What the Bible Says

in

52 Penny Pulpit Essays From 2010 & 2011

By

Pastor Ed Rice

Copyright 2011 Edward G. Rice

It is the burden of this author to disseminate the truth in this book. No prior permission is required to duplicate any or all of this work for non-commercial, non-salable or non-financial purposes.

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What The Bible Says

in 52 Penny Pulpit Essays From 2010 & 2011

By Pastor Ed Rice A Rural Pastor With A Royal Message

Table of Contents

Msg #1001 For the Decade 1

Msg #1002 Called And Without Excuse 2

Msg #1003 Faithful Stewards 3

Msg #1004 Stewards of The Mind 4

Msg #1005 All Thy Strength 5

Msg #1006 Will God Bless America? 6

Msg #1007 TIC-TAC-TOE Relationships 7

Msg #1008 An Ideal Wife 8

Msg #1009 Rearing God's Way 9

Msg #1010 Got Charity? 10

Msg #1011 Pillar and Ground of Truth 11

Msg #1012 Back to Basics 12

Msg #1013 Chosen For You 13

Msg #1014 Easter 14

Msg #1015 Resurrection 15

Msg #1016 Born Again Saved 16

Msg #1017 Baptist Autonomy 17

Baptist Autonomy Response to Msg 1017 18

Msg #1018 A Royal Priesthood 23

Msg #1019 On Mothers Day 24

Msg #1020 A Mom's Seven Teachings 25

Alcohol Abstinence Response to Msg #1020 26

Msg #1021 Whosoever Will May Come 27

Msg #1022 Pastors Are 1st Husbands, not 1st Ladies 28

Msg #1023 Reflection on Soldiers 29

Msg #1024 Two Ordinances of Christ 30

Original Autographa Response to Msg #1024 31

Msg #1025 The Hebrew's Book 33

Msg #1026 Depend on a Father 34

Msg #1027 Belief Then Baptism 35

Msg #1028 Independence and Separation 36

Msg #1029 The Words of the Kingdom 37

Msg #1030 Signs, Wonders, and False Teachers 38

Bible Question on Penny Pulpit Content 39

Msg #1031 A Riot for Proselytizing 41

Msg #1032 Politics as Usual 42

Msg #1033 Doth Not Wisdom Cry? 43

Msg #1034 Christ Our Creator 44

Msg #1035 The Good Samaritan 45

Msg #1036 Is God Done With Americans? 46

Msg #1037 Kiss the Son, Lest He be Angry 47

Msg #1038 Use Your Brain Or Die 48

Msg #1039 The Walking Dead Made Alive 49

Msg #1040 Untold Millions 50

Msg #1041 The Rapture of the Church 51

Msg #1042 The Revelation of Jesus Christ 52

Msg #1043 The Literalness of the Tribulation Period 53

Msg #1044 The Literalness of the Kingdom 54

Msg #1045 Who Should You Trust 55

1 John 5:7 Response to Msg #1045 56

Msg #1046 Joseph's Illustration 58

Msg #1047 Joseph's Innocence 59

Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams 60

Re: Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams 61

Msg #1049 Joseph Restores Israel 62

Msg #1050 A Child is Born 63

Msg #1051 He Shall Be Called 'JESUS' 64

Msg #1052 The Name of JESUS 65

Msg #1053 You Have Great Promise 66

52 Penny Pulpit Essays From 2011 67

Msg #1101 Trust The Word Of God 68

Msg #1101 Correspondence Rebuttal 69

Msg #1102 Diligent Faith 70

The 400th Year Anniversary of the KJV Book Recommendation 71

Msg #1103 People of The Book 72

Msg #1104 Saving Faith and Living Faith 73

Msg #1105 Faith to the End 74

Msg #1106 Faith, a First Principle 75

Msg #1107 A Valentine for Life 76

Msg #1108 Husband, Love Your Wife 77

Essay On Balaam The Prophet? 78

Msg #1109 A Husband's Christlike Communications 81

Theology Special Edition on Sacraments 82

Msg #1110 Friends Face to Face 83

Msg #1111 Generals and Harlots 84

Msg #1112 Be A Gideon 85

Msg #1113 Debras and Baraks 86

Msg #1114 The Mighty Immature Sampson 87

Msg #1115 God's Promise 88

Msg #1116 Good Friday Not 89

A Rebuttal to Good Friday Not 90

Re: Some verses that point to a Wed. crucifixion 91

Msg #1117 Easter Sunday Reflection 94

Msg #1118 Family Altar 95

Msg #1119 Proverbs 31 96

Msg #1120 David Was Chosen 97

Msg #1121 The REAL 2nd Coming of Christ 98

Msg #1122 Memorials and Liberties 99

Msg #1123 We Are Grafted In 100

Msg #1124 Baptist Are Not Reformers 101

Msg #1125 Especially Fathers 102

Msg #1126 Church Membership 103

Msg #1126b Faith from Matthew 104

Msg #1127 After 235 Years Can God Bless America 105

Msg #1128 Judgment and Peace for Israel 106

Msg #1129 Now What? 107

Msg #1130 The Broken Vineyard 108

Msg #1131 The Stretched Out Hand 109

Msg #1132 The Messianic Prophecy 110

Msg #1133 Believing the Literal 111

Msg #1134 Silver Linings 112

Msg #1135 Belief Indeed 113

Msg #1136 Catholic is not Christian 114

Msg #1137 A 9/11 Remembrance 115

Msg #1138 What's a Baptist? 116

Msg #1139 Where did the Baptists Go? 117

Msg #1140 Prophecy is Literal 118

Msg #1141 Apocalyptic Knot 119

Msg #1142 The Wrath of God 120

Msg #1143 Armageddon 121

Msg #1144 Even So Come Lord Jesus 122

Msg #1145 40th Anniversary Romance 123

Msg #1146 Thanksgiving Without the Camp 124

Query to Msg #1146 How Far 'Without the Camp' 125

ARE YOU IN A BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH? 126

Msg #1147 The Thanksgiving Stairwell 127

Msg #1148 Thanks for Mercy, Thanks for Grace 128

Msg #1149 First Advent of Prophet Priest and King 129

Response to Message #1149 130

Msg #1150 ALL That The Prophets Spoke 132

Msg #1151 The Annunciation, The Son of God 133

Msg #1152 Second Advent Joy to the World 134

Msg #1001 For the Decade

As we close the first decade of the 21st century we should be reminded of God's warning in Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” This decade started with some trusting in failed computers, barrels of rice, Y2K bugs and hanging chads. God said only trust His Son. On 9/11 the Arab god of Islam came to our shores; your crazy to trust in him. You can't trust the CIA with WMD information nor in an un-preemptive military invasion. Hamas foiled the 'in voting machines we trust' logo but America still trusts them to convert Iraq. We rallied with “God Bless America” but God already said “Blessed are all they that put their trust in His only begotten Son.” Don't trust your job or IRA, your Fannie Mae or GM bail out. Copenhagen scientists say “The Sky Is Falling!” and we ended the decade with our trust in a liberal progressive 'messiah' who taught us to pronounce 'trillion'. He took the Nobel Peace Prize to war and told us to trust our economy, and now our health care!, to his trillion dollar printing machine. All the while Jehovah God who founded and grounded this country says “Trust only in My only begotten Son.” This “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.” (John 1:14) “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Ps 9:10) Trust only in Him in the upcoming decade, and have a Happy New Year.

An Essay for week # 01, Sun, January 3, 2010

Msg #1002 Called And Without Excuse

The Bible says “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke12:48) and “Moreover it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1Cor4:2) Israel was a chosen nation and a well beloved people of God, called to provide the Messiah to the world, (Genesis12:1-3) called to provide the oracles of God to the world, (Romans3:1-2) and called to teach the world that “The LORD our God (plural) is one LORD (singular).” (Deut6:1-4) The 69 books of the Christian's Old Testament reveal the major successes and failures of that calling and commission. Isaiah 5:1-7 is a prophets song about God's frustration with his well beloved people. Born again Christians are now the well beloved called ones; called to proclaim the Messiah to the world, (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15) called to proclaim the oracles of God to the world, (Acts 1:8) and called to teach the world “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” (John 3:16, 20:21) That song of frustration lists the things that God did for Israel, His called and commissioned people. But for us he has done so much more: He has converted, justified, quickened, indwelt and baptized us into the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. When much is given, much is required. This year I make my prayer “Lord, I pray you will not recite a song of frustration about my calling.” If you are born again your are now called and commissioned “That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-48) “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (1Peter 1:10)

An Essay for week # 02, Sun, January 10, 2010

Msg #1003 Faithful Stewards

Luke 12 records a lecture of Jesus exhorting us to keep our focus on His heavenly things and He will then take care of all the physical things Half way through the lecture Peter raises his hand and says “Excuse me Lord, is this lecture for us disciples or should we just teach it to everyone else?” It is so easy for us to take the teachings of our Lord and apply them to what someone else should be doing in their life that God records Peter's response “What? Are you talking to me?” It is our nature to put all our focus on the physical circumstances that surround us and be blind to the fact that God wants some great thing done in this situation. We are impervious to the idea that He wants it done through me and not through someone else. Jesus did not cuff Peter up side the head but says “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, who his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Luke12:42) Clarifying Peter's question Jesus says “I am actually talking to my good and faithful stewards.” If you are a born again believer you are to be a steward of all the affairs of His kingdom in your neighborhood. Do not pass it off to someone else and do not put your focus on what you will eat, where you will serve and what you will wear. God wants some great things done and he leaves you in charge of doing them. Get into your neighborhood and be about your Fathers business. It is an awesome task to be a steward in God's kingdom.

An Essay for week # 03, Sun, January 17, 2010

Msg #1004 Stewards of The Mind

Three times Jesus emphasized the first and greatest of all commandments to be “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” The latter of these can be subjected to an objective measurement; i.e. how much time, in a 24 hour day, is your mind focused on things of God. Man strives to keep God's 10 commandments but in reality the first commandment, with this type of measure, finds us very lacking in the use of our mind. God wants our mind meditate in his law day and night; to teach His words diligently when we sit in our house, when we walk in the way, when we lay down and when we raise up. God wants our talks to Him to be prayer without ceasing. He ponders “the imaginations of the thoughts” and He wants to find our minds stayed on Him.” Let's say that you read your Bible through every year at 3 chapters per day, (30 min) pray before 3 meals a day (6 min), meditate on him during your vascular exercises, (20 min) and talk about him to somebody you meet. (4 min) You just had your mind stayed on him for 6.25% or your coherent day. That leaves your mind someplace else for 93.75% of your day. The average American spends 50% of their coherent day watching television, 8 hours per day! The average Christian needs to work on Jesus' first and greatest commandment and then “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2) We could all better love the Lord our God with all our mind.

An Essay for week # 04, Sun, January 24, 2010

Msg #1005 All Thy Strength

Sampson thought his real strength came from his hair, when in reality it came from his God. (Judges 16:17) The first commandment stated succinctly says “I am the LORD thy God, ... Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exod 20) but Jesus' expanded form of the first commandment is “Hear, O Israel: The lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29) Sampson's greatest asset was all his strength but he did not use it to love the Lord his God. What is your strength, and how can you love the Lord your God with it? Consider that our strength is what causes you to stand when others are falling, what causes you to hold on and trust, when others are letting go and giving up, and what causes you to endure and remain. Is it strength of character, personality, or intestinal fortitude that is endowed on a select few? For a Christian the answer is certain, “The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26) “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.” (Psalm 140:7) When you, as a Christian, love the Lord your God with all your strength, it is good to know that the Lord your God is your strength. No matter what trials we go through, when God is the strength of our life, we can stand, we can hold on, and we can endure.

An Essay for week # 05, Sun, January 31, 2010

Msg #1006 Will God Bless America?

In Jeremiah chapter 17 God sends his prophet to the gates of Jerusalem to offer the people of Judah one last ditch offer to avoid their annihilation. Judah had already watched her sister, Israel, turn to idolatry, worship the creature more than the Creator, and suffer annihilation under Assyrian invasion. Babylonians had now pilfered the streets of Jerusalem and ransacked the conquered Promised Land. They were without excuse for understanding that Jehovah God would destroy his people when they turn their back on their God. God's ultimatum involved only one law; keep it and live, disregard Him and perish. Wow. The one law portrayed Jehovah God as their Creator, who made the universe in 6 days and rested on the seventh. The one law would involve only 1/7 of their lives and a trivial physical change in how they were to do things. 'If you will at least obey this one law concerning my Sabbath rest, I will leave you in the land and the city shall remain forever.' Verse 21 recites their unbelievable response: “But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.” What God did to His chosen nations, first Israel, then Judah, stands as a stark reality to what happens to a people who deny the authority of their Creator. All my life America's schooling has taught that I have no Creator, but two rocks rubbing together in a primeval sea created a life form that 'evolved' into a tree and a chimp. And the latter then changed into human beings. 'Acknowledge Me as your 6 day Creator and you will stay in the land and be blessed.' Again, Wow. God will bless America,... when she turns her stiff neck back to her Creator.

An Essay for week # 06, Sun, February 7, 2010

Msg #1007 TIC-TAC-TOE Relationships

Your relationship with your Lord and Saviour and your relationship with your sweetheart should be like a tic-tac-toe board with nine 'X's and no 'O's. In the first column you should have a spiritual, emotional and physical LOVE like Christ does expressed in Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16 and SoS 1. Write those 3 references in those 3 squares. In the second column your spouse, and your Saviour should find an overwhelming SIGNIFICANCE in all of your life, even as you are SO significant to God. Your spiritual, emotional and physical significance to Him are expressed in Eph 5:22-33, John 15:15, and Acts 1:8. Fill that column with these references. In the last column your spouse should find a perfect SECURITY in your love, even as we find a perfect security in His love for us. His perfect security is expressed spiritually, emotionally and physically in John 3:36, Heb 13:5 and Luke 12:24. People are body, soul and spirit and our relationships are complicated. You cannot separate our physical, mental/emotional and spirituality as the secularists try to do. But in order to love with all our heart, soul and mind our relationships need to have an absoluteness in security, a genuineness in significance, and a purity in love. Look up each of these 9 references and know that God's wooing to us is with this 9 dimensional perfect love. Now put an 'X' in each square where your relationship with your spouse is properly developing. It is an excellent report card for scoring our relationships with both our Lord and with our sweetheart. May your true love find a spiritual, emotional and physical ... love, significance and security in every area of your relationship. Happy Valentines Day.

An Essay for week # 07, Sun, February 14, 2010

Msg #1008 An Ideal Wife

The Bible teaches more by narration than by lecture, and the narrations we find about relationships in the home leave no room for our making up our own little systems and rules. First Samuel chapter 25 portrays an ideal wife, and all of us could learn something from the behavior of Abigail, “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” Her perceptive insight while ministering to the home of Nabal, a churlish, evil jerk, is of the highest caliber. Her haste and genius to intervene and prevent David's vindictive sin was as equally serving to him as it was the welfare of her own household. Her submissive articulate address and offering to David equally rebuked and honored him. A woman able to effectively communicate with men that are temporarily bent toward error, as David was, or permanently twisted in life, as Nabal was, is a very precious thing. Her honesty with her husband and submission to his authority in their dysfunctional home is exemplary. Overshadowing all these commendable traits is Abigail's superb knowledge of God and His intentions for David even throughout this situation. Abigail knew the heart and mind of God for her life, her home, and even for David, the man after God's own heart. When God destroyed Abigail's incorrigible husband, Nabal, David quickly married this gem of good understanding. Unfortunately it was not his first or last marriage, and the ongoing narrative from David's life teaches us that the way you lean is the way your children will fall. Recall that his son Solomon took 1,000 wives. Abigail was indeed a gem. All of us could glean some attributes from Abigail that would keep our homes from leaning away from God's clear plan.

An Essay for week # 08, Sun, February 21, 2010

Msg #1009 Rearing God's Way

It is not just my interpretation when your Bible says “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6) Fathers provoke children to wrath by not loving them right. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son, but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Prov13:24) Fathers provoke to wrath by giving little Johnny mommy's progressive 'time out' instead of the whippings that put character into his grandpa. God clearly tells fathers to spank them with a rod. “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Prov19:18) The world's effeminate little 'time outs' have children stewing in rebellion, stewing in bitterness, plotting new disobedience, and deep seating anger issues. It is not a 'syndrome' needing 'riddlin.' Fathers provoke children to wrath by not chastening them 'betimes.' That means spank them early in life, early in disobedience (no counting), and early in rebellion. “The rod and reproof giveth wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Prov29:15) “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” (Prov23:13) Only half our homes even have fathers in attendance. One dare not guess how few fathers are obedient to teach God's Word “diligently unto thy children, ... when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut 6) to raise their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6) God says to fathers “Correct they son and he shall give thee rest; yea he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Failure here provokes the deep seated anger issues prevalent in our society.

An Essay for week # 09, Sun, February 28, 2010

Msg #1010 Got Charity?

We love him because he first loved us, but His love easily contains the 13 perfect qualities of charity, while ours often struggles to attain to them. God starts 1 Corinthians 13 by exposing the loveless orator, the incompassionate Bible scholar and even the charity worker lacking charity, and ends with charity exalted as His greatest virtue. Having all 13 qualities of charity sandwiched between make an important report card for all our relationships in life. Does your love contain these qualities of selflessness that clash with our own nature's selfishness. Charity suffereth long, and is kind. The word 'charity' is more selfless and focusing on others than the word 'love' used in the modernist's bibles. Jesus said “Suffer the little children.” The word 'suffer' does not mean pain, but implies allowance, in the since that God is 'long-suffering' towards us. Sometimes we grit our teeth and give a loved one allowance but not with kindness. Striving for these 13 qualities in our marriage, home, and parenting promises great blessing. Charity is not puffed up, seeketh not her own and is unprovokable. It rejoiceth in truth, not in iniquity. Charity 'beareth all', 'believeth all', 'hopeth all' and 'endureth all' things. Seeking these qualities of charity in our lives, our church, and our workplace will add a quality to our lives which enriches every aspect of our existence, and those around us. Getting these selfless qualities of pure charity into our relationships will require something within us which is far greater than a strong will power. The Lord Jesus Christ indwells the born again Christian and allows them to exhibit this kind of love that Christ has, all 13 qualities, showing up in all circumstances. Godly charity never faileth. How is yours doing?.

An Essay for week # 10, Sun, March 7, 2010

Msg #1011 Pillar and Ground of Truth

The called out body of believers assembled and united together in a local church has always been a minority amongst the big denominations but it has always been the pillar and ground of truth described by Paul writing to Timothy. A pillar is stable, unshakable and not blown to and fro with every wind of doctrine,... or every ecumenical modernist bible version. Christ's church needs to be a pillar for verbal, plenary, inspiration of Scripture. Bible Societies turn a profit by making over 60 thousand major deviations to get their copyrights approved. Their's is not a pillar of truth. The truth of salvation says there is only one way into the kingdom of God; not by works, nor sacraments, nor by baptisms, nor confirmation classes. The truth is salvation is by grace through faith, and that faith is not of yourself, it is a gift of God. If you were not “converted” and “born again” no matter how much 'church' you do, Jesus will one day say, “depart from me I never knew you.” Paul told Galacia, 'if they preach another gospel let them be accursed'. A church should also be an unshakable pillar for the fundamentals of the faith. Denominations so readily drift from the faith that last century five fundamentals of the faith were documented as pillars of Christianity. Is yours a fundamentalist church? Twenty centuries ago God set out seven first principles of the faith and listed them in Hebrews 6. If your church is not a pillar of truth on the five fundamentals, and on those seven doctrines, you should get into a Bible Believing, Bible Preaching Church of the Living God. It will likely have 'Independent Fundamental Baptist' on their sign; you see, Baptist's are not a denomination, nor are they Protestants.

An Essay for week # 11, Sun, March 14, 2010

Msg #1012 Back to Basics

The propensity for any growing body is that it becomes more diverse and more dilute but Christ put safeguards in His Church so that it should not. Any Church that goes back to the fundamentals of its founder would do well. Even Protestant Churches would be better off standing where their founders stood, but to go all the way back to the true Church founder one would need take a path through the 5 fundamentals of fundamentalism and the 8 distinctives of Baptists. Fundamentals of 1) the trinity, 2) the authority and accuracy of Scriptures, 3) five doctrines of Christ, 4) personal new birth conversion for salvation and 5) the reality of Christ's second coming, heaven and eternal hell, are doctrines nailed to the church door at the turn of the last century because of cultists like Charles Taze Russel (JW), Joseph Smith (LDS), Ellen White (SDA), and Mary Baker Glover Eddy (CS). Today even non-cult, pretend Christian Churches need to re-affirm the Christian Fundamentals. The 'B' for the B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S distinctives, that I was taught in Sunday School in the 1960s, stands for Bible. Baptist's have always held to the verbal, plenary inspiration of an inerrant, infallible and holy preserved Bible. Today that would entail no trust in some ecumenical counsel translating a new modern one that spells out what they think God meant to say within the confines of their copyright restrictions. As people of the Book, which determines all their faith and practice, Baptists use an old one that was translated by those who dogmatically held to the second fundamental and the 'B' in the Baptist distinctives, and we believe all true Christians should. Modernists despise our old book and would take it from thee. Thou shalt not trust them.

An Essay for week # 12, Sun, March 21, 2010

Msg #1013 Chosen For You

On the tenth day of the old Hebrew month Abib the lamb for the passover sacrifice was selected and separated from the rest of the flock. (Ex12:3) The 14 day of that 1 month in their new year was Passover and towards the close of that day they would slay the passover lamb. The feast of unleavened bread started at sunset and was a sabbath day even if it was on Friday, (Lev23:6-7) The Hebrew passover day lands on various week days over the years but the Christian Easter Sunday is carefully arranged in the year to be the Sunday nearest the Passover where the Christ was crucified. Consequently the Sunday before easter is the Sunday nearest the 10 of Abib, wherein the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world was selected, and separated from the rest of the flock on what is called Palm Sunday. “Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” they cried, not realizing that in 4 days the nails would be driven into the hands and feet of their Messiah, the perfect passover lamb. God the Father oversaw the selection of the perfect lamb and His 4 day examination in the temple before the cruel hands of man put him to death. God alone knew what was really happening as Christ was escorted into Jerusalem riding on the colt, the foal of an ass. Come Palm Sunday this week it is sad that so few Christians study the Hebrew calendar enough to Know what happened that day. The Lord Jesus Christ, the passover sacrifice who's blood must be applied to the door posts of our heart, was selected on the 10 and slain on the 14. He was chosen to take your place.

