Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Growing up, I thought of the Passover Feast as a memorial primarily of God's mercy.  God sent the Angel of Death to punish the wicked, and the righteous marked themselves by putting blood on the doorposts of their houses.  When the Angel saw the blood, he passed over that house, sparing those inside.  The Passover feast would therefore be a quiet feast, a somber feast commemorating God's great, and undeserved, mercy.
            Reading through the Hallel Psalms (113-118), which were traditionally sung at the Passover feast, shows us that the ancient Hebrews saw this feast very differently.  The Passover feast was a time to rejoice, a time to remember a great victory and to praise God for a great salvation.  For example, Ps. 116 begins in verse three, “The cords of death compassed me and the gates of Sheol got hold of me.”  Then the writer records their plea for help, and we see God’s response in verses 5-8.  “Gracious is Jehovah and righteous, Yea our God is merciful.  Jehovah preserves the simple:  I was brought low, and he saved me.  Return unto thy rest, O my soul, For Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee.  For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears.”  Verses 12-13 praise God for his salvation. 
            Psalm 118 is nothing but a paean to God for the victory he brings.  “Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah, Jehovah answered and set me in a large place,” verse 5.  Verses 10-13 speak of being surrounded by enemies, but easily destroying them, “They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns:  In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off,” verse 12.  God is joyfully praised throughout this Psalm for the salvation he brings to his people. 
            Psalm 114 portrays the almost arrogant boasting of a people who had just escaped from generations of slavery because their God had set them free.  God was on their side, they knew it, and who could stand in their way?
            So it is obvious that the Passover was more than a solemn dinner, it was a joyous feast celebrating the wonderful victory God had wrought to free his people from bondage to the Egyptians.   It was not a memorial to not being killed; it was a celebration of being set free to live!
 
            Sometimes we turn the Lord's Supper into the same solemn, somber feast I had mistaken the Passover for.  We huddle soberly and focus on the horrible suffering Christ went through on our behalf.  We literally bow under the burden of guilt, knowing it was our sins for which he died.  The Lord's Supper thereby becomes a sad, almost depressing reminder of the monumental sacrifice our Lord made for us when we did not deserve it, not even a little.
            Wait a moment!  The Lord's Supper was built out of the Passover feast.  That's what Christ and his Apostles were eating when he instituted the new feast.  Christ was declared to be our Passover in 1 Corinthians 5.  Our feast ought to resemble the celebration we have just learned about, should it not?  Just like the ancient Hebrews, we were enslaved to a horrible enemy, in our case sin.  Just like them, the gates of Sheol had hold of us.  As we were being overwhelmed, God sent his Son to work an awesome salvation.  Instead of being freed from slavery we have been freed from sin and the paralyzing fear of death.  The Hebrews writer calls God's efforts on our part a “great salvation.” (Heb 2:3)  Paul revels in our victory over death in 1 Cor. 15: 53-57 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'  'O death, where is thy victory?  O death, where is thy sting?'  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
            Isn't it obvious that our Passover feast should be a jubilant celebration, just as the shadow feast of the Old Law was?  Our God, through his great love for us, had mercy on us, sacrificed his Son for us, and defeated all our enemies.  We stand clean from the filth of our sin due to the magnitude of this victory.  As the psalmist boasts in 118:6, “Jehovah is on my side, I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”  Or Paul in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” 
            Instead of continually mourning our old ways of life that made God and Christ's sacrifice necessary, let us rather rejoice and celebrate the new life we are privileged to live because God won so great a victory.
 
For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.  I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me (Gal 2:19-20).
 
For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him (1 Thess 5:9-10).
 
the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:26-27).
 
Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer, Matt Bassford.

I’m a simple man. I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that it is sufficient to equip us for every good work. My favorite hymn is “Give Me the Bible”. Consequently, whenever I encounter a problem that afflicts the soul, I presume that the solution lies in learning and following the whole counsel of God.

