Life

Cords Of Vanity

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We have looked at two of the “Woes” which God pronounces against the house of Judah – the nation of Judah. When God pronounces woes it is because He is not pleased with them. Woe has been announced against them for “Joining house to house” at the expense of the poor and others who are less fortunate. He has announced woe against them for their licentious, ie., lewd parties, and their worship of demons.

We come to the third “Woe” which Isaiah the prophet names, and it is, “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope…” (5:18). It is as though they are taunting God. They are living vainly, emptily, and throwing their sins up before God, and daring Him to come. They are unbelieving that He sees their wickedness.

They do not believe that God will come and judge their evil, so they just go on living in rebellion. They would rather continue in sin, since they cannot see God working and moving in a way they would like. Pride in sin, rebellion against the Holy One of Israel. The rope they use to pull the cart will be used in their hanging.

You might hear them saying, “If He is going to come and judge us; let Him come; let Him come and do it quickly”. It is in mockery. There are those of the world who would say that today, and maybe some who profess to be God’s people, but the people of God cannot live in such mockery. God will come. God will avenge His holiness, righteousness, and justness.

How will He find you when He comes?

“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:  That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!” Isaiah 5:18-19 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Cassville’s Football Team

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Generally, I do not write a post like this one on Fire and Hammer, but this was something I had to share.  As many of you know I am not a huge sports fan, rarely attending any sports event unless I drive a school bus delivering the school atheletes to their destination.

Our Cassville High School football team has had an excellent year, however, and I want to share that with you.  Our team had a 10 – 2 year in their conference.  They have been in play off games for the past two Saturdays or so, and have won the games.  It came down to the final play off game between Cassville and Chilicothe; and Chilicothe had a 13 – 0 season, not losing a single game.  The big game that determines State Champions will be Friday November 28 in Saint Louis in the Jones Dome.

I guess I am just about like every other guy, I like to see winners, and I have know our boys on the team were winners I just haven’t gone to any other game this year, but I went Saturday, and was glad that I did.  I had planned on listening on the radio, but saw how beautiful a day it was going to be and decided that if my older son Timothy, who was out deer hunting at the time, wanted to go then I would go too.  Sarah, his wife called him on his cell and asked if he would like to go.  He wanted to, and he came in early due to the cold, and we decided to go a little early, get lunch, then go to the game; hopefully to find a seat by going early.  HA! HA!  When we arrived to the stadium in Cassville, there was not a seat to be found.  This was at 1 p.m. and the game didn’t start until 1:30.

So, we stood along the railing with probably more than a hundred others, until the game started, during the game, and until the game was over.  It was one of the best; if not the best football game I ever watched.  These teams were very evenly matched.  It seemed that Chilicothe was getting more yardage, but would be stopped in crucial moments for Cassville.

Cassville led at the close of the first half 14 – 7.  In the third quarter Chilicothe came back and got a touchdown.  On the extra point attempt the ball went high, and it seemed to me that a gust of wind caught that ball and sent it to the left of the left field goal post, coming up short and to the left and no point.  The score at that point was 14 – 13, Cassville in the lead.  Cassville gained no other points, nor did Chilicothe.

In the last minute of the game Chilicothe was attempting a touchdown with a few short yards to the goal.  The quarterback made a pass, and Cassville intercepted, and they kneeled with the ball, until the clock ran out.  Cassville won 14 – 13.  They go to Saint Louis on Friday.  It is a first in the history of Cassville Schools.

I don’t know if God intervenes in football to help one team win over another or not, but it almost appeared that way to me.  I don’t believe in coincidences.  I do believe in God through His Son Jesus Christ.  I know He rules in the events of men.

GO CASSVILLE WILDCATS!!!

-Tim A. Blankenship

Reserved For Darkness

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“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;” Jude 6 (NKJV).

Apostasy is a horrible thing. It even affected the very first beings which God has made, and that is the angels. There was one angel who was evidently more beautiful to look upon than all the others, and that was the one named Lucifer. Read Ezekiel 28:11-19. He eventually got too full of himself, and led others to follow him in rebellion in heaven, and it has been said that one third of the angels followed him. Read Revelation 12:7-12.

Isaiah the prophet mentions Lucifer; “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12ff). Five times following, he shows his rebellious heart, and says he will take the throne of God, he says, “I will be like the Most High”. If there was ever a case for “I” trouble he had it.

The angels of heaven had a home in the presence of eternal God, their Creator. One led one third to be cast out, and are awaiting the judgment of God. Lucifer, ie., the devil knows that he has but a short time, and in this day is working to condemn the souls of men, women, boys and girls to eternal torment. Let us never begin to take the devil too lightly. He does not care, nor does he have an inkling or concern for our problems. He is a thief, robber, murderer, and does not desire to do anything but to “steal, kill, and destroy” you. He knows his destination is the Lake of Fire, and he and his minions are out to snare, trap, and lead you there with them.

The proper, God made domain for the angels was in the presence of the LORD. God’s proper domain for you and I is to be eternally in the presence of God. Let us never think, though, that just because we were the ones made in the “Image of God” that that destiny is secure. It is only secure in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; shed on the cross for our sins. When we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then and only then, is that destination secured. He holds us in His strong hands, and will never let us go. Praise Him.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Pleasure Party of Destruction

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The second “Woe” Isaiah mentions is toward those who live in a party mentality most of the time. They love their beer, wine, and hard liquor; and drugs of choice. They live for the time they can lose their mind or minds to feeling nothing. They want to lose control, and be out of control.

Even when these “Hearty Partiers” are sober they are living for the moment they can let it all go. Personally, I have never been able to understand why anyone wants to lose it all. All their money. All their purity. All their senses. All their ability to be in control of themselves – They have worked in factories, offices, different business forms, and under someone else’s control, yet they want to lose control through these drunken parties. No sense.

The New Living Translation (NLT) calls this word “Destruction”. In verse eleven of Isaiah 5 we are told, “Destruction is certain for you who get up early to begin long drinking bouts that last late into the night.” Just the mere act of getting drunk is going to lead to destruction; the destruction of your life and maybe someone else’s.

