Devotions from Colossians  by Darrell Lingerfelt

Full Facial View
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Who is the image of God? The man Christ Jesus! Who is the first born of every creature? The man Christ Jesus! 

Don't misunderstand. Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and is not the firsborn of deity for He always has and always will be God and with God as the 2nd person of the Trinity. Colossians 1:16-17 will tell us, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."  

The likes of deity that any man or creature terrestial has seen, is Christ. John 1:14 tells us, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Of course, not all men has seen Him physically save those who were here during those 33 years of His ministry on earth. However, all have seen Him spiritually, and are accountable to Him, be they Saint or sinner, though the sinner would discount Him and refuse to acknowledge Him either physically or as Deity. And if there are those who recognize Him as being Deity, they still will not worship Him as Lord of their lives. However, someday...every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is indeed Lord.

We, who are Saints, take great pride in this verse seeing that by faith's eyes we have seen the blessed Lord of Glory. 2Corinthians 4:6 tells us that, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Thus, when we see the precious Son in our hearts and do worship Him. We also see the Father in the face of Jesus and are overwhelmed by the grandeur of Him who has shed His grace on us. The totality of the Godhead has revealed itself to us and sustains us with faith images that we can cling to and know that our names are written in Heaven. Yes, it is images that we can only see through the haze of the supernatural. Nonetheless, it is enough to make our hearts swoon at the very sight of our Lord and Savior.

Now if in your mind's eye you can see the face of God in Christ Jesus, worship, Saint! Let not your heart be troubled, Christ has given you this view and you can bask in the glow of it. Hell will have its gods, but it cannot bend, smear, or erase this great view that has been given you through Christ Jesus our Lord. Fix your eyes upon Him. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Closer than you think . . .

Islam is all about "take-over."  Please click on the link below (World Trade Center Mosque) and read this very timely and very serious article from Michael Yousef.

World Trade Center Mosque

FIXED!

It took a while but I am back on and will be posting as often as I am able.  My posting section had a bug and wouldn't allow me to post.  Thanks for all the emails and things asking me when we would be back and running. it was appreciated.

A Busy, Yet Productive Month . . .with blessings!

It has been a while since I posted on here, but I have been terribly busy.  This month (June) I have celebrated my 38th wedding anniversary, Father's Day and my 58 birthday, traveled to North Carolina to see a cousin I haven't seen in 35 years, attended two separate Bible conferences in Conyers, GA, and Decatur, AL, fulfilled my pastoral duties and worked on 2 on-line courses, and if that isn't enough, painted the outside of my house (well, almost,  still like quite a bit.).  But all in all it has been a very productive and enlightening time as I have been blessed to hear some very good preaching and imbibe on some very deep and meaningful study.

While in Conyers, GA., I met up with some of my nearest and dearest preaching buddies and had a great time.  Also, I traveled over to Luther Rice Seminary and met with my Systematic Theology professor, Dr. Mapes, and had a great time of fellowship on the campus.

But today was the best day this month.  During near the end of Sunday School, I was closing out a lesson entitled What Do We Know and When Did We Know It?, and was moving out from behind my lectern in time to see a white car pull into our parking lot.  Then just before worship started in comes a family of about 7 or 8, (I think), and had a seat near the back on the right side of our church.   I made my way to them and introduced myself and they introduced themselves as the Stowe family who had just moved into our area.

That was indeed a blessing, but then when I asked, "how did you hear about us?" I was really blessed. Mr. Stowe informed me that he had read this very blog while stationed in Alaska, found that he agreed with what he read, and since he had planned to retire in this area, hunted us up.  Isn't God amazing?  I have posting on here for several years and never dreamed anyone outside of friends, and the like, would ever read my blog.  But the Lord saw to it that this family would.  Praise the Lord.  Maybe the Lord will impress them to make our church their place of worship.  We certainly enjoyed having them with us.

Well, I must finish preparing for tonight's service.  Serve the Lord, folks.  You never know when someone in a far off place may learn of it and be blessed by the Lord for your efforts.  I will never take this little meandering blog for granted ever again!

I leave you with another devotion from Colossians  1:

A Sure Weapon

1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Do you wrestle constantly with our adversary, the devil? Don't feel alone. That is the lot of all Believers. Some will try to act pious and pompous and pretend that they are above sin. But it is a ruse. The Saints are accosted daily and our only recourse is found in this verse and verses like it!