This also leads me to raise an eyebrow when I see brethren coming up with extra- Biblical cures for spiritual ailments. The phenomenon occurs in several different areas, but it is perhaps most prominent in brotherhood teaching on marriage and family. Though marriage counseling based on secular wisdom varies greatly in quality, all of it pales in comparison to the word of God. If Christians want to treat such counseling as a side dish, fine, but they must not mistake it for the main course.

That main course consists of all Biblical teaching about human relationships. Too often, we behave as though the only texts about marriage are the ones that mention marriage: Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7, and the like. Indeed, this apparent paucity of Scriptural material becomes justification for the use of material from elsewhere. We can't just go on preaching the same three marriage sermons, can we?

For those with eyes to see, the list of relevant passages is far longer. In fact, thousands of verses of Biblical ethics apply with greatest force in our marriages. If we can't seem to manage treating our spouses in a Christlike way, it calls into question the sincerity of our godliness in every other area of our lives. James would ask us if the same spring can send forth both sweet and bitter water. A bad marriage is a fundamental and potentially soul-destroying problem for at least one spouse.

Sadly, Christians in difficult marriages commonly use this truth as an opportunity to pin all the blame on the other spouse. I suspect that most of the time, brethren go to marriage counseling because they want to get their partner fixed. Almost always, they try DIY counseling and berate their husband or wife for perceived failings.

This is exactly backwards and dangerous besides. Christ does not call us to control others. He calls us to submit to His control.

He also warns us in Luke 6:37-38 that according to our standard of measure, it will be measured to us. We are on notice, then, that if we harshly judge our spouses, God will treat us the same way, only more so. Thus, unless we are James’ hypothetical perfect person, able to bridle both our tongues and our bodies, our desire to improve our marriages amounts to the familiar call to improve ourselves.

At this, thousands of voices cry out in outrage, “But what about them???” What about them, indeed? Conveniently, the Bible gives us instructions for how to handle a spouse who is not merely engaged in questionable behavior but is clearly and actively sinning. They appear in 1 Peter 3:1.

The way for a wife to win over a disobedient husband is by submission and godly living, all without a critical word being spoken. It is the way, not an occasional break from a campaign of nagging. Neither does this text exist to provide moral cover for a well-I-tried-that refusal to obey in the present and future. The passage addresses women specifically, but it is excellent advice for men as well.

Along similar lines, consider the relevance of Philippians 2:14 to marriage. It is one of the shocking verses in the Bible. Surely when Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing,” he is using hyperbole! He doesn't actually mean for us to do that!

It is not hyperbole. It is a commandment, and its edge is sharp. If you want a better marriage, you know what you can do? Don't dispute with your spouse. If they invite you to a fight, decline the invitation. Don't grumble to your spouse. Don't grumble about your spouse. If you obey, your marriage will be better, if only because it will contain less shouting.

There are many, many other passages with equally sharp edges that concern our marriages too. They are not easy to follow. In fact, they are quite difficult, which is why many Christians do not honor them. It is, alas, much easier to complain that our husband or wife is toxic, narcissistic, and gaslighting us.

Additionally, even if we do what is right, our godliness is not guaranteed to win over our spouse. Some Christians are married to people with hearts like rock. They will stubbornly pursue evil all the days of their lives to their ultimate destruction. If so, nothing we can do will change them.

We do not imitate Christ because it is effective in influencing others, though it is more effective than anything else. We imitate Him because it is right. Even if godliness does not lead to a better marriage, it invariably leads to glorifying God. When we are tested in our marriages, may He help us to steadfastly seek Him regardless!

