Category: Tim McNab
Gods Ten Commandments
What do you believe about the Ten Commandments, are they still to be obeyed in our world today; or did they get replaced by Jesus or someone else with some other commandments?
Sometime things that we believe to be true are not always true and finding what is true is very difficult because people put their own tradition and belief in way of truth.
As a minister I want to make sure what I am saying or telling someone is what the Bible defines to be truth, and not what I think or anyone else. Come with me and let’s open the word of God the Bible and let’s find out about the Ten Commandments and see if we should or should not still be following them in our world today 2000 years after Jesus death on the cross.
The Ten Commandments are listed in the Bible in two places, first in the book of Exodus: 20: 2-17 and also in the book of Deuteronomy: 5: 6-21.
You can also find in the new testament outlines of the Ten Commandments in the book of, Mark: 10: 19, Matthew: 5: 27, Matthew: 15: 4, Matthew: 19; 18&19, Romans: 13: 9. You will also find Jesus keeping the Ten Commandments through His entire life, even while dying on the Cross He made sure His mother was to be cared for, commandment number 5
Jesus was teaching the people to keep His Fathers Ten Commandments, if He planned on changing them or changing any one of them surely somewhere in the New Testament there would be a scripture lettering His people know, God does not keep things a secret especially when He told you to remember something. Amos: 3: 7: Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
OK So first let’s look at each one of the Ten Commandments and see what they are asking or telling us and if they still apply to Gods Holy people in our time.
***Commandments: # 1: Exodus: 20: 2-3: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
The very first of the Ten Commandments starts with a brief reminder of God power followed by the command that we are not to have other Gods before or in the place of the Lord God. Should we as Gods holy people today have other Gods in our life. I would say No, look at Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
The Lord Gods is still the same God of Creation of Adam, the same God of Abraham, the same God of Israel, the Father God that Jesus came to show mankind Gods love to His creation, the same God of the Gospel today. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God, so I would say commandment number 1 is still to be obeyed by Gods Holy people in our world today.
***Commandments: # 2: Exodus: 20: 4-6: You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Throughout history man has always worship something or some God, many times a statue or carved image was made out of stone or wood and worship as a god.
Even in today’s world there are some Christians religions who still practice the worship of carved image. But Gods 2nd Commandments strictly forbids the worship of anything like an idol.
Deuteronomy 4:35: To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.
1 Kings 8:60: that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.
Mark 12:32: So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
The Bible is very clear on this matter, the Lord is God and He alone is God and there are none others like Him. In our world today people make a lot of different things their god or Idol. Some worship their money, others worship their cars or things that they have, people have other people who the worship as god for whatever reason. Anything that gets in the way between you and the Lord God is an idol, and guess what even Church can become an idol, when people love their Church more then they love the Lord God. So the 2nd commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 3: Exodus: 20: 7-You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
We are not to make little of the name of the Lord God. That can be anything from idle speaking to full blasphemy of any of God names or His character; we are not to use Profanity or dragging God’s name through the mud of human emotion and joking.
When I was baptized I made a commitment a promise to God to serve Him and to show the world I want to be Christ like.
Acts 11:26: And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Why because they were Christ like inside and out.
To be a Christian is to show the world Gods character living inside of you by doing the things He told us to do. When we don’t do them or wend we act more like the world then Christ we use His holy name in vain. So the 3rd commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 4: Exodus: 20: 8-11: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Is the Sabbath important? What does the Bible say?
Ezekiel 20:12: Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
The Sabbath is a sign between Gods holy people and Himself
Will we be keeping Sabbath in heaven and in the new earth? Read what Isaiah says Isaiah: 66: 22” For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD. 24: And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
According to the Bible, Gods Holy People will be keeping the Sabbath in the Earth made new, that is what Isaiah is saying
Did any of the Disciples keep the Sabbath after Jesus went to heaven: Looking at the book of Acts: 18: 4: And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
The Disciples Paul (Saul) did not come into the Christian Church for almost 3 years after Jesus went back to His Father, then he spent another 3 years in studying. So Paul was still keeping the Sabbath for many many years and was in the Church or synagogue on Sabbath teaching about Jesus.
Also if you read in the book of Genesis chapter 1 & 2 you will find and account of God creation from day one to day seven, and on day seven God does something He did not do on any of the other days.
Look at Genesis 2: 2: And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3: Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
God blessed it and He made it Holy
Exodus 31:13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.
So the Sabbath was a sign between Gods and His Holy people, are we not His holy people today the Church that Jesus started. Also did you notice that Jesus die on a Friday, sleep in the grave during the Sabbath or Rested and woke up on Sunday. God rested after He finished His creation of our World on the Sabbath, Jesus rested on the Sabbath after He finished the plan of salvation and got the Victory over Satan and Sin.
Matthew: 5: 17&18: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Jesus tells us plainly that He did not come to do away with any of Gods Commandments Law but He came to for fill what was spoken by the Prophets about Him. Jesus kept His Fathers Commandments, should we not be doing what Jesus did. He was our example because no man comes unto the Father but through Jesus. So the 4th Commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
Now there were some Laws that were nailed to the Cross when Jesus died, they were called the Mosaic law. They were a list of Ceremonical Laws dealing with the sacrificing of animal and their blood. These thing were a shadow of things to come. When Jesus died on the Cross all these Mosaic Laws were done away with, Why? Because they were fulfilled in the death of Jesus the ultimate sacrifice in man behalf. Under that the Mosaic law and Gods Ten Commandments Law were two completely different laws. The Mosaic law was written by man on animal skin or something, Gods Ten Commandments were written on Stone by God Himself. The Mosaic law was placed on the outside of the Ark but Gods Ten Commandments Law was placed inside the Ark.
So where did Sunday come from: That is another subject that we will take up later.
***Commandments: # 5: Exodus: 20: 12: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
This is a commandment with a promise, if you obey Gods commandment and take care and respect your Mother & Father God will also take care of you and add years to your life.
But it goes on further than just that, we should honor and respect all who are older than we are and those who are in authority. Just think how wonderful our world would be if all people had respect and love for each other.
Let’s look at Matthew: 15: 1-9 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2: “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3: He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.5: But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—6: then he need not honor his father or mother. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7: Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8: These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9: And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ How sad for God to say to man that our worship of Him is in vain because we would rather keep the traditions of our Church over His Commandments
They were so up on keeping their traditions that they could not see they were making void Gods Commandments with their traditions. Much like the Christians Church today. We want to place copies of the Ten Commandments on the Court House in our City’s and on our front lawn.
But where does God want to put them? Hebrews 10:16: “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
God wants His Laws and Commandments to be in one place, and that is living inside of you so that you can be an example reflecting the life and love of Jesus to others around you every day. So the 5th Commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 6: Exodus: 20: 13: “You shall not murder.
When Man was created he was created in the image and likeness of his creator. He was not created to die; death came in only after man sinned buy not obeying his creator command.
Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
God gave mankind a warning that his life was a gift from his creator on a condition of perfect obedience to His creator laws. By keeping them he would live forever but by braking them he would die.
Genesis 3: Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
So the question came down to who do you believe, do you believe your Creator or some snake in the grass you just met.
Look at John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Not only was Satan a murderer but the father of all lies.
Murder take the life of an innocent person and causes grief and hardship on his wife, children or on his parent and family. God never design mankind to die and never design man to fight and kill one another; all that was because of his Sin in not obeying his creator Commandments.
So the 6th Commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 7: Exodus: 20: 14: “You shall not commit adultery.
When God created man he was not created to be alone in a perfect world all by himself. God had something more wonderful in mind, the perfection of His master piece was in the creation of a Woman; in her and from her was to be life. God created her body specifically for the need of man and to bring life into the world by his seed. But man was not to be a whoremonger, he was to have one wife and they together were to be one in flesh.
Matthew 19:6: So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
The intimacy between one man and one woman is so beautiful that words cannot explain. When you truly love someone it brings in perfect trust to the relationship, that is what God wants from us, perfect trust that He will do what He says, perfect trust in His love for His creation.
In our world today perfect trust is extremely hard to find and that is why there are so many devoices. People get married for looks not love, for money not poverty for a good time not sickness. But perfect trust will lay down one’s life for the other, now maybe you can understand why Jesus came and gave His life on the cross.
The Church is Gods bride and when He comes back to our world it will be to marry all who gave their life by faith and perfect trust in Him as their Creator and Savior. So the 7th Commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 8: Exodus: 20: 15: “You shall not steal.
Stealing is not just the taking money, in fact there are many ways in our world todays that a person can steal. Stealing is the taking anything of value that belongs to someone else. You can steal time if you are working for someone and don’t give them all the time they are paying you for. You can steal information off of the internet these days; and of course there is money.
If you know your neighbor has lost something and you found it but don’t give it back to him, it is a form of stealing, because you know who it belongs too. Did you know you can also steal from God, when you read His Commandments the 4th one says it is a Sabbath day of rest and worship a special time set aside every week to be with your God and savior. You can steal Gods time by not worshiping Him on the day He set aside for worshiping
John: 14: 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. So the 8th Commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 9: Exodus: 20: 16: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
A lie is anything that is not 100% percent truth. So if it is 99.9% percent true and .01% lie it just as well be a 100% a lie. With God only 100% truth is good enough everything else is a lie. Where did lying start look at the book of John and see what Jesus had to say about it while talking to the Pharisees
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Lying hurts people, and can ruin a person’s character for life. Satan lied to the angles about God the Son all because he was jealous and wanted to be like God. But it is impossible for a created being to be God or to be like God.
So the 9th Commandment is still in force for Gods people today.
***Commandments: # 10: Exodus: 20: 17: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
God has giving to each person everything that is needed to follow his Lord God. But when we are not satisfied with what God has provided but want more and will do anything to get it; that is coveting
Luke 3:14: Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Be careful of coveting don’t try and live like your next door neighbor, don’t try and keep up with toys like everyone else at the office. Don’t worry about having to be dressed in the best that money can by just so you can fit in with others. Love the things that God has giving and put in your way and thank God every day for life.
Hebrews 13:5: Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Have you ever had what is called New Car fever, you want that new Car so bad that nothing and no one can make you see that it will be bad for you. Maybe because it will be too expensive or because it is not as good as the dealer clams it is, or it is something you just don’t need right now. There are a lot of reasons but you want it so bad you don’t care what anyone says. That is only one form of coveting
1 Timothy: 6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certainc we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Being rich is not as good as you think is it, there are more rich people committing suicide than any other group, why is that. You would think having all that money they would be the happiest people in the World. Money can buy you friends but Money can’t buy you Happiness.
Jesus is coming back and very soon, all the signs of His coming are being fulfilled, just read the book of Revelation and the daily Newspaper. This old world does not have much longer; where will you be? Where will Jesus true Church be, look at Revelation: 14: 12: Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev: 19: 10: And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation: 12: 17 : And the dragon was wroth with the woman (Church), and went to make war with the remnant (Few) of her seed, which keep the commandments of God (Gods Ten Commandments Law), and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (the Spirit of Prophecy: See Revelation 19:10)
Revelation: 13: 8: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Go to the Book of Daniel Chapter 7:25-28
Read about a religious power that will try and Change Time and Law, Who’s Time and Who’s Law
Gods time and Law? it would not be prophetically significant for the little horn (religious) power to attempt to change human time and laws, for this is commonly expected in a struggle for world dominion. The conflict described here is between earth and heaven. The little horn intends to change Gods time and laws, most clearly seen in His Ten Commandments.
One obvious illustration of Gods time is His Sabbath, His Law the Ten Commandments: Any attempt by an earthly power to change Gods Sabbath is an attempt to change Gods Law, the heart of which is the Sabbath itself.
Gods true Church will be the ones doing what He ask of them to do, If you love me keep my commandments John: 14: 15: Don’t be fooled by the great Religious Leaders of our world saying oh don’t worry about those old Ten Commandments they have been done away with. Remember Jesus keep them all Ten of them. He did not come to do away with the Law but to fulfill the Law.
Remember this: The Ten Commandments were written by God Himself on two tablets of stone and place inside the Ark, they were not written by man.
Jeremiah 9: 13 And the LORD said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, 14 but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts. Evil men with evil intention who’s only goal is money in their pockets. They refused to preach the truth to their congregation because it is not the popular thing to do, Jesus called them a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But soon and very soon the day of God judgment will fall on all who refuse to do as God says, it will fall on all these false teachers and leaders, what will they do then.