An Essay for week # 13, Sun, March 28, 2010

Msg #1014 Easter

You can not come to Easter Sunday without passing by the cross of Calvary which 3 days earlier held the Lord and Creator of this world, the Passover Lamb. And you cannot approach Easter with proper awe until you have approached that cross with fear, tear, and trembling. “Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary's mountain.” Partaking of Calvary's healing stream changes your approach to the empty tomb. The born again Christian takes his love for that Old Rugged Cross through the 3 days and 3 nights that his Lord and Christ lay in the tomb. He sees in this resurrection celebration, that he is also “a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are new.” (1Cor 5:17) The convert to Christ laid all his burden of sin at the foot of that blood stained cross and grasps the Bible verse: “Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” (1Cor 15:51) The believer who has been quickened by the Lord Jesus Christ has a new life born into them, even as Christ is the “first fruit” of our resurrection. Easter is situated on our calendar 3 days after the passover which marks Messiah's crucifixion. The Sunday resurrection of Christ occurred on “the marrow after sabbath.” For the first fruits offering, observed in this Hebrew month, the priest “Shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the marrow after the sabbath.” (Lev23:11) This week is precious to a Bible believing Christian who understands the Hebrew feasts which amply portray Messiah's perfect sacrifice, because every calendar date and week day is brought to bear on their Saviour's perfect sacrifice. Truly ... “It is finished.”

An Essay for week # 14, Sun, April 4, 2010

Msg #1015 Resurrection

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the rich verification of John 5:21 “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the son quickeneth whom he will.” Such truth imposes the worship of Jesus as Lord. His certified victory over death itself asserts his arguments: “I am the Son of God, vr25, and I am the Son of man, vr27; I am the Bread of Life, 6:35; I am the Door, 10:9; I am the Good Shepherd, 10:11; I am the True Vine, 15:1. A Christian will not just venerate his resurrected Christ, he will worship Him as one with the Father. “For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the son to have life in himself.” (vr26) The resurrected Christ made our pursuit for everlasting life reality: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (5:24) The Christian worships the Son and is quickened by faith in Him. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the son of God hath not life.” (1Jn5:12) Jesus “will quicken who he will,” and “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (3:16) A born again Christian is quickened by Christ and wants every one to be. Thus Jesus commissioned us: “as my Father sent me, even so send I you (20:21) “and ye shall be wittinesses” (Acts1:8) “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel ...” (Mark16:15). “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations. (Luke24:47) Be quickened by Him. Tell someone else about it.

An Essay for week # 15, Sun, April 11, 2010

Msg #1016 Born Again Saved

When examining the clear distinctives of B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S the inner 'S' stands for 'Saved.' Jesus clarified it for Nicodemus that “Except a man be born again, (i.e. born a second time) he cannot see the kingdom of God ... he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus is emphatic that this second birth has nothing to do with water; holy water, baptismal water, sprinkled water, or other water! It is a spiritual birth, “even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This is a Baptist distinctive, not a Baptist exclusive, i.e. you can be saved and not a Baptist; you cannot be a Baptist and not be saved. Even as there are pretend Christians, there are pretend Baptists, and mislabeled Baptists. Salvation is still their marked distinctive. Since the time that Jesus taught it there have been those, called by many a name, who held that salvation is by grace through faith. In the 1500s the label shifted from Anabaptist, Donatist, Arnoldist or Montanists to the long standing label 'Baptists' but the distinctive that a soul must, in a moment, be 1) converted, 2) Quickened by God, 3) Indwelt by His Spirit, 4) Baptized into Christ, and 5) Justified by God for ever, has been a Baptist distinctive and a relatively foreign doctrine to every 'Christian Denomination' that fell out of Romanism. That all 5 of these things are an instantaneous act of God is the miracle of new birth that saves us from eternal wrath and secures us in eternal life. Been Saved? The Bible is clear: “Except ye be converted, ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”

An Essay for week # 16, Sun, April 18, 2010

Msg #1017 Baptist Autonomy

Eight of the Bibles 27 New Testament books are addressed to individual, independent, self governing, local, Bible believing, immersion baptizing Churches because that is what Christ intended his Churches be. The 'A' in the 8 B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S distinctives stands for 'Autonomy.' Baptist are not a denomination, are not Protestants, and have operated individual, independent, self governing, local, Bible believing, immersion baptizing Churches since the 1st century. A denomination, on the other hand, is a group of separated congregations united under a single administrative and legal hierarchy. Baptist Churches have always been autonomous (i.e. self governing, self determining) congregationalists. In the 4th century the first denomination issued an order that all infants be baptized and the autonomous New Testament Churches that refused their edict were often labelled ana-baptist and were always visited by the Roman Emperor's sword. After more than a thousand years of this, in 1517, Martin Luther finally protested against the Roman 'Catholic' denomination and up popped 300 Protestant denominations, all fighting about who the real church is. Not they have concluded that the real church is 'invisible!' It isn't. It is an independent, autonomous,local called out body of believers meeting somewhere in your town. It will not be perfect, but it will be autonomous. Which denomination is right? None. Christ's design for his saints is the individual, independent, self governing, local, Bible believing, immersion baptizing Church, with no modernist Bible in the pew and a man of God preaching from the pulpit. Some call it old fashioned. God calls it His old paths. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jer 6:16)

An Essay for week # 17, Sun, April 25, 2010

Baptist Autonomy Response to Msg 1017

Dear Ty,

I am assuming that your questions are honest and spirit sincere. Let me respond to your questions as you presented them. You wrote:

I want to thank you for your Baptist response. What do you mean they are not a Denomination? Are you a Baptist Bride, be honest.

Let me start this 'Baptist response' by clarifying that I am not a Baptist Brider.  Some of my loved associates are, but I also do not call them liars or Bible pen knifers, nor attack their integrity, sincerity, or love for the Lord Jesus Christ.   You could learn some tact from that.    I graciously disagree with their errant interpretations of Scripture.  A denomination is “a group of religious congregations having its own organization and a distinctive faith” and although we may have the ladder we do not have the former.   Each Baptist Church is independent with no clergy or presbyterian oversight, ownership or controls and thus Baptists are not a denomination.  We have no human leadership, organizer, or even founder, as the Pope,  the Archbishop of Canterbury, Martin Luther, John Calvin, or The  Wesley Brothers.   We have no creed but the Holy Bible.  Baptist, then,  in this religious group definition, are not a denomination.  You wrote:

Where do you find the name Baptist or Anabaptist before 1520? There are many years between 28-30 AD and 1520.

Baptist, then, not being a denomination, are groups of believers who have been given disparaging names to denigrate and label them in order to keep them distinct from the mainline denominations. The latest name that has stuck for about 400 years is 'Baptist' because of their belief  in the baptism of believers, and their brazen disbelief in baptismal regeneration and infant baptism.    The list of all the disparaging names is documented very succinctly in Dr. J.H. Carrolls book “The Trail of Blood” (found on our site at www.gsbaptistchurch.com/baptist/trail_of_blood.html), more succinctly in his excellent “Trail of Blood Chart” (found on our site at www.gsbaptistchurch.com/baptist/chart.htm) and very meticulously in John T. Christian's Book  “A History of the Baptists” (Vol. 1 can be found at www.pbministries.org/History/John T. Christian/vol1/history_01.htm)   You wrote:

Whether you are a Baptist Brider or not, you and your Baptist camp might want to take a pin knife and cut out Acts 11:26 because it makes your statement of taking Baptist all the way back to Christ a wresting of the Scriptures!!! And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. DID YOU NOTICE THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT SAY, THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED BAPTIST FIRST???

I think you are learning that Baptist, of all people, will not take a pen knife to the Bible as did Jehud in Jeremiah 36.  It is our only creed and our sole authority.  It is the infallible, inerrant, plenary, verbally inspired Word of God.  We have already examined the disparaging names assigned to true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and the one in Acts 11:26 is still exactly  applicable to us. However, it has been tarnished and softened by misuse.  First called 'believers', because of their belief in Christ, next called 'disciples' because they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and finally called 'christian' because  they acted like, thought like, walked like and re-acted like the Lord Jesus Christ, we heartily accept these labels.  Granted many accept the latter label before they are worthy of it, but Acts 11:26 is in perfect accord with all that a Baptist believes.   Your confusion about the perpetuity of the Baptist position, rather than the Baptist name, all the way back to Christ, could be well clarified by your perusing the above two books I mentioned and getting a copy of  Roy Mason's book “The Church that Jesus Built” (publisher Central Ave. Baptist Church; reprint edition 1986, Chapter 1 currently  available at www.baptistpillar.com/bd0647.htm, and available used in paperback at amazon.com) It would be well worth your read of this short book. You wrote:

Why? If what you teach is TRUTH? I have an idea maybe because it is a LIE!!! I think anyone that believes the Bible ought to stick with God, Ps 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  They were just Bible believing sinners, thought called by different name who trusted in Thus Saith The LORD!!! No, I do NOT believe you FEAR GREATLY because if you did you would preach His Word, His Way, Without Wresting the Scriptures.

You will find that I never 'wrest' Scripture and I am always careful to preach and teach only the truth.  Your limited exposure to Bible truth in these areas make you very accusatory and I again rebuke you for this callousness.  But please keep a teachable spirit, hang in there and learn a little more in these areas.  You wrote:

When it all is brought into the Light, you and your teaching are no different than The Catholic's, The Russelites, ect and many others who claim they are the True Church. What do you think about Oliver B. Green or Harold B. Sightler? Now, if you would when you get time [I believe I have a teachable spirit when it comes to the BIBLE] please explain some of my before statements and 1 Corinthians 12:13 for me; For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

When it all is brought into the light, and your misunderstanding of these truths is straightened up a little, you will not make such a coarse and ignorant statement.   Concerning your confusion over 1 Cor 12, I can only hope to move you to a clarity that in this present dispensation there is no One Universal (Catholic) Unified Visible (or Invisible) Church (called out body of believers) of Jesus Christ, and your insistence that there is will forever be confounding. All believers, in Christ are in one family, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.   All believers are indeed baptized into one body and that is the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But all believers are not unified in one catholic church, i.e. one unified universal called out body of believers.  Consider the statement of a English statesman, “Upon this rock, (the judicial jury system requiring trial by ones peers) I will build my country.”   Nowhere in England is there established a  Universal Unified Jury of 12 to secure fair trials, there are only multiple independent bodies of jurors called out and unified to execute a trial of ones peers in each particular town.  So to, at present, there is not one Universal Unified Called out Body of Believers that performs the commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There are multiple independent bodies of believers fulfilling His commission in each particular town. So it was in the Bible, i.e. Paul never tried to unify the Local Church at Corinth with the Local Churches at Philipi,  nor even to unify the several local Churches found at Philipi, and so it is today.  Deal with it. We will be a unified called out body of believers when we are all called out at the rapture, and we will be the 'Bride of Christ', (after all a bride is only a bride for one day, the day of the wedding, prior to that she is the espoused chaste virgin cf 2Cor 11:2) at the marriage supper of the Lamb and not until.  That is good theology that has been misrepresented by universal church enthusiasts and by Baptist Briders. Get a good handle on it.

I love and respect Oliver B. Green and Harold B. Sightler,  their teachings and writings; but don't take that to mean we cross all our 't's and dot all our 'i's exactly the same. As a Baptist I reserve the  right to disagree with any human and side with what the Bible, my sole and final authority, asserts as I take a hermeneutical spiral through it on each and every issue.

Stay in the book. Keep up a broad spiral until you center in on the truths herein expressed.

Pastor Ed Rice

PS. Hermeneutics def that branch of theology which defines the laws whereby the meaning of the Scriptures is to be ascertained.

Msg #1018 A Royal Priesthood

The 'P' in the 8 B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S distinctives stands for our priesthood. In 382 AD Jerome mistranslated the Greek word 'presbyter', (in English 'elder') throughout the Latin Vulgate as 'priest'. It was a dis-honest mistake and priest-craft was imported into the apostate Roman church, grew with the Roman sword and today people unwittingly trust their children to a man dressed in a black robe and promising to be celibate. That is not Christian, nor is priest-craft. In the Bible every born again, blood washed, Christ quickened believer is a holy priest. All should stay well away from the black dressed incense waving pretenders, to often predators. As a New Testament priest every born again believer should know the Scripture inside and out, frontward and backward, as the Old Testament priesthood was required. They were the teachers of the Words of God, so should we be. They organized, kept in order, and maintained the place of worship and we should do no less. They were to abstain from strong drink, keep themselves pure, separated from the world, and holy to the Lord. Peter writes to us “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” They interceded for others, ministered to people, cared for the needy, taught in the synagogues. In the New Testament Church that Jesus built every believer is to be a priest and none called clergy. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1Pet 2:9-10) Don't participate in priest-craft, it is Roman and pagan, be a Bible believer and the royal priesthood that Christ has called them to be.

An Essay for week # 18, Sun, May 2, 2010

Msg #1019 On Mothers Day

A Merriam-Webster word of the day this week was 'Matrix', Latin 'mater', meaning mother. Originally and specifically it meant 'uterus' and thus came to mean the situation or set of conditions in which something develops or forms. God specifically designed the female body, soul, spirit, mind, and emotion for this task of mothering. Despite modernist progressive rhetoric there is no duty in life that can be as fulfilling for a woman. A mother's task is daunting, we enter this world as such selfish little ingrates, and mom sets about living and teaching us selflessness. God designed them so well that they still tell their grown sons “Tuck in your shirt and sit up straight dear.” Man made in the image of God but desiring disobedient independence from Him, fell into a rebellious, selfish, depraved independence. All of man is now tainted by sin, and appointed to death. But mothers, being created as they were, meet the situations and set the conditions whereby we can develop and form in an environment where we learn to wash behind our ears, and sit up straight. And so we honor our mothers. Not with all the honor that is their due, but with a day, a flower, and a fine meal. God has no other creation so equip to teach us to to love and to be loved, to trust and to be trusted, to lean and to be leaned upon, to live and to let live. When you honor your mom this Sunday, let her know that the flower is just a token for the honor that is due her. And know too that as quickly as that flower wilts and vanishes from this world, so to do our moms. Happy Mothers Day.

An Essay for week # 19, Sun, May 9, 2010

Msg #1020 A Mom's Seven Teachings

Since my days as a youth pastor mothers day highlights an outline in Proverbs chapter 31 showing the seven things Lemuel's mother taught him. Verse one opens with her teaching the 'thus saith the LORD' of the Holy Scriptures. Prophecy is not about telling the future, it is about telling the message of the Lord. Verse two deals with Lemuel's identity; I am your mother, I brought you into this world, I have taken the “until death do us part” vows that provide the stable home where you belong. How unfortunate that our society no longer emphasizes the latter of these, but the Christian home sure needs to. Mom's third instruction to her son is to not be a 'womanizer.' Solomon's downfall was his womanizing. (1Kings 11:1-6) Verse 4 says “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine.” Mom follows this one up with 7 reasons why one drinks booze and why total abstinence is the only answer for a king. If you're a born again Christian, who is appointed as a “king and priest”, as in Rev1:6, and are promised that you will never perish, as in John3:16, God's instruction is total abstinence from booze. If you are ready to perish, then drink up, and forget your misery, forget your poverty. If you are no king, then booze it up, kill those brain cells, forget His law, and pervert your judgment. “It is not for kings.” Verse 8 and 9 instruct Lemuel to “Open thy mouth.” Be one who intercedes for others and “judges righteously” while others mock saying “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Open your mouth! Lastly, the chapter closes with a mom's instruction to a son to 'marry well!' What an awesome close to Solomon's book of wisdom.

An Essay for week # 20, Sun, May 16, 2010

Alcohol Abstinence Response to Msg #1020

Ref Penny Pulpit Msg #1020 Mr. Clement wrote:

Will you please send Bible references regarding total abstinence of alcohol. Thank you, Mr. Clement

Dear Mr. Clement,

Thanks for asking. For a believer struggling with alcohol dependence I start with Prov. 20:1 coupled with John 8:34-36. I have them write these verses in a notebook, by hand, daily or regularly, and also carry them with them hand written on a 3x5 card for a week. Every time they see a beer truck, beer add, bar or tavern I suggest that they get out the card and read aloud God's word. I then have them write Proverbs 23:29-35 on half their page and a short commentary on each verse on the other half. (One once said they could deal with verse 31 by drinking with their eyes closed, I responded that many 'Christians' do just that.) Lastly I similarly use the verses I mentioned below from Proverbs 31 (vr 4-7) with the same reasoning Lemuel's mom used, and then deal with them concerning the question, "Has Christ made you a king and priest?" (Rev 1:1-8, 1Pet 2:9-10) I am not a methodist but I used this method effectively for my years as a youth pastor and found it as applicable for adults in my pastorate. A vice that has been acquired over years does not dissipate in hours. My military career has well aquainted me with vice as sin. That alcohol is a vice should be understood apriori.

May God bless you in His service.

Pastor Ed Rice

Ref Msg #1020 Excerpt cf. Prov 31 Verse 4 says “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine.” Mom follows this one up with 7 reasons why one drinks booze and why total abstinence is the only answer for a king. If you're a born again Christian, who is appointed as a “king and priest”, as in Rev1:6, and are promised that you will never perish, as in John3:16, God's instruction is total abstinence from booze. If you are ready to perish, then drink up, and forget your misery, forget your poverty. If you are no king, then booze it up, kill those brain cells, forget His law, and pervert your judgment. “It is not for kings.”

Msg #1021 Whosoever Will May Come

The ' I ' in the eight BAPTIST distinctives stands for 'Individual Soul Liberty.' The Church that Jesus built always recognized faith in Christ available to 'whosoever will.' While catholics compelled their 'christianity' on the masses with a magistrate's Roman sword, and Protestants restricted it to ones perceived as 'the elect' to receive it, Jesus Christ said “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, Mt10:32Lu12:8” or “whosoever shall not be offended in me Mt11:6Lu7:23” or “whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, Mt12:50Mr3:35” or “whosoever will save his life, Mt16:25” or “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself, Mt18:4” or “Whosoever will come after me, Mr8:34” or “whosoever shall receive me, Mr9:37Lu9:48” or “Whosoever cometh to me, Lu6:47” or “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, Joh4:14” or “whosoever liveth and believeth in me Joh11:26” or “through his name whosoever believeth in him Ac10:43Joh3:15” or “whosoever believeth on him Ro9:33” or “ whosoever believeth on me Joh12:46” or “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom10:13” or “whosoever believeth in him Joh3:16.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ro10:13.” “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart ..., thou shalt be saved.” Rom10:9 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Ro10:11 ...... Salvation cannot be compelled with a law, a sword, or infant baptism, nor can it be restricted to a few 'elect', it is freely available to “whosoever will may come.” In any of these 'whosoever' offers you can substitute your name, your child's name or your grandchild's name. Individual soul liberty is an important distinctive which makes the offer of Christ frely available to the whole world; but still an offer.

An Essay for week # 21, Sun, May 23, 2010

Msg #1022 Pastors Are 1st Husbands, not 1st Ladies

The two 'T's in the 8 BAPTISTS distinctives stand for 'Two' ordinances and 'Two' offices. The local, Bible believing, believer baptizing Church that Jesus built has a 'Bishop-Pastor-Elder' and 'Deacons-Ministers-Elders' which the Holy Bible clearly dictates in the Epistles to Timothy, written “that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God.” The Pastor (shepherd) is an Elder (mature) and the Bishop (overseer) of the flock, the local Church. The Deacons are Elders who minister among the flock. The Holy Bible unapologetically requires the Bishop-Pastor, who oversees the flock, and the ministers, ordained as deacons, to be “the husband of one wife, ... one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?)” The rebellion against God's rules that is so rampant in society today, is just as rampant in the churches who are rebelling against this Scripture. When God, spelling out rules so that we may know how to behave ourselves in His Church, says “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” it's not just a suggestion. It's NOT made by a god who was ignorant of how much mankind would evolve to levels above these rules. Rebellion is ugly no matter how society tries to civilize it. God says thou shalt not kill, sinful mankind says 'unless the child is inconvenient', God says a man and woman rearing obedient children, rebellious mankind says 'two men can do it', God says a bishop must be the husband of one wife, and usurp authority in His Church ... What does your Pastor say?

An Essay for week # 22, Sun, May 30, 2010

Msg #1023 Reflection on Soldiers

While we honor our soldiers who are driven by extraordinary levels of loyalty, honor, and duty, it behooves Christians to recall the Bible's charge to young Timothy to “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2Tim 2) The loyalty that we respect in our soldiers sinks its roots ever deeper into their soul as they train and are built into a unit with a unity. Christians are told “Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” The honor that binds the heart of our soldiers to the duty that may well take their life is captured in their code: “I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. I will never surrender of my own free will.” We justly honor and respect our soldiers and memorialize their fallen comrades, who gave their life four our freedoms. And as we do, Christians should reflect on their extraordinary loyalty to “Duty, Honor, and Country” and then reflect the same as Christ's good soldiers. For “No man that warreth entangleth himself the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” As a soldier who spoke the six articles of the “Armed Forces Code of Conduct” for 23 years I will honor our soldiers. I am serving now in a greater army with a greater King, and you and I need to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Loyal to death, driven by Duty, Honor, and Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be a soldier. If you are not a born again Christian you should join His army, it has eternal benefits.

