Are You Listening?

The second commandment is something that many people have questions about often. I wrote an article last year in relation to the question, "Can a Christian Violate the Second Commandment with Pictures of Jesus?" Here is a podcast on that answer.

00Over the last year, I have been inundated with numerous calls per day from unknown numbers, local number, toll-free numbers and even numbers I know only to find a telemarketer on the other end trying to either sell me something or trick me into thinking I had to hear their pitch. The list of 'blocked' numbers has grown to over 150 and quite honestly, I have become quite frustrated with the constant intrusion. Due to the fact that I receive a ton of calls every day that are legitimate when you add the garbage calls, it makes a phone a hated tool and sometimes it causes me to miss good conversations.  For 2018, it has been a different story.

I have started answering every call that comes to my phone when appropriate without fail. And in an effort to do all things without complaining and have joy while doing everything for the glory of God, I have found that answering every call as an opportunity to share the gospel is the best way to handle what otherwise is a means to frustration and sin.

00Over the last year, I have been inundated with numerous calls per day from unknown numbers, local number, toll-free numbers and even numbers I know only to find a telemarketer on the other end trying to either sell me something or trick me into thinking I had to hear their pitch. The list of 'blocked' numbers has grown to over 150 and quite honestly, I have become quite frustrated with the constant intrusion. Due to the fact that I receive a ton of calls every day that are legitimate when you add the garbage calls, it makes a phone a hated tool and sometimes it causes me to miss good conversations.  For 2018, it has been a different story.

I have started answering every call that comes to my phone when appropriate without fail. And in an effort to do all things without complaining and have joy while doing everything for the glory of God, I have found that answering every call as an opportunity to share the gospel is the best way to handle what otherwise is a means to frustration and sin. 

Everywhere we look we see the idea of studying the Bible. Well maybe not everywhere, but in every Circle of Christianity it seems that there's always someone talking about studying the Bible.  As a matter of fact, most likely every religion in the world has some writing that requires being studied. From study comes knowledge, and from knowledge comes belief. While every truth claim cannot be true. For the Christian, we believe that the Bible is truth. Jesus says in John 17 when he prays that eternal life is knowing the one true God and knowing the son whom he has sent.  So in this line of thinking, studying the Bible is actually the study of God which is actually the knowledge of God which is actually salvation.

 For many churchgoers, however, the study of God's word has been relegated to just mere pragmatism or topical investigation. Sadly, this type of study that we find very normative in our culture, is not sufficient for salvation. Neither is it sufficient for a right understanding of the gospel of grace. And because the right study of God's word is waning in our present economy of faith, many pastors and teachers have gone the way of teaching moralism and humanism and calling it Christianity.  All of this type of teaching results in a different type of learning. So that the believer or the professing Christian if I can, have no idea what they're talking about because they are listening to the wrong information. Now we could go on and on and discuss types of interpretation and different ideas related to what the Scripture is actually teaching. But if we are honest, the simplest syntax of the holy writ is very easy to understand. So when I ask the question, "are you. listening?",  I am asking if you are truly listening to the word of God.

 Let's all be very honest, every day we hear thousands and thousands of words. We see hundreds and hundreds of images that teach us something. We are inundated in our society by information overload. Some of which we go and seek and others that are just imposed upon us without our knowledge or permission. Because this is true, many people have developed a worldview that is so foreign in comparison to Scripture, that it's no wonder that so many congregations do not look like the people of God any longer. The remedy to this is not more teaching about how to be or how to look like God's people from a humanistic point of view but is direct and simple teaching straight from the Bible.

If many pastors were to poll their congregations they would find very few congregants actually read their Bible every day. Now many people may do a small devotion or read a short paragraph related to some scriptural teaching. And these things are not bad in and of themselves, but they are not sufficient for the knowledge of truth. So often when I make a statement like this, people will say,  "I'm not a theologian." To which I respond, well you should be. A Christian that is not learning is a Christian that is not growing. In the Christian that is not growing, is a Christian that is not living.

There's much to be said about this particular dilemma and there is plenty inside the Bible that give us a clear picture that Scripture is necessary for the health and joy of every Christian and in turn every congregation.  So as we consider this idea today let us take a moment and hear the word of the Lord written by the apostle Paul to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:14–17

[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

This text shows us that the Bible is enough for a successful Christian life and it's also sufficient for the knowledge of the truth. No one needs extra-biblical revelation or extra-biblical instruction in order to rightly live for the glory of God. And Sadly, those who look to other sources find themselves in a very precarious position. Either weak and immature in their faith or at worst, totally unregenerate. But we'll talk about that in future discussions. From this point let me encourage you to pick up your Bible and read it.  It is through Scripture where you will find peace in the midst of frustration and it is there that you will find intimacy with Jesus Christ, the eternal God of Heaven, the creator and savior. So guard your heart and mind to the power of the Holy Bible.  And you will begin to experience what Scripture teaches as the peace that surpasses all understanding.

