Where Are Your Accusers…?

In the Gospel of Christ as written by The Apostle John, we read in the first 12 verses of an ad-hoc trial that the Scribes & Pharisees put on for Christ to trap Him.  What transpired is nothing short of amazing, better described as just simply Awesome.

My vantage point for this piece is thru the amazing Theological eyes of Matthew Henry, and his wonderful commentary on this passage.  From my perspective, a novice man’s opinion, Mr. Henry’s commentary is delightful and exhaustive enough to fill my appetite for academics on the subject, while stirring the Heart with Spiritual food of Christ’s Devine Power in the midst of acutely controlled Strength in the form of Meekness.  Oh to have been there to see and hear our Lord speak with Authority and Compassion in the same breath, wow…

We all know the story.  Scribes & Pharisees marched this woman in before Jesus.  Just as He had spoken to the woman at the well in Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, here to, He knew as God incarnate that He indeed would see this woman brought to Him as an adulteress.  He knew her Heart.  He knew the accusers Hearts.  Yet He in the composure of The Master, He knelt down and drew in the dirt / sand.  We do not know what he was drawing or writing, but I admire Matthew Henry’s comment on this subject.  “Conscience is God’s deputy in the soul, and one word from him will set it on work, Heb. 4:12.”  I see this moment as a dramatic pause for these Scribes and Pharisees; they must have delighted in His silence as He knelt there.  Then He stood, to them, He stood there as a man they were about to trick or trap into saying something they could condemn Him with.  But after He stood – He spoke, as God’s Son He Spoke, the wisdom of the ages formed as The Word of the moment, timed and exercised perfectly.  “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first”. 

Thump, went the first stone, thud went the next, then, as a bag of marbles spilled out unto the ground, they all dropped their stones.  For He alone, among all the men present that morning – He alone was without sin, He alone was blameless, He alone was pure and clean, The Very Word of God convicted their conscience.  They dropped their stones along with their ability to accuse this woman of anything in light of their own filthy sins.  Christ knew their Hearts.

His Moral Object Lesson was over – right?  No.  He carried on a brief conversation with her to show “us” the Heart of this dear woman; she was in need of a Savior, a Redeemer, and a Champion to rescue her from her own poor and sinful choices.  When she was placed in the presence of This Great Light of the Living Water of Christ, she recognized her sin and saw it as He saw – maybe for the very first time. 

I see Christ looking at her with deep concern, deep compassion for the condition of her Heart, and as He looked upon her, He had already forgiven her in His Dynamic Economy of Time.  For in His Eternity, the Cross was already a finished work, thusly, her sins were forgiven.  Christ died for all sin, Past, Present and Future.  She had been forgiven.  She stood there alone, with The Master still stooped and drawing on the ground.  He knew they were all gone, yet He stood up, looking around as to indicate to her with His body motion / language, they are not here.  Then He spoke to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

Her answer was more than likely offered with a shaky and broken voice, “No One, LORD”…  Ah, acknowledgment of His Lordship, knowing in Her Heart she had just been saved, physically from these corrupt men, and Spiritually by her Lord…

Then the words spoken by our Dear & Precious Lord are the words that those of us that Truly understand the weight and depravity of our sin long to hear…  “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”  You are no longer condemned to a stoning, no longer condemned to death…  Now go on with your life and SIN  NO  MORE !!!   Folks, this is a call to Obedience of the Word of God in its authority and Sovereign Holy direction for our lives.

Grace – means there is nothing we can do, say or negotiate to win God’s favor, for Christ fulfilled God’s requirement for a death payment for sin.  If we take Christ’s Salvation – we must submit and yield to His Lordship.  1^st Corinthians 6:18 thru 20 - ¹⁸ Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We are no longer our own – He bought us with His own Life, thus His Word is ours to Obey…

America’s new culture is contradictive to any sort of accountability, thus it teaches our citizens of all walks that we are a group of individuals accountable to no one but ourselves.  “It’s all about Me, what I want, when I want it and where I want it – period”.  Satan’s schemes are all alike, nothing new under the sun.

Choose this this day whom you will serve…  Will you choose God, to which the Blessings are first to be joint aires with His Son in Eternity, and all the riches of Heaven are your reward.  Or…  Choose the ways of the world, believing there is no accountability for living this life apart from God’s Holiness, and in the end discovering you were serving your father the Devil.

The Gospel of Christ as written by The Apostle John

Chapter 8 Verses 2 thru 12

² Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.  ³ Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.  ⁵ Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?”  ⁶ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

⁷ So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”  ⁸ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  ⁹ Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  ¹⁰ When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.”   And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Are You Changing???

Test of Trials...

