The Fifth Gospel

Without a foundation, without a real study of the Word of God, the Church will never mature as Christ wanted us to.

Paul said he delivered to the Roman Christians a system of truth (ROM 6). Who better to lay out truths about our redemption than this zealous Jew turned Christian on the way to Damascus (ACTS 9). So revolutionary was his conversion and subsequent revelations that he took what Christ gave him and called it "My Gospel" (ROM 2, ROM 16, 2 TIM 2)!

He not only taught this everywhere he went, but in his writings he addressed the new Christians on those truths they were not following. Every church had its own identity and its own problems, but like a puzzle we can glean from Paul's writings in this 5th gospel.

The first 4 gospels mainly showed us Jesus earthly life and ministry, yes even His sacrificial death on Calvary. (Ministry yes! Because ministry really means service.) Jesus ministry was first and foremost was to His Father.

He came to reveal who His Father was and how much He loves each of us. And the religious leaders wanted to kill Him for this.

He came to train up His disciples, His understudies, to take center stage when He left to prepare our home in heaven for us.

He taught us about relationships--with the Father & with each other. How we are to live!!!

And He was preparing Himself for the ultimate sacrifice--the Lamb of God, taking our place on the sinner's cross. And opening the door into the Holy of Holies.

This 5th Gospel took in the whole panorama of our redemption. Explaining what was happening behind the scenes of this physical state of existence. Paul escorted us into the mind and will of God, showing our tri-partite nature and revealing that long hidden secret...Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory!!! (COL 1)

How did we get there? How did we come from being of the very nature of the devil and now having the very life and nature of God Almighty bursting in abundance in our new man. (EPH 2)

Paul goes as far as to guide us with the Holy Spirit's help to know and fulfill Jesus' ministry on this earth. Ambassadors for Christ. In union with the Master. Co-crucified with Him. Sharing & partaking of His life in this mortal body. Co-laborers with the Lord.(2 COR 5, GAL 2, 1 COR 1, 2 COR 6)

Even the Apostle Peter condoned Paul's ministry by declaring that Paul's words were hard to understand but nevertheless they were scriptural.  (2 PET 3)

Check out this great blog by Mark Hankins...
http://networkedblogs.com/xWJz3

The secret of the divine life is to learn how to live in the spirit realm, how to have one's lamp filled with the oil of heaven, and to keep one's spirit fit so that no disease can break in upon it.   -- EW Kenyon

2012

Ok...it has been toooo long!

My daughter inspires me to do this blog.

She writes her blog and I think "I should update mine..."

My problem is I'm lazy...

I like to write with pen & ink, and I think it's good

but then transferring it to this blog is where I lose it.

Sign-in, type (which is not mine forte), etc...

So maybe this year I'll keep up with this more, more than...

------------------------------------------

This is a year of divine expectation...2012!

God is on the move.

All the religions of the world recognize that something is stirring.

Prayers are going up all around the world for God to intervene in this world's problems.

Confidence in the governments of this world is at an all time low.

Why? Because they cannot fix the problems society has been facing this last 10 years.

9-11 shifted society's outlook on life and government leaders have been desperately trying to define that collective personality.

For years they have been blowing their own horn --

that they can fix everything --

that they have all the answers.

And now they are failing.

Calamities and crises have toppled this house of cards.

And they still say they can fix it. ("Give us more money!")

Now What!!!

Who do we turn to for help, for answers...

Modern Tech

oh the joys of modern technology...
storms came through about 2 hours ago and lo and behold the power went off about an hour and a half ago...
but we have wireless internet, battery powered notebook pc and our cell phones...
candles, oil lamps, and each other...
have fun today as my battery meter is running on low...

HOPE

What can I say...It has been way too long. Many challenges along the way, but...

What is most important to you in this life? HEALTH. FINANCES. (including a job or a better job). A HAPPY MARRIAGE.

What about the world around us? OUR RELATIONSHIPS with co-workers or neighbors and friends. How about the GOVERNMENT? And the other nations... not just politics (religion is political in some countries), but also natural
disasters.

There is a lot going on in 2011 to be stressed out about. If you've noticed, its been building up like a crescendo over the past decade or so. Its like a plumbing leak under the foundation of a Texas house. You only notice the signs -- too much water usage, or water leaking up through the floor.

