A Christmas Carol, revisited

Although Charles Dickens did not claim Christianity that I'm aware, he did write quite the story of redemption in "A Christmas Carol". I'll assume you know the story and not attempt to address it here.  I do want to make mention of one quote I read once.  The setting is with the spirit of Christmas present, he has taken Scrooge to see his nephew's party.  Dickens then says they started playing a game called "forfeits".

But they didn’t devote the whole evening to music. After a while they played at forfeits; for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself. 

That's what got my attention, "it's mighty Founder was a child himself".  Praise God!  How very true.  The prophet Isaiah had predicted it 700 years prior to His birth.

^uFor to us a child is born, 

to us ^va son is given; 

^wand the government shall be ^xupon¹ his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called² 

Wonderful ^yCounselor, ^zMighty God, 

^aEverlasting ^bFather, Prince of ^cPeace. 

⁷  Of the increase of his government and of peace 

^dthere will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it 

^ewith justice and with righteousness 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

^fThe zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

It was the "zeal of the Lord" that made it happen.  This Jesus understands the human condition.  He was a child himself, that became the sacrifice for all of our sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Now, two thousand years after the birth of Jesus, He makes it possible for us to have relationship with Him....sin free  (Romans 10:9-10).

May the wonder of the Good News be rich upon your heart this Christmas

Angels, We Have Heard on High, that It Came Upon a Midnight Clear!

There are a lot of myths about Angels, but the Bible tells the truth about them.  Consider all they had to do before, during and after the birth of our Lord! The messages of the Angels that brought about the first Christmas were numerous.  First was the message of Gabriel to Zecheriah announcing the coming of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20) Then the same angel Gabriel gave the message to Mary six months later (Luke 1:26-38)  That was followed by the appearance of the Angel of the Lord in a dream to Joseph (Matthew 1:20-24).  God was superintending the coming of Jesus to the world. Then, on that glorious night of His birth. The Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds out in the field.  This was followed by a great company of the heavenly host with the angel. (Luke 2:8-15). Some time later, to avoid the onslaught of the males of Bethlehem by the evil King Herod, the Angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and instructed him to take he and his family to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-14). Finally, after the death of Herod, the Angel of the Lord informed Joseph of the death of Herod and gave instruction to return to Israel. (Matthew 2:16-23). All along the way, God was orchestrating the coming of His Son into the world.  When James Montgomery penned the words to Angels from the Realms of Glory, he focused on the impact the message of the Angels would have not only on the biblical world, but every generation following.  My favorite line from this anthem is bolded.  There is a time to "leave your contemplations" and embrace the living Christ!  Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; ye who sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing; yonder shines the infant Light: Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar; seek the great desire of nations; ye have seen His natal star: Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, suddenly the Lord, descending, in His temple shall appear: Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King. Then, an American Harvard graduate, writing in 1849, wrote these grand words.  Notice how the message of the angels draws our attention to all aspects of the Gospel.  For one, the effect of forgiveness of sin results in peace with God (Romans 5:1)  If you find yourself "beneath life's crushing load, may the words to this song be a blessing to you!  The Bible says that Christ "ever lives" to make intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25), and finally, the Christian hope for the future.  No matter your condition today, you have hope that one day Jesus will return to bring justice to the earth and hope to His people. At that point, "the whole world will give back the song which now the angels sing". (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11) It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heav’n’s all gracious King!” The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing. For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophet bards foretold, when with the ever circling years comes round the age of gold when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing. May your Christmas Season be filled with the Joy of knowing the living Christ!

Intentional Thanksgiving

It's a privilege to give thanks!  That's what this week is about.  We are blessed beyond measure!  One of those blessings is the freedom to experience the blessings of our Christian faith.  The writer of Scripture said, this is the victory that has overcome the world....even our faith!  In that frame of mind, I offer up the sermon manuscript from today's sermon @ Bethel.