An Essay for week # 23, Sun, June 6, 2010

Msg #1024 Two Ordinances of Christ

The two 'T's in the 8 BAPTISTS distinctives stand for two offices, and two ordinances. The simplest clearest teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are that baptism and communion are ordinances i.e. commanded physical observances which symbolically portray spiritual realities, and NOT sacraments, i.e. religiously practiced physical activities that invoke a mystical, magical spiritual endowment of grace on the participants. There are no sacraments in the Holy Bible. In the 5 century when Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate with the bad theology of Saint Augustine of Hippo, he errantly inserted this Latin 'magic' or 'sacrament' into God's Holy Word on 8 occasions, Eph 1:9, 3:3, 9, 5:32, Col 1:27, 1Tim 3:16, Rev 1:20, and 17:7. The proper translation was, and still is, 'mystery' as used in the real Bible. Jerome and Augustine inserted 'do penance' for “repent”; 'priest' for “ordained elder” and 'magic sacrament' for God's revealed “mysteries.” Care should be taken in who translates a Bible, their bad doctrine is always inserted. Thus for 1700 years now 'Christianity' has been saddled with the horrid misnomer that a 'Holy Water' baptism, and a 'Holy Eucharist' can magically wash sin away or magically unite us to Christ. The Bible has always expounded the two ordinances as physical pictures with no magic, and no mysticism. Protestants carried these horrid translation errors into their doctrines and practices, but Baptists, so named for their refusal to compromise on the exactness of what the Holy Bible says about them, have been true to the exact wording of Scripture for these 2000 years. Many are now trusting the new international and new American ecumenical translation societies that are again changing the Words of God. Sacraments are part of a man made religion, never occurring in an accurate rendition of God's carefully preserved, inerrant, verbally inspired Scripture.

An Essay for week # 24, Sun, June 13, 2010

Original Autographa Response to Msg #1024

First Baptist Church wrote:

Hello: I cannot help but respond to your Msg #1024 and what appears to be your comparison of the Latin Vulgate with the NIV and NASB. Perhaps you did not intend to imply that these modern translations have followed the Latin Vulgate, but my reading of your article led me to believe that both the NIV and the NASB use these "catholic" words in their translations. Such is not the case. Your wording would lead a person that is uninformed of the texts of these translations to think that, like the LV, the NIV and NASB have changed the Word of God. Disagree with the modernity of the translations. Disagree with the choice of Hebrew and Greek MSS used in their translations. Believe that the KJV is without error--if you can truly believe that a translation by fallible men can be without error (that assertion sounds more Catholic than Baptist). But do not insinuate that a modern translation--because it is modern--is of necessity a corrupt translation. There has only ever been one perfect manuscript and that would be the original autographa, which no person has. What we have today, and even the translators of the KJV 1611 would agree, is a good translation of a good copy of a word perfect original. That which makes a translation good is if it is accurately translated from both the Hebrew and Greek MSS that the translators have before them and from which they work to produce an accurate translation of the Bible into modern or contemporary language.

Dr. Ray Mitchell ,

Pastor, First Baptist Church

Pastor Ed Rice wrote:

Dear Dr. Mitchell,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank you for the feedback and I agree with you on the Latin Vulgate issue. I did not mean to imply that the Latin Vulgate was slipped into the modernist ecumenical international bibles, only that the bad doctrine of the modernist ecumenicals was slipped into their bibles. I stand corrected.

I am interested in additional clarification from you, if you may find the time, on the other issue you herein address. Modernists have long denied the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible, inspiration of God's Word, and lead into that denial with the very arguments that you herein present. There is no, and there never has been a set of 'original autographs', therefore, in extending that flawed logic, there is no, and never has been, and never will be, a verbally inspired Holy Bible. In reading your argument for there being no such thing as an inerrant Bible, I am curious where you might draw your lines to take some position on the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible, inspiration of God's Word. Each of these adjectives has been intertwined in Bible doctrine since Adam; is it your intent to just rip out inerrancy and keep the others intact? Or to fray the whole doctrine of Bible inspiration? To me that is the crux of the dilemma. I stand by my assertion that the KJV translators had a firm handle on the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible, inspiration of God's Word and there are no modern translation teams, ergo no modern bible translations, which hold to that doctrine. You?

I am still exploring and documenting this later thesis and would honestly appreciate hearing your convictions.

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1025 The Hebrew's Book

The Holy Bible wherein God our Creator reveals Himself to mankind was provided to us in its entirety by the Hebrews. In the genealogy of Mary, the mother of Jesus, recorded in Genesis by Moses, the prophet, in Chronicles by Ezra, the ready scribe, and in Luke 3 by Dr. Luke, preaching companion of the Apostle Paul, there is a decedent called Heber, and his descendants were were called Hebrews. God spoke to one of those Hebrews and called him to leave his family and passover to a land which God would shew him. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The name 'Hebrew' now came to mean 'one which passes over' and 'sojourner in a land', and Abraham's obedience to God caused that he was a blessing to ALL people. Over the next 2,000 years 40 holy men of God, Hebrews, recorded 66 inerrant, infallible books “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Abraham's grandson Jacob, had his name changed to Israel and his 12 sons formed the 12 tribes of Israel. The only tribe to remain intact was the tribe of Judah and so the Hebrews are today dwelling in their promised land of Israel and are called Jews, but Christianity still owes everything to this chosen nation of God who gave us the 39 books of the Old Testament which, told of the coming Messiah, the Christ child born in Bethlehem in Israel, and who gave us the 27 books of the New Testament written “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church, of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth.” Guard your copy from the ecumenical modernists who think they can modernize and fix His Holy Bible.

An Essay for week # 25, Sun, June 20, 2010

Msg #1026 Depend on a Father

When a father named Jairus brought the deadly plight of his only daughter before the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus was thronged by others who prevented him from doing what Jairus wanted; his only daughter, of 12 years, died before Jesus could get away from the crowds. There is no 'one thing' in life which moves a man from his rebellious independence and selfish nature more than looking into the eyes of his offspring and seeing their complete dependence on him. There is no 'one thing' that causes man to recognize our complete dependence on our heavenly father and see his great love for us, than rearing a child who strives to walk in our foot steps. The Bible says “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” One learns to rely and trust his Heavenly Father like he did his earthly father. When Jairus heard the most horrid news that ever fell on a fathers ears, it is no small thing that Jesus was there and he heard it too. Jesus said “Fear not believe only, and she shall be made whole.” The precious and deeply touching verses which close Luke chapter 8 demonstrate that Jesus is not raising the dead as a crowd convincing show, he is doing it because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Fathers take a note, 'God wants you trusting and dependent on Him like that little one did on you. Our society is in rebellion to that truth, but the stable home founded on God's commandment will prevail in the long run and it alone can bring peace to a fathers child.

An Essay for week # 26, Sun, June 27, 2010

Msg #1027 Belief Then Baptism

The acts of the Apostles should be principle study material for a Christian and the Apostle Paul's preaching companion, Dr. Luke, has infallibly documented these acts in his book by that title. Three epochs are presented: the gospel received by Hebrews, the gospel received by Gentiles, and the growth of the gospel in the churches, particularly at Ephesus. These epochs are separated by 9 years, documented in 9 chapters, and the last one holds our attention with the greatest application to today. In Acts chapter 19 Paul comes to Ephesus and finds disciples knowing only the baptism of John and not knowing the indwelling of Christ. Theirs was a baptism of recognition not of reception, one of preparation, not presentation. The one identified who Christ was, the other identifies one with Christ. At the muddy Jordan River John's Baptism identified that Jesus was the Messiah indeed. At the muddy Ford's Pond in Gang Mills NY I was identified with Him because I had personally received Him as my Lord and Saviour and Christ. Apollos and these 12 disciples, baptized with a baptism of repentance for preparing the way for the Messiah, believed everything that was to believe about the Christ, but had not personally received him and confessed him as their Lord and Saviour. When they did there was a great change in their life and in their eternal destiny. They could now be baptized with a believers baptism, which pictures immersion into and identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been likened to missing heaven by 18 inches, the distance between you head and your heart. SO which baptism have you received? Don't miss heaven by 18 inches. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:10)

An Essay for week # 27, Sun, July 4, 2010

Msg #1028 Independence and Separation

The 'S' in the 8 BAPTISTS distinctives stands for the 'Separation of Church and State.' That this is a Baptist hallmark is heralded at the Leland – Madison Memorial Park historical marker which reads “1754-1841 Elder John Leland, courageous leader of the Baptist doctrine, Ardent advocate of the principles of democracy, vindicator of separation of Church and State. Near this spot in 1788 John Leland and James Madison, the Father of the American Constitution, held a significant interview which resulted in the adoption of the constitution by Virginia. Then Madison, a member of Congress from Orange presented the first amendment to the constitution guaranteeing religious liberty, free speech, and a free press. This satisfied Leland and his Baptist followers. Presented by Eugene Bucklin Bowen, President Berkshire County Massachusetts Chapter Sons of the American Revolution.” Our current president, desiring that this not be a Christian country, should visit this marker 4 mi. from Orange Va. on Highway 20. He should also rehearse “A History of First Baptist Church, of the City of New York,” a document that states “While in camp Newburgh, General Washington requested Pastor Gano to baptize him according to the Scriptures. He did so Immersing him in believers baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.” You see, Washington's boyhood home became the first place in Virginia where Baptist ministers were imprisoned over matters of conscience. In 1776 General Washington requested authorities of his denomination to discontinue customary prayers for the success of England; they would not; he refused to kneel in the Church or receive their communion. General Washington made John Gano, Pastor of First Baptist Church of NYC, his personal Army Chaplain, and received his instruction about religious liberty. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. The LORD has blessed America.

An Essay for week # 28, Sun, July 11, 2010

Msg #1029 The Words of the Kingdom

In the 19th year of the New Covenant, recorded in the 19th chapter of Acts, Paul takes two years to start a local Church in Ephesus. With 12 very learned new converts he spends “3 months disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God ” in the synagogue and local school house. The synagogues congregated on the Sabbath and Paul disputed with them when and where they met, but Christians have always congregated and worshiped on the first day of the week, the day their Christ rose from the dead, and not on the Sabbath day, the last day of the week. The 'things' that Paul disputed and persuaded was 'the Word of the Lord Jesus' about the kingdom; namely a) Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God, John 3, b) Except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees you cannot enter the kingdom, Matt 5, c) Like the most vile of humanity, “I tell you Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” Luke 13, d) Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple, Luke 15, and e) Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matt 18. After only 3 months in Ephesus, and 184 years of independence in America, they kicked the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ out of their school system. Precious few Ephesians grasped the “things concerning the kingdom of God,” but as believers, they formed the little local Church in Ephesus which Jesus addressed in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Praise God if you are one of those precious few in America, and you are still congregating with other believers on the Lord's Day.

An Essay for week # 29, Sun, July 18, 2010

Msg #1030 Signs, Wonders, and False Teachers

Signs and wonders with angelic and demonic activity always mark the transition periods of God's dispensations but none more than His ushering in the new covenant that placed us in this dispensation of grace. The formation of the little church in Ephesus, documented in Acts 19, is so marked by these because it is a first in the formation of the Gentile churches. Only in Acts 2, 10 and 19 did believers speak with tongues and these are transitions where the gospel first came to the Jews, the Gentiles, and these disciples at Ephesus. “And God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul” ... in Ephesus diseases and evil spirits departed. Vagabond tele-evangelists, like the seven sons of Sceva, like to cash in and attract crowds with tongues, signs, wonders, handkerchiefs and exorcisms, but these false teachers were quickly exposed in Ephesus, ... almost comically. (vr. 13-16) Modernists want to rip Mark 16 out of the Bible because it was ripped out of the Egyptian version they adore, but it says “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (vr 17-18) In the transition into this age of grace these signs did follow them that believed. The New Testament record is emphatic, but the vagabonds and 'seven sons of one Sceva' who today try to replicate these 'signs and wonders' need to be reprimanded and identified as the false teachers that Christ continually warns us about. Today the signs and wonders that prove Christ are printed in a book. Wonder at it, not the tele-evangelists.

An Essay for week # 30, Sun, July 25, 2010

Bible Question on Penny Pulpit Content

Pastor Rice-

On a totally non related scripture can you share some insights of the meaning of Matt 16:19

“19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven”

Is this church authority, is this for Peter only, is this for all the disciples, is this for you and me or is this about our  responsibility to share the gospel- loosing those that accept and binding those who reject Christ?

I am uncertain of what Christ is saying---

Thank you for your time

Yours in Christ

Charlie C.

Dear Charlie C.,

Concerning verse 19, the whole context of this Scripture is just as intriguing and analysis of it will reveal that you analyzed it well in your last statement that this is “about our  responsibility to share the gospel- loosing those that accept and binding those who reject Christ?”

In context the verse from Matthew 16 is:

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Notice here the 'little stone' is Peter, and the 'big rock' upon which Christ will build his Church is the truth under consideration that “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Clarifying that upsets Roman Catholicism because they engulf the fiction that Peter was their first Pope fulfilling the building of a Roman Imperial Church upon his shoulders. They also misinterpret the 'key' reference thinking on the physical plane that it opens their locked doors at the Vatican.

If the rock, in proper interpretation is the foundational truth upon which his Church was to be built, i.e. that He was Messiah, the Christ, what, in reality, and in good hermeneutics, would be the keys (plural) that open the door, as it were, for entry into his Church? I like to consider them as four keys on a ring which will gain you entry into the kingdom of heaven. Key 1: Except ye be born again ye cannot see the kingdom of God, Key 2: Except ye be converted ye cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Key 3: Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish, and Key 4: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

Did Jesus give this ring of keys to Peter so that he could loose 'whatsoever' on earth? He surely did. Gave the set to James and John as well. I got me a set back in 1960 when Christ quickened me. You got a set when you got saved, and we should be using them to loose souls around us. In fact, it is a little strange that while teaching and pretending that they got the only set, the Roman Catholic Church did not even get a viable set of these 4 keys.

That has been my take on these verses and it has served me well in His service.

God Bless you for asking.

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1031 A Riot for Proselytizing

In Ephesus riot broke out when Paul determined to take the gospel which changed so many Ephesians and preach it all over Asia. If other cities saw the change that Ephesus saw the idol making sliver smiths would be out of work. If the change in these believers spread to all Asia the temple of Diana would become a ghost town. People would change all their worship to the Lord Jesus. The change in converts was so genuine that “old things were passed away, behold all things were become new.” The change was universal, showing up in both Jews and Gentiles, and it was not duplicated in the fakes mimicking signs and wonders or belief. The changed-ones told everyone and the word of the Lord Jesus was known to all, both Jew and Gentile. They burned up their old ways and fear fell on them all as the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. The Bible says “Mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.” The changed Ephesian believers were now determined to take the gospel message that changed them to all of Asia. The unbelievers “had no small stir about that way” and they stirred up a riot against these evangelizing proselytizing believers of Ephesus. The changed-ones so enjoyed their new found faith in their Lord that they were going out of their way to let everybody know about him. Would God a riot would break out because of our proselytizing. America has been engulfed with a pluralism contending that you have your beliefs and I have mine, just leave it that way. That is not acceptable to a born again believer who knows Jesus' word that “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me” ... Proselytize.

An Essay for week # 31, Sun, August 1, 2010

Msg #1032 Politics as Usual

In Acts 19 the Bible says a riot broke out because of righteousness and there are lessons to learn in the reactions to the worlds riot. The life changing gospel of Jesus Christ being preached throughout Asia is what initiated the riot. The unsaved were incensed and full of wrath, verse 28, they were full of confusion and yet they were all of 'one accord', verse 29. The righteousness of Christ often left the world's religiousness in such a state. It still does today. In verse 31 the chief of Asia resolved to stop the preaching of Paul as their 'political solution'. They played the discrimination and 'race card' in verse 34. The town clerk took steps to appease the false religion which caused the uproar; even to exaggerate and lie about their greatness and pretend they were something they were not in verse 35-36. Today our politicians try to appease the Muslims and pretend that Islam is a peace loving religion. While Fundamental Islam actually strives for the overthrow of our government, our leaders try to appease them and pretend the freedom honoring fundamentals of Christianity were not our founding principles. Finally the political solution to the proselytizing and preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ would pursue a legal solution and let the courts and law suites handle the problem, verses 37-40. They likely formed an Ephesus civil liberties union (ECLU) and enacted hate speech legislation to stop the proselytizing and the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is a Christian to do? Well in Acts 20 they went about preaching the gospel of their Lord all through Asia, even when that intent is what started the riot in Ephesus. Awesome, isn't it. We should do no less.

An Essay for week # 32, Sun, August 8, 2010

Msg #1033 Doth Not Wisdom Cry?

“Doth not Wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” is the redundant question which Solomon uses to start the crowning crescendo of his Wisdom Literature. Proverbs Chapter 8 follows seven chapters of superb introductory work, and when the wisest man in the world, God said so, writes an introduction for personified Wisdom it is well worth our time to meditate there. This chapter covers Wisdom's cry, Wisdom's character, her value and her roots. When discerning wisdom, understanding, and knowledge this one chapter of God's Holy Word is unprecedented. When discerning its unprecedented lack in our society today this chapter is insightful. When discerning a systematic theology that would cause us to know Jehovah God the chapter is invaluable. Only a small remnant are listening for wisdom's cry. The blight of wisdom in our society multiplied when we kicked Solomon's Wisdom Literature out of our schools. Today precious few people will “study to shew themselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” ... in order to “know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,” and in order to grow in the knowledge of God. Wisdom is still crying out from the Proverbs of Solomon. Be one of the precious few that will shut off the entertainments of life and read 31 Proverbs this month. God can use His Word to change your life. His promise still stands “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” In life, may you have His good success.

An Essay for week # 33, Sun, August 15, 2010

Msg #1034 Christ Our Creator

When personified Wisdom documents her roots in Proverbs chapter 8, it is in perfect harmony with both Genesis1 and John1. As such it shows the shrill disharmony of theistic evolution, the 'gap theory', and atheistic evolution, none of which ring with gospel truth. “The LORD possessed me in the beginning, or ever the earth was.” The Bible says “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth” and inquiring minds ask “What was there before that?” The God, who reveals himself, answers in both Proverbs 8 and John 1. The Bible believer accepts without question that God created the universe in 6 days and rested on the 7th . “The heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is,” (Acts4:24) was created in the 6 days wherein we still frame our 7 day week. No fictitious geological column, no fictitious gaptist calamity of havoc and destruction, nor fictitious spontaneous generation of species can move upon God's teaching about his 6 day creation. Proverbs 8 finds God wisdom “Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” Infidels speak of alien life forms or lizards evolving into eagles and dogs into horses, but a Christian should not let such balderdash be taught to his children or entangled in the truth of God's Holy Word. “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:” (Exod20:11) John 1 presents the eternal truth that Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man, as the third part of the triune Godhead, was that same creator for “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) We worship Christ our Creator.

An Essay for week # 34, Sun, August 22, 2010

Msg #1035 The Good Samaritan

Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan recorded in the Gospel according to Luke aptly answers the self justifying lawyer's two questions, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and , striving to justify himself, “Who is my neighbor?” Clearly the “certain man” going down from Jerusalem into Jericho portrays the plight of fallen man which has departed from the presence of God and is headed for the stronghold of sin. Like him, mankind fell among thieves, was robbed of his glory, wounded and left half dead. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” The certain priest who saw him and passed by on the other side is representative of the Aaronic priesthood that sees man's plight but did not remedy it. The Levite that 'came and looked on him' represents the sages, the rabbis and clergy that are supposed to minister to man's need. He too passed by on the other side. Only one overwhelmed with mercy, one who is “despised and rejected of men”, like a Samaritan was to that lawyer, only the one who would completely give of himself could remedy the dire plight of mankind and “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” As you walk through your day the 'certain man' who fell among thieves, lost his glory and is left half dead may be in a suit or in a gutter. Don't pass by on the other side, be a Good Samaritan and point him to the one who gave 'his all' that we might go free and be healed. You might be despised and rejected, but Christ is The Good Samaritan, you should be a good samaritan. Today, don't just pass by, share Jesus Christ with that 'certain man'

An Essay for week # 35, Sun, August 29, 2010

Msg #1036 Is God Done With Americans?

It is coming on 400 years that the Holy Bible has been translated in inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired English. It is coming on 50 years that the Holy Bible, with its account that the Lord Jesus Christ is the God and Creator of all, has been banned from our public school children, who are now taught that they are here by random chance for no particular purpose. The feminized church ignores God's commands, to where there are more women in the pulpits of Yates County than there are 'Men of God' preaching his truth. God said of his own people “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD.” (Isa 30:9) And to the land that had been so blessed as ours it is recorded “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were don in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sack cloth and ashes.” But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.” (Matt 11) We are asking that our loved ones and neighbors be saved and turned from their paths of sin and destruction but “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt 13:58) America “the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you,... But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.” (Luke 10) God is longsuffering,... “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: “

An Essay for week # 36, Sun, September 5, 2010

Msg #1037 Kiss the Son, Lest He be Angry

There is no chapter more graphic nor vivid in portraying a nations sin than Ezekiel 16, and although God aimed at Judah, He sure hits America squarely in her heart. God said previously “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?” (14:3) “They shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;” (vr10) “When the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it.” (vr13) ... “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the LORD GOD.” (vr14) With the assurance of God's pending judgment against a nation that turned from their founder thus established, God pens chapter 16. Therein the graphic description of Judah's harlotry would cause any modest human to blush, and cause one who knows America's history and current plight to weep. America, haunted in its feminized modernist churches, steeped in its cause of sodomy, leisure in its slaying of innocents for convenience, and schooled in banning Jesus Christ the Creator from its children, is ripe for revival or ripe for judgment. We have few Noahs, Daniels, or Jobs preaching righteousness in her streets, and “Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.” America, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and ye perish from the way.” (Psalm2)

An Essay for week # 37, Sun, September 12, 2010

Msg #1038 Use Your Brain Or Die

Matthew 25:14-30 is not a lesson about using your talents for the Lord, but of using the resources he provides you in order to bring gain to your Creator and owner. In Christ's parable of the Kingdom of God resources are given to the Lord's servants according to their ability, and the focus is on the one who receives only one. The servants are left without supervision, as stewards, with a knowledge that their lord would return and they would be accountable for that resource. The one resource we have all received is a rational working mind and in this parable failure to invest it resulted in outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. That is very serious. “What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John6) “For God … gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John3) Sinking that one precious resource in the world, and burying it in the dirt rather than using it to trust in the only Begotten Son is the only thing that could bring you into eternal outer darkness. For the servant with one talent the parable did not have to end the way it did. He could have used his one resource and ended with the same praise “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” You have a mind which can understand what God requires of you. The Lord will return soon. You will be held responsible for what you did with your resourceful brain, Don't bury it in the world. ”Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.”

