Month: April 2024

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23

• Introduction:
  • The name Emmanuel finds its origin in (Isa. 7:14) when the Lord said in a prophetic voice, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
  • The Holy Spirit interprets the name for us when He says it means “God with us.”
    • There are other passages in the “Word of God which are God interpreted so that there would be no chance of man’s misinterpreting or abusing those passages with religious slants.
    • A look at a few of them will give us a greater impact of the verse at hand.
  • A.      “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted the Christ.” (John 1:41)
  • B.      “And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is being interpreted, The place of a skull.” (Mk. 15:22)
  • C.      “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mk. 15:34)
  • It is obvious that when God interprets something it is of grave importance.
    • God desperately wants man to know that He is a God of infinite concern for He came to be with us!
• I.   HOW IS GOD WITH US
  • The very reason God tells us Emmanuel means “God With us” is suggestive of the fact that there would be those who would question the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
  • A.      God was with man in the flesh –
    • Phil. 2:6-8; 1 Tim. 3:16
  • B.      By being omnipresent –
    • Matt. 18:20; 28:20; Jn. 3:13
  • C.      As God the Word –
    • Jn. 1:1,14
  • D.      The Holy spirit –
    • Jn. 14:16; 15:26
• II. WHEN IS GOD WITH US
  • God recognized that man should not be alone – (Gen. 2:18),
  • When Moses carried the burdens of Israel alone God provided a remedy – (Num. 11:14-17).
  • Jesus stated that even He was not alone – (Jn 8:16; 16:32).
  • A.      In the darkest hour.
    • 1.  In the valley of the shadow of death – (Ps. 23:4)
  • B.      In Victory
    • 1.  Victory over the grave – (1 Cor. 15:55,56)
    • 2.  In overcoming the world – (1 Jn. 5:4,5)
    • 3.  Victory over old nature – (Col. 2:13-15)
  • C.      In Prayer – (Jn. 17:1)
    • 1.  Spirit prays for us – (Rom. 8:26)
    • 2.  Father hears in secret – (Matt. 6:6)
    • 3.  Christ wants to respond – (Jn. 14:13)
  • D.      Even in Sin – (Standing by ready to forgive).
    • 1.  Standing at the door – (Rev. 3:20)
    • 2.  Faithful to forgive – (1 Jn. 1:9)
    • 3.  Stands ready with a gift – (Rom. 3:23)
    • 4.  Jonah in the belly of the whale – (Jonah 2:1,2)
    • 5.  (Isa. 1:18; Col. 1:14; Eph. 1:7)
• III.          WHERE IS GOD WITH US
  • A.      In the furthest place.
    • 1.  Philip in the desert – (Acts 8:26-40)
    • 2.  Elijah on the mountain – (1 Kings 18)
    • 3.  Daniel in the lions den – (Dan. 6)
    • 4.  Jeremiah in prison – (Jer. 37)
  • B.      In the assembly of the saints – (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 10:25)
• IV. WHY IS GOD WITH US
  • A.      Because of His promise – (Matt. 28:20)
  • B.      Because of the love that is part of His character – (2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Jn. 4:8)
  • C.      Because of our great need – (Rom. 8:31-39)
• Father With Son In Attic
  • A father had told his son he would send him to sleep in the attic, with only bread and water for his supper, if he broke the laws of the home once more.
  • The child disobeyed again and was sent to the attic:
    • The father could not eat. He had the boy on his mind and his heart.
    • His wife said: “I know what you are thinking. But you must not bring the boy from the attic.
    • It would cause him to disobey again. He would have no respect for your word.
    • You must not cheapen your relation as his father by failing to keep your promise.”
  • To which her husband replied: “Your are right. I will not break my word.
    • To do so would cause my son to lose his respect for my word.
    • But he is so lonely up there.”
    • He kissed his wife good night, entered the attic, ate bread and water with the boy, and when the child went to sleep on the hard boards, his father’s arm was his pillow.
    • He who knew no sin suffered for the sinner.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

In Ephesians 4:11, the words of God state clearly that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His church, the body of Christ specific individual positions to be filled by persons God has called, enabled, and equipped with the spiritual abilities to fulfill and perform the functions required by each position. In Ephesians 4:12, the words of God provides the purpose for why the Lord gave His church these individual positions.

The reason that I have entitled my post Pastor or Evangelist is because within the positions the Lord gave to His church is a specific and separate positions of evangelist and pastor.

It seems that some pastors not all are having a difficult time making up their minds whether they are an evangelist or a pastor even though the words of God clearly state that evangelist and pastor are two separate specific individual positions. The reason that I say this is that there many pastors who are absent from their church’s pulpit on a Sunday or absent for a week at a time preaching at another church’s pulpit.