Many of the children of Judah in Isaiah’s day were living in a ‘party mode’. The land was wealthy. They were wealthy. They had it made. Nothing could happen to “God’s people”. After-all they had God’s assurance that He would never leave them or forsake them. “We have it made in the shade”, and “Who is this prophet anyway, that he should go around telling us what to do?” “We are God’s people. We are free to do as we please, as long as it does not violate our consciences.” So much for consciences.

These, had their music, and Isaiah calls it “Lovely music” (v. 12, NLT), “…But they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the work of His hands” (NKJV). One thing is abundantly clear in this “Woe”, and that is; that it is calling for the destruction, through captivity of God’s people as a nation. They had forsaken God for their pleasures. DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND EVEN REMOTELY FAMILIAR?

We have professing Christian people being advocates for the drinking of alcoholic beverage. “Well! the Bible does not have any provisions forbidding it”, “There is nowhere that Scriptures say, ‘Thou shalt not drink beverage alcohol”. Just because it does not out and out forbid it is no reason to defend it. I could use that same argument for slavery, abortion, polygamy; there is nowhere the Bible that forbids those either. They are definitely forbidden by principle and the teachings written in Scriptures. One of those principles could be seen here in this text. If you are for godly things, and the things of God, then you will not drink, because you know that one can lead to more, which can lead to drunkenness.

Isaiah’s words are written for the future when he writes, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity…”. They will in one hundred plus years go into captivity by Babylon. They are presently in captivity to their pleasures and lusts, and Isaiah says, “Because they have no knowledge”. Hosea the prophet wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”, and previous to that he wrote, “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:6a, 1b NKJV). Why is it that Judah has no knowledge. They have so gotten into comfort, their pleasures, their wealth, their material possessions that God is only secondary. They will give God some notice if it fits into their schedule.

When you lose your knowledge of God; it is because you have gotten away from Him, forsaken Him, His Word, and prayer and worship of Him.

Hear what the prophet writes according to the NLT in verse 14, “The grave is licking its chops in anticipation of Jerusalem, this delicious morsel. Her great and lowly will be swallowed up, with all her drunken crowds. In that day the arrogant will be brought down to the dust; the proud will be humbled. But the LORD Almighty is exalted by His justice. The holiness of God is displayed by his righteousness. In those days flocks will feed among the ruins; lambs and kids will pasture there”

In the United States of America we have a major problem with people departing from God for their pleasures, and still keeping God in the equation. God tells us quite clearly that there is destruction, “Woe” in doing that. If you want to have a clean heart, clear mind, and be in control there is nothing like turning your whole life over to the LORD who died and rose again for you. His name is Jesus. This Jesus Christ is the one who will judge you in these matters.

“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.” Isaiah 5:11-17 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Persecution of Iraqi Christians

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

I just received this email and wanted to let you all know about it.  Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Iraq.

Hello,

 

I wanted to let you know about Chuck Colson’s BreakPoint commentary about the plight of Iraqi Christians, which aired last week (see transcript; click here for audio). 

 

Persecution has escalated recently and threatens the existence of Iraq’s non-Muslim minorities now more than ever.  More than 15,000 Iraqi Christians have been forced by Islamic terrorists to flee Mosul for refuge in neighboring states in October.  Many of those who remain in Iraq are internally displaced.  The response of the American government and the Iraqi authorities has been grossly inadequate.  But we will continue to speak out on behalf of the victims and provide emergency food aid.

 

Would you consider letting your blog readers know about the troubles facing Christians in Iraq and encourage them to sign a petition asking the U.S. government to help Save Iraqi Christians? 

 

Also, join our Save Iraqi Christians Facebook cause, and for photos and video links visit SaveIraqiChristians.com.

 

Thank you,

Dr. John Eibner

Christian Solidarity International
SaveIraqiChristians.com

 

Thanks.  Let’s pray for all our brothers and sisters in other lands where they are not free to practice their faith.  We should remember that our freedoms here in the States are not guaranteed.

-Tim A. Blankenship

House To House

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We have seen God’s love for the Vineyard He built and established. He planted the best vines. He cared for, tilled, and built a vineyard around the vineyard, then the vineyard produced nothing worthwhile, only wild grapes.

Now when we get to the next three verses we see a “Woe” pronounced against the people of Judah. This is a ‘Woe’ very similar to the first ‘Woe’ against Babylon in Habakkuk 2. God is not pleased with land grabbing from any source, but especially by His own children.

This practice which is addressed is one of financing a place, the debtor being unable to pay the debt, then the creditor repossessing the property, and adding to their land, houses, business. Many today would think, “Now, what is wrong with that? That is just capitalism”. It is in fact capitalism run amuck. God does not tolerate evil against His own people. When the people of God profit against the well-being of others of God’s people there is a great miscarriage of right going on. Sometimes what is legal is not right.

This woe is warning of judgment coming on them.

A few years ago I worked in a Manufactured Homes sales location repairing trade-ins, repos, and such to get them ready for resale. The man I worked with; and who actually gave me the joy, to help me out while between pastorates, and a pastor himself; was speaking to one of the salesmen, and I was listening too. This salesman was telling of a possible sale to a couple whose credit was not very good, and how they were going to increase the price of this single wide home from 22,000 dollars to 27,000 dollars, and give them a high interest rate as well. Now, that is injustice. I do not think God was smiling down on that that day. Someone will say, “Well, that is the way financing is done”. Maybe, but it is against the people who need help the most. You read the Scriptures and you will see God does not smile on that. You can see it in verses 8 – 10 of this text.

“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.” Isaiah 5:8-10 (KJV)

It just does not seem right to me for anyone in the United States of America to be treated with such greediness and no self-control by the money lenders.  The hearts of our people should tend to this not the law.  We must be more sensitive to the needs of the less fortunate among us. God forgive us if we are not.

Read Isaiah 5:1-7

-Tim A. Blankenship

God’s Disappointment

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Isaiah was a singer as well as a prophet. There are many portions of the book which are songs or poetry. It would probably be correct to say that a majority of the book is in song form. Have you ever been in a position you could not think of anything to say, but a poem came to mind, so you penned it down? Well, it was about the same for the prophet, only his is God-breathed.

