3 Things About Easter

3 Things About  Easter

Easter was planned by
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Easter is for the
sinner, hopeless, forgotten

Easter is about a
Prophet, Priest and King

Easter is about His
death, burial, resurrection

Easter is about
repenting,  believing, professing

Easter is about destroying the fear of
death, hell, the grave

Easter is for you to be
forgiven, justified, sanctified

Easter is about our King who is
ruling, reigning, returning

        By Fletcher Law

Coaching Easter Preachers...preach from the playbook!

Easter Preaching - I'm coaching from the sideline this year.
(***This was written in 2012-praise the Lord I am preaching this 2013 Easter Sunday 11:00 at Good News at Noon!)
I'm not on the injured report.
I'm just not getting any calls.
I am in the bull-pen ready to go.
No calls in a while to preach from a pulpit to a congregation.
In The Lord's time He will use me again.
Preacher you have a mission to complete this Sunday.
You have many obstacles from outside and within- do your duty!

This is Easter week.
This is what I as a preacher, and also a member of a congregation, suggest to help preachers to think about to get it going.

1.) Preachers Do Not Be Smirky Or Rude To People Who Need The Gospel.
Preacher do not say Merry Christmas and Happy Easter or refer to people who

Was Christ "Formed" or Was He YAWEH?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

 Is Proverbs 8 saying that the Father "formed" Christ? (NASB)

Profile:Male 18-30 North America

MY ANSWER:

NO!!!, NADA!!!, NEIN!!!

NO, Proverbs 8 is not saying the Father  “formed” Christ.

Proverbs is part of what we call wisdom literature.

The literary device, used by the human author inspired by the Holy Spirit –Solomon,

is called personification.   

Some poets talk about the ocean as a lady.  We know the ocean is not a lady.

But we can learn and appreciate the poem anyway that talks about the ocean is a lady.

Solomon use the trait of WISDOM and gives character to it.

So do you really want to know about how Christ was formed?

You cannot because He was not formed –He always was and has been Christ.

Here is a passage of Scripture that will answer your question best.

John 1 (NASB)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Why is this important?

Jesus Christ was, always has been God/YAHWEH as part of the Trinity (The Father -Son-Holy Spirit-all God and co-equal) or Godhead.

Only He could live a perfect life, become a worthy sacrifice and die on the cross and atone for the sins of all who would repent and believe.

Many cults have tried to isolate poetic talk and and misrepresent who Jesus Christ is.

I am glad you asked this important question that can keep you

and others from getting off course.

QUESTION ANSWERED On EVANGELISM> Shout Down or Lift Up Jesus?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Should Christians protest sin events such as -example- gay parades or immoral festivals?

MY ANSWER:

Great question.

When representing the Lord Jesus Christ I try (and sometimes fail) to slow down and ask myself these two questions-

1)      Is Jesus Christ being lifted up to people by my actions? (John 12:32)

2)      Do I care about these people?   Really? Do I care for them as individuals made in the image of God?  Often times the answer is no.  Then I must repent, pray and review my actions.

Concerning question #1  we want to lift up the biblical Jesus who loved and died for these people we represent Jesus to.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

In answering question #2 I learn I must decide to  love “those” people if Jesus Christ loves and died for them.

What does the biblical Jesus we lift up  want?  For people to be saved! 

1 Timothy 2:4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

If we find a way to lift Jesus up He said He will take care of the saving of souls.

John 12:32 (NASB) 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

My response to these questions is- we are not to hinder but promote the saving gospel of a God who died on the cross for our sins to make restitution for our sins, pardon us and prepare a place for us in Heaven.

So my response always needs to be to lift up Jesus and love and care for the lost.

Every life situation is different and has different responses.

You can go to the Lord to see what your actions in representing Him should be.

So is chest thumping and railing at fellow sinners going to accomplish this?

Again, when Jesus is lifted up He said He “will draw all men to Myself.”  

We need to know and verbally witness to them.

People know when we care for them or not.

We need a consistent witness not just a condemning shout out.

The gospel rightly shared will deal with our sins.

He draws, convicts, seeks repentance and saves.

Trust the biblical gospel.  It works!

Question: Should A Church Pay For Someone's Child Support or Child Custody Attorney Fees?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

 Should a church pay the attorney’s fees for someone seeking child support or child custody?

Profile: Male Over 60 North America

MY ANSWER:

Many questions must be answered about this question.

Was this a marriage or just a sexual relationship?

Did both, either or none of the two biological parents claim to be Christians?