An Essay for week # 38, Sun, September 19, 2010

Msg #1039 The Walking Dead Made Alive

Jesus' healing of leprosy parallels most closely his healing of my sin. The leper that came to Jesus in Matthew chapter 8 left his leper colony where he had to cry 'Unclean, Unclean', to anyone who would fain to come near or touch him. His leprosy was a disease of death where his flesh was dying in place as he lived. As the flesh of his fingers and toes died the numbness and lost circulation caused his daily activity to wear away bone and only nubs would remain. Lying causes honesty to die in place and some have lied so much that only useless nubs of dishonesty remain. Disobedience causes integrity to die in place and in some nothing but ugly nubs of rebellion mark their life. Selfishness causes kindness to die in place and some are such selfish ogres that a vile scarred face of decaying grimace stares at you. Such a scarred dying leper came to Jesus, worshiped him, believed in him, and said “Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” In theology man cannot come to Jesus unless he is chosen and elect, but in the Bible 'whosoever will may come.' The theologian says you cannot come to Jesus because you are already dead and cannot be drawn, but in the Bible Jesus said “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John12) So the leperous man heard of his fame and came to Jesus. “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” No more leper colony; no more living death n his flesh, only a new walk in newness of life. He can heal your sin, and make you new too.

An Essay for week # 39, Sun, September 26, 2010

Msg #1040 Untold Millions

Having just returned from 2 weeks abroad in South America I am touched by Jesus' reactions when, in his 3 ½ year public ministry, he saw the multitudes. Out on a mountain side in Matthew 5, “And seeing the multitudes,... he opened his mouth, and taught them.” He commissioned you and I, as born again believers, to “teach all nations,” yet we so often remain silent in the multitudes, expecting, perhaps, that they might come to church if they want to hear the gospel. “When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.” (Matt 8) ... and Jesus “healed all that were sick.” (vr 16) Each physical healing that Jesus did was a picture, yea a portrayal, of the spiritual healings and forgiveness of sin which he is still doing today. He will not touch blinded eyes and make them see, raise the paralytic and heal the leper, but he still touches blinded eyes and causes them to see, lifts those paralyzed in sin and causes them to walk in newness of life, and touches dead and decaying flesh and makes it new. You might let others know the spiritual healings in your life, because “When they multitude saw it they marveled, and glorified God.” (9:8) You might let someone know about your new life in Christ and still see today “the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.” (9:33) When Christ is in you and living unrepressed it can still happen that “When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (9:36) “Untold millions are still untold; Untold millions are outside the fold; Who will tell them of Jesus' love, and the bountiful blessings from heaven above?” Will you?

An Essay for week # 40, Sun, October 3, 2010

Msg #1041 The Rapture of the Church

The Bible says “Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” ... “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Protestant theologians, with their aged errant covenant and replacement theology, tell us the word 'rapture' is not in the Bible and the dispensational doctrine that contends for it is 'the new kid on the block'. But Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Clearly there is coming a trump of God when born again believers will be 'caught away', i.e. raptured out. The unsaved will be left behind to face a tribulation and the 7 vials of God's wrath. God always has a remnant who plainly believe His Word and there is one that is looking for the rapture of the Church. Jesus said we should work for the night is coming. What will you be doing when that trumpet sounds? Where will you be when the saints are raptured home? Don't be left behind. Don't be idol in His Kingdom. “When the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” ... Will he find yours?

An Essay for week # 41, Sun, October 10, 2010

Msg #1042 The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a most marvelous culmination of the whole revelation of God. Those who suppose that the Holy Bible is allegorical or a man made book cannot comprehend its completeness. Those who reject the literalness of Genesis and its revelation of a six day creation of the whole universe, will never comprehend the complete literalness of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Those who do not worship the Lord Jesus Christ because they reject his deity and his place in the trinity of the Godhead, will never comprehend the reality of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. But those Bible believing, born-again, quickened Christians who believe every jot and tittle of the Holy Bible find this book to be indeed The Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a book of sevens. Seven being the number of completeness. The Apostle John was commanded herein: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” There are seven divine attributes of Jesus Christ given in 'the things which thou hast seen.' There are seven messages to seven Churches in 'the things which are.' And there are seven years of tribulation which include seven seals of preparation, seven trumpets of warning and seven vials of the wrath of God, in 'the things which shall be hereafter.” Revealed therein are seven dooms, including the doom of the unbeliever and liar. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Therein is the last invitation as well. “And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

An Essay for week # 42, Sun, October 17, 2010

Msg #1043 The Literalness of the Tribulation Period

As the Revelation of Jesus Christ divides exactly in half at 12:8 the 7 year period of tribulation divides exactly in half at 12:8. “And the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not: neither was their place found anymore in heaven.” The exact placement of this event in Scripture and in time is no coincidence. In Matthew 24 Jesus said of Daniels vision of the 70th week, that 7 year period just prior to His coming, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time” That “Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet” is given power to continue 42 months (Rev13:5) or 3 ½ years. In Daniel 9 he breaks the covenant with Israel “in the midst of the week,” 3 ½ years. In Daniel 7 and 12 he “shall wear out the saints ... until a time (1 year) and times (2 years) and the dividing of time;” 3 ½ years. In Revelation 12:6 Israel is to be protected for 1,260 days; 3 ½ years. In verse 14 “she is nourished for a time (1 year) and times (2 years) and half a time,” which is 3 ½ years. In 11:3 God's two witnesses are given power to “prophesy 1,260 days; 3 ½ years of the 7 year tribulation period. The Protestant theologians keep trying to reform their old Catholic, Covenant Theology and steal promises given to Israel with Reformed Replacement Theology, but there is no reason to abandon a literal rendering of any of God's holy Word, especially the 7 year tribulation or its 3 ½ year midpoint, where Satan is overcome and cast down to earth persecuting Israel. When it is literal read it as literal. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

An Essay for week # 43, Sun, October 24, 2010

Msg #1044 The Literalness of the Kingdom

A born again Christian should not confuse the kingdom of God that he was born into by a second birth, with the thousand year kingdom age where his Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords from the throne of David. The Jews, looking for the kingdom of God were told “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke17) Jesus makes the distinction between the Kingdom of God you receive within you, and the coming day of the Lord when the Son of Man will sit on the Throne of David and rule every nation. For a believer the blessed hope is not that he might be saved in the end, but that he will see his blessed Redeemer come and fulfill the promises that he made. These promises are actual not figurative; real not allegorical; to us in the New Covenant and to God's chosen people, Israel in the Old Covenant. The literalness of the Kingdom of God in us and the Kingdom of Christ soon coming can not be allegorized away. They are realities of Christianity and realities of His revelation. God says “My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.” Shame on 'Christendom' for allegorizing away God's promises, and believing the textual critics who rip verses out of this precious old book. In this, its 400th year, you should unite with the tiny remnant that hold on to every jot and tittle of this old King James Bible.

An Essay for week # 44, Sun, October 31, 2010

Msg #1045 Who Should You Trust

The disciples expected that Jesus would set up his kingdom and rule over Israel form the Throne of David. The Apostles wrote that the Lord would return and with power and glory set up the promised Kingdom. The prophets declare that the Christ (Hebrew = Messiah) will reign over every nation of the world and bring a peace on the earth where the lion shall lie down with lambs. The Revelation of Jesus Christ lays out how all these things shall come to pass. It tells about a prepared city that is fore square and 1,323 miles wide and high, which is physically impossible, with streets of pure gold. Jesus asked “When I, the Son of Man, return will I find faith on the earth?” Where is your faith? Who are you going to trust? The modernist scholars are meticulously ripping verse after verse out of the Bible saying they must have been added by 'church fathers.' The modernist preachers have tossed aside all the Church rules given to Timothy and Titus so their women can be their pastors and bishops. Even the fundamentalists have latched on to the modernists' bibles and their compromised methods. The Bible is clear that before Christ returns his Church will be lukewarm and this world will be a regular Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible is clear that he has a prepared place for a prepared people. Who are you going to trust? You should get yourself into a Church that has a MAN of God preaching from a Holy Bible that still contains 1John 5:7 and all the other verses that are ripped out of the NIV, NASB, NEV etc. There are not many KJV Bible believing, Bible preaching Churches left, but pray a little and God will get you into one. God will bless.

An Essay for week # 45, Sun, November 7, 2010

1 John 5:7 Response to Msg #1045

Dear Dr. Clearwaters? and/or Doug Kutilek

Thank you for your FACTS input on 1 John 5:7.  Isn't it amazing how people can walk away from FACTS in two very different directions. I have heard most of that rhetoric in the articles you sent, but it is nice to have it all in one place for my studies in the area. Enclosed is my cut on the FACTS.  Although it is only in draft you will quickly get the idea that I am not going to trust Westcott and Hort, nor Nestle and Aland, to determine which verses should and should not be in my Holy Bible.  That, not Ruckman, nor some Adventist, is what makes me KJV only.  I got a brain, can do research, and will not ever trust W&H and their following.  That does not make me the wicked KJVOism cult you have fabricated as your enemy.  The bottom line source of this contention really is "Who are you going to trust?"  The Bible Critic, or the Infallible Bible.   You the former, I the latter.

Pastor Ed Rice

PS OK- 'Messiah' is Aramaic and not Hebrew,  just like 'Bible'  is Latin and not English.  You may be technically and linguistically correct but I can rouse several thousand Messianic Jews who will quickly correct you; Messiah is Hebrew.

ATTACHED defense_1john57beta.pdf .. Excerpts below

A DEFENSE OF FIRST JOHN FIVE SEVEN

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried

in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)

It is proven by scholars and accepted by liberals and cultists, modernists and evangelicals that I John 5:7 is not supposed to be in my Bible. Should I take my pen knife and cut it out? Would I? Would you?

This verse is a litmus test to tell if a Bible version has been tampered with by the modern hyper-deletion Bible critic. They are modern and modernists because they have only recently secured the lucrative copyrights for translating bibles that do not follow the traditional texts, and they cannot secure such a copyright if they do follow the traditional text. They are hyper-deletionists because they have also ripped out many more Scripture verses. Indeed they claim that unidentified 'church fathers' or sloppy scribes added verses to the Bible and thereby they must rip out Matt 17:21, 18:11; 23:14; Mark 7:16; 9:44, and 46; 11:26; 15:28; Luke 17:36; 23:17; John 5:4; Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29; Rom 16:24; and of course 1John 5:7; they also rip out most of Matt 5:44 and Luke 9:56 and in Col 1:14 cut out the phrase "Through His Blood". Their trend to rip out verses because they were not in the Alexandrian manuscripts tampered with by the philosopher Origen Adamantius of Alexandria Egypt (185—254 AD) makes the term hyper-deletionists applicable. They are Bible critics because they defy the infallible, inerrant, plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture so aptly defined and defended by Gaussen's tremendous work “Theopneustia”of 1840 which documented such inspiration and they instead follow along after Brook Foss Westcott (1825-1903) and Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828-1892) and their hay day of Bible criticism, and hyper-deletionism. ....

The 'heavenly witness' of 1 John 5:7 is documented as authentic in these manuscripts: 221v.r., 2318, 61, 088v.r., 429v.r., 629, 636v.r., 918, lAD, vgcl, vgmss , itl, itq, armmss, Cyprian, PS-Cyprian, Priscillian, Speculum, Varimadum, Ps-Vigilus, Fulgentius (As taken directly from NestleAland's “Greek New Testament” Fourth Revised Edition)

Given that 1 John 5:7 is included in all these works, the supposition that some 'Church Father' added it is completely unfounded; the identity, time zone, and existence of such a 'Church Father' is impossible; and the overwhelming conclusion is that the 'heavenly Witness' dripped from the pen of the Apostle John and is indeed part of the infallible, inerrant, plenary, verbally inspired Holy Scriptures. Any Bible Believer understanding Rev 22 will be remorse to rip it out based on the inane suspicions of Westcott and Hort and their copyright seeking followers. (Excerpts from “In Defense of 1John 5:7” by Pastor Ed Rice )

(for the whole book in draft visit GSBaptistChurch.com/kjv)

Mr. Kutilek responded to this by calling me deceived and fallacious and then sending one of his self acclaimed 'fully documented, scholarly articles' entitled “The KJV IS a Copyrighted Translation” wherein he further called those who would only use a KJV Bible “irrelevant, unsound, or simply ignorant and foolish.” I responded in kind, saying no less than :

“ You pretend that that KJV only people are all idiots and refuse to acknowledge, even brazenly conceal,  that 60,000 deviations were required for the ASV to get a copyright, another 60,000 for the NIV, and another 60,000 for the NASV, and on and on and on.  You are quite the PR man for modernist Bibles but you cloud over all the truth with smoke and mirrors. The  copyright issue has nothing to do with whether the KJV was once upon a time copyright and everything to do with the 60,000 significant deviations required for a NEW copyright.  You are either an idiot in missing this fact, or a snake oil salesman selling modernist bibles with MAJOR deviations from God's Word, ... at least 60,000 per copyright!  So which is it?   Either is equally fallacious.”

It seems the ugly fights in the servants quarters will never end. Some tend to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” while others “are certain men crept in unawares.” (Jude) Be the former, expose the latter.

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1046 Joseph's Illustration

Consider that God worked out an exemplary illustration of what His only begotten Son would do as the Messiah and caused the sons of Israel to meticulously copy the details for 48 generations. Now consider that God caused that detail to survive the onslaught of another 1,700 years, get printed, and set on shelf in almost every home in America. That miraculous truth is only dampened by how few people have read the story of Joseph and connected it to what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in his sojourn here. It was revealed to Joseph that he would be exalted and revered above all the sons of Israel, yea, even above Israel himself. (Gen37) Joseph's brothers did not believe his revelation and hated him for it. Also Joseph revealed to his father, and theirs, their evil deeds and jealous hearts. They hated him the more. Israel, the father, exalted Joseph, favored him, and gave him a coat of many colors. The sons of Israel, Joseph's step brothers, hated him even more and determined to slay him and throw him in a pit. The Bible says of Jesus, the step brother to humanity, that he came unto his own, and his own received him not. Jesus was the light of the world and that light shined in the heart of every human (John1) but man loved darkness rather than light for their deeds are evil. (John3) God the Father exalted Him and gave revelation that he would be lifted up and all the nations would bow before him. The sons of Israel wanted rid of Joseph and his dreams and they gave him over to the Ishmeelites to be carried out of their lives. They hated God's only begotten Son and gave him over to the Romans to be crucified.

An Essay for week # 46, Sun, November 14, 2010

Msg #1047 Joseph's Innocence

The perfect innocence of Christ, and mans depraved condemnation of perfect innocence is graphically portrayed in the life of Joseph. In the account there is no flaw or mar in Joseph's character but the son's of Israel, Josephs brothers, deliver him to supposed certain death. His life and character was a perpetual blessing to Israel but envy and jealousy overrode all reason. In fact Chapter 38 was inserted in the middle of the story giving a contrast of how tarnished his brother Judah was. Joseph, though perfect, was betrayed, and delivered for execution. So to was the Christ. In Egypt, a depiction of the Gentile world, Joseph, although God blessed and perfectly righteous, was again wrongfully accused and thrown into prison for 3 years. The Bible says that Christ, the only begotten son of God, the God-man, perfect in righteousness, was hated wrongfully, accused, crucified and delivered to the tomb for 3 days. There is more significance in the death of Christ than in his life. He was the spotless, sinless, perfect lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. His body went to the grave and his soul went to hell. Joseph little understood why all these evil things were happening to him, but through his life God was marvelously documenting what His only begotten Son would do. Joseph did not languish in prison for those 3 years, God was with him and still caused whatever he did to prosper. He came out of that prison to become the savior of the world, food wise. There is no better Old Testament illustration of what the Hebrew Servant (Isaiah52-53) the Christ of God was to accomplish. He did indeed accomplish it on that old rugged cross. He did indeed become the Saviour of the world.

An Essay for week # 47, Sun, November 21, 2010

Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams

In Joseph's story God moved in the affairs and circumstances of people, families, nations, and kingdoms to unfold a narrative in history which revealed, portrayed, and highlighted the coming of his only begotten son. The dreams which foretold the future of Pharaoh's cup-bearer and baker, and then the dreams of Pharaoh which foretold the upcoming 7 years of plenty and famine were not lessons in dreamology, nor were they indications of how God reveals things to man. They were minuscule pawns in the arrangement of circumstances so Joseph could end up portrayed as the savior of the world and foreshadow of Christ. In ignorance we think that if God used dreams for Joseph perhaps he will for me; if God chose Abraham perhaps he chose me, if God chose a wife for Isaac perhaps for us; if God chose a vocation for David perhaps he does for everyone; if God chose Jeremiah from the womb, he did me too. No. Every dream, choosing, miracle, and circumstance, yeah EVERY one, has one supreme purpose of revealing, portraying or delivering the Messiah as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world and the soon coming King of kings. It is all a Revelation of Jesus Christ! There are an abundance of good, moral, practical lessons raveled in the revelation but lets keep the main thing the main thing. God does not use dreams & visions nor signs and wonders to reveal His Son today; he uses your mouth. Jesus said “You are my witnesses.” All the chosen seedline has been chosen; all the revealing insights are documented, the prophets chosen from the womb have preached, the 'touch not the Lord's anointed' kings have sat on the throne, and the fulfiller of it all has come. Just preach Jesus.

An Essay for week # 48, Sun, November 28, 2010

Re: Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams

On 11/24/2010 1:11 PM, Randy wrote:

Hello Pastor Rice,

I enjoy your emails and read them all. Thank you. However, I do have to disagree with you that God does not reveal Himself any more. I am not Pentecostal or a big believer in signs and wonders. And I don't sit around waiting for the next sign or wonder to happen! And, I would even go so far as to say the signs and wonders movement has been far overblown and perhaps even done damage to some Christians. But.. I do believe God's word is infallible and I believe God is all powerful. And therefore, if He wants to reveal Himself, He will. Whether you believe He will or not. I limited God to what I wanted Him to be for 50 years and I won't ever do that again. And I think you are limiting God by saying all His revelations have ended. Furthermore, if He wanted to tell us they are ended He would have said so. The Bible does not tell us God stopped revealing Himself. He said He would not flood the earth again. He limited Himself in that way. But He did not say He was limiting Himself in revelations.

I realize I am a new Christian and learning. And I also realize I am jumping into a long standing debate, but it seems pretty simple to me. I think you are preaching something that is great for keeping the masses from going down a slippery slope--but I also think you are on the edge of blasphemy and without scriptural support. I believe Scripture and Scripture alone. If I am off base, teach me.

May God Bless Your Day,

Randy

Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 8:47 AM To: Randy

Subject: Re: Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams

Dear Randy,

Thanks for reading, thanks for writing. I will have to agree with all your comments except of course the part where I am approaching blasphemy. My pointed stab was thrust at those who override the revelation of God in Scripture because they have their own idea, their own dream, their own vision and their own signs and wonders. What I meant to say was that God is done revealing himself, not that God is done revealing himself. Maybe better, God has as completely revealed himself in Scripture as he ever will reveal himself, but God still reveals himself. It was perceptive of you to see the slippery slope that concerns me, and awkward of me to address it in only 300 words. Praise the Lord, in His grace, we are singing from the same sheet of music. Keep on for Him.

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1049 Joseph Restores Israel

The most marvelous and moving account in the life of Joseph is the restoration of his brothers and salvation of Israel. It is the animate illustration of the upcoming restoration and salvation of Israel at Christ's return. One of the ugliest errors of Catholic doctrine is found in the anti-semitic philosophy of replacement theology. Origin and other philosophers of Alexandria erased all the promises given to God's chosen nation and allegorically applied them to 'The Church.' St. Augustine carried this anti-semitic philosophy, and other error, onto Rome and even the Protestants retained it in todays Reformed Theology. Setting aside the errant mystical and allegorical renderings used in Catholicism reveals the literal rendering of God's Holy Word. Joseph's dealings with the sons of Israel, dealings which bring about their marvelous restoration, is a depiction of Zech12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” As Joseph restored Israel under his dominion, so Christ will yet restore Israel under his. God's promise to the 12 tribes of Israel, NOT his Church, but to His Chosen, is “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: ... And David my servant shall be king over them; ... And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant.” Dispatch Restoration Theology, stop the allegorizing, believe the Authorized, not Alexandrian, book.

An Essay for week # 49, Sun, December 5, 2010

Msg #1050 A Child is Born

One of the most revealing prophecies of the Christ's first advent is found in Isaiah9. “For unto us a child is born...” but this chapter begins with a very interesting word that makes us ask who is the 'us' in verse6? Chapter8 opens with Isaiah commanded to write in a great roll with a man's pen that the 10 northern tribes then called the nation of Israel, would be defeated, spoiled and destroyed by the Assyrians. It was written that no army, no league, no negotiation, and no circumstance would save them from the annihilation. Indeed “They shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.” (8:22) Chapter 9's first word is 'Nevertheless' and the ray of hope initiated in that word is “The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light' they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shine.” Who is this light? This Saviour? This Messiah? Who is it that breaks the yoke of their burden and the rod of his oppressor? (vr4) It is the same one that had promise to bruise the head of the Serpent in Eden. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Praise the Lord this promise is not just to the nation of Israel that was in such dark straits, for all of mankind lives in the shadow of death and was in those dire straits. God said He laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Celebrate His birth anew and enlightened this year. Merry Christmas.