The source of this song, of course, is Isaiah’s grief and sorrow over the spiritual condition of his people. He could have said with the apostle Paul, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). Jeremiah the prophet also, had the same burden, “O, that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people” (Jeremiah 9:1).

Isaiah has seen plenty of vineyards and he knows the Scriptures which tell him Israel is like a vineyard, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it” Psalm 80:8; “ Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance” Psalm 80:14-16.

Isaiah desires to sing to his “Well-Beloved”, and his Beloved is the one who owns the vineyard. You will note that he mentions the good land the vineyard is on. It is good for a vineyard to grow the fruit of the vine; “On a very fruitful hill”. The Well-Beloved dug and removed the stones from the ground. He planted the best of vines. He built a tower to watch over it and to have the “winepress” in it.

Can you imagine the sorrow and grief the Well-Beloved must have had when he sees the “wild grapes” rather than the nice juicy, sweet, clusters of grapes He was so expecting, and justly so.

The point here is God’s Disappointment with the Nation Judah, the city Jerusalem, and we need not read into this that God did not know this was going to happen. Even though God knows all things; He is still disappointed at times.

God is well pleased when we come to Him through His Son who died for us on the cross, taking the sin which was mine and yours, receiving the judgment for those sins, dying, being buried, carrying our sins away; then rising again for our justification. Being made just as though we had never sinned. Do not let your fruit be wild grapes.

“I will sing about the one I love,
a song about my loved one’s vineyard:
The one I love had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones,
and planted it with the finest vines.
He built a tower in the middle of it
and even hewed out a winepress there.
He expected it to yield good grapes,
but it yielded worthless grapes.
So now, residents of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
please judge between Me
and My vineyard.
What more could I have done for My vineyard
than I did?
Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes,
did it yield worthless grapes?
Now I will tell you
what I am about to do to My vineyard:
I will remove its hedge,
and it will be consumed;
I will tear down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
I will make it a wasteland.
It will not be pruned or weeded;
thorns and briers will grow up.
I will also give orders to the clouds
that rain should not fall on it.
For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah,
the plant He delighted in.
He looked for justice
but saw injustice,
for righteousness,
but heard cries of wretchedness.”

Isaiah 5:1-7 (HCSB)
 

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Grace Into Lewdness

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“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4 (NKJV).

Yes! This is the same verse as yesterday’s. However it seems prudent to deal a little more on that part of the verse which is in bold print.

It is sad that there seems to be a growing number of professing Bible teachers who call themselves or have been called “Free Gracers”. Grace is free from our loving God and Savior, however, the fact of its being free to us does not give us freedom to live without control. That is usually what is meant by those who believe in “Free Grace”. It is usually meant that when you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, or they would just say Savior, then you have the “Liberty of conscience, or spirit” to live as you so please.

In affect, they turn the “grace of God into lewdness”, and the idea of Christian liberty is taken beyond what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is; there is liberty”. We are free in Christ.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are 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 the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:12-18 (KJV)

The freedom which we have in Jesus Christ is not freedom to live as we please, but freedom from the law of condemnation, and freedom to live for Christ and unbound by sin. Before salvation we were servants of sin. Having Jesus as our Lord and Savior unbinds us from sin, then, to serve our Lord Jesus, and to live in the way that will glorify His precious and holy name.

It is not in the heart of a child of God to continue in disobedient, rebellious sin against our Lord. Jesus is Lord of the true believer, the true child of God. If the heart of the individual professing Jesus as Savior is not prone to glorify God by living for Him, then, that heart is not redeemed, and needs Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The heart of the truly saved individual desires to live in such a fashion that Jesus’s name will be glorified in their life. It is not given to the disobedience of sin.

The teacher who teaches such heresy is not a teacher of God, but is one of those who has come in “unnoticed” or “Unawares”. Take heed to what every teacher, who is teaching, teaches. Use the spiritual discernment which the Spirit of God gives you, along side the Word of God.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Blessings To Come

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We looked at the Branch and who that is.  Of course, it is Jesus.

Note in these next few verses the blessings which will come to the Nation for the glory of the LORD.

  • Ones remaining in Jerusalem will be called holy;
  • They are “recorded for life in Jerusalem”;
  • The Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion;
  • The bloodstains will have been cleansed by a purifying judgment;
  • There will be a ‘Canopy’ of glory over the city – “a cloud by day”, and “…flaming fire by night”;
  • They will have shelter from the heat of the day, and from the storm and rain which will come.

The Branch will be glorified in fulfilling all the promises of God.  Let those of us who are saved by grace through the death, burial and resurrection continue to trust in the God of Israel who keeps all His promises.

“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Isaiah 4:3-6 (KJV)

Sneaky Men Of Condemnation

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“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4 (NKJV).

Hopefully most Christians have noticed that there is a whole lot of religious rhetoric in the world, and most of that on what you will see for what poses as “Christian Television”. The aim of many in these supposed ministries is not the promotion of the glory of Jesus Christ, but to fill their pocket books, and tell you things like, “If you are sick you have sinned”. They may not be so brash as to say that as clearly as that, but that is what they mean.

These are apostates. They actually hate the truth of Jesus Christ. They deny Jesus Christ by changing the meaning of His death on the cross, and will tell you things, such as, “On the cross Jesus was just a little wimp who couldn’t do anything.” The truth of that is that the victory of Jesus was the cross. It was on the cross where Satan, and Hell and sin were defeated. During that three hours of darkness there was the greatest war which has ever taking place that ever took place in eternity. Jesus was the victor.

The men and women who proclaim that your life should be without sickness, you should always be victorious, and always have a full bank account; and if you don’t you have sinned; are liars and are following their father the devil. They are deceivers and antichrist.

Beware of those teachers who call on you to give money to them, “And you will be blessed a hundred fold”. Jesus warned, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ’; and shall deceive many.” Now, these apostates may not be actually saying they are Christ, but they are denying the very power of Christ, and His cross. When you deny the power of His cross you deny Him.

These teachers are condemned people. They will have a place in eternity, but not with Jesus Christ. Be aware of false teachers. Believe the Word of God, and trust Him.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Please NOTE: I will not have any further posts until at least October 30.

