Sunday, November 30, 2014

What Does Christianity Consist Of?



ML002

TEXT:            I Peter 1:6-8

TITLE:          What Does True Christianity Consist Of?

SUBJ:             The Nature of Affections

PROP:            True Christianity consists of holy affections toward our Sovereign God

OBJ:               (1)        Define affections
(2)               Demonstrate affections

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Give Us a Try


Try our Sundays ~ they are better than "Baskin Robbins"! 

North Kelso Bapist Church
Kelso, Washington

Sunday's @ 10:30 AM

Friday, November 28, 2014

What is the Work of Your Life?

"May the living God, who is the portion and rest of the saints, make these our carnal minds so spiritual, and our earthly hearts so heavenly, that loving him, and delighting in him, may be the work of our lives."

--Richard Baxter



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Some Thoughts on the Ferguson Verdict


I told my wife when the announcement was made (and I will be slammed for this if not vilified) racism will exist as long as liberal politicians can profit from it. Of course I realize that racism is a result of the fall and the sinful human nature that still resides in un-redeemed flesh. My point is that since it is profitable both in votes and dollars, those flames of selfish hatred will be fanned by those who can profit from it. Proverbs 16:28 says, " A perverse man sows strife, and a whisper separates the best of friends." (NKJV) 

Click on this link and read a very good post from a friend of mine who pastors a church in Missouri. By Grace Alone

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Some Thoughts on Thanksgiving from Pastor Gregg Metcalf

Thursday is the day that we call and have set aside as Thanksgiving. It is a day that was established in order to take some time to remember all of the benefits which had been received from our gracious Creator. Unfortunately, it has deteriorated for the most part into a day of feasting, fun, family, and football. But for believers, the attitude and atmosphere of Thanksgiving is something that we are to live each and every day. Paul told the Philippian believers "in everything give thanks." First of all, this is an imperative or a command, and second it is on going. Being thankful recognizes that we are not self-sufficient nor self-contained. We are dependent upon the one and true living God. Thankfulness recognizes this and responds properly. This Thanksgiving, remember it is not just a day out of 364 other days established to make a list of things to be thankful for. It is an annual reminder of a daily lifestyle for all believers. Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 24, 2014

The Highest of Good and the Satisfaction of our Souls!

"God is the highest good of reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows. But the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean."

--Johnathan Edwards


Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Duty of Thanksgiving


SERMON               GMT14-021

SERIES:              Topical Messages:  Thanksgiving

SETTING:          North Kelso Baptist Church

SERVICE:          Sunday AM

SUBTITLE:        The Duty of Thanksgiving

SCRIPTURE:     1 Thessalonians 5:18

SUBJECT:          God demands thanksgiving

SUMMARY:       God demands all believers to give thanks!

SCHEME:           that believers live a life of thanksgiving
_____________________________________________________________

Our theme is: God demands thanksgiving

This is a good reminder for us all that our Christian experience regardless of circumstances is to be a life committed to the giving of thanks.

 Proposition:  God demands all believers to give thanks!

Interrogatory Sentence:  What is involved in thanksgiving?

Transitional Sentence: Today I want you to see the duty that God places on every genuine believer. God commands all believers to give thanks. As we develop our theme today, we will clearly see the will of God.

God’s will is seen in:

1A     THE DEFINING THE SUBJECT OF THANKSGIVING
2A     THE DISCOVERING THE SOURCE OF THANKSGIVING
3A     THE DETERMINING OF THE SCOPE OF THANKSGIVING
4A     THE DECLARING THE  STATEMENT OF THANKSGIVING

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Why Do Believer's Stumble in Their Christian Experience?


  1. They are ignorant of biblical truth
  2. They have been taught incorrectly
  3. They do not believe what the Scripture says
  4. They settle to easily for everything other than Scripture
  5. They will not pay the price to remain faithful 
  6. They take promises of God for granted
  7. They love sin and unrighteousness more than holiness and righteousness

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Starbucks CEO to Shareholders: If you support Biblical Marriage, Sell Your Shares!