Many will be the arrows that will terrorize the Saints. The forces of Hell work relentlessly against them. Hell does not have to spend much time amongst the world, they have them already. Their focus is to cause the Saints to reproach the Lord. They laugh with glee when the Saints sometimes succumb to a well placed infliction. And it doesn't have to be much! The slightest little prick of the flesh can send the whole into convulsions of sin. That is why we must keep this verse at the top of our minds to remind us of that which we have through Christ Jesus. Our eternal redemption is secure and all our sins are past. Further, we have an advocate with the Father who continually pleads our case when we sin. Not that we should ever let sin abound, but when it does, we will in no wise be cast out, for our Lord will bind our wounds and present us faultless before the great Judge having taken our sins on Himself on Calvary.

Romans 3:24-25 has to be added to our devotion today to further set today's verse in the concrete of our minds. Paul says that we have been, 

"justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." 

Isn't that grand! Galations 3:13 tells us that, 

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree!" 

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour,"  Ephesians 1:7and 5:2 .

Now take comfort in this, Christian, but also take care. Do not use it for a liscense to sin. Strive against your passions and fight the grand fight of faith. Get your self over to Ephesians 6 and put on the whole armor of God. Check for places that may be exposed and fill them with the love of Christ. The Apostle John had this to say on our behalf in 1John 1:9 :

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

1John 2:12 goes on to say:

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." 

Pick up these weapons and march into the war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!

TRANSLATED

Devotions from Colossians

1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The power of darkness is not just some idea of all that is evil. The power that is the evil darkness is none other than the prince of this world spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. He says that prior to the Lord delivering us, "ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others," Ephesians 2:2-3. That prince of the power of air is none other than Lucifer, the arch enemy of the Saints.

My friend, too little is spoken of in regards to the sinner's condition and position before salvation. As a result, very little is known of the fact that the sinner was possessed of the devil and his minions, and they held sway over the sinner's will. Further, the devil has his claws sunk in deep to the flesh of the sinner and is dragging him pell mell toward hell. The sinner cannot break free! Sin, death and the grave hold him shackled to the whims of the devil. The power of the darkness moves the sinner at every turn. And to be freed from such is not in the sinner's ability to do. He is dead in trespasses and sin unable to get to an altar, run through a baptistry, repeat a sinner's prayer. He is dead to God, dead to himself, dead to life, dead to hope.

Oh but then came the Master of all life! The Lord of glory, whose infinite almighty power created the universe, comes on the sinner with power and great authority, freeing the sinner from the talons of the dragon, crushing the head of that serpent, breaking the shackles of sin, dispelling the power of darkness, and makes that sinner free for the first time in his existance. No wonder Paul is giving thanks to God! Great is the awesome power that rescues the perishing and cares for the dying. Christ has snatched them in pity from sin and the grave. Fanny Crosby wrote a grand verse in that wonderful song "Rescue the Perishing." In verse 3 she writes:

            Down in the human heart, crushed by the temptor,

            Feelings be buried that grace can restore.

            Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,

            Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.

Oh thank God, that Jesus rescues the perishing and cares for the dying. Jesus is merciful and Jesus will save. It is He that comes on the sinner and smashes the power of darkness with the sword of His mouth, laying waste to the strong holds that hold the sinner bound. And that sinner is redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus, who makes the sinner free to new life, eternal life!, through Him.

Think today, Believer! Thou hast life because Christ has delievered you from the power of darkness. He has snatched you from the jaws of death, of hell, of sin, banishment into the throes of hellish damnation where wickedness is perpetual terror. Believe it! The deliverance you enjoy came at great price. And might I add that it was a super feat performed by the God of the universe? It is true. Thy paltry prayer was required. But great was the magnamoius work that allowed you to pray with repentance toward god and faith in Jesus Christ! Don't you ever forget it! The battleground for your soul is littered with the demons of hell whom the Lord crushed with the sound of his voice. Them devils tried to keep you, but when Jesus came on the scene their knees buckled, they howled in pain, they cried, "what wilt thou do with us, Jesus, thy Son of the most High God?" And Jesus said, "loose my child and let Him go!" And they did, hallelujah! There was no power able to stop it either! You were made free that very instant. Give Him praise, honor and glory. He plunged you to victory beneath the cleansing blood! 

We are proud...

...to host Brother Bill Sasser and wife, Lynn, in 2 special services this weekend at Providence Baptist Church.  Friday evening Bill and Lynn sang and Bill preached on What Is Grace?  They will be with us tonight (Saturday) singing and Bill preaching once again at 7pm.  I hope they enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed them.