The Test Of A Lifetime

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment
The very thing which Abraham and Sarah had hoped and prayed for all their lives; their promised son; was about to become an object of sacrifice. God does not require human sacrifice for redemption, justification, sanctification, or glorification. Humanity has been corrupted by sin, therefore would not meet the strict qualifications of purity required for the sacrifice. Death was the result of original sin come down through Adam, and all are guilty.

The Word from God to Abraham;

“And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Genesis 22:2 (KJV)

The son of promise. The son for which Abraham and Sarah had prayed and waited for a long time. For twenty five years they had waited for the promise, and for many years, possibly 30 – 37 years they had enjoyed the presence of Isaac; their son of laughter. Now God’s message, His Word, His command is “…Offer him for a burnt offering…” What a wonderful, glorious God. Doesn’t God know when you are dead, you’re dead? He knows no such thing. He is God of life, not death. When you give to God what He commands you lose nothing; you gain the life of obedience and faith.

The only son whom Abraham loved was Isaac, of course. Now, Abraham had another son by Hagar (chapter 16) a servant from Egypt. This union was without God’s blessing, thus a sinful relationship, and God yet promised to bless Ishmael, and make him a nation of people. He, however, was not the promised son. Isaac, “Laughter” is the promised son. The promised son is the son of Abraham and of Sarah, as God had promised. In being the “only son” is meant that he is the “only son” of God’s promise. Abraham loved Isaac, and God knew this, but did Abraham know that he actually had a greater love for God than he did for Isaac? Did Abraham realize the measure of faith he himself had for God, His word, and His will?

It was most likely very early in the morning when Abraham heard the Word of God. The place, to Abraham is not revealed, but God tells him “…upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” It was in the land of Moriah, which some believe to be in the area of Jerusalem, and the mount upon which Calvary was to be later. The thing is God knows the place and the time that is involved, and we will see that a little later. The thing is we hear a Word from God that is challenging, may even cause some doubt; and when it comes to faith, if there is no doubt what is the need for faith? Faith works through the doubts and fears of life, as Abraham worked through it as he obeyed.

This could seem as a dark event in the life of Abraham, but it is not. It is rather an event of challenging faith. Faith that will prove the heart of a man. Faith that will prove the promise, the power and grace of the Everlasting God. We must remember that in all things God is soveriegn, and will work out all things for our good and His glory. Faith is not “A leap into the dark”, but a walk in the Light.

You may be going through what you deem as THE TEST OF A LIFETIME, just keep walking in the light of the promises and grace of God. Give up all to God, and you gain, and never lose. Jesus said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39 (KJV). Also read Mark 8:35; Luke 9:25; and John 12:25. That TEST OF A LIFETIME may just be the power of the glory of God.

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

The Mountain Will Move

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Speaking previously in verse six, still through the prophet, God says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.” We know that through much effort on our part at times, and through circumstances and events that that is so true. When we labor for God, trusting only in our own abilities and gifts, we fail. When we are reliant upon the LORD and trusting Him then there is no such thing as failure.

We look now at the seventh verse of this chapter:

“Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Zechariah 4:7 (KJV)

Zerubbabel is the king who is able to restore the destroyed Temple. There are mountains of obstacles. If we are a bit familiar with Israel’s situation this day we see many obstacles for the rebuilding of the Temple. There are questions as to where the Temple was located exactly; it is known to be on the same area as the Jerusalem mosque of Islam [Dome of the Rock].

This has great hope for the future day prophecy (Ezekiel 40-44). Though they had many obstacles during the building of the Temple during the days of Ezra, there is a world wide problem in these days. This just magnifies the words of verse six, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit“. Obstacles seem to make great opportunities for God to move for His own glory and our good.

The mountain like obstacles faced by the future day Zerubbabel will fall like crumbling rock, and will flatten before him. This “Zerubbabel” will be a leader of Israel in a future day who has a passion for Israel, and restoring the Hebrew worship to his people. It could be in a day very near. Not one word of the LORD will fail to come to pass. He has spoken, thus it shall be.

We see mentioned in verse seven, “…he shall bring forth the headstone” [or capstone] meaning the end of the building project. Zerubbabel finished the temple and there was great rejoicing (Ezra 6:16-18). Truly it is the “grace” of God that causes great rejoicing and celebration after so many years of absence, and trials.

Thank our LORD and God that we too can rest in the thoughts and promises of God, and that it is not by might nor by any power we may have, but it is always by the power of God’s Spirit that we can overcome, any mountain, or obstacle. If God has promised, it will be done. He has promised; it will be done.

-Tim A. Blankenship

After Judgment

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Isaiah the prophet has saw judgment prior to this writing in chapter four. Baldness, sackcloth, branding and a sword against the nation.

Now, Isaiah takes to a time of blessing. It is a time of the Branch of the LORD. This is a prophecy of the Messiah who would come. It is important to notice that this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled, because the nation resisted and refused Jesus as their Messiah when He came the first time and they crucified Him. They put Him to death fulfilling the Scriptures, thus fulfilling the will of God, even in their hatred for Him.

The term “Branch of the LORD” is used by other prophets as well as Isaiah. Jeremiah refers to Him as well, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch…” (Jeremiah 23:5), and again, “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness…” (Jeremiah 33:15). The prophet Zechariah also writes by the breath of God, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.” (3:8), and he writes again, “…And speak unto him saying, ‘Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, ‘Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH…” (6:12).

This Branch is truly beautiful and glorious, and because of Him all will be excellent for all those who believe in Him who are of Israel.

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” Isaiah 4:2 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Jesus, The Commandments and Tradition

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In verses one and two the scribes and Pharisees had travelled to Galilee from Jerusalem to confront Jesus with the issue of eating meals with “unwashed hands”.  They would suddenly find themselves confronted by the  holy God in person Jesus the Christ.

It is something that happens, of which they seem very slow to learn.  You don’t ask Jesus questions without questions being asked by Him.  In doing this Jesus knew their motives.  It was evident by the way they lived their lives and by the way they asked the questions. 

These hypocrites concerned over the absence of unwashed hands before eating a meal, had no problem whatsoever deceiving their  parents, and of that is what Jesus speaks in verses three and four:

“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.” Matthew 15: 3-4(KJV).