So, I ask how a man who is called, enabled, and equipped to pastor a church be absent from his pulpit not just occasionally by several times a year. Who is caring for his flock? He is the one that is suppose to be ministering the words of God to his people. He is the one that his people look up to and go for counsel when needed. He is the one who is to protect his flock from the wolves without and within the church.

We have too many delinquent pastors who are not fulfilling their God called position in the body of Christ. The people suffer and the church overall as well.

What can be the motivation for a pastor to leave his pulpit and go to another church to administer the words of God. The Lord gave the church the position of evangelist to fulfill this function and equipped that individual with the gifts to go from church to church administering the words of God to the body of Christ.

So, what motivates a pastor to be absent from his pulpit that God has given him to go to another church to preach while his people are left without their spiritual protection. Could it be ego? Could it be that he thinks has insight into God’s words no one else has? Could be that he is a show pony and needs more than one stage to perform on? Could it be he loves the praises of men more than the praises of God?

My prayer is that a man called by God to be a pastor would do what God has called, enabled and equipped him to do. Let the evangelists do what they are called to do and be content with what the Lord has given you.

^“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

• Introduction:
  • It is no secret that the human race is in constant search of counsel. Psychiatrist, Physiologist, marriage counselors, Astrologist, Spiritualist and a variety of other listeners are doing a booming business.
  • The Bible tells us “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the Multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Prov. 11: 14).
  • God provides excellent counsel (Prov. 22:20), but all too often people opt for the counsel of the wicked (Prov. 12:5).
  • Jesus Christ, the Wonderful Counsellor, provides excellent advice to the subjects that are the most addressed, even today!
• I.   PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
  • A.      Family problems
    • Jesus recognized that people would have family problems –
      • He even indicated that some of these problems would be a result of Christ’s rule in a person’s life.
    • Jesus also was keenly aware of the divorce problem (Matt. 19:1-9), and went immediately to the root of it by describing it as selfishness.
      • The word hardness indicates a spiritual problem (See Mk. 16:14; 3:5).
    • Jesus not only went right to the root of the problem but provided solutions.
      • 1.       He indicated the children would need extra help (Matt. 19:13-15).
      • 2.       He stated that mutual honor was necessary (Matt. 19:19).
  • B.      Other Personal Relationship
    • 1.  Jesus gave up all His rights to come to earth to die for sinners.
    • 2.  This is applied to the church age saint in (Rom. 12:10-21).
• II. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
  • Jesus gave sound principles for finances.
    • A.  Do not let money rule your life (Matt. 19:16-26).
    • B. Be accountable and responsible for all that you do have (Luke 19:12-27).
    • C. Trust God for your provisions (Matt. 6:30).
• III.          HOW TO KNOW THE WELL OF GOD
  • Jesus seemed to spend more time concentrating on doing the already revealed will of God than worrying about the yet unrevealed (Matt. 22:36-40).
    • A.  Jesus said the will of God was to do good (Lk. 635; Acts 10:38).
    • B. The will of God is to be obedient ‘in the day to day things (Matt. 21:28-32).
• IV. STRUGGLES OF THE FLESH
  • Jesus was not nearly as condemning as some Christians are concerning struggles of the flesh, and yet He was very demanding when it came to repentance (Jn. 8:1-11).
  • Jesus’ solutions are:
    • A.  Stay in the Word (John 8:31).
    • B. Set spiritual goals (Matt. 6:33)
    • C. Remove yourself from evil influences (Matt. 15:14; 16:11,12).
• WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR:
  • He is a Wonderful, Counsellor.
  • Justly is He called Wonderful, for He is both God and man.
  • His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints; in His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, He was wonderful.
  • A constant series of wonders attended Him, and without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness concerning Him.
  • He is the Counsellor, for He was intimately acquainted with the counsels of God from eternity, and He gives counsel to the children of men, in which He consults our welfare.
  • It is by Him that God has given us counsel.
  • He is made of God to us wisdom. He spoke of His own authority:
    • “Verily, I say unto you.”
  • Other teachers explained the law; He is the lawgiver.
  • Others drew more or less pure waters from cisterns:
    • He is in Himself a well of water, from which all may draw.
  • He alone is sufficient for us.
  • He not only speaks the truth, which needs no other confirmation than His own lips, but He is the truth.
  • We may canvass other men’s teachings and distinguish their insight from their errors; we have but to accept His.
  • The world outgrows all others; it can only grow up toward the fullness of His.
  • Us and all the ages He teaches with authority, and the guarantee for the truth of His teaching is Himself “Verily, verily, I say unto you.”
  • No other man has a right to say that to me.
  • But Christ dominates the race, and the strong Son of God is the world’s teacher.