*** What do you think, what one of the Ten Commandments did Satan brake, if you said all of them you are right. *** Jesus kept all ten of them and Satan broke all ten of them, that’s the different.
The wisest man who ever lived said these words below
Ecclesiastes 12:13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth Ministry
How to have True Faith
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is giving by God to all His children but some of us have more faith then others. The Bible tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You must believe in order to have faith, I find by reading about other men and the trails they went through but they never lost the faith. Wow that also helps me to be strong and it increases my faith know God is right there with me and helping me through my trails as well.
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: The Prophet Elisha
There was a King who had a Problem
2 Kings 6:
17: And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
There was a King trying to trap the King of Israel, but every time his plan failed and he did not know why. Then he found out that every plan he made this prophet Elisha would warn the King of Israel about. So he had planned to go after Elisha instead of the King of Israel. One day this King found out that Elisha was staying in a nearby town, so he sent his army to bring Elisha to him.
When Elisha woke up the next morning he opened the window for a breath of fresh air then went to wash up some. Right about then Elisha servant went to the window but as he looked out he seen the city surrounded by this army, and he cried out oh my lord how shell we do.
But Elisha prayed that God would open his servant eyes, and when he did he saw angles all around them waiting to protect Elisha. God is always there in our times of trouble.
1. Sometime we get discourage when we don’t see things going like we think they should. If I can’t see it with my eyes I don’t believe it
2. Sometime we are discouraged when other Christian judge us by there standard of Christianity even Seventh-day Advertises Remember satin also goes to Church, all Churches.
3. Many of time we are surrounded by the enemy and satin brings sickness into our life, don’t let it get you down, let it be a tool to draw you closer to Jesus.
4. What about other problems in this world.
5. Don’t give up Faith, but pray and ask God to open your eyes so that you might see the Angle standing next to you to protect you and take care of you.
Fall on your knees and pray for God to open your eyes and you will see a host of Angle round about you to keep you from falling
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: “ Moses crossing the Red Sea”
God gave a Man a Mission to lead his People and that man was “Moses”
We meet him by the Red Sea with his Church group complaining “You have brought us here that pharaoh may kill us. Remember the Story, the army was right behind them.
Exodus 14:
21: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
I have heard many of people try and explain what happen and how the water naturally dried up for the Children of Israel to cross over
But then there is this one little scripture that said
22: And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
It is proof that God can not only Walk on Water but he can also make it stand Vertical if he so needs
There way a young Man reading his Bible and he was at the part where Moses was crossing the Red Sea and he was so excited about how God would deliver his people.
Then a Man came up to him and asks what he was so excited about. So he told him, and he said O that, yes but you see there was a strong Earthquake that day and the water just ran out some. And so there was still about 6 inches of water left so that was no real miracle.
As the man was walking away, the young man started jumping up with even more excitement, when the Man asks what was it, he said “God just drown the entire Egyptian Army in 6 inches of Water.
If I had learned anything in Life; I have learned that if God said it, Believe it!
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: “David and Goliath”
Israel was at war: Both armies were camp on a hill with a Valley between them.
David found himself bring supplies to his Brothers, when he saw what
1 Samuel 17:
23: And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24: And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
We are no different; we run and forget about God who is fighting on our side, when we see how big the Mountain is that satin laid before us.
26: And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
1. How big are the problems you face everyday in Life? We all look at the little things in life that make us afraid. Because out problems look so big.
2. None of us fight the same battles, because we are all different, what’s a problem to you is child play to me; and what’s a problem for me is silly to you.
3. We aloud satin to put a magnifying glass in front of our eyes to make us fear the things we have no control of.
4. We need to learn the lesson of True Faith in God
5. The Bigger the problem the bigger the Miracle, What is too big for God
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: A young man by the name of “Stephen”
who was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was brought in for what he believed
Act 7
55: But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56: And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57: Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, (People will do the same today)
58: And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59: And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60: And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
1. People today still don’t want to hear the Truth. They will do all they can to keep from hearing and not believe the Truth. Why does it always seem easier to believe a Lie then to believe the Truth, because satin make it that way,
2. There is a time coming when again they will want to stone you for telling God Truth. So don’t be afraid when it come; Jesus told us it would happen, Be Faithful.
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: “Sharack, Meshack and Abednego.”
It is very importance when you are in a leading position to be true to what you believe. Because you may be called in to account for it someday
Daniel 3
12: There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13: Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
The King told them look I understand about this thing you have of worshiping your God, but right now you don’t need to worry about your God you need to worry about Me. Because I am fixing to do you a lot of harm
Look at what they said to the King
17: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18: But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19: Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
1. When the going gets hot will you be there for Jesus.
2. The hold world will be falling down on there knees paying honor to someone other then Jesus, Will you follow.
3. You won’t need to go all the way down just a little bending over to make it look like you are bowing, a little faking it so to say.
4. After all Jesus won’t want you to get in trouble The Bible said you can’t serve God and man
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: “Daniel and the Lion Den”
He too was in a leading position, but his pure heart made him stand out among all the other. So they trick the king
Daniel 6
18: Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
21: Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Gods commandment
1. When the going gets tuff will you be able to stand for Jesus all by your self.
2. That’s right no Mama and Daddy there, No Brother or Sisters There, No Husband or Wife There, No boy friend or Girl friend there to help you make it.
3. Just you all alone. Most people fail because they have never put Jesus First
4. Do you have the Faith in Jesus that will secure you a place in Heaven?
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: Noah
He had the faith that can build when everyone else was in doubt
Geneses 6
7: And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
I am happy for us today that there was a Man like Noah then
Again the Earth is Filled with Violence and again it will be Destroyed
The Ark Represented Jesus, all who would go in could be Saved and it is no different to all who come to Jesus he will again save them.
1. It may not be easy to go and do what God is telling you to do.
2. But if you put the little Faith you have in God you will be like Noah. “How” Everyday he drove a nail into the Ark every time he put a board on the side his Faith Grew and Grew until he could see the plan God had in mind for him
It happen only by Faith When you are obedience to God word he will save you
*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: Elijah “Choose ye this day who you will service”
Did the people forget who there God was, who brought them through the Red Sea, Who provided for them for 40 years in the wilderness, who defender them from other invading tribes.
1 Kings 18
21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Yes they did forget, and so do we, when we put other things first in our Life before Jesus.
One of the Most Dangerous things that we as Christian can do it to put Religion before God, it happens when we believe more in the rules then the rule maker.
Jesus said I am the truth the light and the way, no man comes unto the Father but by Me. Remember that It is by Faith that we server him; and because we Love him that we keep his Commandment.
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*** What Gives me Faith is Stories Like: Creator who became his Creation
“ Why? to Save Them from there sins”
John 3:16
16: 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.
17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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*** Now my Question is; What are you doing for Jesus?
What’s your Christian Experience like lately, are you kind of Plateau, or maybe on a down ward trend.
If you leave her today and get nothing else out of this Sermon except what I am going to tell you right now you will have understood what other before you have giving for Jesus.
Today; there is a knock on your Door, you open it up and there are 6 Police Officers and 4 Army Men come to take you in for a hearing.
You say, what have I done, (Know one say’s a word more to you except that they have a warrant for your arrest).
You are hand cuff and lead out of your home, you look back and see your kids crying, the neighbors are all out watching you being lead away because of the commotion in the neighborhood.
You are brought in and told to wait, you look and see a group of people some you recognizer as former Church members other you have no idea who they are.
You ask a guard standing near-by, where are my Children, and my Family; he only looks at you and said “TRADER” and turns and looks the other way.
Now you are brought in before this council, and they ask you question about your family, your place of work, and finally about you Church.
You are accused of crimes against the State; you have broken the Civil Laws, and can no longer be trusted worthy of your Freedom. You have been told and warred about your failure to keep the secular day of worship and about you’re spreading lies about Jesus coming back to this earth.
You have been tried and convicted for your crimes,
Do you have anything to say for your self before sentence is passed on to you?
The Judge picks-up his gravel and say “you are hear-by sentence to Death”
Every Eye will see Jesus coming
*** HOW WILL YOU STAND?
There will only be two Choices “Faithful or Faithless”
How is your walk with Jesus today, it is not enough just say that you love him, we must do as He commanded us to do? John 14: 15 “If you love Me, keep My Commandments.
You must have a daily living relationship with him if you will be able to stand for him when the time comes. Remember you will not be alone Jesus will be there just like with Stevenson, giving you a Standing Ovation
Don’t trust to yourself, Peter denied Jesus three times before he learned one most importance lesson and that is just three little worlds
Just Have Faith………
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth
Why is the Truth so hard to believe?
I find that if I tell someone the truth they have problems believing what I say, but if I tell them a total outright lie they accept it with no problems, why is that? We live in a world where everything seems to be upside down, a world where what use to be right is now wrong and what was once wrong is now excepted as being right. Years ago when someone gave you there word you could take it to the bank, now it better be recorded or notaries and have a lot of witnesses, what happened what changed?
Sometimes telling the truth can really hurt but God commands that we as His people should always tell the truth.
But is it necessary to always tell the truth? Let’s say some little old lady comes up to you in church and ask what do you think of my new hat. When you look at it right away you see it is the ugliest hat you ever seen, but what do you say to the lady who is standing waiting on an answer.
Do you hurt her feeling by saying I am sorry but that is one ugly hat. Or would you do as Jesus would do, find something about it that you do like, maybe the color, the shape, a flower on it. There are many ways to answer someone and still tell the truth without hurting them.
As a minister people are always asking me about God and Religion, and what is the reason for so many different Christian Churches.
The only answer I have is to tell them because the Trust is too hard to believe and 99% of people want a religion that fits their life style and what they want to believe. So for this very reason people push aside the Truth so they can have it their way, the only problem with this is it is not Gods way and apart for God everything is sin.
If you look at most of the Christian Churches today, they all claim to be teaching the Truth from the Bible and that there Church keeps all of God Holy Commandments. But if you look a little closer into their beliefs you will find that they don’t keep Gods 4th Commandment, why is that.
Open your Bible to Matthew 15:8&9, here is Jesus telling the religious leaders of His time about a problem they had “‘these people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” Could it be that 2000 years after Jesus came to this Earth to teach us what the Truth was that we are going back to the same problems the Jews had, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men over the commandments of God.
Look at what Paul said just before he died, Acts 20:29&30: For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30: Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Take a good look at how some of the really big TV and Radio Church Leaders live. Do you see them living in Million Dollars Home and Drive the best Cars and Trucks money can buy. Are they preaching the truth in these Churches that hold many many thousands of people are or they preaching what the people want to hear. Do you think if they were preaching the Truth direct from the Bible that they would still be so popular and there Churches so full.
How is it that the religious leaders in Jesus time could not see that He was the Christ the Son of God. Because once you close your eyes to truth you will never see clear again Luke 19; 47. 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Gods truth is the only truth there is apart from it everything else is a lie. God is a God of love and mercy He will never force His truth on anyone. But as with the religious leaders in Jesus time the same is with our religious leaders today. Religion has become a big money maker, it is the bread and butter of most religious leaders. The more people they get into their churches the more money they make. They all preach Jesus but then they all make up excuses as to why we don’t need to do what Jesus said to do. The Bible calls three things as truth John: 14:6 Jesus is Truth, John: 17:17 The Bible is Truth, Psalm: 119: 151 Gods Commandments His Ten Commandments are Truth.
Truth in Noah time was so bad that only 8 people believed it and when the rain and floods started the majority of those who did not believe it died.
Truth cannot be determined by statistics or by the number of people who believe it, the truth will always remain the truth.
Even Jesus had a hard time convening people about the Truth in His days, except for a small group of 120 men and women who believe He was indeed the true Son of God.
Jesus gave to His people the seed of Abraham His truth written on two tablets of Stone His Ten Commandments Law. He also gave them other Laws dealing with how to deal with others and how to keep healthy. He also gave them prophecy to help them know when the fullness of time would come for God the Father to send His Son into the world
But when He came to His own people they rejected Him Galatians: 4: 4. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
What happen, they had Gods holy word, it told them that the Son of God who they was to be looking for was soon to be borne, how could they miss it.. John: 1: 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jesus people who had the Truth of His word to guide them, were so lost by believing a lie that when He did came to them they did not know Him.