Seattle, Washington — At the annual Starbucks shareholder’s meeting this past Wednesday in Seattle, company officials told those who support Biblical marriage that they “can sell [their] shares in Starbucks and buy shares in another company.”
According to reports, during the meeting, the founder of Corporate Morality Action Center expressed concerns over the company’s support of homosexual marriage. Tom Stobhar from the organization cited that the company’s stance affected shareholder earnings after Starbucks backed efforts to legalize same-sex “marriage” in Washington state last year. The company’s announcement had resulted in boycotts against the coffee king.
“In the first full quarter after this boycott was announced, our sales and earnings — shall we say politely — were a bit disappointing,” shareholder Tom Strobhar stated.
“Not every decision is an economic decision. Despite the fact that you recite statistics that are narrow in time, we did provide a 38% shareholder return over the last year,” responded Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. “I don’t know how many things you invest in, but I would suspect not many things, companies, products, investments have returned 38% over the last 12 months.”
“Having said that, it is not an economic decision to me. The lens in which we are making that decision is through the lens of our people,” he continued. “We employ over 200,000 people in this company, and we want to embrace diversity — of all kinds.”
The response drew both applause and cheers.
Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz
Schultz then concluded by saying, “If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38% you got last year, it’s a free country. You can sell your shares in Starbucks and buy shares in another company. Thank you very much.”
While some shareholders appear to be doing just that, a number of Starbucks customers have also refused to frequent the franchise as long as it remains opposed to Biblical marriage. One website, DumpStarbucks.com, launched a nationwide campaign to urge coffee lovers to go elsewhere for a cup of joe.
“We are urging customers across the globe to ‘Dump Starbucks’ because it has taken a corporate-wide position that the definition of marriage between one man and one woman should be eliminated and that same-sex marriage should become equally ‘normal,'” the effort’s website outlines. “As such, Starbucks has deeply offended at least half its US customers, and the vast majority of its international customers.”
As of press time, there were over 49,000 signatures on the campaign’s petition against the company.
“Starbucks is using its resources to invalidate traditional marriage in the US and redefine the institution of marriage despite the strongly held views of so many of its customers, including me,” the petition outlines. “Therefore, I will no longer purchase anything from Starbucks until you change your corporate values to be more reflective of my own.”
“Starbucks is proud to join other leading Northwest employers in support of Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples,” Starbucks outlined in a written statement last year when it announced its support for Washington’s push to legalize homosexual “marriage.” “We are deeply dedicated to embracing diversity and treating one another with respect and dignity, and remain committed to providing an inclusive, supportive and safe work environment for all of our partners.”
Starbucks was also among the over 300 U.S. corporations that signed onto a recent Supreme Court brief in an effort to overturn the nation’s Defense of Marriage Act. 

I don't own any shares so I don't have any to sell. However, I, for myself, have decided I don't need to drink their coffee any longer.

(Copied from the Christian News, dated November 18, 2014)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Is It Over Yet?

Monday  is the day of the week between Sunday and Tuesday. According to the traditional ChristianIslamic and Hebrew calendars, it is the second day of the week, and according to international standard it is the first day of the week.

 The name of Monday is derived from Old English Mōnandæg and Middle English Monenday, which means "moon day".

Wake me when it is over, would you?

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Do You Love the Gospel?

There is something essentially wrong with a man who calls himself a Christian and who can listen to a truly evangelistic sermon without coming under conviction again, without feeling something of his own unworthiness, and rejoicing when he hears the Gospel remedy being presented.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Today is the Day of the Happy Dance!

Please forgive this personal and somewhat childish interruption to the normal schedule and programming of this blog. Today's topic is:

The Happy Dance!

You may use your imagination and visualize me doing the "happy dance" around my office today!

What makes me so elated and jovial that I must bust out in a happy dance? This!


I received and set up my first MFC, Wireless, and color printer!!!!! That's right homies, I now have a Brother, MFC 9130CW.

My first color job? The bulletins for Sunday.

Yes, you may join me in a chorus of "Yeah!"

Thank you, we now return to our normal and regular programming of this blog.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

What Does the Seven Churches Say to the Genuine Believer (Part 5)

The Church @ Laodicea - the lukewarm church

Christ tells John once again to write to the representative of this church

  • Christ says I know your works, I know, I am aware of your activity
  • What I know is that your attitude is neither hot nor cold
  • Because you are lukewarm [neither cold nor hot] I will vomit you out of my mouth
  • I know that you think and say that you are rich and in need of nothing

  • You are wretched
  • You are miserable
  • Poor
  • Blind
  • Naked

The tragdey is that you don't even know it

  • So here is what I am telling you to do

  • Buy gold from me, pure gold -without impurities

  • You will have proper wealth or riches
  • Clothe yourself in proper garments
  • Anoint your eyes so that you can see

  • I am outside your church, knocking to come in
  • If you let me in I will fellowship with you

What Does It Mean to be Lukewarm?