Matt Bassford

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
 
            The book of Deuteronomy is a collection of the last few times Moses spoke to the Children of Israel before he died and they entered the Promised Land.  It ends with two songs and a farewell address, but the majority of the book is a series of sermons encouraging the people and re-giving the Law.  When I started seriously studying it to teach it in Bible class, I was amazed at just how much these sermons resemble sermons we might preach today.
            For example, the first sermon (chapters 1-4) begins with a quick recap of how their fathers had rebelled against God and refused to take the Promised Land.  They had been too afraid to go into the land.  Deut. 1:28 "Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’ Looking back on this, we shake our heads at their lack of faith but in reality, their fears were reasonable.  1)  The people in the land out-numbered them and were generally bigger.  2) The cities were huge and strongly fortified.  3)  In addition to the populous generally being bigger, there were actual Giants living in the land. (In Josh. 11:22 it states that the few Anakim who survived the conquest settled in Gath.  Now, who was the most famous resident of Gath?)  These fears were completely reasonable except for the fact that God was on their side.
            Moses then uses the history of his listeners to show just how ridiculous this fear was.  In chapter 2 he recounts the march to their current camp just east of the Jordan River.  On the way, God told them not to bother the Edomites because He had given them the land they occupied.  There had been other people there before, but when God decided to give the Edomites the land, they had no trouble occupying it (vs 5,12).  Then they were told not to bother the Moabites, because God had given them their land.  There used to be Giants there, too, called Emim, but the Moabites had no trouble driving them out when God gave them that land (vs 9-11).  This was repeated with the Ammonites (vs 19-22), who drove out another Giant race (the Zamzummim) to take their land.  The Israelites would have remembered God's instructions through Moses concerning these nations, and Moses uses that knowledge to refute two of the fears.  When God decided to bless these pagan peoples who had no relationship with Him, it didn't matter that there were people already living there nor did it matter how strong they were, God gave them that land.  So, what would He do for His people?
            Moses then uses the victories of Israel over the Amorite kings Sihon and Og to dispel with the third fear (2:32-3:6).  In defeating these kings, the Israelites captured all their cities, many of which were strongly fortified.  Moses graphically displays that if God is on their side, nothing could stand in their way:  "And I commanded Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing.  You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.’" (Deut. 3:21-22)
            Is it ever scary to be a Christian?  Be honest; sometimes it is terrifying.  To be different from everyone around you all the time, to be accused of self-righteousness or mean-spiritedness because of taking a stand for the truth can be pretty frightening.  To miss out on promotions because you won't work Sundays or because people think of you as judgmental can be scary.  To be attacked on social media and needing to erase your accounts because you declared that some things are right and some things are wrong can be unnerving.  Nowadays, some people are losing their businesses which they worked their lives through to establish because they won't' accommodate sin or are even being thrown in jail for refusal to follow immoral government mandates.  That can be terrifying.  These are all reasonable fears, from a worldly perspective.  But as Moses used the example of pagan kingdoms God wished to bless to encourage the Israelites, we can use the example of God's blessings on His earthly kingdom to find strength to carry on (Col. 2:17, Heb. 8:5; 10:1).  Joshua was told not to fear because God was fighting for them.  How much less reason do we have to fear as part of the Kingdom God established by the sacrifice of His Son?  Won't God fight even harder for us? 
            Fear is natural when Satan's forces are arrayed against us, but remember who fights on our side and keep marching forward to the Promised Land.
 
Luke 12:32  “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Heb. 13:6  "So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” 
 
Lucas Ward
 

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Sometime in our first year or two, I read an article, I think in Reader's Digest, about the joy an older couple had in reading the journals they kept of their years together. Shortly after Lucas was born in 77, I began. I really did not know how. It was not a "Dear Diary" outpouring of thoughts and emotions, just a daily record of the things we did and sometimes what we thought about them. Each year, we bought a 200 page college ruled notebook and keep a day on one side of each page. For momentous events sometimes more than one side was needed. Dene added her bit sometimes but it was not until the boys were in high school that she became regular. Sometimes, I got behind and had to write events a week or more in the past. Now, we both write every evening.

