Thursday Evening Blog With Pastor Williams (June 2008)
Posted on June 1st, 2008 by TADCCBLOG
Pastor Williams will be active on this blog site THURSDAY from 8:30 to 9:30pm. Please suggest topics or questions for discussion.
Filed under: Discussion Topics, Live Blog on Thursday
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JESUS IS IN THE MIDST OF US
Get the Word Out! Jesus is in the midst of us! Praise the Lord when He reveals greater insight of His Holy Word. For instance the teaching in Matthew 18:18-20.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
As believers in Christ Jesus we understand our authority through Him and our Heavenly Father to bring change on the earth according to verses 18 -19. In verse 20 it teaches how the power of unity evokes the Spirit of Christ to sit among us. The Greek translation of midst is mesos (pron. mes’-os) and is defined as ‘among’ Not only is He in the midst of us but He is among us. In other words Christ is seated wherever we (two or three) have congregated.
We also know that His Spirit abides in the heart of every believer so if two or three are gathered in His name, of course, He is in the midst. But there is greater revelation to this verse. As individuals we have the choice at will to quench the Spirit of God (1 Thes 5:19). But when we are gathered together in His name, He is among us and we cannot dismiss Him from our presence. Even when the pastor, bishop or any leader is operating in his own will, Jesus can override their authority and honor those in the congregation that agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask.
With all that said then… why is it that some leaders would allow such unrighteous living and practices (not only among the congregation but themselves) to be displayed in the church? This is a clear indication that the FEAR of God is not present. (Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. The bible says that…The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good Psalms 14:1. Therefore you judge.
Think about it! Jesus is actually sitting among us in authority to execute judgment, bring deliverance, salvation and to demonstrate His power. Perhaps it would be helpful for each church to place an empty seat (symbolic of Christ presence) before the people during every gathering (i.e. Worship service, bible study, choir rehearsal, business meetings, prayer service, youth meetings, etc.) What does verse 20 say again… For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Once righteous change occurs and minds are brought back into subjection to the Spirit of Christ being in the midst then the empty seat can be removed. If things do not change then leave that congregation! Not only would it bring change to the corporate fellowship but also to the heart and mind of every born again believer. It not only would reestablish hope and faith in Christ but also respect and reverence to God. Our attitudes would improve, backbiting, gossiping, lying would cease; forgiveness, respect, brotherly love would increase; bad habits, addictions to drugs and alcohol would be broken; sicknesses and disease would be healed; diver lusts and practices of homosexuality, adultery and fornication would be exposed. Traditions of men, legalisms and business as usual would end.
Thank God for 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? God is so gracious toward us. He has given us a chance to judge (sentence or condemn in the flesh) every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us so that we can get right and stay right. The time is NOW!
Isn’t it wonderful to see citizens of this country not being intimidated by lawsuits, judges or legislators. it often times appears that our role as believers are being mitigated by the laws being enacted.
The new govenor of New York has gone against the state legislature and the people to make all homosexual marraiges outside the state of New York acceptable in New York. He did this even though the Attorney General’s office said that homosexual marriages could not be performed in the State of New York.
California’s judges made same sex sin legal.
In Canada, a Pastor is fined and told to apologize for calling homosexuality a sin.
in Canada Alberta Human Rights Tribunal has forbidden evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson from expressing his moral opposition to homosexuality. The tribunal also ordered Boisson to pay $5,000 “damages for pain and suffering” and apologize to the “human rights” activist who filed the complaint.
The complaint stems from Canada’s debate leading up to state legislation recognizing so-called same-sex marriage. In 2002, the pastor wrote a letter to the editor of his local newspaper in which he denounced the homosexual agenda as “wicked” and stated that: “Children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system; all under the fraudulent guise of equal rights.”
China continues to persecute “outlawed” churches and its leaders. Chinese citizens can now choose their own careers, travel abroad, own a car and establish a business. But Christians cannot legally hold a prayer meeting in a private home, share a church service with foreign Christians or interact with foreign Christian organizations. China still bans religious education for children under the age of 18 and limits the publication of Bibles and other religious materials.
How wonderful it is that people in South Carolina have taken a stand for righteousness when it seems like the world is content to do whatever it can to end up in hell.