Sometimes, Our Abba Father allows circumstances to occur in our lives that simply confuse the mind long enough to shake our focus from ourselves.

He allows events and situations to play out in our lives that directs us to reflect on Him and what we truly believe.  It stretches our Hearts to develop a deeper Faith & Trust in Him.  That process strengthens our resolve in Who He Is universally as well as Who He Is in our lives.

We have a choice, to allow these trials of the Spirit to soften our Hearts and strengthen our Faith and Trust in our Mighty King...  Or...  We can choose to let the events and others influence us to "wall up" and become embittered and hard Hearted.  This is the worlds way, take that tooth, require that pound of flesh.

God's way, is to Love, Yield and Submit to His will, His Authority, His Desires for your Heart & Life which is designed to purge the world from you...  The result of the trials and tests of this life, let you standing in His Holy Spirit resembling The Lord Jesus Christ more than this world and this flesh.  Sanctification costs something - It costs you your will, as you learn to lay it down and pick up your cross and carry it with and for Christ.

A word that is nearly hated in today's culture, we must "conform" to the ways and will of God - if He Truly called us out from among the world...  In conforming to His Will and His Spirit, we will then realize His Purpose for the moment and for our lives...  Folks, as my Sunday School Teacher Doug Olson often reminds us - it is "all" about the relationship!

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Reward / Payday is not always Friday...  When we endure suffering in doing what's right and what is commanded in God's Holy Word - we may not see reward this side of Glory.  The world's ways are not His ways, instant gratification is of this culture - God may take a man's  lifetime to polish him into a shining jewel.  Sometimes Faith is measured in inches of upward progress, but is most always measured in continuance!  KEEP  GOING !!!

Peter's Message In The Temple...

I was looking over some old messages I had stored on the computer from back when I was teaching / preaching Wednesday nights.  I had forgotten I started the study of the Book of Acts, this message deals with True Repentance - a Change of Heart.  I hope you find it useful and hear God's voice and sense His Spirit in these words.  God Bless...

Originally prepared for the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting on 11 January 2012 @ BBCWM

======================================================= 

The Acts of the Apostles

Acts 3:19 thru 26

Peter's  Message  in  the  Temple

 Good Evening;  Open Your Bibles to Acts Chapter Three, Verses 19 thru 26, follow along with me please:

¹⁹Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.    ²⁰And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:    ²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.   ²²For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.   ²³And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.   ²⁴Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have  spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.   ²⁵Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindred's of the earth be blessed.   ²⁶Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Dear Lord, please calm our hearts, put the day's events aside and let your precious Spirit minister to our heart, and let only your message be seen and heard here tonight, and not the mere man standing before these dear folks.  Let all that is said here tonight bring your Honor, Glory and Praise in your Dear Son's Name we  come to you tonight, in Christ we pray, Amen

OK - really quick review from last week, where are we geographically in our text tonight? (Temple in Jerusalem)

Who was the audience in attendance? (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, Scribes and other Israelites)

What is Peter preaching here in our opening text tonight? (Repentance)

Repentance - Repentance; but wait a minute, these were the "Spiritual Giants" of the day...  These were the Holy and Righteous men of Israel in that day, or so they thought!

John MacArthur says in his commentary on the Book of Acts that "Throughout redemptive history, God's spokesmen have called sinners to repentance.  Old Testament and New Testament alike!

Check on my references later, but you can see this fact in Jeremiah 8:4-5;  Ezekiel 14:6;  2nd Kings 17:13;  Matthew 3:1-2;  Mathew 4:17;  Acts 2:38;   Acts 20:21;   Acts 26:19-20 

Peter continues this practice as he draws this sermon at the temple to a conclusion, and calls these people to repentance.  The word Repentance is drawn from the Greek word metanoeo, which is "to change one's mind or purpose".  This is meant to be much more than a mere intellectual decision to change.  It is a change of mind that issues in a life change of behavior and mindset.  It is literally, a turning in direction or a conscious choice to change your thinking, more importantly changing your perspective - from a world view of the present culture - to a world view with GOD in the center.  His Holiness and Righteousness guides your path, you "Change", the pace is determined by the rate of submission and yielding to the Spirit of God.

Peter knew his audience, he knew that deep in their minds and hearts they thought they were "Right" with God, but were they?  No, the temple in many ways exercised oppression through the interpreted and made up Laws.  Peter knew the ways of the Temple Leadership, he knew that they were entrenched in their ways, and turned a tin ear towards the Truth.

Peter also knew, that while most of these people practiced the religion of the Jewish Faith, it was mechanical, ritualistic, and out of a sense of duty.   In these circles, the true God Loving individual was not often in the lime light, or spoken of.  The Jewish Leaders were often the subject of Christ's observations and rebuking.