ARMY REPORT SAYS 
CHRISTIANS THREATEN 
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY


I don't have anything to add to this,  but for your own information please read this disturbing article at http://newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin582.htm

Partakers of Heaven

Devotions from Colossians by Darrell Lingerfelt

12b Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Here is a mystery: Seeing how severely bad we have been, and understanding by Scripture that God in His omniscience has known how bad we have been (and are and will be) from all eternity, is it not incredible that He would make us "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light?" It is.

What is Paul speaking of here? He is speaking of that grand inheritance beyond the stars wherein is all the glories of Heaven! The inheritance of God is eternal life! And in that eternal condition the Saints have at their disposal all the riches of Heaven physically. Sure there will be all the grandeur of Heaven that is spoken of by God's Word, the poet and the singer. But even more so, they will be partakers of close communion with our Father and Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Can you get a hold on this? It is sometimes hard to look into the bright light of the Celestial City. But Scripture assures us of that which God has laid up for us. Jesus, Himself, says in John 14:2-3 that, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." 

Revelation 22:14 tells us that, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Salvation has wrought that for us! We have entrance through our Lord Jesus Christ who has paid our sin debt and He will usher us into that great place of our God. It is true! Jesus says in Matthew 25:34, "then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." 

You may ask, "How can this be?" Let us let Peter explain. He says in 1Peter 1:2-5 that those that are saved are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." 

As a result, 

"3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 

Is that not wonderful? "But maybe that Apostle is mistaken," you say? I don't think so, listen to God, the Father, through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 60:19-20: 

"The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."

Someday all the Saints will be called to that "general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect," Hebrews 12:23. There in "that city that had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof," Revelation 21:23. "There, where there is no night; they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever," (Revelation 22:5), we will enjoy all the divine plesantries of Heaven's domain. The Father has seen to it having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Christ Jesus. We are made sons! We are made partakers. Let us then rejoice that God has included us in such a great thing. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Canaanland is just in sight!  

The Prayer of Thanks
Devotions from Colossians

12a Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

What prayer has any value without "thanks unto the Father?" None, I say! Later on in this grand letter we will discover  Colossians 3:15 which states, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Today in our text Paul says he is "thanking the Father for making the Colossian Saints, as well as all Believers, partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light." There is much to be thankful for and Paul would certainly not leave any stone unturned as he would attempt to be mindful to give the Father abundant praise in thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings Paul had received. Even more, Paul would thank the Lord on behalf of others. He could see the grand work and blessings in such folks as the Colossians and he felt bound, and was determined, that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ receive all glory, honor, praise, and much thanksgiving for that that They do in the lives of the Saints.

That Paul would pray an intercessory prayer of thanksgiving for the Colossians shows how he felt that God was not praised enough. Not that the Colossains were remiss in this category, for I don't believe they were. But there are many who always have the hand out wanting something from the Lord and then forget, or just plain fail, to thank the Lord for what He does for them. Come on! Think about it. How often have you heard prayers of pleadings? And there is nothing wrong with that. But how many times have you heard a prayer that was absolutely a genuine praise and thanksgiving offering unto the Lord? In my estimation the greater prayer is that one that offers much thanks to the Lord extoling Him for all that He does without our ever asking a thing. He is mindful of our needs and supplies those needs according to His riches in glory. Don't get me wrong. I am sure that He does not mind hearing the pleading requests of His children. But I believe that the Lord is overwhelmed with joy when we by faith know that all our needs are met and spend our time happily and graciously thanking Him for all His graces and mercies upon us with our prayers. You watch the blessings abound when you do!

There is much that vexes us in this world, and there is much that we must ask God for. But Saint, give thy Father thanks, for great things He hath done already for you. Don't be so absent minded that you neglect such a worthy exercise. Every prayer ought to contain the element of thanksgiving. How about taking the time each day to pray a prayer of praise and worship extoling the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father? They would be pleased to hear from you! 1Thessalomians 5:18 tells us, "in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Paul told young Timothy in 1Timothy 2:1, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." Obviously, Paul felt the need to do what all men would not do themselves in thanksgiving to God. Thus, Paul tells us in Hebrews 13:15, "By Him (Christ Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name; Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen." If scripture verifies the performance of it and the necessity of it, let us then approach the throne of grace with a praise offering filled with thankgiving, "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 5:20, And then..."being careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God," Philipians 4:6. 

Media Silence!  
Unless you fit the profile.

Go to CrossTalk's blog and read this sad story: http://www.crosstalkblog.com/2010/03/street-preachers-murdered-in-south-florida/.

What's really sad is that the major media outlets didn't cover the story.  If this man had been anything else but a Christian, the news would have never stopped moaning.  But alas, Christians are a nuisance and the less there are of them, the better society will be.

