Sermon -- The Truth, or The Lie?, by Pastor Ed Evans

Posted at: Christian Church Online

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Scripture: 1st Timothy 2:1-7

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,
2:2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.
2:3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
2:4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2:5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,
2:6 who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right time.
2:7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

We have before us part of Paul's letter to Timothy regarding how he should conduct himself in Ephesus. You don't need to read many of Paul's letters to Timothy to realize that as a father loves a son, Paul loved Timothy. It was important to Paul that Timothy know not only the truth from the lie, but that he know how to distinguish the truth from the lie.

Since these letters from Paul to Timothy and to the churches have come down to us through time, intact, it would appear obvious that God the Father has an interest in we, His sons and daughters in this age, amidst these confusing events happening around us, know and be aware of the same kinds of things Paul shared with Timothy.

Paul was a trained expert in things religious, having studied under the very best of that age. He knew power and he knew how to speak truth to power. Perhaps even more importantly, he knew how to discern truth and lift it out from among the growing lies of that age, even as the Father of Lies planted lies more believable than the truth.

Matthew Henry writes in his commentary on these passages, "Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is the Mediator who makes peace. He is a ransom that was to be known in due time. In the Old Testament times, His sufferings, and the glory that should follow, were spoken of as things to be revealed in the last times. Those who are saved must come to the knowledge of the truth, for that is God's appointed way to save sinners: if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it."

Now, some 2,000 years away from Paul's letter to Timothy, we find ourselves in a similar situation. "...if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it," Matthew Henry wrote. That truth stands, down through the ages just as it did when Paul wrote to Timothy, in verses 3 and 4, that God our Savior "desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." But as Matthew Henry reiterated, "if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it."

Our scripture today begins with the issue of prayer and everyone's need for prayer. We take for granted our access to the Father for our needs, to pray for the needs of others, to seek wisdom, insight, to ask for protection and leadership in our lives, to ask for healing, for intervention in our lives and the lives of others.

But what of those people outside our circle of family, friends and acquaintances?

Paul urges "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions..." And Paul does this "so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity."

We may or may not like or approve of those who have power over us, those elected or appointed to positions over us, but we still owe them the respect of their office. If they misappropriate their appointed responsibilities, we need to remove them from office. But in the meantime, we should pay rapt attention to Paul's advice.

Why? Because prayer doesn't change things; prayer changes people, and people change things. It was for people Christ went to the cross, not for situations or events, but to reunite people with God the Father.

The 17th century theologian Albert Barnes, best known among Biblical scholars for his "Barnes' Notes on the Bible," wrote of Paul's urging that we pray for those in power, "... while all people should be the subjects of prayer, those should be particularly remembered before the throne of grace who are in authority. The reason is, that so much depends on their character and plans; that the security of life, liberty, and property, depends so much on them. God has power to influence their hearts, and to incline them to what is just and equal; and hence we should pray that a divine influence may descend upon them. The salvation of a king is of itself of no more importance than that of a peasant or a slave; but the welfare of thousands may depend on him, and hence he should be made the special subject of prayer."
Incidentally, the scripture translation used here is from the International Standard Version, but in many translations, and commentaries, the word "dignity" is translated "honesty." As honesty, the reference is to our duties toward our fellow human beings -- of whatever station in life -- the decent relationships we owe to one another through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Matthew Henry, again, elaborates, "The disciples of Christ must be praying people; all, without distinction of nation, sect, rank, or party. Our duty as Christians, is summed up in two words; godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, good conduct toward all men. These must go together: we are not truly honest, if we are not godly, and do not render to God His due; and we are not truly godly, if not honest."

The real problem in our current age, however, goes not to the issue of not praying enough, or not praying about the right people or issues, and certainly not to whom we respect or don't respect.

I submit to you the real problem is that we in this age are ignorant of scripture. In his second letter to Timothy (2nd Timothy 3:16-17), Paul writes, " All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." If all scripture is "God-breathed", given of inspiration by God, and God is truth, then we can rely on the truth of scripture. But how are we to know when something is a lie if we have ignored knowing the truth of the matter?

All throughout the Old Testament God is spoken of as being truth. In the New Testament, John 1:17 reminds us "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. From John 4:24 we learn, "God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

John 8:32 gives us this promise: "And you will know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free." To which we can add John 14:6 for clarity, where Jesus says, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me."