Something big is building under the surface and its fixing to spill forth.
The signs of the times. Jesus prophesied and taught about it. "In the last days..." (MT 24).

So we're here, now, in the middle of it. Like it or not. What do we do now? We humans do not like our boat being rocked. We don't like change -- especially extreme change.

We have to hold onto HOPE. The anchor of our soul (HEB 6:19). You see, these things, these circumstances will play havoc on your mind. It will get so bad, Jesus said some men's hearts will quit because of FEAR (LK 21:26). ("FEAR has torment (1 JN 4:18).") What did Jesus always say, "DON'T BE AFRAID!" The angels too would show up un-announced saying "DON'T BE AFRAID!"

We Christians have a HOPE for a better life. This world is not my home... but we are looking for that heavenly city (HEB 11:16), our eternal home. Jesus promised... "I go to prepare a place for you (JN 14:2-3)." GREAT! My mansion awaits me. Paul says ""These light afflictions..." are nothing compared to our eternal destiny with God. (2 COR 4:17)

What about those without HOPE? (EPH 2:12) We are to be the light in the dark place (MT 5:14-16). We can show how great our God is (1 PET 2:9). Our Christian life/experience is based on God's promises to us in the Bible. WORDS! Words of faith & hope & love... Those words are covenant promises that cannot be broken and cannot go unfulfilled (IS 55:11). We accept these promises as truth, we believe them. We receive and act on them, agreeing with God -- YES! AMEN! (2 COR 1:20)

This HOPE is now our faith substance (HEB 11:1). We believe and therefore speak (2 COR 4:13)...Uttering that hope found on the promise of God.

PEACE of mind. There are scriptural promises for it. HEALTH & HEALING. Likewise. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS. ibid. In any area of life, there is a promise for you. A good concordance will show you where it is. Or ask someone! (Or my favorite...GOOGLE it!!!)

Dig In Deeper

in football you take your stance...

whether you are on offense or defense;

you line up against your enemy;

you position yourself firmly;

then you set your feet;

you dig your cleats in a little deeper;

to get a good foothold;

to gain better traction...

So in life when you hear the Holy Spirit say "Dig In Deeper"...

He wants you to ready yourself for the challenge...

Your feet are shod with the shoes of the gospel of peace...

Dig into the word, confess who you are and what Jesus has done for you,

Spend more KOINONIA time with the Lord...

EPH 6:13-14...and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, ...

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS/HOLYDAYS

I love this time of year-- the HOLIDAYS!

Here in Texas, it is a time of change. Nature kicks into high gear and catches us up into Autumn with the rest of the nation.

But to me, it is especially a time to reflect on the holidays. At the same time, it can be a bit depressing, because I know that as quickly as it all comes, it will soon be over. Then the cycle begins again. Life kicks in again...I mean the rat race of work, taxes, yard work, etc.

But the holidays, as I said, are when families and friends get-together -- not like any other time of the year. It's like people save themselves for the get-togethers just as they save their money for the Christmas gifts each year. Or is it tradition that everyone must attend church at Christmas & Easter? Likewise is it tradition to attend the get-togethers?

For a few short weeks it is like heaven on earth -- peace and good will to all.
Even the TV and movies at this time of year portray lives changed because someone special intervenes in another's life, making a change for the better.

The idea I am getting to is the need to stretch this 6-7 week time period into the full 52 weeks of life here on earth.

Not to keep it winter all year as the Narnian witch did -- never allowing the seasons to change. Because God set the seasons in motion painting a picture of redemption for all mankind to see His grace, mercy and love. (ROM 1:20) Just as He painted the stellar constellations in the night sky to tell His story over and over again -- to a people who have forgotten how to read it.

God has set up His feasts in the Jewish religion/culture to tell of His redemptive story.

And the Catholic/Christian church has set up it's holydays also throughout the year to remind us of His story.

God's handwriting is all around us. Don't get so caught up in everyday life and miss the story unfolding around us again this year.

I remember growing up as a catholic boy anticipating the next holiday/holyday, not realizing the story behind it all.

May God help us to open our eyes and see and share His grace, mercy and love this season and always.