If both claimed to be Christians then they have bypassed this scripture.

1 Corinthians 6:1 (New King James Version)

“6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?”

Dealing with people is messy - always.

I have to assume that neither of the biological parents are Christians or one or both are very weak Christians.

The church has to deal in truth and not a "he said she said" speculation.

Discernment has to be prayed for.

 Colossians 2:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Proverbs 15:21

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

We are to always seek the best for all people.

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

― John Wesley

Discern your situation.  In truth is one party 100% wrong and they threaten the child by neglect, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse and abuse drugs or fear not the Lord?

It does not sound like you have a saint on either side.

Do you know you have the 100% truth before you put the Lord’s character, the Lord’s money and the Lord’s reputation and the repudiation of the church on the line?

Will the church leadership and members be in full agreement and believe that support in any way is not of the Lord?

Will this hurt the fellowship and Christ’s witness if the church as a whole takes this step of official support of one side of this unholy dispute?

Church members can help either party as individuals.  To endorse either side as a church is a very serious matter.

Again, dealing with people is messy especially with the unsaved.

There is no clear cut answer.

Do not proceed unless your church can move forward in Christian unity with clear scriptural and Holy Spirit sent conviction.  

Question on Casting Out Demons Today-Yes, I Want Your Feedback On This Not Your Typical Sunday Worship Practice

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Question: In my church we practice casting out demons . Is this wrong?

MY ANSWER:

The standard answer is –yes-cast out demons.  They make horrible pets.

Clearly demons and the devil are real by witness of the New Testament.

The New Testament gives account of demons being cast out by Jesus and His followers.

Today some Christians feel that this time of demon possession is past.

Demon possession and the casting out of demons in today’s church in America is not talked about outside of Pentecostal or Charismatic churches.

Here are three views of demon possession and casting out demons (exorcism)..

1)      Some Christians will say demon possession and casting out of demons was from a prior dispensation that has ceased (cessationistt theology) .

2)      Demon possession happens all the time and demons need to be cast by church members on a regular basis.  (The extreme actions of some churches make some Christians concerned about abuse of this practice.)

3)      Yes there are cases today of demon possession.  We need an accurate biblical response

  

Demons were thrown out under the power of Christ and not under the persons authority in the New Testament.

I have no experience or witness in my life of this happening.

I would hate to participate in a side-show made up by scoundrels to draw a crowd and dishonor Christ.

I would hate also not to aid a person in an act of biblically based Christian service.

Read these New Testament verses that are some of many that describe taking on evil on earth.   

Jesus describes the occurrence of demon activity in humans.

Matthew 12:43-45 ESV

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

James the half-brother of Jesus instructs us how to make the devil flee from us.

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Paul tells us spiritual warfare is real and to prepare for it.

Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ...

Paul says we have an evil advisory on this planet.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Jesus equipped his followers to take authority over demon activity.

Luke 10:17 ESV

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

Paul did cast out demons after the resurrection.

Acts 16:16-18 ESV

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

One day Christ will cast the devil and his angels into the lake of fire.

Revelation 12:7-9 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Do you have authority to cast out demons?

Acts 19:13-16 ESV

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Readers -your thoughts?

Saint Patrick - And WhyThis Real Evangelist Was Awesome

Saint Patrick's Day rolls around again on this March 17th.  He lived from 387 - 461 A.D.
This is what you can share with the party crowd heading for crazy parades and celebrations with the green beer.  American advertising has tried to make Saint Patrick's Day a spring break party binge for adults in beer sales. The real Saint Patrick was the most adventurous, special-forces type daring and effective evangelist for the Lord Jesus Christ since the days of the New Testament Apostles.

As a youth, in what is now the United Kingdom, young Patrick was kidnapped from a well to do family by pirates/Vikings. From childhood until young adulthood he was forced to

Bible Study - Philippians 3:17-21 Citizenship In Heaven

Philippians 3 (CITEZENSHIP IN HEAVEN)

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

(Discipleship, sanctification, Holiness that is what or where we are going after we are converted to Christ.)

18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

(Enemies of the cross? Who is an enemy of the cross? Answer: Everyone who is not saved! You are an enemy unknowingly or an enemy with vengeance like the Apostle Paul was before he was gloriously saved. )

 

{Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.      Romans 11:28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.}

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

{Lust is our natural sinful state-   Romans 1:24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,     Romans 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.          Romans 6:12   Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.             Romans 13:13Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.           Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.}

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 

{Citezenship In Heaven?  And you wanted to go to Hawaii.  Like Jesus you will have a home country? So do you understand you are going to be treated like your brother Jesus? Hebrews 2:11

Hebrews 2:11{New King James Version (NKJV)

11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,}

21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

{Our holiness will be complete.  We will be like Him!

