Hypocrisy and the Gospel - Galatians 2:11-16
"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned." - Galatians 2:11
The hypocrisy of Peter and Paul’s “In your face” response is a portion of scripture that comes across as a bit shocking to the Christian spirit accustomed to meditating on love, forgiveness, and unity in the faith. Why was Peter being hypocritical and why did Paul oppose him in such a blatant and seemingly public manner?
There is a big lesson in this for all believers: will you stay the course when the heat is on and the world is pressuring you to move off of the narrow way?
The dark side seems to identify a believer's weak spots and then exploit them at every opportunity.
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The Inescapable Sovereignty of God
To struggle to completely understand the sovereignty of God makes sense because we are seeking to understand the mind of the perfect and holy eternal creator with the mind of a fallen, sinful and finite creature. We will not fully understand God’s sovereignty on this side of heaven, and any understanding that we are blessed with is through the supernatural revealing of the Holy Spirit.
Man’s free will does not exist outside of God’s will. God’s sovereignty encompasses all of universal creation. No human has ever made a decision that has been outside of the sovereignty of God.
Nothing happens without the ordination of God, because then events would happen at random, and it is very clear all through scripture that God works according to His plan and design. No human in all of time has ever been outside of the stream of God’s eternal plan. Every breath, every heartbeat, every subatomic vibration at the minutest quantum level throughout all eternity has happened within and according to the will, control, design, and plan of God
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Unholy Agendas - When Morality is Illegal
Because God’s word provides us with absolute and eternal truth, it is easy to know what is right and what is wrong, what is biblical, and what is worldly when it comes to the big divisive moral issues of our time. Homosexuality and gender identity are common sense issues, simple issues to address when considered from a biblical perspective.
What does the bible say about homosexuality?
What does the bible say about genders?
What we see happening in Canada and Australia could happen here in America - if the people allow it. America, like the rest of the western world, has slid into immorality and rebellion against God - the prevalence of abortion alone is enough to nail this point home. The problem and the danger Americans must face is the erroneous belief that a corrupt and broken system of government will be able to fix a corrupt and broken country.
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Back to the Gospel in 2022
If we strive to let all that we hope to accomplish in the new year spring from the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ abiding in us, how can we fail?
The most important thing during our time on earth is our response to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our time in the visible realm is but a breath, but our spiritual existence is eternal. And, our eternity can be glorious in Christ’s presence - but only if the penalty for our sins in this life are washed away and we are reconciled to God, and that is something we have no ability on our own to do.
Prayerfully consider each of the following points, meditate on them, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
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The Word Became the Savior
Why did Jesus come to us and become one of us? Why did the Word become flesh? Why was God born as one of us?
Now is a perfect time to get the influence of the world out of Christmas, to simplify it, honor Christ through it, to contemplate and celebrate it through scripture rather than burying it beneath garish spectacle.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
Christ’s birth and his death, the manger and the cross, Christmas and the gospel - this is where the joy of Christmas comes from!
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God With Us
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). - Matthew 1:23
Jesus was conceived in grace and He was brought forth in glory. God forms Christ in our souls by grace, and the amazing work that He conceives in us by grace will be brought to completion in glory.
“By the light of nature, we see God as a God above us; by the light of the law, we see Him as a God against us; but by the light of the gospel, we see Him as Immanuel, God with us, in our own nature, and in our interest.” - Matthew Henry
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Immanuel - Matthew 1:18-25
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)." - Matthew 1:23
The mystery of Christ’s incarnation should be adored by believers and not torn apart and analyzed as if man had the capacity to discover and understand all the awesome ways of God.
The Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament were accomplished in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14
Jesus was conceived in grace and He was brought forth in glory. God forms Christ in our souls by grace, and the amazing work that He conceives in us by grace will be brought to completion in glory.
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God Shows No Partiality - Galatians 2:1-10
After all the years Paul had served in the cause of the gospel he sought verification to make sure the gospel he was teaching was the truth and in no way compromised. Through all of Paul’s letters, we see the common thread of concern for the preservation of the gospel and a refusal to compromise it in any way.
Paul is making the point to the Galatians that the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were concerned with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, its purity and truth, striving to protect it from corruption. They were not concerned with physical circumcision because they understood that it had no bearing on our salvation. They understood that circumcision of the heart is what matters. Physical circumcision was a sign that prefigured the circumcision of the heart of those called out and set apart in the body of Jesus Christ.