How is that different from the corporate church today in this country?  America is the land of opportunity and entitlement.  The people don't need to rely on GOD, they are either self reliant or rely on the government to meet their needs.  The bulk of TV Evangelist have turned the stomachs of the American people towards faith and Christianity due to their bilking the public out of BILLIONS of Dollars.  Followed up by numerous scandals that were wrought in deceit and greed. Unfortunately - this tarnished all Churches in some people's eyes, as we walked further and further from the days of innocence into the days of Postmodernism. To a country today drenched in corruption from the top down to the local community leaders and even some local church leaders.

Our former stalwart bible believing Churches have departed from the Truth of Christ and His Heavenly Father, to teach an easy believism that has infected even the little independent Churches in this country.   Do we remember, what happen that 1st day of Pentecost that Peter preached, when his message then was also one of repentance?  "All that believed were together, and had all things in common."  They had all things in common, and they fellowshipped and spent time together joined in the Bond of Love in the Spirit of Christ.  They sold belongings to provide for the less fortunate in their circle of faith, those in the early Church.

They continued daily with one accord, breaking bread sharing meals in gladness and a singleness of heart.  What was the result of this awesome faith and dedication to one another - God found favor with them, and the Lord added to the Church daily - and people REPENTED and were SAVED!!!

Why was that same message so important here at the Temple and also - so very important here tonight and today in the Corporate Church of America?

BECAUSE - we need reminded that Christ sacrificed it all for us, and that passion of our beloved Savior, does have a cost for us.  We must relinquish our desire and thirst for the things of this world, and repent of those things that draw us away from His word, away from devoted time with Him.  We need to invest our God given resources in the work and furtherance of the Gospel of Christ.  AND Listen to me, NO MAN Has the right to tell you what that means in your life...  I can't tell you what that means for you, nor can the Pastor, or some well dressed TV Preacher.

BUT - if you are a born again, God Fearing, Christ Loving, Bible Believing Christian, and the Holy Spirit of the True and Living Christ lives within that chest of yours - you had better listen to what HE is telling you...  The only way this Church is going to grow, is if we listen to Peter's message.  Casual Sunday Morning Service Christians are playing a crap game.  For if they are sitting in these pews for any other reason than EXALTING the Name of Jesus Christ and Praising Almighty God with their solemn humbled hearts, they are spiritually confused.

A preacher can't stand up here and post a list of things not to do as a Christian, because those things can be mimicked and repeated without a change of the mind and heart!  However; I can tell you from the heart there are things that shouldn't be present!

If Sunday Morning for Sunday School and Morning Service, Sunday Evening Service, and Mid Week Services there shouldn't be a desire in your heart to be anywhere else.  God calls us to assemble together, to be HIS family, loving one another, ministering to one another.  This is a battle with self that I go through from time to time, in my flesh I make the wrong choices occasionally...  Then for days I carry the guilt and shame, tonight thanking the Lord for the conviction HE lays on my heart.

Satan doesn't want us,    to want to be here....  He is a sly old devil, he know the things you like to do for pleasure and recreation, and he places them before you wanting you to make a choice that will keep you out of the favor of God.  Yielding to His Will and Submitting to His service is HARD sometimes.  As you grow in His Spirit, and those choices become easier to make, He blesses you, and yes, in my eyes every answered prayer is a personal God given Miracle, and holds a special place in my mind and heart.

Please open your Bibles to Matthew 21:28 thru 31...   But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.   ²⁹He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.  ³⁰And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.  ³¹Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 

Repentance that Peter is preaching here is a CHANGE of the Heart!!!  Giving God lip service, or sitting here on a Sunday morning doing the Church thing, then going out all the rest of the week partaking in what the world has to offer, with not another thought of Christ till you walk back into the Church the next Sunday morning - well - that is not a saving faith!

There once was a son that told his Father "No I won't", then he thought about what he had just done, he then went back and repented his error,  he saw his wrong - his Sin, and went back, then he did that thing His Father asked of him, truly he was repentant and understood, he conformed in humility and then knew the true depth of Love.

That son that gave his Father lip service, saying yes Dad, I'll do it, then went about his merry way doing what he wanted, he was a miserable liar at best.

But what is more interesting is Christ's question and to the Chief Priests and Elders of the temple at the end of His parable?    He asked, which of these sons truly did the will of his Father.  What did they tell HIM?

They said the first son did the will of the Father....  He then rebuked them, telling them that the publicans and the whores of the day go into the Kingdom of God before them...  Why?  Because they answered the question correctly, they got it right,,,,,,  but refused to practice that which they knew as Truth!!!!