And we have enjoyed reading them. They serve as a check on memory as both of us have been wrong about sequence of events and we each forget about the same number of things. Some things we had not recalled pop back in memory as clear as yesterday yet we wonder about some of the others. We have used hard cards to create a table of contents for each year and are current up to 2019. We learned the balance to keep it on one card plus half the back. We find many more wonderful memories than we find in our photographs of the same years.

Lesson one:
One cannot repent specifically of all his sins. I recorded with satisfaction something I had done to Dene and how right I was to do that.  When I reread that day this time through (not our first reading), I was smitten with remorse. I was proud of myself then. I was so right! With years of spiritual growth I now know I sinned. Of course I both repented and apologized to her right then. But, I had completely forgotten about doing this act. Had I not read it in the journal, no matter how spiritual I became, I could never have specifically repented of this sin I did not remember. This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened. We all grow. We know better than we once did. Our memories fail us regarding all the things we need to repent.  We join the Tax Collector, "God be merciful to me, a sinner" (Lk 18:13).

Lesson two:
We have no way to know which events were God working through us and which were our own wills. I am often astounded at how much preaching/teaching I did, how many good and kind deeds, etc. I am just as surprised at how many foolish things I said and did. I can see no pattern. Many say, "God has a better plan for you" to comfort someone after a personal disaster. On the other hand, that disaster (sin?) may have slammed doors in God's face and made insurmountable roadblocks to his plans for us. We see no pattern when we read for we have no ability to know how things might have worked had we made different choices, had bad things not happened, etc.

Lesson three:
One constant we see in our past is a steadfast devotion to God. Our faith has been the basis of all our decisions whether we proclaimed such or even discussed it in that manner. Yes, we made bad decisions and bad choices but we did so in good faith efforts to serve God. However, our memories without the journals do not always see it that way. They have been a comfort to our souls.

Taking personal stock is always beneficial, as well as learning from the past.  This journal has helped us do just that. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Ps 139:23-24).
 
Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
 
I've been teaching through the five books of Moses and after a while it struck me that God seemed just plain meaner and more short-tempered in the Pentateuch than anywhere else in the Bible. 
 
While there is a myth among the ignorant of the "mean" Old Testament God, a light perusal of the Old Testament shows this just isn't so.  God endured rebellion after rebellion of His people with punishments that were quickly rescinded as the people repented.  Although the cycle of sin/punishment/repentance/salvation in Judges is well known, what is sometimes missed is that this occurred over more than 300 years, and, often, fairly localized.  Over those 300 years we see eight or nine periods of punishment for the near constant sin of God's people? 
 
Once kings were established and the northern ten tribes broke away, those ten tribes constantly lived in sin.  First perverting the worship of God, they then turned away from Him to Baal.  And yet God, in His mercy, begged them through prophet after prophet to repent for more than 200 years after "Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin," and more than 100 years after the death of Ahab, who turned them to Baal, before He finally destroyed them. 
 
The southern kingdom of Judah, with its periods of repentance, lasted nearly 120 years more, despite greater levels of sin.  As the end came near, God begged Judah to repent for He did not wish to destroy them (Ezek. 18:31; 33:11).  Truly, the Old Testament shows not a vindictive God, but a merciful God who delayed punishment beyond all reasonable expectation of the people, desiring that "all should reach repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9)
 
But in the Pentateuch?  Wow!  In less than forty years, God plans to wipe out all of Israel and start over with Moses's offspring multiple times (Ex. 32:9-10; Numb. 14:11-12; 16:21).  Since the people had so thoroughly and quickly broken the covenant, He could not be held to it either.  He would get them to the Promised Land to fulfill His promise to Abraham, but He would not go with them (Ex. 33:1-3).  God "broke out against them" many other times in drastic punishments of their sins.  We see the jealousy and vengeance of God more often in the forty year period of wilderness wandering than we do in the rest of the Old Testament combined (maybe a slight exaggeration).  It made me wonder why.
 