John used the Greek word cliaros

It means warm or tepid
It is not used in the LXX or in the NT
However it is used metaphorically in Rev 3 to describe the love/commitment of the Laodicean Church

--warm or tepid - slightly warm, room temperature

This church is mediocre in regards to spiritual things or the things of God
They were not outright spiritually destitute but they had no spiritual fervor

  • They were not hot - they did not possess a healthy spiritual temperature
  • They were not cold - they were indifferent to spiritual fervor

The waters of Hierapolis was hot or boiling - they provided some medicinal value
The waters of Colosse were cold - they provided refreshemnt

The "water" of Laodicea was tepid, lukewarm and did not provide anything beneficial

It is interesting, at least to me, that Jesus prefers the church to be either or. It amazes me that Christ would prefer the church to be ineffective. I can understand  him wanting the church to effective, but being ineffective or cold or dead is better than being busy with no love or fervor for God at all.

Christ would rather have rejection and even hostility than to say that you possess Christianity but remain untouched or unmoved by its "life" and "fire." There seems to be more hope for the open enmity but little or no hope for the absolute indifferent.

Who Are the Lukewarm?

An important question to me is who are those who are being charged with lukewarmness? Are they believers or are they unbelievers?

Some have suggested that these are Christians in the church (majority) who are "backslidden"

Some have suggested that these are individuals in the church who have heard the gospel, but responded without the aid of the HS or regeneration

Some have suggested that these are individuals who are unbelievers who have rejected the gospel openly and aggressively

  • I do not think these folks are Christians

  • First - Christ would not reject Christians (vomit you out of my mouth) Christ would chastise and correct His wayward, disobedient, or apathetic children

  • Second - Christ would not "evangelize" Christians - "buy from me what you need"

  • Christians aren't wretched - we are blessed having been accepted in the beloved
  • Christians aren't miserable - we are not destitute
  • Christians aren't poor-  Christ became poor to make believes rich
  • Christians aren't blind - with regeneration we now have spiritual ears and eyes
  • Christians aren't naked - we have been clothed with Christ's righteousness


To be continued…

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Wanted



Does anybody have the 12 cassette ( or CD version) of the unabridged audio book I, Claudius read by Derek Jacobi? I would love to buy it?

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank You!


from

Sgt. Gregg Metcalf, USMC
Oct 1972 - Oct 1975

Graduated USMC Recruiting Depot
San Diego
Platton 2134, 2nd Battalion

Served with :

MAG -26, 2nd MAW
HMM-261 - Raging Bulls
CH46 Seaknight Helicopters

 & 

HMH 461-Iron Horse
CH53 Super Stallion Helicopters

MAG-12, 1st MAW
VMA-211 - Avengers
A4E's

MAG-31, 3rd MAW
VMA-311 - Tomcats
A4E's

4TH LAAM BN, MCRTC
USMCR - San Jose, CA/Fresno, CA

NEVADA AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Reno, NV

Oct 1985- Feb 1988

SSGT Gregg Metcalf
USAFR





Sunday, November 9, 2014

Breaking News! I am an Orphan



I just learned at 9:58 Sunday morning that I am an orphan! This was breaking news to me! I had believed since April 12, 1972 that I had a Father. For some 40 years I believed that I did not have a mother, I at least had the assurance and comfort of knowing I had a Father.


I learned that Francis has declared me to be an orphan. I no longer have a Father according to him. This is what he said on Twitter this past Tuesday: (How did I miss such an important revelation?)

“The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan.” 

Francis also said, “The model of motherhood for the Church is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who in the fullness of time conceived through the Holy Spirit and gave birth to the Son of God,” Pope Francis continued. “Her motherhood continues through the Church, who brings forth sons and daughters through baptism, whom she nourishes through the word of God.”

Sorry Francis, you are absolutely wrong! Tragically, you are fatally wrong and all those who follow your dogma. Mary was the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ but she is not my mother. She is a fellow believer and my sister in Christ since she trusted in her Son for the forgiveness of her sin and sins. She does not bring forth any more sons or daughters since she has died and her body decomposed in the ground waiting on the resurrection of the body. Also, baptism does not save a single soul. Salvation is through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Friday, November 7, 2014

What Does the Seven Churches Say to Genuine Believers? (Part 5)

The Church @ Sardis - the deceived and dead church

What does Christ say to this church? [condemnation]

First - I know your works, or your activities

Second - you have a name that you are alive but you are dead

Third - be watchful & strengthen:

  •  the things that remain

  • they are ready to die

Fourth - Your works are not perfect

What Do We Learn From This Rebuke?

