THE ENEMY ALWAYS GETS A VOTE!

 

Monday, November 30, 2020

 

THE ENEMY ALWAYS GETS A VOTE!

 

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 

Gen. James Mattis, former commander of the United States Central Command and known to his troops as “Mad Dog Mattis,” is quoted as having said “the war isn’t over until the enemy says it is over. The enemy always gets a vote.”

 

           It seems appropriate that Peter should be the one to warn us about the roaring nature of the Devil. Peter declared to Jesus that even though all others might abandon Him he certainly would remain faithful. Jesus tenderly responded that Peter would indeed deny him three times. (See Matthew 26:34)

 

           Jesus issued to Peter both a warning and an encouragement when he said:  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”  Luke 22:31-32

 

Dear Lord, help us to be vigilant in our Christian walk because the Devil likes to attack while we are celebrating a victory. AMEN

WHY ADVENT?

 

Sunday, November 29, 2020

 

WHY ADVENT?

 

Luke 1:52-54

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

 

           I have a dear friend who questions why Baptist should observe Advent, seeing it is, as he thinks it to be, a purely Catholic observance. While this is not to rebut his opinion, perhaps it needs some explanation.

 

In the Catholic Church, Advent is a period of preparation extending over the four Sundays before Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin advenio, "to come to," and refers to the coming of Christ. It is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.

 

Advent is a season of hope more than a date! Any child can tell you that waiting for Christmas requires a discipline and patience that he does not have. For Christians, especially in these crazy days, waiting for the return of Christ is filled with anxiety. We feel He is near, and we know we need to be personally prepared for His coming. Advent provides that time of preparation.

 

           Our Scripture, above, is a quote from the song of Mary which we call The Magnificat. She, pregnant with the Son of the Most High, sings out in inspired song regarding the hope of her people – and our hope. (See First Timothy 1:1).

 

1 Thess 1:8-10

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

 

           Hope for the believer is not some wispy, filmy wish for the impossible. It is founded upon the promises of a steadfast and loving God.

 

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.

 

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

 

Dear Lord, fill us with hope and then fulfill our hope with your grace. AMEN

MY BIRTHDAY WISHES!

 

Saturday, November 28, 2020

 

MY BIRTHDAY WISHES!

 

3 John 4

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

 

Today is my birthday!  The day of my birth was also Thanksgiving Day in 1946. I have already received many wonderful greetings from friends made through the years. I have been asked what I want for my birthday and, generally, I don’t need or want anything. But after some more thought I realize that there are THREE THINGS I want for [not from] all my friends. Here they are.

 

1. I WANT YOU TO COMPREHEND THE TRUTH!

 

Eph 3:16-19

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

To comprehend is from the Greek katalambano which means “to take eagerly, to seize and to possess.” This is why the minister prepares and preaches so that the veil that is spread upon the eyes and heart might be torn away to reveal the light of the gospel. Oh, I want you to comprehend the truth!

 

 

2. I WANT YOU TO CONFORM TO THE TRUTH!

 

Rom 8:29

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

Rom 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Truth apprehended is one thing, but truth applied is quite another.

 

James 4:17

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

 

3. I WANT YOU TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH!

 

Matt 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

Although the Amplified New Testament does not flow with the poetry of the King James, yet it might be helpful here.

 

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.

25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],

26 And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will.

AMPLIFIED

 

So, what do I want today? I want you to know and understand the truth, to see it clearly, to grasp it eagerly and make it a part of your life. I want you to communicate the truth to others who are yet in the same bondage which once enslaved you.

 

Dear Lord, grant that the gospel would be clearly presented and eagerly grasped today. AMEN