One Liners.
• It has been brought to my attention that many of my face book friends only have time for” One Liners and pictures.” But I cannot help but believe that the interest of some go beyond “one liners.” With that hope in mind I offer the following post with the understanding that many who read it will not take the time read its entirety or to look up and reads the Scripture references included herein.
• Some forty years ago Gods call came to me to serve my Savior as an evangelist, a preacher of the Gospel, and a teacher of God’s Word. For months I resisted the call. I refused to apply for admission to Bible College, rejected the encouragement from pastors and friends to make the life changing commitment. This was no small consideration for my life’s future. It meant giving up my life in the corporate world and starting all over at the age of 37. One day in my morning Bible study I came to the passage recorded by Paul in Philippians 3:13-31 (especially verses 13-14) ‘Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
• Before I could resign myself to such a commitment I understood that I must know beyond a shadow of a doubt the price attached to it. I found Gods duties for one who accept this opportunity to serve Him recorded in Ephesians 4:11-16; Titus 1:13, 1Tiothy 5:20, 2 Timothy 4 2, among others. I have made the commitment to serve without deviation or regret and accept the challenges that are inherent with my commitment.
• There are also requirements out lined by Jesus Himself for one who desire to be one of His disciples. Luke 14:25-28 (and others). Soul searching and personal honesty with God reveals that many who profess to be Christians fail to meet Jesus’ requirements for discipleship.
• One of the most important requirements that God has assigned to the pastor is found in Ephesians 4:14-15 (to teach sound doctrine) “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, “.
• Christians celebrate two days of the year specifically dedicated to the Glory of their God. These two days are Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday. Christians who totally understand the importance of these two holidays realize that they have both been hijacked by the vain philosophy of man. This cleaver hijacking process has totally distracted from the genuine intent and meaning of these two Scriptural celebrations. God warned of this doctrine in the message that He sent to the church in Colossae, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8
• April 20th, is the designated day on our current calendar when Christians will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a memorial of this historical and momentous day Our Christian nation will celebrate with an “Easter Egg roll” on the front lawn of our Nations capitol. There will be no mention of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ mentioned here. Informed Christians are well aware of the fact that Easter, as it is celebrated by most today has long been known to be a pagan festival!
• Today this celebration of Jesus resurrection will be observed in retail stores across our nation offering chocolate covered candy in the shape of bunnies, little yellow chicks, ducklings, decorated chicken eggs, baskets filled with colored confetti paper cradling colored candy. All designed by Satan to distract from the true meaning of Easter and to market Jesus’ for a cash profit. All as a result of the teaching they have received or by the lack of conviction to stand on Scriptural truths there will be many Pastors, Christian leaders, and parents of Christian homes engage in this pagan and blasphemous traditional practice.
• There will be places of worship decorated to honor the creature rather than the creator. This deception is clearly pointed out in God’s message to the church in Rome, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Romans 1:21-23 (The worship of false gods has long been the downfall of God’s people)
• Christian pastors, spiritual leaders, grandparents, parents and public education institutions, continue to hoist this false doctrine on our young people and wonder why they are confused when we expect them to believe the Bible and accept what God has really provided for them. I am convicted that many of these fail to take seriously the admonition given by God in His message to the congregation in the church located in Corinth, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2nd Corinthians 5:10 (in this message Christians will not be required to answer to God for their sin, Jesus has taken care of that for us. They will however be required to give an account for their service to the one who has redeemed them from the pits of Hell.)
• As pastor, preacher and teacher of the Word of God I have more than once been reprimanded by some in my congregation for preaching and teaching the absolute truth of the Scripture regarding this most precious Christian celebration. For failing to agree with the fun and frolic and deception the world puts for to celebrate this most meaningful day to our Christian faith. For reminding them that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is historically recorded, undisputed evidence of God’s guarantee of the eternal life that He has provided for us who believe and follow.
• How then does a committed pastor deal with this conversation at the door of the worship place as the congregation exits after the message you might ask?
• This pastor is constantly reminded of God’s Word recorded in Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ. “This pastor has a short conversation with God following this reminder. It goes something like this. “Father, forgive me for failing to make your message clear to your people,“
In Jesus Name.
AMEN
