I Am What I Am.....By The Grace Of God!!

The key in this often used cliche is “by the grace of God” – Paul of course had a checkered past before his conversion; having had a partisan spirit towards the persecution of Christians. He met the One who he had been persecuted, and in a moment (you could say in the twinkling of an eye) he became God’s mouthpiece to the gentile world.

Paul writes in 1Corinthians 15 v10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.“

Paul is always quick to point out how fortunate he has been, to be given the ministry which he so faithfully upheld throughout his life – in the verses prior to v10 of 1Corinthians 15, he declares the gospel, by which we are saved, and proceeds to explain all the eyewitness accounts of those that had seen the resurrected Christ. He of course places himself last in this list, making the claim that “he is the least of the apostles” & “of one born out of due time“

Paul laid no claim to greatness or superiority towards others of his own accord, but because of the grace of God, he laboured more abundantly than the aforementioned eyewitnesses.

God’s grace can do wondrous things; it can save the most wretched of sinners from damnation, and in the context of 1Corinthians 15 v9-10, it can be the greatest motivation we need to accomplish great things for God ourselves…….AMAZING!! 

Doth This Offend You?

At some point in our walk with God, we must come to terms with the Word of God (hopefully sooner rather than later).

It is amazing sometimes how we as Christians can pick and choose what bits of the bible we want to accept and what bits we want to reject! We have no problem quoting John 3 v16 but we shudder to mention Genesis 3 v16 in the same breath…..you know…in case those scary feminists hear us right?.

Romans 1 v16 is a chest-thumping verse commonly heard, but I doubt I can say the same for Galatians 1 v8……

It does not even stop at verses though! There can be whole chapters and books of the bible we would rather glaze over, because of fear of isolation from our peers (who cares by the way). Where do we draw the line?.

In John chapter 6, Jesus Christ in his very direct and unapologetic way confounds the wisdom of the Jews’s perceptions of the Manna which rained from heaven to the children of Israel.

Jesus goes as far as saying that he himself is that bread which came down from heaven; as if to make his point even more poignant (if that was even possible) he proclaims that “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you“.

Of course our Saviour was not teaching cannibalism as he proceeds to correct the murmuring disciples in verses 60-63.

The remark of the disciples though is what I want to focus on in v60.

“Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hardsaying; who can hear it?”

After listening to Jesus; the incarnate Word of God speak to the crowd, the disciples were challenged with Christs’ words, proclaiming that these were “hard sayings” to the ears of the listeners because it challenged them and took them out of their comfort zone.

Jesus made no apologies for speaking the truth and funnily enough responds with the memorable quote of “doth this offend you?” in v61 to his disciples. Jesus was not afraid to speak God’s Word, even in the face of opposition and the realization that he was about to lose many of his so called disciples because of his“hard sayings“. He still spoke the Word of God boldly. Is it any surprise then that John 6 v66 is the verse where he is deserted by many who had followed him up to that point?.

Having seen this exodus of his previous followers; he then turns to his original 12 and says to them “Will ye also go away” in v67.

The response of Peter for me is where I believe Christ wants to meet all his disciples. Peter replies with these words “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life“.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, at some point we have to come to terms with the Word of God. Just as how Peter and the other disciples were backed up in a corner to show where their faith rests on. The same should be for us today. Do we believe God has the words of eternal life? If we do then, let us boldly stand for God and his Word. All of It! Amen!!

Some Will, Some Won't!

Have you ever wondered why some Christians won't attempt anything remotely substantial for God? After reading the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21 v28-32. The only conclusion I came to is that "some will, and some wont!"

Jesus tells the parable of two sons who were given clear instructions by their father to go work in his vineyard. 

The first son was reluctant to work, but afterwards came to his senses and did as his father had asked him "I will not: but afterward he repented, and went"

The second son initially showed promise! But decided not to go work in the vineyard "And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not"

Jesus Christ finishes this parable by asking the listeners "Whether of them twain did the will of his father" - the answer clearly being the first son. The parable was spoken to contrast how the scribes and pharisees rejected the teachings of John Baptist un-repentantly, but the publicans and harlots gladly received the teachings are were saved

"For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him"

The parable itself can be interpreted though for Christians who have been given clear instructions to go "work" in the vineyard of our heavenly father. Let's say the command is the great commission "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"

This command is clear, but the response by all Christians will be one of two things! Some will obey and do, and some won't obey. There could be a plethora of reasons behind their decision but it will always be that some will and some wont.