Knowing truth has perhaps never been more important than in this age, for Satan, the Father of Lies, is working very hard at misguiding those ignorant of truth, at misleading those unaware of truth, of leading into open rebellion against God those who will not seek out truth.

Harken back to Matthew Henry's words: "Those who are saved must come to the knowledge of the truth, for that is God's appointed way to save sinners: if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it."

The lies that would rule us are already among us, and you are going to see them showcased as truth more and more blatantly in the days to come, on the TV, in the news, in ads and interviews and movies. Not only Islamic Imams, priests, of the false god Allah would have us believe that Allah and Jehovah God are one and the same, we are seeing more and more people who claim to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ giving credence to this false idea. If you know anything at all of the Book of Revelation, this idea has the very scent of hell about it.

Revelation, chapters 17 and 18 document the rise and fall of one world religion, one world government. Those who neither know nor understand truth will likely be caught up in the religiosity of it all, and forfeit eternal life through their ignorance.

Now, there are also those who read, hear, skip across scripture just enough to lead themselves astray. So there is some question about whether or not the Church, the Bride of Christ, will go through this period of Tribulation described in the Book of Revelation. The letters to the seven churches make it plain the church will not, but here's the rub. I suggest that all of the church today is not necessarily covered by that promise. In other words, all that claims to be Christian today is not of the true church. This is suggested in the Revelation letter to the church in Thyatira in Chapter 2, and in Chapters 17 and 18, beginning with the first six verses of Chapter 17.

It is my urgent hope that if there are any here who still believe it is not important to understand the truth of scripture, just this bit of enlightenment will disabuse you of that notion. God has given us the information He knows we need to get through this age safely. We ignore it at our peril.

Jesus has told us there will be many who will claim to be the Messiah, many who will claim to have truth, claim to lead us to God. If we do not know the truth, how do we separate the truth from the lie?

All throughout life we will find it is so much easier to be ruled by the lie than to struggle with the truth. The lie will seem so much easier to live with, look better, taste better, feel better, meet with so much less resistance than the truth, have so many more supporters, and cost less.

Please, pray frequently, fervently, and faithfully that you might know the truth.

For here is the truth of the matter. The lie is a sin. And sin will take us further away from God, keep us so much longer, and cost us more than we ever intended. But if we do not know the truth, how shall we know the lie?

Amen.

Morning Worship Services for September 19, 2010

Invocation

Almighty God, You who created me and called me to Yourself, pour out Your Holy Spirit on me today so that I may be a wise steward of these precious gifts. In the name and spirit of Christ. Amen.

Read Psalm 3

Sermon for Sunday, September 19, 2010: "The Truth, or the Lie?"
Scripture: 1st Timothy 2:1-7

Prayers for the church of Christ, for others, for yourself.

Hymn: "Draw Thou My Soul, O Christ"

Lucy Larcom, 1872
Copyright: Public Domain

Scripture: John 12:32

Draw Thou my soul, O Christ, closer to Thine;
Breathe into every wish Thy will divine;
Raised my low self above, won by Thy deathless love,
Ever, O Christ, through mine let Thy life shine.

Lead forth my soul, O Christ, one with Thine own,
Joyful to follow Thee through paths unknown;
In Thee my strength renew; give me Thy work to do;
Through me Thy truth be shown, Thy love made known.

Not for myself alone may my prayer be;
Lift Thou Thy world, O Christ, closer to Thee;
Cleanse it from guilt and wrong; teach it salvation’s song
Till earth, as Heaven, fulfills God’s holy will.

Benediction

Go forth now as God's servant. Remember God's presence often and draw strength from the knowledge that the One who calls and sends also sustains. Amen.
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Daily Scripture Readings for September 19-26, 2010
Monday -- 1st Kings 17
Tuesday -- Luke 12:1-21
Wednesday -- Luke 12:22-32
Thursday -- 1st Timothy 6:1-19
Friday -- 2nd Corinthians 10:1-18

Saturday -- Philippians 4:10-19
Sunday -- Joel 2:23-30, Psalm 107:1, 33-43; 1st Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31

University of Kentucky: No Holocaust

This week the University of Kentucky removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it "offended" the Muslim population, which claims it never occurred. This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it. It is now more than 60 years since the Second World War in Europe ended.

This is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian peoples looking the other way!

Now more than ever, with Iran among others claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth," it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

This is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide! Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world. Please send this email to 10 people you know and ask them to continue the memorial chain.

