Our Ever Present Savior

The mysteries of Christ are many and marvelous. How can it be that He is both before and after David? How is that He could create the world and then be born into the world that he might save the world? These questions are not beyond explanation, but they are marvelous mysteries that reflect the ever present nature of Christ our Savior and Lord.

How is it that he saved you and me on the cross some two thousand years ago, before we were even born, and yet the salvation he brings is both present and future? How could His past crucifixion bring both a modern day rescue from this world and a future rescue from eternal damnation?

When He died on Calvary he gave me life that is out of this world! When His blood was spilled on Golgotha, he gave me liberty from the bondage of human thinking. When He rose from the dead, he gave me the power to rise in the wisdom of Godly council.

He is the Word in flesh appearing. We are so fixated on appearances that it was necessary for Him to show up. And when He did arrive, he showed the world the power of His word. Some people despise the laws of God as a burden and restriction on their live. When he came into this world, Christ released liberty, true freedom that flows from His Word. He spoke, and demons scattered. He said the word, and bodies were healed. He said the prayer, and the dead were brought back to life.

The ever present Savior is the power of the ever present Word. He is the Word Incarnate. The Word is not a burden; it is life! And not only life, but life to the fullest! By His stripes we are healed. Not only is His blood payment for our sin, but His perfect life is a substitute for ours. It is the freedom to be finished with the world's system, and to truly live in His system.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? - 1 John 5:1-5 ESV

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” - Deuteronomy 30:11-20 ESV

You have a choice. Choose life. Choose the commands of God. Choose the ever-present Savior.

Know the Blessing

Teddy Roosevelt's Last Thanksgiving Proclamation

He was the twenty-sixth President of the United States. His final Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued on October 31, 1908, the year that Henry Ford's Model-T went into production. President Roosevelt gives praises and warnings that are still apropos.

For the very reason that in material well-being we have thus abounded, we owe it to the Almighty to show equal progress in moral and spiritual things. With a nation, as with the individuals who make up a nation, material well-being is an indispensable foundation. But the foundation avails nothing by itself. That life is wasted, and worse than wasted, which is spent in piling, heap upon heap, those things which minister merely to the pleasure of the body and to the power that rests only on wealth. Upon material well-being as a foundation must be raised the structure of the lofty life of the spirit, if this Nation is properly to fulfil its great mission and to accomplish all that we so ardently hope and desire. The things of the body are good; the things of the intellect better; the best of all are the things of the soul; for, in the nation as in the individual, in the long run it is character that counts. Let us, therefore, as a people set our faces resolutely against evil, and with broad charity, with kindliness and good-will toward all men, but with unflinching determination to smite down wrong, strive with all the strength that is given us for righteousness in public and in private life. - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1908

Read the full proclamation on "The American Presidency Project"

God Save the U.S.A.

Daniel Seeks God's Favor

The Old Testament Prophet Daniel is a unique character, and many of you are re-reading his prophecies in light of current events. Daniel was a man that interpreted dreams, because he knew how to seek the Lord. Daniel was a man that observed a desolate time in the history of Jerusalem, and he knew to turn to the Word of God, specifically, the prophecies of Jeremiah, to understand the times.

As Daniel reflected on the desolation of Jerusalem he recognized its origin. While you may love reading and studying the dreams and prophetical aspects of Daniel, don't miss the obvious. The most obvious point is directly connected to the prophetic aspects. The desolation of Jerusalem was rooted in the behavior of its citizens. The future of our nation is also rooted in the behavior of its people. During Daniel's reflect found in chapter nine, a prayer is recorded. This prayer is very insightful.

"Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth." - Blue Letter Bible. Daniel 9:13 - NIV

Read the entire chapter on-line at Blue Letter Bible.
www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Dan&c=9&t=NIV

Notice that Daniel says, "we have not sought the favor of the Lord". Think about that for a second. What does it mean to seek the favor of the Lord. Is that merely a petition? Is that simply asking, "Lord bless me and my household"? Sometimes, that is the way we approach it. Sometimes, we just want to ask for his favor, rather than putting effort into obtaining His favor.