Also read the article from The Palm Beach Post News: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/two-men-preaching-religion-shot-to-death-in-211257.html.

This brings us to our devotion today from Colossians

Strengthened!

 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

The Apostle has been listing all his prayer requests to God on behalf of the Saints at the church in Colosse. As he continues in our verse today, he tells them that one of these items is for the Colossians to be "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power."  

We are weak creatures. We are weak in the flesh. We are weak in our spirits. We are weak in our abilities. And yes, we are weak in our minds. That that we should not do, we are too often to weak to resist. That that we should do, we are to weak in the mind and heart to perform. And above all, we are weak in the faith, unable many times to believe God for a thing. In all regards we are weak! Paul speaks of one of his weaknesses in 2Corinthians 12. He says in verse 7 that, " lest he should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to him a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above measure." His weakness was thinking more highly of himself, or that he had reached a certain spiritual status because of all the revelations given to him. For this cause he was given a thorn in the flesh, which was a messenger of satan to buffet him, or keep him humble. Paul says in verse 8 that, "for this thing he had besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from him." But the Lord's answer to him in verse 9 was, " My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." It was undeniable. In and of himself, Paul did not have the strength to help himself, he had to look to the Lord for it. But that was okay with Paul. Realizing his condition, and the help for it, he declares in the rest of verse 9, "most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." He wanted to be continually "strengthened with all might, according to the glorious power of the Lord" which would be abundantly sufficient for the journey on this terrestial ball. It would be this same Paul who would joyously exclaim in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!"

Now that is my prayer for myself and all the Saints of God today. I know that as Paul was weak, so am I, and so are you. We cannot make it another step without the Lord. We are powerless to do, to change, to walk, to speak, and all else that would accompany our being. I need power! Not that power that comes from human might and understanding, but the glorious power of the godhead of God that moves mountains, traverses oceans, and changes men's hearts. That I might work the work of Him that has sought me and bougth me is beyond my capacity. But I am confident in this one thing that Christ "which hath begun a good work in me is able to perform it until the day He comes to get me," Philippians 1:6. Just as He told His disciples in Acts 1:8 that "they would receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon them," I have received the same, and am daily receiving the same, as it is needed for me to walk in Christ Jesus unto all good works. Yet, I pray, and I hope others pray also, that I be strengthened with much power, for I am abundantly weak.

Let us pray for each other, Brethren, that we might all "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." I pray with Paul in Eph 3:16 "That he (Christ) would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man,  and that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us," 2Corinthians 4:7. Oh how we need it! We can't even walk without Him holding our hands. Therefore, I will approach His throne of grace with my hands out, pleading for divine mercy that I may be strengthened unto every good work. Strengthened for every good cause. Strengthened that I might give to the Lord Jesus Christ that which Jude proclaims in Jude 1:25: "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." "Most wonderful Jesus, help us!

Walking Worthy

Devotions from the Book of Colossians by Darrell Lingerfelt

1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Modern Christendom does not have this verse at heart.  Today's commercial religion has as it's desire the wealth and prestiege of the world.  Walking worthy of the Lord whereby they would seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness is foreign to them.  Rather than attempting to be pleasing to the Lord by living for Him, they believe God must bow to their demands in spite of how they live, thinking they are worthy within themselves to receive all the blessings of God.  But the blessings of God do not come by self agrandizement.  The blessings that flow from the fountainhead of God come only when the Lord is pleased with our walk for Him, abounding in good works for Him, and ever increasing in the knowledge of Him.

Walking (living) worthy of the Lord should be the Believer's desire. Having been elected and called, saved and granted eternal life, the gratefulness that captures our heart for such a great salvation causes us to desire to please our Father God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. True Christianity, whereby we are filled with the Holy Ghost, brings that desire to the front of all other desires, especially self fulfillment and other selfish pleasures. The knowledge that we have been created in Him unto good works, ordained to do them, is fixed in His indwelling person in us. Thus, a true child of God, blood bought and blood washed, will have the piercing desire to walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him with the fruit of good works, ever increasing in the knowledge of who He is, what He is, and how one might serve Him better.

Oh don't be foolish, Believer! Do not fall for the prosperity preaching that fills the land this hour.  It is a selfish pretense that claims to honor God, but the constant message is "I, me, my and mine."  Remember what Jesus told those church folks who will appear before His throne on judgement day. He said in Matthew 7:20-23, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  They approached the Lord with what they had done in and of themselves, rather than honoring the Lord for what He had done in them and through them. They had walked worthy of self, but not of the Lord. 