Please don't just delete it. It will only take you a minute to pass this along.

The UK invoking PC as the reason for placating complaints from this politically active Islamic group can annul the truth, silencing history, muzzling the cries of the innocents down through the centuries. Count on it, one day they will say the same thing about Sept. 11, 2001.

I know it's a lot to ask for in these tough times, but I'd like to see either a lot of letters from parents of students about the altered curriculum, or a lot of students voting with their feet in the cause of freedom and liberty, for ultimately, that is what it is about. UK is only doing it because they can, and feel no sense of responsibility to their students.

God Can Be A Bear, by Pastor Ed Evans

Sermon for Sept. 12, 2010 posted Christian Church Online

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28

4:11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from Me out of the bare heights in the desert toward My poor people, not to winnow or cleanse --
4:12 a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.
4:22 "For My people are foolish, they do not know Me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good."
4:23 I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.
4:24 I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.
4:25 I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled.
4:26 I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before His fierce anger.
4:27 For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
4:28 Because of this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above grow black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back.

There is a story about two friends, Billy and Tommy, out hiking in the deep woods. Suddenly the two men come upon a bear. The surprised bear suddenly rears on its hind legs and the bear is bigger than either of them. It growls menacingly and swipes one great claw at them.

Billy looks at Tommy and says, "You're wearing hiking boots. Too bad, dude. I'm wearing running shoes."

Tommy looks at Billy and says, "Forget it, you're not going to outrun that bear."

Billy shakes his head, says, "I don't have to outrun the bear, dude. I just have to outrun you."

I'm wondering this morning if you have paid attention to the news lately and begun to put two and two together. Horrible flooding in countries all over the globe, devastating hurricanes, ravaging fires, the recent poisoning of the Gulf of Mexico with raw petroleum, increased murders and crime along our southern borders, and the very latest, a gas explosion in California that killed six and wiped out an entire neighborhood in the resulting inferno. And all this while we are mourning the death of 2,996 souls on Sept. 11th, 2001. Why is all this happening even as the nation is sliding deeper into a financial depression, families are losing their jobs and homes, and the nation is under attack from radical Islamists who see us as "the Great Satan"?

Well, let's see. This is the country settled initially by those seeking freedom to worship as they chose, not as the government required; the Christian Bible was one of the first texts recommended for all schools; in Washington, D.C., the Capitol Rotunda was for many years used as a site for worship services by four different Christian churches, and worship there was first initiated by President Thomas Jefferson. We also have a U.S. Constitution which guarantees us certain "God-given" rights.

And yet, Christian prayer is forbidden in our public schools today, the Bible is not allowed in most schools, the public celebration of Christian holidays is not allowed on most public property and in many schools, lawsuits regularly stop Christian invocations at public meetings, luncheons, even sporting events. We have a President who has not attended a Christian church worship service during his two years in office, he has on two occasions refused to support National Prayer Day events as did the two previous Presidents, and instead has held at least two public Islamic prayer events at the White House, as well as celebrating the major Islamic holiday of Ramadan at the White House, which this year coincided with Sept. 11th, America's 911 day of mourning.

Contrary to past history, you will have a hard time finding a Gideon Bible in your hotel room these days. More hotel chains are refusing the free offer of Bibles placed in their hotel rooms for the visitor's use.

Even in polite society today, you hear God's name used often, but rarely as a blessing, most often as part of some swearing oath. Respect for the name of God, and for His son Jesus Christ, is disappearing. Sometimes you just want to speak up and remind some people that God's last name is not Damn.

However, while many in this nation have turned their back on America's first love, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has not changed. His love for His creation has not changed, His promises are firm, and His requirements are rock solid.

Some have said it appears this nation is under judgment by the God of the universe. But God does not have to work up plagues and natural disasters and enemies against America. All He need do is remove His protecting arm. All God need do is listen to those who want nothing to do with Him, want His inspired written word out of schools and other public places, want His celebrations and remembrances ignored.

After all, we are currently being inundated with false gods and idols in this country. And I'm not even talking about the false gods of Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Although some today would like to ignore it, the founders of this nation set us forward on a Christian foundation, evidence of which historians and researchers have found in abundance. And yet many, many people today pervert the right of freedom of religion to mean freedom "from" religion. They would ignore God even as God does not ignore them, their choices, or their eternal future.