I have come to two conclusions from this simple truth; and they are these.

1) Thank God that we are not saved by our "works" but rather by the blood of Jesus Christ. Reason being if we were justified by our works, then we all would fall short, even if we were to obey every command of God, we will fall short of perfection every single time. Jesus Christ on the other hand did all that was required of him, and died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The works we do show our love for our father, but do not justify us in is sight and they never will. Only Jesus Christ can justify us through faith.

2) Don't be downcast when you see Christians around you not wanting to do anything for God, but you yourself are trying to live a righteous life or trying to preach the gospel to others. God know's and see's the everything and someday we all individually as believers will have to stand before God. This will not be for judgment of our sins, since we have been declared righteous already, but rather it will be to give an account of how we lived our lives here on earth. Whether we spent out time laying up treasures in heaven or spent our time building up wood hay and stubble here on earth.

Trusting God in Places of Cruelty

Psalm 74 is a Psalm written by Asaph; This Psalm is quite a dark dreary passage, as Asaph is describing the condition of the land in which he is living in. In Asaph’s time of need he asks God not to forget his promises to his people, as he sums up the state of the land in v20 “Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.”

When I read this passage 4 years ago as a 1 year old Christian. I could not imagine such a land, but over these four years I cannot fail but see it with my own eyes all around me. This is a cruel cruel world! I sympathize with Christians sometimes who….just can’t go on. They are trying to do what’s right, they are trying to do the will of God, but it seems the world is at constant odds with them.

The antagonism is overwhelming, we can be as Asaph was in asking God “where are you” v1 “O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?”

Asaph continues on to say in v10 “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?”

in v7 Asaph explains how the enemies of God have infiltrated the very house of God “They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.”

You can easily see why Asaph would think that God had forgotten them; in his desperation he asks God to “respect the covenant“, to respect the promises he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Asaph was reacting according to what he was seeing around him! Had God forgotten them? Of course not! God has always been near, and as he was with Asaph during his darkest times, he will be with us today through our darkest times.

Asaph begins to encourage himself from verses 12 to 19 of Psalm 74.

He starts off by acknowledging who God is in v12 ”For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.”

then proceeds to state the power of God

v14 “Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.“

v15 “Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.”

He then concludes by asking God to intervene against the ungodly.

v18 “Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.”

again in v22 “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily“

Asaph begins to understand and see that God is in control even in such dark times. It does not matter how much our habitations around us be be inhabited by cruel people, God will show himself strong to his people. Asaph describes a situation that is not foreign to us today. In fact we are probably in a worse state than in Asaph’s day.

I hope this devotion might stir in us the need to know that even if we live in the darkest places of this world, with no light, and no knowledge of God amongst the people around us….we can have hope in God who is always near. Asaph might have felt God was far from him at the start of the Psalm 74, but towards the end he realises that God has always been close by and he has kept his promises, and always will respect the promises he has made. I pray that we may know this as well in our times of desperation and need. Our God is a covenant-keeping God.

Having Meaningful Friendships & Keeping Them

I don't claim to be an expert in "friendships" since I myself am prone to taking the FB route of friendships and just speaking to people online, but never approaching them in real life and actually getting to know the person! I am getting better at it though by the grace of God. 


In this post, I wanted to share from a biblical point of view what are the right and wrong ways to establish friendships. I might not be an expert but God is an expert and he has given us his Word :)

How to have meaningful friendships 

• A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. - Proverbs 18 v2

To have a meaningful friendship - first YOU must take the initiative and show yourself friendly to others. It is no good saying to yourself that others must come to you first. A person that has friends is usually the one who is open to initiate and cultivate friendships without waiting for others to initiate.

At times we are drawn to Christians who are in our own social class and we shy away from other Christians who we see as "different" to us. This kind of mentality will give you the friends you want, but not necessarily the friends you need.

Jesus was known as the friend of sinners! He identified with those who were socially unaccepted or unpopular i.e. the publicans. In Mark 15 it is said of Jesus that he was numbered with the transgressors. Jesus knew about being friendly...in fact he is the friend who sticketh closer than a brother.

