The Son Is Given

Isaiah 9:6–7 

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peacethere shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Introduction

Isaiah here speaks of an incredible event that would occur yet future for the people of Israel who lived in a very dark time in their history. Isaiah wrote of a Child that would be born, more incredibly of a Son that would be given, and more incredibly still is the nature of this child and son recorded as The Mighty God and The Everlasting father.

Our question this morning is not who is this Child that would be born, for we know it speaks of Jesus, but in what way was he to be given? How was he here spoken of to bring hope and light to the people of Israel who were in such darkness at the time this was written for them?

Of the Book of Isaiah wrote J Sidlow Baxter saying;

WHAT Beethoven is in the realm of music, what Shakespeare is in the realm of literature, what Spurgeon was among the Victorian preachers, that is Isaiah among the prophets. As a writer he transcends all his prophet peers; and it is fitting that the matchless contribution from his pen should stand as leader to the seventeen prophetical books.[1]

And indeed it is. It is the first of the five major prophets that begin this portion of the Old Testament, the 12 minor prophets are yet to follow that will conclude it.

The Old Testament having begun with seventeen historical books, it ends with seventeen prophetic. The historical books are broken up with the Five Books of Moses and followed by twelve other narratives, so too the seventeen prophetic begin with the Five Major prophets and follow up with twelve minor ones.

But this makes up only 34 of the 39 books of the Old Testament, and we find the missing five being the poetic wisdom books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes neatly placed in the centre, between the historical and the prophetic portion of the Bible.

There is a fascinating symmetry to the Old Testament, and it does not end here, nor does such symmetry limit itself to the Old Testament alone, but continues into the New. But I digress.

This morning we are going to speak a little of a son that is given, who came as a light in the world, and it is important to give a short historical placement of these two incredible verses that would otherwise have us a little perplexed because it says so much of one who does not appear on the historical scene for another 700 years.

The text speaks of ‘a child to be born’, and ‘a son given’, and the government to be upon his shoulders’, these three phrases are not so remarkable on their own, no doubt many children have been born to whom were given governing rule, so each of these seem on the surface to be reasonable, it is not however until will permit the balance of the verse to come into the picture that we need to take a breath and step back a little;

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Suddenly we come to find something far, far greater spoken of here than we first stepped in to see, suddenly we see that the child born and the son given, is also to be called by name Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Here we are introduced to a person distinct from all people in history, the names by which he is called being reflective of who he is. 

And in the context of the passage, he is given to a people who sit in darkness, he is given to them as a light for their hope in the midst of a dark day and time.

This time

KJV Only: The Persona Of Truth

27-11-2022

Pr Edi Giudetti

Many are comfortless in the world today. They look around them and nothing seems to make any sense. Sadly, this is also the case for most Christians today, most Christians seem also both confused and comfortless. 

For all that is going on in the world, there seems to be no source for them to take comfort in as a single reference point for the truth.

Today, we are continuing our series on the Bible, our series that defends why it is we trust the Authorized Version of the Bible, to be The Bible. This is not a new view, in fact, the belief that the King James Version of the Bible is the perfect word of God for English-speaking people has been the predominant view for most of the last four hundred years. It is only since the mid-20th century that many hearts have been turned toward the confusion of today.

We will see today that Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, he is the full persona of truth and his Character is now put into question by what has transpired from the 20th century to this day, a day we need TRUTH more than ever.

The Manifestation of Truth 

John 18:37 

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Here we have the testimony of Jesus Christ as he stands before the governor Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. He was brought there by the very people he came to save, by the veery people who had contained and preserved within their own scriptures, all things related to the promised coming of their Messiah, their Christ. 

This is whom Jacob spoke of when he was dying as he testified to the tribe of Judah, that 

Genesis 49:10 

10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 

This Shiloh is Christ. The sceptre was the legal right of capital punishment to which Judah had the adjudication of the exercise of the law. In 63 BC the Roman general Pompey captured the City of Jerusalem and for almost sixty years the Jews were permitted self-governance until shortly after the death of King Herod around 4BC. 

A Roman procurator/proxy named Caponius was installed around 6AD and the legal power of the Sanhedrin was restricted with the adjudication of all capital crimes removed. For the first time in their history, the Scepter had departed from Judah.[1]

Shiloh was about 10 years of age.

Now, at the age of about 33 years, he stands before another representative of Rome, being brought there by his own people for permission to put him to death, and he testifies to the reason he was born;

Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.

The pagan world has no concept of truth, it never did. Today, just like in the days of Christ, the only way truth can be seen to exist is if there was an absolute standard for truth, God and his word.