The inspired word of God wisely tells us in both Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 that where your treasure is, there will your heart be, also. If "worship" is defined as the act of being devoted to something, you must admit we are surrounded by idols, by "little gods" that we worship, to which we are devoted. There is everything from sports idols to music idols to cars, houses, wide-screen TVs, clothes, tools, you name it. Where do you spend your money? Why does the waitress get 20% while the work of God gets only 10%?

Where do you spend all your money, your treasure? That's where your heart is.

So it is no surprise that when events happen that offend us, where we feel redress is needed, turning to God is often not our first answer.

Nearly everyone in America, and most around the world now, know of the plans to build a mosque near the 911 Ground Zero site, of the Christian Pastor's plans to burn a stack of Islamic Qur'an books, of plans to build new mosques in neighborhoods close to us, and the presence of existing mosques -- 1,462 and growing -- already spread across America.

Coupled with the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and battles against the Islamic Taliban and al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan, deadly Islamic-led terrorist attacks around the world, the issues of mosques, the Qur'an and Muslims themselves have become hot topics in America, triggering calls for action on many levels. Many call for political, legal, and even violent action. Many of those levels are also disturbing. They are disturbing if for no other reason than that they claim the cause of Christ as their right to call for violence.

To return to both the opening scripture and my opening story, when we don't pay attention, when we don't act out of knowledge and devotion, when we ignore the God who says He is truth and love, God can be a bear.

We in this nation are facing a bear of a time, and like the young man in the story, too many of us are ready to throw others under the bus to save ourselves. If we understood God better we would know what He means in Hosea 6:6 when, in a different context He says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." That is clarified for us in Matthew 9:13, " But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners;" and in Matthew 12:7, "If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent."

After almost a lifetime of study, I will be among the first to say that it is difficult for our finite mind to understand the infinite God, to know exactly who He is and to know exactly what He requires of us at any given moment. For life changes, changes moment to moment, what didn't matter a moment ago is foremost suddenly. What worked yesterday is useless today. Only God does not change. Only His precepts, His Word, His promises, do not change.

But if we, ignoring Biblical admonitions such as "study to show yourself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth," from 2nd Timothy 2:15, if we go off half-cocked, launching out on what we think God would want, what meets our rendition of revenge, retribution or human justice, we should not expect to be greeted with His approval.

He is God. It is about Him, not about what we think it should be about.

Listen to the prophet Jeremiah's words from God to His people in verse 4:22, "For My people are foolish, they do not know Me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good."

Jeremiah was talking to the Israelites, but he might have been appearing on the 6 o'clock news last night, talking to us. How we use the resources He has given us, how we behave, how we serve our self first and ignore our neighbor, is foolish. And we don't know Him, not like we should. Even with the presence of the promised Holy Spirit, most of us are about one-inch deep in knowledge of the Almighty God and, because of that, we lack understanding. We would rather give money so someone else can get their hands dirty doing good, than extend ourselves and interrupt our own lives.

So, again, it is no surprise that when events happen that offend us, or that threaten us, turning to God is often not our first answer. We already know all the answers, we just don't want any new questions.

But let me suggest to you, God already knows not only all the answers, but all the questions.

Since I began with a bear story, let me conclude with one.

Another hiker, all by himself, rounds a blind corner in the trail and comes face to face with the largest, most dangerous bear he has ever seen. Too late to run, he drops to his knees and begins to pray to God for mercy. From the heavens comes the voice of God, "What is this? All your life you are an atheist, telling the world I don't exist? And now you want me to destroy this creature to save your life?"

"Oh, please, God," the man begged, "I will believe in You, honest. But if you can't destroy this bear to save my life, at least make the bear a believer, too."

"Done," said God.

The man sighed with relief, then looked up to see the bear on his knees, his paws together in prayer, saying, "Father, we thank Thee for this food we are about to receive."

So I suggest we get to know the Almighty God better, understand who He is and by so doing, better understand both who we are and what He wants from us. To give a twist to the classical ending, if God is the bear, the chances of you getting the bear? Zip. The chances of the bear getting you, solid.

Amen.