If you want meaningful friendships, then FIRST be friendly to others; the more you do so the more God will bring the right Christian friends to you who will stick with you through good times and bad times.

How to keep meaningful friendships

• My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. - Job 6 v15-17

Alright! So to have friends you must be friendly to others. In order to keep friends though....you must NOT do what Job's friends.

It is out of the scope of this devotional to go into the story of Job's friends, but Job himself summarized them in chapter 6 v15-17 as "fair-weather friends"

If you want to keep good friends then you have to be a friend to others not only when things are going well for them, but when things are going bad as well.

When the heat is turned up on your friend, still love that person and stand by them and be a friend through hardships.

Proverbs 17 v17 says "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

True biblical friendships are hard to come by. A friend who is there for you through hardships and who loves you is a real blessing indeed. In order though to have these kind of friends you must first be that kind of friend to others.

May we follow the LORD's example found in scripture about having and keeping friends.


Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15 v13

God bless

Baptist History, an Unbroken Line

I came across these paraghraphs recently in a little booklet by Louis Entzminger and wanted to share it. I had often thought of the first reference he uses, but I liked the way he quoted B.H. Carroll who developed the thought as follows:

I never could understand why some Baptists rejoice to say there is no church succession.

I would like for them to take hold of these two passages in this chapter, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord," coupled with the last verse, "Unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations forever and ever. Amen."

Whenever church work stops) then the glory stops. Did God intend for it to stop? If he did, why did he say, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world"? And why should we tell the church when celebrating the Lord's Supper, "As often as you do this you show forth the Lord's death till he come"? Why does he provide for perpetuity? I am not discussing church history now. I am discussing God's purpose in establishing the church. Jesus said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." I do not believe they have. They have never been able to convince me that the gates of hell have prevailed against the church.

I believe that God not only has had people in all ages, but that he has had an organized people.

He provided for transmission: "The things which I have committed to you, the same commit thou to faithful men." How do men have faith? By hearing. How can they hear without a preacher, and how can they have a preacher unless he be sent? Did he not send the church all gifts – apostolic gifts, prophetic gifts, evangelistic gifts, and pastoral gifts? He set every one of them in the church. The apostles and prophets served the church; when they were taken away, there remained pastors, evangelists, teachers. On whose authority? Christ's. Where placed? In the church. I am satisfied that if the angels, after watching the unfolding of the wisdom of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ, from the time Christ died until the time the apostles died, they have not had a recess since of a thousand years. They are not left in suspense, vainly bending over to learn more through silent centuries. The school goes right on. The purposes ripen. The ordinances continue to tell their story. Churches come from churches somewhat as horses come from horses. History cannot trace every detail of the pedigree showing how a certain drove of wild mustangs in western Texas are descendants of the Spanish barbs, brought here by the discoverers 400 years ago. The fact that the mustangs are here proves the succession, since only like begets like.

I do not undervalue church history, but far more important to me than fallible human records of passing events is the New Testament forecast of church history. The former may err – the latter never.

The booklet is "Studies in the New Testament Church". What books/booklets do you favor on this topic? You can read more of this lecture at http://sglblibrary.homestead.com/files/bhcarroll/Volume_15.htm.

Happy Brother Patrick's Day?

If you have read Phil Stringer's book, Faithful Baptist Witness, which outlines independent baptists by doctrine from the time of Christ down through the ages, you may be familiar with his claim that "Saint Patrick", was indeed a saint (as in being saved), but was in fact likely a baptist missionary!

Here is an article (GARBC) about Saint Patrick on this day we celebrate him as a catholic saint. "Patrick should be rescued from his ecclesiastical kidnappers. That is, we have as much claim upon him as does Roman Catholicism. Patrick’s faith and practice were more consistent with our theology than with Roman Catholicism."

Some of his points are:
"First, Patrick saw Scripture as the supreme religious authority. He never appealed to the authority of the church, even when it would have served him well. He never mentioned a church council or creed, although his doctrinal statement closely parallels the “Rule of Faith,” a creed common in his day (Confession).

Second, Patrick made no reference to baptizing infants. He once reported that he “baptized in the Lord, so many thousand men” (“Letter to Coroticus” in The Life and Writings). The word “men” implies that he did not baptize infants.