“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:8-10

• Introduction:
  • The term “captain” is familiar to Bible readers because it is used often to describe a variety of positions.
  • For Example:
    • 1.  Kings were captains of their nation.
      • a.       Jephthah – (Judges 11: 6-11)
      • b.       Saul – (1 Sam. 9:16; 10:1)
      • c.       David – (2 Sam. 5:2)
      • d.       Hezekiah – (2 Kings 20:5)
    • 2.  Every king had a captain of the host (army).
      • (Gen. 21:22,32; 26:26; Judg. 4:2,7; 1 Sam. 14:50; 17:55; 26:5; 2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Kings 2:32 etc.)
    • 3.  In Israel, there was a captain over each tribe (Numbers 2:3-29)
      • a.       Amasa, captain of Judah – (1 Kings 2:32)
      • b.       Adina, captain of Reuben – (1 Chron. 11:42)
      • Note: (I Chron. 27:1-5) seems to indicate that each captain and his tribe served one month active duty a year.
    • 4.  Captains over smaller ranks.
      • a.       Captain of one thousand – (1 Sam. 17:15)
      • b.       Captain of one hundred – (Num. 31:14,48,52,54)
      • c.       Captain of fifty – (2 Kings 1:9-13; 15:23-25)
  • The title “captain” in what ever context used is obviously a military term.
    • The plain and necessary implication of this title is that we are passing through a country full of difficulties, dangers, oppositions, like Israel with the wilderness on their way to the promised inheritance; so that we need a Captain, Guide, Leader, to carry us safely through.
    • The responsibilities of a captain would then be to do the following.
• I.   THE CAPTAIN MUST LEAD
  • A.      He leads us into the battle (Josh. 5:13-15) –
    • The most common battle of the 20th Century Christian is the one of personal sanctification.
    • Joshua 6 gives us several key points of strategy to remember.
      • 1.       If the battle is won, it will be given by the Lord – (Josh. 6:2; Eph. 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:12)
      • 2.       It may require a great deal of patience – (Josh. 6:3; Rom. 5:3; Heb. 12:1)
      • 3.       It may require a great deal of perseverance – (Josh. 6:4; Eph. 6:18)
      • 4.       We need to avail ourselves of the psychology of the “shout” – (Josh. 6:5; Ezra 3:11-13; Ps. 5:11; 32:11; 35:27 47:1)
      • 5.       We must realize that there is also an individual battle – (Josh. 6:5; Jam. 1:14; Rom. 14:12; Eph. 6:13)
      • 6.       It will require complete obedience – (Josh. 6:10; Rom. 16:19; Lk. 9:62)
      • 7.       It will require personal sacrifice – (Josh. 6:12, 15; Phil 2:5-8; 3:7,8; Heb. 13:16)
      • 8.       Paying close attention will help us keep from the accursed thing – (Josh. 6:18; 2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 5:8; 1 Tim. 3:7; Prov. 4:23; 2 Cor. 8:7; Heb. 12:15; 2 Pet. 1:5)
  • B.      He leads in suffering
    • (Hebrews 2:10) says, Christ was made perfect through suffering.
    • This does not mean that he was sinful before and was made holy by his sufferings.
    • Christ was not made better, for he was before perfectly holy, but he was completely endowed for the work which he came to do.
    • He, through sufferings was rendered complete because of:
      • 1.       His sufferings made Him an example to all His people who shall pass through trials.
      • 2.       He is able to sympathize with them, and to succor them in their temptations – (Heb. 2:18)
      • 3.       By His sufferings an atonement was made for all sin.
        • He was made perfect, in that His death provided a finished work. – (Heb. 5:8,9)
  • C.      He leads into glory
    • It would be impossible for any of Christ’s soldiers to go into glory, had He not gone first as the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:23)
• II. THE CAPTAIN MUST ENCOURAGE
  • The best way is by example – (Jn. 13:14,15)
  • In order to properly encourage the captain he must be a man of Character.
    • A.  He must be a man after God’s heart – (1 Sam. 13:14)
    • B. A man who overcomes all for his goal – (2 Sam. 5:8)
    • C. A man who is the most honorable ; (2 Sam. 23:19)
    • D. A man who can listen to proper request – (2 Kings 4:13)
    • E.  A man who gives words of praise when they are deserved – (Lk. 19:17)

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)

