A Pastor’s Heart

Colossians 1:20-22 (KJV) “And, having made peace through the blood of HIS cross, by HIM to reconcile all things unto HIMSELF: by HIM, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath HE reconciled In the body of HIS flesh through death, to present you HOLY  and UNBLAMEABLE and UNREPROVEABLE in HIS sight:”  

I want us to look at some words and phrases, as I usually do, so that GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT can lead us to the meaning or explaination of what the Apostle Paul is saying to those at Colossae and to anyone that reads or hears this. First, let us look at the word peace.

Peace: Means to be a peace maker, that is to harmonize things or people, with that or those that are at enmity with something or someone but, here, specifically with GOD. It also means to make peace, probably not the type of peace that comes first to your mind, but to make peace with GOD.  Now let’s look at the word Enemies.  

Enemies: means actively hostile or warring against, as an adversary , or as satan does against GOD or anyone or anything of GOD’s, now you might say: Well, I never fought against GOD, but think now, We are in the flesh, and fleshly thoughts are against the will of GOD because they are controled by satan and satan is always, I say again, satan is always, against GOD and he is always the ADVERSARY of GOD, so whether it was consciously or subconsciously you were GOD’s enemy before you “REPENTED” and turned to GOD and asked forgiveness and were “BORN AGAIN” or “BORN ANEW”.

You might ask the question why do I need to make peace with GOD I am not an ENEMY of GOD, but wait, let’s read further, verse 21 of our text: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind, by wicked works, yet now hath HE reconciled”.That was what GOD was talking about in the Garden of EDEN when HE was speaking to the SERPENT. Listen to  Genesis 3:15 (KJV) when GOD said: “And I will put enmity between thee and the worman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Now let me bring some more scripture into our study that will shed a little more light on this subject. Look at:

Ephesians 2:15,16 (KJV) “Having abolished in HIS flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in HIMSELF of twain one new man, so making PEACE; And that HE might reconcile both unto GOD in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” also look at:

Romans 8:7 (KJV) “Because the carnal mind is enmity against GOD: for it is not subject to the law of GOD, neither indeed can be.” and also read:

James 4:4 (KJV) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with GOD? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of GOD.”

Sometimes, in fact, most of the time, when we hear or see the word ADULTERERS or ADULTERESSES, we immediately form this thought in our minds that GOD is talking about people caught up in sexual immoralities, but most of the times that GOD uses these words, in the OLD and NEW Testaments, HE is talking about HIS people that have gone “a whoring” as we see in Judges 8:33 (KJV) “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.” and as we see in Deuteronomy 31:16 (KJV) when GOD was talking about what would happen after Moses would die and what GOD’s people would do: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.”

We, as GOD’s PEOPLE, want to remember always in our minds that JESUS’ death upon the cross of CALVARY, as awful as it was for HIM, was for our REDEMPTION, for our SALVATION. He suffered and died for YOU and I and also for everyone that would believe and choose HIM as their SAVIOR.

We should read, over and over again the story of what we call “THE PRODIGAL SON” in Luke 15:11-32 (KJV) but we should read the whole story and pay close, special, attention to “BOTH SONS”, 

Think on these things as you read this:  “REPENTANCE” “FORGIVENESS” “REDEMPTION” “COMPASSION”

 “…A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himsel to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. 

GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE

Colossians 1:17 (KJV) “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

I will try not to get too long on this subject matter that the Apostle Paul is speaking to, or writing about in this 1st chapter and 11th verse of this letter to the Colossians. I am going to talk about this phrase:  

“BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST”

This word “CONSIST” means, in context and among other things: To “Set Together” or “the act or process of sticking together tightly” or “Cohesiveness” or “The amount of unity or “we-ness” (if I may use this coined word)  in a group: For example, “a strong amount of quality  of cohesiveness within the family”, or within a nation, or within a church, or within “The Church”.

When satan tempted Eve to disobey GOD’s commandment, and I am not picking on Eve or women because MAN didn’t take much tempting, Adam was not forced, but chose to partake of the “FORBIDDEN FRUIT”, and both were guilty of breaking down the “cohesiveness” between GOD and Man, satan’s desire and “job” is to destroy that relationship by any means placed at is disposal.

There has to be this “sticking together” in all the facets of our lives. Our FAMILY, Our NATION, and most of all Our Churches!

Let’s look first at our Family:

Now we should not forget, but remember that we are talking about that which bonds us together, without that “glue” or that part that sticks us all together, we have but little hope on being a united force to complete the task, or get to that goal that GOD has set for us. That is why satan set himself against the Family first, for without that “cohesiveness” of the Family with GOD we will surely not have the strength to do the things GOD bids us to do. The word in Genesis the second chapter and 24th verse(KJV) says: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall  “CLEAVE” unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  The word cleave in the Hebrew means to cling or stick together, to cleave (fast together). Sounds familiar doesn’t it.