Third, absent from his writing is any mention of purgatory, Mariolatry, or submission to the authority of the Pope, which, although an argument from silence, suggests that Patrick did not believe in them, did not hold them as significant to true faith, or was ignorant of them.

Fourth, the legacy of Patrick’s ministry is evident in the churches he established, which continued to be sound in doctrine well into the ninth century. They were amazingly evangelical (compared to the Roman Church of the day), teaching original sin and the impossibility of salvation by human merits or effort, Christ alone being the sinner’s righteousness. Additionally they taught the vicarious atonement.

Fifth, in his Confession, Patrick recognized the agency of the Holy Spirit in conversion. No doubt it became a tenet of the church’s doctrine. Sixth, the teaching of justification by faith is a key aspect of Patrick’s contribution (The Life and Writings). Seventh, Patrick believed in the intercession of the Holy Spirit and of Christ (quoting Romans 8:26 and 1 John 2:1). But he never mentioned the intercession of saints, angels, or Mary."

The writer asserts that: "The man we know today as St. Patrick was kidnapped twice: first by Irish pirates, then after his death, by the Roman Catholic Church." Read the entire article HERE.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Honoring The King James Bible (2)

I find it funny that many people have a hard time believing that God preserved his Word for us. Is anything too hard for the LORD? said God to Abraham, concerning his barren wife becoming pregnant.

Here is a thought I wanted to share you today. 


I was reading through the book of Nehemiah last week, and the inspiration for my next article on honoring the King James Bible came to me. This inspiration is found in chapter 9 of the book.

The chapter pretty much is arranged in a way which resembles a typical Sunday service at your church. It starts with the children of Israel gathered together, then it proceeds to the people reading the book of the law of the LORD, followed by praise and worship to God.

Now the next part is what I particularly want to focus on, From verse 5 of chapter 9, all the way to the end of the chapter, the Levites which numbered a total of 8 stand up and sound out a discourse very similar to Stephens own discourse found in Acts 7.

As I was reading this, what stood out to me was the whole nature of this service from the Levites to the people. The context of the discourse was from God calling out Abraham, to Judah returning back to Jerusalem from their captivity. This covers a large amount of history if taking into account Abraham lived around 2000 bc and the Nehemiah lived around 400 bc.

Now the first five books were penned down by the human author Moses, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit,  Moses as we know it, lived around 1500 bc, which is roughly 500 years after Abraham lived. 

Anyone who has even skimmed through the Bible (let alone read it) know that SO much history is covered from those dates given above, and recorded for us in the Word of God to read. We know in that space of time Israel went through the leadership of Moses to Joshua to Judges, to Kings to the kingdom being split and Israel being destroyed by the Assyrians, to the tribe of judah being taken into captivity for 70 years by the Babylonians and returning in the reign of the Medes and Persians. 

YET still, in all that space of time, God's Word was preserved for the Levites to open up and read in the ears fo the people, and the discourse mirrors exactly the events recorded in the first five books of Moses, which in turn is reiterated by Stephen in his discourse in Acts.

WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY? it's simple :) better yet let me write one verse out of many of God's promise to preserve his Word.

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. ~ Psalm 119 v160

CONCLUSION, God preserves his Word even through turbulant history, wars, persecution, trials, imprisonment, exile and the rise and fall of nations and empires.

God bless

The Petrobrussians and the Arnoldists

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.” Deuteronomy 32:7

Looking at these groups of Baptists briefly brings to light four from the twelfth century. These congregations were home to some of the boldest Baptist ministers who have ever lived. Peter de Bruys and Arnold of Brescia were both great preachers and great overall leaders of the Baptists.

I know that many critics of our Baptist heritage say, “You have named Montanists, Novationists, Donatists, Vaudois, Cathari, Paterines, Petrobrussians and Arnoldists, but you have not named any group by the title ‘Baptist’, therefore you are just speculating that these were Baptists.” My answer to the critics is we believe that Baptist faith and practice, or a continuation of biblical teachings and distinctives, have existed since the time of Christ. The title Baptist is very important to us because it is the title that God gave His people in the New Testament, but ultimately it is what you believe that determines whether or not you are a Baptist. Therefore what denominational label would you place on someone:

A. Who believed in salvation by grace,
B. Who baptized by immersion upon a profession of faith,
C. Who rejected infant baptism,
D. Who rejected the baptism of anyone coming from the mother of harlots or her offspring,
E. Who believed the Bible to be without error?