An Essay for week # 50, Sun, December 12, 2010

Msg #1051 He Shall Be Called 'JESUS'

Dr. Luke, “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” gives details of Mary's encounter with Gabriel that connect her virgin born child with the promised child of Isaiah chapter 7 and 9. Gabriel herein declares 7 truths about the promised messiah, first off that is it to be a son. That needs mentioning in our twisted society where the feminists have made it politically improper to state the Bible truth that woman was made subservient to man, and in the Creator's proper order, dictated in His Holy Word, women are not to be leaders in the home, in the Church, or in the government. Sorry Hillary, Nancy and Sarah, that is clear to a Bible believer and emphatic in Scripture. Secondly this son would be named 'Jesus', “for he shall save his people from their sins.” In the Bible there is a lot in a name, especially His name. “He shall be great,” is at the least an understatement, and that he shall be called “the Son of the Highest” aligns him with what He is called in Isa 9:6 “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Fifth, “the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.” The lineage from Abraham to David to Joseph is given in Matthew's Gospel. The DNA trace of Mary all the way back to the first son of God, Adam is given after God says “Thou art my beloved Son” in Luke chapter 3. The Messiah being of the lineage of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is of careful importance in God's Holy Word. Gabriel next declares of Christ, “he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

An Essay for week # 51, Sun, December 19, 2010

Msg #1052 The Name of JESUS

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” (Heb1) The Psalmist already told us that the people, rulers and kings “take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. ... Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” In this Psalm the Messiah, tells us “ the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” In one tremendous Psalm penned 1,000 years before the Christ's birth in Bethlehem God announces the coming of His only begotten son, his anointed, the one who will set on the throne of David. But what was his name? When he wrestled with Him “Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?...” When hearing from Him “Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name?... And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” The New Testament says “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” (Php2:9) That exalted name is first given in Scriptures in Matthew and it says “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” At His name every knee shall bow. Exalt His name this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

An Essay for week # 52, Sun, December 26, 2010

Msg #1053 You Have Great Promise

For an individual the promise found in the only begotten Son of God wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid in the manger of a barn in Bethlehem is greater than peace on Earth or joy to the world. The Son of God, the Saviour of men, who came to seek and to save that which was lost, can save an individual from the penalty of their sin. He took your penalty of eternal death and offers you eternal life in exchange.. The only begotten Messiah, the Christ, also offers you life more abundant and free as he opens prison doors and breaks the chains of the bondage to sin. Sin has no more dominion over the saved born again Christian. The coming King, born in the city of David, and destined to sit on the throne of David, will soon return as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, to save us from the very presence of sin. But the great promise of every “whosoever will” that would come to Jesus is even greater than being saved from the penalty, power and presence of sin. It is the promise of being reconciled to God, our Creator; indwelt and sealed by His Holy Spirit, and given the peace that passes all understanding by the one whose name is “Prince of Peace.” The song writer expressed it well “there is not peace on Earth, I said, for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace of Earth, good will to men.” But every individual, when they come to Christ has great promise in life. Of a life snuffed out by violence I heard it said “She had such talent, personality, and purpose, indeed her life had such promise!” Every life in Christ has such promise. Yeah indeed every one.

An Essay for week # 53, Sun, January 2, 2011

What the Bible Says

in

52 Penny Pulpit Essays From 2011

By

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1101 Trust The Word Of God

Theologians and scholars who call God's definition of faith inadequate have never come up with better. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Ecumenical translators butcher this verse in their modernist bibles, removing both the substance and the evidence. Jesus said “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” It is disappearing fast for “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” For the vast majority of 'scientists' life came by 'spontaneous generation' in some primeval sea where dogs then turn into horses and lizards into bald eagles! Sounds pretty preposterous in one sentence, but that is what they are teaching your children in school. Faith in God, faith in The Word of God, and faith in God's Only Begotten Son, requires that you first take his Word, that He is your Creator. This year is the 400 year anniversary for having the whole 'Word of God' available in the English language. It teaches that there is believing faith, saving faith, and living faith, and you can only obtain these by placing your faith in 'The Word of God.' “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by The Word of God.” Ecumenical translators took the substance and evidence out of Hebrews 11, don't let them take it out of your faith. For 400 years Christians have put their faith in an English Bible called 'The Word of God.' There is only a small remnant who still do, but we trust every word of that old King James Bible. It defines faith well. Put your faith in 'The Word of God', it says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Believe Him. Trust in Him. He is “the Prince of Peace.”

An Essay for week #01, Sun, January 9, 2011

Msg #1101 Correspondence Rebuttal

On 1/6/2011 7:33 PM, fbcmayvl wrote:

When is the anniversary of the Geneva Bible? Was not that one also in English and actually still accepted by Christianity and the church even after the beloved KJV was finished? Were the Pilgrims modernists because they actually preferred the Geneva to the KJV. I do thinketh that the translators of the KJV would be appalled at the fetish that has been made of their work.

Dear fbcmayvl,

Thanks for writing. No, the Geneva Bible served a purpose but was to riddled with Calvinism to last very long in Bible believing circles. It is only the King James version that rang true, unbias, and infallible for these 400 years. The Pilgrims, God bless them every one, were not modernists nor ecumenical, as these diabolical attacks against God's truth did not rise to prominence until the turn of the 19th century. I have read much by, and much on, the King James translators, and I am certain there is rejoicing all over heaven that their humble effort for their King has had the impact on the world that is exhibited by the King James Authorized translation of the Bible. I am appalled that you call our celebration of longevity and impact a 'fetish' which is defined as "an object of unreasonably excessive attention or reverence." I am more appalled by those who give The Word of God no attention or reverence. I pray you are not in that camp and that your rebuttal is not an indicator that you are camped out with the ecumenical modernists using an NIV, NASV, NESV et al. But if so you cannot rain discouragement on our 400th year celebration.

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1102 Diligent Faith

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” The blood of righteous Able cried to God 'the guilt of Cain', cried to scribe and pharisee their guilt for not hearing the Word of God, and cries to us a more excellent sacrifice. The first born human was the first first degree murder, slaying righteous Able who knew that without the shedding of blood in a sacrifice, there is no remission of sin. You need a more excellent sacrifice, you need the only begotten Son of God. “By faith Enoch was translated that he might not see death” for “he had this testimony that he pleased God.” Enoch, the 7th from Adam, prophesied saying “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all.” Enoch walked with God and never saw death. If you would walk with God and never see death you will need to appease God with a more excellent sacrifice and please him with diligent faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and the he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6) “By faith Noah ... moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” “Sirs what must I do to be saved? ... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” God's Word will not lead you into error, it is inerrant. God's Word will never fail you, it is infallible. You need FAITH in the more excellent sacrifice, FAITH in that lets you walk with God, and FAITH that fears judgment and saves households. How's your faith? How's your walk? How's your house?

An Essay for week #2 Sun, Jan 16, 11

The 400th Year Anniversary of the KJV Book Recommendation

Dear Christian,

If you only buy one book for this 400th year anniversary of the King James Bible it must be because you already have Dr. Grady's “Final Authority” and need only buy his new “Given By Inspiration” book. It is “A multifaceted Study on the A.V. 1611 with Contemporary Analysis” from www.GradyPublications.com If you don't have the first, buy both books for this 400th year commemoration of the infallible Holy Bible available in English.

“Given by Inspiration” is not only excellent, insightful coverage of the dangerous 'Pseudo King James Only' crowd lurking in every Bible college and seminary, it is an excellent, insightful expansion on what we have called 'inspiration' ever since “Theopneustia” gave it unabridged definition in 1814. Therein Gaussen refutes the fundamentalists who think only the original autographs were inspired. Inspiration is bigger than dried ink or original autographs, always has been, always will be. Grady refutes errant fundamentalists as well, but he rounds out a concept of inspiration that enables one to stand with a King James Bible and say unequivocally “I hold in my hand the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God.” Get that full picture and that full ability, and it will change the way you read your Bible and walk with its Author.

If you have not read Dr. Grady before get a dictionary and look up 'cynicism' and first get reasonably comfortable with the fact that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, .. ergo it is deserving of some cynicism, and Satan is the father of lies and the master deceiver, ... ergo deserving of every form of cynicism. You will then love this insightful author.

Pastor Rice

Find Dr. Grady's books at: http://www.gradypublications.com/books.htm

Msg #1103 People of The Book

There was a day when Christians were called both 'people of faith' and 'people of the book' (singular). Today's pluralistic society and Laodicean Church make little reference to these titles but they still must apply to a true Christian. Without faith it is impossible to please God. “By faith Abraham was called to go out... and he went out ... by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, by faith sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky.” Thoughtful theologians consider that faith consists of 1) knowledge, 2) belief, 3) trust, and 4) recumbency (i.e. rest & comfort) They coincidently echo God's analogy that “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but haveing seen them afar off (knowledge), and were persuaded of them (belief) and embraced them (trust) and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (recumbency.) Faith, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” is thus inexplicably linked to the Word of God. Saving faith comes from knowing the Word of God, being persuaded of and believing the Word of God, embracing and trusting the Word of God, and confessing and resting in the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. True Christians will forever be 'people of faith' and 'people of the Book.' Is it any wonder that ecumenical modernist have their sights set on the Word of God to remove 1John 5:7, Matt 17:21, 18:11, 23 14, Mark 7:16, 9:44,46 and 13 other whole verses of the Word of God. In this the 400th year anniversary of the King James Bible we need to renew our titles as 'people of the book', and 'people of faith.'

An Essay for week #3 Sun, Jan 23, 11

Msg #1104 Saving Faith and Living Faith

James 2, Romans 4, and Hebrews 11 all show true faith to be both justifying and justified. This confuses most scholars. Don't let it, or them, confuse you. They are of the opinion that James2 was James' opinion and Romans4 was Paul's opinion. They are forever forgetting that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” wherein “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” and that “There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” (2Tim 3:16, 2Pet 1:21, Job 32:8) God says in Romans 4 that the saving faith that gets the judicial declaration of 'Justified' is completely without works. He illustrates this with Abraham who believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. God says in James 2 that the living faith that shows up in a true believer's life will be more than a professed faith, the profession will be justified by works. He illustrates this with Abraham, who after he believed God ans was counted righteous, in faith offered up his only begotten son. Saving faith, which without works secures God's declarative Justification, and living faith, which justifies your profession with works, are then each delineated in Hebrews11. There Abraham hears God's promises, becomes persuaded, embraces them and becomes only a pilgrim and sojourner here (vr 13), i.e. Saving Faith. Then Abraham's faith is 'tried' (vr 17) and he offered up Isaac, i.e. Living Faith. To be declared Justified by God you will need “repentance toward God and faith (saving faith) in the Lord Jesus Christ,.” without the works of righteousness. To justify your faith there will be trials of your faith (living faith) and ergo your faith without works is dead. Paul and James are not at odds here, scholars are.

An Essay for week #4 Sun, Jan 30, 11

Msg #1105 Faith to the End

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph each get a verse in God's Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11. Isaac lived a life in transition with an eye for the evidence of things to come; Jacob finally blessed his boys right and leaned on the top of his staff; (one needs to read the whole Genesis account find why leaning on his staff gets mention in this hall of fame) and Joseph, who was faithful to death, knew that God would restore Israel in God's promised land. We should take valuable lessons from each. We live in a Laodicean Church age with an eye on the evidence of things hoped for. The 1st century age of Ephesus had great beginnings; the 3rd century age of Smyrna, great persecutions; the 5th through the 15th centuries Thyatira had a great enemy, the woman Jezebel; the Sardis Protestant Church age had defiled garments and “a name that thou livest, and art dead;” from 1611, 400 years ago, right through 1776, in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Church age had great revivals; and our own Laodicean Church age is marked by a great falling away wherein the 'man of God' in the pulpit disregards the commands of Christ and surrenders it to his wife. Like Isaac in transition believers have an eye 'concerning things to come.” Believers need to trust the Word of God and not wrestle with Him about things like Jacob did his whole life. And believers need to be faithful unto death, as was Joseph, knowing that God will restore Israel to the Promised Land and set on the Throne of David just like He promised. Keep the Holy Faith. Be in His hall of fame. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He is coming soon. Keep the faith.

An Essay for week #5 Sun, Feb 6, 11

Msg #1106 Faith, a First Principle

The believers faith is the whole subject of Hebrews 11, in Galatians it is the 7th fruit of the 9 listed, in 2Peter virtue and 6 additional things are added to it, but in Hebrews 6 faith is one of the 1st principles of the oracles of God. There are 5 fundamentals for the Fundamentalist Christian, and 8 distinctives for a true Baptist, but Hebrews 6 lists 7 fundamentals as the 1st oracles of God which need to be grounded in a believer before they move to the meat of God's Word. These 1st principles of the oracles of God are 1) the principles of the doctrine of Christ,” who he was and what he did; 2) “The foundation of repentance from dead works,” because “except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” and all 'Christian Religion' is polluted with 'dead works;' 3) “the foundation of faith toward God,” here our prime subject is linked directly with repentance as in Acts 20:21; 4) “the doctrine of baptisms,” notice the plural, there is no water present when we are 'baptized' into the body of Christ, nor when Christ “baptizes us with the Holy Ghost,” indeed water only shows up for immersion that pictures death and resurrection, not washing; 5) “the doctrine of laying on hands,” for both ordaining as a pastor or deacon, the only 2 offices of the Church, and for removing one from that office, 6) “The doctrine of resurrection of the dead;” and lastly 7) “the doctrine of eternal judgment,” emphasis on ETERNAL! I have read many books which outline fundamentals and distinctives of our faith. Only this one lists these 1st principles of the oracles of God, and commands that you know them all backward and forward, before going further. Let's hit the book.

An Essay for week #6 Sun, Feb 13, 11

Msg #1107 A Valentine for Life

Christian marriage has its basis in the teachings of Christ which must start with him as the creator of male and female and the obvious consideration that they are not made equal but very different. Since the fall of man there is a rebellion in man's heart that causes him to oppose everything that God says; few things more strongly than the role of the man and the role of the woman in life. In the Garden God designed and created the female body, emotion, brain, and spirit to be an appropriate helper and companion to the male. He therein decreed that the male was to be the leader of the woman and she the submissive helper, meet for the man, i.e. “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” The New Testament of Christ amply reinforces these roles of the man and the woman, i.e. “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” and modernist man just as amply, rebels against these teaching, To both decrees modernists say “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast their cords from us.” Your marriage, yeah your whole life on this planet, will only be a taste of paradise on Earth in direct proportion to the surrender you show to your Creator and your submission to living in the role for which you were designed. I know what Hillary, Nancy and Sarah think of Christ's commands; I know what the modernist women preachers say, but your marital bliss and functional Christian life are directly connected to what you do with these roles. Overcome your rebellion against God's commands and you can have a very very Happy Valentines Day.

An Essay for week #7 Sun, Feb 20, 11

Msg #1108 Husband, Love Your Wife

God places all the responsibility for a properly ordered Godly home directly on the shoulders of the husband. While the wife is to submit, the husband is to lead with Christlike leadership. While the wife is to love and obey, the husband is to love as Christ loved, even to give up his life for his wife. In Genesis the fair and precious weaker vessel is commanded to leave the love, security and significance of her mother and father and to cleave only to her husband 'till death do us part'. Ogre is descript of a person who is felt to be particularly cruel and brutish, and that combined with selfish is an apt description for the husband living in the old nature while trying to keep the promises he made to the covenant wife of his youth. The Bible says that Christ living in you is the only way you could ever fulfill those promises of love. A husband is to provide the careful nurturing love, security and significance that a woman needs physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As the leader in the home the husband is to take the lead in this role of lover; is to embrace this weaker emotional package with a security that surrounds her body, soul and spirit; is to hold her in such esteem that she daily and forever knows her intense significance to his heart and soul. Roses on Valentines is but a start to not being a selfish ogre, the rest of the year. While spring is in the air remember your promised responsibility and the Christian command “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church.... so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.” Love her, nourish her, cherish her, even as the Lord the Church.

An Essay for week #8 Sun, Feb 27, 11

Essay On Balaam The Prophet?

Our family altar found us reading through Numbers in February and the question is asked “Was Balaam actually a prophet of Jehovah God when he was not even of the seed of Abraham?” In Numbers 22-24 Balaam son of Beor, as a prophet of the LORD, was called upon by the Moabite Balak to curse the children of Israel gathered across the river from Jericho. Israel was herein intent on entering their promised land and Balaam gave this prophecy:

“And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.” (Num 24:15-24)

Indeed Balaam was a prophet of Jehovah God. Indeed his prophecy is recorded in Holy Scripture as proceeding from Jehovah God. This Balaam likely recorded this history and verbiage and delivered it to Israel for God's preserved record keeping. And this Balaam was found dwelling in Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people. (Numbers 22:5) Pethor was of Mesopotamia (Deut 23:24) and the river spoken of was likely then the northern headwaters of the Euphrates. This river flows from Syria (Aram) north east of Moab and Numbers 23:7 states: “And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.” There was an Aram son of Seth brother of Arphaxad, (Gen 10:23) And Arphaxad was either the grandfather of (Gen 10:24, 1Chr 1:18) or great grandfather of (Luke 3:35-36) one Eber whose children were called Hebrews and who was the great, great, great, great grandfather of Abraham (Luke 3:34-35) Thus, if Balaam from Aram, was a descendant of Aram, which is most likely, he was not even a Hebrew, let alone a seed of Abraham.

Also a town of Aram is connected to Geshur and the towns of Jair in 1Chron 2:23. These are all in Syria north and east of Galilee, which fits the description of where Balaam came from.

Now in Gen 22:21 there was another Aram who had a grandfather, Nahor, brother of Abraham, and a brother Bethuel who begat Rebekah the wife of Isaac, but these all dwelt near Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 11:31) where Abraham and the other Hebrews had their roots. This Aram was also from Mesopotamia past the mountains of the east but from much further south. No cities or lands bearing his name are therein found and because of the previous connection of Gesher with Aram, he was thus not the ancestor of Balaam. There was another Aram as “Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; ... “ (Matt 1:2-4) but the descendants of this Aram were in the camp that Balaam was called upon to curse.

Thus here we have one Balaam, not a descendant of the chosen people of God, but a prophet of the Most High God just the same. Remember a prophet of God was one who stood and accurately said “Thus saith the LORD.” Balaam herein qualified. Now this prophet Balaam, the son of Beor, was slain with the kings of Midian (Num 31:8) and Numbers 31:15-16 records that:

“And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women (of Midian) alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”

The acts of Balaam are brought up several more times in the history of Israel (Deut 23:4,5, Josh 13:22, 24:9,10, Neh 13:2 and Micha 6:5) but in the New Testament there is mention of the 'WAY' of Balaam, (2Pet 2:15), the 'ERROR' of Balaam, (Jude 1:11) and the 'DOCTRINE' of Balaam. (Rev 2:14) C.I. Schofield insists that these three areas point to three tragic pitfalls still being made by man. Balaam and his ass that spoke still provide an interesting aspect about God's dealings with Israel and with God's dealings with humanity. This prophet of God makes for an interesting study point in the revelation of God.

Pastor Ed Rice

Msg #1109 A Husband's Christlike Communications

All husbands need a crash course in communications and those that are fathers more so. The Holy Bible tells us to “dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife.” Although it is often wise to keep your mouth shut, you can not dwell well like that. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Good communications produce a freedom of expression where no topic is off limits, and an atmosphere where being understood pervades. When everyone knows a subject that must be avoided or anyone reports they are not understood, then the communication lifeline needs repair. With good communication there will be no win-loose arguments and conversations will always reduce, not increase, tensions. Such communications produce a safe secure atmosphere that esteems, honors, and edifies. These five traits are the qualities found in our relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We can talk to Him about anything and He always understands us. He never argues and talking to Him resolves problems and tensions. “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you” produces safety and security in a friend closer than a brother who has promised us He will never leave us nor forsake us. We are to exemplify Christ in our attitude and action, and we sure need to have marital communications which exemplify his lifeline which is ever available to us. We should evaluate our homes and marriages for these good communication qualities. If you think you are doing OK, have your wife do the evaluation; you will surely find something to talk about. We can be more Christlike in our communications. “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb 13:16)

An Essay for week #9 Sun, Mar 6, 11

Theology Special Edition on Sacraments

In my Theology 504 class I am required to read the Reformed Augustinian Theology book of Thiessen, a neo-evangelical and past president of MacArthur's Master's College, and write and answer questions about his ecclesiology. I found it easy and enlightening to write this one on his catholic use of the word 'sacrament.'

Thiessen's definition of 'sacrament' does not build a large enough wall of separation from an ordinance; reinforce this wall. Ans pg 422 Thiessen tampers with the word 'sacrament' with out the brazen exposure that it deserves and he implies that the catholics have 'evolved' the word from its origins to make it more palatable. He says “Originally this word meant to make sacred, to dedicate to gods or sacred uses.” He is careful not to expose that all of its uses, including uses to which catholics 'evolved' the word towards, includes a mystical attachment to the act or item. In other words when something is declared a sacrament, it leaves the ordinary, leaves the physical and becomes metaphysical, it takes on a mystical, spiritual ability to alter the physical. A Baptist's insistence on the ordinances being called just that and never called a 'sacrament', especially a 'holy sacrament' is to 1) ensure the complete separation from the catholic use of these symbols; 2) to emphasize that they are symbols that have a witnessing and mental image only, and no mystical or metaphysical effect, and 3) to ensure that these symbols do not take on any initiation rites of their own, or 'means of grace', as protestants call it, as in the catholic use wherein they actually, mystically perform the uniting with the body of Christ (which they call the Holy Catholic Church); wherein they actually, mystically perform the crucifying of and, the eating and receiving of, the body of Christ; and wherein they actually, mystically drink of his actual blood. Baptist's will always be staunch about these definitions. There are but two ordinances and by a Bible believer they will never be referred to as 'sacraments.'

An Essay Special Edition for the Penny Pulpit Series

Msg #1110 Friends Face to Face

The phrase 'By faith Moses' starts two entries in God's Hall of Fame of Faith recorded in Hebrews 11. The first is the record of Moses' parents, the second for Moses himself. The common thread is that neither feared the wrath of the king's commandment as much as they feared the Lord their God. The parents were purposed to save Moses alive. Moses was 40 years in the courts of Pharaoh, then 40 years on the backside of a desert, and then, when God did use him, 40 years wandering in the wilderness, leading stiff necked and complaining children of God. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. His example is herein recorded so that we would do no less with our own lives. When Moses stepped out of his comfort zone God revealed His only begotten Son, to the world “and the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto a friend.” God wants no less for you. When God spoke face to face he said “Go tell Pharaoh to let my people go,” he said “take hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the bason,” he said “stand still and see the salvation of the LORD,” he said “tell them I will send them bread from heaven,” he said “Strike the rock,... for my Son will be stricken”, and then he said “Speak to the Rock for my saints will speak to my Son, ... face to face, as a man speaketh unto a friend.” Tell people you see about the blood in the bason, tell them that God has sent bread from heaven. Let God reveal his Son in your life and spend your days speaking to your friend about your witness of Him.