 If you would like more information about how to study the Bible or if you have questions related to Bible passages or theological issues, please  contact us  and we will be more than happy to help you.  We look forward to hearing from you. soon and until then rest well in the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ who lived a life of obedience and died a substitutionary death for the glory of God the father in the redemption of his people.

Everywhere we look we see the idea of studying the Bible. Well maybe not everywhere, but in every Circle of Christianity it seems that there's always someone talking about studying the Bible.  As a matter of fact, most likely every religion in the world has some writing that requires being studied. From study comes knowledge, and from knowledge comes belief. While every truth claim cannot be true. For the Christian, we believe that the Bible is truth. Jesus says in John 17 when he prays that eternal life is knowing the one true God and knowing the son whom he has sent.  So in this line of thinking, studying the Bible is actually the study of God which is actually the knowledge of God which is actually salvation.

 For many churchgoers, however, the study of God's word has been relegated to just mere pragmatism or topical investigation. Sadly, this type of study that we find very normative in our culture, is not sufficient for salvation. Neither is it sufficient for a right understanding of the gospel of grace. And because the right study of God's word is waning in our present economy of faith, many pastors and teachers have gone the way of teaching moralism and humanism and calling it Christianity.  All of this type of teaching results in a different type of learning. So that the believer or the professing Christian if I can, have no idea what they're talking about because they are listening to the wrong information. Now we could go on and on and discuss types of interpretation and different ideas related to what the Scripture is actually teaching. But if we are honest, the simplest syntax of the holy writ is very easy to understand. So when I ask the question, "are you. listening?",  I am asking if you are truly listening to the word of God.

 Let's all be very honest, every day we hear thousands and thousands of words. We see hundreds and hundreds of images that teach us something. We are inundated in our society by information overload. Some of which we go and seek and others that are just imposed upon us without our knowledge or permission. Because this is true, many people have developed a worldview that is so foreign in comparison to Scripture, that it's no wonder that so many congregations do not look like the people of God any longer. The remedy to this is not more teaching about how to be or how to look like God's people from a humanistic point of view but is direct and simple teaching straight from the Bible.

If many pastors were to poll their congregations they would find very few congregants actually read their Bible every day. Now many people may do a small devotion or read a short paragraph related to some scriptural teaching. And these things are not bad in and of themselves, but they are not sufficient for the knowledge of truth. So often when I make a statement like this, people will say,  "I'm not a theologian." To which I respond, well you should be. A Christian that is not learning is a Christian that is not growing. In the Christian that is not growing, is a Christian that is not living.

There's much to be said about this particular dilemma and there is plenty inside the Bible that give us a clear picture that Scripture is necessary for the health and joy of every Christian and in turn every congregation.  So as we consider this idea today let us take a moment and hear the word of the Lord written by the apostle Paul to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:14–17

[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

In Titus 3 Paul is clear that before God saved us we were foolish, given to fleshly passions and were hating one another.  That is great news!  This is the GOSEPL of JESUS CHRIST!  Because this is true, the scripture is very very very very clear.... did I say very?  Yes, very clear that those who walk in the way Christ walked are in Christ, and if they do not, then they are not in Christ.  So the purpose of my writing today is to answer one simple question: Why do so many pastors live in disharmony, hate, envy, gossip and murderous ways against each other and people among them?  Scripture names the reasons, let's look at a few today:

Unbelief

This means that the guy who walks around talking bad, gossiping, hating others, not loving the brethren and feeling envy against others is an unbeliever.  He may have "professed" Christ, and he may have even been sincere, but this profession is just like the one that the devil will proclaim, worthless.  It's just words, nothing more.  He may even have great training and knowledge of scripture, but because of his life, and his lack of love, he is a worthless nothing of wicked proportions.  Now before you call these statements as the like of their "kind", let me show you the same thing in the Word of God.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (Titus 1:16 ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:1-11 ESV)

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6 ESV)

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:4-6 ESV)

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:9-11 ESV)

So, the man of "god" that hates his brother is a liar.  He isn't a man of God, he is a man of the god of this world, the devil.