Influence and popularity are sought after and coveted by worldly minds, and often the opinions, viewpoints, narratives, that are put forth by the influential are accepted and believed without question. As believers, we are told to test the spirits, test everything, to hold on to what is true and good. Regardless of someone’s status, what they say or teach must be tested against the word of God in scripture. We do this not in a mean-spirited way in order to point fingers in accusation, but with temperance and love. Our concern is for the truth of the gospel, not tearing others down.
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Asking, Seeking, Knocking - Matthew 7:7-11
Notice that in Christ’s ministry His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray - not how to preach, not how to study, not how to minister, not how to heal or work miracles - but how to pray.
Ask as a beggar seeking alms, a child in distress, a condemned criminal seeking mercy, as one who sees and hears through eyes and ears that had never seen or heard before, as a new and glorious creature brought from death in sin to life in Christ, as a dearest friend.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7
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All You Need is a Mustard Seed - Matthew 13:31-33
In times like these, we may wonder how we can make a difference and push back against the darkness with light.
How can one person make a difference?
What effect for good can we have?
What will our legacy be?
Will our lives mean anything in an eternal sense?
As these parables show, look at God’s creation and you will see the gospel and lessons of the kingdom all around you. Have God’s Word in your heart and you will see it portrayed everywhere.
The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven apply personally in our own hearts, in our families, our workplaces, our Churches, our communities, and out into the world.
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Called by God - Galatians 1:10-24
Following on the twice repeated “accursed” of verses 8&9 Paul conveys the reason for the corrupting of the gospel - seeking to please man rather than serve God.
Even though Paul was in rebellion against God, violently persecuting the Church, he was still of the elect and God turned the evil that Paul was engaged in to good for the cause of the gospel.
Paul’s past was horrific to consider. He was an outright enemy of the Lord, persecuting and sending believers to their deaths. But Christ transformed him mightily, made him a new creation, and set him on the path of service in the cause of the gospel.
I am sure Satan used Paul’s past against him, throwing it up before him to instill feelings of guilt and remorse. Satan is an accuser, and Paul’s past gave him much to use against him.
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No Different Gospel - Galatians 1:1-9
It seems very fitting to begin preaching through a book that was so important to Martin Luther and the reformation on October 31st - Reformation day!
Martin Luther referred to Galatians as “my epistle.” Galatians was very influential in the shaping of the reformation.
In Galatians, Paul pulls no punches in confronting the Church and calling out the false teachers, and exposing their false teachings. In this epistle, Paul proclaims powerfully the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
The book of Galatians provides us a picture of Paul’s passionate zeal for the gospel and his intolerance for any corruptions of its message.
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So That We May Know God
Some very big questions:
Why is God’s plan the way it is?
Why is there evil in the world?
Why the fall of man?
Why did Christ have to suffer and die in order to redeem mankind?
Since God is all good and He did not prevent the fall it must have been better not to. But how could allowing something so seemingly devastating and in direct opposition to God be better?
"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." - Acts 15:18
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Freedom from Anxiety in a Time of Fear
How can someone not be anxious amidst so much insanity and chaos in a world that is spinning out of control? Evil, hatred, lies, and division have increased drastically over the last year and a half. Anxiety and fear are reflected in the eyes of millions of masked faces as the Covid hoax drags on. The threat of war with China grows, the world’s supply chain is clogged, and the coming “Dark Winter” here in America is the latest topic of fear pouring from mainstream propaganda channels.
Why is it becoming increasingly clear that anything to do with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith will not be tolerated in much of modern society? How did the world end up in such a terrible condition in increasing defiance of God?
For years God has been denied by some and ignored by others as humanity has gradually moved away from God and toward secular humanism. Now, we are in a time of transitioning from denial of God to defiance of God. It is not enough to deny the existence of God. Instead, God must be defied and reviled as man sets himself up as god.
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Shepherds, Thieves, Hirelings, and Wolves
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." - John 10:1-3
Notice that the good shepherd leads the sheep out. He does not drive them. He does not entice or seduce or beg them. He calls and they follow.
The young in Christ need to be protected and nurtured to maturity. They must develop discernment by prayer, study of the Word, fellowship, abiding in the Lord.
If things continue as they have for the last year and a half, we will see much of the visible Church fall away and conform more and more to the world.
In these times, the shepherds must be aware of and strive to understand how the forces of evil are raising their game to a new level. Their attacks against humanity and the Christian faith are quickly moving from covert to overt. Their lies and the destruction they are causing are so easy to see with just a little effort, and yet so many Christians are being led astray without questioning anything, and the pastors are as well.
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Like Showers that Water the Earth
In the last eighteen months, how much time of worship and communion with the Lord has been stolen by fear, anger, and anxiety, as Satan has so masterfully saturated the world with an evil false narrative that is thrown in our faces from morning till dark?