1 John 3:2-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.}

Question from a Church Planter> Is Praying For The Lost and Discipleship Biblical?

Question Received (From a Church Planter):

Does the Bible talk about (1)prayer evangelism and (2) discipleship? If so is it important for a pioneering church to pray, evangelize and disciple? And why?

Profile: Male 31-45 North America

MY ANSWER:

Praying for people to be saved can be a mind twister in our human logic.

God saves His elect under His power.

He does not need our help but graciously involves us.

In examining our theologies and theories we must look to Scripture.

God is the Sovereign King.

He does what He wants.

In the fifth century Saint Augustine of Hippo prayed-

“Oh God, grant what Thou commandest, and command what Thou dost desire,”

In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught the disciples when praying to the Father in Matthew Chapter 6 -  “your will be done”.

It can seem to be a mystical paradox in considering how or why our prayers are commanded for the salvation of the lost.

1) PRAYER AND EVANGELISM

Yes, the Bible tells us to pray for the salvation of others.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB)

“1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Jesus commanded His disciples to pray and participate in the evangelization of the lost.

Matthew 9:37–38 (NASB)

“37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

2) DISCIPLESHIP

We are commanded to pray for the lost and lift up Jesus.

Salvation comes only from the throne of Heaven.

Discipleship is what we are commanded to do.
We are to teach them how to pray, study, serve and grow in Christ.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)   

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The lost need our prayers and Jesus lifted up in their lives.

The “Born Again” need to be “discipled” as they are taught to walk in faith.

A common yet big mistake the church makes today is that we try to disciple the lost when they need to be evangelized.

Discipling the lost, when they need to be evangelized is like trying to feed a man without a mouth.   

Blessings on you.

I pray you will be busy praying for the lost, lifting up Jesus and discipling new converts.

The Most Divisive Question in the World Answered > Is Jesus Christ God?

The Most Divisive Question in the World Answered >

Is Jesus Christ God?  


QUESTION RECEIVED: (As received from Asia)

Question: Good Morning Brother and Sister in Christ, My Question was "Other religion say that they don't believe Jesus is God as we do. They said to me that if we do believe in Jesus Christ as our God, and God has a Son in the name of Jesus, Their question is who is the son of Jesus if He is the God? Can you please answer so I can tell then what exact passage I could refer to them that Jesus is the One and true God. God Bless!

Profile:Male 31-45 Asia

MY ANSWER:

Do you want to share the peace and salvation for the world?

If you do want to share the true gospel of Jesus Christ be prepared to receive the hate, contempt and scorn of the world and other religions.

Blasphemy charges and bitter hatred were aimed at Jesus when He acknowledged that He was/is God.  That is what ultimately led men to crucify our Savior.

As I was writing this blog a sweet lady from the Jehovah’s Witness church came to my door to evangelize me to a belief in a savior who was just a man. (Yes, this happened today and is not a preaching illustration.)  Many good, in the world’s eyes, men have died.  They saved no one for eternity nor rescued their immortal souls.  Only God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, could pay for our sins with His punishment and death on the cross.

I am praying that sweet Jehovah’s Witness lady will read this blog after my witness of the God/Man Savior to her.

This belief that Jesus is God is why people can go to God through the power of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.  The idea that Jesus is God is also what will make others turn and deny him angrily.

The saving gospel is that through the perfect life, death and resurrection and the assurance that one day He will judge righteous and claim His own - can only be true if Jesus is God.

Jesus can only be the world’s Savior if He lived a perfect life.  He did. how?  John 1:14 says He was God in the flesh.  That is how we know, He, Jesus lived a perfect life.  Only God can pay for our salvation. God the Holy Spirit draws people to Him.  We sinners then repent or turn to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.  He became our sin on the cross and paid the price of our sin.  In judgment God the Father declares us righteous when through faith and because of his grace we now have pardon of sin, peace with God and become citizens of Heaven. 

The Trinity expression means that God is in three persons.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit have distinct personalities but yet are all fully and equally God.  This is a truth and great mystery.

Understanding that Jesus is God is essential to Salvation and being a Christian.

Other religions think this is crazy or blasphemous.

This is a great truth that the world rejects with scorn.
To answer your question -No Jesus does not have a son.  He has brothers and He calls you to be one.