Let us then remind ourselves daily while we walk this earthly plain to walk worthy of the Lord unto His pleasing, fruitful in every good work that He shall allow us to do, ever increasing in the knowledge of God.  By the way, if you are increasing in the knowledge of God you will walk worthy of Him.  The more I learn daily of my wife, the more I love her.  How can I not then love the Lord more, if I learn more about Him?  Walk worthy, Christian! The Celestial City is in sight!  

              The Truth Wins Out
                          Health care bill exposes fake pro-life Democrats


The supposed pro-life Democrats showed their true colors last night. Bart Stupak just talked a good line. Wonder what backroom deal really got Stupak to abandon the babies?  It sure wasn't an Executive Order signed by the president to not federally fund abortions.  If the language was not stripped from the bill...it will become law when Obama signs the bill tomorrow.  An Executive Order can't stop a law.  Stupak isn't stupid, he knew the Exec Order meant nothing.  Now Bart, "show us the money" Obama showed you!


However, ObamaCare is not the issue. Forget insurance premiums!   It's now all about the federally funded (your tax dollars) murder of unborn human life. You knew that the Democrats cared nothing about the babies that have and now will be aborted as a result of ObamaCare. Of course, they've never cared. They have lied, chanted, misrepresented and said anything through their clinched teeth from day one to lead Americans to believe that Roe V. Wade was law and we needed choice.  Roe is not a law! The Supreme Court doesn't make laws. But year after year, the mantra of choice has been repeated by these murderers and the killing continues.  Now your tax dollars will pay for these horrific murders thanks to ObamaCare.


So what do we have with OBamaCare?  Judgement from Almighty God.  The taxes that will be ripped from every American's wallet is just more God ordained punishment for the horrific sin of abortion.  We deserve what we get for having allowed these abortions to happen these 39 years.  I have watched as our jobs have left the country, our neighborhoods turn violent, our school systems go dumb and the heart and soul of a once great nation be trampled on by terrorist loving, God hating reprobates.  God has allowed it for the sin of abortion!   


When it is is all tallied up, the Democrats and yes, any abortion loving Republican, will have presided over and will be guilty of the greatest holocaust in the history of the world.  How's this for stats: 4000 babies aborted everyday since 1971...over 50,000,000 potential doctors, scientists, researchers, astronauts, etc., yea, TAXPAYERS! have been aborted (murdered) in the name of choice. God have mercy on the killers. The babies are just fine in Heaven. And they will stand with pointed fingers at these who perpetuate the holocaust and God will drop His righteous gavel and pronounce them all guilty on judgement day!


How many Christians were busy running Johnny and Judy to the game instead of spending any time pleading with God to heal our land, to stop the abortionists, and bring righteousness to this country?  Very few, I'm afraid.  So this is what we get for our complacency in protecting the innocent unborn.


Hopefully, this is a wake up call.  Maybe God's people who are called by His name will seek His face, eventually humble themselves, repent of their sins and turn from their wicked ways and pray.  Then He will hear from Heaven and heal our land (2Chronicles 7:14).  If we don't . . . well, you know what's going to happen.  Wise up and wake up.   

Pastor's Conference

I want to thank the Saints of Grace Baptist Church, Madison, Alabama and Pastor Dean Olive for the wonderful hospitality shown me yesterday.  I was there for the 3rd Thursday Sovereign Grace Pastor's Fellowship held bi-monthly with the pastors of the Sovereign Grace Fellowship.  Pastors, preachers, saints from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee were in attendance.  It was a wonderful day of preaching and fellowship with many men I hadn't seen in a while, and several new ones that I was happy to meet.

I preached at 10:00am.  My text was John 8:12 where Jesus says "I AM the Light of the world." The title of the message was "Who Jesus Is."  I was followed by Don Currin, who works with HeartCry Ministries.  His wonderful sermon was entitled "A Heritage of Holiness."  Then after a good lunch we heard Paul Washer, also of HeartCry Ministries, on a truly timely and necessary topic "The Christian Husband."  All three sermons can be heard and downloaded from http://www.sermonaudio.com/gbcmadisonal/.

How Wondrous the Prayers of the Saints!

Devotions from Colossians by Darrell Lingerfelt

1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

How wonderful are the prayers of the Saints! You can't ever have enough of them, and certainly you should desire that all men pray for you.

The Apostle had been praying for these at Colosse. From the day he received the news of the work of the Lord among them, he had steadfastly prayed that the Lord would strengthen and encourage them to continue in their labors for the Lord. Moreover, Paul prayed that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that they might do the work of the Lord correctly whereby the Lord would be greatly honored and glorified through them.