Maybe one reason is this:  in every instance of God's wrath we see an instance of Moses interceding for the people.  In Ex. 3:11-14, Moses implored and God relented.  In 32:30 he tells the people they have sinned greatly but perhaps he could make atonement for them.  In 33:12-17 Moses intercedes and God renews the covenant relationship with the people.  Moses intercedes again in Numbers 14:13-19 and in verse 20 God relents again.  This is repeated in Numb. 16:22.  Again, it was Moses who interceded for the people when the fiery serpents came upon them (Numb. 21:7).  Even on a personal level Moses interceded for the people.  When Miriam was struck with leprosy for her rebellion, Aaron did not pray to God for mercy, he begged Moses to intercede (Number 12).  Moses did, and Miriam was healed after a seven day "timeout".   Moses constantly stood ready to intercede between the people and God, even when he was personally wearied by the people's sins. 
 
In Deut. 18:15 Moses prophesies that a prophet will arise "like me" and it is to that prophet that the people should listen.  When discussing this, most look at the fact that Moses spoke to God face-to-face rather then prophesying through dreams and visions and that Moses was the law-giver.  Jesus fulfills these qualities of a prophet like Moses.  He had been face-to-face with God for eternity and is the giver of the perfect law of liberty.  But to be truly a prophet like Moses, Jesus would have to stand between the people and God.  He would need to be ready always to make intercession and turn away the wrath of God.  Lo, and behold, Heb. 7:25!  "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (emphasis mine)  We can stand before God only because Jesus makes intercession.  We live, despite the wrath our sins generate, only because Jesus turns that anger away.  He is the only one who can stand with His hand on the shoulder of both God and man (Job 9:33), as He alone knows what it means to be both God and man.  He embodies this aspect of Moses as well, truly making Him the prophet that was to come. 
 
It is easy, as one reads through the Pentateuch, to see that the burden of intercession bore heavily on Moses.  One imagines that it might be so for Jesus as well.  Let us strive to lessen that burden as much as possible by living lives of righteousness.  One day that burden will grow too great and He will return "rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thess. 1:8)
 
Rom. 8:34  "…who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Isa. 53:12  "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Sometimes I wonder whether our modesty has become a bushel that hides our light. Paul on occasion found the need to boast of the things he had suffered to preach, list the things he had given up to follow Jesus, and report the work he had done by God's grace (2Cor 11:16-33, Phil 3:4-7, Acts 14:27, 15:12). Not only so, but Barnabas's generosity was known to the whole church (Acts 4:36-37). Somehow, it seems we have let our fear of appearing like Ananias and Sapphira keep us from letting our light shine. Of course, many of you have already figured out that the above is my excuse for doing a little boasting. Judge whether it is light shining or ego.

For most of our 48 ½ years, Dene and I have lived with our financial noses barely above water and occasionally sputtered and bubbled a little bit. Then, beginning with the death of my parents we got our chins out and with the passing of hers, we find ourselves to be relatively comfortable. We have lived in the same 24 X 56 doublewide since the boys were 5 and 3 (1982) and have upgraded it over the years with a screened porch (her father's gift), a roofover, siding, kitchen cabinets, laminate flooring, but, it is still a mobile home. After the emotions settled from her mother's passing, we discussed building a house on our 5 acres. We can afford it now, a REAL HOUSE!

We decided not. Our grandparents raised 3-8 children in houses much smaller than even this trailer. At my age, we may be here a few more years or a few more days so a house might be all the disruption with little benefit. Finally, many had helped us along the way and we longed for this opportunity to help others. So, we will continue to pray throughout the hurricane season for truly, we live in a house of sticks.

In the last few years, we have helped preachers in Nicaragua, Africa and a few in the U.S. We have donated to St Judes (Not Catholic affiliated), the hospice that cared for our (Dene's) Mom, Sacred Selections, Florida College, etc. We continue to live under the budget set when I retired with an occasional splurge.
I am aware of a number of other twice blessed brethren who have followed the same principle and given much more in dollars, so the following will not apply to many of our readers.