Pride

Well, I could just really stop with the first one, because being a slave to pride is a mark of an unbeliever, not a true child in a common faith.  But in all reality, many pastors hate their brothers and it is seen in pride.  A sense of feeling better than others because of many things, including a "bigger" congregation, "better" social status, "brighter" fame and a "bolder" education.  All of these things are of course NOT marks of the work of God, but things that even pagans do in the world with great success.

Murder

The heart of a murderer is one who covets and hates with a malicious zeal, not the heart of a lover of good works prepared by God before the world began.  So the foolish heart holds on to the traditions of men, the culture of the day, and rips the fabric of the sheepgate, disallowing God's people from entering into the fold because these men are not of the fold of God.  They are deceivers and self condemned.

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11 ESV)

So the heart of the murderer bares false witness, makes lies, accusations, false-confessions, creates stories to suit the "gossip" and tears the man of God down in order to establish a "tabloid" false reality for himself.  These men must be silenced, for they are destroying families and mocking the very name and face of God!

They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. (Titus 1:11-14 ESV)

In the end, the way of these men is either death and judgment or repentance and eternal life.

Who are they?

They are those leaders in high places who continuously put for the moral effort to be Godly, but lack the power of God in their lives in many ways:

They lack the power of God in their knowledge of the truth

They lack the power of God in their obedience to the scriptures

They lack the power of God in their love for the brethren

They lack the power of God in seeking wisdom

They lack the power of God in proclaiming the gospel

They lack the power of God in living as Christ lived

They lack the power of God in ALL aspects of their lives because they only show the power of the flesh for the politics of their positions

These are the men who, for the most part, would be esteemed as the leaders of churches, the pastors of good repute, and yet they disallow the gospel's power in their lives and have created a "new church" and a "new gospel" without any fear of what may befall them.  They will not apologize NOR will they accept any open repentance from those who they say are guilty of falsehood.  These men are seeds of iniquity and are awaiting a judgment that will not be quenched.  They are known as the one's who would be angry over this very writing and find fault with God's word rather than standing on truth.  They are pleasers of people and they SPEAK righteous things in public while condemning themselves to the lies of Satan behind closed doors.

These men will say that OTHERS are divisive and up to no good, while they refuse to allow any conversation for the sake of the faith of the elect of God.  They do not care about the sheep, but just the monument of steeples, buildings, programs and faceless numbers that race into their presence to bow down to their oratory or charisma.  They do not lead the people of God to His glory because they continually resist the spirit of God, and they preach man and his works, rather than God and His works.  They deny the power of God as stated above, to the glory of their own kingdom that is nothing more than a fake castle at the base of the goldfish bowl.  They refuse to reveal the love of Christ because it is not in them and they close their hearts to the needy, the broken the destitute, because "those people" do not look good on their arms.

Where are they?

They are among us, not on the TV, not in the obvious false teaching circles, but they are reading this message considering themselves the answer to the problem.  They are preaching in pulpits across the world, this country, in the state of Georgia and in the pulpits of Evans and surrounding counties.  They sit high above the masses and look pleased while the world is going to hell.  They care more about their authority than their slavery to righteousness as they should lead  people to that end; to the praise of the glorious grace of God.  They may even be you and they could very well be me except by the grace of God.

What are we to do?

Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Not just once, but always!  Our faith is a gift from God by His marvelous grace and it IS ALWAYS effective and ultimately evident in the lives of His people!  Pastors need to unite around the gospel and stand for THE ONLY ONE TRUE CHURCH, the Body of Jesus Christ who purchased her!  We as the church, if we are not together in learning, ministry, reaching, worship and glory then we WILL NOT BE TOGETHER in ETERNITY.  I am not talking about small differences, I am talking about LOVING each other at the cost of ourselves.

We are not ALLOWED to hate anyone in this world, period.  Especially those that claim the name of Christ.  So, two things must happen: First, we must CALL OUT the sin of hatred and the actions of professing pastors who live against the gospel and second, we must REJOICE when they repent. But wait, it's not just for pastors, it's for all of us.  We all are held to the same standard.  We must care for all people, speak ill of no one, never speak evil and thus prove that we are indeed in the faith.  Our glory is our humility and our power is the word of God.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope,...