The honest answer is: A BAPTIST. According to Ephesians 3:20-21, Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 23:34, Jesus promised the church would stand, suffer and glorify Him THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

In Peter de Bruys and Arnold of Brescia, we clearly see several things. First, we see God’s desire to change people by His grace and then use them in the ministry. Secondly, we see the true character and bravery of these men. They did not just talk the talk, but they also walked the walk. Both men died for what they believed. Many of their followers did also. This was a noble bunch. Thirdly, we see the Roman Church at its lowest point in human history. It had become such a laughingstock among the common populace that discontent was the feeling of the day. So many were disgruntled with the hypocrisy of Rome that when these two men and their preacher friends began to publically herald the pure Gospel, everything from riots to revivals regularly broke out. These two men, and the many baptized believers of their day, truly gave the Devil a black eye, and snatched thousands of souls from his clutches. Rome patiently bided her time until the wretched cult could grab these great men of God and martyr them in a most cruel fashion. History has not forgotten these two men and their influence. Would to God that, like our Bible verse states, we would not let their memory die, but would do everything in our power to share their testimony with the next generation.

1. The Petrobrussians (A.D. 1126)

The sect of the Petrobrussians, followers of Peter de Bruys, born 1093, spread widely in southern France. He was a converted Catholic priest. In doctrine and practice there was close agreement between them and the Waldsenses.

Non-Baptist Christians?

While some Baptists understand the absurdity of making a distinction between church history and Baptist history many would still refer to non-Baptist believers as Christians. I don’t believe that you can be a Christian without being a Baptist. I did not say you can’t be saved without being a Baptist and that would be absurd because you cannot become a Baptist until being baptized after salvation. The question must be asked, “What is a Christian?”. A Christian is not just one that trusts Christ as their Savior. A Christian is one who is a follower of Christ – including AFTER salvation. May I say that one who gets saved and then backslides or never grows in the Lord is not a Christian. They may have trusted in Christ but they are not following Christ in their life. To be a Christian is to follow the ways and teachings of Christ. How could a believer be a Christian without being a member of the institution of the local church which He started? How could a saved Methodist be a Christian with their infant baptism? How could a Pentecostal believer be a Christian with their speaking in tongues? How could a Church of Christ member be called a Christian when they are trusting in baptism for salvation? How could a Presbyterian believer be a Christian when they don’t believe in eternal security and practice sprinkling? Being a Christian is more than believing in Christ and going to a church that historically believes in Christ instead of other gods. As Spurgeon said, “We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians.” As Baptists we don’t treat the polity of new testament churches as optional suggestions and we don’t add to our practices the contradictory writings and creeds of men. If Jesus were physically on earth today he would be a member of a Baptist church because a (true) Baptist church is a practical copy and an actual descendant of the church that Christ started during His earthly ministry. Don’t be ashamed my brethren, only Baptists are Christians.
Source: baptistbyconviction.wordpress.com

Online Baptist History Resources

Pastor David Peterman has been a member here for some time now. He has a blog that includes: "'Online Baptist History' portion of my personal blog. There are more than 30 Baptist History books posted there. Some have downloadable PDF. versions listed online for FREE! Baptists today know shamefully little about thier own heritage, here is a FREE resource for you!"

Check it out on his blog at http://revonator.wordpress.com/free-online-baptist-history-resources/

B.R. Lakin

Bascom Ray Lakin, Baptist Preacher
Born: January 5, 1901 near Fort Gay, West Virginia
Died: March 15, 1984 in Lynchburg, Virginia



Born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lakin in a farmhouse on Big Hurricane Creek, B. R. Lakin had been asked for from the Lord by a praying mother, who asked God for a "preacher man". He attended a one-room schoolhouse only through fourth grade, but later in life attended Moody Bible Institute while pastoring several churches.