This is the prayer I want prayed for me. I don't need my physical needs prayed for too often for the Lord knows what these are and He meets those every day with abundancy. But oh how I need the prayers of the Saints for my spiritual necessities that I might be the man of God I ought to be. I ache to be filled with that same knowledge Paul is talking about. I want to be conscious and receptive to the Lord's will in all matters and perform every work with every detail of my life by the wisdom and spiritual understanding of the Lord unto His glory. This is of grave importance! Thus, every Believer should not only pray for it, but have every Saint he know pray for him to receive it as well. This is the prayer that leads to abundant blessing whereby we are made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. When we are operating in the Spirit as He is in the Spirit, we cannot fail! His glory will be assured from that which we do for Him. Then the blessings of Heaven will flow out on us.

Hopefully today, and every day from now on, you will be conscious of your need for this prayer. May you desire this for yourself with such a fervancy that you will ask all the Saints to pray that you be filled to overflowing with the blessed knowledge of the Lord's will with wisdom and spiritual understanding. And you know what? I believe the Lord will answer their prayers on your behalf and grant you this request. When the Lord does begin to fulfill their request on your behalf, you are going to be overwhelmed with the goodness and greatness of God. Your mind and heart will be forever focused on His desires rather than your own, yet, you will be receiving wondrous blessings as a result and be humbled at the Lord's graciousness upon you. So ask the Saints to pray for you, asking them to ask God to grant you this wondrous gift. I believe He will give it. I believe you will receive it.

What Does Your Pastor Say About You?

Devotions from Colossians by Darrell Lingerfelt

1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

  8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Our devotion today comes from verse 8 which is a continuation of Paul's accolades for Epaphras, a faithful minister of Christ.

Notice that Epaphras does not take any accolades for himself. All he has spoken of is the Saints of Colosse. He has come as a proud "poppa" to Paul declaring the precious fruit produced by the Colossians. He has told Paul of their faith in Christ Jesus, their love for all the Saints, the fruit that has been brought forth, their love for Paul, and the fact that all of this was done in genuine Spirit love. Epaphras hasn't spoke of his labors, but based on the resume of the Colossians, Epaphras has indeed been a faithful minister.

Epaphras has much of which to be proud. But Epaphras was wise and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ among him and the Colossian Saints. Truly, that is the admission of all true men of God. They know the truth of their labors. They know that they are operating by the sure mercies of Christ and the faith which He lives in the Saints. True Saints know the same. They take the Apostle Paul at his word in Galations 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." And all ministers and saints of the Gospel have this same oath before God and men.

However, let us speak of ourselves in this hour. What of the pastor at your church? Does he with joy speak of your fruit and that of the Saints at your church? Or does he go home and lay in the floor with tears streaming down his face because of the ill treatment given to our Lord and Savior by mean-spirited children who claim to be adults and children of God? Does he dread each time he labors with you? Does he have to conjole his wife and children who have been maligned by the likes of mean church attenders? Does he request prayer for you from the negative or the positive, meaning, does he request prayer for you to stop acting foolish, or does he request prayer for your spiritual work continuation? Only you know. You know the barbs and arrows thrown at your pastor. You know the snide remarks that have fallen from the slithering tongues of serpents disguised as saints. You have heard the foul reports, the mean attacks, the gossip of silly men lead captive by silly women lead captive of Hell. 

I beg and plead with you this hour that you consider the Colossians good report given by their pastor and beg and plead with God that that be your resume. Treat your pastor well. Treat all men of God well and God will bless you abundantly. Muzzle not the ox that treads the corn and he will work for you with tender words, expectant fervant pleadings before the throne of God, and sweet words of comfort when you need them. Bless be the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who abundantly worked through Epaphras to work abundantly among the Colossian Saints. May we have the same done for us that the man of God may go forth with rejoicings of the fruit born produced by us. I sure would hate to know that my pastor had no spiritual good thing to say about me. I would hate to know that he is pleading for the Lord to change me from some vile way, rather than praying, "Father, strengthen your dear child that labors for you." What about it?

Take Care of Your Pastor

Devotions from Colossians By Darrell Lingerfelt

1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

Thank God for faithful servants like Epaphras who had been used of the Lord to teach the Saints of Colossae the great Word of God. 

The modern church has no clue of the great blessing of God to send them a man who would preach to them the truth of His Word. The man of God who is a faithful minister of the Gospel is worth all the gold in the world. One so faithful to labor for the cause of the elect, to have his heart in his hand for the Saints in particular, and the welfare of the church in general, is a precious commodity. He is God's anointed given to you for the edification of your souls. He is a part of God's gift of grace to you whereby God imparts the Gospel unto the salvation of your soul. He is God's messenger to you speaking those things that the Lord would have you know from the pages of His Word. 