I find that in today’s society people want a religion that more or less fits into their life style and truth does not really matter too much, just give it to me my way.
I once had a group of guys who wanted to know the truth of what is in the Bible; being they knew me and knew how I lived my life they ask me to do a Bible study with them. I told them; to understand the Bible and its truth you need to study both the Old and New Testaments. The reason for this was because a lot of what the new testaments says comes directly from the Old Testament and books like Daniel and Revelation are keys to unlocking the truth.
Everyone was happy with that and as we started getting into the Bible study I could see the light in their eyes began to glow with the understanding of God’s word, His truth. But about half way through the study I could see that light going out when it came to them having to give up some of the things they use to do, why is that?
Read Matthew: 13: 3 to 9:
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
They heard the truth but because of cares in this life they started to look for ways around the truth so that they would not need to change. Even to the point of saying there is no way that all the other religions can all be wrong and just you right.
Now hear how Jesus explains the parable
Matthew: 13
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
When the truth is first presented to someone Joy filled their heart, but as soon as the cares and wants of this world come before them they don’t want to let go of what they had, I want Jesus but I want the world as well.
1 Peter: 5:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Satan will stop at nothing in order to pull the Truth away from you; he will use the cares of this world, family, work, and friend to do just that
Look at Proverbs: 14: 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There are many different forms and types of Christian Churches for you to choose to follow, but if they are not following what the Bibles teaches from Genesis to Revelation you might be in the wrong place and when Jesus comes back to take home His true follower you might get left behind.
Matthew: 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
You can’t eat from the Lords table during the day and dance on Satan table at night, it don’t work. If you are not 100% present for God then you are nothing for God, there is no halfway or sitting on the fence. Jesus said in
John 14:
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. It is as clear as that
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
True Christians will be the ones who keep the commandments of God, the same ones Jesus kept and followed while living on earth. Look at Matthew 5 remember this is Jesus speaking saying that He did not come to change things but to fulfill them.
Matthew: 5:
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The last time I looked heaven and earth was still here
Take a look at the book of Isaiah: 66 and start at verse 22. The prophet Isaiah is giving a look into the future at the new Heaven and Earth. What will Gods people be doing?
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
The old Earth is gone and all that was sin is no more, God and His people that love Him are in the Holy City
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
What are they doing, from one Sabbath to another all flesh will come together to worship God
Now think about this, when God finished creating the earth on the seventh day He rested and blessed the seventh day and made it holy. He gave it to His children Adam & Eve so that they would always remember who their creator is.
We then find Him giving it to the Children of Israel telling them to Remember the Sabbath day His holy day of worship. We see Jesus and His disciples keeping the Sabbath as God the Father has commanded. After Jesus died on the cross in the New Testament we see His follower still keeping the Sabbath, and now we read the prophet Isaiah is giving a future view of the new earth and he is telling us that we are still keeping the Sabbath in the earth made new. You can’t get any clearer than that in telling the Truth.
Where will this old earth and its people who did not make the first resurrection of Gods true believers end up.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
How do we know this will happen in the Earth made new, because we will look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against God Law, Gods Commandments all Ten of them. Remember again what Jesus said in the book of Matthew: 5: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. If you break one of them you are guilty of breaking them all.
So how do you know what is the Bible truth and what is not the Bible truth? The Bible tell us how to check, if what you believe or what your Church is teaching does not agree with the hold Bible from Genesis to Revelation then what they are saying is not the pure Truth.
Isaiah: 8: 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them
The Bible will never contradict itself from Genesis to Revelation, if there is a contradiction the problem is not in the Bible the problem is in the interpolation.
Isaiah: 28: 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Look up every scripture dealing with a subject you want to know, our days with a good concordance and the internet that is very easy. If what you believe is not in line with what the entire Bible is teaching then you have a problem not the Bible.
2 Timothy: 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The Bible says that All Scripture not some scripture and that includes the Old & New Testaments is giving by the inspiration of God
Foe over 1600 years men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write what God was showing them and telling them. All scripture from Genesis to Revelation is the inspired word of God, and it is to be used for doctrine and reproof and correction of what we think is truth. If what you believe is not 100% in line with the Bible then what you believe is a lie.
The prophet Daniel was inspired by God to tell us about future events that would happen to His people so that they would believe and have faith and put there life in His hands. God’s true believers were persecuted by the Roman Church all through the dark ages. Read Fox’s book of Martyrs
Daniel: 7: 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel: 8: 12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
This is why it is so important to study the Bible for yourself and not go by a priest or pastor, they could be wrong. Forget what you learned in school about God and go to the Bible and read it letting Gods Holy Spirit lead you into all Truth.
Jesus told us that the way would not be easy, it is not getting baptized and living happy ever after. The road to truth is narrow and few believe and follow it.
Matthew: 7:
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus also told us that there will be false teachers claiming to have a link direct to God and will deceive many with there lies. But here again we must go by what the Bible says not man
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Just because a Church is big and has the best of everything does not mean it is a true church following Gods truth. Look at what Jesus told us
Matthew: 7:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
They may have done a lot of good and wonderful things and preformed many miracles but if they are not keeping and teaching the pure truth of God’s word they are lost and don’t know it.
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Just before Jesus comes back to this world we are told that persecution of God true believers will once again take place. How will you know the different between God true believer, the book of Revelation makes it very clear! God’s holy people will be the ones being persecuted because they will be the ones keeping God Commandments
Revelation: 12:
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Out of the entire world the prophet John sees only a small group of people who are faithful to God; they are the ones doing what Jesus done, keeping His Father Commandments all Ten of them.
Revelation: 14:
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
When the time comes Jesus will divide His true believers from the fake believers. Matthew: 25: 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats
My friends whoever you are reading this please stop and pray right now asking God to show you His truth. But beware because when God is letting His light shine on you that you don’t reject it or try and look for ways around it.
Remember we are all baptized into the one and only body of God, so stop believing in what others say is the truth and go look it up for yourself.
Ephesians: 4:
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
There is only one Truth and that is the pure word of God found in His book the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, everything else is a lie.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth
Unconditional Love
About 41 years ago I fell in love with a beautiful Island woman; but it was not just her looks that I loved it was also her mannerism. She was very well spoken of and treated her family, her friend & herself with a deep respect for everyone. At that time I was working in the oilfield off shore of Venice Louisiana, I was just 17 teen at the time but was soon to be 18. I would leave for 6 or more months at a time and she was always there waiting for me to return. One day I asked her to marry me and she said not until I ask her Father first. What I said ask your Father first but why I am not marrying him I want to marry you, not until I ask her Father.
Asking someone Father for the right to marry their daughter, no way am I going to do that, or at least I said that to myself. You see asking someone Father for the right to marry their daughter was a way of respect and that was one of the things about her that made her stand out from all the other woman that I dated. Now 41 years later she is still my beautiful Island woman, we have both made a lot of changes because time is no body’s friend. But is it not what is on the outside that matters it is what is on the inside because unconditional Love overlooks the faults in each of our characters and says I love you, I love you, I love you.
But what about God’s unconditional love for man, come take a trip with me in the Bible and let’s see what it says about God love for mankind.
Let us Pray!
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Let’s look at John: 3:16-17
16. 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.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The scriptures have a beautiful way to describe how God feels about His creation. Can you imagine the creator God stooping down from His eternal glory and becoming His creation in order to save them from a bad mistake they made.
Well that is exactly what happened!
Gen. 1:27. God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order. They were made “in the image of God,” and it was the Creator’s design that they should populate the earth. They were to live in close communion with heaven, receiving power from the Source of all power. Upheld by God, they were to live sinless lives.
The holy pair were not only children under the fatherly care of God, but students receiving instruction from the all-wise Creator. They were visited by angels, and were granted communion with their Maker, with no obscuring veil between. . . . The mysteries of the visible universe–“the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge”–afforded them an exhaustless source of instruction and delight. The laws and operations of nature, which have engaged men’s study for six thousand years, were opened to their minds by the infinite Framer and Upholder of all. They held converse with leaf and flower and tree, gathering from each the secrets of its life. With every living creature, from the mighty leviathan that playeth among the waters, to the insect mote that floats in the sunbeam, Adam was familiar. He had given to each its name, and he was acquainted with the nature and habits of all. God’s glory in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, “the balancings of the clouds,” the mysteries of light and sound, of day and night,–all were open to the study of our first parents.
God created man a superior being; he alone is formed in the image of God, and is capable of partaking of the divine nature, of cooperating with his Creator and executing His plans.
. 1 John 3:1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not; because it knew him not
As John thought of the love of Christ, he was led to exclaim, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
People think that it is a privilege to see a royal personage, and thousands go great distances to see one. How much greater privilege it is to be sons and daughters of the Most High. What greater privilege could be conferred on us than to be given entrance into the royal family in Heaven?
In order to become the sons and daughters of God, we must separate from the world. 2 Corinthians 6: 17: Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” the Lord says, “and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.” . . .
There is a heaven before us, a crown of life to win. But to the over comer only is the reward given. He who gains heaven must be clothed with the robe of righteousness. “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” In the character of Christ there was no discord of any kind. And this must be our experience. Our lives must be controlled by the principles that controlled His life.
Through the perfection of the sacrifice given for the guilty race, those who believe in Christ, coming unto Him, may be saved from eternal ruin. . .
Let no one be so deluded by the enemy as to think that it is a condescension for any man, however talented or learned or honored, to accept Christ. Every human being should look to heaven with reverence and gratitude, and exclaim with amazement, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” That when Christ appears we shall be Like Him
1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We are not to settle down, expecting that a change of character will come to us by some miraculous work, when Jesus shall appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Listen my young friends, we are judgment-bound right now, and probation is granted to us here in this life, in order that we may form characters for the future, immortal life.
Let none imagine that selfishness, self-esteem, and self-indulgence are compatible with the Spirit of Christ. Upon every truly converted man or woman there rests a responsibility that we cannot rightly estimate. The maxims and ways of the world are not to be adopted by the sons and daughters of the heavenly King.
In separating from the world, we shall encounter difficulties on every hand. But here is what the servant comfort for us: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
We should show by our words and works that we recognize the great responsibility laid upon us. Our light should shine so clearly that others can see that we glorify the Father in our daily lives; that we are connected with heaven and are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
To have fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ is to be ennobled and elevated, and made a partaker of joys unspeakable and full of glory. Food, clothing, station, and wealth may have their value; but to have a connection with God . . . is of priceless value. . . . And although it “doth not yet appear what we shall be,” “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear,” “we shall be like him.”
1 John 3:3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure
Christ would elevate and refine man’s mind, purifying it from all dross, that man may appreciate the love that is without a parallel.
Through repentance, faith, and good works he may perfect a righteous character, and claim, through the merits of Christ, the privileges of the sons of God. The principles of divine truth, received and cherished in the heart, will carry us to a height of moral excellence that we had not deemed it possible for us to reach. . . . “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Holiness of heart and purity of life were the great subjects of the teachings of Christ. In His sermon on the mount, after specifying what must be done in order to be blessed, and what must not be done, He says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Perfection, holiness,–nothing short of this would give them success in carrying out the principles He had given them. Without this holiness, the human heart is selfish, sinful, and vicious. Holiness will lead its possessor to be fruitful, and abound in all good works. He will never become weary in well-doing; neither look for promotion in this world; but he will look forward to be promoted by the Majesty of heaven when He shall exalt His sanctified and holy ones to His throne. . . . Holiness of heart will produce right actions.
As God is pure in His sphere, so man is to be pure in his. And he will be pure if Christ is formed within, the hope of glory; for he will imitate Christ’s life and reflect His character.
The princely dignity of the Christian character will shine forth as the sun, and the beams of light from the face of Christ will be reflected upon those who have purified themselves even as He is pure.
1 John 4:10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
In redemption God has revealed His love in sacrifice, a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. John: 3: 16: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.
When Adam’s sin plunged the race into hopeless misery, God might have cut Himself loose from fallen beings. He might have treated them as sinners deserved to be treated. He might have commanded the angels of heaven to pour out upon our world the vials of His wrath. He might have removed this dark blot from His universe.