Lakin became a Christian by accepting Jesus Christ as his Saviour in 1919, at a revival that was being held by J.C. Simphins in a country Baptist church. Within a week he had preached his first sermon. During the 1920s he served as circuit-riding preacher, riding a mule to country churches near the forks of the Big Sandy River, through the mountains and foothills of rural West Virginia and Kentucky. His first pastorate was Evangel Baptist Church at Greenbriar Creek, where he was paid $7 a month. He eventually assisted for two years at the Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana, and upon E. Howard Cadle's death, became the Senior Pastor for the nest twelve years, continuing the long running daily radio program, “Nation’s Family Prayer Period".

B.R. Lakin was married to the former Violet Crabtree on August 30, 1922. They only had one son, William. William passed away on March 27, 1955 as the result of a car accident. William Lakin was survived by his wife and son. B.R. Lakins grandson, Ronald, assisted him throughout the rest of his ministry.

In 1952, Dr. Lakin resigned as pastor of Cadle Tabernacle to go into full-time evangelism, which he continued in until just before his death in 1984. Although he referred to himself as "just a country preacher", he traveled fifty thousand miles each year and preached to an average of four thousand people per week. He was a staff evangelist for Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. Lakin's sermons were a combination of wit, Bible teaching, and a strong Gospel appeal.

Sermons by B.R. Lakin can still be heard, on websites such as this.

True Worship

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-5, I Corinthians 2:14, Psalm 81:10-11, I Samuel 15:22, Hebrews 11:17-19

1. To worship God you must listen to God

2. To worship God you must be obedient to God

3. It takes effort to worship God

4. Worship involves personal sacrifice

8/25 Trail of Blood

4. There is one new doctrine to which we have failed to call attention. There are doubtless others but one especially--and that "Infant Communion." Infants were not only baptized, but received into the church, and being church members, they were supposed to be entitled to the Lord's Supper. How to administer it to them was a problem, but it was solved by soaking the bread in the wine. Thus it was practiced for years. And after awhile another new doctrine was added to this--it was taught that this was another means of Salvation. As still another new doctrine was later added to these, we will again refer to this a little later in the lectures.

5. During the 5th Century, at the fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon, 451, another entirely new doctrine was added to the rapidly growing list--the doctrine called "Mariolatry," or the worship of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. A new mediator seems to have been felt to be needed. The distance from God to man was too great for just one mediator, even though that was Christ, God's Son, the real God-Man. Mary was thought to be needed as another mediator, and prayers were to be made to Mary. She was to make them to Christ.

6. Two other new doctrines were added to the Catholic faith in the 8th Century. These were promulgated at the Second Council held at Nicea (Nice), the Second Council held there (787). The first of these was called "Image Worship, a direct violation of one of the commands of God.

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," (Ex. 20:3, 4, 5). Another addition from Paganism. Then followed the "worship of Saints." This doctrine has no encouragement in the Bible. Only one instance of Saint worship is given in the Bible and that is given to show its utter folly--the dead rich man praying to Abraham, (Luke 16:24-3l). These are some, not all of the many revolutionary changes from New Testament teachings, that came about during this period of Church history.

7. During the period that we are now passing through the persecuted were called by many and varied names. Among them were Donatists, Paterines, Cathari, Paulicians, and Ana Baptists; and a little later, Petro-Brussians, Arnoldists, Henricians, Albigenses, and Waldenses. Sometimes one group of these was the most prominent and sometimes another. But some of them were almost always prominent because of the persistency and terribleness of their persecution.

8. Let it not be thought that all these persecuted ones were always loyal in all respects to New Testament teachings. In the main they were. And some of them, considering their surroundings, were marvelously so. Remember that many of them at that far away, time, had only parts of the New Testament or the Old Testament as to that. The book was not printed. It was written in manuscript on parchment or skins or something of that kind, and was necessarily large and bulky. Few, if any, families or even simple churches had complete copies of the whole Bible. Before the formal close of the Canon (end of fourth century) there were probably very few simple manuscripts of the entire New Testament. Of the one thousand known manuscripts only about 30 copies included all the books.

9. Furthermore, during all the period of the "Dark Ages," and the period of the persecution, strenuous efforts were made to destroy even what Scripture manuscripts the persecuted did possess. Hence in many instances these people had only small parts of the Bible.