But alas, the man of God is seen as being of no great importance in this day, that all men can do what he does, and that he is of no more worth than what the people on the pew make HIm. Not so! If he is God's man, he contends for your soul before the throne of God with intercessory prayers, pleadings and such. It is he that will stand in judgement before the Lord for every word he teaches you. He is God's angel and under-shepherd of the church. Be mindful and respect such a one.

If you have a man of God who labors in the Word on your behalf, treat him well. Do not fall prey to the tom-foolery of men who would say, "Lord, you keep him humble, we will keep him poor." Help him to do his work. Hold up his arms and meet his needs. He will be a balm for your soul through Christ Jesus if you will. Help him to be a faithful minister of Christ and you will reap the blessings thereof.

The Free Exchange of Ideas
The assault on Christianity

We are now living in a time where every word you say can be considered offensive, especially if you are a Christian.  It is open season on Christian thought, views, ideas, literature and most mainly beliefs.  The very mention of Jesus brings a howl in some of the most unexpected places.  And it will not end.  Why?  Very few are willing to fight back.

The forum of honest debate has shut its doors.  The only way to bust those doors down is to open the mouth and speak the truth with empirical evidence.  We have that evidence within 6000 years of recorded history.  But it takes Believers willing to challenge the "silencers of free speech" with that history for the doors to be broken down.  The Reformers did that very thing.

And this is the great irony!  The Reformers not only broke down the doors that kept out the free expression of Christianity, but also for every denomination and group that wished to speak.  Free speech has its freedom from the Reformers.  I invite you over to http://www.bartelby.com/268/4/9.html and read a wonderful oration given by Thomas Erskine "On The Limitations of Free Speech". A wonderful biography is at http://theadvocates.org/freeman/8907gabb.html. Here is just a snippet of the oration.  Please take time to read it all on the posted website.  We must contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints!

From Thomas Erskine:

Altho every community must establish supreme authorities, founded upon fixed principles, and must give high powers to magistrates to administer laws for the preservation of government, and for the security of those who are to be protected by it; yet as infallibility and perfection belong neither to human individuals nor to human establishments, it ought to be the policy of all free nations, as it is most peculiarly the principle of our own, to permit the most unbounded freedom of discussion, even to the detection of errors in the Constitution of the very government itself; so as that common decorum is observed, which every State must exact from its subjects and which imposes no restraint upon any intellectual composition, fairly, honestly, and decently addressed to the consciences and understandings of men. Upon this principle I have an unquestionable right, a right which the best subjects have exercised, to examine the principles and structure of the Constitution, and by fair, manly reasoning, to question the practise of its administrators. I have a right to consider and to point out errors in the one or in the other; and not merely to reason upon their existence, but to consider the means of their reformation.

4

By such free, well-intentioned, modest, and dignified communication of sentiments and opinions, all nations have been gradually improved, and milder laws and purer religions have been established. The same principles which vindicate civil controversies, honestly directed, extend their protection to the sharpest contentions on the subject of religious faiths. This rational and legal course of improvement was recognized and ratified by Lord Kenyon as the law of England, in the late trial at Guildhall, where he looked back with gratitude to the labors of the reformers, as the fountains of our religious emancipation, and of the civil blessings that followed in their train. The English Constitution, indeed, does not stop short in the toleration of religious opinions, but liberally extends it to practise. It permits every man, even publicly, to worship God according to his own conscience, tho in marked dissent from the national establishment, so as he professes the general faith, which is the sanction of all our moral duties, and the only pledge of our submission to the system which constitutes the State. Erkine, T. (1797). On limitations of free speech. The World's Greatest Orations: Great Britain II, 1780-1861. Retrieved from http://www.bartelby.com/268/4/9.html

BRINGING FORTH FRUIT

Devotions from Colossians  By Darrell Lingerfelt

1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

The Colossians were recepients of our Lord's "Great Commission." Those told to "go into all the world and preach the Gospel" had made it to Colossae as they would to "all the world." 

From verse 5b "whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" had came to the Colossians and they had learned the free grace of our Lord and Savior who gave Himself for them (as well as for us), and by the faith imparted unto them, they had believed in and on Christ Jesus to the saving of their souls.