The Word of God was seen to come from God, but now that the western world has largely rejected God, and the Church of God has also largely rejected the Bible, there seems to also be no more standard for truth, in this post, postmodern world where people come up with their OWN so-called truth. 

Pilot understands this same reality, and so he answers Jesus in the next verse;

John 18:38–40 

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barab

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THE SOURCE OF TRUTH

Statement of Faith Series.

The Word of God

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (REV 20:4)

This is an interesting passage of the Bible. It is found in the end of the book of books and it reveals an astounding truth in the midst of the fourth verse;

and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands.

This is in the end of this present world. This is when Jesus Christ returns with the armies in heaven which followed him (Ch19), and prior to the new heaven and the new earth (Ch21). 

This is after the beast and the false prophet are taken and cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone and immediately after Satan was taken to be bound for a thousand years.

This is the beginning of that one thousand years of future history when Jesus comes to rule and reign on earth from the City of Peace, so called in its perfect form for the prince of peace has come.

What I am trying to say to you beloved is that during the time of the great tribulation many of the saints of God will be taken and beheaded for their refusal to take the mark of the beast, but this decision is inspired by one significant fact, the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God.

Lest you overlook what is being spoken of here I want you to understand that ALL THAT WE KNOW FACTUALLY CONCERNING CHRIST, WE GAIN FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

In that time Christians willing to die for their witness of Christ, WHICH THEY HAVE COME TO KNOW FIRST THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD.

The Bible is the source of their testimony.

The Bible is their absolute assurance of the truth and they have ALL committed themselves to THE BIBLE ALONE AS THEIR FINAL AUTHORITY, so much so that they will be willing to be “beheaded for” the truth of Jesus found therein!

There is no conflicting authority in their minds, there are no pretentious Pastors surrounding them telling them which words belong and which words don’t belong in the Bible.

There are no sanctimonious Shepherds telling their congregation they believe the Bible is holy and then taking time out of their sermons to correct it.

No, these Christians are beheaded for their witness of what they believe to be the very words of GOD.

They are emboldened to stand for what they KNOW to be true!

And I find this curious in the light of the one hundred years of attack against the English Bible. Not even the Independent Baptists of the world hold the Bible as perfect anymore.

I thought it was only the vain young and middle aged ministers of IB Churches that had been sold a false bill of Goods, then I sadly discovered to my dismay that even the old ones cant reconcile the Source of Truth with any degree of consistency. 

YET, here we have Christians who are willing to beheaded for the witness of a man spoken of in a book so filled with errors, there has needed to be over 450 published attempts to get it right with no end in sight????? 

Really????

I think this passage tells me that those who are to be beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, have FOUND the PERFECT SOURCE OF TRUTH not subject to the doubt created by misguided men.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

This Church has a statement of faith that forms a part of its constitution. It is a statement that I sought to ensure was as clear as possible so that those who hold to ideas that are contrary to that which is publicly available as representing the beliefs held by this Church, can feel free to overlook us and move on, or

Jesus, Our Rest.

Some three and a half thousand years ago approximately two million people were where delivered from the most tyrannical empire in the world at that time. 

This empire was officially the first antisemitic people of history, they subjugated and enslaved a body of people who were originally invited to live the country and were originally given the best of the land. But not long after another king arose who did know Joseph, and the people were enslaved.

For some four hundred years they were given to bondage, forced to serve a ruler who had his own interest at heart. They were treated as foreigners and every means was devised by the king to limit their population growth. 

They increased their burdens beyond the levels of tolerance, they had them build treasure Cities for the empire, and yet the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied until finally the Egyptian King tried to directly limit the growth of their families by ordering every male child born to be killed by the midwives.

But the midwives disobeyed the commandment of the king, they feared God and kept the male children alive and God “made them houses” (Exo 1:21).

The excavations of the land of Egypt in the region where the this occurred revealed a subjugated semitic people group who’s male population had an average age of less than 35 years. 

But the people grew in number, nonetheless.

Their bondage however seemed to have no end in sight, there seemed to be no hope set before them. Almost forgotten was the God of their father Israel, and multitudes of Jacob embraced the gods of the land.

But God heard the cry of the people, and a goodly child was born that would be placed in an ark of bulrushes, placed along the brink of the river.

Not until the ark was opened did the babe within begin to weep, and soon the mother who set the child adrift would be summoned and employed for the raising of this unlikely prince of Egypt.

Named by his adoptive mother, Moses would one day be used by God to usher his “son out of Egypt” (Hos 11:1). He would climb the mount of God and bring down the Law of liberty to the peculiar people of God. A people set apart, a people that will dwell alone and would not be reckoned among the nations (Num 23:9). 