An Essay for week #10 Sun, Mar 13, 11

Msg #1111 Generals and Harlots

The commandment to Joshua was “only be thou strong and very courageous” but one wonders how much strength and courage it took to march around the walled city of Jericho seven times. God's Hall of Fame of Faith records Joshua's strong faith and courageous trust. Taking control of the promised land where God commanded you to dwell will not take physical strength nor courageous bravery. For Joshua, He broke the walls and puts the enemy to flight, and so too for us. When our faith is strong and our trust in His Holy Word is courageous. Remember Joshua 1:8. In this 400th year anniversary of the complete inerrant infallible inspired Word of God available in the English language, each should re-examine their courage in trusting the old book and the old paths. Every word is important, God said so. When the walls of Jericho fell there was a harlot who “perished not with them that believed not.” That awkward wording best captures what God said about her strong faith and courageous trust in the God of the two spies which she had saved. All the brains, strength and knowledge of Jericho perished in unbelief, but this harlot named Rachab gets named here in God's Hall of Fame of Faith and also in the lineage of the Christ as the wife of Salmon and mother of Booz, great grand father of King David himself. The point, God can use the greatest general or the least of harlots, only be thou strong in faith and very courageous to trust His Holy Word, and meditate therein day and night. “The Bible stands like a rock undaunted mid the raging storms of time; Its pages burn with the truth eternal and they glow with the light sublime.” Read it some today.

An Essay for week #11 Sun, Mar 20, 11

Msg #1112 Be A Gideon

Only five of the thirteen Old Testament judges made it into God's Hall of Fame of Faith and Gideon leads them in. When the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, He delivered them into the hands of the Midians seven years. (Judges 6) In a cycle repeated thirteen times in three hundred years, Israel is greatly impoverished and the children of Israel cry unto the LORD who sends a Judge to deliver them from their bondage. An angel of the LORD said to Gideon, who was hiding from the Midianites, “The LORD is with thee thou mighty man of valour.” God uses the least likely people in the most impossible circumstances to bring about deliverance in a way that He gets all the glory. Gideon is such an illustration. God first has him throw down the altar of Baal that his own father had set up. With this test complete, and Gideon's assurance given via a wet fleece, Gideon collected thirty two thousand soldiers in his army. God sent twenty two thousand home and then selected only three hundred of the ten thousand remaining. (Judges 7) When the Midianites “lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude, and their camels were without number,” Gideon approaches with his band of three hundred. God likes these odds when He is doing miracles, there will be no mistaking what happened. Thirty three hundred years later He is the same God, and likes to work with the same odds, for the same reason. When you are at your whits end, that is when God shows Himself. When it seems impossible, Gideon has all his faith in his God. How about you? “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Be a Gideon in faith.

An Essay for week #12 Sun, Mar 27, 11

Msg #1113 Debras and Baraks

All of the judges that God used and particularly those in God's Hall of Fame of Faith recorded in Hebrews 11, illustrate the verses in God's first letter to the Corinthians “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, ...: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” In His hall of fame he lists Gideon, then recalls Barak, lists Sampson, then recalls Jephithae, lists David, then recalls Samuel. Interesting. In Scripture God always does things on purpose. For a modernist and neo-evangelical these are blunders and attributed to the authors. But for a Bible believing Baptist, God is the author and every chapter, every verse, every line is given by inspiration of God and is inerrant and infallible. It is also interesting that Judge Barak is in the hall of fame and Deborah the prophetess and judge of Israel is not. She is the one who spurred Barak into action, gave him the Word of the Lord about his pending victory, and then had to hold his hand and go with him or he wouldn't go! And for all that God gave Sisera, the opressing warrior with nine hundred iron chariots into the hand of another woman. In Judges 4-5 learn that God uses anybody in his purposes, He even used women against iron chariots of men, but God always requires men to be the leaders, and it is Barak that is listed in God's Hall of Fame of Faith.

An Essay for week #13 Sun, Apr 3, 11

Msg #1114 The Mighty Immature Sampson

Sampson is a man of great strength who walks across four chapters of your Bible with lustful immaturity and childishness. It is leadership traits, not chronology, that orders the judges in Hebrews 11. Gideon the valiant leader who did not end well, Barak the spineless leader who did not start well and Sampson the childish leader who did not start, run or finish well. He is just another of God's 'not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble.' In Judges15:14, when the chords on his arms broke like burnt flax, Sampson portrays “A bruised reed shall he(Christ) not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.” of Matthew12:20 Many Christians in His service who don't mature, I need not be yet another. Some Christians take themselves entirely to seriously, and forget that they are just bruised reeds, not fit for the flutist or burnt flax, not fit for the wick of an oil lamp. There is no shortage of these commodities but God takes joy and gets glory by using them. Some never sober, not comprehending 1Thes5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love ....” Of the immature judge, Sampson, it was said “So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” May I mature and be sober now so my epitaph won't read like Sampson's. An unknown once told me “I walked a mile with laughter. She chatted all the way. But I was none the wiser for all she had to say. I walked a mile with sorrow. Not a word said she. But I will ne're forget the things that sorrow taught to me.”

An Essay for week #14 Sun, Apr 10, 11

Msg #1115 God's Promise

In leadership schools of military or industry we are taught that “Everything rises and falls on leadership”, but in God's Hall of Fame of Faith, in Hebrews 11, we are taught that “Everything rises and falls on Lordship.” Jephtha, the fourth and final judge in that hall of fame “was a mighty man of valour” (Judges11:1), an outcast of the family, recalled by the elders of Gilead in order to fight off the Children of Ammon who were oppressing Israel. God surely gave the Promised Land to Israel, his chosen people, but “Democracy Now” of NPR funded by our own Government, calls Israel dwelling in their own Promised Land an 'occupation'! President Oboma, in Egypt, called Israel the occupiers in a Palestinian Occupation. When the Children of Ammon called them occupiers thirty two hundred years earlier,. Jephtha was filled with the Spirit of God and took up arms to drive the Ammonites out of God's land. For his faith, he is given mention in Hebrews 11, but for his foolishness in making a vow unto the Lord he is remembered throughout history. When God fills us with His Spirit to accomplish great things for Him, as he does every born again believer, never get the idea that purposing harder in the flesh or vowing for greater and grander things is going to improve your performance. God's point throughout judges is what He told Zerubbable, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Jesus gives instruction “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; ...But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay.” Never forget Jephtha's stupid vow; never make one of your own. He said to live for Him “by my Spirit, saith the LORD.”

An Essay for week #15 Sun, Apr 17, 11

Msg #1116 Good Friday Not

Roman Catholic tradition of a Friday Crucifixion does not fit any Bible evidence. 1. John12:1 says “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, ” Passover, when they slew the lamb without blemish and without spot, (1Pet1:19) was on the 14th of Abib, (Exod12:6, 34:18) His coming to Bethany was on Friday the 8th and not on a Saturday Sabbath. 2. Palm Sunday was on the 10th of Abib, when the Passover Lamb was separated from the flock. (Exod12:3) Therein “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matt21:15) separated our Passover Lamb on that Sunday. 3. When Christ died on Passover, the14th of Abib, it was the 1st day and night dead, Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd , exactly fulfilling the prophecy of Mt 12:40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” 4. The 15th of the month was the first day of the feast of unleavened bread and it was a Sabbath Day of rest, a High Day Sabbath (Lev23:6-7), as clarified in John 19:31. The next day was Friday, not a Saturday Sabbath as speculated by errant popes. 5. The15th of Abib, a High Day Sabbath, and Saturday, the Weekday Sabbath, caused two Sabbath days in a row, and prevented the women from coming to anoint the body of Jesus until Sunday, very early in the morning. 6. When the disciples on the Emmaus Road talked of his crucifixion they said “and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” Sunday, being the third day since the crucifixion, places the death and burial of our Lord on Thursday, not on Friday.

An Essay for week #16 Sun, Apr 24, 11

A Rebuttal to Good Friday Not

“Traditional Baptist Teaching is for a Wednesday Crucifixion”

Dear Pastor Rice:

I read the attached article. I take one exception. Three days and three nights is 72 hours which the Jews took literally. Also the Jewish day started at sundown. So Sunday started at sundown Saturday. You date back 72 hours and you arrive at sundown Wednesday which is when Jesus was buried. The traditional good ("God's") Friday is incorrect and comes out of the catholic church which confuses many Jews just like the painting of the Last supper with everybody seated around a table. They were arranged in a U shape around a table reclining on divans or couches. Happy Easter. D. Brown

Dear Brother Brown,

Thank you for writing. Baptist mentors trained me from my childhood that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday for just the reasons you gave. We agree that accepting a Friday Crucifixion requires the irreverent dismissal of the exactness of a verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible Bible. I do not wander from my mentors 72 hour interpretation of Matt 4:20 lightly, nor do I regard the customs for Jewish days above the clear teaching of Scripture. Jesus said therein, “Three days and three nights,” NOT “the evening and the morning were the first day.” You said you take one exception to my article, but in reality you took exception to all 6 of the rightly divided Scriptural arguments for a Thursday Crucifixion. I dare not defy Catholic tradition of the Day and Place of Christ's Crucifixion, or the Lord's Supper, because of Jewish tradition, but because it defies the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Scripture that One Jew gave to us. I humbly suggest you take the same tact for your arguments. God will bless the searching of His Scriptures over and above the searching of Jewish traditions. Happy Easter.

Pastor Ed Rice

Re: Some verses that point to a Wed. crucifixion

On 4/25/2011, Joseph Holley wrote:

Pastor Rice:

Regarding the day of the week in which Jesus was crucified:

As a missionary, and a pastor with less experience than yourself, I humbly ask that you consider these verses: Mark 15:42--"And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,"; Luke 23:54--"And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on."; and John 19:42--"There laid they [Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus] Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand."

I will only state what I taught this morning in my adult Sunday school class regarding the events of what is commonly called here "Holy Week". That, when compared with Matt. 12:39-40 and Lev. 23:1-6, Jesus died on a Wednesday. As you mentioned in your original Good Friday Not, there were consecutive sabbaths--but there were THREE--Passover Thursday, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Friday), and then the traditional sabbath on Saturday. This still explains why the ladies were not able to come to anoint the body of Jesus, because there was not time before sundown to do this work, much less prepare the spices. (They were probably preparing the Passover feast for their own families. They also, in my opinion, used what we call Saturday night, which would be AFTER their traditional Saturday sabbath, to prepare the spices. [Luke 24:1]))

If Jesus died on the day of Passover, then the following questions are raised: 1) Why was the Sanhedrin assembled, instead of eating the Passover feast? 2) What was everybody else doing there? Shouldn't they have been eating the Passover? 3) Since the Bible mentions in Heb. 13:12 that Jesus "suffered without the gate", would that have constituted more than a "sabbath day's journey" for some? Or at least their combined journey's between Caiphas' house, Pilate's judgment hall, etc.? 4) Since John 19:38 says that Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret disciple, and v. 39 infers (esp. compared with John 3) that Nicodemus was also, and since John 3:1 and Luke 23:50-51 infer that both men were part of the Sanhedrin, and thus zealous Jews, would they now risk being "outed" as disciples because they were defiled by a dead body on the Sabbath--esp. the Passover? [In other words, on a traditional Saturday sabbath, they could probably make reasonable excuses; but not for the Passover, and with such a pubic event as Jesus' crucifixion.]

I will also argue that the Biblical use of the word "day" almost always means a 24-hour period, unless the context dictates otherwise. With the added phrase "and nights" in Matt. 12:40, this definitely indicates 3 24-hour periods, i.e. 72 hours. Since Jesus was already gone from the tomb when "it began to dawn toward the first day of the week," (Matt. 28:1), then at the latest he arose around 6 am Sunday morning. That means he must have been in the tomb no later than Thursday at 6 am. Since the Bible is very clear that Jesus was buried after 3 pm (the ninth hour) but before sundown, this MUST be Wednesday evening. [On a side note: I personally believe that Jesus probably arose on Saturday night (pre-dawn Sunday for the Jews), although there is not a verse of Scripture that indicates exactly what time Jesus left the tomb--Matthew only states that he was gone before dawn.] If you choose to count Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as your 3 nights, I still do not understand where you would come up with the third day--because a Thursday crucifixion only gives you Friday and Saturday--Jesus wasn't in the tomb on Sunday or Thursday during the "day".

Respectfully,

Missionary Joseph Holley

Dear Brother Holley,

Thanks for writing, and for the excellent analogies of Scripture. I have researched each of these points and Scriptures, praise the Lord, and appreciate your laying them out so succinctly. Two things have moved me towards a Thursday Crucifixion over the preferred Wednesday understanding which meets the preferred 72 hour criteria. One is the 8th of Abib, 10th of Abib and 14th of Abib analysis that I briefly mentioned, and the other, the testimony of the disciples on the Emmaus Road wherein it was both Sunday, and the 3rd day since the Crucifixion. God so carefully laid out the 10th day Passover Lamb selection, and the 14th day slaying of the Lamb, that I have to believe it was exactly applicable to the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the World. In a Wednesday Crucifixion scenario of these dates the 10th would fall on a Saturday which I still have trouble with, albeit not insurmountable trouble. I have rationalized calling the day of his Crucifixion the first day in the heart of the Earth (Matt 12:40) because no matter where his body was, the Son of Man was in the heart of the Earth shortly after he said "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:"

The most important point of this whole debate is our understanding and maintenance that not a jot or tittle of Scripture will be errant or fallible. Where traditions of man, either Catholic or Jewish, will most often fail, and where our understanding will forever be finite and fallible, His Word will never fail. That is a good place to STAND. And I appreciate your stand therein.

I'd likely not get much out of your Spanish lesson outlines but you could send them to my son, Shane, in Peru. We have spent time together in this discussion. Thanks again.

Pastor Ed Rice

For a complete dialog of this Biblical discussion on the Day of Christ's Crucifixioin please visit

www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit

Msg #1117 Easter Sunday Reflection

It is shame to our pulpits that thousands attended Church Easter Sunday and yet still have no idea what the resurrection of Christ is all about. It is a greater shame to our pulpits that millions celebrated Easter in some way but attended no Church at all and know nothing about the resurrection of Jesus which is called the Christ. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” It will never be easier nor more clear to spell out the gospel that we preach than it is when standing before the empty tomb that we so honor on this Sunday immediately after the Jewish Passover Day. On that Passover day 1,978 years ago the man Jesus, who claimed himself the Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God, was lifted up on an old rugged cross. He had said “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” He had said “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he.” He had said “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” There the Son of God, the Son of Man died: 1) to satisfy the wrath and judgment of God against us for our sins; 2) to cleanse us from all of our sins, past, present, and future; 3) to justify us before God; 4) to make atonement for our souls; and 5) to purge our conscience from dead works. Now it is simply this, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. God's simple plan of salvation.

An Essay for week #17 Sun, May 1, 11

Msg #1118 Family Altar

You have heard it said “The family that prays together stays together.” But the Bible says “The LORD (Jehovah) our God is one LORD (Jehovah): And thou shalt love the LORD (Jehovah) thy God with all thine heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house...” (Deut 6) The 'Christian' father that does not read God's Words to his family daily is disobedient to God's law. To expect that your family might turn out OK despite your disobedience is pure folly. Fathers should have a set time everyday when they read God's word together at a family altar. The family altar time should be consistent, enjoyable and anticipated by all. It is not a time when dad preaches to the family but a time when God speaks to each. Everyone should have their own Bible and read a verse aloud, or follow along if they cannot yet read. It takes less than 20 min to read three chapters per day and the whole Bible in a year! Every child should hear their parents call their name in prayer, and every day is not to often. Every husband should hear his wife talk to her Creator about her wants and needs. Every wife should hear her husband close the family altar and begin the day with a conversation with his Lord. Although it don't rhyme “The family that has family altar, loving God and reading His word together, talking to their Lord and owner together, … stays together. Thou shalt meditate therein 'day and night!' Start today, stay together.

An Essay for week #18 Sun, May 8, 11

Msg #1119 Proverbs 31

The close of Solomon's Proverbs is a description of a virtuous woman. It is the most often visited Scripture on Mother's Day but it has direct application to every believer as we are described as the virtuous bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle. ”The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,... she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” It goes on to describe the most industrious, diligent, integrity filled, compassionate, talented woman imaginable. It is indeed idyllic. One must blush to compare ones self, ones mate or ones mom to this ideal, but the wisest man in the world received this description from his mom, and then records it here as inerrant, infallible Holy Scripture. It will surely highlight mom's noteworthy accolades on Mother's Day, but it can also highlight the shortfalls of any wife or mom,... or any Christian. Remember that this is not the sole application of such a powerful characterization. It describes what a believer is to be to his Lord. A mom, a wife and a believer cannot be all these things until the Holy Spirit of God indwells them and empowers them to be such. Then, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” New, and filled with integrity and ambition to the point of being the most industrious, diligent, integrity filled, compassionate, talented Christian imaginable. That is no small calling, and to fulfill it one must needs say with the Apostle Paul “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Undertake great things for your Lord this week, and for those mom's who have endeavor for the ideal of Proverbs 31, Happy Mothers Day indeed.

An Essay for week #19 Sun, May 15, 11

Msg #1120 David Was Chosen

Time would fail me to tell of the faith of David for faith is the substance of things hoped for. (Heb11) And when the God of this people of Israel chose their fathers, and when he had removed Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, … he raised up unto them David to be their king: to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. “Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.” (Acts23) In all the Bible God's choosing is of people corporately or of individuals for service in bringing his Messiah to people. While theologians pretend they were chosen for salvation and that before the foundation of the world!, disciples indeed continue in Christ's Word and become people after God's own heart, busy in His service to bring the Messiah to Jews and Gentiles. God's choosing David had everything to do with character and nothing to do with some fictitious decree written before the foundation of the world! God chose disciples and ordained them with authority to preach the kingdom of God to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. God's choosing has nothing to do with whether your loved one, neighbor or some other whosoever will some day get saved or not. It has everything to do with whether you will be His witness, you will preach His kingdom, you will be a man after God's own heart, you will bring the Messiah to others. If you're saved you're chosen for service: be a man after God's own heart fulfilling His will. By faith David brought the Messiah to people. So should you.

An Essay for week #20 Sun, May 22, 11

Msg #1121 The REAL 2nd Coming of Christ

On Sunday May 22nd 2011 we worshiped the resurrected and soon returning Lord Jesus Christ. Those who take the old Roman Catholic allegorical interpretations of Holy Scriptures, rather than their more honest literal rendering, will forever make ludicrous predictions about the end times and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Bible the literal rendering of the Second Coming of Christ entails his receipt of the Kingdom from his Father, wherein He will rule and reign with his saints from the literal Throne of David set in God's literal Holy Hill of Zion. Allegorical interpretation says that there is no Millennial Reign of Christ, only a Vicar of Christ bringing in a Kingdom Age ruled from the seven hills of Rome. That's their interpretation. The literal rendering for the Second Coming of Christ entails a literal seven year period of tribulation with 7seals of preparation, 7trumpets of warnings, and finally 7vials of the wrath of God poured out on this world, before there is a great battle called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Allegorical interpretations started with philosophers of Alexandria Egypt, (where all modernist Bibles have their roots) say the tribulation period is already started and is somehow been ongoing for these past 1900 years? That's their interpretation. The literal rendering for the Second Coming of Christ entails Jesus coming FOR his saints, to resurrect them and meet them in the air, where they are 'caught up together' out of this world “for God hath not appointed us to wrath,” AND His coming WITH his saints to a battle called Armageddon after that wrath is poured out. Allegorical interpreters say that is a new teaching and their Church Fathers from Alexandria never believed such a thing. Well Dhaaa! Stay literal, reject the reformed false teachers.

An Essay for week #21 Sun, May 29, 11

Msg #1122 Memorials and Liberties

It is shocking that only 1 in 5 (20%) of Americans know what Memorial Day is for. Fewer know that a constitutional right differs from an unalienable right which men have died for. Trained K through twelve that they are a chance product of evolution with no Creator, they cannot comprehend a God given unalienable right. It is the God of the Bible quoted on the Liberty Bell. The god of Islam never says to “Proclaim Liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” Both Osoma and Obama valued an “Arab Spring” but neither valued the words of Woodrow Wilson who said “The history of Liberty is a history of limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.” President Thomas Jefferson said “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that liberties are a gift from God?” An “Arab Spring” will bring an Israeli Fall except for the fact that the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ has everything to do with the deliverance and restoration of God's chosen people, Israel, into God's promised land. The men who wrote “We hold these truths to be self evident” wrote it with their Bibles wide open, not banned form schools or hidden from government. Learned-Clergy banning Bibles brought about dark ages previously. Christians, if there are even 20% left in our society, are to be children of the light with Bibles readily available and aptly used to provide light to this world. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, ... rightly dividing the word of truth.” Be children of light in these dark times. Read your Bible out loud.

An Essay for week #22 Sun, Jun 5, 11

Msg #1123 We Are Grafted In

Samuel, the last named member in God's Hall of Fame of Faith, was grafted into the Levitical priesthood which had sunk to its lowest rung of moral depravity. The Bible says of this Ephrathite that he called upon the Lord, and he answered him. Have I? This grafted in non-Levitical prophet and priest “Did according to that which is in God's heart and in God's mind!” Do I? This grafted in non-Aaronic Aaronic priest was established in a sure house built by God. You see Eli, his predecessor, did not raise his children right! Do I? The Bible says of Samuel “He will walk before mine anointed forever and the old Levitical priests office shall crouch before him for a piece of silver and morsel of bread.” Indeed they still exalt Samuel as the true Prophet and Priest of God. Gentiles were grafted in when His chosen people, Israel, ebbed so low as to reject His Messiah! And God says of us “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” Do I? God goes on, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.” In God's new covenant individuals are not 'called', Gentiles are the called; an important distinction for a Bible believer. We Gentiles are indeed “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Whosoevers become part of the elect through faith in Christ. Don't get all haughty. Samuel sure didn't.

An Essay for week #23 Sun, Jun 12, 11

Msg #1124 Baptist Are Not Reformers

When adversaries came to the children of the captivity rebuilding the temple they said unto them, “Let us build with you for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.” But the chief of the fathers of Israel said unto them “Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God.” Likewise when Sanballat sent to Nehemiah saying “Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” Nehemiah sent messages unto them “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” When the reformers approach with their reformed theology and say God choose who would be saved before the foundation of the world, remember they have no part with Baptist's preaching the Gospel. When they say those that did not get elect to go to heaven are destined to hell without hope and without God's mercy recall that they preach a different gospel than we do. Have nothing to do with them. When they refuse the millennial reign of Christ, denying the 1000 years of Revelation20, and the 7 year tribulation calling it all allegorical, they are false teachers. Don't go to the plain of Ono with them. Calvinist are indeed false teachers. No part of Calvinism fits with a Baptist Bible Believer, true Baptist have no part with John Calvin nor John Piper; we are not protestants nor reformed. As reformed theology re-conforms to 'Church Father' notions, Alexandrian Bibles and the Holy Catholic Church they move back to their mother, the mother of harlots. Don't be sucked in, they “have nothing to do with us, to build an house unto our God.”

