

This is but one of the many examples presented in the Bible of the results of sincere prayer. Peter had been arrested and jailed when Herod the King began his scourge against Christians. The church immediately went into fervent, around-the-clock prayer for Peter's safety and release.

Those prayers had great effect.

Prayer never goes unanswered, it's just that sometimes the answer is 'no.'

But still, as the song says, 'Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.'

Song: This one is a classic from the Thrasher Brothers Quartet. The Thrasher Brothers at one time were quite a force within Southern Gospel Music. And this song will demonstrate why. This one is presented live, and they sing 'Just A Little Talk With Jesus' as only the Thrasher Brothers could. Enjoy... 

Meditation

Psalm 119:47-49

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁴⁷And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
 ⁴⁸My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
 ⁴⁹Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

The word 'meditate' can have several valid meanings when viewed within the Biblical context. In the context of the verses provided above, the Psalmist says that meditation has the connotation of pondering over great truths as represented by the words and statutes of the Lord, or in other words, to ruminate, to cogitate, or to engage in deep thought as we consider the meaning of the Word as directly applied to our lives.

Another meaning is that of 'listening to God.' Prayer has often been described as 'talking to God,' while meditation is described as 'listening to God.' It is for this reason that often in the Bible the people of God are told of the necessity for prayer and meditation.

Modern interpretations of the meaning of meditation often focus on the practice of engaging in stress management through the use of guided imagery, music, breathing techniques, and the repetition of soothing words for the purpose of disarming the harmful effects of stress and achieving a greater level of personal peace.

Many persons of faith who use such techniques report that they incorporate prayer and meditation, as defined in the Bible, into their daily stress management routine.

Regardless of how one chooses to do so, prayer and mediation are described by the Psalmist as a source of much happiness, joy, and delight, even to the extent of 'loving' the time one spends pondering over the great truths of God.

How can such a practice be anything but beneficial to human life?

Song: 'Quiet Time with God.'  

Watch the Lamb

Matthew 27:26b-37

26b and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

 ²⁷Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

 ²⁸And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

 ²⁹And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

 ³⁰And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

 ³¹And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 ³²And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

 ³³And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

 ³⁴They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

 ³⁵And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

 ³⁶And sitting down they watched him there;

 ³⁷And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The following song is a sermon in itself. It is a Christian 'ballad'--a song that tells a story that illustrates Christian truth. The song is most powerful and moving, and illustrates the scripture passage above in story-form.

Listen to it very closely. You will learn the history behind the practice of the Jews to go to Jerusalem once a year to sacrifice a lamb and how that act translates to the Christ, the lamb of God.

It is called, 'Watch the Lamb' by Ray Boltz.

John Saw a City, A New Heaven and a New Earth

Revelation 21

 ¹And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

 ²And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 ³And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 ⁴And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 ⁵And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

These words are of utmost comfort to Christians and symbolize what is known as 'the Christian hope'--a new heaven and a new earth, the Holy City, the NEW Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, in which there is no more sorrow, crying, pain, or death. 

AMEN!

Song: 'John Saw' by the Florida Boys. Quartet singing doesn't get any better than this!

Faith as Tiny as a Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:20
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

I was blessed to know the famed original 'positive thinker,' Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. His book, 'The Power of Positive Thinking,' is one of the best-sellers of all time. I was not close enough to him to be considered a personal friend, but I knew him and would regularly attend his popular seminars for Christian ministers in New York, which he called, 'The School of Practical Christianity.' I also regularly attended his church in NYC whenever I was in town. 

Many people did not understand Peale. For example, he wanted the title to 'The Power of Positive Thinking' to be 'The Power of Faith,' because he felt that the concepts he presented therein were based upon the faith that is taught in the Bible. But his publisher insisted that they change the title to appeal to a broader audience. That, it did, as the book has sold multi-millions worldwide and has been translated into practically every language on earth.

This fact about Peale's original title is important because many within the Christian community have mistakenly believed that the concepts he taught were not really 'Christian' but 'New Age' or some heretical deviance from traditional Christianity.

But the truth was that Peale was as traditional as they come. He simply believed that the traditional concepts of the Bible should be communicated in modern terms so that the unchurched could understand them.

One Christian fundamentalist angrily approached Peale on a sidewalk in NYC, thrust a 'test' in front of him and demanded that he check off each traditional belief to which he adhered. Peale carefully read over the doctrinal statements, and proceeded to check off every single one! The man was shocked, thinking that he would catch Peale in denying the traditional doctrines of the Christian faith. But Peale believed in them all--the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Birth, the authority of the Bible, the necessity of the sacrificial death and shed blood of Christ on the Cross for our salvation, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peale preached on these beliefs on a regular basis.

But one of the key teachings of Peale came straight from Jesus himself--the mustard seed principle. I have often told people that the only way I got through college and graduate school was clinging to the mustard seed principle as taught by Peale.

And the concept is this--if you have faith even as tiny and microscopic as a mustard seed, then you can do far more than you could ever imagine or think...even to the point of 'moving mountains.' Of course, the mountain reference is symbolic, not literal. Christ was referring to the mountains that come into our lives that derail us--problems, troubles, difficulties, illness, pain, disappointment, grief, a poor self-concept, shyness, or whatever. Whatever hampers you in your desire to do what you must to make it in this life, you can move it out of the way with a faith tiny as a mustard seed, provided that faith is grounded and centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

As a shy person who was always beset with self-doubt, I needed such a message to get through the hurdles of life that to me seemed frightening and impossible to do.

Today, my closest friends tell me they cannot believe that I was ever shy or quiet. And my accomplishments in education and in other areas belie that part of me, which is still there, that tells me I am not good enough to achieve anything. I suppose that voice will always be with me.

But the good news is that I can choose to listen to a different voice. It is the voice of Jesus that says, 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, be removed, and it shall move, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.'

Praise the Lord!

Song: 'Voice of Truth' by Casting Crowns