Daily Devotionals from The Trail of Blood and other devotions here: http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com

Time for Devotions

http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com/ is up and running again. Daily Bible reading and various devotionals will be posted daily. If you write devotions, and would like to be an author, visit http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com/2009/08/relaunch-of-kjv-devos.html

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Relaunch of KJV Devos!

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Rev. Fred and Sister Jessica Roberts

Who Must We Trust in Times like These; President Obama or the True Messiah?

(copied)

This apparently originated with a Baptist minister in Virginia. I think it speaks volumes about where we are today. Please read with an open mind.
Genesis 47: 13-27

Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will, to the 47th chapter of Genesis; we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27. Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us?

Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray. So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt, and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again.

So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock - their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year. But the famine wasn't over, was it?

So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain.

What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters?

That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes.

But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! "Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to the government, no, it says they gained possessions!

But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth" once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us.

It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind.

And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders.

What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same.

And a lot of people like to call Mr. Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah, a savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"?

Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. Obama is no Messiah! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh.

Bow with me in prayer, if you will.

Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says, "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation.

Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh's government.

In God we Trust

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Disciple, Profiteer, or Temporary Miracle-Believer: The Work of the Word in John 2

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a two-way street, hinging on his discipleship of us through the Spirit, and our continued discipleship with him through the word of God.

We pick up in John 2:13-25, after Cana. The remainder of John 2 post-Cana seems like a disjointed collection of different accounts of Jesus moving southward with his disciples to Jerusalem. But there is a uniting concept there, and in the Gospel of John, which does not always follow chronological order, sequence is key. If John puts something in a particular order, they may be linked not by time, but by theme. The theme, friends, is discipleship.

After resting after the Cana (water to wine ) wedding at Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples went to Jerusalem, where Jesus cleared the temple of the livestock hawkers and the money-changers. He went on his rampage, and then his disciples recalled the scriptures that had forecast his zeal (John 2:17). Then, he was questioned apparently by some in the religious establishment, and he answered, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19). After the Resurrection, his disciples recalled what he had said “and they believed the scripture” that had forecast it (John 2:22). Finally, Jesus attended Passover, and performed miracles there, seen by many. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because knew all men. (John 2:24). Commit here is from the Greek word for “have faith” – pisteuo. Why did Jesus not commit himself to those people? Jesus did not have faith in those people in Jerusalem because their faith was superficial – they only saw his works, they did not know his words, and how his works fulfilled the Word of God. He needed to see them paging through scripture in search of the deeper, prophetic ramifications of his deeds.

This latter part of John 2, holds for us a classification for people who claim Christ into three groups:
1) Disciples: Believe not only in Christ or his miracles, but are students of the Word. They are Bible readers and studiers, like those at Berea. They pore over what they see in the scriptures to see if it was so. (Acts 17:11)
2) Temporary believers. These are the souls he won by performing miracles. They liked what they saw and signed on, but did not continue in his word. Jesus obviously did not continue on with them either.
3) Profiteers. These are people who profit from the selling of the word, and these are cast out of the Temple by Jesus. These are people more akin to Judas, who might walk among believers, but their hearts are only interested in material gain that they associate with their ill-founded belief in God.

The Gospel of John points to the need for us to be saved, but then gives us a choice about discipleship. I believe the two are connected. If we choose not to become disciples of Christ, then Christ himself will not commit himself to us.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:7)

How do we abide in Christ? Love each other. But this also calls for the converse of that: the words of Jesus abiding, or living, in us. And to do that he must be willing to abide in us. That means that one of the key components of discipleship is staying in the Word. Is not the Gospel of John centered on the fact that Jesus Christ is the living logos, of God, made flesh? Not just a son of God, as someone holy, but the Son of God, the only begotten. Abiding in his Word was why Jesus chose to keep close to his disciples while he would not entrust himself to those believers who were just interested in the fanfare of miracles and free food.

So, in this way, we can conclude that his works on earth were of far less important than his words on earth. The works of Christ are recorded in the gospels, some of them, in fact just a very small smattering of them, John noted, were included, and they were included in John precisely to make us believers (John 20:30-31). But the words of Christ, of God, breathed through scripture, must be our compass and map for the rest of our Christian walks. Fulfilling the Word, and being ready for its complete fulfillment in his return, is the “works” that God wants us to do for the rest of our lives here on earth. Let us not misunderstand the task of discipleship.