Would Jerusalem been desolate in Daniels time, if the people had obeyed the Lord's commands? Would our nation economy being suffering so much, if they people on Wall Street and Main Street were walking the commands of God? Would today's American families be so torn apart and dysfunctional, if we obeyed his instructions for marriage and relationship?

My point is painfully obvious. If you desire the Lord's favor, walk in his ways. If you desire God's Blessing, trust in his instructions. If you seek to avoid disaster and desolation, follow in the paths of our Righteous God.

America Bless God

Weak-Willed Women (and Men Too)

Weak-willed women; that's the way the NIV says it. The various Bible translations use a variety of words to describe these women: weak-willed (NIV), gullible (NJKV), weak-minded (GW), foolish (BBE), or silly (KJV). Reading this passage today, the first thing that hit my mind, was weak-willed men too! Yes, men and women fit this description. Read the passage with me.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)

This passage is describing the characteristics of people in the last days, the end times. The attributes of humanity shall be godless, amoral, and wicked in His sight. The part that really captured my attention was the phrase "weak-willed". I confess. I am prone to self-indulgence. I am prone to be drawn away from the "right things" into the "good stuff". You know, the good stuff from man's viewpoint. The sensual indulgences that delight our eyes, ears, noses, finger-tips, and taste-buds.

Regardless of what word is used to describe the will of these women, here are some common elements to consider. First, their sin is a burden. Guilt has brought doubt onto the stage, and the person is temptation prone due to doubt regarding past sin. In other words, sin breeds sin. Another common element is the deceit of sensual indulgence. You know the sensation that goes with the indulgence. You know the taste, smell, vision, sound or feel. You can vibe to the rhythm of the wicked thing you're about to do. As the good preacher said, "I may not know your sin, but I know you know where to find it." And then, as soon as you find it and partake of it, the good feeling quickly passes and the weight of guilt sets in. Your moment of pleasure turns to guilt, heavy weight, a burden, and you're right back where you started, wishing you had chosen different.

Here's the hard part to swallow; "a weak will". When I allow sin to invade my life, I have a weak will. My flesh has conquered my will or my spirit. I know; its a major fight. It's a constant battle. It is also a matter of resolve. Think of Joseph fleeing from Potiphar's wive, "How can I do such a wicked thing, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). Joseph was resolved not to sin against God. Joseph was committed to the right action, not tempted by the good stuff.

You can compare the verses for yourself. There are some interesting phrases in the various translations. But the bottom line: Get a will; Be convicted; Stand resolved to honor God!

The Case for Sin

The modern sciences and the secular rationale for disease, paralysis, illness, missing limbs and death itself, all tie to a material explanation of man's condition. Secularist believe we are constituted by a material mass that is manipulated by chemical alterations. They do not recognize the distinction between body and soul. With chemicals, drugs, physical treatment, therapy, diet change or exercise, you may be healed, corrected or altered. Secularist do not associate sin nor spiritual elements with the physical, mental, or emotional condition of man.

It is interesting to compare the modern assessment to the words of Christ, the Red Letters. In speaking to a paralytic brought forward by his friends, Jesus said,

“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” He said this “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” - Matt 9:2,6 (ESV)

Jesus associated the healing of the paralytic with the forgiveness of sin. When sin is removed, paralysis is removed. When sin is removed, sickness is removed. When sin is removed, abuse and addiction are removed. When sin is removed, death is removed!

Think of it this way. Will any of the above afflictions exist in heaven? ... Sure, they still hang on in this world. Sin is still at work in this temporal world. Satan is still seeking to steal, kill and destroy. He is at war against your body and soul. But be not afraid of him, but rather they one that can destroy both body and soul for eternity, or establish you for eternity with Him and thereby free you from all the enemies of God.