The matter of washing hands was a man made tradition.  The only basis for it was the ceremonial cleansing/washing of the hands and feet of the priests of Exodus 30, and the brazen laver.  There is nothing concerning washing of hands before a meal for the average Hebrew man or woman.

The fifth commandment, however, gives us clear command, and guidance concerning our parents; and that is that we are to honor them.

These so called law keepers, legalists is what they were; and especially when it came to Jesus, tricked, deceived and manipulated their wealth – little or much – so that when a parent had a need the son could say, “I have dedicated all I have to God”.  In saying that they were saying to their parents that since it was dedicated to God it could not be used to help them out.  This was not honoring to their parents.  God is not pleased with such deception, manipulation, and just plain ole, outright SIN.

Hear the indictment Jesus brings against them:

“But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”  Matthew 15:5-6 (KJV)

By their tradition they condemn a man and his followers for not washing their hands before they eat a meal.  By the word of God, men are condemned for not washing in the eternal Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).

It was their tradition which condemned Jesus for eating with unwashed hands; and it was their tradition that let them withhold what was due to their parents.  Neither were righteous; and neither stood the muster before the Lord Jesus.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Run Through The Streets…

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The following verse of Jeremiah is a verse which shows the condition of the people of Judah, and the city of Jerusalem in this prophet’s time.  It is really not far from the conditions of our own time, and maybe the same.
“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” Jeremiah 5:1 (KJV)

The LORD speaking through the prophet gives reason for the approaching judgment which will come upon Jerusalem and the country. God says, “You can run through the streets of the city, and you will not find any man who is righteous in judging, that seeks the truth; and if you could I would pardon the city.” Not one. “There is none righteous; no not one.” (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10).

The writer of 2 Chronicles by the Spirit of God wrote, “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect  toward Him.” (16:9). We can look to our hearts content and if one is not to be found it will not be found. The “eyes of the LORD” however knows what He will do. He has One in mind. One who will be faithful. One who will be just and righteous in in dealings, judgments, who will be the Truth Himself. His name is Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God.

Things looked hopeless for Jeremiah and the people of the city of Jerusalem at that time; but there was hope. The LORD God often causes us to take a long look at our own hearts and lives to see that if left up to us, it would be hopeless; however, with the LORD there is promise, and God will always fulfill His promises.

Can we find anyone who is worthy to lead us as a nation out of the financial crisis we are in here in the United States of America? The salvation of the problem we are in is not financial it is spiritual, and until there is repentance from greedy citizens, Senate, Congress, we are actually open to believe anything from a smooth talking, deceptive, candidate who believes he can be the leader who can solve all our problems.

It is a time for repentance. No mere man can deliver us from this, and it is certain that our government cannot successfully bail out bankrupt institutions when our nation is in fact financially bankrupt. We are first of all spiritually bankrupt before God.

Run Through the Streets, and see if you can find anyone who is honest, just, and righteous in their dealings. There are none. It is time for repentance, and turning to our God through His Son Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of calvary, and His resurrection. He is the only one who is able.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Here I Am

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Abraham had made an agreement/covenant with Abimelech of the Philistines, the inhabitants of the land, and the greatest thing I see in the previous chapter is and he “…called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.” The land to which God had called Abraham was the land of the Philistines, it was not yet the land of Israel, but it was the promised land.

God calls out to Abraham again,

“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.” Genesis 22:1 (KJV)

The great response of Abraham should be the response of everyone who knows the “Everlasting God”. The promises of God are good and grand. The promises of God are as good as God is good; they are as grand as God is grand. The promises of God are eternal. The promises are as eternal as God is eternal. “Behold, here I am”. This response was not to let God know where he was but to give God himself.

When he left Ur he left believing God was leading him to a land; in that land he would become the father of a mighty nation; to become a father of a mighty nation means that there would be a son born. The promise was true; the years passed; and eventually in God’s timing the son was born.

Abraham had grown over the years in his faith. He had grown to believe that the land which God had promised was going to belong to his children through a son that was to be born to him. He had grown to accept the fact that the conception, and birth of the promised son would be in God’s own timing; and not in his own. Abraham probably didn’t understand why it was taking “so long” in his estimation, but he had waited and continued believing; even after he and Sarah’s sin with Hagar. Now God was going to call on Abraham to do something that would stretch faith to the limits.

God, the “Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33) only had to call his name, “Abraham”, and he responded in faith. Not knowing what lay in store again, he answers, “Behold, here I am.” This “Here I am” was not to let God know where he stood, lay or walked; but to give himself to God and His will. “Here I am; ready to go where YOU go.” “Here I am; ready to do what YOU want me to do.” Or, “Here I am; do what YOU will with me. I am in YOUR hands.” It was notification of submission, not information of his location.

The first test of faith is our response to God’s call. Do we respond, “Oh no! Not again!” or do we respond as did Abraham, “I am here LORD. I am willing, and ready to fulfill YOUR bidding.”?

-Tim A. Blankenship

Newsletters On Alcohol and the Christian

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The following is from the October edition of the Barry County Southern Baptist Association’s Newsletter.  Brother Jerry Williams is our Director of Missions, and he introduces David Baker.  Read and hear these important words that Christians of the day need very greatly to heed.

A NOTE FROM YOUR DOM

I recently received a Newsletter from FBC of Belton, MO where Bro. David Baker is pastor. I would like to share with you his article entitled, “Should a Christian Drink Alcoholic Beverages?”

He writes, “Strong drink? What does the Bible actually say? The reason the issue of alcoholic drinks or beverages being appropriate for the Christian is even debated, is that most of our pastors, theologians, and other Christian leaders simply do not understand the Biblical text.

We have several problems that have led to a clear misunderstanding of the text. The first, our seminaries and Bible schools, have not required that our young pastors are adequately trained in Biblical languages. Second, many our most renowned theological commentators on the text entered into this debate with a clear bias, they were imbibing or were looking for an excuse to continue using alcohol as a beverage. As a result, they interpreted the text in error. Third, the approach of many pastors and scholars to hermeneutics have been flawed by a lack of textual and historical knowledge. Fourth, we have allowed the trends of our modern culture to affect our practical application of the text. Fifth, we greatly underestimate the power of sin.