Today's Church is in the exact same condition, our people sit and hear the truth Sunday after Sunday, yet chose to go their own way.  Telling the Preach and God, yes, we got it, we understand it, and then go about their own way.  Never plugging in, never praying with a dear hurting friend, never helping a family in need, never singing in the choir, never helping with the children or youth ministries, and worse yet, never uttering the name of our Beloved Jesus again until the next Sunday.

THAT Dear, Dear Friends here tonight is why this Church has an alter call / or / invitation at the end of every message.  Because the American Church today has a lot of people sitting in it in the same state of mind and spiritual condition as that Temple did back there when Peter preached this short and powerful message.

Let's change the discussion from one of repentance, to one of dependence!  What do we right here at BBC rely on or depend on God for on a moment by moment, or a day by day, week to week, month to month basis...  Do we thank HIM for all things, do we even realize that Dependence on God grows out of a thankful heart.

If we aren't thankful for every little blessing He bestows upon us, we are depending on ourselves, our own means and our own will.  With a contrite heart I wrote this lesson / message out, knowing that many times I don't take the time to reflect on the blessing of the moment.

Lord God hear me tonight, I am thankful for the Miracle and Blessing of life, every Heart Beat and every Breath.  Father, see my tears of Joy and Thanks for my dear Godly Wife, that bears the weight of my humanness at times, Thank You Father for she prayerfully holds me in your Light, Your answers to those Prayers keep me safe and a Heart True to You and her.  Thank You Dear Father for the Family you have blessed me with...  Thank you for their health, and meeting their daily needs as well.

Father, Thank You for the Job I have, and the will to work when the culture has made it so easy to coast, I give ten thousand thanks.  For the Food you place on my table every day, the strength that you convert that food into for me to continue on, when that couch and television look so good to cuddle up to.  Thank you father for the mode of transportation that you have provided my wife and I to move about freely in this Country that you continue to Bless in the midst of our sinful and wayward ways.

Thank you Father for this CHURCH, for those in our midst that Yield to Your Word, Yielding to your TRUTH, Your Commandments and the Principles you have provided to guide and live our lives by.  Father bring us as a Church to your alter frequently, remind us that we are a peculiar people in your site, wrapped in the righteousness and justification of your Dear Son, paid for by His Blood and Earthly Life in our place.  Thank you for those dear, dear missionaries that were willing to go into those far reaches of this earth that many of us could never want to endure.  Continue to bless those mission fields and the ministries that those dear folks are providing to the lost.

Father - help us as a people, as a church, and as individuals come to the realization that we must rely on YOU!  Help us realize that a Proud and Self-reliant people have no need for a God, for they meet their own needs and wants without consideration to the real provider!

Father remind us on a regular basis of our Spiritual condition without Christ, then Father, help us sacrifice ourselves to and for your will in such a way that it ministers to others while bringing You Glory, Praise and Honor.  Without Christ, we are a vile, corrupt contentious lot in your eyes Father.  When we enter the throne room in prayer to you Father, you now look at us wrapped in Your Son.  But Your promise through His transaction at Calvary, gives us spiritual cleansing that on that day, we will stand before You and your Son forgiven and with robes of white.  There, and there alone lies the depth and foundation of our Love and Gratitude Father, for parting with your best long enough to pay the ransom for these tired and grateful saints.  -  Amen...

If you have friends that are playing the Sunday Morning Game, you may want to share this last point with them...

A Pastor, Church Doctrinal Statement, Church Constitution, Regular Attendance, or any daily, weekly, monthly or annual ritual in God’s name is NOT going to save a person from Hell.  It is the repentant - contrite heart, fearful of God, Loving His Son, and believing in the remission of their sin through the shed blood of Christ and conforming to His character as found on the pages of the book in your lap.

We are in the last days, and there is NO FIRE INSURANCE outside of confessing your sin and sinful ways, asking His Mercy and Forgiveness, accepting His Son's sacrifice and shed blood as Payment for that sin.  Then, accepting Him as, and elevating Him to LORD of your life - the rubber meeting the road is in this step.  For we are a proud nation, a prideful people, and giving over control is not in our cultural make up.  An old long gone friend use to say, son, you can accept Christ's payment, and Church all your life, but till you bend the knee and yield that proud heart, you'll be on the wrong side of the tracks.

Not really a theologically backed statement, but the message of Yielding and Submission hit home.  Not my will - but thine Lord...

A parting word of encouragement tonight is wrapped in this word FORGIVENESS!!!