Here is a saving, sin breaking revelation given to us from the early Apostles –

JESUS IS LORD!!!  

 *** Below are Scriptures that show Jesus was and believed He was God.

GOD BECAME FLESH – JESUS WAS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN

John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

JESUS-THE DEITY, RECEIVED WORSHIP FROM MEN

John 9:38 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

JESUS UNDERSTOOD HIS RELATIONSHIP YO GOD HIS FATHER

John 10:30   I and My Father are one.”

JESUS KNEW ABRAHAM WHO LIVED WHO LIVED OVER 1,500 YEARS BEFORE HIS BIRTH

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Question> What About The Name Of The Lord and Salvation?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

How does calling on the name of the Lord save you?

And is it before you die that you call on the name of the Lord to be saved?

Or is it when at the last day that you call on the name of the lord and Jesus raises you up? Also if you do it in prayer, do you have the eternal assurance that God will save you? To Call on the name of the Lord will you be saved. Please answer...

MY ANSWER:

Q1.)How does calling on the name of the Lord save you?

The Lord is Sovereign or King.  He does the saving.

  Scripture answers your question who the Lord is?

Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord,

The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Q2 )Do you call on His name before you die to be saved?

The Bible -On The History Channel > Liberals Get Ready to Pounce!

THE BIBLE - On The History Channel 
 Liberals Get Ready to Pounce!

The History Channel will start a 10 hour series on The Bible on Sunday 10/3.0

My purpose is to tell you what the Bible is and is not

And to hold the History Channel up to high standards of accuracy.

1.        WHAT THE BIBLE IS!

The Bible is 66 books that tell one story –the story of Jesus Christ and Salvation period.   It contains God’s creation, humanity’s fall into sin and His planning a rescue in the Old Testament, fulfilling it in the New Testament with His substitutionary death and resurrection and how Jesus Christ will judge the end of the World and be our King for eternity.

2.        WHAT THE BIBLE IS NOT!

The Bible is not -

A.      The Bible is not a self-help book. It does have commandments which you will not and cannot follow so God sent you a Savior for your sins and Salvation.

B.      The Bible is not a History Book –but its History has been questioned and continually given an A plus.  Discrepancies continue to disappear the further the weak human mind improves its academic study of it.

C.      The Bible is not a science textbook.  It is accurate in its statements tough.  It uses phrases about the “sun rising”.  Liberals use an expression about the “sun rising” and that is OK with them.  Only liberals think they, and no conservative, or much less to them the Lord, can  use literary devices. Liberals the reason you get any debate of the Bible off course is because you cannot stand up to  the one reason we have a Bible –and that is it all has to do with humanity’s only hope of Salvation only through Jesus Christ.
In talking Science and the Bible do not tell me what some ancient Pope or church council or off beat theologian thought.  The bible speaks clearly for itself about our sinful world and Salvation.  Read the Bible!

3.        The Accuracy of The History Channel-

A.      I will respond to what I have seen so far in their advertisement videos.  They had the Magi (often referred to as Wise Men or three kings) visit the babe Jesus in the manger (or so the video seemed to show them in am outside area like a manger) .  This is wrong since, well it was first recorded in Scripture they visited our Lord much later in a house in Matthew 2:11.  In the video they had Jesus recruiting a prospective disciple telling him in so many words “We are going to change the world forever”.  I guess that is the ancient phrase for we are going to “rock the world”.
The History Channel has already given us false information on the lord’s birth.  The History Channel has put words in our Lord’s mouth when he left us a pretty good transcript of what he wanted to be quoted as saying despite what the widely discredited Jesus Seminar of post-modern liberal scholars have tried to sell.

My Advice.
Watch the series.  Compare it to Scripture.  Always be careful when representing the Lord of Glory who will one day return and judge the “quick and the dead.”

FAMOUS quote on God’s Word.

  “Sanctify them through thy truth:

 thy word is truth.” - Jesus (John 7:17) 

        

Question About > Blowing Savation

QUESTION RECEIVED:

If you blaspheme the Holy Spirit in your mind, but can’t control it and don't mean it, will you get punished eternally in hell?

                 Profile:Male Under 18 ---

MY ANSWER:

Be clear about my answer -  In the passage about blaspheming the Holy Spirit and no forgiveness, Jesus is preaching to the Pharisees.  The Pharisees are the Jewish religious leaders who were experts in their religious law.  These men seemed to care about their position and living a harsh legalistic interpretation of the law.  The Pharisees had no compassion or grace for others not like them.

  Matthew 12:32 New King James Version (NKJV)

32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.