The grace of God in truth that had been preached to them was now bringing forth fruit and the news of that fruit production had made it to the ears of Paul. Oh, that that would be the news of all who claim Christ! But alas, not all who claim Christ as Savior, claim Him as Lord. Thus, the evidence of truly bowing the knee to Christ is non existant. What am I saying? These Colossians had submitted themselves fully to the rule and reign of Christ upon conversion. They were steadfastly living and working under His rule having submitted to His Lordship. And under His Lordship, they had been obediently following Him, gladly producing works that honored and glorified Him. They had surrendered to Him completely, and the great grace that was applied to them caused them to throw themselves upon His mercy and under His control. Thus, the good fruit of the tree that is Christ began to be bore by them. Their gratefulness to Christ, their love of Him, their claim of Him as their Lord shown forth in their works in every capacity.

Might that be us today. If we surrendered to His Lordship at salvation it should be so. And if you knew not that you were to surrender to Him as Lord at salvation, then do so now! He is Lord! God has made Him both Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36. Thus all who come to Him must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are saved, He is Lord of your life already. Therefore, you must obey your Lord, pledging your allegiance to Him alone, bowing to His authority, His will, His Word, His way, seeking to follow His commands and serving Him with gladness of heart for His great love wherewith He first loved us. Then, I believe, that which the Colossians were praised for will be your report as well. Those who turn from the gods of sin, self, and the idols that accompany them, and turn to Jesus as the only Lord and great God of their lives, will produce great fruit. If you are of His kingdom, then you will follow His rules.

Have you this report today? Since you first heard the sweet words of "come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, have you taken Christ at His word?  Since you heard the words, "take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls," have you so learned Christ that you might be like Him? He says that His "yoke is easy, and His burden is light." Then, my friends, if that be so, and it is, can we not learn of Him as our Lord and do that whch honors and glorifies His name? Most certainly! Pray this hour that you might be like the Colossians and have said about you what was said of them. Glorify the Lord in all you do with fruit fit for the Lord's table.

WHO REALLY CARES?  
                      

Leaving Tiller To God.

I invite you over to WorldMag.com http://online.worldmag.com/2010/02/02/leaving-tiller-to-god/ to read a post from D.C. Innes entitled, "Leaving Tiller to God".

Innes writes about the recent "life in prison" sentence that Scott Roeder received for killing mass murder abortionist George Tiller, one of the few doctors who performed partial birth abortions.  Innes points out that Tiller was a mass murderer, though the unjust laws that govern that practice in America sanctioned his butchery. Innes goes on to add that Roeder was not justified in what he did in killing Tiller, as almost every Christian opponent of abortion would agree."


Then Innes asks these questions: Nonetheless, is there any opponent of abortion who has not asked himself, “If I truly believe this is murder and that these abortionists are mass murderers, why do I not put actions to words and physically stop them, even kill them, sacrificing myself for these helpless innocents?” But having explored that train of thought, we have all (but for a tiny handful) pulled back from it. Why? Is it just cowardice and hypocrisy? Or do we sense intuitively the ungodliness of that course? 


Read the entire post for yourself.


Down below I also posted on the issue of abortion (Murderers Go Free!), and how I felt about abortion doctors and providers who defect to the pro-life movement, yet were not, and will never be, held accountable for the murders of babies.  I wrote,  


"I am angered to see them (abortion doctors who defect to Pro-Life) able to live on freely without any recourse of judicial judgement for the babies they murdered.  If there is guilt and remorse, fine.  But there has to be more.  These who murder and then see the error of their ways ought to feel some sort of wrath for their crimes.  All other crimes, lesser in degree than murder, are tried, sentenced and the criminals jailed.  In many cases all other criminals are ostracized from society and chastised by the public for the rest of their lives.  But this is the land now of "right being wrong, and wrong being right."  We will not see any justice for these tragic murders."  


Ungodly, unjust laws were written, and are being written, to allow these murderers to never be punished for their crimes.  But Scott Roeder will spend the rest of his life in jail for stopping a mass murderer.  


Roeder would have been hailed a hero if he had shot a man who was attempting to kill a child outside the womb.  But save a human life in the womb?  Never!  And Evangelical Christians and those who would agree with the premise of "Right to Life" will sit idly by and let these horrific crimes to continue rather than standing up and putting themselves "out there" to protect these innocent lives.  It's sad, to say the least.


Now I am with Innes on this: We can't take up arms to stop these heinous murders.  But we can start an email, letter writing, phone call or fax campaign to our senator or congressman and to the President and express our outrage against these murderous laws that have allowed over fifty million babies to be slaughtered.  The internet will give you all the information to find the numbers and addresses of those in charge in Washington, so you have no excuse to act.  Don't be lazy.  Would you sit idly by if someone came through the neighborhood killing children?  I don't think so.