From the beginning it was meant for MAN, WOMAN and GOD to be a “cohesive” unit. It is still suppose to be that way in our day and time. So when satan gets in the middle of that “unit” and breaks up the “cohesiveness” of it, the FAMILY unit is doomed for extinctsion, and that is becoming more prevailent today:

“BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST” 

Lets look next at “Our NATION”: Since we first became THE UNITED STATES, satan has fought to keep us from being a “cohesive” unit, and again he uses what ever GOD allows him to use to complete his task. I will just mention a few: “HATE” “LIES” “INFIDELITY” “GRUDGES” “JEALOUSY” and many others. Remember that that which is NOT based on the first 2 COMMANDMENTS that JESUS said in Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) “…Thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all th soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself On these two commandments hang all the loaw and the prophets.” will breakdown that “cohesiveness” which binds us together as a NATION.

“I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.” If you take GOD out of that statement it makes it powerless or renders it USELESS, and without the “cohesiveness” we need to remain united. We must keep GOD as supreme in our NATION so we will have the GLUE to remain as a NATION.

Next I want us to look at “THE CHURCH”: The BODY OF CHRIST and we must, and I reiterate, MUST remain “cohesive” with our message and our IMAGE to the WORLD!

“BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST”

JESUS must be the FOREFRONT of everything we do, and our existance as a “WITNESS” hinges on our efforts to speak of CHRIST, with our teachings, with our preaching and our actions. John 16:13-16 (KJV) “Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come. HE shall glorify ME: for HE shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that HE shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see  me,  Because I go to the FATHER.” Acts 1:8  (KJV) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be withnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” We must continue to allow the consistency of CHRIST permeate us as a CHURCH to be able to be that WITNESS to the community, to our city, to our county, to our state, to our NATION and to the uttermost parts of the world.

“BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST”

COLOSSIANS 1:15-17 (KJV) “Who is the image of the invisible GOD, the first born of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by HIM, and for HIM: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Now I want to read 2 more verses, that help Paul to prove his point of who this “JESUS” was, this man (GOD-MAN) who was born in the virgin womb of a “lowly” or “poor and common” girl, or at least she was in the eyes of those people of that day, but in GOD’s eyes she was “HIGHLY FAVORED”, never look upon the outside of someone and think that you know what GOD thinks of that person. GOD reads and knows what is on the inside of the person or what their HEART is like. We should also look at people through GOD’s EYES, so we can see them the way GOD sees them.

1 John 1:1-2 (KJV) “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the WORD of LIFE; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the FATHER, and was manifested unto us;)”  

John 1:1-5 (KJV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made. In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Now I want to give you an example of what I am talking about, by reading to you the next 3 verses of John 1:6-8 (KJV) please follow along with your Bible or read the text prayerfully.

John 1:6-8 (KJV) “There was a man sent from GOD, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” Of course this verse is talking about John the Baptist. What I want us to see in these verses is that GOD uses people that you wouldn’t think that HE would or could use, so that you will, or should, listen more closely. How is John the Baptist described in the Bible? He is described as wearing clothes of camel’s hair, and living on locusts and wild honey. When you get a chance, read or reread Matthew 3:4 (KJV) “And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” And you can confirm this by also reading Mark 1:6 (KJV).

The Apostle Paul used some very strange words to try and paint a picture of GOD to these “Born Again” believers in Colossae. Like the word IMAGE, why would he use some of these words, well let me try to explain why by using more scripture: You see GOD is invisible: Let me read you the first part of verse 15 of our text when talking about JESUS: “Who is the image of the invisible GOD…” The Greek word for invisible means the exact same thing that our present day word means, and that is simply, “NOT SEEN”.

Please listen to what the Apostle John wrote in John 1:18 (KJV) “No man hath seen GOD at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared HIM.” and then the Apostle John also reiterated this statement in his first epistle when he wrote in: 1 John 4:12 (KJV) “No man hath seen GOD at any time. If we love one another, GOD dwells in us, and HIS love is perfected in us.” The words “declared” and “perfected” in the Greek mean to fully tell and unfold an “IMAGE” or a “PICTURE”.

The picture that our “LIVES”, and “ACTIONS”, when we “LOVE ONE ANOTHER” and LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR” should paint that same “IMAGE” or “Picture” that the APOSTLE PAUL is talking about to these Colossians. Men of that era, or time frame, had never seen GOD, and men of our era or time frame, have never seen GOD, so we must, and let me emphasize that by reiterating that statement, “WE MUST” paint them a picture or IMAGE by “WALKING WORTHY” such as I preached and taught about in the 10th verse of Colossians the 1st chapter. Also in the 16th verse of chapter 1 Paul said that everything, and I mean everything that was “CREATED” was done so “By HIM and  For HIM”. Think on that, JESUS the 2nd person of the TRIUNE GODHEAD was with GOD in the “BEGINNING”, then HE came to this sin-laden earth to “DIE” for you, then resurrected HIMSELF and went back to be yours, mine and the whole “BODY OF CHRIST” the CHURCH’s “INTERCESSOR”.