But He did not do this. Instead of banishing them from His presence, He came still nearer to the fallen race. He gave His Son to become bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. John: 1: 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Christ by His human relationship to men drew them close to God. He clothed His divine nature with the garb of humanity, and demonstrated before the heavenly universe, before the un-fallen worlds, how much God loves the children of men.
The gift of God to man is beyond all computation. Nothing was withheld. God would not permit it to be said that He could have done more or revealed to humanity a greater measure of love. In the gift of Christ He gave all heaven.
The Highest, who was with the Father before the world was, submitted to humiliation, that He might uplift humanity. Prophecy withdraws the veil, that we may behold the throne of heaven, that we may see upon that throne, high and lifted up, One who in human form, came to our world to suffer, to be lacerated with stripes, and bruised for our iniquities.
Thus God showed His love for man. With Christ the Father gave all of heaven, that the moral image of God might be restored in man. . . . His grace in all its vastness is provided for all.
John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Divine son ship is not something that we gain of ourselves. Only to those who receive Christ as their Saviour is given the power to become sons and daughters of God. The sinner cannot, by any power of his own, rid himself of sin. For the accomplishment of this result, he must look to a higher Power. John exclaimed, John: 1: 29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ alone has power to cleanse the heart. He who is seeking for forgiveness and acceptance can say only,–
“Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling.” But the promise of sonship is made to all who “believe on his name.” Everyone who comes to Jesus in faith will receive pardon.
The religion of Christ transforms the heart. It makes the worldly-minded man heavenly-minded. Under its influence the selfish man becomes unselfish, because this is the character of Christ. The dishonest, scheming man becomes upright, so that it is second nature to him to do to others as he would have others do to him. The profligate is changed from impurity to purity. He forms correct habits; for the gospel of Christ has become to him a savor of life unto life.
God was to be manifest in Christ, “reconciling the world unto himself.” Man had become so degraded by sin that it was impossible for him, in himself, to come into harmony with Him whose nature is purity and goodness. But Christ, after having redeemed man from the condemnation of the law, could impart divine power, to unite with human effort. Thus by repentance toward God and faith in Christ, the fallen children of Adam might once more become “sons of God.” When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.
Eph. 5:27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish..
The church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit. Will we, as members of His church, allow Him to impress our minds and to work through us to His glory?
Christ loves His church. He will give all needed help to those who call upon Him for strength for the development of Christlike character. But His love is not weakness. He will not serve with their sins or give them prosperity while they continue to follow a wrong course of action. Only by faithful repentance will their sins be forgiven; for God will not cover evil with the robe of His righteousness. He will honor faithful service. He will abundantly bless those who reveal to their fellowmen His justice, mercy, and love. Let those who are engaged in His service walk before Him in true humility, following faithfully in His footsteps, cherishing the holy principles which will live through the eternal ages. Let them in word and action show that they obey the laws which are obeyed in heaven.
The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” the final and full display of the love of God…. The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world…. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.
God’s love for His church is infinite. His care over His heritage is unceasing.
2 Cor. 6:17, 18. I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The Creator of the universe addresses you as an affectionate Father…. Your heavenly Father proposes to make you a member of the royal family, that through His exceeding great and precious promises you may be a partaker of the divine nature…. The more you partake of the character of the pure, sinless angels, and of Christ your Redeemer, the more vividly will you bear the impress of the divine, and the more faint will be the resemblance to the world.
“I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters….” What a promise is here made upon condition of obedience!…. He promises to be a Father unto you. Oh, what a relationship is this! higher and holier than any earthly tie. If you make the sacrifice, if you have to forsake father, mother, sisters, brothers, wife, and children for Christ’s sake, you will not be friendless. God adopts you into His family; you become members of the royal household, sons and daughters of the King who rules in the heaven of heavens.
If you call God your Father, you acknowledge yourselves His children, to be guided by His wisdom, and to be obedient in all things, knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honor, His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honor your relation to your Father, and to every member of His family.
God is our Father, a tender parent, solicitous for His spiritual children. He is pledged to be the protector, counselor, guide, and friend, of all who are obedient to Him.
Rom. 8:17: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
All who enter into a covenant with Jesus Christ become by adoption the children of God. They are cleansed by the regenerating power of the Word, and angels are commissioned to minister unto them. They are baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. They pledge themselves to become active members of His church in the earth. They are to be dead to all the allurements of worldly desires; but in conversation and godliness, they are, through sanctification of the Spirit to exert a living influence for God.
“Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ,”–what an exalted, dignified position! Separate and distinct from the world, secure from the wily snares of Satan! By their baptismal vows, God’s professed followers have pledged themselves to stand in opposition to evil. The enemy of souls will work with all craft to corrupt their minds. He will seek to introduce his methods into their service for the Master. But there is safety for them if they will heed the injunction: “… be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” .
To what greater honor could we aspire than to be called the children of God? What greater rank could we hold, what greater inheritance could we find, than that which comes to those who are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ?
God so loved the world, what a blessing to this sin lost world that its creator would step in and pay the penalty for the law that mankind broke. Then to give the very best that heaven could give, the gift of His Son; the Father gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John: 3: 16:
My friend, God love you, no matter where you are in life, no matter what you done in life there is hope in the Fathers Son Jesus Christ. Pray He will always hear a prayer coming from a repented heart reaching out to Him for forgiveness. Always remember God loves you with unconditional love.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth Ministry
Who’s on first
Mark 10: 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Who’s on first in your life?
There was an old man who one day had a dream!
In his dream the Holy Spirit told him to prepare himself for tomorrow the Lord would come and visit him in his house.
The old man got up very early and cleaned his house and made sure everything was dusted and put into its right place. He re-arranged his furnisher so that his special guess would have the best place to sit in his home. The last thing he did was to make some very special cookies just for his guess.
As the day slowly passed the old man notices that his special guess was late.
Soon the door bell rang and the old man jumped up and said at last. But wend he opened the door there was a little boy there. The young boy said hi Mr. I am collecting money to help feed the poor can you please help.
The old man looked at the boy and said sure, please come in and wait right here. The old man went to his room and got some money and gave it to the boy and said I hope this will help son. The boy could not help but notice the cookies on the plate, he said sir would you mind if I have a cookie. The old man said I made them for a very special guess who will be coming to see me today, I am sure he would not notices if a few cookie was missing. The young boy thanked the old man and went his way.
An hour went by and the door bell rang again. The old man rush to open it and see his special guess, but there was only a poor man in old rags standing there who said sir could you spare some food. The old man invited him in and gave him a nice meal and a cookie for dessert; he even found some clothes to keep him warm. And so this baggier went away full and with moor then he asked for.
The old man notices that the day was far spent and his special guess had not come. Just then there was a gentle knock at the door. That must be him the old man said as he rusted to open the door, only to find a little old lady standing their. Sir she said, could you please spare an old lady a place to sit and rest awhile.
So he invited her in, and she found a nice place to rest her tired old legs. The old man got her a cool glass of water as she ate the last of the cookies he made for his special guess. She thanks him for being so kind as she got up to leave.
The old man looked outside as the Sun was now setting the days was over and his special guess had not come. Did he misunderstand something or maybe he done something wrong, he just did not know why.
The old man cleaned up his kitchen and slowly made his way up to his bedroom. Disappointed that his special guess had not come, as he knelt by his bedside he prayed
O Lord, why “why did you not come today.
I waited for you all day long, I prepared my home as you asked me to do, but you did not come, did I do something wrong, O Lord I just don’t understand!
Then he heard a still small voice saying.
My dear friend!
Three times today my shadow passed over your threshold, and three times to day I did visited with you.
I was the young boy collecting money for the poor.
I was the bagger you let in your door.
I was the old lady who sat a rest in your chair.
Each time I knock you let me in and each time you treated me like your special friend. Do we do the same or do we sometime forget to treat others like we would treat Jesus.
Matt 25: 35-40
35: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Let us pray!
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Who is Jesus: Why would God the Father send His Son to a place like this, a place full of hate, war, and bloodshed?
The Bible tells us that God so loved this world (John: 3:16). The story of redemption is a mystery not only to mankind but unto the Heavenly host and the Billions and Billions of other worlds that God and His Son created. {John: 3:17} For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus the Father only Son came to show us what the Father is like and to show us that He God loves and wants us to all be a part of His Kingdom forever. But in order for us to have eternal life we must believe by faith in what God the Son did in our behalf, and we must do the things God the Son told us to do. John:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. This will show the world who you really love and who is first in your life.
We are not only to love God but also the people all around us, why because God kingdom is a kingdom of love for one another.
Luke 10:
25: And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
No matter where you go in life you will always have a challenge before you. There are always people who believe in God but want to do it there way. This Lawyer believed but not in Jesus, he believed in God but not in Gods Son.
Many believe today in the Son but not in what the Son said to do. I am not a bad person so Jesus will just have to take me as I am. I don’t feel I am doing anything wrong, I go to Church sometimes, and I do pay tithes now and then, I even give a donations to the poor once a year. So you see I am not a bad person at all, I am really good on the inside.
What does Gods word say about this?
Prov:16:25:
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
OK So here we are back to our Lawyer, what did Jesus say unto him
Luke:10
26: He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27: And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28: And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Our Lawyer did well for himself did he not, but because he was a Lawyer he did not stop there. He though he could our smart Jesus because he felt pride in his heart.
29: But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Friends do this and live, never question the Lord. Take him at his word, for in his word is life and that life is the life of all mankind.
30: And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
The best way to get peoples attention is with a story: You will find all through the Bible stories that Jesus told, always to illustrate a lesson or to bring home a meaning.
31: And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Now Jesus was not using the characters in this story just to be mean, Jesus knew there hearts and told the fact as there were. God does not like pride, “Why” because pride started in the heart of Lucifer and was passed on to all mankind at the fall in the Garden.
32: And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Who was the Levites; they were a people specially chosen by God to bare the Ark of God when Israel was on there way to the promise land. God did set them aside, surely if a Levite saw a man fallen in need of help he would stop and give a hand, but he did not.
33: But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Who was the Samaritan, they were the outcast, because they were not full blooded Israelite. So these people were looked upon as the low class. Not having part of the promise that God gave to Abraham but yet Jesus said that this “Samaritan had compassion”
34: And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
The Samaritan did not only take care of this mans physical needs just then. He went even further in making sure the needs would be meet after he left. He made arrangements that if the bill would be more then the money left behind, he would pay the balance when he returned.
35: And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Now let’s look at what reaction the Lawyer had to the question Jesus had for him.
36: Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
The Lawyer had no choice but to answer the question correctly for now he seen clearly his responsibility, not just to his own family, or people living in the same subdivision that he live in, but his responsibility to all mankind.
37: And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Listen to what Jesus said in the book of
1John 4:20:
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Have you talked to Jesus lately, did he talk back to you, maybe you were too busy to hear
As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”. Mark 10:17
This young man had fabulous wealth. He was the Bill Gates of 2000 years ago. A young, physically fit, aristocrat. Imagine this wealthy man Kneeling at the feet of Jesus, the penniless prophet from Galilee.
This physically fit young aristocrat had just happened to be watching earlier when Jesus tenderly took the children on his lap and lovingly received and blessed them. He watched as Jesus took these little children and blessed them and he thought, if Jesus can do that for them, He can do that for me. He could bless me. In the meantime, Jesus had moved on. Finally he decided: I’m going to chase after Him. I’ll see if HE will bless me. This mans heart was deeply touched. He felt a love for Jesus and desired to be one of His disciples. He was sincere and earnest. If Jesus could bless the little children He could bless him.
He was a ruler-( Luke 18:18) He was an official of the honored council of the Jews – he was in a high position for his young age. This important ruler kneels before the lowly Jesus, who never held any office or position.
It is a rare event when a young man has the best things this earthly life can offer early in his life. He had youth with its accompanying health. He had position or authority. He was a ruler. He had great wealth.
However he lacked eternal life which is a greater asset than all others combined. If you don’t have eternal life, it doesn’t matter what car you drive, it doesn’t matter where you live. Eternal life is the greatest thing that you can possess.
Jesus looked deeply into the face of this young man, and He recognized that this man was sincere. He read his character. Jesus saw that the man had qualifications which, if united with Jesus, Himself, would result in tremendous success for God.
He could be a fantastic disciple. Look at the qualifications he brought. He also saw that his supreme love of self must be totally eradicated. There was the problem. It must be surrendered.