Daily Scripture Readings for September 12-18, 2010
Monday -- Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
Tuesday -- 1st Kings 3:3-28
Wednesday -- James 3:13-18
Thursday -- Ephesians 3:1-20
Friday -- 2nd Corinthians 6:1-10

Saturday -- 1st Corinthians 4:1-13
Sunday -- Hosea 11:1-11 Psalm 107:11-9; 1st Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13

Sermon -- The Righteous Must Stand; with Daily Devotionals

The Righteous Must Stand

By Pastor Ed Evans

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-13 and Psalm 112

Jeremiah 2:4-13

2:4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
2:5 Thus says the Lord: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?
2:6 They did not say, "Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?"
2:7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
2:8 The priests did not say, "Where is the Lord?" Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit.
2:9 Therefore once more I accuse you, says the Lord, and I accuse your children's children.
2:10 Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has ever been such a thing.
2:11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.
2:12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord,
2:13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

Psalm 112
112:1 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.
112:2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
112:3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
112:4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
112:5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
112:6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
112:7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
112:8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
112:9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
112:10 The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

We share two different text this morning, both from the Old Testament. We will get to them, but I would say at the outset that the first one, from Jeremiah, speaks to the world we live in today, and the other, from the Psalms, speaks to the remnant of God's own enduring what we know now, and what is coming.

The state of California is known for its many fires during the summertime. Small armies of forest rangers are sometimes pulled in from neighboring states to help fire the great walls of flames, and sometimes the state must ask for federal help, and soldiers, sailors, Marines and airman are mobilized to assist as the fires rage in the very resemblance of hell on earth. Each year numbers of livestock, wild animals, and even homes are destroyed in the out-of-control blazes.

There is a well-known story told from several years ago when, after they had knocked down a very serious fire which had burned acres of landscape and destroyed many homes, firefighters were going over the still smoldering forest ground to ensure the fire would not start up again. One firefighter came up the scorched body of a grouse hen, spread-eagled on the ground. He thought perhaps the heat had killed it as it spread its wings to escape. But as he moved it aside to ensure there were not hot spots beneath its body, a brood of grouse chicks suddenly fled in every direction. He was amazed and called others over to see. It is was obvious now that the grouse mother hen had spread her wings over her chicks and refused to save herself from the killing heat in order to spare her chicks. They survived. She didn't.
I think sometimes we tend to brush aside the real impact of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for you and I. After all, Jesus was the God-Man, perhaps His sacrifice on the cross was no big deal, perhaps as the Son of Almighty God He didn't feel pain the way we do. Oh, but he did. He set aside His own glory to be born as a flesh-and-blood baby, feeling and knowing all the pains and agonies and uncomfortableness of living in the flesh in the world of that time. He knew hunger, he knew fatigue, he knew even the pain of shared sorrow, for He wept at the death of his friend, Lazarus, even though He knew God could restore this man.

No, it was every bit as great a pain and a sacrifice as if you and I had gone through it in our own flesh. That was part of the gift.

There is a relevant story here, told by a friend of mine, an old Marine named John Boring. John tells of a young man who walks five miles to deliver a gift to a friend. When he has delivered the gift, the friend offered to drive the young man back to his house, but the young man declined and said, "The walk is part of the gift."

For God to have come down, let Himself be nailed to a cross, then returned to Heaven would not have satisfied the debt we owed through sin. No, it required that the righteousness of someone of flesh and feeling lose their life as a sacrifice, with all the attendant pain and suffering that goes with the horror of a crucifixion.

We are reminded then, that when we give the gift of ourselves to our God and His son, Jesus Christ, the walk may only be in our mind, but it's all part of the gift. We need to make the walk mean something by continuing to take steps along the path to His grace.

Jesus Christ came in the flesh, was whipped, scourged, beat, and He bled. Then they nailed His hands and feet to the cross, with all the agony that rips loose in the human body. God so loved His creation, you and I, that He would ask His own son to do that. And Jesus, who was even before time, loved us, and loved the Father, so much, that knowing ahead of time what it would mean, did it anyway, for you and for me, and all those who will accept that unbelievable gift of life.

Now, if you can understand that, you begin to understand the unfathomable depth of love the Father has for us, down through the ages, and now you should go back and read Jeremiah 2:4-13. And I challenge you to read through it, feeling the great love God has for us, and do it without tears. I cannot. What love. What heart-aching love.

How can we say we love him, and so quickly turn our back on Him? How can we love Him and do those things which please us, but cause His great heart such pain? Can we not see the tears in His eyes? How can we love Him and not do the things He says?

Love is almost never without pain. For you want the very best and sweetest for that one you love. So if you fail them, or if they fail you, there is that stabbing pain in the heart, wanting better from them, and for them. How much pain there must be in the greatest heart in the universe.....because of us.