With an “INFLUENCE” like that sitting at the “RIGHT HAND” of GOD, HOW CAN WE FAIL! HOW CAN WE SIT BACK AND NOT WORK FOR HIM? LET US, AS PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST CONTINUE TO BEAR FRUIT FOR OUR CREATOR AND OUR SAVIOR!!!!

I hope that you as a part of the Body of Christ will be that “IMAGE”, will be that PICTURE, that the LOST WORLD can see, and will cause them to want to become like “YOU” and Trust JESUS as their SAVIOR and become a NEW CREATURE.

Philippians 1:27-30(KJV) “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer fo his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and hear to be in me.”

Look at this phrase “Let your conversation be”: These 4 words are actually derived from 1 Greek word which means; literally “a townsman” or actually a “citizen” or of a “citizenship”. When I am in America most everyone knows that I am an American citizen, most of the time, I look like an American, I talk like an American, although it be southeastern American, some times I dress like an American. I don’t know if any of you have ever been to a foreign county, but, the minute you encounter a person who is a citizen, of that country you are in, you know right away that they are somewhat different than you and your friends or your family. You know it by their language, by their dress, their actions and etc. It’s the same way for them when they see you. Now if you are in the U.S. military they know it right off by your uniform. But if you are not in your uniform they can read it from your talk, your actions, your swagger, and other attributes you may have, or in other words your lifestyle or “conversation”.

But now back to this word “conversation”  actually it could have been translated in our language today as “LIVE YOUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT SHOWS TO OTHERS THAT YOU ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD BUT THAT YOU ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH” the GREEK word that was translated “as it becometh” means “appropriately” or “after a GODLY sort” or in a manner of representing the fact that “we are in this world but not of this world”, as I said a few minutes ago, simply, we are citizens of HEAVEN so Paul says “live like it.”

Look at this phrase “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind”: which means to be stationary, that is to PERSERVERE or stand fast. It also means, and is used for the snyonmns abide, appoint, continue in covenant with, establish, hold up, lay up (which is an old nautical term), stand still(like standstill and see the salvation of your LORD), commit to your position, some of my favorite meanings are what my dad used to say  “dig in” and “stay put.”

I would like for you to read the 16the chapter of Acts verses 8-34 to refresh your memory of Paul’s vision of a man in Macedonia calling for Paul’s missionary group to come over and “HELP ME”, and how he and Silas answered that call. 

Now, why I wanted to have you read these passages was so that you could see an exerpt of Paul’s life, of Paul’s “conversation”. In their day it wasn’t like life in our times, but of course, GOD’s word and his directions are always good and usable whereever you are, or whatever century you are living in. Travel, today in our time, is a lot quicker. Usually when Paul and his entourage arrived in a city or port it might be a week or 2 before they could get a ship to another port so Paul, and I assume his friends, would work to support themselves, of course Paul was a tent maker, and I am sure his friends had some kind of profession they would work at till they could move on, so while they where in an area they would also go to the temples and they would preach, teach, witness or talk about JESUS and live their lives or “conversation” like they usually did in their own country. So, while doing that, they had went down to the Zygaktis river where a crowd was gathered to pray, because it is believed that there was no temple there, and the first Christian convert, of that area, was made that day as GOD opened the heart of a lady named Lydia who was a seller of purple. Then as you read on you will find that “a certain damsel” had a an evil spirit, a divination spirit, and Paul cast that spirit out of her, and that made some of the locals’ mad, because that same group of locals were taking advantage of this tortured girl. So Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, the jailer didn’t know about these new inmates so he carried on his daily or nightly duties. Not knowing anything about GOD or that HE was fixing to learn something about these people that were called “people of the way” this people that were “so different”. God caused an earthquake and freed the prisoners, but they didn’t run or escape because they knew GOD was at work. Because of their belief and of their actions a great work and witness was begun in Macedonia that is still going on today and matter of factly in all of Europe, there were no Christian churches there in Europe till Paul and his group saw a vision and obeyed GOD. Good things always happen when we obey GOD, please never forget that. Always obey GOD no matter what others think of it. Dr. Luke was the person writing this account in ACTS and I want us to pay particular attention to the word he used “WE”. In verse 10 he told of the “VISION” that Paul had, and then said: immediately “WE” endeavoured to go into Macedonia,” which shows the point I am wanting to really stress. They were of “ONE MIND and ONE SPIRIT.” It is my heart’s desire and my wish that all of GOD’s churches, in every place are of “ONE MIND and ONE SPIRIT.” So that GOSPEL of CHRIST that we preach, teach and live will cause people to BELIEVE in JESUS and be “BORN AGAIN”