• Introduction:
  • Venus has often been called the Earth’s sister world because it is approximately the same size.
    • When Venus is moving toward the earth, the planet can be seen in the evening sky, thus it is called the Evening Star.
    • When moving away from earth, it is visible in the early morning sky and called the Morning star.
    • When viewed through a telescope, Venus can be seen going through “changes” in shape and size.
    • These apparent changes are called phases, and they resemble those of the moon.
    • They result from different parts of Venus! Sunlit areas being visible from the earth at different times.
  • Venus never really changes but only appears to.
    • And so it is with the Lord Jesus Christ – He never really changes, but His appearance depends upon where you are in proximity to Him.
    • When Venus is closest to the earth in its orbit it is only 26,000,000 miles away (right next door as far as space is concerned) – closer to the earth than any other planet.
    • At its closest point the apparent diameter is six times greater than when it is at its farthest point.
  • There are several things about Venus that we need to consider:
• I.   ITS BRIGHTNESS
  • Venus is the third brightest object in the sky as seen from earth – the sun being the brightest (Matt. 4:2) and the moon the next brightest.
    • The only reason the moon appears brighter to the world is because it is so much closer to the earth than Venus.
      • Actually the moon only reflects 7 percent of the light it receives.
      • By comparison Venus reflects 59 percent of the light it receives from the sun.
  • The church is compared to the moon (Sol. Song 6:10) and is obviously negligent in its responsibility to cast light upon the world.
    • According to astronomers, Venus, at its brightest, may be seen in the daytime if one knows just where to look for it.
    • At night, it often casts a long path of light across a body of water. (See also, Ps. 19:12; Isa. 60:1-3; Hab. 3:4; Acts 26:13; Heb. 1:3)
• II. ITS CLOUDS
  • Venus is shrouded by a perpetual layer of dense clouds that make it impossible for astronomers to actually see the planet itself (Jn. 1:5)
    • When Jesus ascended into heaven He was received up into a cloud (Acts 1:9).
    • After that He could no longer be seen but there was plenty of bright evidence of His existence (Acts 1:3).
  • The clouds accomplish at least two things of interest:
    • A.  According to National Geographic, June 1975; “If a man could stand on Venus on a clear day the observer would enjoy one of the strangest experiences of a life time.
    • Because of super refractivity, the acute bending of light rays by the ultra dense atmosphere, one could in theory see all the way around the planet.
    • In effect he would seem to be standing at the bottom of a bowl with the entire planet stretching up endlessly on every side.
    • “It would be,” says Dr. Bradford A. Smith of the University of Arizona, “like looking through a fishbowl of clear water.”
      • See (Prov. 15:3; 5:21; 2 Chron. 16:9; Job 34:21,22; Jer. 16:17; Zech. 4:10; Heb. 4:13).
  • B.      The thick atmosphere of clouds that reach astonishing altitudes of over 35 miles (on earth, even the highest clouds seldom go above ten miles) traps the suns energy and helps build up the most furnace like heat yet to be found on any planet.
    • The constant temperature of Venus runs between 800 degrees and 1000 degrees F.
    • At such temperatures lead, tin, and zinc will melt, and any number of compounds vaporize.
    • This kind of intense heat is always characterized by judgment in the Bible,
      • (See Mic. 1:3,4 Isa. 64:1-3 ; Ps. 68:1,2; 97:1-5; Nah. 1:5).
  • C.      In the Old Testament the cloud was representative of the power and presence of the Lord.
    • (I Kings 8:10,11; Ex. 40:34,3 5 Eze. 10:3,4)
• III.          ITS ROTATION
  • Venus is the exception of all the planets in our solar system in that it rotates from east to west whereas others rotate from west to east.
    • Of course this is no surprise to a Bible student even though it may be to a scientist.
  • WEST TO EAST
    • (Gen. 3:24) Adam and Eve driven out of the garden to the East.
    • (Gen. 4:16) When Cain left God’s presence he went out to the East.
    • (Gen. 28:10) When Jacob got backslidden and ran from Esau, he went eastward.
    • (Num. 32) The first tribes to go into captivity settled East of Jordan.
    • (Jer. 52) When the Jews were taken captive they went Eastward.
    • (I Sam. 16:18) David ran from Absolom, Eastward.
      • West to East is the rotation of the world against the sun.
  • EAST TO WEST
    • (Gen. 12:1-6) Abraham called out of Ur of Chaldees, East to West.
    • (Gen. 32-35) When Jacob got his life right he traveled Westward.
    • (Num. 19:25) The Jews entered the land East to West (they traversed the Dead Sea).
    • (Ezra-Neh.) When the Jews returned from captivity, they went Westward.
      • East to West movement of the Sun (Type of Christ) in opposition to the world.
    • Entering the tabernacle you move East to West.
      • This is the direction of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the 2nd coming.
    • (Matt. 1) The wise men came from the East, The gospel has traveled from east to west.
      • In other words Jesus Christ runs in opposition to the rest of the world. (See Jn. 8:23; 1:10; 17:14,16; 1 Jn. 2:15,16; 4:4-6)
• IV. ITS REVOLUTION
  • While earth turns on its axis once a day, Venus turns slowly – and in the opposite direction – once every 243 earth days.
    • At the same time, it revolves about the sun once every 225 earth days.
    • The combination gives the planet a solar day (that is, from one sunrise to the next) of 117 days.
    • The idea of the slow revolution is that time is fairly irrelevant to God.
      • He is patient, He has a plan, and it will not be hurried by anyone. (2 Pet. 3:8; Ps. 90:1-4; Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Isa. 57:15).