And yet, He has promised never to leave us if we will call on His precious name. In spite of all the pain, all the deception, the lying, the turning away from Him, all the way back into the New Testament, we find this priceless promise in 2nd Chronicles 7:14 -- a promise I am seeing spoken of more and more today almost as if we are testing to see, is it still true, and it is -- "If My people, who are called by My name, will 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."

No one keeps promises like God keeps promises.

And so we come to the second text in today's message, Psalm 112.

The first two verses start that chapter out with, "Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in His commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed."

Sometimes you must wonder, beneath the weight of such national deceitfulness and lying in high places, shoved and pushed on every side by unethical and immoral behavior and the demands that it be approved by God's people, how does America continue to stand? What has withheld God's hand? Will He soon be apologizing to Sodom and Gomorrah?

In Isaiah the first through the fifth chapters, God's word speaks of what happens to a nation under judgment. And as you read through that, if you have any concern for America at all, the hairs will rise on the back of your neck, because you realize what Isaiah is describing there of Israel is exactly what is happening in this nation right now. Across our borders from the south, the east and somewhat from the north, America is under invasion from the anti-God, anti-Semitic, woman-degrading forces, and they are not being stopped. Natural catastrophes are pummeling not just America, but the whole world. The quality of everything is declining, the value of our paper money is declining, there are fewer and fewer jobs for people, and many people would rather live off the government's offerings than look for a job, our leaders mock the Living God, and leadership gives way from bad to worse.

So what is it that is holding this nation's tent pole up against such an onslaught of the forces of Satan? That praying remnant; that God-fearing remnant; those Christians who have not bought into the "easy gospel", the "get-rich-quick" gospel, the gospel that says God is just another magical genie and he'll give me whatever I want. Such belief is in danger of hell-fire. God sees, God knows, and God will reward.

In Psalm 112, verses 6 through 8 tell us, "For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."

Be not afraid, my beloved in Christ, but stand firm in the sureness, in the truth, of scripture. Numbers 21:19 reminds us, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

Those believers in Jesus Christ who yet stand firm in their faith, may yet save the nation, not because of anything they can do of themselves, but because the Living God keeps His word, keeps His promises, and continues to love His creation.

Even as ungodly men take advantage of the gifts of freedom and liberty in His name, and press in on us on every side, yet we have the words of Jesus to His disciples in His farewell address to them: ""I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

And then we have this reminder from the inspired word of God in Romans 8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Over and over again in scripture we hear the Lord saying, "Fear not," as He says in Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you." Pray, dear ones, stand firm in His love, and pray. It will be well with your soul.

Amen.

Daily Scripture Readings for August 30-September 5, 2010
Monday -- Acts 10:34-43
Tuesday -- 1st John 2:1-17
Wednesday -- 2nd Corinthians 2:3
Thursday -- Luke 6:27-36
Friday -- Luke 6:37-42

Saturday -- Luke 17:1-6
Sunday -- Ezekiel 33:1-11; Psalm 94:12-22; ; Philemon 1-20; Luke 14:25-33

Imam: U.S. Constitution Compliant with Sharia Law

The assertion that the U.S. Constitution that outlines our God-given rights is compliant with Sharia Law of Islam and its false god of Allah is something that must be knocked down immediately. It is so far from the truth as to be an absolute lie, and yet there are some "tools of Islam" who will agree with Imam Rauf, who is working to build the Islamic mosque near Ground Zero. Rauf is another example that a Muslim may say anything, true or not, to advance the cause of Islam; so says their Qu'ran.

http://frontpagemag.com/2010/08/27/sharia-for-dummies/

Obama Most Religious President? Huh?

All because President Obama gets Bible verses on his email, MSNBC thinks he's the most religious President ever? That doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. Besides, it isn't about being religious MSNBC. Wake up. Read your Bible. Rev. 2:6 says Jesus hates religion. Oops! Fact check editor!

MSNBC calls Barack Obama the most religious president of recent times | Liberal Media Bias Exposed b

www.ihatethemedia.com

According to Chuck Todd, MSNBC’s increasingly shrill White House correspondent, Barack Obama – who has rarely attended church services since his election – is the most religious president of recent times.

http://www.ihatethemedia.com/msnbc-calls-barack-obama-the-most-religious-president-of-recent-times