Forgiveness produces JOY and relief from guilt.  One of my most favorite hymns was written by Horatio Spafford.  Mr. Spafford expressed that reality beautifully in his classic hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.  In it he penned the following familiar words:

MY Sin, Oh, the bliss of this Glorious Thought,    

My sin not in part, but the whole                          

Is nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more,         

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Oh My Soul....

As John MacArthur stated in his commentary, those words find their echo in every redeemed heart.  If we truly live with the Precious Spirit of Christ in us, and understand the verses of that Hymn, how can we not want to give up this old world and serve this Man that nailed it all to the cross.  May each and every one of you remember that moment when you realized that He saved you, and lifted the burden of guilt and shame through His Merciful, Gracious and Complete gift of Forgiveness through His Blood on that old tree.  Remember, Thankful Hearts, lead our Hearts home to Him, understanding our condition apart from Christ, helps keep our Hearts humbled and obedient to His Word.  Have a Great rest of the week, and we will see you Sunday Morning, let's pray...

Who is defining Love in your life?

Our nations culture and mind set is being strategically formulated by the likes of Oprah, Doctor Phil, the View and countless other talking heads that spin emotion.

They want you to believe that "Love" is how I made you feel yesterday, today & potentially how I might make you feel tomorrow...

God says, Love Is A Choice!  When HE knew most of us wouldn't Love Him back, He still Loved us and sent His Son to die in our place...  In that single act, God taught us Love, Forgiveness,  Obedience and Selflessness...

In the year 2013, the words Moral and Sin are rarely spoken.  Since we miss the mark in those two area's quite remarkably since the Garden, we needed redemption.  HE  LOVED  US - so He even provided the payment for us....

Love is not how I made you feel yesterday, today or even how I might make you feel tomorrow...  It's the eternal commitment to stand by your side, give all that I have to give and love you when the whole world turns upside down and against you...

By God's standard, that applies to you if you are my parents, my spouse, my children, my friend or a brother on the street...  One of Christ's last commands to us, was "to love one another"...  Not make each other feel all warm and toasty inside, but to Love one another...

Love is not a fleeting feeling, it is a lifetime and eternal commitment...  Loving when there is no sign of reciprocation, takes more faith and returns more joy in Spirit than any gushy emotional feeling...  God heals wounded hearts, He bridges emotional hurts and disconnects.  However; Before that can happen in the human heart, we must first go to the author of Love and submit all of our heart to Him...

Dear friends, the world wants to fill that emptiness in your heart with everything but what you were created for...  We were created to take Joy in Him, to Love Him and to Commune and Walk with Him...  A real meaningful relationship...

Is your heart hurting, are you seeking?  Doesn't it make sense to go to the one that created your heart in the first place?

Meet Him at the foot of the cross, He will tell you personally what real Love is!

God Bless,

RC

The Heart Pain of Happy Valley (State College, PA)

Dear Folks,

The events that have unfolded here in my home community, scream loud and true of the fallen world that we live in.  It points also to the depths to which the human heart can fall.

I am currently working on a piece addressing the American Church, and it's version of the "christ".  This issue at PSU just adds credence to some of my conclusions, and validation of Biblical Prophesy.

Tonight, I hope that all my Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Jesus of Nazareth, will pray for these dear children that have fallen victim to an evil and hideous crime.

It is also my prayer, that this community, county, state, and country will soon find the path to revival...  For we have most certainly lost our moral compass, when we began to write the True Christ out of our Churches in this country. 

God Bless those of you praying, may these dear folks find the True Peace through Christs ever loving arms and forgiveness.

Good Night,

RC Hall

Pray...

Let every soul belonging to the God of Abraham, paid for by Jesus of Nazareth, the true Christ, pray for Revival - unlike anything that has been seen to date in this country!

Dear Lord God, revive the hearts of Your people...  Set Your Body of Believers, the Bride of Christ on Fire this very day...

So that everything we say, we do, and we think bring Honor, Glory and Praise to You, in Christ's name we pray...

Amen...

Resurrection Day… This is Your Choice!

From the Word Of GOD, the Story of Salvation...

He rode into town to a Kings welcome and fanfare, the crowd was ecstatic to see Him, they hailed and praised Him. It was a wonderful and glorious scene, they appeared to Love this Man, wanting Him to be their King… My goodness, how the hearts of men and woman can be swayed, for by the end of the week, this wonderful blessed man was beaten bloody, kicked, spat upon and mocked.