So Jesus gave the man a test. Notice
(Mark 10:18 NIV) “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.
Then Jesus proceeded to list six of the commandments that prohibit wrong actions against our neighbors. Obviously Jesus believed in all Ten Commandments. He only listed six of them. These six were chosen for a divine test.
He proceeds to list all those that have to do with wrong actions against people. These were the six that the rich young ruler was lacking in. Jesus knew that, and so He listed all of them: 19:”You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'”
20: “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jewish boys, at the age of thirteen and onward were considered men, and so they were responsible, they were taught to love the law of God.. He said, “I’ve kept them all. I haven’t lacked on one.
The rich young man was saying: In all my short life not once have I ever hurt anyone. But Jesus was talking more than avoiding evil. Jesus is asking if the man is willing to do some positive good to others.
There are millions of good people in this world. They have never hurt anyone. Have you seen this type of people? They sometimes sit in the pews of every Church; They avoid breaking the law and live a decent life. But they are lost. That’s the rich young ruler’s case.
Respectability involves a prohibition against doing wrong but not includes doing something positive or right. Christianity not only avoids evil but it performs a positive good. The rich young ruler had never stolen anything, but he had never been sacrificially generous. He had never killed anyone, but he hadn’t gone out saving any lives, either. He had avoided doing the wrong, but he really wasn’t involved in doing anything good, except accumulation wealth.
Now, he claimed to have kept all six of these commandments. Did he? No, he did not. It wasn’t true that he kept all six. Actually you can’t keep the second six commandments unless you have kept the first 4 commandments.
You have to keep them all. The world and its riches had become his idol. He loved wealth. God was not first in his heart. Therefore you can’t put people ahead unless God is first. You cannot unselfishly love people unless you have experienced the depth of the love of God.
Jesus listed the commandments that deal with our relationship to our fellow human beings. This was the rich mans downfall. He loved money more God, more than all else.
I think it’s true sometimes that America is headed toward a cashless society. You’ve heard this. We’re going to do away with all cash, just going to have debit cards, and have a national identity. If it is true that America is heading towards a cashless system, some of us are ahead of the times.
Some of us are already in a cashless society: we don’t have any money. But not this rich man; he had all kinds of money. Was money his problem? No, money was not his problem. I’ll tell you what his problem was in a minute.
Look at verse 21:- Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
” Give all your money to the poor, the ones that are standing beside the road. Do you ever see them holding up signs that says, “I am homeless. I’m starved to death. I will work for food and money. What is he basically saying to you? “I want your money.” Do you give to those people? Well, this man was told, “you sell everything you’ve got. Go out and find the poor people and you give all of your money to these poor people. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
No-one can serve God and Money at the same time. It doesn’t work. You have to choose, and so Jesus imposed this test to detect covetousness. The man was a covetous person.
Many of the examinations of life come to test our allegiance to God. Like Zacchaeus, the central issue here is not money. The central test was not selling everything.
Salvation does not come through having an empty bank account. Every time your check bounces, you say, “That proves that I’m saved.” Not at all!! If that’s the case a lot of people are saved because they’re out there bouncing checks.
The issue here is not getting rid of all your assets and selling everything and giving it away. The true Christian places his trust completely in Jesus. That’s the issue. He places his trust completely in Jesus and not in his wealth or his money.
God the Father and God the Son showed what true love was at the Cross in Calvary. Not just to this world but to all of Creation. He showed us how to live in peace by putting God First and loving our neighbor
God is love and God expect from all of His created being love in return, but the love God wants is a love that is unconditional a total surrender of oneself into the hands of his creator God. In the book of (Genesis: 3:) is the story of how man fell away from his creator God.
God gave to man the same as He gives to all being whether spirit or flesh; the freedom of choice. For Adam and Eve it was a test of obedience, you see if you truly love someone you will do what they ask with out questions. The serpent made Eve believe that God was holding something back from them and so her love for God became distrust.
When she went to her husband Adam right away he knew it was the evil one that they have been told about. But here Adam sin was not only is eating of the forbidding tree, he sinned because he did not total trust God. He knew that God said “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen 2:17)
Adam could not see how God could fix this problem; he could not see being separated from his wife Eve. Adam loved God but here he loved his Wife Eve more then he loved his creator God, Adam broke the first commandment.
We must learn to love God first above everything else in life. We must love God more then our Earthly Mothers and Fathers, more then our Brothers and Sisters, more then our Wife and Children, we must learn to love God more then our own life. God must be number one in your life; it is a total surrender into the hands of God by faith.
Look at {Exodus: 20: 3} Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Do you understand what God is saying, we are to put nothing before our love to God. God must be first in our life, look at (Rev: 12: 11) and they loved not their lives unto the death.
When you learn to love God first in your life you will begin to understand how true Christian in the passed would rather die then to dishonor the God they love.
Understand God must be first in your life, God must be first, God must be first, God must be first. Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty is what the angle is crying (Rv:4:8:)
Everything in this world must come second. Do you know how and why Jesus could do miracle, yes He was also God but He did not use His Godly power, He used His love to and through His Father to do all miracles.
John:14:12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Look at the prayer Jesus said in John 11:
41: And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42: And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43: And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44: And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Jesus had already prayed to His father to preformed this miracle, why look at the scriptures. So that the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jesus wanted us to know with out a drought that the Father God has sent His Son to show us the love that the Father, Son, and Spirit God has for all His creation.
Can you understand what is going on, God the almighty Father Loves us with a Godly love that is passed mankind’s understanding. God loves us so much that His did not even spare His Son His only Son but gave Him as a ransom for the payment of the law that man broke in the garden(Ezek:18:4:) the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Can you understand that the death that Jesus went through on the Cross was Godly love was being ripped away from Gods Son Jesus who new no sin so that He could pay the price of sin for all who by faith would believe in Him.
Our understanding is so limited of the cost that the Father& Son paid in order to save man
All God wanted from man was his love in return for all the good things and blessing that God gave to us, but what did man do. We spit on His blessing as if they were nothing, to our creator we became angry because we wanted everything our way.
Mt:7:12: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Jesus never gave up; by His life and His death He made a way for Mankind to be reconnected to our heavenly Father, why because of Love. We can’t change ourselves we are born of sin, but by giving our life to God the Father He will do the changing in our life through His Holy Spirit that He gives to all who believe in Him.
John: 14:
13: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Everything is possible to someone who believe and has made God first in there lives.
Mt:21:22: And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mk:9:23: Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Put your life and faith in the hands of a God that Loves you and died to show you what true love is about.
May God be with you and continue to send blessing upon you.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth Ministries
John 3:16
One day when I was about 16 I was sitting in a dance hall drinking some bear. You see in Honduras when I was a young boy if you are old enough to buy it you are old enough to drink it. Well while I was sitting there drinking and day dreaming there at the door stood the most beautiful Woman my eyes have every seen. In my mind I was thinking to my self, man I wish she would walk over here and sit down with me. It was about then I seen her looking at me and boy my heart started to beat a little faster. Then she headed my way and all I could feel was the blood in my body moving faster. When I looked again she was standing right in fount of me asking me something but by then all my blood was in my feet and I could not say a word. It all happened just like I dreams it would but I became dumbfounded.
You see my cousin knew her and gave me a letter to give to her while I was there getting a transmission repaired. So she wanted to thanks me for bringing it and told me something to tell my cousin when I went back to the Island I lived on.
Well that was about it, but man I never could forget that first time I seen her. Then a year or so later, she came to visit my cousin and when I saw her aging I was not drinking this time. I told myself I need to get to know her so I hung around with my cousin in hope to get a date with her that night. Well that night we all went to the dance hall and I got to hold her close to me, then I walked my cousin and her home but before letting her go we kissed and man it was like no other kiss I every had.
Well about a year later we got married; wow is all I could say. In my prayers at night I always prayer asking God to send into my live a good woman and boy He did just that. We have been married now for just over 40 years, we have our up’s and down’s but we love each other with a love that can withstand the problems of life.
God loves us with a love passed understanding, let’s search the Bible and see what it has to say about the love God has for His children
Let us Pray!
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Let’s go to the Bible to find the answer about Love and exactly what is true love.
I have seen a lot of people who get married and just a few years later get devoiced. Sometime they have children who must suffer because of the parents not being able to live with each other. What went wrong, a few years before they were in love and now they hate each other; were they truly in love? The problem today is that people don’t understand the true meaning of what love is. To most people it is a love at first sight and then a few months later it is fight.
When you truly love someone you look over there faults and none of us are born with out faults. This is what makes the different in a marriage lasting 5 years and one lasting 75 years; being able to love and forgive each other as many times as it in needed.
So what about God, what about His love for mankind, the bible tells us in Genesis 1: 1 that In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Then in Genesis 1: 26 it tells us, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Wow did you read that, we mankind male and female were created in the very image of our God and creator.
Now take a look at John: 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
What does that mean, for God so loved the world He gave His only Son, and by believing in Him you will never perish but will have everlasting life.
When God first created man He created him perfect and without a defect, without sin. So what happened what changed, did God stop loving mankind. Let’s go back to the Bible and see if we can find a reason.
Look at Genesis: 2
7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8: And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9: And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
God in His love for mankind did everything He could do so that His newly creation could enjoy the blessing of his maker. But there was one condition that God told them, one little test that God made to see if Mankind would love his creator back for all the blessing and care that He God was giving to them daily.
16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
This one tree was a test of Mankind obedience, will mankind love and give his creator God his full allegiance or no.
Before the entrance of evil, there was only peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,–one in nature, in character, and in purpose,–the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God.
By Christ, the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By him were all things created, that are in Heaven, . . . whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers;” [COL. 1:16.] and to Christ, equally with the Father, all Heaven gave allegiance.
The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness.
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God desires only one thing from all his creatures and that is the service of love,– homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of his character. He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance, and to all he grants freedom of will, that they may render him voluntary service.
But there was one that chose to pervert this freedom. Sin originated with him, who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God, and who stood highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of Heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled.
“Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.” “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” [EZE. 28:12-15, 17.]
Lucifer might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the angelic host, exercising his noble powers to bless others and to glorify his Maker. But, says the prophet,
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” [EZE. 28:12-15, 17.]
Little by little, Lucifer came to indulge a desire for self-exaltation. “Thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God.” “Thou hast said: . . . I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation.” “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” [EZE. 28:6; ISA. 14:13, 14.]
So instead of seeking to make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of his creatures, it was Lucifer’s endeavor to win their service and homage to himself. And, coveting the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon his Son, this prince of angels aspired the power which it was the prerogative of Christ alone to exercise.
Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined. Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God,
Lucifer now wanted nothing more then to have this new world as his own, to cause mankind to sin and to drought the love that God so freely gave to all.
Genesis: 3:
1: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Right here is where all the problems started, it is the same problems we have in our world today, who do you believe; God or what someone else tells you. God said that if you eat of this tree you will Die, life will not go on. Then Satan steps in and said well you shall not surely die.
Do you know how many of the worlds great Religious Leaders today don’t fully understand what happens to a person when they die? Many will tell you when you die you keep living in Heaven or Hell, but that is not what Gods word says. The Bible tells us that when you die you do just that you die you stop living.
Jesus Himself called death a sleep, as I always say if God says it; stop believing in anything else and believe God.
Look at John:11:
11: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12: Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13: Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Jesus the Son of God who is God called death a sleep so why would some Religious Leaders want to tell you anything different, maybe because they are still hearing Satan speak, well they are not surely dead.
Now listen as Satan tells some truth, and this is a problem. Satan does not always lie, what he does is to mix a little lie into truth.
Genesis: 3: 5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Oh yes our eyes were open alright and we knew about Good & Evil, also about sickness and pain, about suffering and dying, in that way yes we were like God. But that is what God did not want for us to ever know, He wanted us to know only good, only Love, only happiness, only peace and security with a God of Love.
Time and time again all through the Bible we see a God of love doing all He can to bring His wayward children back to Him. Just like a good Mother or Father telling there children not to touch a hot stove because it will burn you. God is telling us that He and He alone is the God who created us and wants our love back to Him so that He can give us what is good.
6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Just like today’s world people are always looking for more, looking for something better, looking to get ahead of the next door neighbors. We are never satisfies with what we have we always want more of something to make us wiser, richer and better then others.