An Essay for week #24 Sun, Jun 19, 11

Msg #1125 Especially Fathers

“I write unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. … I have written unto your fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.” When the Apostle John writes with the hand of God he records his purpose in writing; his Gospel so “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name”; This Epistle “that your joy may be full”; This chapter “these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” Here, he writes especially to fathers, saved, born-again ones who have a Father's Only Begotten Son as their redeemer, have a reconciled relationship with their heavenly Father, and who have a rejuvenated knowledge of Him. To know God as our heavenly Father is to know what a genuine father is. And to be a father, albeit always lacking in the perfection that he has called us to, gives one an insight into our relationship with Him that no other person can fully attain. Here then is the insight that the Apostle calls out for fathers. Herein is the difference that makes a father's redeemed relationship differ from the child or the young man that is called out separately here by John. Fathers know the weight of responsibilities, the necessity of being wholly dependable, the awe of being esteemed by their children, the joy of being relied on, and the hurt of being rejected by your own creation. Fathers have the taste of a unique relationship that can focus a knowledge of our heavenly Father like no other experience. I write unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. You have got to love this author. I do.

An Essay for week #25 Sun, Jun 26, 11

Msg #1126 Church Membership

For a Baptist, Church membership is what makes us part of a local body of believers as depicted in Romans and 1Cor.12. Protestant denominations thinks one is added to a universal, catholic or invisible body of believers once called the Holy Catholic Church. Bad doctrine! And we know where it comes from. When we get saved we are made part of the family of God, and when we are baptized and added to a local Church we are made part of a body of believers. There we see the “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” of the great commission. When one relocates to another area membership is agreeably transferred to another body of believers of like faith and practice; however, never to a protestant denomination with their invisible or Catholic church body. To otherwise be remove from that body of believers is like severing ones limb or thumb; it is never taken lightly but can possibly be warranted. If the limb is gangrenous and will do harm to the body by remaining attached it can be severed. Such is a Church discipline as outlined in the letters to Corinth and in Matt 18. If a limb goes limp and refuses nourishment or function it withers away in time and becomes dysfunctional. Baptist Church roles are purged of dysfunctional members periodically and those purged are separated and treated as an unsaved one would be treated, with perpetual prayer and witnessing, but certainly with a broken fellowship. These are the three means of removing from a Baptist Church membership. I suppose that two bodies could agree on a bone marrow transplant, but even then the marrow does not voice its opinion. Be very careful with your Church membership, it is a very crucial part of your growth.

An Essay for week #26 Sun, Jul 3, 11

Msg #1126b Faith from Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew eloquently walks us through a treaties on faith which provides a 'faithometer' to measure our own. It begins with a rebuke “If God so clothe the grass of the field, ... shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” We can trust him for needs. Then when a Centurion's recognizes Christ's powerful authority Jesus said “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” In dire circumstances, Jesus present, the disciples are rebuked; “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” We can trust him for calm. To the friend born of four, “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; … thy sins be forgiven thee.” When the women touched the hem of his garment “Jesus turned him about, and ... said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Likewise the blind men pursuing him, barged into the house, and “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” To a disciple walking on water he said “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” We can trust Him when out on a limb. To the believing 'dogs' “Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Mistook teaching brings the rebuke,”O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?” ... “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ... nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Again “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ...”

Another Essay for week #26 Sun, Jul 3, 11

Msg #1127 After 235 Years Can God Bless America

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Ps33:12) Whenever we hear “God bless America” we should consider that He has. This verse calls for a blessing on the nation that he hath chosen, Israel, of whom the Bible says “And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;... For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deut4:37, 7:6) No matter what Catholic, Protestant or Reformed theology teaches, the Bible says over and over that God will never forsake the promises he made to the nation of Israel, He will restore them to Canaan land and rule and reign over all the nations of the world for a thousand years from the throne of David set up in Zion. But this verse also calls for a blessing on the nation whose God is the LORD. That was, once, the United States of America, and God has blessed America as he said he would. Will God bless America, or be as He was to Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. (Hosea5:12) At its destruction Sodom and Gomorrah had sunk into sin for 455 years; “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; ...” We have only been a nation 235 years, yet exalt sodomy with 'conservative?' republican legislation from Albany NY. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD! US?

An Essay for week #27 Sun, Jul 10, 11

Msg #1128 Judgment and Peace for Israel

God surely judges sin”And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” After the flood God required that man govern himself and curb his own sinful ways “At the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” But the sinfulness of man still went unchecked until “The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; ... Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.” Four Hundred years later, after the iniquity of the Amorites was full, God brings Israel back into Canaan land “unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.” God wanted Israel to utterly destroy the sinful Canaanites and possess their whole land. Muslims and news anchors call then 'Palestinians' but they are Canaanites left in the Promised Land that God WILL give to Israel just like He promised. Obama calls Israel the 'occupiers' and wants them in archaic borders! When Jehovah God is pitted against our President how do you suppose that will end? Pray for the peace of Israel.

An Essay for week #28 Sun, Jul 17, 11

Msg #1129 Now What?

Some perspective can be added to America's plight by examining Scriptures. First a fictitious debt ceiling that must be breached so we can continue to 'give-give- and give' to our nonworking populous reminds me of Proverbs 30:15 “The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.” Once a democracy figures out it can vote itself higher entitlements 'the hand writing is on the wall.' America is becoming an eerie foreshadow of Revelation18 “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The Muslim hordes sweeping into nations to practice 'freedom of religion' do not have a religion but a theo-political, legal, economic, militant, governing system charged to overthrow governments and control nations. While our president calls it a 'great religion distorted by some extremists' America will not even realize she is courting Babylon, “that great city which made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” So to America's god of pluralism unites with Roman Catholicism to teach our children that we evolved here from primitive life from a primeval sea and mystery Babylon presses on toward Revelation17. What is a Christian to do? March on Washington? Descend on Albany? Have a TEA party? No. A true Christian is to do just what they were commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to do. Although the philosophers of Alexandria tore it out of their debase manuscripts, used in all modernist Bibles, the 400 year old King James Bible still says in Mark 16 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

An Essay for week #29 Sun, Jul 24, 11

Msg #1130 The Broken Vineyard

The heart of God for a nation is poured out in the vineyard song found in Isaiah chapter5. I'll advise against trying to sing it but advise strongly that you prayerfully read it with the intent of seeing the very heart of Jehovah God. His love for a people, His care, His provision, His blessing on a nation is crowned with this observation; “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” This little vineyard song is directed at God's chosen nation Israel, but a shadow of the song is fulfilled in the USA today. Our trek into godless socialism is ending poorly. God HAS blessed America, cared for her, provided for her, ... what could He have done more? He says “And now go to: I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof. And it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor digged.” LORD, bring our politicians to confusion, … He HAS! LORD, rub our nose in our iniquity as we have snubbed our noses at your holy commandments. He IS! LORD, turn us back, … He CAN! When God's anger turned against His vineyard, He advised: “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” He still can.

An Essay for week #30 Sun, Jul 31, 11

Msg #1131 The Stretched Out Hand

Many things can be implied when a Father stretches out his hand to a child. All of them are aptly implied in God's warnings to Israel spoken through Isaiah His prophet. Chapter5 begins with God's Vineyard Song, goes on with Six Woes upon Israel's callous behavior, and then introduces the 'stretched out hand.' “Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” The first occurrence of a stretched out hand is when Abraham's only begotten son was being offered in sacrifice on Mount Calvary; the second when Israel stretched forth his hand to bless Ephraim his younger grandchild instead of Manasseh the elder; the third use of the stretched out hand was to redeem Israel from bondage in Egypt. Here in Isaiah's writings the Father's hand is stretched out in anger, but that little phrase “for all this … his had is stretched out still,” has greater implication than chastening or anger. Since the day that God stretched out his hand and offered His Only Begotten Son on Mount Calvary, He has had his hand stretched out in invitation that says “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Although man-made religions, with their good works and penance payments, strive to pay their own way, His had is stretched out still. Although America ignores Him as their Creator and Lawgiver, his hand is stretched out still. Heavy laden? His hand is stretched out still. Has been for these 1,978 years.

An Essay for week #31 Sun, Aug 7, 11

Msg #1132 The Messianic Prophecy

The Bible says “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” and there is no greater introduced Bible chapter wherein we behold Him. For the believer, Isaiah 53 gives a most intimate portrayal of his Lord, Saviour and Christ as is to be found in Scriptures. It is an exercise with pronouns 'he, him and his' for Messiah, 'us, we and our,' for His creation. In its Christology we find the 'Servant', the 'root out of a dry ground,' the 'man of sorrows', and we find him despised and rejected with his visage so marred more than any man. We esteemed him not, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. This portrayal is rejected by orthodox Rabbi's because herein the Messiah “made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” Written 700 years before Christ's death this supernatural prophecy tells not only of his death, but it tells why he died. “He was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised four our iniquity: the chastisement of our peace was upon him.” You cannot be saved without believing that he was the Christ. That is what Andrew and John believed when John the Baptist said “Behold the Lamb of God”; what Nicodemus got from “whosoever believeth in him should not perish”; what the woman at the well accepted; what the nobleman and his whole house believed, and the meaning of “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he.” Trust the verse that starts and ends in 'All'. “All we like sheep have gone astray … and the LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of US all.” Got Christ?

An Essay for week #32 Sun, Aug 14, 11

Msg #1133 Believing the Literal

There is coming a day when the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. The Revelation of Jesus Christ accompanies that day with no more pain, no more death and streets made of crystalline gold. The nations of the world, the economy of the new world order, and the Sodom-n-Gomorric attitude of humanity is currently lining up for the judgments and events that will precede that day. There are only a few walking a straight and narrow path to believe the infallible prophetic events that Jesus taught and believed. There is a wide and broad path filled with protestants, neo-evangelicals and mega-churches who would sooner believe the allegorizing of their 'Church Fathers' than the literal inerrant Words of the Heavenly Father. God's Word presents a pre-tribulation rapture of the saints in the twinkling of an eye, a seven year period of tribulation such as this world has never seen, seven vials of the wrath of God poured out on a rebellious humanity, and a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ sitting on a literal throne of David in the literal city of Jerusalem. There will be a judgment of the saints, of Israel, of Babylon, of the Beast and false prophet, of nations, and of Satan, all before the seventh and final judgment of the unsaved dead before the Great White Throne Don't be swept away by the teachings of the allegorizing mega majority. Before anyone steps on streets of pure gold there will be judgment and Jesus spells out the literal events. If your crowd rejects any of these I humbly suggest you move away and get on a straight and narrow rendering of Christ's Second Coming.

An Essay for week #33 Sun, Aug 21, 11

Msg #1134 Silver Linings

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Sometimes we Christians laboring in apostate, agnostic America grit our teeth, set our jaw, and determine to do what is right no matter what. We forget that “the law is not of faith,” and that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Some have set more standards than God has, and some have abandoned all standard and wondered off into the apostasy. I am reminded of Peter who once rebuked the Lord for teaching his pending death, and once he filled with self righteous zeal to say “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” See therein that our self determination and our zeal for the Lord will be worse than ineffectual and illicit the Lord's response, “Get thee behind me Satan.” In his denial Peter had minimized his potential to sin, misunderstood Jesus' call to prayer, and mingled with the wrong crowd. To often we ignore that written record and do the same with our determination and zeal. When our labor is fruitless, and the power of God to change lives around us seems vain I bolster up my zeal and determination to not grow weary in well doing; when I should bolster up my faith and determine to not fall asleep in the prayer garden. Things sure looked bleak on that threshold of victory. They always do. That is why we have profound sayings about 'silver linings.' When God seems miles away, when your labor is vain, when you're weary in well doing, in the dark of the midnight remember Gethsemane. “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. ... tarry ye here, and watch with me.” There is coming a silver lining.

An Essay for week #34 Sun, Aug 28, 11

Msg #1135 Belief Indeed

What you believe is cardinal to what you are. This world has hypocrites who say they are one thing but in their truth are quite another. A wide and broad path full of 'Christians' say they 'believe in' Jesus. Believe is used 289 times in the KJV Bible, only 15% of those are in the Old Testament, while 30% are in the Gospel of John alone. In the Old-Testament Israel was commanded “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Religions still strive “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” under OT aw. In our New-Testament John records “They said unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Recall that in John 3 Jesus said “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Believing in Jesus is believing that he is the promised redeemer of Gen 3, and the kinsman redeemer in Ruth; the promised seed of Gen 12 and the seed of a virgin womb in Isa 7; the Prophet in Deut 18; the Priest in Psalm 110, the King for the Throne of David in 1Chron 17; the Anointed, and only begotten Son, the King on God's Holy Hill of Zion in Psalm 2. Again John records, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Many are not disciples indeed. Where are you at in continuing in His Word? “Thou shalt meditate therein day and night.”

An Essay for week #35 Sun, Sep 4, 11

Msg #1136 Catholic is not Christian

Every true Bible believing born again Christian needs to fully understand what the Roman Catholic Church is and its gross seepage into all Protestant denominations. Satan's three pronged attack which was so effective in the Garden of Eden was immediately leveled against Christ's Churches. Alexandria Egypt, the city of scholars and philosophers, launched Satan's attack against the Gospel. The genius, scholar, philosopher, Clement of Alexandria cunningly intertwined Greek philosophy into the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. His equally genius student Origen of Alexandria, a Catholic Church Father, built a critical hexapla of Scripture for Satan's “yea hath God said?” attack against God's Word. Jerome translated his work into the Latin Vulgate which replaced all 'repentance' with 'penance', and all 'presbyters' with 'priests.' Satan perverts God's Gospel, and twists God's very words; now he needs a tyrannical sword in the hands of an apostate baby baptizing church in Rome. The scholarly genius of Saint Augustine and the 'conversion' of Constantine gives the Roman church the doctrine of the two swords and the audacious authority to demand conformity. History details that the perverted baby baptizing gospel of Alexandrian philosophy, the word-smithing Bible twisting of Alexandrian scholarship, and the authority mongering, allegorizing, church father, St. Augustine make up Satan's three pronged attack against Jesus Christ and his churches. Through all 1,500 years of Satan's success, however, there remained a tiny remnant faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e God can save anybody; faithful to the Bible of Jesus Christ, i.e. God's Word is infallible, inerrant and preserved forever; and faithful to the authority of Jesus Christ, accepting and following no other 'church father.' To what extent is your Church free from these three prongs of Satan's attack and attached to that tiny remnant of true believers? Makes you think.

An Essay for week #36 Sun, Sep 11, 11

Msg #1137 A 9/11 Remembrance

It is inconceivable by civil society and unreportable by a liberal media that Islamic Jihadists would hatch a plan to blow up the surviving mourners of the three thousand souls they executed ten years ago. It is still inconceivable and yet unexplained to the children marred by its memory that Islamic Jihadists crying “Allah is great” would fly four airplanes into those three thousand souls. On this tenth anniversary of that inauspicious horror we remember the innocence and heroism of those who were slaughtered on that day. It is distressing that our liberal press, pluralistic leanings, and political correctness forbid us from identifying those Allah worshiping Islamic Jihadists as Muslims because we must pretend that Islam is a peace loving religion like our leaders told us. Judaism worships Jehovah God of the Bible who said “The LORD your God is One God, and thou shalt have no other God's before me.” Allah is a false god like Baalim and Ashtaroth the gods of Syria or Dagon the god of the Philistines. Christianity worships Jehovah God's Only Begotten Son and Anointed One (Greek 'Christ') as their only God and Creator. For a Christian Allah is the diabolical opposer of Jesus Christ, the Way the Truth and the Life. Allah is a god of jihad and hate and butchery and we should gladly and quickly contrast him with our God who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. . On this ten year remembrance Muslims should be ashamed of their god and Christians should share their God's charge to “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, .... Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

An Essay for week #37 Sun, Sep 18, 11

Msg #1138 What's a Baptist?

Satan's three pronged attack against Christianity was not assuaged by the reformers who protested its Catholic presence. They discarded Catholic indulgences, penance and purgatory, but continued in the baby baptizing, sacramental attacks against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They discarded the Latin Vulgate but they continued the dilution of God's very Words with Alexandrian errors. They would not give up a 'clergy' using magistrates to kill, burn, or drown the dissenters who refused their doctrines or baptisms. An overlording clergy exerting authority over others was carried into every protestant denomination. I must haste to point out that Baptists, previously called Anabaptist, (and a lot of other things), are not Protestants nor are they a denomination. Baptists were the ones being killed, burned or drowned by Catholics and Protestant denominations. The Anabaptist re-batizers never accepted infant-baptism, Catholic authority or Catholic over lording of autonomous churches. They were called Donatists when Constantine ordered their execution, Paulicians and Waldenses when Roman Catholicism tried to annihilate them, and Anabaptist when Protestants (including John Calvin by the way) killed, burned or drowned them as heretics. Just because John Smyth, saved and baptized by immersion, declared as a pastor in the early sixteen hundreds that “a magistrate … is not to meddle with religion!”, he is not our founder, just an excellent representative. The Gospel preaching, 'Every Word of the Bible believing', believer baptizing, autonomous standing group of believers that came through the dark ages always standing against the Romans and their denominations have a perpetuity that takes us back to our founder the Lord Jesus Christ. We have no Church fathers, apostolic or otherwise, no creeds, no sacraments, and are not 'reformed' from anything. Narrow gate, and straight way, we are Baptist. If your not, take it off your Church sign and stop pretending.

An Essay for week #38 Sun, Sep 25, 11

Msg #1139 Where did the Baptists Go?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” Those who believed all that the Scriptures taught and entered via that straight gate are traced across the face of Europe in a “Trail of Blood”. These never aligned with Rome and stayed separate from Protestants. They crossed the ocean to America with the old name Baptist because they believed what the Bible said about baptism and rejected what Catholics and Protestants taught about it. In America they left behind all the slanderous names applied to them in Europe and unified under the title of 'Baptist', never becoming a headquartered-organized denomination. They divided into Northern and Southern Baptists at the Civil War. The Northern Baptists following after liberalism were called American, those pandering to Protestantism, Regular Baptists. Regulars were eventually all entangled in Calvinism, modernist bibles riddled with errors (to be fixed with the Alexandrian versions), and the Reformed teachings of 'Church Fathers!' American Baptists, not believing the Bible, had a social gospel, and Regular Baptists, believing Calvin, had a wimpy gospel that was only for a predestined few! They all had 'errant bibles' needing the errors edited out by modernists, and Church Boards always controlling the body! It was Satan's three pronged attack all over again, now with a reformed protestant flavor. Southern Baptists took on the vices of the world, the denominational controls of association, and the reformed no 'pre-tribulation rapture' doctrines of Protestants! A true remnant needed to be independent of all of that and they are. Today know as the Independent Baptists who only preach from the unmodernized KJV Bible. Praise the Lord for that tiny remnant. Praise the Lord I am one of them.

An Essay for week #39 Sun, Oct 2, 11

Msg #1140 Prophecy is Literal

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. ... ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” The confusion wrought by changing this Feast of Trumpets into Rosh Hashanah, making their 7th month the Jewish new year, shouldn't prevent us from hearing the sound of that Trumpet. As plain as 1,2,3. Christ's first coming was a fulfillment of the 1) Passover, 2) Feast of Unleavened Bread, and 3) Firstfruits Offering, and His second coming is portrayed in the 1) Feast of Trumpets, 2) Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and 3) Feast of Tabernacles. The trinity in both of these holy days foreshadows the awesomeness of Christ's advents. A Bible believer that remains as ignorant as an unsaved Jew here is inexcusable. One who is tangled in allegorizing away the prophetic promises of God and Christ's literal return, to set on the literal Throne of David in the hills of Zion should bear more shame. Believe God first, and Clergy only as a last resort. Whether Roman, Catholic, Protestant, Reformed or Charasmatic, they have spiritualized away, the Millennial Reign of Christ, the literal seven year period of tribulation that Jesus affirmed in Matthew 24, and the rapture of the Church that He affirmed in 1Thessalonians 4. As surely as the fallen temple stones had a literal fulfillment, Christ coming FOR His saints in the clouds before He comes back WITH His saints at the Battle of Armageddon has a literal fulfillment. Rightly dividing the word of truth is always better done without Clergy that rely on their 'Church Fathers' rather than our Heavenly Father. Study.

An Essay for week #40 Sun, Oct 9, 11

Msg #1141 Apocalyptic Knot

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established... and it shall be exalted above the hills, and many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Catholic and Reformed Theologians allegorize away God's promises and call them apocalyptic fiction. They are a-millennial, post millennial, and wrong. This promise, recorded in Micah is typical of prophets foretelling a kingdom age where God's Only Begotten Son will rule the world from His Holy Hill of Zion. (Psalm2) In the Revelation of Jesus Christ each Church's message concludes with “he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.” Those with no ears call this 'Apocalyptic Literature' which needs to be allegorized until there is no literal 1000 year reign of Christ. Here, 'believing is seeing' as Jesus said when teaching the crowds in parables. When you allegorize out the words of this prophecy you loose the blessing promised to those who keep them. Ears that hear know that the trumpet saying, “Come up hither” in Revelation4 is the same one that calls the saints to be 'caught up' in 1Thes 4. One not believing the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, has no ears and will disbelieve other things too. Study your inerrant, infallible, inspired Holy Bible like a workman, (with both ears), that needeth not be ashamed and never classify Holy Inspired Scripture as just apocalyptic fiction. The Lord is soon returning.