IT IS TIME TO TURN TO THE LORD!!!

Hosea 10:12 (TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION) -- "Plow new ground for yourselves [MOFFAT's = break up your fallow ground, by seeking knowledge of the Eternal...], plant righteousness and reap the blessings that your devotion to Me will produce. It is time for you to turn to Me , your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you."

Matthew 11:28-30 (JOHNSON) -- "Come into fellowship with Me if you are tired and burdened and I will refresh and release you. Take the burden of responsibility I give you and thereby discover your life and your destiny. I am gentle and humble. I am willing to relate to you and to permit you to learn at your own rate. Then in fellowship with Me, you will discover the meaning of your life. My fellowship will release you, and My companionship will direct you on your journey."

We are on a journey...we really are. This earth is not our home. Eternity is where we are headed. but it has 2 addresses: 777 Pearly Gate Drive or 666 Lake of Fire Road. Which one you end up at is your decision. But we have to follow the Creator's rules.

SOAKING IN HIS PRESENCE

excerpt from "The Pathway To Miracles: Spending Time With The Lord"
written by Gary Oates with Robert Paul Lamb

"The heart of God is for intimacy with His children...James 4:8
"The presence of god is available to every believer...John 14:21
"What is the most pressing need in your life today? Are you sick in your body? Are you in need of a miracle from God? I have discovered that a lot of times people are seeking God for an experience, for more power, or even for a gift to minister.
"Our first priority is to daily seek the manifest presence of God! We must learn to come quietly into His presence just wanting more of Him in our lives. We need to 'soak in His presence', extracting more of His fullness into those places where we are barren. The cumulative effect of spending time with the Lord will produce an increased anointing of healing for yourself and others."

HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO HIM?

Your effectiveness as a Christian, as a child of God, depends entirely on your relationship, your fellowship with Him!

HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO HIM???
Are you seeking His presence in your life as David did in PS 27???
Is He all you need in life???
Is He your gold & silver & precious treasure (JOB 22)???
Is He your strong tower & fortress (PS 18)???
Is He your buckler & shield (PS 91)???
Your total trust & confidence???
Your LIFE??? (DEUT 30)

Good Reading at "Path2Prayer"

Reading a lot lately on past revivals and noted (and unknown) revivalists/evangelists...
and reading more on the end times, holiness and committment/surrendering all to the Lord...

Here's a quote I read today:
“The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.... Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.” - R. A. Torrey

WISDOM

from Dave Duell:
"The only problem on earth is a wisdom problem..." (HOS 4:6, & PROV 11:9)
"The difference between today and tomorrow is wisdom. (PROV 2:6)
"If you enter tomorrow with the same information that you entered with this morning, tomorrow will be just like today. No future, but just a longer day."
"Life is based on choices."

WORDS

Your words...the words of the mouth are sooooo important! (JAMES 2)

99% of people's problems are they DO NOT keep the Word of God before their eyes (PROV 4).
They see circumstances, but they don't see God's provision & blessing (MATT 6).

Prophetic Signs of the Second Coming
by Grant Jeffrey

(the following is an excerpt from Chapter 15 of Armageddon - Appointment With Destiny)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16­18)

During the early centuries following the ascension of Jesus into heaven, Christians often greeted one another by saying, "Maranatha," which means "the Lord cometh." Despite constant persecution from both the pagans and the officials of the Roman government, the early Christians rejoiced in the certain knowledge that Jesus had prophesied that He would someday return to establish His Kingdom on earth. These believers knew that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day following His crucifixion - as He had foretold during His ministry. Jesus Christ was seen by many people during the forty days following His resurrection. Thirty years after Jesus ascended to heaven in the sight of His followers, the apostle Paul wrote, "After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:6). The truth of His death and resurrection was widely known and taught by the early Church, encouraging a widespread expectation of His glorious return to destroy evil and establish His righteous government on earth forever.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the greatest single theme in Scripture. While there are approximately three hundred prophecies in the Old Testament that foretold the first coming of Christ, there are more than eight times as many verses describing the Second Coming. In total, some 2400 verses throughout the Old and New Testaments reveal God's promises about the return of Jesus Christ. The enormous number of prophetic verses about the Second Coming underlines the vital importance of this event in God's plan for mankind. Consequently, we dare not ignore the prophetic signs pointing to the nearness of His return.