God will not find iniquity in Jacob (Num 23:21), and the people will find their rest in God.

Now, free from the servitude of Egypt, free from the bondage of a vile and tyrannical ruler, they are free to serve the Lord and to enjoy him forever. God would give to them a law, a law that will prove to be the greatest and most wise law humanity has ever and will ever have.

The New Testament refers to it as “The Law of Liberty”, (James 1:25 & 2:12), an interesting phrase. Those who attend to the Law are free to live a blessed life, and so would agree Moses;

“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” (Deut 30:15)

A COMMANDMENT OF REST

Imbedded within that Law of Liberty is found a commandment of Rest. 

How interesting. As I am not aware of a single soul who does not like the idea of taking a rest, it is curious to see that God has taken one of his ten eternal laws for mankind to give to man that which he effectively works all his life to one day look forward to, REST.

It’s the fourth commandment in the Bible and, just in case you don’t believe that Gods people could be so instructed to do that which they so naturally desire to do, turn to Exodus 20 and listen to God speaking directly to the people from the mountain of God;

Exodus 20:8–11 

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the L

Him That is of Power To Stablish You

Romans 16:25–27 

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. 

We begin first by noting that there is a wonderful parenthetical structure to these verses. It begins first by the dedication of this gospel, “now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel”, and it concludes with the identity of the one to whom the gospel is dedicated, “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen”.

What we have in these two segments are a parenthesis with the contents in its center to be that which is explained.

The Bible makes use of these sorts of parenthetical structures throughout. Many passages are framed this way, sometimes entire chapters and even books can be seen in this manner.

Genesis begins with the beginning of ALL life, and ends with a coffin in Egypt.

The Psalms begins with the blessed Man and concludes with the blessed God

The book of Matthew begins just prior to The Birth of Christ on Earth and Ends just prior to the ascension of Christ in heaven.

In fact, the entire bible might be considered in parenthesis with Genesis as the book of beginnings at the beginning, and Revelation as the book of the end at the end.

Beloved there is a marvelous structure to the Bible, almost crying out for man to read it and study it.

And just so we have with the final paragraph of this incredible epistle to the Romans.

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel

‘Stablish’ defined: “From the 16th century there seems to have been a tendency to confine the use of the form ‘stablish’ to those uses in which the relation of the meaning to “stable” is apparent, i.e. where the notion is rather ‘to strengthen or support (something existing) than to found or set-up” OED.

Indeed, this seems to be the case. The Bible contains both the words, “Establish” (119 times) and “Stablish” (16 times), God seems to have a vocabulary that can employ both words.

On the surface, the words only differ in spelling, and so we naturally ask the question respecting purpose, ‘Why?’. If it is precisely the same meaning, why a different word so close in spelling and sound?

The reality is that they do NOT have the same meaning, God desires here to NARROW the definition of the word. While the word “Establish” can be everything from being founded and set up to having it settled, the word “Stablish” is specific in its meaning to make a thing or person “stable” “immovable”, “secured”.

1 Chronicles 17:12 

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

Here David had desired to build a house for the Lord, but God promises to both build him a house AND to make his throne STABLE for ever. Unlike the establishment of every other kingdom, his will not be moved.  

1 Chronicles 18:3 

3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

David, already a king, desires to stabilize his dominion, to secure it. And indeed, we find he did so, his son Solomon has all Israel’s enemies subdued and peace reigned while he was on the throne.

Romans 16:26

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel,

We have been born again, the original work of the Gospel of Christ and the forgiveness of our sins for eternal life, has already been set forth in us, it has already been accomplished, it was already established, but it is for God to keep us “Stable” in our faith, secure in the knowledge that we might be strengthened and not be overcome.

Col

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Encouragement Of The Diligent

16-10-2022

Pr Edi Giudetti

Romans 16:19–20 

19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.  20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 

Encouraged In PRAISE;

Paul writes here to their reputation, “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf:”.  Obedience to the truth of the word of God, opens up for us the ability to know and understand the doctrines found in the Word of God. This seems evident for the Church of Rome. Disobedience to the Scriptures however, stunts our understanding of the scriptures.

Paul chose the Roman Church for the most explicit concentration of Doctrine found anywhere in the Bible, because they were willing to ‘Endure it’ and consequently OBEY it. Paul’s writing to Timothy of a time coming when “they will not endure sound doctrine”, and “shall turn away their ears from the truth” (2 Tim 4:3), did not evidently apply to the Church at Rome, for their obedience is come abroad unto all men.

Disobedience of God’s word manifests in the Church in two ways, the first is through sin, and the second through doctrinal error.