STAGES OF THANKSGIVING

Psalm 105:1–3 (ESV)

INTRODUCTION: 1 Oh give thanks to the Lord-The Decision

Thanksgiving is upon us and we should run to it with all we have.  Let’s bless His Name!  Thanksgiving is conveyed when we live out our thankful nature before others. This morning we are reflecting on some phrases found not only in the passage we are looking at, but throughout the Bible.  Call it Stages of Thanksgiving........ First, as part of our introduction, is the decision to give Thanks

106 ⁱPraise the Lord!  ^jOh give thanks to the Lord, ^kfor he is good,  ^lfor his steadfast love endures forever!  

Psalm 106:1

³⁴  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  for his steadfast love endures forever!  

1 Chronicles 16:34

I will be glad and do something about it!

1. Call on His Name- Praying

Praying and calling to God started all the way back with the first family....

²⁶ To ^lSeth also a son was born, and he called his name ^mEnosh. At that time people began ⁿto call upon the name of the Lord.  

Genesis 4:26

 Isa. 12:4;  see 1 Chr. 16:8–22 

King David used this same outline in 1 Chronicles 16!

David’s Song of Thanks ^{8  f}Oh give thanks to the Lord; ^gcall upon his name;  ^hmake known his deeds among the peoples!  ⁹  Sing to him, sing praises to him;  tell of all his wondrous works!  ¹⁰  Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!  1 Chronicles 16:8–22

u Ps. 99:6; 116:13, 17; [Gen. 4:26] 

Psalm 99:6 retells of His faithfulness in the History of Israel....

^{6  f}Moses and Aaron were among his ^gpriests,  Samuel also was among those who ^hcalled upon his name.  They ⁱcalled to the Lord, and he answered them.  

Psalm 99:6

¹³  I will lift up ^rthe cup of salvation  and ^scall on the name of the Lord,  

Psalm 116:13

¹⁷  I will ^zoffer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving  and ^scall on the name of the Lord.  

Psalm 116:17

w Ps. 77:12 

¹²  I will ponder all your ^rwork,  and meditate on your ^smighty deeds.  

Psalm 77:12

And then Isaiah, looking through a glass darkly declared the future of the Church!

^4 yAnd you will say in that day:  ^z“Give thanks to the Lord,  call upon his name,  ^amake known his deeds among the peoples,  proclaim ^bthat his name is exalted.  

Isaiah 12:4

3. Make Known His Deeds Among the Peoples-Ministry

v Ps. 145:4, 5, 11, 12 

^{4  o}One generation shall commend your works to another,  and shall declare your mighty acts.  

Psalm 145:4

⁵  On ^pthe glorious splendor of your majesty,  and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.  

Psalm 145:5

¹¹  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom  and tell of your power,  

Psalm 145:11

¹²  to ^wmake known to the children of man your^{1 x}mighty deeds,  and ^ythe glorious splendor of your kingdom.  

Psalm 145:12

The declaring, the telling, the sharing is born out of an encounter with Almighty God!!!!

On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples had followed the instructions of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on ALL who were there and they began to speak in tongues.....It wasn’t just the marvel of the tongues event, however, that drew their attention, it was the translation of what the onlookers heard when they said:

both Jews and 

proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.

4 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him-Praise

we understand that one.

1. tell of all his wondrous works!-Evangelism 

Thank you Jesus, you came from heaven to earth to show the way...

Thank you for the healing, for walking with me in the trial and delivering me from it!

O Mighty Deliverer are YOU!!!!

Thank you....1, 2, 3, 4, 5.....How many blessings?  Too many to number....as the Psalmist said were I to number them they would outnumber the grains of sand...

He lifted me Out!!!! of the deep miry clay 

And planted my feet, on the King’s highway

And that is the reason!  I sing and I shout!!!!

For Jesus came down

And He lifted me out!!!!

Would you bow for prayer.....Jesus can lift you out of that situation you are in.  You don’t have to stay in the depression or the guilt.  Jesus said I stand at the door and knock, if any man or woman open the door I will come in 

He also said come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

First....Do you know Christ?  Have you met the one who can turn your sorrow into Joy?