7: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
So they believed what a devil told them rather then what there creator God told them. God said if you eat it you will die and that is what happens we die we don’t go on living in heaven or hell, God said we Die, believe what God has said not man.
Now can you understand what John: 3:16 is all about, it is about a love story that is beyond mans imagination. About a God of love who did not want to see His beautiful creating die. But because there was a law that said in Ezek:18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. God the Son stepped in and took mans place, He God came to live as a man so He God as a man can die for every one of us.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
It is only by what God the Son did in behalf of mankind that we can live again in the last days when God the Son comes back to call all who died believing in Him to life once again
John:6:40: And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
When did Jesus say, He would raise up all who believed in Him, I will raise him up at the last day. Now just like Eve, you can believe what God said or you can believe what some pastor or priest told you. Me I am going to believe what God is saying
Now let’s look at the book of Revelation 20:5: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
According to the Bible when you die you are dead, you are not living someplace else. The Bible is saying the dead who are not a part of the first resurrection will not live again until after a 1000 years. Where will they be, still in the grave still sleeping, but when Jesus comes back then and only then will he call the Unrighteous back to life.
Why is this, read again in the Bible, not what I think but what the Bible is saying.
Rv:20: 11: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Here is describe a judgment sean in Heaven look at the next verse
12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
So here all the unrighteous are called back to life, this is called the second resurrection. Why; for judgment of what was done in the flesh; the righteous are already living they were all part of the first resurrection. Look at verse 13
13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
So no matter where you died or how you died when God calls, you will come back to life for the judgment. After the judgment comes the punishment, it is there that all evil will be destroyed forever.
14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Here is where Hell, Death, Evil, the Unrighteous, and Satin will all be casted into; the Bible calls it the second Death. This is a very hard time for God because He did everything He could do to save everyone of us, He gave us a choice believe what He tells us or what someone under the power of Satin tells you. The Truth is all in the Bible so no one has an excuse that they did not know.
Now all who believed in Jesus and what He did to save them, and all who did as Jesus told them to do. John:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. Will live forever in Heaven, where there is no more pain, sickness, no more suffering, and no more death.
Look at Revelation:21: God is telling us a little bit of why we can expect when we get to Heaven.
7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Friend God the Father and God the Son and the Holy Spirit loves each and every one of us. There is nothing more that could have been done to save mankind, God the Son even gave His life and endures the shame and brutal death of being nailed on a cross by the people he came to save.
Luke:23: 34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Even while hanging on the cross, Gods love did not stop, even there came the words of forgiveness to all of us
John: 3: 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life
Friend remember there is nothing that can separate you from the Love of God except for you to choose to separate yourself from Him, and even then He will be waiting for you, to forgive you and take you back as if you never left.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth
Gone Fishing!
If you are going to go Fishing what equipment will you need to bring.
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- Fishing Line if outside of the US or Fishing Pole if you live in the USA.
- Hook
- Some type of Bate or Lure something to attract what you are trying to catch.
- It would help to have Water or a Place to Fish of course
Ever wonder what does satin uses to fish with?
I found that he has many different types of Lures for catching people fish.
What does God use to fish with? The only thing that God has that He can fish with is Truth
Try the water a little and see if you will catch anything
Jesus was about to start his Ministry one day and went looking for Men who would make good students.
Now I have to question this, because if you are going to look for people to start your business or ministry; would you knot go and look for the best people to have.
You know the smart one’s with a lot of schooling “I think they call them well educated” They know how to get things done, even if it is not the correct way so log as they meet their quota at the end of the day.
Jesus did not do it this way; why?
Well let take a look at where he found most of his disciples.
Matthew 4: 17-22
17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Now we know that Jesus had just started because the scriptures say he began to preach.
The Jewish leaders thought themselves too wise to need instruction, too righteous to need salvation, too highly honored to need the honor that comes from Christ.
The Savior turned away from them to entrust to others the privileges they had abused and the work they had slighted.
God’s glory must be revealed, His word established.
Christ’s kingdom must be set up in the world.
The salvation of God must be made known in the cities and in the wilderness. The disciples of Jesus were called to do the work that the Jewish leaders & well educated men who clamed they had the truth had failed to do.
18: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
These people were fishermen because they were unlearned men all they could do is fish to make a living.
Plus they were known to be violent men who sometimes could not control there temper. More then likely they drank and cursed and did a lot of fighting. But when Jesus saw them he knew they were just what he needed for the carrying on of His work, Christ did not choose the learning or eloquence of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the power of Rome.
Passing by the self-righteous Jewish teachers, the Master worker chose humble, unlearned men to proclaim the truths that were to move the world.
These men He purposed to train and educate as the leaders of His church. They in turn were to educate others and send them out with the gospel message. That they might have success in their work they were to be given the power of the Holy Spirit.
Not by human might or human wisdom was the gospel to be proclaimed, but by the power of God.
19: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20: And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Mark 1: 19-22
19: And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
20: And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for His service.
Day by day they walked and talked with Him, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy-laden, and seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf of the sick and the afflicted.
Sometimes He taught them, sitting among them on the mountainside; sometimes beside the sea or walking by the way, He revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
Wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation. He did not command the disciples to do this or that, but said, “Follow Me.
21: And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes
The mission that Jesus had here on this Earth was to show us how much our Father in heaven loves each and every one of us.
Its was not the Father plan that Man should die; that came into play only after Man prove to be disobedience to God command
Jesus came that all Men may be saved, “All Men”! And that means there is no one on this Earth whom can’t be saved as long as they want to be saved.
Jesus will never force his way on you, you must freely choose to be lost..
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Story:
When Patrick was about three or four years old he always wanted to go fishing. He would be after me all the time lets go fishing dad, come on lets go fishing, sometimes that is all I could hear from him.
So we would go to a pond and I would get out his little fishing pole and get him all set-up and he would just stay there for hours fishing. I would go and find a place to rest and read a book or do something that I been needing to do, and at the same time keep and eye on him.
This worked very well for a few years till he discovered I would never put any bate on the end of his line. When he learned what bate was for, my happy days of fishing with him were over.
I remember one time wend he was just about 3 years old and by accident a little fish got court on his hook and he had a ball pulling it in, it was no bigger then a quarter. So after he pulled Moby-dick in I said hey puppy look you got your first fish, he was so happy.
So I through the little fish back into the water and played like I put bate back on his line and through it back in to the water and told him here you go puppy. But he just looked at me and said I want to go home.
Well I was not finish reading my book so I said no man, come on lets finish fishing, here is your pole. All he would do was to look at me with a sad look on his face and about to cry. So I said what’s the problem puppy why don’t you want to fish anymore, I am not ready to leave yet!
He looked at me and said I court a fish and wanted to show my Mama and you through my fish back in the water, I want to go home!
What could I do?
**** I learned a very good lesson that day that I will never forget. No matter what size the fish, it has a value to someone.
**** All of God’s people have a Value even the little ones, He “Jesus” wants to bring them home to show his Father.
Why because greater love has no Man then this that he lay down his life for his friend. Brothers and Sisters that is what Jesus did. He was the greatest fishers of men and he wanted all of us to live forever with him in his paradise home.
*** The Bible said that they forsook all and followed Jesus
It was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step was taken in the organization of the church that after Christ’s departure was to carry on His work on the earth.
Of this ordination the record says, “He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach.” Mark 3:13, 14.
Look upon the touching scene. Behold the Majesty of heaven surrounded by the Twelve whom He has chosen. He is about to set them apart for their work. By these feeble agencies, through His word and Spirit, He designs to place salvation within the reach of all.
With gladness and rejoicing, God and the angels beheld this scene. The Father knew that from these men the light of heaven would shine forth; that the words spoken by them as they witnessed for His Son, would echo from generation to generation till the close of time.
The disciples were to go forth as Christ’s witnesses, to declare to the world what they had seen and heard of Him. Their office was the most important to which human beings had ever been called, second only to that of Christ Himself.
They were to be workers together with God for the saving of men. As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stood as representatives of Israel, so the twelve apostles stand as representatives of the gospel church.
There would be many of others who were to follow in the foot step of these first fishers of men. Men who loved the Lord Jesus with all their might so that they would let nothing stand in there way of tell other about Jesus.
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Mission Story: Captain Mc Lean: Captain Mc Lean and his group of missionary were fishers of Men.
From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to the world.
To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of life. Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was preserved.
Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon. And these deliverances are as object lessons; they illustrate the spiritual blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph and Daniel worshiped.
Everyone in whose heart Christ abides, everyone who will show forth His love to the world, is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity
God chose Israel to reveal His character to men. He desired them to be as wells of salvation in the world. To them were committed the oracles of heaven, the revelation of God’s will.
In the early days of Israel the nations of the world, through corrupt practices, had lost the knowledge of God. They had once known Him; but because “they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, . . . their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21.
Yet in His mercy God did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them an opportunity of again becoming acquainted with Him through His chosen people.
Through the teachings of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before all nations, and all who would look to Him should live.
Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption.
But the people of Israel lost sight of their high privileges as God’s representatives.
They forgot God and failed to fulfill their holy mission. The blessings they received brought no blessing to the world. All their advantages they appropriated for their own glorification.
They shut themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation. The restrictions that God had placed upon their association with idolaters as a means of preventing them from conforming to the practices of the heathen, they used to build up a wall of separation between themselves and all other nations.
Until at last they forgot what they were called to do! They forgot that they were to be the Light to this world, the fishers of men. That hold nation was to be a nation of men and woman who would show other and tell others of a God of love.
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There was another time when Patrick and I were Diving in Honduras and there was a big Barracuda following us. So when we came up I told Patrick to get in the boat and hook the little jimmy hind fish we had to the big hook and line. Then through it as far as he could so that the Barracuda would go after it, all I could think is man what a good meal he is going to make.
So Patrick did as I told him and the fish went after the bate and took it, so I told Patrick give him a lot of slack so he has time to swallow the bate and then yank on the line to set the hook.
So he got all excited just knowing that there was a really big fish on the other end of the line. But he never fished like an Islander before so the hand line got tango and all he could do was to let it come tight. Now he was in a real fight, he was pulling in and then the fish would pull out he would pull in some more then the fish again, till at last the fish was right up against the side of the boat. I was still in the water looking at the hold thing trying to keep out of the way. Patrick then tried to pull the big Fish in the boat, but the Fish jump out of the water and spit the hook out at him and got away.
If he had just a little more time the fish would have swallowed the bate good, and would have never got off the hook. He had a really good time that day anyway.
**** People are just like that, and thanks to Jesus if we don’t swallow satin lie all the way we can with the help of the Holy Spirit we can get off of satin hook and spit it back at him, but only in the power and strength of the name of Jesus.
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satin is also a fisher of man looking for that big catch of the day. He does not care how he catches his fish, he doesn’t mind if he steeled them or hooks them or catches them in a net.
He just wants to do one thing, and that is to keep you away from Jesus and tuck you away in his cooler.
Have you ever watch what happens after the fishermen catch their fish, they put them into what they call a live well.
The only kinds of fish I have ever seen in a live well are dead fish. So why call it a live well.
Brothers satin want us in his live well where he knows we will all die.
Jesus wants us in heaven where we would live for ever. He will take all who has accepted his grace and reel you in. Very tenderly he will pull you out of the polluted waters of this sinful place. He will wash away all the traces of sin that has fill you life using his own cleaning blood and then place you into that Heavenly stream to live forever more.
John 21:
3: Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4: But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5: Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6: And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
As Christians when we obey our Lord by doing the work he gave us to do, by going where he told us to go and by telling others the words he told of to tell, we can’t help but to fill the net of God love for mankind to overfull.
There will be many of people in heaven, because of what we said even tho we thought they were not listening. Many because of how we lived our life’s even tho we though they were not looking. They will be there because someone cared enough to tell them about Jesus.
God Bless
Elder Tim McNab
Time is Running Out!
About 12 years ago I was having a lot of problems with nose bleeding. So like anyone I went to see my doctor about it who sent me to see an ENT. What he said was not what I was wanting to hear, that nasty word that we all fear, sorry but you have Cancer. Cancer who me I am only 46 years old in great health, I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t due drugs, doc there must be a mistake. No there is no mistake he said, now comes the hard part how do I tell my family and what will my future be like. Time for me was running out right when I was in the prime of my life. Read More…
If God is so good why ?