This church had acquired a reputation and was well known for being busy or active

But this church apparently did not deserve or warrant the reputation that they had

  • It was a hollow reputation

  • The reputation did not represent the actual condition of the church

  • This church had the outward appearance of being alive or spiritual

  • The truth of the matter was that this church was actually spiritually dead

  • This not a far-fetched or strange indictment

  • Paul gave an example of an unsaved widow, who while she is physically alive and living for her own personal pleasure is actually spiritually dead

  • This describes the lost person perfectly - an unbeliever maybe physically alive but they are in fact spiritually dead


This church had deceived itself into believing that much activity was equal to spiritual life

Because the gospel has been so "dumbed-down" and stripped of essential elements in order to make it more palatable to the lost, many churches are filled with people who are actually dead while they deceptively think of themselves as alive.

Not every person who says that they are a believer or Christian is an actual believer or Christian. It follows that not every church which thinks it is a "church" is a real "church." There are both Christians and churches that have a very superficial appearance but are really dead.

How Does This Happen?

Let me say that there are a number of ways and means by which an individual or a church can be deceived into thinking they are a believer or that they are alive when they are in fact no alive nor true believers.

  • Faulty presentation of the gospel

  • Relying on human ingenuity or energy to accomplish spiritual goals

  • Infiltration of false teaching

  • Lack of clear biblical truth

  • Complacency with spiritual truths

 Suffice it to say in relation to this church at some point made peace with their community and began to fit in comfortably with the culture. The offense of the cross stopped being a reality in their midst. Darkness began to creep in, was unchecked, and eventually permeated the church, right down to just a tiny few who were still alive - still true believers

What Does Sardis say to genuine believers today?

Watch - prove yourself to be watchful. In other words, wake up and keep watching. Don't be complacent don't be misled, don't be deceived, don't grow comfortable or lazy. Watch for spiritual decline at every moment.

Strengthen or reestablish - take the truths you currently have and fortify them with more truth.

Utilize the four (4) R's:

Rehearse - the truth, where you came from, what God has done for you

Repent - turn from the sin of complacency and turn to God

Respond - do what you did when you first were saved, reestablish the spiritual disciplines needed to remain faithful

Realize - God will reward those who are His and those of His who are faithful


Thursday, November 6, 2014

What Does the Seven Churches Say to the Genuine Believer (Part 4)


The Church @ Thyatira - the corrupt church

John's language is important. He is recording what Christ said to this church but he used the language of the day, Greek. He uses the Greek word afeis - …this word means "you tolerate." The problem was internal, it was inside the church, it began with the leadership which had authority over who taught and who did not teach and the fact that the leadership tolerated this false doctrine. That "ran downhill" and permeated the church until there was sin and corruption in the church.

The Thyatirans did nothing to prevent or remove this insidious doctrine.

It is not certain if this Jezebel was an actual woman named Jezebel or she was used to "personify" heresy. There are a number of other "theories" as to who or what the name refers to. The best idea that I feel comfortable with is that the name represented a very prominent and apparently dominate woman in this church.

She claimed to be a prophetess and found a way to teach in the church. Her teaching led to corruption of doctrine and practice.

The problem does not lie in the fact that prophets and female prophets existed. Anna was called a prophet in Luke 2. The daughters of Philip (deacon turned evangelist) were called prophets. Prophets, whether male or female in the first century church were inspired messengers of God, second in rank to the apostles given by God to edify the church, (1 Cor 12:28.)

Female prophets could prophesy, but Paul prohibited them from speaking in the actual corporate service of the church. It seems they were to prophesy outside of the corporate service of the church.

Here in Thyatira, we have several problems:

  • Apparently no one "tested" her to see if she was legit.
  • Secondly, they allowed her to prophesy inside the corporate worship service of the church
  • Thirdly, no one challenged her "seduction" of false teaching
  • Fourthly, no one disciplined her or followers when they began to  practice open of sin

What was Christ's specific charge against this church?

  • She taught  - she taught doctrine and in a manner that led people away from the truth
  • She deceived - the membership into believing she:

  • Was authorized by God
  • She had a right to teach in the body against Paul's prohibition
  • Her doctrine was sanctioned by God
  • Was right in teaching the membership to continue the pagan worship of idols

How do these two things [eating meat sacrificed to idols & immorality] go together?

She taught that the members of the church could join in with pagans [unbelievers] and that they could participate in the feasts and parties where the meat had been sacrificed or dedicated to idols, or false Gods. She also taught that they could participate in the sexual practices that accompanied this worship at the feasts.