We need a refreshing and meditative message for a time of dryness and thirst in a world in the midst of spiritual famine.
"May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!" - Psalm 72:6
Jesus in this Psalm is likened to rain - the “Life” of John 14:6 which says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Jesus truly is the only way, He is perfect truth, and He is the giver and sustainer of life. John 1:4 says, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
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Jesus Christ and the Gates of Hell
There was an intense spiritual battle taking place in the unseen realm during the events in Jesus’ ministry.
Everything Christ did, every word He spoke was filled with eternal meaning and purpose.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18
The location of Caesarea Philippi and Christ’s reference to the gates of hell provides fascinating context for understanding the “rock” Christ is referring to.
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I Have Set the LORD Always Before Me - Psalm 16
How do we live courageously while the world cowers in times like these?
"I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken." - Psalm16:8
A spirit of boldness and security - “I shall not be shaken”!
No more searching and seeking, no more philosophical failures. Instead, a clear path of joy leading to eternal glory.
God initiates, regenerates, transforms, gives us new birth from spiritual death, and gives us knowledge and wisdom and light unto life and eternal salvation.
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Is Romans 13 an Excuse for Covid 19 Cowardice?
People in America and all over the world are having their God-given rights taken away in the name of Covid19.
Children are being abused in the name of Covid19.
What is the end-game of the Covid hoax?
As Christian Americans, we need to be very familiar with two things - the Bible and the Constitution.
What will you tell your grandchildren you did during the great Covid hoax?
For many years Romans 13 has been used as an excuse to tolerate tyranny and abuses far outside the authority given to leaders. Christians use it as an excuse to give up Christian principles and support evil leaders.
Romans 13 has been used by Christians for far too long in America as an excuse for cowardice.
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." - Romans 13:1
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The Power of His Word!
So often we think we need to work through the storm, to get to the shore where we think Jesus is. But Jesus delivers us from the midst of the wind and stormy turmoil.
The Lord does not help those who help themselves - He helps those who know they cannot help themselves, who have no strength left, and humbly look to Him.
The disciples had to endure a tremendous and frightening struggle which the Lord allowed them to experience. The Lord may allow us to experience such dangers so that we see Him more clearly in our deliverance.
The lesson was in the storm and struggle.
"But he said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.'" John 6:20
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What Is Your Heart's Meditation?
It is becoming very clear that thinking – especially critical thinking is quickly disappearing as more and more become obsessively addicted to the mindless false reality of mainstream media and social media.
Regarding the effects of mainstream media, ask yourself - are you thinking and living or reacting and surviving? Are you making wise decisions boldly, confidently, and courageously or are you submitting and reacting in fear?
So many of life's struggles, depressions, addictions, fears, and anxieties can be overcome when our words, born from the meditations and thoughts of a heart filled with and abiding in the love of Jesus Christ are pleasing and acceptable to Him.
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19:14
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So That You May Believe - John 11:1-16
In an age such as ours, when there is so much apostasy and so little discernment, an effective and piercing question is, “How does this bring glory to God?”
God’s will - not ours, God’s timing - not ours, God’s plan - not ours.
God works in ways that we cannot see or understand, but that we must have faith in.
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Let Your Light Shine
The world is more chaotic because we are in a time in which the world is moving from the denial of God to defiance against God.
The Covid hoax would never have been able to last as long as it has if the lies and propaganda had been silenced, and more importantly - if more people would simply look for truth and think.
Did Christians sit down during times of crisis in the past and wait for the rapture or just give up assuming it was the end times?
How can we change the evil that is happening when so many people are either part of it or go along with it without thinking?
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14
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For God So Loved the World - John 3:16
"For we will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him." - 2 Samuel 14:14
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
God's love is all from and through Him. It pours forth from Him. God's love is so profound that He actually is love – God is love. The only way to truly love is to know God.
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Blessed are the Forgiven
The world has false religions, philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, recovery and self-help programs, new age, etc. An endless parade of failing humanistic band-aids that never come near the cause of the world's pain and suffering.
Sin drains, and wastes, and destroys. The wages of sin is death.
There is no suffering like suffering under the weight of the conviction of sin. But by the power of God's Word through the gospel, it becomes a blessing
Christians, those born again and made new creations in Jesus Christ have the way, the truth, and the life. Those who have been reconciled to God by and through Jesus Christ have blessings and joys beyond explanation. Those in Jesus Christ rejoice in the blessedness of forgiveness!
"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!" - Psalm 32:1
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