The Church of Rome seems to have had no serious SIN issue like the Corinthian Church to be reproved. The Church of Rome seems to have had no serious doctrinal error like the Galatian Church to correct;

Instead, we find the church of Rome had a reputation, that their obedience is come abroad unto all men

Sin Issue

Unrepentant sin will ALWAYS have its effect upon your ability to learn what the Bible teaches. Rome could endure sound doctrine because, and ONLY because, they were obedient, and such a level of obedience that it was evident by reputation; their obedience is come abroad unto all men. 

Not “obedient” in that they did not sin, (1 John 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ) But that sin was always dealt with before the Lord;

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Unrepentant sin however, will afflict their minds ability to endure sound doctrine and faithfulness. Consider the church of Corinth for a moment, because it was the one which needed to be reproved of sin, and that sin led the church in many errors.

1 Corinthians 5:1–6

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you,

Just by way of explanation; Fornication is simply defined as Sex outside of marriage. 

Websters dictionary simply states it on one line;

“: consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other — compare ADULTERY[1]”

Modern versions of the Bible replace the clear and objective word of “fornication”, with an unclear and subjective word “sexual immorality”:  the New King James version does this, so too the New International Version, the English Standard Version, the New Revised Standard Version, International Standard Version, The “Bad News” Bible; all of the modern versions I have in my library substitute the clear word “fornication”, which ONLY MEANS Sex outside of marriage, with sexual Immorality, which means WHAT????

Morals are NOT absolutes, they are based on the “Mores of the people”, they are based on majority opinion. Today multitudes have sex outside of marriage but don’t want to be condemned as SINNERS.

Beloved, the Bible teaches that there are two elements to what constitutes marriage, one is public and the other is private. The Public OUGHT to go before the private, but where the private went first through ignorance and lust, be sure not to PUT OFF THE PUBLIC!!! Lest your conscience becomes seared!

Now that I have upset most of the western world so early in the message, let me move on.

 1 It

Keep The Faith

Romans 16:17–20

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christbe with you. Amen.

Safeguarding Of The Truth

(Lengthy First point, very short final point)

Romans 16:17

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Isaiah speaks of a time when “Justice standeth afar off: For truth is fallen in the Streets, And equity cannot enter” (Isa 59:14)

Paul writes “For the time will come they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own hearts lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Tim 4:3)

Both of these men are speaking of Gods people, Gods own children having turned away from his truth and being turned unto fables….and I wonder are you going to be one of them?

This time period does not occur out of nowhere, so this is not an unreasonable question, because we already know that this has happened, is happening and will happen more. 

The Bible speaks of the final Laodicean Church which fits perfectly with the contemporary church of today, stirring the lusts of Christians with 1.5 hrs of music fitting them for an altered state of consciousness and then delivering15 minute sermonette undiscerned for its error, and persuading the Christianettes ‘contrary to’ “Sound doctrine”.

Is that going to be you??? Is that you now at least in heart???

Paul wrote here to the Church that it would SAFEGUARD THE TRUTH, defend the WORD of Truth, even to “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) located in Rome. and to do so the Church would need to undertake two things;

The First is that they might KNOW THE TRUTH.To “mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine (teaching, Truth) which ye have learned; and avoid them”.

KNOW THE TRUTH

That first item is assumed, for you cannot recognize “divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine” UNLESS YOU KNOW THE DOCTRINE.

As mentioned before, the epistle to the Romans is the fullest exposition of the doctrine of the Gospel found anywhere in one place in the Bible. All that was written before this portion we are studying is DOCTRINE (teaching), which Paul presents as certain. 

Paul wrote it that the people may learn it. Paul wrote it that they may be taught by it. Paul wrote it that they might be effectual in teaching it that the souls of many might be saved. There is an eternal purpose in the doctrine, in the teaching of the scriptures. It is the DOCTRINE, the Truth of the scriptures that helps is grow in our joy and peace.It is this same DOCTRINE that motivates our love for the Lost

But if you don’t know what the truth is, HOW CAN YOU defend it?

If you do not KNOW the Doctrine, you simply cannot safeguard its TRUTH, and you certainly will never be able to IDENTIFY AND MARK those “who cause divisions and offences CONTRARY to the doctrine”.

Beloved why do you think there is so much error today? 

Why do we even have the Laodicean Church and why is it the LAST CHURCH before Christ comes?

WHY DO YOU THINK THE WORLD ITSELF IS like ‘blind men who grope for a wall, groping as if we had no eyes, stumbling at noonday as in the night, in desolate places as dead men?” (Isa 59:10)

CHRISTIANS HAVE TURNED THEIR BACK ON TRUTH 

HOW?

Paul answers it.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after t

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