He’s holding out hope for you this morning.

Second...have you been laboring under a burden and its time to turn it over to Jesus?  The songwriter said “I must tell Jesus, all of my sorrows, He is a kind and compassionate friend...In my distress He quickly will help me, make of my troubles swiftly an end.

CONCLUSION-Benediction

3 Glory in his holy name; 

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

May the Lord help us to have an attitude of Thanksgiving and Rejoice!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Opportunities on Purpose

This is a sermon that I preached at Bethel today.  I wanted to post the notes, because as you know, sermons don't always go as planned and there are resources some may find helpful.  Because of the amazing tool called reftagger, provided by logos Bible software, (a tool that turns website Scripture references into hyperlinks that can be change to just about any version of the Bible on the fly!), I've decided to upload these notes so you can search the great passages on the "Mystery of Christ" referenced in the sermon.  May the Lord bless you as you review this text and make the decision to make unselfish praying and evangelistic praying part of your Christian worldview.

Opportunities on Purpose

Colossians 4:2-6

Since Jesus has not come back yet.  We have work to do.  There is a harvest waiting for us.

Next week we will  take up a cash offering for church planting and raise our giving budget for next year.  My concern is that this not be just another item on the church calendar.  God has redeemed us. The Gospel made it this far.  Now we have the privilege of helping get it further.  

God wants to be involved!  God wants to use us!, we have to include Him in the proposition. There is a passage at the end of Colossians that speaks to what we can do...right now.  Turn to Colossians 4:2

LET’S PRAY

1. Believers can Pray with Purpose

Colossians 4:2–4 (ESV)

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 

Delmer Guynes, the former president of SAGU and missionary to China said this about prayer:  “There is no limit to what God can do if you learn to pray unselfishly”

Jesus encouraged his disciples:  Mark 14:38 (ESV)

38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 

Colossians 2:2 ² that ^ztheir hearts may be encouraged, being ^aknit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of ^bGod’s mystery, which is Christ, 

Ephesians 1:9 ^9 vmaking known¹ to us the mystery of his will, ⁿaccording to his purpose, which he ^wset forth in Christ 

Ephesians 3:3–4 ^3 show the mystery was made known to me ^tby revelation, ^uas I have written briefly. ^4 vWhen you read this, you can perceive my insight into ^wthe mystery of Christ, 

Ephesians 3:9 ⁹ and ⁱto bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery ^jhidden for ages in¹ God ^kwho created all things, 

Ephesians 5:32 ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 

Ephesians 6:19 ¹⁹ and ^dalso for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^eboldly to proclaim ^fthe mystery of the gospel, 

Romans 12:12 ^12 zRejoice in hope, ^abe patient in tribulation, ^bbe constant in prayer. 

Ephesians 6:18 ¹⁸ praying ^yat all times ^zin the Spirit, ^awith all prayer and supplication. To that end ^bkeep alert with all perseverance, making ^csupplication for all the saints, 

Philippians 4:6 ^6 rdo not be anxious about anything, ^sbut in everything by prayer and supplication ^twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ^17 wpray without ceasing, 

1. Believers can use Wisdom 

col 4:5

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 

James 1:5 (ESV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Jesus said He would not leave us comfortless.

The original word here implies walking around, “as you go about”.  It makes the best use of the time.

1. Believers can Know what to Say 

col 4:6

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

The Question of course is.....Will You?

Maybe you need to take the opportunity this morning to come to Jesus.  The door has been opened for you.  The Bible says if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.

DECISION ONE

Are you willing to take this passage this week and use it? I will intentionally pray for God to open doors for lost people.

DECISION TWO

I will pray that God will provide for all of our missionaries and get us along the road to plant churches.

Mormon Resources

So.  The Mormons are in the news!  I've already written one blog about it, but I prepared this information for an adult Sunday School class at Bethel . I wanted to have this resource available all the time so I'm reposting it here.  May the Lord bless you as you develop relationships with Mormon people who are genuinely trying to believe the Christ of the Bible!