South Carolina’s lieutenant governor announced Thursday that he is willing to put up $4,000 of his own money so his state can become the first in the nation to issue “I Believe” license plates with the image of a cross and a stained glass window.
The legislation allowing the plates was one of several religious-themed bills to became laws in the closing days of the state’s legislative session.
The bills mean South Carolinians attending local government meetings could soon see the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer posted on walls, pray without fear of being sued and drive home in cars with the “I Believe” plates.
We as believers need to stand on the Word of God. God through His Son Christ Jesus is on the side of righteousness. Let us pray, be vigilant and outspoken for the things of God. Not only our lives but our children’s lives as well depend on it.
We know what the Bible says about abominable marriages called same sex.
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
The word abomination means practices that are related to pagan practices. Therefore same sex marriage is what the heathens would do as done in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Consider the following verse;
Deuteronomy 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods
True believers do not participate in abominations because they belong to pagan rituals.
Extra-biblical sources show what the Jewish practice was doing the time of Christ Jesus for those who say that Christ Jesus our Lord and the Jews at that did not consider all homosexuality evil.. Josephus and Philo, recorders of Jewish history and customs, both stated that Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin was against nature. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:26, uses the same term to refer to homosexuality. Paul was a contemporary of Josephus. Paul and Josephus were both learned and both used the same terminology to refer to the same abominable acts.
Many false teachers and false prophets are leading the people astray because of the lack of discipline to the flesh and study of God’s word.
Every church in Califorinia or anywhere else that performs endorses homosexuality is cursed.
If we do not stand for moral righteousness based on God’s Word we are setting our children up for failure. Adultery is just as wrong. But look at the number of churches with leaders having been married more than once, while the first spouse is still alive. Galatians 5 says that adulteries shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. But that has not stopped the practice. If we are not vigilant to stop this abhorrent lifestyle from speading, our children will grown accepting this evil lifestyle just as the current generation has accepted adultery.
Continue to cry out against sin, no matter who is opposed to you. Your crys are for your children and future generations.
What is Salvation? In a society where boundaries to righteousness are being blurred and obliterated it is important to know what God’s Word says about salvation. With different religions and groups claiming salvation and with their lifestyles being diametrically opposed to each other it can be confusing to one seeking to know the Way. Is calling on the name of the Lord all it takes to be saved? Or, is it the immersion in water as some believe that saves? And once you call on the name of Lord and are baptized is there a requirement for a lifestyle change? Should we change our dress codes, the places we frequent, even our friends in order to be saved.
The Word Salvation in the Greek is soteria as shown in the following verse.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
The Greeks used this word in referring to safety, deliverance, preservation from harm and recovery. For a person to have salvation he must be safe from something, delivered from something, preserved from something or recovered from something.
When we profess faith in Christ Jesus our Lord we are safe from the works of the devil through sin.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Therefore if we continue to practice sin we are not saved. Things that are sinful as listed in Galatians 5:19-21 and I Corinthians 6:9,10 should not be practiced by a believer.
1 Corinthians 6:9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
The eleventh of the same chapter say such were some of you. Therefore if you are saved you do not practice an ungodly lifestyle.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Our very nature declares that we are sinners. Therefore every person that comes to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus must be delivered from some sin because sin shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. In other words, what sin brought you to Christ. If you cannot think of anything that you needed deliverance from then you do not have salvation.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us
Salvation is only a promise. A promise is only fulfilled when both parties complete their requirements. If we fulfill our end of the agreement God is guaranteed to fulfill his commitment to us. It means that we are on a journey of righteousness that is not just a moment in time but it is a lifetime decision and lifestyle. For us to lead a life of salvation we must be preserved. Preservation is only required for extended periods of time. Preservations keeps us from entering back into the practice of sin. We need preservation to prevent us from returning to the old sinful life.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Last of all, if we cannot recover ourselves someone else must recover us. This means preaching the judgement of God upon those that will not repent, pointing out that hell’s fire awaits those that will not surrender to Christ Jesus our Lord and torment and affliction to those that continue to turn away from God.
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Revelation 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
The first step is repentance and acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8,9 says that we are saved by Grace through faith in Christ Jesus. If we hold onto the promise and live the life then can we truly say that we have salvation.