My son came home yesterday and told me about his friend whose wife was pregnant and only two days passed the baby’s due day when the baby stop moving and died, Why, why, why did something so terrible like this happen to this young couple, they had prepared everything expecting this child to come into the world and fill there home with joy and love, But now there is only emptiness, pain, sorrow and hurting, God where were you, how could you just stand there and let something like this happen, Why God why.
My friend Larry was a good Christian man who I met on Cancer Survivor Network. We did a lot of talking by e-mail then one day he said I got some bad news, my cancer is back again. We talked about it and doing treatment again, but when he started the treatment is did not work. Larry was a faithful Christian he lived helping other and was the kind of person who you would love to be around. He died, Why God why did you let Larry die he was a believer and a good man so why did you let his cancer come back and kill him.
I had another friend who lived in Freeport Texas, a good man who did not hurt anyone he had a beautiful wife who loved him very much but one day he got a little sick and they found out his Lymphoma was back again. He lived in pain and finally passed away after a long hard fight.
My brother Jesse also had a cancer called Lymphoma the doctors tried all they could do but his heart just could not take all the damage for the Chemo, it killed him.
My Mother at the age of 49 got colon cancer, she did all she could do to fight it but as time went on she died.
A few weeks ago there were some very bad tornados up north, some people died others lost there homes, cars, and all there possession.
This week I see in the news about wile fires taking and burning to the ground people homes and everything they had.
And all we can say is what is going on, where is God, why is He not stopping stuff like this from hurting people.
I had a very bad time growing up because dyslexia, it was not until I grow-up and got married that my wife helped me and it disappeared. Now it is back again but I just say it not the grammar or spelling that is important it is the massage.. Then at the age of 46 I was told I had NPC this is a cancer in the sinus. Who me, cancer, no way it can’t be true, I just don’t understand it, how could God do something like this to me. After all my Chemo and Radiation treatment to the head it came back worse then ever.
So If God is so good why is there so much pain, sickens, and Death. Why God why what did I do that was so bad that I got cancer right in the prime of my life, could you not stop it.
I am sure that there are times in our life we all question God as to why He gave me or my love one this problem, this pain, this sickness, this suffering and sometime separation by Death.
Let us Pray!
In order to answer the question if God is so good why is there so much Pain, Sickens, Death and Destruction. We will need to know who God is and to do that we have to use the only book that tells us about Him. I ask you do not take my word for what I am going to tell you about God, but to get your Bible out open it and follow along with me to see if what I am telling you is the truth. You see what I say does not mean anything it is what the Bible said that means everything. I don’t want you to believe what I say I want you to believe what the Bible is telling you.
Let’s go to the Book of Genesis 1 and start on verse 1.
1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4: And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5: And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
The Bible tells us that God is the creator of all things; it is He who made the heavens above and the Earth beneath, lets go on to verse 26.
26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
So God then created Mankind, He creator man in His own image and likeness and gave to him dominion over every thing He created and He looked at it all and in verse 31: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Picture taken by Benjamin Bruce
God saw that is was not just good but very good, ok so what happened why did it all change. Let’s look a little more
Let move to chapter 2 and verse 9: And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
God did not make us robots, God made us to have freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of will. Freedom to serve Him or not to serve Him, He wanted a creation of people who could show love back to Him for what He has done for them, and to do that He made a test and simple little test of freedom to choose God or not to choose God.
Look at Genesis Chapter 3 verse 1
1: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
So now satan come in to the picture, the only place that he was allowed to work was with in the space of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He did not have dominion over the Earth he was limited to only one little area and that is where Sin interned into all of mankind.
Look at what happened
6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The sad part here, Eve was deceived by satan to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil but Adam when he realize what Eve did could not see himself without her and he offer up dominion of this world to satan by taking and eating of tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Did they get knowledge of good and evil, you bet they did and it’s been down hill from then on.
7: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
This is where it all started, this is where satan told the biggest lie there is. God said if you eat of this tree you will die, satan said you will not surely die.
Our Creator God wants us to obey His law, why because He knows it will keep us happy and living in peace even while living in a World of sin.
Let’s go on and see what happened when God found them after they ate of the Tree He told them not to eat of. Again look at chapter 3: verse 9
9: And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10: And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11: And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12: And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Look at the first thing that sin did, Adam loved Eve so much he did not want her to die so he ate of the fruit, what love we would say right, now he is blaming her for everything, what happened to his love for her.
13: And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Now we see Eve blaming the serpent for what happened; is that not just like sin, everyone blaming someone else for what they did.
14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
So the Lord put a curse on the serpent from this day on he would scroll on his belly, but what about the Man and Woman, let’s see what God told them.
15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
What a promises God gave to mankind, this tells me that God knew of the possibility that man might sin that man might of his freedom of choice eat of the tree. God had a plan, it was not His will that sin should enter into this world but if it did He had a plan in place to rescue man. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Just what is God saying here enmity between who and what seed
16: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Question: What was it that God wanted from the being that He created in His image and likeness? Only one thing and that was for Man to believe what his maker told him was best for him by obeying his master Law. Was it too much to ask of Adam & Eve to stay always from the one tree
Now can you understand why we suffer, why there is so much sickness, it is not God. God gets all the blame, it was Man that did not choose God, man Chose Satan instead of God. When Adam choose to obey Satan by eating of the tree he gave up ownership of this world, look at what the Bible says
Rom:6:16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Adam not Eve gave up ownership of this world when they chose to obey and yield themselves a servant to Satan.
What they told God was this: OK God I am going to do it my way from here on out so please back off and get out of my way I don’t need your help.!
So it’s not Gods fault that sickness, death and bad things, came into this world. God did everything possible to show mankind that He loved him, God put mankind is a paradise home with only one little restriction.
Now I ask you; is God wrong for what happened to mankind and for sin coming into this world. Is God wrong because you or I or a love one of ours is dying of some terrible sickness? Or that we are living in pain and suffering each day. God loves us each and every one of us, we were made in His image and in His likeness.
Christ and Family
Romans 8:
35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36: As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Oh my brother I hope you are starting to see bad thing happen to good people everyday, but it is not God who causes it to happen. It was because we choose to believe a lying devil over what God told us.
From the beginning all God wanted was the same that we as parents want from our children. For them to be obedience to us and do what we tell them to do, not because we are tyrants over them but because we love them and we know what is best for them.
Remember what we read back in Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Look at John:3:16: 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.
God so loved the world, that he gave his only beloved Son, that any one believing in him should not perish. God again does all He can do to bring back as many as possible of His falling children. Even if He Himself must come and die in there place to save them
God the Father did not spare His only Son Jesus but sent Him to this world to show mankind that He God still loves us and wants to be a part of our life if we will only turn from our sinful condition and be obedience to His Law
Look at what Jesus told the religious leaders when He was here on earth Matthew 5:
17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The Last time I looked out side heaven and earth did not pass away yet, so God’s Law must still be in effects. That is what Jesus said not me, so if the earth is still here Gods Laws are here for all who love Him and obey His teaching.
But the problem we have today is that people don’t want to do what God told them to do, that was Adam & Eve problem too remember. They too wanted to do it there way and God will just have to except it that way. But here is the problem God does not except it and will not, if He would not change His Law for His own Son He will not change it for you or me. Look at the Romans 6: 23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Not obeying or doing what God said will lead to not just death but eternal death. God does not want that for anyone Jesus came to save us from our sins and eternal death to show us how to live by God’s law.
The world we live in now would have been so different if only man would have learned to obey and keep God’s commandments. But rather then choosing God we chose Satan; it is not God but Satan who brings all this suffering on mankind.
Read the book of Job chapter 1 & 2 and see God does not cause evil on any on it is the works of Satan, but people like to blame God for it.
Look also at Revelation 12
12: Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Satan is mad because he knows his time is short and he wants nothing more then to destroy the people God loves and those who were made in the image and likeness of the God of creation.
We tend to all blame God when we get sick or when something bad happens but like I said it is not God who causes it, it is the devil. He was a deceiver from the beginning.
Read Revelation 12:
7: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8: And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
So you see even in Heaven satan was at work causing trouble and problems for God until the day came when God had to cast him out of heaven. So where did he go, to the only planet in all of the solar systems that he was ruler over, and he has done nothing but cause trouble and problems here on this world; and then he has people who God loves blame God for it.
Look at what one of the disciples told the Religious leader when they commanded him not to speak or preach in Jesus name. Acts:5:29: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Who should we obey
In our world today people like to play Christian, they want to serve God but they want to serve Him there way. My friend when God tells us to do something he expects us to do it just like He told us to do it, with no deviation. Anything apart from that is sin and sin is what separates us from God.
A lot of Christians like to tell me oh those Laws were for the Jew’s not for us today. But then I ask why God gave the Jews those laws, why because they were God’s people. Ok so if they were God’s people back then and we are Gods people now and God does not change, as Gods people we need to be doing what God say to do and not what man or satan said to do. Am I right or not?
We need to be keeping the Laws God made for His people, right.
Our Father who is in heaven does not want for any of us to suffer because of sin but we live in a world full of it. But soon and very soon the Bible tells us that God will put an end to satan and all his evil angles. At the same time He will put an end to sin in this world. He will put an end to sickness, suffering, pain and an end to death.
Look at Nahum 1: 9: He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
Bad things happen to good people all the time. I am an Elder in my Church and I had cancer and the cancer came back in the same area in my sinus three times. I treated it the first two times but when it came back the 3rd time I said no more and so the doctors gave me 6 months to maybe a year to live if I am lucky. Luck I don’t believe in but God I do believe in. My brother found a place where they did only natural herbal treatment for people like me who are sick with cancer. That was in June 2006 and God blessed it so that I am still here some 8 years later. I live with a lot of problems but it is all from the treatment not the cancer. I don’t know the reason why God healed me and not others who were better men better Christians then I am.
All I can do is to thanks Him for what de did and pray for all my others friends who are still in treatment or just found out that they or a love one of there has some life threaten disease. Remember God did not do it nor did He cause it to happen, it was because of sin in out world and satan because he is the father of sin. From the day our cells conceive in our mother’s womb we start the process of dying. Why because of sin for God did warn Adam & Eve saying in the day you eat of it you will surely die.
Don’t despair my friend, because there is hope and that hope is in Gods Son who came to die in our place. For the Bible tells us
Look again at John 3:16: 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:3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John:6:27: Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Rom:6:22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Even thoe that had sinner and rejected God, God did not reject us who had choosing to accept what He did in our behalf, die for our sins. The God we serve is a God of love a God who would do anything for His children who believe and trust in Him and do what He has told them to do in order to have everlasting life with Him.
It’s so simple just like the test in the garden of Eden, Jesus said in the book of John:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. Gods commandments don’t save you; His commandments only shows the world who you love, then Gods extends His grace because you have choosing to obey what He told you to do. You see what I mean it is so simple. In the Garden of Eden the test was one tree don’t eat of this one tree, today the test is will you obey by keeping my commandments. If you do, it will tell the world you love me and that I love you.
You will have trials in this life you will get sick in this life and you will die in this life but it is not about this life, it is about the next life. Read with me what God is saying in the book of Revelations
Look at Revelations 20
10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
We are going to suffer just like non believers and as we get close to the time of the end. Satan will put into the heart of evil men to cast some of us into prison but we are told to be faithful even unto death and God will give us a crown of life.
11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Here is where a lot of Churches get confused because they don’t understand what the Bible is saying about a first and second death.
Rv:20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The first resurrection will be for Gods true believing people who have died, that is the first death, you understand we die from this world only once.
Rv:20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
The second Death: it is for all who have chosen not to follow what God said to do. It will be for evil men and women, who never believed in God. It will be for Pastors who lead people away from God truth, and for fake Christians who wanted both this world and heaven too. But sorry the Bible said in Luke:16:13: No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
1Pt:4:17: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
My brother you might be hurting, suffering, in pain or maybe close to death or maybe some love one or good friend is having problems.
Don’t blame God put the blame on the one who caused all this, the one who lied to our first parent. Then read the Bible it is a book about God working with man trying to lead man back to His truth. When God says to do something, we must learn to do it exactly like God said to do it. No cutting corners
God said to keep Him commandments, then keep them, don’t worry about others who tell you, you don’t need to, do what God said not man. Acts:5:29: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
I live in this world with a sick body from Cancer; I can’t do or enjoy all the things I once did. Some days or good some are bad, some are more pain some or less pain.