It started when a few of unscrupulous men in Religious Power, a group called Pharisees,  the Sanhedrin, decided that this young man’s miracles, good deeds, and love for the people challenged their own influence. They were afraid that this man had a great impact on “multitudes” of people through His preaching and teaching and was gaining great favor with the people. He on more than one occasion called these Pharisees a “brood of vipers”,  “hypocrites” and “serpents”; he called them out as untrustworthy or deceitful leaders in front of the very people they were to lead.

He had sternly, intentionally, and authoritatively overturned tables of moneychangers, and sellers of wares and doves in a court of the religious temple of this town. He recognized the false teachers, corrupt religious leaders, scam artist and evil of all kinds, and called them such. Leaving in His wake, a growing number of unrighteous enemies, all of whom would want to see Him destroyed.

Then, one from His own circle sold his loyalty to the Religious Leaders of this town that feared the power and influence this man was building. So it was settled, His friend would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver. The mode of identification on that fateful night would be that of a “kiss” on the cheek of The One they feared. He was then kidnapped and falsely accused by the Religious Foot Soldiers and taken off to a Religious Council held in the dark of night.

This was a plot, a conspiracy of great proportion and they knew it must be carried out with great precision… For the people truly liked this man, so they decided not to kill him themselves, for this may truly turn the people against them, instead they must influence others to do their dirty deed. For it is told, in Matthew 26:4 of the Holy Scriptures “Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him". This indeed was a plot, and Caiaphas was at the center and knew how to play events to keep above the ripples. The record shows that they had decided not to kill Him “during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people”. They painted this man as a blasphemer of Almighty God that ultimately deserved death.  Knowing that Rome agreed to honor their Religious Laws, and that blasphemy brought a death sentence, they would use Roman authorities to do their dirty evil deed...

In the Gospel of Matthew we see that when Jesus the Christ was brought to the Sanhedrin, “The Chief Priest, the elders, and the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death” (26: 59-61), and found several. Jesus’ own words were found sufficient to condemn Him to death. For, in the morning, “...all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death” (27:1). Later, when Pilate tried to release Jesus, they fervently insisted He had to be crucified, and the angry crowd that was present, as well as the priests, finally prevailed (Luke 23: 23). Based on the scene at hand, our knowledge of the corrupt lengths these men would go to get their way, the angered crowed was probably handpicked.

So it was settled, this wonderful, kind, righteous, holy, perfect man would be destroyed at the hands of the Religious Right of the day. That this man, the TRUE SON of GOD, was to be crucified over the fear of losing power! It is this writer’s belief that Caiaphas carried out this deed with his eyes wide open. His heart was not of GOD! Yet, it is the writer’s belief that He knew this was the Christ, but just as Satan is under the delusion that he will overthrow God’s people – Caiaphas thought He could destroy the Son of God and retain his power and influence over the Jews.

Those of us that claim HIM as our own, and have received the Holy Spirit as His Comforter and guiding influence, know that HE is raised this day - HE  IS  ALIVE !!!  He has conquered both sin and death on our behalf. He now sits at the right hand of Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, poised to stand and come quietly and take His Bride to the Father, for a long awaited Wedding and Feast… For the Church – The Bride of Christ is waiting and watching for His return. For Faith come by Hearing, and Hearing by the WORD of GOD. That FAITH is even a gift of GOD, and He Freely gives it to those He Calls out from among this sin laden world. If you have heard His Voice, the tug on the heart by His Spirit, then separate yourself from the ways of the world. Follow Christ, take up His Cross, and share the Good News with those that are seeking. Time is short, He will soon come to take His own, and there will be no other opportunities. For once He takes His Church away, the age of Grace is over, and all that is left is Judgment and Damnation.

God Is! He Is! He created all that you see; all that you know was formed by Him. Even YOU! The first step to salvation is to recognize GOD! He is Righteous, Holy, Sovereign and all powerful. He as the Creator created man, to walk and commune with Him in the cool of the evening. He gave us free reign over all that He laid before us with one exception. One thing was forbidden, the rest was ours for enjoyment and learning. BUT, an evil one cursed through the ages influenced that first couple in the Garden. The woman was deceived, and her husband, disobeyed the Heavenly Father with his eyes wide open. For he knew it was wrong, and he decided to disobey regardless of the outcome.

God, found them naked in their sins, and cursed the action as well as the earth. At that moment their Spiritual Lives were snuffed out, and while God had designed them to live eternally with Him their physical bodies would now die. Through the ages, God gave the decedents of that first couple numerous opportunities to walk righteous and holy lives, but they continually chose not to. God then sent His Son, this young man named Jesus, the Christ that you read about previously. He came to earth with one simple purpose, to tell of His Heavenly Father, to show the people the path to the Father and Righteousness. For He told them and us, that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him, would have everlasting life” (John 3:16). That “gave” is the Gift of His Life for ours, a payment for the sin that we on our own are not capable of providing. “For the wages of sin is death (physically and eternally); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:32). Christ told us, there are not many ways to God, unlike what the world wants you to believe today. There is but one way to God… “For I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto to the Father but by me” (John 14:6)!