NOW, I am going to look at this next word because it is the opposite of the word that the Apostle Paul used when he said in verse 27 “that ye stand fast in one spirit, with”ONE MIND”striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

The word “Double minded”: Which is a compound Greek word which actually means TWO-SPIRITED, that is VACILLATING (in opinion or purpose) and of course double-minded. It is used two times in the Bible, once in James 1:8 (KJV) “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” and once in  James 4:8(KJV) where James wrote “Draw nigh to GOD, and HE will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” Just like a person who is “two spirited” is unstable in all of his ways so is a “two spirited” CHURCH is unstable in all of it’s ways! So a church “a specific body of CHRIST” has to be “likeminded” or “of similiar spirit” so when a church gets to this point what should they be doing, well Paul says that next when he says “striving together for the faith of the GOSPEL;” The GREEK word translated as STRIVING is only used 4 times in the Bible, and it actually means “FIGHTING or BATTLING together” and then Paul says: “and in nothing be terrified by your adversaries:” so then who is my adversary? Now let me kind of answer that for us, of course it is satan, but really “it is anyone, FAMILY  FRIEND  GOVERNMENT  HIGH PLACES such as (CHURCHES or Religeous entities), or we can group all of my or your adversaries as anyone who is against you or me in our FIGHT, or our plight to strive together for the faith of the GOSPEL. Because it is every CHRISTIANS’s job to advance the GOSPEL of CHRIST, only many different methods or ways are used, some preach, some teach, some do it with music, some can’t go out much but are able to GIVE so that others might be able to go , so if someone or something is against that “TASK” that we have been given to do, they become our “adversary”. The word “terrified” means in the HEBREW: well let me first say, it is a primary word or root which means it was used early in time as words that were used to define a situation, place or thing not usually combined with are be added to another word; now after saying that, the word terrified in the HEBREW means to awe or to dread; hence to harass, but let me first list some of the synomyms, to better assist us in knowing exactly what the APOSTLE Paul is talking about, to be affrighted (afraid, dread, feared, terrified), fear, oppress, shake terribly. Kind of like when, I wore a younger mans’ clothes, and had not been a good boy, I would be thinking “man, I dread that whipping I am going to get when I see dad.” I was “TERRIFIED” and rightly so because I had disobeyed my dads’ rules, probably more than once, and dad was going to “tear my tail up” Paul is saying though now don’t be afraid, just git out there and get the job done. Why not be afraid? Well, because our Lord and Savior said in:

Matthew 10:26-31(KJV) “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

and again HE said in:

Luke 12:31,32(KJV) “But rather seek ye the kingdom of GOD; and all these things shall be added unto you . Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”       

Listen “brothers” and “sisters” in CHRIST, JESUS is saying that what you are out there doing is for the advancement of the cause of the “KINGDOM OF CHRIST” and GOD will not lead you where HE can not protect you or is not “ready” to reward you bountifully for your labor.

Listen to what he told HIS people in the OLD TESTAMENT IN:      

 Isaiah 35:3,4(KJV) “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees; Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.”

If while we are doing the work that GOD has sent or commanded us to do, we are persecuted then so was CHRIST when HE was here on earth. Just like also when STEPHEN was stoned for preaching the truth of the GOSPEL he looked up into heaven and there he saw JESUS “STANDING” at the “RIGHT HAND” of GOD. The very “SON of GOD”, GOD IN THE FLESH giving HIS laborer a standing ovation, a “WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”.

Do not be TERRIFIED of those who are your adversaries, because when you are trying to advance the GOSPEL of CHRIST you will have adversaries, you will have satan using others to try and stop you from causing the church to grow, FEAR NOT, why? because JESUS has said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE YOU.

Satan will try every TRICK in the book, or probably even write some new ones, to get you to forsake the WORD of GOD or to forsake spreading the WORD of GOD, I have had people to hint very strongly, to me when I was visiting them, saying if you would give-in just a little bit and maybe not preach on HELL, on SIN, or on “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED, or other doctrinal truth’s, that really CUT, that really shine a light on those things that we do that are not right, we might just be there every SUNDAY, or we might GIVE more MONEY. But!!! WE, GOD’s PEOPLE, preachers, teachers, and yes even all that are “BORN AGAIN”must, now, let me say that again, MUST, its not a suggestion, but a command, an order from the LORD, to be faithful to preach and teach GOD’s WORD and stay likeminded with one another and likeminded with GOD.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV) “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

Psalms 139:23,24  (KJV) “Search me, o GOD, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the ways everlasting.”