Here is the key: one day the life I live in thissick body will be over, one day I will stand face to face with my God and friend. That is where it will all matter, that is where God will judge upon the things He says to do and keep and the thing He did not say to do or keep.
Rv:21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
God is merciful because God is love; He wants that no one has to die the second death. But if someone by choice does not want to believe or do as He ask them to do, He God will not force you against your choice
God Bless you my friend; and if you are sick or someone you love or know is sick pray and ask God for His protection, His blessing, His guidance and understanding. Then move by faith knowing it was not God who did this it was because of a devil that hates you because you were made in the image of your creator God. Then except His will and follow His ways, just read about what Jesus did and how Jesus lived. Always doing the will of His Father, always helping someone else, always keeping the Commandments and always showing love to those who was hurting.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth Ministry
SAVED by GIFT CERTIFICATE
I like when people give me Things, especially things like Gift Certificates, because it mean I can get something for free, I can go and eat and it don’t cost me nothing or I can go to the Home Depot and get things I need and it too don’t cost me anything.
I believe we are Saved this way, “Because someone else has already Paid the price”
Back about 2300 years ago the folk who lived in Alexandria in Northern Africa could not grow enough food. They were totally dependant on Eastern Mediterranean lands (Phoenicia) for their grain, their wheat.
They called it “corn” in those days. They would die without outside supplies. Their life totally depended on the arrival of the food from somewhere else.
About a certain time of the year when their supplies began to run out they would be waiting hoping that the ships would appear over the horizon soon, bringing the great supplies of wheat that had been grown.
People would keep a look-out. They didn’t have very good communications and so they would just watch for the ships.
When they saw those great grain ships appearing over the horizon they were just thrilled. There food was coming! What a great day that was! As the heavily laden ships came closer the good news spread quickly that food was coming.
The Greek-speaking folk living in Alexadria coined a special word just for that event; to announce the good news that the grain ships had arrived in port.
You can read this word in your New Testament. It’s in the book of Mark, chapter sixteen, you can find this word, this special word announcing the good news that the grain had arrived, that it was coming, it was on the way.
Here it is in Mark 16:15(NIV)- “And He said unto them ‘Go into all the world and preach the GOOD NEWS to all creation.’
” What is the “good news”?
The good new is that Jesus Christ has come, that He is our Savior. Of course the word we’re defining here is “the gospel“, evangelion in the Greek. Basically that means good, merry, glad, and joyful, tidings that makes a man’s heart glad.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus has come. He has brought life for a dying race. Without Jesus coming we were all doomed.
Romans 1:17(NIV)– For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, …. the righteous will live by faith,” he concludes in that verse.
The three angel’s messages of Revelation 14 is vital to us as a people.
The very heart of those messages is the everlasting gospel which will be proclaimed to every nation and kindred and tongue and people Rev. 14:6. When that happens then Jesus will come…as told in Matthew 24:14.
Now, there’s a lot of gobbledy-gook about how we are saved and what the gospel really is. Before we can preach the gospel we must know in our hearts what the gospel is.
If I asked ten people what the gospel is, I would probably get ten definitions. What is the gospel?
Here are two views about how we are saved:
1. We are saved totally by believing in Jesus. Works do not have anything to do with our salvation. Therefore, we can live however we want to live because works has nothing to do with salvation. Some people call this the “New Theology”, although it is thousands of years old.
2. Some people believe that we are saved by faith plus personal works. And Jesus saves us, that’s true, but we must manifest good works and we must grow more and more like Jesus toward perfection of our soul. And some people call that “legalism”.
Now I believe there’s a third way. And I believe that is brought by the gospel.
3. Jesus saves us. We’re saved totally by believing in Him. He totally provided righteousness for us, AND He provides the power to live the Christian life. We are not saved by our works: we’re saved by His works, and He empowers us to live the Christian life.
The first of these three views I would call cheap grace.
The second I would call legalism!
The third view, I believe, which is a balanced view where we ought to be today, and this view is what we want to focus on today.
Now I want to define the “Gospel” for you. What is the GOOD NEWS? What is the GOSPEL? The Gospel is what tells us that we are saved by a GIFT CERTIFICATE!
You are not saved by going down and securing salvation for yourself.
It is not a “do-it-yourself” thing.
Salvation is provided by somebody else that has gone down to the store and totally paid for your salvation long ago; and made it so that I can go down there to the store and trade your gift certificate for Eternal life.
We all want something for nothing. We shop for juicy bargains. We mail in the coupon for free drawings.
I had a Friend who one day showed me over 150 scratchy off Lotto tickets she got. She told me that she won all of these it just cost he $75.00. So I as her how much did you win, she just looked at me like “what do you mean” I got to play all of these over a 150 tickets. So I said OK I understand that you got to play all of them, but how much did you Win from playing all of them. She again just said I won all of these, so I told her you mean you lost your $75.00 bucks, She then told me that I did not understand anything about playing scratch-off. I told her all I understood is that She lost her Money.
People spend a fortune trying to win the lottery.
Shame on them!
Only twice does the word WIN appear in the Bible. PHILIPPIANS 3:8(KJV) Paul speaks of gaining – or winning Christ. “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I have suffered the loss of all things…that I may WIN Christ.”
How do we get Christ?
By winning Him, not by purchasing Him.
If you want to win something win eternal life because you will Win every time.
It is a gift. Salvation is gained by accepting a Gift you have already won, not by our efforts; But because we have chosen Him. “Jesus” as our Savior
If you choose Jesus you are an instant winner. If you choose the world you are a big looser.
Salvation is free! But salvation is not a cheap commodity!
Jesus achieved my eternal life through sweat, tears and blood. What a high price! Today, Jesus simply gives it away to His friends who then possess perfect righteousness through their faith in Jesus Christ.
Now, on the cross Jesus said a very important statement: three little words. He said, “It is Finished!” (John 19:30)
What was finished?
The word Jesus used is a Greek word … Tetelestai, which in our version of the Scripture is translated, “It is finished.”
Archaeologists have repeatedly found its Latin equivalent, consummatum, scrawled across ancient tax receipts, indicating it also meant “paid in full“.
What Jesus was saying on the cross was, “This debt is now paid in full. I completely paid the price.” Sin’s account was settled on the cross. Our debt and guilt were wiped out! You can’t add to it. All that I can do is accept it.
So I obtain salvation by gift certificate that has been paid in full by Jesus.
I can’t purchase eternal life, by a whole life full of doing good works.
But I live a life of good works in response to His gift. Jesus gives me eternal life. But, the good news is that it does not stop with the gift certificate. When I take my salvation home Jesus comes home with me to help me apply my gift and to use my gift in my life. And that is very much UN-like cheap grace.
Years ago I purchased a gizmo for my children. It came in a box and said “some assembly required“! It was some assembly alright! After an hour or so and a long struggle with plastic parts and instructions written by some Japanese person who had probably had a one hour correspondence class in the English language, the thing finally worked!
The truth is that Jesus not only provides our salvation, but Jesus comes with the gift and helps us assemble the gift and use gift as the Christian life. Jesus creates within our new heart a dislike for sin and a deep love for good things.
The truth is that we are saved totally by Jesus’ blood, not by our own blood. And that same blood also has the power to enable us to live a changed life. That doesn’t mean that we won’t make any mistakes. We may make mistakes but that same blood also has the ability to blot out our sins and give us complete forgiveness.
Blood is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible. It lies at the very heart of the Gospel, for it is through “the blood of his cross” that Jesus reconciled us to God. (See Colossians 1:20-23).
Some years ago a terrible railroad accident occurred, killing many people. A commuter train had stalled on the tracks just a few minutes before a fast freight was due to arrive.
A conductor quickly sent to flag down the approaching “flier.” Being assured that all was well, the passengers relaxed.
Suddenly, however, the speeding freight came bearing down upon them. The crash left a ghastly scene of horror.
The engineer of the speeding freight train, escaped death by jumping from the cab. He was called into court to explain why he hadn’t stopped.
“I saw a man waving a flag,” he said, “but it was yellow, so I thought he just wanted me to slow down.”
When the flag was examined, the mystery was explained.
It had been red, but because of long exposure to the sun and weather it had become a dirty yellow.
Just think of the lives eternally wrecked by the ‘Dirty yellow gospels’ that we hear today in many Churches — the bloodless theories of the gospel that send their hearers to their doom instead of stopping them on their downward slide!
Cheap grace will lead to certain doom. Legalism or perfectionism will not save. I’ve never met anybody that is totally perfect. I don’t think any of us could ever equal what Jesus did for us.
Jesus Christ can give you His righteousness and you can stand truly perfect right now by his Free Gift of Salvation to everyone who believes.
Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross can redeem your soul (see Romans 5:8,9). Don’t be deceived by a weak “dirty yellow gospel” of human works that is powerless to save you from everlasting destruction.
The wonderful truth is that we are truly totally saved by Jesus.
Jesus the Son of God is our Saviour. Jesus Himself will set us free. Jesus said in John 8:32 (KJV) “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This is an interesting statement and many Christians do not apply this text correctly.
What is it that we have to know? The doctrines? or What is the truth?
Jesus explains this in the next verses: John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Notice what sets us free… The Truth in verse 32: And the Son of God in verse 36. Jesus is the same today as when he said that 2000 years ago…
In John 14:6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, life...'” It is knowing Jesus that totally sets us free. Jesus paid for Salvation with His perfect life. It is not the belief in certain doctrines that will save us. We do not have to earn heaven. Eternal life is a gift, free, it had already been paid for with your Gift Certificate Jesus gives you.
I am not saved because I keep the Sabbath or because I keep all the others Commandments, Why because the Law can’t save me, the Law can only convict me. We are saved by Jesus.
Matthew 19: 16: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? What did Jesus tell him, you know the Commandments
20: The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
If just keeping the Law could save you them this young man should be saved; correct
Look at what Jesus said to him
21: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22: But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
He was a Good Man, but being good what not his problem, He keep God Commandments, but just keeping the Commandments, was not his problem was it.
The real problem was, he was trying to save his self; by his works and not by his Faith. He did not have the Faith that if he gave away all that he had, God would give him ten times more back
But let’s understand Doctrines…..
Doctrines are important, and that’s where people call us a sect, they have almost stopped calling us a cult.
But they still call us a sect: they can’t understand how we can believe that we are totally saved by Jesus and yet it is also important to keep the Sabbath.
Because I am saved by the Blood of Jesus I do what he told me to do. If you Love me keep my Commandments John:14:15:
We keep God’s Commandments because we love him not because we are saved by them.
Never forget one thing, There is a different’s in keep God’s Law to be Saved; and keep God’s Law because you are Saved.
I will tell you this, I am married to a wonderful woman and I don’t help her do the dishes because of some law, I do that because I want to, I want to do something to make her happy.
I keep the Sabbath because I want to do what makes God happy. It’s a response to Him. So we’re saved by gift certificate. Eternal life is given by a gift.
How do you get the gift? You have to know the Giver.
Let me ask you a question– Have you ever received a major gift in your whole life from a complete stranger?
That has never happened to me.
We almost always receive gifts from people that we know. Our friend Jesus, because we know Him he wants to give us His Eternal life.
The Gospel is all about our wonderful loving Friend, Jesus, standing with outstretched arms wanting to share His eternal life with you.
I believe the only way anyone will ever be lost is if that person willfully and consistently rejects Jesus and reject His free gift of Eternal Life.
Otherwise, we’re going to be saved.
Legalism is like a body without a soul. It is a corpse.
Cheap Grace is like a soul without a body. It is a ghost.
Neither one of them work.
Only Jesus could live the perfect life in both body and soul. He became a Saviour.
Jesus, lived the perfect life and paid a big price for complete salvation for each of us. Then Jesus gives this expensive rescue to us as a free gift if we love Him.
Where do you pick up your gift certificates?
John 3:36- “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life!…”
You get it from Jesus.
You know there is only one thing about a Gift Certificates; It is no good unless you use it.
My friend we are told that we are saved by grace through out faith in God. Put your faith in Jesus and what He has done for you, it is free for the asking just trust Him and see.
God Bless you all is my pray in Jesus name.
Elder Tim Mc Nab
Bible for Truth Ministries & McDonald Road Church
D5 Creation