Many pastors are guilty of accepting popular ideas about the Bible, particularly presuppositions, which upon a more objective analysis of the text, are simply not true. In my own case, after undergraduate studies in classical Greek, and nearly four years in Biblical Greek, I came to the conclusion that we must examine the text as it is, not with the intent of establishing cultural acceptance. It was my good fortune to study under one of the finest Greek scholars ever produced in Baptist life, certainly not a Biblical conservative, but a brilliant teacher. I have also been fortunate in becoming acquainted some of our current Greek and Hebrew scholars, particularly with the work of the late Stephen Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds earned his Ph.D. in Biblical and oriental languages at Princeton University where he studied under the teaching of Henry Gehman, Phillip Hitti, and Harold Bendes. He also worked in the field of Biblical archaeology under Dr. William Albright. He is known for his articles in Baker’s Dictionary of Ethics which is edited by Dr. Carl F. H. Henry. Dr. Reynolds published the most exhaustive study on this subject I have seen in 2003 called The Biblical Approach to Alcohol. This book was a project of the Lorine L. Reynolds Foundation, a foundation committed to issues of Biblical translation.

Stephen Reynolds says, “The fact is there is no evidence anywhere that Jesus ever drank a single drop of alcohol.” He goes on to examine every Biblical text with a rigorously objective hermeneutic, and draws the conclusion that the Biblical evidence overwhelmingly supports the position of total abstinence from alcohol beverages. He also notes the historic bias of many theologians on this issue, and he comments concerning his own exegesis, “I am, however, rather confident that they cannot be proved contrary to sound rules…” After years of my own study on this issue, and after carefully examining Dr. Reynolds work and conclusions, I am deeply convinced that the only consistently Biblical position on the matter of beverage alcohol, is total abstinence. This is the position that I hold without apology, and expound consistently.

Baptists have historically held to the position of total abstinence. While I am aware that there are those who deny that more ancient Baptists held to this position, my own study indicates that the earliest Baptists in North America were amazingly consistent in their opposition to the sale and use of intoxicating drink. Even without the knowledge available to us today of the Biblical languages, our forefathers saw the terrible toll of alcohol on the culture, and condemned it for practical reasons. We should at least have this much common sense. I have listened to the arguments favoring the use of alcohol patiently. I am not convinced. I believe the text, rightfully interpreted, is clear. If there are those who hold otherwise, I shall say with John Huss, “Mighty is the truth, and it will prevail.” David Baker

I too believe and practice total abstinence and am totally convinced that it is the Biblical position.

I stand with Bro. Baker and will continue to preach against the use of drinking alcoholic beverages.

Bro. Jerry-DOM

Let me end by asking this question as a matter to provoke some serious thought.  There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of testimonies of former drunks, and alcoholics and social drinkers who upon coming to faith in Jesus Christ immediately turn away from alcoholic beverages; it puzzles me greatly and makes me wonder seriously why some Christians and Christian preachers want to say “It is okay to drink beverage alcohol”.  How can you do that?  How is it right when those who have come out of it have given it up, and see the evils of it?

If you can stand in the pulpit and tell people “God doesn’t hold you guilty for drinking alcoholic beverages”, and someone in your congregation ends up an alcoholic or a drunk, and they kill someone while driving drunk; are you guiltless?

-Tim A. Blankenship

The Pretty Women…

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

Coming from a family of nobility I guess it kind of hard to notice how things really are here in Jerusalem. Many of us profess to know the Lord, but we just walk on by the suffering and the hurting enjoying our little trinkets of jewelry, silver, gold and precious gems.

Walking through the Sheep gate today, though it is a place where the lambs for slaughter are brought into the city, I noticed a lot of pride. The women walking with their heads held high as though they had no problem in the world and the men no better. The women, at least more than a good majority of them, are full of haughtiness, thinking that beauty is the main thing of life. They call attention to themselves with jangling jewelry. They cry out for men’s attention; even men who are not their husbands.

One day this arrogance and pride will be judged by the Lord. He will take away the finery; The jingling anklets, the scarves and the cresents…will he do away with. What will these “pretty” women do then. LORD help us.

The sweet fragrance of their perfumes will turn to a stench of death. Rather than having well kept hair, they will be bald. O that the people of God would hear; O that we would obey His voice, and turn from our sins. God, the LORD of hosts, will brand them rather than give them beauty. What will become of the men they lure and chase after then? They will perish.

The women of Jerusalem, Judah, and all Israel will find themselves without enough men for husbands to go around. They will be slaughtered. There will be a great lamentation throughout all the land. There will be desolation.

When will people learn that the way of the LORD is through faith in Him? Faith is turning from the life of sin and death to live in Him.

O, the time is good, but Oh such darkness. There is a darkness that many do not see. There is light. O, come to the Light. Come that you might see.

“Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:  Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.  In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,  The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,  The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,  The rings, and nose jewels,  The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,  The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.  And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.  Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.  And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isaiah 3:16-4:1 (KJV)

 

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Travelling Religion – Ritual Washing

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In the Old Testament Law the only washing which I can recall is for the priesthood as they conduct the duties of the tabernacle in the wilderness, at the brazen laver (Exodus 30:17-21). It was for the washing of the feet and hands of Aaron and his sons in going about their daily duties of the tabernacle. Somehow a tradition came to be for every Jew to wash their hands before they ate. So it seems they were condemned if they did not.

Now I would be the first to admit in our day and time that is a good practice, but for health reasons, not religious reasons. To test another Jew because of not washing their hands was what these religious leaders were up to; in particular questioning the Lord Jesus and His disciples; measuring whether He could be the Christ determined by whether He washed His hands ceremonially or not before He ate meals.

Our verses say,

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” Matthew 15:1-2 (KJV).

We are not told how many of the scribes and Pharisees came to question Jesus; just that they came. They had travelled from Jerusalem to Galilee on a mission of question. Jesus’s popularity was growing. They wanted to check Him out, as though they had not already done so a few times. Oh how miserably we fail when we try to win people to traditions which are not based on Scripture, conviction, and the saving or betterment of society.

There is no tradition which can save a soul from the condemnation of Hell, unless you want to call repentance, and faith a tradition.

These men come to Jesus actually making a charge against Him with their supposed question, “Why do thy disciples transgress…”. It is already in the accusatory form. They were not coming to Jesus to learn from Him, but rather, to accuse Him and His disciples of breaking tradition.

I have a thing about washing hands, especially after visiting the restroom. I was in a men’s restroom in a steak and buffet place a few years ago, when I grew passionate about this washing hands. There was another man who was just leaving the urinal and walked right out the door, right to the buffet line. When I got out there, and yes, after washing my hands; there he was; picking up the utensils for dipping out the food, and I had to touch it if I wanted what he did. I didn’t. I watched where he went, what he dipped and I steered clear. Some have said that the phrase, “Cleanliness is next to godliness” is in the Bible, but it is not. It sure is a good thought though.

It is a good practice to wash your hands, and regularly. You can help prevent colds, flu viruses, and conduct all around good hygiene by doing so. However, it is not the means of judging whether one is holy or not. These would judge Jesus, and reject Him because of their tradition, which really had no merit in the Law.

We are declared righteous and just by our Creator, through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for our sins. It is God’s declaration, not our good behavior or good deeds which cleanse us.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Mercy, Peace, and Love

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“Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” Jude 2 (NKJV).

Three words which are related to Christianity, and living a life that magnifies the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Mercy” is what God gives those who are deserving of justice, and judgment. Mercy is what the world receives from its Creator each and every day. The world is reeling, and moaning in torment crying out for redemption (Romans 8:19-22). There are storms, from which are spawned tornadoes, straight winds of destruction. Earthquakes cause us to feel the tremors of this earth, and economics and health. God is merciful, and calls for the repentance of those who are against Him. Many refuse, but He still gives them a breath of air, a beat of the heart, one more step. That is mercy. As Christians we extend mercy as well, by calling for our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors to come to Christ by faith.

“Peace” is not necessarily the absence of conflict. Peace is mostly an attitude in one’s heart and mind. If one is not at peace with God, there will not be peace in one’s self. There will be conflict, torment, and war. Most of the reasons for marriage failures is due to a lack of peace within one or both individuals – the man or the woman, or both. Most of the time it is both. God desires to give peace to all people. However, when the rulers of nations plot to overthrow the throne of heaven, there will not be peace. Paul the apostle wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1). Without faith there can be no peace in the heart of individuals or on earth.

“Love” is of God. The love spoken of here is a God-trait or character. It comes exclusively from Him. As John the apostle wrote, “God is love”. Someone added to this and said, “So, love is God”. That is complete heresy. The love God is, is unconditional. His love requires nothing from us. His love in us does however, change those who have received it. We have not only been changed, but we also want to express it, give it, and a like spirit is found among those who are likeminded in Christ Jesus. We tend to move toward one another. We are not told by the apostle that we will one day love one another, but that we “love each other” (1 John 3:13-15). It is in the present tense. And we will continue loving one another.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Going Beyond

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We hear much about love. Love for your wife, or your husband. Love for your child or children. Love for a friend. What is meant by the word “L.O.V.E.”? Real love goes beyond the ordinary. That kind of love is more than feeling; it is a decision. It is not driven by being loved by an individual; it is driven by the love of God, and it is displayed by a decisive act of mercy, grace and goodness; even toward one who has wronged you. Maybe I could or should say, “…especially toward one who has wronged you”.

Well no one can do that you might say. God and His Word teaches us to do just that thing. Hear the Word of the Lord:

“Since you have purified yours souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…” 1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV).

This verse is directed toward loving the brethren, ie., our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a “Going Beyond” type of love. We are to love when we are not loved by others. We are to love when it may not be convenient to do so. This is not just a speaking of words but an act of love.

This is the kind of love that responds to a command – the command to love. It is the kind of love which will take you to a neighbors yard to mow it when they need help, even though this neighbor has caused you many heartaches, and much grief. All Christians have this “Going Beyond” love.

It comes from a purified soul. You receive a purified soul by “obeying the truth through the Spirit” of God. This “Going Beyond” love is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, and His bodily resurrection. This kind of love meets others at their point of need. This is the love of Jesus Christ.

-Tim A. Blankenship

The LORD Pleads…

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

I am beginning to see that the time ahead for Judah and Jerusalem is not going to be a very pleasant one. We may be “God’s people”, but that could mean, that when we are disobedient we will be punished. That seems to go with being His child. If He loves us He chastises us. His glory is what is at stake here.

The blessing of the land is going to be diminished. The bread – there will be drought and due to that there will be no grain for bread. The water for drinking and irrigation will be dried up. It will be a terrible judgment from God.

We have very much taken the blessings of my God for granite. His grace is as granite, His mercy is everlasting, but His blessing in this world are only temporal, and subject to His testing and chastisement.

The knowledge and education of our people will be at stake as well as, their protection, and entertainment; ”The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them.” (Isaiah 3:2-4 ESV).

There will come a time when my people will even oppress one another. The rich will rob from the poor. The young will abuse the elderly and have no respect for them; will give no honor to them and completely insolent toward them. They will take the first person who may have any look of authority as their leader, and practically force them to lead, and he will say, “I cannot heal. I am no leader. I will not lead.”

The deeds and and speech of Jerusalem and Judah are against the LORD. They have fallen. They defy the glorious presence of the LORD. They boast and brag about their sin as though they were Sodom. They do not attempt to even hide it. They have no shame of their sin and rebellion. Woe to them! They have brought evil on themselves.

It will be well with the righteous. The righteous will eat the fruit of their deeds. The fruit of the righteous is sweet and hearty. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. O, my people – infants are the oppressors, and women are your rulers. You have trusted in lies, and you have gone astray. Your guides have destroyed the way of your paths.

The LORD is your judge. He will judge the elders and princes of His people, they have devoured the vineyard, and stolen from the poor. God says, “What do you mean by ‘crushing My people, by grinding the face of the poor?’”

Hear the Word of the LORD:
 

 

“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,  The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.  When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:  In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.  For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.  Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.  The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.  The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” Isaiah 3:1-15 (KJV)

It is sad, but I can see so much of this prophetic message happening in our own country of the United States of America. It is time we prayed, as God’s people, repented and seek His face for forgiveness, cleansing and renewing of heart and land.

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Preserved, Called and Sanctified

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“Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preseved in Jesus Christ.” Jude 1 (NKJV).

 

Jude was a half brother of the Lord Jesus. Mary was his mother, and Joseph his father. Jude does not, now even consider himself to be worthy of calling himself “the Lord’s brother”; because he had at first rejected Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 7:5). He instead, calls himself the “brother of James” who also is a half-brother of Jesus. That is the James who wrote the Bible book of James. Jude did not believe until after Jesus had risen from the grave.

Notice to whom this letter is written. To “those who are called”. The called are those to whom the Father has saved by His grace. This is not speaking of an invitation, but an already chosen people who have been delivered from their sins, by faith in the Perfect One who died for the sins of the world.

The called are also one’s who are “sanctified”, set apart, beloved, and continually growing in the faith of Christ Jesus. These are also “preserved” which means kept by the hands of the one who called them. And, He keeps them from falling.

To make it even clearer. The called of God are secure, safe, and set apart for all eternity, and nothing shall be able to take you from the Father’s hands. NOTHING. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Saved, secure, forever; held in the Father’s hands.

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Our Conduct In The Fire

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In this first chapter of First Peter we looked last at being holy. It is God’s command that His people, even Christians, and maybe should say, especially Christians be holy. We are called apart, set apart, so we are to be apart from the wiles, wickedness, and ways of worldliness.

Looking now at verses seventeen through twenty one we see what is required of us to be holy:

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” 1 Peter 1:17-21 (NKJV).

To be holy is to be set apart from the society in which we live. Not as monks, or as though in a world of our own, but apart in the sense of not participating in the world system of greed, debauchery, lust, uniformity, etc..

Being holy, and since we as Christians call on the Father on a quite regular basis we also know that He is One who judges us justly, and fairly according to our works, and knowing that we will conduct ourselves with the utmost respect of Him who holds our hearts and each breath we breath in His hands. We will live with the fear, knowing that the time of our lives is in His hand.

Knowing the Father as we do; we also know that we have not been redeemed with material things. Our redemption is not founded on how much gold or silver we possess, or how much we give away. It is not based on any form of material wealth. It is not gifts given for the fulfillment of the traditions of men. Our redemption is not dependent upon someone else paying our way out of a fictitious purgatory. The price of our redemption was paid to God our Father by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our sin debt was owed to God.

Jesus Christ, the precious lamb of God, paid our sin debt to the Father for us. The price of our redemption was His life. He laid it down, and no man took it from Him. As a matter of fact; the Father took His life (Read Isaiah 53:4). Jesus was that sacrificial Lamb who was without spot, and without blemish. There was no sin in the life of Jesus Christ, but He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and the wrath of Almighty God was poured out to the max upon Him.

This was “foreordained” even before the foundations of the earth were laid, and it was fulfilled in that day when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It is only because of this wondrous gift than anyone can call on the name of the Father, and He will hear us, save us, and give us life eternal. No one can come to God except it be given of the Father, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus from death He has been restored to the glory He had with the Father from the beginning. His glory renewed we can now have faith and hope in God. Without this there would not be much of a point in our brothers and sisters; or any  in Christ suffering for His name. Because He lives we live. Because He died for us, we can die for His name’s sake, and give Him the glory.

May God bless our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the name of Jesus.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Honor In Marriage

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The following article is one I wrote this morning as a devotion for Wings As Eagles.  It strikes me though as a message that needs to get out as much as possible, so I am posting it here as well.

“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” 1 Thessalonians 4:4-6 (KJV)

Taking control of your own body by the Spirit of God, and keeping yourself pure before God; was the lesson for the previous study.  Some seem to think that we have no control over our “feelings” so we should just let them fly, or let them loose.  Sadly, that is how fights and wars eventually begin.  That is also how many “unwanted” babies are murdered in the womb or born and abused and neglected.

The Christian life is a different life.  When a man, woman, boy or girl meets Jesus Christ and gives their lives to Him; they do not give with the mentality that they can live “However I please”; but with a new heart of, “What can I do that will glorify Jesus?”  The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Whether, therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

We look at our present society in the USA, and when 80 percent of USA citizens claim to be Christians; 50 percent of Christian marriages are ending in divorce.  There is something drastically wrong.  We can rant and rave all we want about homosexual unions going to desecrate marriage; it seems to me that we already have by divorcing so easily.  If marriage was sacred to Christians there would be less divorces, and there would not be all this drivel about homosexual marriage.  Before anyone goes balistic with me about this NO! I am not for homosexual marriages.  Let’s not blame them for the loss of sacredness of the marriage union; it has already been lost.  Let’s pray that we can begin healing hurting Christian marriages.  Let’s pray that a Christian husband who has entered an adulterous relationship will have his eyes opened to the sin he is commiting against God and his wife and family; repent of his sin, seek forgiveness from God and his wife and family, and be restored.  Let’s pray that wife who is thinking of leaving her husband and children because of some quack she has met on the internet will repent, confess her sin and seek forgiveness and be restored to her husband and family, and most of all to fellowship with God.

Christian you are not an animal who is not in control of your thoughts, your feelings, or your body.  You have the Spirit of God within you.  If you do not have the Spirit of God in you, showing you, convicting you of what is right and wrong, then you don’t know God, His Son Jesus, and are yet in your sins.  (Read Romans 8:9-11).  The people whose hearts do not know God through Jesus Christ follow their flesh, the desires of their bodies, and condemn themselves.  They are already condemned in their sin (John 3:18).  If you profess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and can live in a sinful, shacking up, adulterous, life of fornication, and do it without guilt or remorse, then, you most likely have never truly trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.  You are living after your passions and lust, and not after the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Professing Christian men taking another man’s wife.  You thief.  You will pay.  You are taking someone who does not belong to you.  Professing Christian wife; you are sleeping with another woman’s husband.  You thief.  You take someone who does not belong to you.  The writer of Proverbs writes,

“Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.” Proverbs 6:25-35 (KJV)

Likened to a thief, one who steals another’s spouse will pay, and the payment will be tremendous.  Paul writes above,  “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”  Live to serve and glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ.  The way of the world and the flesh is evil, and is the way of destruction.

-Tim A. Blankenship