This is one thing I have learned, and you have probably have also, is to shine the light of “GOD’s WORD” on my own heart and not on someone else. Not on Jim, John, or Mary; not on the other members of the church but on me!! OH GOD SEARCH ME, TRY ME, OH GOD SEE IF THERE IS ANY WICKED WAY IN ME LORD

Maybe I forgot and left the lid off of the ointment and the ole flys got in there and got stuck and died. It doesn’t matter, really, how the “DEAD FLIES” got in there, the fact still remains that they are there and we’ve got to get them out of there, we have got to get the ointment back to were it’s good enough to bring healing to world, to do the work that GOD sent it for.  We left off with DEAD FLIES 1,2. LACK OF LOVE, LACK OF FORGIVENESS

Dead fly #3: Lack of “ARMOUR” the CHURCH, the BODY of CHRIST is no longer dressed for battle.

 1: Ephesians 6:10-18  There are so many thoughts that these particular scritures bring to mind, so many instructions for those of the church. So many of the born again Christians of these times that really don’t believe that there is a war going on. The word “wrestle” means “struggle” the lost people of the world are not you enemy, “satan” is your enemy and he is a wiley critter. He is real and he is tough, and he is a worthy opponent, not worthy of any praise but it’s good to know the strength of your enemy, so you are going to need to be dressed for “battle”, because you can not defeat him by your self, you will need every weapon that GOD can and will supply for you.

So, what kind of offensive and defensive weapons are we going to use. Not just SOME but ALL of them. Never go half-dressed for battle. Can you immagine being in a fierce battle without having weapons Defensive or Offensive. My dad was in the Artillery during World War 2, so could you imagine pulling into position to lay down a barrage and having no shells to use.

1: Truth: Loins girt about, 1st Peter 1: 13)(KJV) “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” satan can’t have your soul because if you are “Born Again” you are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 1:13)(KJV) “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of you salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with the holy Spirit of promise,” and (Ephesians 4:30)(KJV) “And grieve not the holy Spirit of GOD, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption.” and (2 Corinithians 1:21,22)(KJV) “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is GOD; Who hath also SEALED us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” But, satan can really raise havoc with your mind, and that is why we as Christians should be renewing our mind daily. (Romans 12:2)(KJV) “And be not conformed to the 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.”

2: Breastplate: (2 Corinithians 5:21)(KJV) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in him.” Our righteousness is as filthy rags, so the only righteousness we have is the “RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST” because JESUS was sin free. Listen to what the Apostle Paul told the Philippians in the 3rd Chapter and verse 9: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of GOD by faith:”

3: Gospel of Peace: The GOSPEL of PEACE is the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST. GOD HIMSELF coming in the flesh, actively left heaven and came to this sin-laden earth, incarnate in the virgin womb of Mary, to “seek and save that which was lost” I hope you are glad he came and have chosen HIS sacrifice for the atonement for your sins. To have your feet SHOD with this message, means that you are willing help GO and spread HIS word. When JESUS told HIS disciples to go, listen to how HE said it in (Mark 16:15,16)(KJV) “And he said unto them, 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.” I know that it is not popular in a lot of churches and places to preach “hellfire and damnation” but it is part of this great directive that JESUS gave and we must be going, going, going and taking the “GOOD NEWS of JESUS” to a lost and dying world for that is the only thing that will stop lost souls from burning in a flaming, hot place called “HELL”. You may say well I’m too old to go, do you go to the grocery store, PREACH IT THERE! Do you go to the barber shop, PREACH IT THERE! Do you go to the bank, PREACH IT THERE! Where ever you go, PREACH IT THERE! I worked at a stove manufacturer and they told me I couldn’t talk about JESUS or the BIBLE because it might offend people. OOPS!! I shared the gospel with engineers from all over the United States and from all over the world. I retired there after 23 years, I never could get them to fire me. 🙂 This company was one of the best mission fields I have ever seen. You work at a JOB, PREACH IT THERE!

4: Shield of Faith: The BIBLE says that the JUST shall live by FAITH, so what is this FAITH that the Apostle Paul writes about? You won’t find a better difinition for it than what you find right in the BIBLE. Listen how the writer of HEBREWS says in the 1st verse of the 11th chapter: (Hebrews 11:1)(KJV): “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

(Romans 3:21-27)(KJV)The kind of FAITH that the debt that JESUS paid for, with HIS precious blood on the cross, washed away your sin. A firm belief, a firm persausian that Jesus the Christ died for you and became your propitiation, my propitiation, and the propitiation for all of the world so that all might be saved. The whole of these verses can be summed up by the 28th verse where the bible records “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by FAITH without the deeds of the law.” The “firey darts” of the devil have been experienced by anyone and everyone that has tried to advance the propagation of the GOSPEL, so keep that “SHIELD OF FAITH” out in front of you as you progress for CHRIST! By the way, you won’t need one for the back because if you are not advancing forward for JESUS, satan is not worried about you and won’t be firing any of those darts at your back.