What Does The Sin & Condemnation of this church say to genuine believers today?

  • We must also be on guard against those in the church who would attempt to break down the wall of separation from pagans and pagan practice in the church. Today's church is full of Jezebel's [both male and female] who are seducing churches & memberships to abandon God's standards and to adapt the practices of the culture in order to be what they call "relevant."

  • The church assembly is not for the lost, it is for believers
  • The church does not have to adapt the practices of the world in order to fulfil her commission
  • Spiritual freedom does not include practices or teachings that violate the righteous standards of God
  • The power of the gospel is in the life, death, resurrection of Christ not in cultural relevance

  • We cannot change, circumvent, or otherwise castoff God's standards or commands

  • Times or cultural may change, but God's Word & its content does not
  • All who claim to have authority, teach, preach, or prophesy must be tested by Scripture
  • It takes time and consistency to determine whom God has "ordained" vs the self-titled
  • Holiness and worldliness can never mix for believers good or God's glory

  • We must realize that compromise of biblical standards will always led to corruption

  • Departure from God's standards always leads to sin
  • Churches today are permeated with compromise and corruption


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

What Does the Seven Churches say to the Genuine Believer (Part 3)


The Church in Pergamos - the church that compromised

--they harbored some false teachers who taught the doctrine of Balaam

--to eat things sacrificed to idols
--to commit sexual immorality

--they harbored some false teachers who taught the doctrine of the Nicolaitians

What is the doctrine of Balaam?

It was the teaching of Balaam to commit great sin against God by encouraging God's people to marry those outside of the nation of Israel. It was to marry the Gentiles. (Numbers 31:15-16)

He sold his prophetic gift for money (2 Peter 2:15)

He believed that God would curse His own people (Jude 11)

What is the similarity to today?

Believers are permitted to marry anyone they chose except a non-believer. Today, in this age of grace and in the church age, believers are not to marry unbelievers.

What are the consequences or problems with marrying and unbeliever?

·         It leads to corrupt worship of the true God in the manner in which God is to be worship by adopting the practices of "worship" of the unbeliever.

·         It can lead to the practice or participation in ceremonies, rituals, or organizations that violate God's standards (i. e. the practice of sexual immorality and the eating of animals sacrificed to idols)

·         It can lead to the rejection of the worship of God

·         It can lead to the rejection of God's standards, God's laws, and God's righteousness and the acceptance of unrighteous or ungodly behavior

What is the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes?

First, we really don't know for sure. There has been much speculation and discussion on this "group" and its practices.

Second, it seems to have been a "sect" opposed to Christianity

--The name means "conquering of the people"

--The name implies the sin of the "clerics" who developed a clerical hierarchy and ruled over God's people and robbed them of their spiritual freedom

The main idea for genuine believers is that they should hate anything that perverts the Word of God and violates the conscience and the spiritual freedom that believers have in Christ.

What are the consequences of or problems with the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes?

First - take careful note, that believers are to submit to one another in love and humility. We are to submit to the Pastors (Elders) of the church as they care for our soul. God has established a chain of command in the society, in the home, and in the church. Godly men are to and do rule over the member of the congregation. Biblical submission is not a sin nor is it eradicated because of the abuse, or sin of the Nicolaitanes.

Second - having said that, those who rule over the souls of men, pastors/elders are to "not lord it over" the sheep but to lead with humility, gentleness, and servitude.

Third - the problems:

·         God's glory is impugned
·         The precious conscience of the believer is violated
·         Believers are led into sin and or sinful practices
·         The Word of God is distorted
·         The picture, practice, and privilege of leadership is damaged and/or distorted

How Does the sin of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes relate to genuine believers?

·         Do you use your position as a Christian to cause other believers, particularly weaker or less mature believers to sin or to practice behavior that is considered sin and condemned by God?

·         Do you profit in any way from the privilege and position as a believer as a result of ungodly behavior or teachings?

·         Do you violate the conscience of fellow believers?

·         Do you use your position to dominate and "rule" over fellow believers, particularly for your own gain?

Be aware that I am taking inventory of my life and asking myself these serious questions. Remember these are thoughts from my daily devotions. I need to be especially alert to these sins because as a:

o    Genuine believer
o    Husband
o    Father
o    Pastor


I have the opportunity and occasion to unconsciously or consciously practice the "doctrines" of Balaam or the Nicolaitanes. It is easy in any of these capacities to fall into the sin of using these positions for my own benefit.