In Titus 3 Paul is clear that before God saved us we were foolish, given to fleshly passions and were hating one another.  That is great news!  This is the GOSEPL of JESUS CHRIST!  Because this is true, the scripture is very very very very clear.... did I say very?  Yes, very clear that those who walk in the way Christ walked are in Christ, and if they do not, then they are not in Christ.  So the purpose of my writing today is to answer one simple question: Why do so many pastors live in disharmony, hate, envy, gossip and murderous ways against each other and people among them?  Scripture names the reasons, let's look at a few today:

Unbelief

This means that the guy who walks around talking bad, gossiping, hating others, not loving the brethren and feeling envy against others is an unbeliever.  He may have "professed" Christ, and he may have even been sincere, but this profession is just like the one that the devil will proclaim, worthless.  It's just words, nothing more.  He may even have great training and knowledge of scripture, but because of his life, and his lack of love, he is a worthless nothing of wicked proportions.  Now before you call these statements as the like of their "kind", let me show you the same thing in the Word of God.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (Titus 1:16 ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:1-11 ESV)

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6 ESV)

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:4-6 ESV)

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:9-11 ESV)

So, the man of "god" that hates his brother is a liar.  He isn't a man of God, he is a man of the god of this world, the devil.

Pride

Well, I could just really stop with the first one, because being a slave to pride is a mark of an unbeliever,

Today has been one of those days that has got me thinking as I ponder the reality of Christ and His glorious revelation of God the Father to and through us.  I really don't think the average believer spends enough time thinking about the Eternal Son of the living God and I can honestly say that for a long time, I thought too much about thinking too much rather than just meditating on the Word.

In my rapid and refreshing thoughts today I began to write down some things that I don't want to stop thinking about in my walk with Christ as a father, husband and pastor.  Some of them I have listed here and now feel inspired to reflect on them individually over the months to come.  For today, I have just listed a few.  If you have some that God has revealed to you, please add them to the list as we journey through these things together for the glory of God.

Never forget that it is the WORD of God alone that builds the church, draws the people and saves them.

Never forget that we should desire to see more people come to faith much more than we desire to see people come to church.

Never forget that the foundational command of each Christian and each church is to make disciples, period.

Never forget that Christians should be thinkers and wrestle with the scriptures daily and grow in their knowledge of God and His eternal grace.

Never forget that multiplication of the Kingdom is not bigger congregations but more congregations in every town, city and community; church planting is the call of scripture for every church.

Never forget that the community of believers are supposed to exercise discipline over counseling so that God's word and His worth are clearly displayed.

Never forget that God is HOLY and Sovereign and has established Himself as the END of all things.

Never forget that the chief end of mankind is to GLORIFY God and ENJOY Him forever.

Never forget that the church is a present and visible body created to display the glory of God and HIS eternal power.

Never forget that Christ is the head of the church.

Never forget that Love is the evidence of the church.

Never forget that Jesus is LORD and the consequences thereof.

Never forget that DOCTRINE means teaching and ORTHODOXY means right thinking.

Never forget that we are all called to study, worship and teach the gospel.

... more to come by all who share in the FAITH!

For His Glory by His Grace

Pastor James

Today has been one of those days that has got me thinking as I ponder the reality of Christ and His glorious revelation of God the Father to and through us.  I really don't think the average believer spends enough time thinking about the Eternal Son of the living God and I can honestly say that for a long time, I thought too much about thinking too much rather than just meditating on the Word.

In my rapid and refreshing thoughts today I began to write down some things that I don't want to stop thinking about in my walk with Christ as a father, husband and pastor.  Some of them I have listed here and now feel inspired to reflect on them individually over the months to come.  For today, I have just listed a few.  If you have some that God has revealed to you, please add them to the list as we journey through these things together for the glory of God.

* Never forget that it is the WORD of God alone that builds the church, draws the people and saves them.

* Never forget that we should desire to see more people come to faith much more than we desire to see people come to church.

* Never forget that the foundational command of each Christian and each church is to make disciples, period.

* Never forget that Christians should be thinkers and wrestle with the scriptures daily and grow in their knowledge of God and His eternal grace.

* Never forget that multiplication of the Kingdom is not bigger congregations but more congregations in every town, city and community; church planting is the call of scripture for every church.

* Never forget that the community of believers are supposed to exercise discipline over counseling so that God's word and His worth are clearly displayed.

* Never forget that God is HOLY and Sovereign and has established Himself as the END of all things.

* Never forget that the chief end of mankind is to GLORIFY God and ENJOY Him forever.

* Never forget that the church is a present and visible body created to display the glory of God and HIS eternal power.

* Never forget that Christ is the head of the church.

* Never forget that Love is the evidence of the church.

* Never forget that Jesus is LORD and the consequences thereof.

* Never forget that DOCTRINE means teaching and ORTHODOXY means right thinking.

* Never forget that we are all called to study, worship and teach the gospel.

* ... more to come by all who share in the FAITH!

For His Glory by His Grace

Pastor James