5: Sword of the Spirit: (Hebrews 4:12)(KJV) “For the word of GOD is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing assunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” GOD would not give you a weapon that was weak. HE has given you a WEAPON that is more “POWERFUL” than any other weapon known of. The WORD of GOD is what the HOLY SPIRIT uses to REGENERATE YOU, to RENEW YOUR MIND, and to REDIRECT YOUR PATH. READ IT! LIVE IT! SPEAK IT! Remember the WORD of GOD is INERRANT, INFALIBLE, and contains no mistakes.

6: Helmet of Salvation: Maybe you are thinking how do I get this helmet. A defensive WEAPON that protects one of the most vital parts of the body. The HOUSE, the DWELLING PLACE of the brain. You get it by calling upon the NAME of JESUS the CHRIST (Acts 4:12) (KJV) says “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” When the Apostle Paul was instructing the young preacher at Ephesus, Timothy, he said in his first letter in the 2nd chapter and the 5th verse “For there is one GOD, and one mediator between GOD and men, the man CHRIST JESUS;”

7: Prayer: And when dressed and ready with all of the other weapons “PRAY”, for that is how we communicate with the LEADER of our FAITH, the CHIEF CORNERSTONE, the HEAD of the BODY OF CHRIST! Prayer changes things and puts all of our other weapons into action! I want to close with reminding you of this one account of the life of the Apostle Paul, he and Silas were in prison in Philippi for the preaching of the Gospel. Paul and Silas were beaten with many stripes but at midnight were PRAYING and SINGING HYMNS of PRAISES to GOD and GOD caused an earthquake to come and delivered them from there bonds and opened the doors of the prison. This prompted the jailer to ask Paul and Silas about it all, listen to part of that account that is recorded in (Acts 16:29-31)(KJV) “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Read the whole account in the 16th chapter of the Actos of the Apostles.

  

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV) “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

Psalms 139:23,24  (KJV) “Search me, o GOD, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the ways everlasting.”

This is one thing I have learned, and you have probably have also, is to shine the light of “GOD’s WORD” on my own heart and not on someone else. Not on Jim, John, or Mary; not on the other members of the church but on me!! OH GOD SEARCH ME, TRY ME, OH GOD SEE IF THERE IS ANY WICKED WAY IN ME LORD

Maybe I forgot and left the lid off of the ointment and the ole flys got in there and got stuck and died. It doesn’t matter, really, how the “DEAD FLIES” got in there, the fact still remains that they are there and we’ve got to get them out of there, we have got to get the ointment back to were it’s good enough to bring healing to world, to do the work that GOD sent it for.  We left off with DEAD FLIES 1,2,3. LACK OF LOVE, LACK OF FORGIVENESS, and LACK OF ARMOUR

Dead fly #4: Lack of “Vision” the church no longer sees that the fields are ripe for harvest.

John 4:35 …there are 4 month’s until harvest…lift up eyes

 1: We have got to regain our vision, remove cataracts or whatever is causing us to be blind and not seeing the white fields REV 3:17-18  “READ” This excited me last night as I studied. WOW! “..anoint our eyes with “eyesalve” that we may SEE again” how do we accomplish this? What does this mean, I think this next verse we are going to read is going to clear this up. Now turn with me to John 9:3-6 “READ”       “We must let JESUS remove the blindness from our eyes, HE and only HE has the eyesalve that we need that we crave” Just as HE made the blind man able to see again HE can make a blind church see the white fields again.”

 2: We have got to act on our vision, go into the fields just as Jesus sent for the 70: If you remember the 9th chapter of Luke (67 verses) the bible tells us of several occurences that happened as Jesus ministered here on earth.  He called the 12 disciples together and sent them out. After they returned and told Jesus all that they had done HE took them aside privately but the people knew about it and followed HIM, HE fed the 5 thousand, they got alone and he taught some more; and then HE took 3 of the disciples with him and this was when HE was transfigured, later on HE healed the lunatic, refresh your memory by reading this again. Now I want us to look at this.

 Luke 10:2 “We must pray for laborers to help with harvest. Not just to build numbers, not just to build finances, but for help to go out, to be physically active about our labor for the LORD.

