Month: January 2025

Romans 1:18-21 “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of GOD is manifest in them; for GOD hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even HIS eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. “

Revealed: This word actually means “to take the cover off or even to take the lid off of the pot”, that’s a word that I really like, and one that I can really relate to, it reminds of the times of coming in the house and smelling something that really smells delicious, but you can’t really figure out what it is so you walk over to the pot that is sitting on the stove, or now-a-days, the crock pot and lift the lid up to see what is in there. Listen please to what JESUS said in Luke 8:14-17 as HE was teaching his disciples about how that all things would not be as they were in there day, how that the dark things that seem to be hidden from the masses but that everything would be made clear. Remember now this is the CHRIST speaking, and we are going to jump in kind of in the middle of it, but soon enough to get the real meaning of what JESUS THE CHRIST wants us to know “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest, neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” The word “choke” that Jesus just used, was (som-pee’-go) which, in this context that Jesus used it, meant to “STRANGLE COMPLETELY”, or to “DROWN OUT” or, listen please, to “CROWD OUT“. If we are not very careful, the things of this world will crowd us and push the lesson’s of GOD out of our life, so much so that we will not allow the “good things” of this world that GOD HIMSELF has given us to enjoy and use as GOD would have us to use. GOD has given us the ability to WORSHIP HIM in truth and spirit, but when we allow those other things of the world to CROWD IN we forget and don’t allow that to happen in our lives! GOD has given us the ability to PRAISE HIM, and think back at times when you were praising GOD, how HAPPY it made you, how you reveled in the JOY and splendor of it! Listen please as I remind us of what Paul said in Ephesians 2:6-9   “…hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through CHRIST JESUS. For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of GOD: Not of of works, lest any man should boast.” Think back to the day that you trusted Christ as your SAVIOR and was “BORN AGAIN” how light you felt, how unburdened you felt, when your sins were washed away. Please don’t let the things of the world CROWD in and push the good things that GOD has given youso far away from you that you no longer have the JOY and HAPPINESS in your life that you once had. Now, quickly lets look at the phrase CLEARLY SEEN: 

Clearly seen: which means “to behold fully”, that is to distinctly apprehend. 1 Corinthians 13:12 told us “For now we see through a glass, Darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” we now mostly see in (2D reflection) but let our minds and hearts reflect in (3D reflection, I vividly remember the first time I saw a 3D movie, about 1956 at the Paramount Theater in Atlanta, GA, I don’t remember who all was with me, but we walked up to the trolly stop at East Point and rode into Atlanta, excited and a little bit afraid. I don’t remember the name of the movie, but I do remember a couple of the action scenes and having to put on the 3D glasses and kind of wondering, WOW! This is amazing, then, in the movie, there was a big explosion on a mountain side and big and small rocks were being blown out from the mountain side and I remember squriming around and dodging those rocks and debree because it looked like they were being hurled right at me as I sat there! Now as I think back, I don’t have on any 3D glasses but life is coming at me and you as if it was back in those 50’s but it is REAL, but then it seems as if JESUS, THE VERY SON OF GOD, is there saying “PEACE BE STILL”, and you know, HE IS THERE because one day about 50 years ago, You and I answered the “WOOING” of the HOLY SPIRIT and cried out; “COME INTO MY HEART AND SAVE ME” and HE did! HE did! The HOLY GHOST of GOD “CLEANED us up and CAME into our HEART’s and “ZIPPED” it shut and HE has been with you and I every since that DAY!!! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And listen please, HE will do that for you if you will only let HIM, repent of your sins and BELIEVE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and HE will SAVE YOU, HE WILL MAKE YOU A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST and SEAL you until the DAY OF REDEMPTION, when HE, comes again, HE will then take you home to GLORY to be there for EVERMORE!! We, you and I, don’t have to see through that glass DARKLY now, but through the HOLY GHOST of GOD we can see as if FACE TO FACE!

Listen closely please as I close with the words of ISAIAH that was considered prophesy about GOD making a way for all mankind to have their sins cleansed by the PERFECT SACRIFICIAL BLOOD, SHED BY JESUS UPON THE CROSS!  