But, it is immediately obvious on the face that many if not most church members are more interested in bigger houses, newer cars, fashionable clothes, recreation, etc. than they are in furthering the work of the Lord. Look where their money goes! Look where their time goes! Listen to what they talk about most. Bigger Barns.

We pray every night for the Christians in other countries that struggle for enough to eat, make decisions about going hungry or buying medicine for an ongoing illness, and other such problems, but who are rich in faith.

We pray just as fervently for Christians in America who are not aware that God is blessing them to meet those needs, not so they can have bigger, better, and more.
 
"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, THAT HE MAY HAVE TO GIVE TO HIM THAT NEEDS. " (Eph 4:28).
"And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise"  (Luke 3:11).  
"CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS, pursue hospitality." (Rom 12:13).
"Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and GENEROUS TO THOSE IN NEED, always being ready to share with others. " (1Tim 6:18).
Jesus and the apostles said one does not have to be rich to share.
 
Keith Ward
 
 

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

Deut. 1:3  "And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that Jehovah had given him in commandment unto them"

In our last discussion of how Moses taught, we showed how Moses only taught the people what the Lord had told him to say.  In new situations, Moses went to the Lord to learn what needed to be done. He never took it upon himself to speak for the Lord.  He only commanded as the Lord commanded him.  In the above verse, we see a difference of emphasis.  As Moses began his last series of addresses to the people we are told that he spoke all that the Lord had commanded.  He didn't pick and choose.  He didn't only tell them the stuff that sounded pleasant or that would build their egos.  He didn't cater to those with "itching ears" who would "turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to fables." (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
 
All too often, modern preachers -- catering to modern audiences -- only preach the nice things in the New Testament.  They preach on salvation, heaven, and the blessings of God.  They preach about the ability to do "all things through Him that strengthens me" and all things "working together for the good of them that love the Lord".  While these things are Biblical principles that should be taught, the same supposed "Gospel Preachers" never seem to mention the harder truths of the New Testament.  Too many preachers ignore the passages calling for sacrifice, for putting to death who we were and striving to grow in Christian qualities, no matter how difficult that is.  We don't hear about being in submission one to another, in humility putting others before ourselves or that we should consider our needs of least concern in the face of the needs of the brethren.  We are rarely warned anymore of Hell or of the immediacy of the need to repent.  "While it is called Today," the writer of Hebrews implores. 
 
Moses spent long passages extolling the blessings of God and the wonders of the Promised Land to which the people were going.  He prophesied that the other nations of the world would bow down to Israel as the chosen of God if Israel would keep the covenant.  Moses spent longer passages, however, warning of the curses that would come upon the people if they sinned and the ultimate results of breaking the covenant they had made with God.  Most everyone is more motivated by avoiding the bad than they are by attaining the good.  God knows this and so instructed Moses to teach, yet modern preachers far too often leave out any hint of consequences in their so-called "Gospel" sermons.  Ironic, since we know more about the Hell from the teachings of Jesus than from all other sources combined.
 
Preachers: do better.  Be sure to present the whole word of God.  Audiences: demand better.  If all you want is your ego to be stroked, then you won't find that in a Biblical church.  If you want to be challenged unto salvation, however, that is what the Gospel does.  Demand Gospel preaching!
 
One final thought:  Moses taught all.  He didn't set up a system of secret knowledge available only to the initiated so that a select few could lord it over the rest of the people.  Moses taught all.  If you are part of some group that has a system of levels that one must climb to attain the true, hidden knowledge then you are not a part of a group that follows the Biblical example.  The lowliest Christian has full access to the revelation of God through His word.  That, in fact, is a major theme of 1 John.  Seek out the truth!
 
Acts 20:26-27  "Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God."