GOD sent JESUS to pay for our sins, to be the sacrifice for those wrongs we have done. JESUS came willingly and was faithful, never sinned, was a perfect sacrifice, an unspotted LAMB, kind of like when Abraham took his son to the altar and was going to obey GOD and sacrifice his son on the altar, but GOD put a RAM there in the bushes right behind him. You might ask why was it necessary to have a sacrifice, because GOD said that the WAGES of sin is death, and then GOD said, “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD”, and also said: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission”. So, here on earth we were all in a real predicament because EVERYONE had sinned and was sinning, and so GOD’s people tried every way in the world to find or create a sacrifice that would atone for all of the sin, but there was not one, or any thing, worthy anywhere. So GOD, HIMSELF, came to this awful sinful place we call EARTH incarnated in the virgin womb of MARY, and they called HIS NAME JESUS, and HE lived HIS life sin free, even though HE was tempted in every area that man has been tempted in. and yet did not succumb, or fall into SIN. So then HE willingly, knowingly, gave himself up to die a terrible death upon the cross. Why?? Because HE loved mankind so much!! Now, the story goes on. JESUS was buried in a borrowed tomb, but the grave or death could not hold HIM, so HE was given the power to resurrect HIMSELF and come forth from the tomb, and now sits at the right hand of the FATHER, there to make intercession for all who have been “BORN AGAIN” by placing their heartfelt “FAITH” in him for the “PAYMENT” or “ATONEMENT” for their personal SIN. The story goes on, GOD in HIS infinite KNOWLEDGE, PURPOSE and LOVE, didn’t take us on home to HEAVEN but left us here to be an example and a GUIDE to others so that they would not have to die without believing in “THE NAME OF THE BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD”. So, right here, let me interject this thought so you might better understand the “REST OF THE STORY” Everyone here has seen and knows about cats and their curiosity. You can roll a ball, drag a string, or dangle a toy over them and he or she can not help themself; they have to chase it, jump for it, or pounce upon it. “Right or not it can be very entertaining to watch.” Now, since I have told this story, think on this: I left off with GOD not taking us to HEAVEN but leaving us here to be HIS WITNESSES, you see, GOD knew we still had these fleshly tendencies, kind of like the cat, and would need help because GOD’s adversary, satan, would be our adversary, and would be deviling us, no pun intended. So, GOD placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY GHOST, within us to make us able to LIVE FOR HIM, which we do most of the time, but every now and then, we are like that ‘ole CAT, satan will dangle something in front of us and before you know it, we done reached out and grabbed it and got ourselves into a mess of trouble. But GOD has got the remedy for that also, for HE said, in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” then HE goes on to say, for GOD also knew that satan would get all of our pride up and that we would begin to deny the sin or try our best to make that sin, “that so easily besets us” to be the RIGHT thing to have done, so in 1 John 1:10 GOD said, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him (GOD) a liar, and his word is not in us.” GOD is so GOOD and LOVES US SO MUCH!!! In 1 John 2:1,2 GOD had John to write, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man/person sin, we have an advocate with the FATHER, JESUS CHRIST the righteous: and HE is the propitiation (payment, atonement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” As a child of GOD, live the best way that you can by using the strength and direction HE has left for you, and if you trip up and FAIL, confess your sins to GOD and keep on keeping on living for GOD every day. If you have not been saved or “BORN AGAIN”, Trust in JESUS’s sacrifice today, before it is too late.

In my last blog in our continuing study on “DEAD FLIES in the OINTMENT of GOD” I commented on “Dead Fly #1(LACK OF LOVE)” and today I would like to identify the next “dead fly” in the ointment of GOD.

If you remember we have identified the “church” “the ekklesia” “the gatherings of GOD’s children” “GOD’s people” or whatever term you like to use as the “ointment of GOD” that was put here for the healing of the world. The world has gone astray, the world is sick, broken, crippled, hurting because of sin and most of the world is in bondage because of this sin, but the church, GOD’s ointment is full of “dead flies” and is powerless and ineffective to do the job that GOD has sent it for, and of course that is to be the BODY of CHRIST and do HIS work. So much “conforming to the world” instead of “renewing of it’s mind” has polluted it.

So in today’s blog I want to Identify “DEAD FLY #2”

Dead Fly#2: Lack of “Forgiveness” the church has forgotten about forgiveness and holds too many grudges, listen please, it is almost impossible to live, work or worship together without having some grievances to arise because all people think different and work different. We are still in the flesh, we are still in the world, but we are not supposed to be of the world, we all still have some unwanted pride in our lives and we want things to go our way, Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) says “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So when these times and these events take place in our church we must do as Barney in the Andy Griffin show used to say “we have got to nip it in the bud”. We can let it remain in our hearts and fester and canker and become a “dead fly” in the ointment of GOD or we can do what is necessary and remedy it before it goes to far, because when this happens it’s not always very harmful to us but is harmful to the witness of CHRIST, harmful to the image that our churches have in the communities where they minister. Now let’s look at some of GOD’s word that will help us get rid of this “dead fly” before it becomes part of the “stinking savor to the ointment of GOD.” First let’s look at this scripture in Mark, where JESUS was teaching his disciples.

 1: Mark 11:24-26 (KJV)  “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your FATHER which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  Please listen to what GOD’s word records about unforgiven sin: Isaiah 59:1-2 (KJV) “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither HIS ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your GOD, and your sins have hid HIS face from you, that he will not hear.”