Are Mormons a Cult?  How to Witness and How to Pray

Yes.  Mormons are a cult.  The question is, who cares?  There are 2 main distinctions in our culture concerning religion and cults.  

1. Cults are unorthodox (false)
2. Christianity maintains orthodoxy (truth)
3. Christianity claims the Christ of the Bible is the only way to heaven
1. John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The Assemblies of God, as one of over 200 Christian denominations claims the following about Christ.  These statements are relatively uniform among Christian denominations, including Catholics and Greek Orthodox.

www.ag.org/beliefs

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

His virgin birth,

• Matthew 1:23 Luke 1:31 Luke 1:35 

His sinless life,

• Hebrews 7:26
• 1 Peter 2:22 
• His miracles,
• Acts 2:22 
• Acts 10:38 

His substitutionary work on the cross,

• 1 Corinthians 15:3 
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 

His bodily resurrection from the dead,

• Matthew 28:6 
• Luke 24:39 
• 1 Corinthians 15:4 

His exaltation to the right hand of God.

• Acts 1:9 
• Acts 1:11 
• Acts 2:33 
• Philippians 2:9-11 
• Hebrews 1:3 

Mormon or LDS, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says that Jesus was once only human and became divine.  It also asserts that Jesus and Satan were brothers originally.  

Mormonism is a cult because it denies the reality of the Christ of the Bible.

The good news is Mormons can be saved!  

Keep these things in mind as you pray for and witness to Mormons.

1. There is no geographical record for the lands mentioned in the book of Mormon
2. There is NO archaeological data for the events mentioned in the book of Mormon
3. There is NO textual evidence whatsoever for the book of Mormon texts before 1830 AD

The Bible on the other hand.

1. Has maps, a geographical record for the lands mentioned 
2. Has many archaeological sites for the events mentioned in the Bible
3. Has 40000 manuscripts for the Old and New Testament as early as 500 years BC for the OT, and 100 Ad for the NT

There are many nominal Mormons.  That is, they do not know their doctrine, they don’t go to the temple and they listen to evangelical Christian music.

There are tremendous resources for evangelizing Mormons.

www.sourceflix.com

The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon (youtube)

The Bible vs. Joseph Smith

Lifting the Veil of Polygamy

The Crags of the Wild Goats

and many more.

PRAY 

1. That God will open up the door to the Mormons in our community
2. That God will lead you into conversations with Mormons so they can be saved

Rev. Charles M. Barnes, pastor

The small church that I was saved in, and received my early impressions of the Pentecostal movement in, was Hillcrest Assembly of God in Arlington, TX.  From this small location off Division Street in Arlington, Charles and Geraldine Barnes served as the Pastors of Hillcrest and then Memorial Assembly of God for well over 40 years.  In the early days, Hillcrest was a growing church with an expansive heart for outreach through Bro. Barnes' "Gospel Messenger Broadcast".  I don't know if there are any recordings of that broadcast but I did find this article on the web about Bro. Barnes in 1965.   This article happens to be housed at the Assemblies of God center for Pentecostal history, the  Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. 

While I won't take the time to comment on the tremendous resource that the IFPHC is, I am thankful that I found this article and I can't imagine how it could have been done otherwise.  Brother Barnes was a treasure.  My family, as one of few families in the church after a split in the late 60s, would help provide the music background to the "Gospel Messenger Broadcast".  I remember one Christmas the church gave Bro. Barnes a "reel to reel" recorder so that he could tape his broadcasts at the church or at home, and then mail them off to the radio stations in Arkansas and other areas around TX.    They would record the introductory to the broadcast on Wednesday evenings. I remember my family helping to sing "Only Trust Him" and "He Could Have Called 10000 angels" as the introductory music to the Gospel Messenger broadcast. 

Brother Barnes died in I think 1981, and his wife Geraldine continued to pastor Memorial until her death some twenty years later. My colleague, