by Pastor Ricky Kurth
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates…” (Titus 3:1).
Who are these “principalities and powers” to whom we must be subject? Well, we know there are different kinds of principalities and powers, since in Ephesians 6:12 we are told to “wrestle” them, while here we are told to “be subject” to them! Ephesians, of course, speaks of the unseen demonic host, “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” who wrestle with us as we proclaim God’s Word. But Titus 3:1 speaks of the human rulers of this world, the “magistrates” in government to whom God says we must be subject (Rom. 13:1-7).
You wouldn’t think Christians would need to be told this, but once we learn we are already citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20), it is easy to think that this somehow negates the responsibilities of our earthly citizenship. But remember, while there is “neither bond nor free” in Christ (Gal. 3:28), Paul still tells servants to “be obedient unto their own masters” (Titus 2:9). While there is also “neither male nor female” in Christ (Gal. 3:28), Paul still tells wives to “submit yourselves unto your own husbands” (Eph. 5:22). And while in Christ we are already citizens of heaven, we must still be subject to magistrates.
Solomon warned, “fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change” (Prov. 24:21). This refers not to voting men out of office, but rather to getting involved in subversive anti-government activities. God has said that the meek in Israel will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5), and so He plans to fix all of earth’s governments for them prior to the establishment of His kingdom (Rev. 11:15). But this world is not our inheritance, we’re “just a-passing through” it, and so fixing her governments is not our fight.
An example from Israel’s past might serve to illustrate this. As Israel was passing through the wilderness on her way to the Promised Land, Edom refused to let her pass through their land (Num. 20:14-22). Why didn’t Israel fight, as they later fought those who resisted them in Canaan? Because God had instructed them to “meddle not with them,” since Edom was not their inheritance (Deut. 2:1-5)—they were just a-passin’ through! Just so, this world is not our inheritance, and so we should “meddle not with them that are given to change” its governments. We are called to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Tim. 6:12), and “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (II Tim. 2:4).
Showing posts with label Exhortation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exhortation. Show all posts
Apr 5, 2012
Apr 1, 2012
"Memories"
Some golden daybreak the trump is going to sound and the dead in Christ shall rise first and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Then: “We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...” (II Cor. 5:10,11).
When I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ
And He shows me His plan for me;
The plan of my life as it might have been
Had He had His way, and I see
How I blocked Him here and checked Him there
And I would not yield my will,
Shall I see grief in my Savior’s eyes;
Grief though He loves me still?
Oh, He’d have me rich, and I stand there poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While my memory runs like a hunted thing
Down the paths I can’t retrace.
Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break
With tears that I cannot shed.
I’ll cover my face with my empty hands
And bow my uncrowned head.
No! Lord of the years that are left to me
I yield them to Thy hand.
Take me, make me, mold me
To the pattern Thou hast planned.
—Author Unknown
May God give us the strength to redeem the time wisely. Only one life; ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ
And He shows me His plan for me;
The plan of my life as it might have been
Had He had His way, and I see
How I blocked Him here and checked Him there
And I would not yield my will,
Shall I see grief in my Savior’s eyes;
Grief though He loves me still?
Oh, He’d have me rich, and I stand there poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While my memory runs like a hunted thing
Down the paths I can’t retrace.
Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break
With tears that I cannot shed.
I’ll cover my face with my empty hands
And bow my uncrowned head.
No! Lord of the years that are left to me
I yield them to Thy hand.
Take me, make me, mold me
To the pattern Thou hast planned.
—Author Unknown
May God give us the strength to redeem the time wisely. Only one life; ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Feb 16, 2012
Who's Preaching The Truth?
Most Won't Listen, But Some WILL!
"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them." -Acts 17:32-34
Even though most people didn't readily receive the Apostle Paul's message... "certain men clave unto him." Although some people mocked Paul, and others were reluctant to receive his message, a small handful of people (men and women) did wholeheartedly receive Paul's message, and wanted to know more. They "clave" to the truth!
We read in 2nd Thessalonians 2:10 that many people will be woefully deceived in the last days BECAUSE THEY LOVED NOT THE TRUTH. Even today, we see that the masses of this world are being woefully deceived by false religions, greedy televangelists, criminal political leaders, and crooked businesses. And the greatest tragedy of all is that most of America's churches today are SILENT!
Please keep in mind that John the Baptist wasn't imprisoned and executed for preaching the Gospel, but for preaching again Herod's adultery. John was a true preacher, who called it as he saw it, in light of God's Word. We are to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! Billy Sunday preached the truth uncompromisingly, and many hated him for it. The word "culture" is a very dangerous word for Bible-believing Christians. There was nothing cultural about Billy Sunday's preaching while he was throwing chairs, yelling, and swinging his arms.
Thank God for Billy Sunday. Street-preaching is not very "cultural." God help us to wake up--what will culture matter 125 years from now when ALL 6.3 billions people on earth are DEAD? Think about it. Who's preaching the truth? As long as America's preachers continue to be censored, dipping their sails in compromise, desiring only to preach within a pool of acceptable topics--America will continue to suffer at the hands of a murderous gang of God-hating thugs who are Satanists and traitors.
I sincerely ask you...
Who's Preaching The Truth?
"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them." -Acts 17:32-34
Even though most people didn't readily receive the Apostle Paul's message... "certain men clave unto him." Although some people mocked Paul, and others were reluctant to receive his message, a small handful of people (men and women) did wholeheartedly receive Paul's message, and wanted to know more. They "clave" to the truth!
We read in 2nd Thessalonians 2:10 that many people will be woefully deceived in the last days BECAUSE THEY LOVED NOT THE TRUTH. Even today, we see that the masses of this world are being woefully deceived by false religions, greedy televangelists, criminal political leaders, and crooked businesses. And the greatest tragedy of all is that most of America's churches today are SILENT!
Please keep in mind that John the Baptist wasn't imprisoned and executed for preaching the Gospel, but for preaching again Herod's adultery. John was a true preacher, who called it as he saw it, in light of God's Word. We are to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! Billy Sunday preached the truth uncompromisingly, and many hated him for it. The word "culture" is a very dangerous word for Bible-believing Christians. There was nothing cultural about Billy Sunday's preaching while he was throwing chairs, yelling, and swinging his arms.
Thank God for Billy Sunday. Street-preaching is not very "cultural." God help us to wake up--what will culture matter 125 years from now when ALL 6.3 billions people on earth are DEAD? Think about it. Who's preaching the truth? As long as America's preachers continue to be censored, dipping their sails in compromise, desiring only to preach within a pool of acceptable topics--America will continue to suffer at the hands of a murderous gang of God-hating thugs who are Satanists and traitors.
I sincerely ask you...
Who's Preaching The Truth?
Feb 14, 2012
The Wisdom of the Old Paths
Today most Christians wonder how to help troubled people without some form of counseling, from psychological to some form of biblical adaptation. Too many see the luscious-looking grass on the other side of the fence as being good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make them wise.
Jesus is the good shepherd who leads His sheep to good pastures. He has given new life and sustains it through the Holy Spirit working in that new life. He has given His sheep wisdom from above through His Word, which is living, life-giving, and powerful. He is the one who searches the hearts of mankind. He is trustworthy to complete that which He has begun and to fulfill what He has promised.
Believers need to return to the old paths rather than sniff and nibble the grass on the other side of the fence. They need to stay close to the good shepherd and they need to be wary of those who through erudite speech would entice them to another pasture. They also need to watch out for those who would plant hybrid seeds that look even better than the real thing but starve the soul.
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein (Jeremiah:6:16).
-Drs. Martin & Deidre Bogan
Jesus is the good shepherd who leads His sheep to good pastures. He has given new life and sustains it through the Holy Spirit working in that new life. He has given His sheep wisdom from above through His Word, which is living, life-giving, and powerful. He is the one who searches the hearts of mankind. He is trustworthy to complete that which He has begun and to fulfill what He has promised.
Believers need to return to the old paths rather than sniff and nibble the grass on the other side of the fence. They need to stay close to the good shepherd and they need to be wary of those who through erudite speech would entice them to another pasture. They also need to watch out for those who would plant hybrid seeds that look even better than the real thing but starve the soul.
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein (Jeremiah:6:16).
-Drs. Martin & Deidre Bogan
Dec 25, 2011
God Expects Gratitude when He Gives Us Gifts
Because we are so very human there is real danger that we may inadvertently do the human thing and turn our blessings upside down. Unless we watch and pray in dead earnest we may turn our good into evil and make the grace of God a trap instead of a benefit!
Dec 24, 2011
The Battle is Growing More Intense
We learned this week that members of the US Congress have been forbidden to send out Christmas cards wishing their constituents a Merry Christmas.
We are also informed that the US Army uniform now includes the choice of the wearing of turbins or Muslim head scarves. At the same time chaplains are forbidden to utter the name of Jesus in their prayers.
Across America Christmas trees and Christmas lights are banned in public places. Happy Holidays has replaced Merry Christmas as the effort to eliminate Christmas reaches a crescendo.
Everywhere the message of the hour is tolerance, except when it comes to Christianity where the clear message is “stamp it out.”
We are also informed that the US Army uniform now includes the choice of the wearing of turbins or Muslim head scarves. At the same time chaplains are forbidden to utter the name of Jesus in their prayers.
Across America Christmas trees and Christmas lights are banned in public places. Happy Holidays has replaced Merry Christmas as the effort to eliminate Christmas reaches a crescendo.
Everywhere the message of the hour is tolerance, except when it comes to Christianity where the clear message is “stamp it out.”
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