 2: Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus told his disciples a parable about a king, here let me refresh your memory and recount it to you: “There was a king that was going to take account of his servants and one owed him a great deal of money and the king was going to throw him into prison.” Verse 26 and 27 “The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” “But when it came time for that servant to forgive his fellow servant he would not and cast him into prison, his other fellow servants went to the king and told him so he called the first servant back up to see him, and this is what the king said:” In verse 35: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

It is imperative that we forgive one another, let me say that again we must forgive one another to remove this “DEAD FLY” from the ointment of GOD. GOD has turned HIS face from the church because there is so much “unforgiveness” in HIS house. GOD loved us, and still loves us unconditionally. We must LOVE the same way, we can not be the body of CHRIST unless we love as HE loved. It is only with the “agape” love of Christ that we can forgive others. Sometimes it seems that the church doesn’t want GOD to turn HIS face back to us, WHY? I believe it is because the majority of thy church has grown to love darkness more than light, like JESUS said in John 3:19-21 (KJV) please consider these verses that record JESUS’s words “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in GOD.” I believe the church has dwelled in darkness so long their eyes have become accustomed to the “darkness” and when the “light” of JESUS shines upon them it hurts their eyes. We must get back to “walking in the light” and confessing our sins as it says in 1 John 1:5-10 (KJV) “This then is the message which we have heard of HIM, and declare unto you, that GOD is light, and in HIM is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ HIS Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“Come on CHURCH” lets get rid of this “DEAD FLY” of unforgiveness and begin to “LOVE” one another again and we will see the world begin to heal again.

In my last blog I talked about “Dead Flies in the Ointment of GOD” so today I am continuing that, and I am going to name the first “Dead Fly”. That would be, “Lack of Love”.

Lack of “Love”, the church has left its first love

 1: Revelations 2:1-5 The church of Ephesus, “..they had left their “FIRST” LOVE (the LOVE of CHRIST).
 2: What is our example of the love JOHN is talking about? What will get us back to doing the “First Works”? What will get us back to our “First Love”? Listen to what the apostle Paul says to the believers in his letter to the church at Galatia.

Galatians 2:20  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the SON of GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.   

Also, listen to what Paul wrote to those disciples in Corinth.

3: 2 Corinthians 5:14  (NKJV)“For the love of Christ compels us…” (the KJV interprets it as constraineth us); it is what motivates us, moves us forward, and pushes us on. “It was not the love of money that sent my wife and I to a small town in middle Tennessee named Sparta. It wasn’t the love of fame that sent me to the “Cove” in Cedar Grove Georgia. It is not the love of praise that causes me to, still after all of these years, stand and proclaim the GOSPEL of CHRIST, but it was and is the “LOVE OF CHRIST”! If you are “BORN AGAIN”, it wasn’t anything but the “LOVE OF CHRIST” that brought you here this day; it was the “NEED OF . CHRIST”! The Holy Spirit of GOD was given to each one us. It was given to each “BORN AGAIN” person to empower us to live as GOD wants us to live; to “go ye into all of the world and preach JESUS”. Jesus said, that “after the Holy Ghost comes upon you”, you will receive power. Now, that’s not worldly power or political power, but spiritual power to carry out the tasks, the jobs, the works that GOD has for us to accomplish. When we preach the WORD of GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD moves and touches the hearts and souls of men and women, boys and girls, and they must make a decision of what to do with that drawing of the HOLY SPIRIT. If the person has been saved and attempting to work for the LORD and follow the HOLY SPIRIT, they continue on, LOVING, PRAYING, FORGIVING, & WITNESSING, using their gifts to glorify CHRIST. If they are a “BORN AGAIN” person, but have let the cares of the world crowd into their hearts and impede the flow of the Holy Spirit in their lives, all they need to do is to fall prostrate before GOD and confess their sins to HIM and receive the forgiveness and cleansing that GOD has for them, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Then, continue on their journey to live and glorify CHRIST in their daily lives. If they have never received CHRIST as their savior, if they have never had that “BORN AGAIN” experience, it is time that they make a move and turn from the way they have been going and invite CHRIST into their heart and lives. Look to the example that GOD gave us through the conversation between JESUS and Nicodemus in the third chapter of John, and concentrating on the verses 14 and 15 where HE said “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

It is so imperative that the Church, GOD’s people, get back to their “FIRST LOVE” and do those “FIRST WORKS”. It is time that this “DEAD FLY”, the “LACK OF LOVE” be removed from the ointment of GOD, so the healing and strength can return and this broken world can find strength and power to overcome. This world needs to see the real church stand up and be the example that GOD meant for them to be. They need to see that there is hope in the future. The Bible says that if a man has hope only in this world, he is of all men most miserable.

“COME ON CHURCH STAND UP AND LET THE WORLD SEE WHAT YOU ARE REALLY MADE OF”