Lucas Ward
 

Today's post is by guest writer Warren Berkley. 

Talk to God. Can you think of any occasion, issue, or problem that you shouldn’t pray about? I can’t. Any matter that is important enough to think about is important enough to pray about. If you are bothered, believing you have been mistreated or offended by your brother, talk to God about it. Lay the problem out before Him, asking for wisdom, patience, love, and objectivity. If you believe your brother has sinned against you, pray to God sincerely for him. If you think your brother is guilty of sin or error, pray for him and pray for yourself, so that you might use a mature and godly approach to the problem. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him,” (James 1:5).

Talk to yourself. Before you go to your brother, consider the possibility that you might be the problem; or at least part of the problem. Examine yourself; your attitude and perspective. Use the Word of God as a mirror to look at yourself and talk to yourself (Jas. 1:21-25). Jesus said, in the context of this very matter, “take heed to yourselves,” (see Luke 17:1-4).

Talk to him. The typical reaction, when you believe your brother has mistreated you, is to broadcast your irritation to everybody but the brother. To tell others “your side of the story” before the brother even knows there is a story. Jesus said, “go and tell him his fault between you and him alone,” (Matt. 18:15). That is the law of Christ!

Talk to him promptly. Of all the words spoken by Jesus, I don’t know of many as ignored by my brethren as these three words: “Agree with your adversary quickly,” (Matt. 5:25). I’ve never heard of a Christian denying that Christ said this, but few seem to take it seriously. At the first sign of trouble, we need to respond by talking to our brother. We need to take this action “quickly” not “eventually.” This is the law of Christ!

Talk to him lovingly. “Let brotherly love continue” even in times of conflict (Heb. 13:1). If your brother has sinned against you, he needs your love – not your selfish, immature reactions. When you talk to him, do so in a manner that displays your love for God and your love for his soul. The object in your conversation with him is not to vent your wrath, but to express your love and communicate God’s will in such a way, the conflict is resolved; the sin is forsaken; the misunderstanding is settled. (See Prov. 27:5,6). Stand for what is right, but do it “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:1). “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing,” (Prov. 12:18). And, “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God,” (Jas. 1:20).

Talk to him patiently. If your first visit does not yield good results, go back again. If the problem has the potential of harming you, hindering others and hurting the cause of Christ – don’t give up quickly. Keep trying to work the problem out to a godly result. One thing is certain, if two people love the Lord, there is no problem they cannot solve through the good attitudes and actions the Lord has taught us.

Truth Connection: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” (Gal. 6:1-5).
 
Warren Berkley
 
Warren Berkley is a faithful preacher of God's Word. He is the assistant editor for Pressing On, an e-magazine from which this article was taken.  He and his wife Paula work with the church in McAllen,Texas which is just across the border from Mexico.
If you are interested in receiving Pressing On, contact me by clicking on the contact page on the left sidebar, and I will see to it that you get the information you need.  --dw

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Sometimes we focus too much on theology and theory.  Trying to understand the why’s and the methods by which God works can be illuminating. We understand that a man is saved by grace; that he is saved by faith. But some go too far in their assertions of what those mean in relation to the life a Christian must live. Their theories state that one cannot overcome sin on a regular continuing basis.  Their theories begin to usurp the place of plain statements of scripture and often excuse a careless attitude toward God’s demand for holy living. And, make no mistake, it is a demand.
 
Not to dismiss the passages on grace and faith from which the theology proceeds, let us consider some of the “on the other hand” applications made by the same writers inspired by the same Holy Spirit.
 
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us CLEANSE OURSELVES FROM ALL DEFILEMENT of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  (2 Cor 7:1)
 
Sort of absolute, “all.”  Perfecting is not "one and done," but is ongoing as is the cleansing—get clean and stay clean.
 
For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2: 11-12)
 
Grace instructs all to live righteously, godly. Not much wiggle-room for the "We all sin every day" statement we hear so often.
 
Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith  (1Tim 1:19)
 
So, one could go a whole day, or longer with a good conscience! In fact, the grace of God can be so powerful in one’s life that he has to “thrust” a good conscience away, shove it aside in order to fall.
 
For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye ABSTAIN from fornication (1Thess 4:3) ABSTAIN from every form of evil.  (1Thess 5:22)
 
We understand this means to abstain from evil in every shape it comes in. Again, the Holy Spirit is absolute, but we make excuses, "That is just the way I am," "I am doing the best I can and that is all God requires."
 
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry  (Col 3:5)
 
Kill it. Don’t just reduce it. Kill it. Don’t be satisfied with being better than last week or last year, KILL IT! (Repeat all the excuses above for your comfort in your status quo).
 
Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these, I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things WILL NOT INHERIT the kingdom of God  (Gal 5:21)
 
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?  (Rom 6:16)
 
LET NOT SIN THEREFORE REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:  neither present your members unto sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace  (Rom 6: 12-14)
 
Grace is the power to choose whom you serve. To sin is to serve sin and to prove oneself not under grace. Sin is the choice to obey oneself instead of living in Grace.
 
But I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected  (1Cor 9:27)
 
If Paul had to work at it this hard, we know that it is not easy. To buffet is to beat like a boxer. No nonsense about that approach. And not much room for "back row Christians."
 
With all the theorizing about grace and faith, that one cannot achieve sinlessness, even for a short time, we discourage others from doing what the Scriptures clearly command. Perhaps we could even say, grace has become a cloak to cover impenitence.
 
To repent means to STOP what one repents of. That is clearly the import of these passages and dozens of others.
 
The sermons I have heard that use these verses usually go on to say that we all know we cannot really do this! Really?! Are they not saying to just keep sinning and praying for forgiveness that grace may abound (Rom 6:1)?
 
If God said it, he gives us the power to do it. Doing it is a daily effort. These verses were written to people who had been Christians for some time. Therefore, Grace does not magically make us okay despite the sin, or cause God to ignore the sin on the basis of Christ. God expects us to overcome our sin.
 
Yes, I struggle; more, perhaps on that later. Overcoming is no easy task and getting old is not a solution or else 75 is still too young. The solution is to effectively use the grace of God to renew our minds and transform ourselves.
 
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has CEASED FROM SIN, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you  (1Pet 4:1-4).
 
Keith Ward
 
 

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward

Moses was the leader of the children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness.  He was the law-giver, the one who judged between the people and the one who consecrated the priesthood.  To worldly eyes, he was in all intents and purposes a king.  In fact, that was the gripe that Dathan and Abiram had with him when they joined Korah in his rebellion.  They thought Moses had gotten too big for his britches.  God, of course, showed them otherwise.  One might look at all this and think, "Wow, what authority!"  But look at these passages:

Num. 9:6-8  "And there were certain men who were unclean through touching a dead body, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day.  And those men said to him, “We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the LORD's offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?”  And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.”" 
Num. 15:32-35  "While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.  And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation.  They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.   And the LORD said to Moses . . ."
Num. 27:1-5  "Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons.  Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brothers.”  Moses brought their case before the LORD." 
Num. 36:2-5  "They said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the people of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.  But if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the people of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. So it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.  And when the jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.”  And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD"

            Do you see the common thread in all of these passages?  In each of these cases something came up for which God had not yet issued a commandment.  Surely Moses, in his wisdom and in his place as trusted servant of God, could be trusted to make the judgment himself, right?  Yet Moses never did this.  In every case we see him going to God to ask, or waiting for God to speak.  Moses never usurped God's authority, never added to what God had told him to say, never took anything away.  When Moses spoke, he "commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the Lord." 
            Most of the religious world needs to relearn the humility and dedication of Moses.
 
2 John 1:9  "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."
 
Lucas Ward