Though your sins be as CRIMSON they shall be as “WHITE AS SNOW” Isaiah 1:16-18 records these words “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Philippians 1:9-11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

What does this word ABOUND mean? It comes from, or it’s base word is (per-is-sauce); to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transposed) to cause to superabound or excel : (make more) to abound, (to have, to have more) abundance, (be more) abundant, be the better, not just barely enough, but, enough and more to spare, exceed maybe of what the world might expect, to excel, or increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above). Not just enough to get by but with all the strength and directions that GOD can give you.

Sometimes we Christians just end up doing only what is necessary to get by. So the Apostle Paul is saying to be and to do above whatever is expected of you. In other words; “LOVE” more, “FORGIVE” more, WORK more, “HELP” more, and “GIVE” more, if you need an example look towards the Samaritan that Jesus talked about in the 10th chapter of Luke, which we looked at a little while back, the Samaritan took care of all of the necessities of the man who was robbed and left for dead and then went above and beyond that, then at the end of the story JESUS said “Go, and do thou likewise.” You will never go wrong by following JESUS’s instructions or commandments. The world is looking upon us, the world is watching us, so be “SUPER ABOUNDING” in your life so that the lost world might see something in your life that will make them think, “I believe I won’t to be like them, I believe I want to have what they have got”, and you “CAN DO IT” because CHRIST has given you the strength, HE has put the “HOLY GHOST” within you to “LEAD GUIDE AND STRENGTHEN”, all you have to do is draw from the well of “LIVING WATER” that HE has supplied for you, for each one of us, for everyone who has been “BORN AGAIN”. Now, there will always be naysayers and those who are led by SATAN that will try to be “nit pickers” so that they can accuse you and all CHRISTIANS so that they themselves do not look so bad, but don’t worry about them just “OBEY” CHRIST and HIS WORDS and you’ll be fine, because JESUS is sitting at the right hand of the FATHER making intercession for all of us. Let’s look at a few more words to help clarify the meaning that the APOSTLE PAUL is trying to get across to the Philippians and to us today; lets look now at the word “KNOWLEDGE”:

KNOWLEDGE: the GREEK word is, (e-pig-nuh-sis) meaning CLEAR and EXACT knowedge, not just “well I think I know”; it is more emphatic than that of the other GREEK words that are translated in the KJV as KNOWLEDGE, because it expresses a more thorough participation on the part of the knower, with the object of knowledge; a knowledge that has a powerful influence on the knower. Are we a participator in our Christian life, are we participating as we JOURNEY, or are we part of the audience, just sitting back watching. We should be actively involved in our Christian JOURNEY, making a difference in this world. You might say, well I live here in this small corner of the world, what can I do, it is these small corners that, when added together make this world we live in, so we each need to do our part, to participate in our corner of the world so that the propagation of the GOSPEL occurs. We need to share our KNOWLEDGE, so the sum of all efforts are greater.

JUDGEMENT: Simply means “perception” or how you perceive things as you continue on your journey in this world, it means discernment. It doesn’t mean, judging someone else’s efforts or someone else’s life but to try MY efforts, to judge the effects of MY efforts in the results of the “WORK OF THE CHURCH” the “WORK OF THE LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST” and if we find it lacking, then make moves that will REMEDY that.

APPROVE: It’s not like you might first think, like looking over things or works of someone else or some other entity and checking a box saying I approve or I disapprove, but it means examining or trying my efforts, to put my works on trial, not others but my works to the test. The GREEK word here is (doc-im-ad’-zo) the same word Paul used in his instructions to a young preacher, a young pastor at EPHESUS where he had been left to attempt to lead that young church to grow and advance the GOSPEL OF CHRIST and as always when the church is advancing and lifting up CHRIST, no matter how old or large the church is, satan will unleash all of his power and opposition against it to impede the spread of the GOSPEL and to stop the training of GOD’s people to grow that BODY OF CHRIST, when he said:

Well, let me read it out of GOD’s HOLY, INFALIBLE, INERRENT, GOD-BREATHED WORD so I will get it right, please turn with me and follow along or listen attentively to this final scripture of today’s message: 

2 Timothy 2:15,16 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”   

We should always let GOD’s WORD trump other words of instruction and be SUPER/ABOUNDING in our LOVE for CHRIST and HIS CHURCH.