Dear readers – the choice is yours, and it is a choice – that you make voluntarily. Remember one last thing “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved”. It is God’s will for you to choose Him over the offerings of this corrupt, cruel and dying world. Please make the right choice, before it’s too late!

HE IS...

HE IS...

The Alpha,

The Omega,

The Beginning,

The End...

HE IS...

The Creator of ALL that IS,

The Light of the World,

The Sum of ALL that ever was...

HE IS...

Savior, Redeemer, Comforter and Lord...

WE Will...

Bend our knee & bow our head now in Humble Loving Obedience... Or...

We Will Bend our knee then by force in Fear and Trepidation under HIS Judgment... Upon raising to our feet we will be sentenced to eternity apart from HIM and banished to Hell for ever and ever...

The Choice is ours, while we stand in the midst of His Grace, and realize HE IS our only way to God and Eternal Salvation!!!

The Bible(s) I Use In Teaching

Good Morning!

Several of you have asked what Bible am I using, what books do you read, and who are your favorite Preachers / Teachers?

Well, to answer those questions in any real depth, I would have to open up my Testimony and dust it off a bit. So since this week’s post is lengthy like the last couple of weeks I will try to keep this somewhat brief.

First my Bibles! I personally use The New Scofield Reference Bible (KJV) in Church to follow the Pastor in Morning and Evening Service, and sometimes for teaching. For my Wednesday night Prayer Meeting Messages, I consistently use two sources. (1) Bible Resources at the www.bible.com web site, and (2) Quick Verse Bible software, version 2007 sold and marketed by FindEx.com, Inc. When writing 90% of my messages and lessons, I default to the KJV. I have found that in most cases, it is closer to the Hebrew and Greek text, that I also have a complete set of via Quick Verse. If I use any other version, it would be the New American Standard Version, just to add clarity for me to expound a Biblical principle or point that I need to get across.

My library has grown immensely in the last couple of years, mainly because our retiring Pastor donated his entire library to me. I have several new books by Alistair Begg, and two new books to me by Jonathan Edwards, as well as a couple new books to me by John Stott. I also have an entire collection of Charles Spurgeon, who is one of my all time favorites. I have his entire collection electronically, and I have the entire book collection of Charles Spurgeon’s Sermon’s.

My favorite Preacher’s / Teachers…. Well, let me go back to the 1960’s and work my way forward. My first favorite Pastor was John C. Hall, my Grand Father. I was saved in a little Church in Osceola Mills, PA and the Pastor was Reverend Mink. My home Church most of my life as a child was the First Baptist Church of Bellefonte, PA where Pastor Marvin Apple was the Senior Pastor; I attended this Church until I left home for the Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, when I came home on weekends or on leave, I attended the Church that my Bride to be attended, The Bible Baptist Church, Pastor Steven Burns was the Senior Pastor.  Over the years, Pastor Burns has become one of my closest friends, and I go to him first with Biblical questions or Spiritual issues. I also follow the work of RC Sproul, Ravi Zacharias and Alistair Begg.  Our new Pastor, Alan Kilian, is a good Teacher, I have only sat under his teaching for a little less than a year.  He Preaches the Truth without reservation or excuse - so he is on the path to becoming one of my favorites as well.

So there you have it, as brief as this “Old Sinner – Saved By Grace” can do it. I love you all, and appreciate all the wonderful encouraging emails, and occasional comments on this Blog Site. It is my prayer that you may find Christ in the pages, Encouragement and Blessing in His Words. May God Bless, Have A Wonderful Day!

Robert C. Hall

Something to think about.....

Dear Loved Ones... 

Until the sin in our lives causes us to pause and tremble, until that sin grips our heart with pain... We will never truly be free from the sin Christ paid to redeem us from. For if we dabble or play in the offerings of the world - we begin to rank and marginalize sin. We justify our actions by those that we think are worse in others. All the time, forgetting God's position on sin.

In God's eyes - steeling twenty cent pencil from the office is as much an infringement on the Law as slicing your neighbor's throat. In Matthew 5 Christ said "blessed are they that mourn". That mourning is over our sinful wicked ways, and those that understand that sin separates us from the fellowship of the Lord - will be comforted by the Holy Spirit. For those that are poor in Spirit, understanding, believing and trusting Christ is our only hope to be in God's presence - shutter when they have infringed on His Grace, through the selfish acts of sin. 