An Essay for week #41 Sun, Oct 16, 11

Msg #1142 The Wrath of God

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the best literature ever organized into a book, but to a believer it is God's communication to us of things which must shortly come to pass. The very heart of this communication it is a description of a tribulation period described by Jesus in Matthew24: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Catholics, Protestants and Reformed Theologians trivialize God's Word in pretending Jesus was not speaking of a literal tribulation, but the Revelation of Jesus Christ emphatically describes this seven year tribulation period in no uncertain terms. The things that must shortly come to pass begins with a seven sealed book. Only the lamb as it had been slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and root of David prevailed to open the book. Each seal prepares the way for the coming wrath of God. With four horses, martyred saints, earth quake, and then silence in heaven. The 7th seal introduces 7 trumpets that announce and give a taste of the coming wrath of God. They destroy 1/3 of the sea, 1/3 of the land, and 1/3 of mankind. Exactly halfway through the book and the 7 years, at the sounding of the last trumpet, Satan is cast down. In chapter 16 the 7 vials of the wrath of God begin to be poured out on this rebellious, fist shaking, creator denying world. Just before the final vial the world is gathered for the Battle of Armageddon. It is real. It is coming, and “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Got Life?

An Essay for week #42 Sun, Oct 23, 11

Msg #1143 Armageddon

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” In the world that word is synonymous to their doom. In Catholic, Protestant and Reformed theology it is only an allegorical war where good conquers evil. But for a Bible believer Armageddon is the culmination of the 7 year tribulation and the gateway into the 1000 year Millennial Reign of Christ. The Bible says that Jesus comes back with his saints riding with him. The nations are all gathered to annihilate Israel and overrun Jerusalem and the foot of the King of kings and Lord of lords touches the Mount of Olives which divides making a great valley all the way to Meggido. There is such a slaughter of rebellious mankind that blood flows to the horse's bridle. This vengeance of God on the nations of the world is prophesied from Psalms 2 through all the prophets. “The Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle ... Thrust in thy sickle, and reap...for the harvest of the earth is ripe... for her grapes are fully ripe. ... and He thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. “He binds the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. The Battle of Armageddon is not apocalyptic fiction, it's the embodiment of the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held ... cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? ... Even so Come Lord Jesus.

An Essay for week #43 Sun, Oct 30, 11

Msg #1144 Even So Come Lord Jesus

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” (Isa) ... “Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. ... That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; ... Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: ... And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel) The prophets of old are clear and you should make sure what 'camp' you are in. USA put a socialist in the White House; NY put sodomy on the national agenda; and Travis Smiley led a Black Caucus through the doctrines of Karl Marx as Wall Street demonstrators adopt an anti-capitalist pro-communist agenda. You can imagine every nation pitted against God's Chosen Nation; promoting its annihilation. Don't wast time petitioning Albany, Washington, or the U.N., Christians need to petition the throne of Jehovah God; “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in in the night.” (Thes) “The LORD shall roar out of Zion and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel) Even so come Lord Jesus.

An Essay for week #44 Sun, Nov 6, 11

Msg #1145 40th Anniversary Romance

“The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's” is a lover's favorite book of the Bible. The opening verse says “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” For kissing, one is never to old or been married too long. Kiss goodnight. Kiss goodbye. Kiss often. “Draw me, we will run after thee.” Stay young, chase her around the house on occasion. “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest” Don't keep secrets from your spouse. He says “Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.” She responds “Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.” Couples should speak to each other romantically, tell what you like in intimacy, and express it with passion. She says “His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.” What do you smell like to your wife? Take a bath! Brush your teeth! The poem continues “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” Learn to talk and learn to listen. What attracts you to each other? Talk of when you met and why you married. A renowned line is “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” Have a banquet with your spouse, with the TV off! Go to dinner together. Sneak home and have lunch with her, or meet her somewhere for lunch. Keep romance in your marriage. Keep the Song of Solomon handy too.

An Essay for week #45 Sun, Nov 13, 11

Msg #1146 Thanksgiving Without the Camp

Christians should take full advantage of every November. “The fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Having a national day of Thanksgiving is surely temporary in a nation which no longer knows God , nor acknowledges Him as their Creator. While we have it true Christians need to go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach and offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually. The chapter 13 of Hebrews shows the bankruptcy of Religion and the requirement of true Christians to get out of camp and offer authentic Thanksgiving. “Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.” This going out of the camp to burn the sacrifice directly portrays our salvation in the priest's consecration of Exodus 29:14, and our sanctification via the trespass offering burned without the camp in Leviticus 4:12 & 21. Moses spake face to face with God, where? Without the camp in Exodus 33:7. And the burnt offering, representing the complete surrender of every fiber of ones being was burned 'without the camp.' in Leviticus 6:11. Lepers were healed 'without the camp' where they were cast. Blasphemers were stoned 'without the camp' and our Saviour, so charged but innocent, died for our us on Golgotha, outside the gate of Jerusalem. The Atonement Sacrifice was burned 'without the camp.' Christianity is a relationship NOT a religion, NOT a universal or catholic organization or one of its piecemeal denominations. A true believer should come out of those camps and give Thanksgiving this November. Once out, stay out. Get in an Independent, Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Church.

An Essay for week #46 Sun, Nov 20, 11

Query to Msg #1146 How Far 'Without the Camp'

To:RevEGRice

So only Independent, Fundamental, Bible Believing Baptist churches are the true messengers of the Gospel??? Kinda being exclusive don't you think?? If this is the case then the Fundamental Baptist church I am in is not and you should remove me from your mailing list.

GCE

Dear GCE,

Thank you for writing. Per your question I must first clarify that I don't think Independent, Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Churches are the ONLY 'true messengers' , but they are the only ones that I can categorically endorse, and even that is tentative and riddled with exceptions. As to my suggesting that you leave your 'Fundamental Baptist' church, I would not categorically recommend it. As intended in this essay I strongly recommend all to get out of ANY Protestant 'Camp', Church or Denomination. Baptists are not Protestants. Be aware, however, that most Baptist Churches have compromised themselves back into Protestant's camps, via liberalism, denominational controls, or reformed theology. (Note that Reformed Theology is Protestants attempt to reform bad Catholic doctrine and get it to conform a little more closely to the modernist bible.) I don't know your particulars, but you have clarified that 'Fundamental Baptist' is not an IFBBBC, thus for a decision about staying or going you need to weigh your Churches particular shortfalls for yourself.

I can, however, state some particulars, based on my own experience in many a Baptist Church during my 23 year military career. If yours is in the American Baptist Association (denomination) that hob nobs in liberalism, and supports the efforts of the World Counsel of Churches, get out of the camp. If yours is in the Southern Baptist Association (denomination) that takes up 'Lotty Moon' offerings, embraces a-millennialism, has Church dances, and likes rock bands, get out of the camp. If yours is in the GARBC Association (almost a denomination) that loves Reformed Theology and hugs John Calvin, has a board of deacons in charge of anything, and thinks the modernist bibles are an improvement to the KJV, get out of the camp. Otherwise I expect 'Fundamental Baptist' is a good sound Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Church like its name implies, and that it has not drifted back into the religious camp of the protestants.

As to your continuing to read my Penny Pulpits, each one has a 'stopsendingmethese' button somewhere near the bottom, clicking it will blacklist your email from my php distribution list, however you might read Psalm 119:165 before clicking it, and don't leave offended. Enclosed is a copy of a checklist that I made up years ago. Hope it is a help.

Pastor Ed Rice.

ARE YOU IN A BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH?

You are NOT in a Bible Believing Church IF:

(Check off those that apply read the scriptures and give this to your preacher.)

___ 1 Your Preacher does not clearly regularly teach how to be Born Again! (John 3: 5-7,16-18, Titus 3:5-7, Rom 4:6-8, 10:9-13)

___ 2. Your Preacher is a woman of God and not a MAN of God. (I Tim 2:11-12; 3:1-7, Titus 1: 6-9; Titus 1:5- 2:15)

___ 3. Your Preacher is a Priest or teaches you to pray to Mary. (Matthew 23:9, 1Tim 2:5-6, Heb 7:23-28)

___ 4. Your Preacher or Church coddles to sodomites, lesbians or political correctness. Sodomy is blatant Godless immoral sin. Your Preacher should regularly call sodomy, adultery, fornication and murder SIN and an abomination against God like the Bible does. (Lev 18:22, 1Cor 6:9-10, 1Tim 1:9-10)

___ 5. Your Preacher or Church has sacraments teaching that you can work your way to heaven. (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 3:26-28, 4:5-8, 2Tim 1:9, Tit 3:5-7)

___ 6. Your Preacher or Church baptizes infants or thinks baptism provides some kind of sin washing mysticism. (John 3:16-18, Eph 2:8-9, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36-37)

___ 7. Your Preacher or Church teaches there are many ways to get to heaven. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1Tim 2:5-6, John 3:16-18)

___ 8. Your Preacher or Church teaches no literal burning ETERNAL HELL. Jesus sure taught that there was! (Psalm 9:17, Matt 5:22, 10:28, 18:9, 23:33, Mark 9:43-48, Mark 3:29, Luke 16:19-31)

___ 9. Your Preacher or Church preaches from, or even likes the New International Version, a liberal copyright book that completely omits Matt 17:21, 18:11, 23:14, Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46, 11:26, 15:28, Luke 17:36, 23:17, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, 15:34 24:7, 28:29, Rom 16:24, IJn5:7, Mark 6:11b, Col 1:14b +64,000 other inspired words!! If your preacher has not warned you about this book, get a real Bible preacher. Infidel liberals love this book. Does your Preacher?

___ 10. Your Preacher thinks he is elected to go to heaven and you, or your loved ones or neighbors might not be. (John 3:16, 2Peter 3:9)

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. I would sooner drive 50 miles to Church than to subject my family to the kind of error found in this checklist. For the sake of your own growth, for the sake of your family, for the sake of your community get into a Bible Believing Bible Preaching Church. Printed and Distributed by Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Pastor Ed Rice,

54 Main Street Dresden NY 14441, www.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1147 The Thanksgiving Stairwell

There are seven steps that lead man down and away from God's presence. Consequently, these same seven steps lead us back into his presence. The question begs to be asked; Going up, or going down? None stand still on this stairway. The seven steps are outlined in Romans 1:21-23. The top step, the highest achievable by mere humanity is to 'know God.' The context of this Scripture justifies that every accountable human alive was at one point on this step and is therefore without excuse. This dissertation to Romans goes on to account that one can only get back to this step via a propitiation found in Jesus Christ alone. This top step captures every level of intimacy conceivable in the mind of mere man. Staying on this step is God's intent for his creatures. To know God, i.e. to know Christ, is our highest calling. Moses captures it in Exod 33:11, Paul in Phil 3:10. The second step “They glorified him not as God” is the departure from the top. Third step “neither were thankful.” Emphasis is on our Thanksgiving here. The steps go down rapidly “Became vain in their imagination;” “Their foolish heart was darkened;” “They became fools” and finally “They changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.” Bottom of the stairs finds a terrifying verse “Wherefore God also gave them up.” A truly saved, born again person came up and had an eternal light turned on on that third step up from the bottom. Because it is an 'eternal light' that they got in 'So Great Salvation' they can never stray away from God past the third step down from the top. Which step are you on? Which way are you going?

An Essay for week #47 Sun, Nov 27, 11

Msg #1148 Thanks for Mercy, Thanks for Grace

Rounding out a month that emphasizes Thanksgiving can best be done by offering up thanks and praise for God’s great mercy and grace. The born again Christian, by God’s mercy, will not face judgment. The little prophetical book of Zephaniah is replete with the promised judgment, but a whispered reprieve is found there: “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, who have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.” Thank you God that you have pointed me to this meek exit from judgment and I am no longer under condemnation. Three 5 and 9s in 1Thes., Rom., and Hebrews, state that a believer is not appointed unto wrath. The wrath of God will be poured out on this world and on every individual that does not believe, trust, and call on the name of His only begotten Son. Thank you Lord that I am now not appointed to wrath, I deserve it but your mercy endureth forever. Thanks that we are not getting what we deserve should be followed by thanks that we are getting what we do not deserve. John14 says “In My Father's house are many mansions; … I go to prepare a place for you.” Thank you Lord, for putting my name on a mansion in your presence, not just a room. Jesus goes on: “If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father.” Thank you God, that I have seen you, via your written word I saw you this morning. Chapter 15 goes on: “Henceforth I call you not servants,… but I have called you friends.” Thank you Lord that I can be your friend. Thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace to me.

An Essay for week #48 Sun, Dec 4, 11

Msg #1149 First Advent of Prophet Priest and King

Studying the advents of the Christ can cause one to stand in perfect awe of every word of the Scriptures. It is only wise to study every aspect of the second advent of Christ in October right after the Feast of Trumpets, and to study every aspect the first advent of Christ in December, leading up to the Christmas celebration. The latter is a study in Biblical history, the former in Biblical prophecy. Ergo sometimes the First Advent of Christ does not get all the deserved zeal. The Christ was promised as a (1)Redeemer, “And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”; as a (2) Prophet that must be heard, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; ... whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”; as an (3) Interceding Priest, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”; as a (4)King on the throne of David, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever ... thy throne shall be established for ever.”; and as the (5) Only Begotten Son of God, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” The awe of the First Advent is that he fulfilled all of this, but was also “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: ... and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

An Essay for week #49 Sun, Dec 11, 11

Response to Message #1149

On 12/9/2011 1:13 PM, FBBCmisc wrote:

Dear Bro. Rice,

I have been enjoying your Penny Pulpit articles. I was wondering if you have any information on the actual date of Christ's birth. I've read and heard a number of things from different aspects, but am searching for more evidence, especially internal Biblical evidence.

The course of Abia would seem to hold significance since that would help us date John the Baptist's birth, while John the Baptist's birth would help us to date the birth of Jesus. I gather that Abia's was the 8th course (I Chron. 24:10), but have questions about it from there.

Another thought involves working backward from the death of Christ at the Passover. If we can establish His age at the time of His death, then conceivably we can go backwards 9 months from the Passover date. So can we establish from the Scriptures that the Lord was indeed 33 1/2 at the time of His death as is often mentioned - or do we need His birth date to do that?! I know we have Him beginning to be about 30 in Luke 3:23.

OK I've said enough and been vague enough to give you an idea of some of the thoughts I'm processing without getting into all of it. If you have a chance and have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them. Thank you.

In the Service of the KING OF KINGS,

Bro. Scott Strobel, First Bible Baptist Church, Lockport, NY

Dear Brother Strobel,

It is a joy to hear from you, we have been up to our neck in missionaries (smiling the whole time because 6 of them are our grandkids), but your question continues to intrigue me. I have heard something of the 8th course for Abia's service and found it to be an intriguing but naughty insight. Intriguing because it seems to promise solution, naughty because I am no longer certain that God wants the riddle solved. My hypothesis is that Christ was born at Passover time. Like all the other hypothesi it lacks Biblical evidence. Presently I'd sooner clearly word revealed truth about how his birth came to be than speculate about when his birth came to be. My small mind is consumed with the former and disillusioned with the latter. All that said, I would still be intrigued to analyze what you find in your pursuit, especially if it points my Passover hypothesis. There are riches in Scripture that our finite minds will only begin to comprehend down here. There is a pinhole of light beaming out of this course of Abia and if you have time to peer into that pinhole let me know what you see. I am presently consumed with defying Reformed Augustinian Theology and its creep into Baptist circles; its my master thesis due out by 1 Jan 2012.

God Bless you for writing, he did me.

Ed

Dear Bro. Rice,

Thank you for getting back to me. Sounds like you have no small task on your hands in finishing your thesis as well as church and other matters. I appreciate your response. I have not spent an inordinate amount of time digging into this either, and my groping mind seems to run smack dab into walls whenever I think I might be getting close. My leaning at this point would be around the feast of tabernacles toward the latter part of Sept. However at this point, I find no satisfactory confirmation from Abia or any other scripture. I have a little more to pursue on that end, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. I'll be glad to try to let you know if I come up with anything that seems worthwhile. One intriguing thought about the feast of tabernacles (say Sept. 21st give or take), that could very well put Mary's conception on Dec. 25th! Nonetheless, I'm reminded of the little poem, "We dance around the ring and suppose; the secret sits in the middle and knows."

Glad He came & looking for Him to come again!

Bro. Strobel

Msg #1150 ALL That The Prophets Spoke

Mary saw some things and pondered them in her heart. She saw her son called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins, and Emmanuel, which being interpreted is 'God with us.' She believed the messenger, Gabriel when he told her he would be great, and called the Son of the Highest. She believed the Lord God would give him the throne of David, and that he would reign over the house of Jacob forever. Mary believed what Gabriel said about her son, that there would be no end to his kingdom, and that he would be called the Son of God. What do you believe about Jesus? Texas Governor Rick Perry was afraid to publicly call Mitt Romney a member of a cult. A believer should not be afraid of truth. We sang the 'Crayon Box' in Sunday School and yellow is still for the Christian who's afraid to tell.” Mormonism is NOT Christian, it IS a cult of Christianity. Mormonism is cult because Joseph Smith, their charismatic founder, like Charles Taze Russel, the charismatic founder of the J.W.s, was guilty of Christ's reprimand “O fools and slow of heart to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken.” For the prophets told us clearly and emphatically of Mary's child; “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Every religion of man that denies the trinity of God and the Deity of Christ qualifies for Christ's rebuke, 'O fools' and for the description of 'cult.' So what do you believe about Christ? Don't be slow to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken.

An Essay for week #50 Sun, Dec 18, 11

Msg #1151 The Annunciation, The Son of God

The angel Gabriel's annunciation to Mary contains tremendous insight for those who believe. “Hail thou that are highly favored.” Certainly you and mankind are highly favored by God, “For God SO loved the world!” But the once in eternity miracle about to unfold in Mary is what makes her the highly favored here. “The Lord is with thee.” Certainly the Lord has made promise to every believer, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”, but for Mary, in this instance, the Lord with her is essential. “Blessed art thou among women.” A phrase so mimicked by apostate Mary worshipers that it really needs to be more fully analyzed. To be 'blessed' is to be in a position where God does something for you that cannot be humanly accomplished. Without a divine, supernatural intervention there is no blessing. The response to a sneeze is of ten “Bless you!”, because your heart just now momentarily stopped and God allowed it to start again. The salutation “May the Lord bless you.”, is made as a request that the Lord do something for you that is otherwise humanly impossible. Mary was blessed among women, not because of her character, nor her attributes nor heritage, but because God was about to perform the once in eternity miracle whereby she would be the mother of His Only Begotten Son. This Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, this Son of God would “be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Everything promised about the Messiah was being fulfilled and reiterated in this annunciation.

An Essay for week #51 Sun, Dec 25, 11

Msg #1152 Second Advent Joy to the World

Christmas is past. All the verses to “Joy to the World” have been sung. But the Earth did not receive her king; every heart did not prepare him room. For most Americans the afterglow of Christmas is a mounting credit card indebtedness. “And in despair I bowed my head; 'There is no peace on earth,' I said, 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on Earth, good will to men.” For the Christian the afterglow of Christmas is the pending fulfillment of many of the carols we sing. The first advent of Christ is marvelously miraculous. The Infinite, Almighty God, taking on finite flesh, and being born among us as Redeeming Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, the Only Begotten Son of God. Miraculous! But most of the Carols of Christmas were crafted by somewhat Reformed Catholics who considered no upcoming millennial reign of Christ. All we get is what we got, they thought. To the Bible believer there is yet a whole chapter to be fulfilled in Second Advent of Christ. “Till, ringing singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of Peace of Earth, good will to men.” The Second Advent of Christ, got all mucked up in Catholic Doctrine, it failure didn't get Reformed by the reformers, and is grossly misrepresented by the Adventists and the other cults. But when He comes back as King of kings, and Lord of lords, THEN “the Saviour reigns”; and THEN “He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove. The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of his love.” THEN we shall repeat this sounding Joy and sing Joy to the World with its full meaning. Merry Christmas, believer.

An Essay for week #52 Sun, Jan 1, 12

The Author is a USAF retired systems engineer turned Baptist Preacher who brings a fresh Biblical look at our Baptist doctrine. His Master of Science degree in Engineering enlivens an analytical view of the history and perpetuity of Baptist doctrine.

We need to get back to sound Bible teachings with our doctrine. These essays will move one in that direction.

Table of Contents

Msg #1025 The Hebrew's Book

The 400th Year Anniversary of the KJV Book Recommendation

Msg #1103 People of The Book

Unnamed

Msg #1002 Called And Without Excuse

Msg #1003 Faithful Stewards

Msg #1004 Stewards of The Mind

Msg #1005 All Thy Strength

Msg #1006 Will God Bless America?

Msg #1007 TIC-TAC-TOE Relationships

Msg #1008 An Ideal Wife

Msg #1009 Rearing God's Way

Msg #1010 Got Charity?

Msg #1011 Pillar and Ground of Truth

Msg #1012 Back to Basics

Msg #1013 Chosen For You

Msg #1014 Easter

Msg #1015 Resurrection

Msg #1016 Born Again Saved

Msg #1017 Baptist Autonomy

Baptist Autonomy Response to Msg 1017

Msg #1018 A Royal Priesthood

Msg #1019 On Mothers Day

Msg #1020 A Mom's Seven Teachings

Alcohol Abstinence Response to Msg #1020

Msg #1021 Whosoever Will May Come

Msg #1022 Pastors Are 1st Husbands, not 1st Ladies

Msg #1023 Reflection on Soldiers

Msg #1024 Two Ordinances of Christ

Original Autographa Response to Msg #1024

Msg #1025 The Hebrew's Book

Msg #1026 Depend on a Father

Msg #1027 Belief Then Baptism

Msg #1028 Independence and Separation

Msg #1029 The Words of the Kingdom

Msg #1030 Signs, Wonders, and False Teachers

Bible Question on Penny Pulpit Content

Msg #1031 A Riot for Proselytizing

Msg #1032 Politics as Usual

Msg #1033 Doth Not Wisdom Cry?

Msg #1034 Christ Our Creator

Msg #1035 The Good Samaritan

Msg #1036 Is God Done With Americans?

Msg #1037 Kiss the Son, Lest He be Angry

Msg #1038 Use Your Brain Or Die

Msg #1039 The Walking Dead Made Alive

Msg #1040 Untold Millions

Msg #1041 The Rapture of the Church

Msg #1042 The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Msg #1043 The Literalness of the Tribulation Period

Msg #1044 The Literalness of the Kingdom

Msg #1045 Who Should You Trust

1 John 5:7 Response to Msg #1045