Significantly, the first prophecy in the Bible (Genesis 3:15), which God addressed to Satan after Adam and Eve's sin, predicted three major events in the redemptive plan of God, concluding with the Second Coming of Christ. The first event was the virgin birth of Jesus ("her seed"); the second event was Satan's apparent victory when Jesus was crucified ("thou shalt bruise his heel"); the third event will be fulfilled at the Battle of Armageddon when Jesus Christ will defeat Satan ("thy head") and his seed, the Antichrist ("it [her seed, Jesus] shall bruise thy head"). The New Testament book of Jude recalls that the righteous patriarch Enoch was raptured to heaven before the Flood. Jude revealed that Enoch prophesied about the Second Coming, when the Lord would return to earth with millions of His saints. "Enoch, also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying: 'Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all'" (Jude 14-15).

The prophet John recorded our Lord's final prophecy in the final verses of the book of Revelation: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12). Jesus Christ's final message to His Church concludes with these words: "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20)...

HANG ON

A lot of people (especially ministers) lately are talking of the 2nd Coming of Christ. The signs are all around us. With oil prices going up and down, the US military fighting 2 wars -- Afganistan and Iraq, the bailouts and financial institutions collapsing, unemployment going higher and higher... the world governments were caught off guard. They have never seen anything like all of this before, and they are at a loss knowing not what to do to fix it all.

Personally I believe they should have left it all alone in the first place. Mankind's wisdom got us into this mess, and mankind needs God's wisdom to get us out of it. World governments are pouring their money and energy into the wrong solutions. They are not focused on what is really necessary to pull us out of this nose-dive... They are still worried about global warming and they still pursue foreign oil instead of our own oil resources.

The UN bickers amongst themselves about renovating their palacial headquarters in Europe at the cost of millions of dollars. It reminds me of the Tom Hanks movie "MONEY PIT". He and Shelly Long buy this nice looking house and begin to make what they thought were minor repairs. Before long, they have done everything but sold their souls to pay for the million dollar renovation.

What is the old saying...when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on. Jesus is the only hope for this dying world, and the anti-christian world has rejected Him and His thoughts, wisdom, and principles.

THE SEED

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to chose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different.
He called all the young executives in his company together.
"It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he said. "I have decided to choose one of you."
The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed.
He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened.
Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.
He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back.
"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO.
"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front.
Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Here is your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"
Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said?
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed.
I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
"When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest.
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
Two thousand years ago Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same story but with fewer words, "What you sow, so shall you reap" (Gal. 6:7).
"We are grass that will wither and die but the incorruptible seed of God's Word will live forever - sow it daily into the life of your family! (1 Peter 1: 23 - 25).
--Author Unknown

The Price and Power of Revival

And still more heart-wrenching sermonettes from Life Action Revival Ministries...


The Price and Power of Revival
by Duncan Campbell


In this passage, I discover that a power is placed at the disposal of the Church that can outmaneuver and baffle the very strategy of Hell, and cause death and defeat to vanish before the presence of the Lord of Life. Barrenness is made to feel His fertilizing power.
Yet, how is it that while we make such great claims for the power of the Gospel, we see so little of the supernatural in operation?

more...

The Depth of Galatians 2:20

I recently received this from Bill Stevenson...

The Aramaic translation reads "And with the Messiah, I am staked - so it be not I who is living, but the Messiah living in me.. who loved us and gave his soul in our stead."

This passage in Galatians 2:20 is the treasure house of the new creation.Your eternal purpose and destiny are found in this one verse.The death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus is contained here.

There is no turning around. Try as you will there is no greater reality than the full and complete cross of Christ Jesus. I find it interesting that so many streams of theology differ on the view of the cross. Unfortunately in the day we live the death of Christ is almost totally neglected except on Easter.However, this is where the believer's life not only ended but began as well and must continue.

The Gospel For Our Day

This is a great piece on what the gospel should mean to us as modern day Christians living in a world with real issues currently at work around us. Only an understanding of our purpose and mission in life will allow us to respond in the way that God wants us to -- with His love (II CORINTH 5:14)