Examine your hearts, lay those infractions at the foot of the cross, repent and then turn away and walk with Christ. Grow in Christ. Love Christ. Exalt Christ and then bask in the freedom from sin as it was meant to be. Then when He either calls you Home, or He returns to take us - you will see the face of God.

Go in Christ - and Keep Going...

RC

Words to Encourage?

I have been told that I am too “black & white”… I have been told that I am too old fashion… I have even been told that I have it all wrong; God wouldn’t destroy a world full of people that are basically good…

What? This world has morally digressed through history, because we learn nothing from our mistakes… We just find ways to more creatively window dress that which is wrong, immoral and yes evil. Satan is alive and well, deceiving all that harkens to the call for fleshly pleasures.

The word of encouragement for my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ is… Let not your hearts be troubled, Christ will arrive soon, He carries with Him eternal peace for those that “know Him as Lord”. But be not fooled world, our brief exit from your lives will set into motion a series of events that will bring with it His Great Judgment that will soon follow.

The Words of Encouragement this morning… There is still time to willingly bend your knee, bow your head and heart and name Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord and King… For when He comes back and touches foot on this earth again, it will be to bring Judgment and Restore Order. At which time it will be too late to willingly acknowledge Him, you will then be forced to bend that knee and bow that head and see Him as King and Judge.

It’s not too late – yet…

JOY & PEACE?

Philippians 4: Verses 4 through 9

(King James Version)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Those THINGS, which we have Learned!

Those THINGS, which we have Received!

Those THINGS, which we have Heard!

DO THEM - PRACTICE THEM!

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We allow our Christian lives to become Frail and Infirmed Spiritually, because we choose to follow our own desires and not that of Christ. Paul nailed it solid when he wrote to the Church in Philippi, he knew where Christian Joy flows from. He spoke the TRUTH when he stated that “the peace of God ~ shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ”.

God’s peace and God’s joy can ONLY FLOW from the inside out! Those things that you have learned Spiritually, those things that you have received Spiritually, and those Truths that you have heard – DO. Paul coached us here, he is basically saying, come on folks, take these Spiritual blessings and DO God’s will with them. Practice what you SAY you believe. Share that which you have an abundance of – CHRIST!

As a Church - do we both collectively and individually Speak Jesus? Teach Jesus? Live Jesus? Share Jesus?

If we don’t – if our practice is not consistent – neither will our Joy or our Peace! Oh, we can put on a good front for Sunday Mornings – but it is not sustainable! For without total and complete surrender to Christ’s Lordship, we can’t live in His will and know His Joy!

In verse 5, Paul said “Let your moderation be known unto all men”. The New King James interpretation of verse 5 says “Let your gentleness be known to all men”. That gentleness can only flow from the Spirit from within. That Spirit from within can only flow to the outside when we yield to HIM. Upon yielding to Him, we are to share with all men, how can it be known if it is not shared or spoken?

Then – finally Verse 8, where in our life times we have heard so many messages launch from. TRUTH, HONESTY, JUST, PURETY, LOVELY & GOOD REPORT, THINGS OF VIRTUE – THESE THINGS WE MUST THINK ON.

In Matthew 5 – Christ taught us what Christian Attitudes should be. In Galatians 5, Paul warned us of the unclean heart, and then showed us what the Fruit of the Spirit should be. Here in Philippians 4, Paul tells us what the results of walking in the Spirit should manifest in us; and how we should discipline our minds and hearts to seek Spiritual Joy and Peace in our lives.

I know we can all quote John 14:6; Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

I am sure we can also quote Romans 10:17; So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Now we must take the quotes we hold in our hearts and live them every day, practice them every day and share them whenever Christ opens the door!

If you want to fill your heart with Joy, if you want to know the Peace of God, then practice what you have been taught. Paul said Faith comes through hearing the word of God. Christ said He is the only way to God. So then; for our neighbors and coworkers to come to Faith in Christ for salvation. They must hear the word of God, they must see Christ in you, recognize their loss and inability to get to God on their own and turn to Jesus. They must SEE and HEAR Jesus in You, and that can’t happen until you yield to Christ, only then can you claim His Joy and Peace.

A wonderful Christian Saint and Scholar that I loved and admired once told me, “Christianity is not a feeling that we hold inside, it’s a way of life and the only reality for those that believe". He also said, "Christ isn’t just a man to study – He is The Truth and Factual center of all that is!” My goodness Grand-Dad how the Church has changed! We hear and speak our Blessed Jesus on Sunday, and wing it with the world all the rest of the week. Is it any wonder that God has turned us to our own hearts desires and lusts of the flesh?