Does sin cause illness? Does sin cause disease or paralysis? Does sin cause death? Yes! Are these consequences directly caused by the person afflicted? Not always; Sometimes yes; Sometimes no. Sometimes we are afflicted by our own actions. Sometimes we are afflicted by the actions of other humans. Sometimes we are caught up in the battle of eternity. One of my pet peeves is the phrase, "God took him home". I understand what you mean, but God did not cause the death. Sin causes death! Death is the consequence of a fallen world. Death entered this world because of sin and rebellion toward God. How can His spirit content with those that rebel against His every instruction?

Death, illness, disease and paralysis are evidence for the case of sin. And all of these shall be destroyed in the end. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. - 1 Cor 15:26 (ESV)

The big question is ...

"Will you escape this world having found and exemplified forgiveness?"

Thank God, the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins!

Twenty Years of Redemption

It's been twenty years in the making and oh what joy and fun. It's been twenty-years in the making and it's only just begun. It's been twenty years in the making, my soul still being cleaned. It's been twenty years in the making, and I'm still learning ... He is the King!

It was October of 1988 in Houston, Texas. Dede wanted to go to church, and I thought she was out of her mind. Church wasn't for me. Those people didn't like me. But I was wrong. Dede went to church without me, and I didn't like that either. When I walked through the door of Cy-Fair Christian Church, I found something I did not expect. I found warmth, acceptance, and forgiveness, when my sin and shame was staring us all right in the face.

It's been twenty years now, since Roy Davis looked me in the eye and said, "Jesus died for you." It's been twenty years, since I stepped into the watery grave of baptism, professing Christ as my Savior, trading His life for mine. The transformation has been sharp and steep at times and it is not over yet. He works on me daily, shaping me for His Kingdom, turning my heart from myself to others; turning me from my old natural ways to His ways.

I cannot thank Him enough. Where would I be without him? Where would I be, if he had not sent Dede? Where would I be without Cy-Fair Christian Church, Roy Davis, and three men named Doug? Most of all, where would I be without Christ?

Twenty years of redemption. He makes me complete.

To God be the Glory!

Ninety Percent Law - Ten Percent Grace

The name of this blog is Know the Blessing, and I am delinquent in posting a new blessing. "New" in this case would be misleading, because the topic is actually very old.

In order to "know the blessing", you must first understand the curse. In order to see the provision of God in our lives, we must first see what it is like without God in our lives. In order to know the peace, hope, and confidence that surpasses all understanding, we must realize the turbulence, despair and doubt of this temporal world.

I just watched Ray Comfort's video, "Hell's Best Kept Secret" on the Living Waters web-site. Ray is a bold witness for Christ and his basic point is that we tell unbelievers of God's grace without establishing the need for it. There is no need to repent, be baptized and be saved, if you do not think that you are sinful. You do not need to turn around, if you don't believe you are going the wrong way. We must establish the reality of sin and destruction, before folks see the need for salvation. We must establish that we stand condemned in violation of the law, before we can truly accept the redemption we have in Christ Jesus.

John MacArthur put it this way in his sermon, The Law and the Gospel ...

It was John Wesley who said, “Before I preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment.”

It was Wesley who said, “Preach ninety-percent Law and ten percent grace.”

It was Charles Spurgeon who said, “They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and holy Law.”

It was John Wycliffe who said, “The highest service to which a man may attain on earth is to preach the Law of God.”

J.C. Ryle, “People who will never set their faces decidedly toward heaven and live like pilgrims until they really feel they’re endanger of hell. Let us expound and beat out the Ten Commandments and show the length and breadth and depth and height of the requirements of the Law. This is the way of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. We cannot do better than to follow His plan.”

John Stott wrote, “We cannot come to Christ to be justified until we’ve first been to Moses to be condemned. Once we have gone to Moses and acknowledged our sin, guilt and condemnation, we must not stay there, we must leave Moses and go to Christ.”

We cannot know the blessing of grace, until we know the curse of the law.

America Bless God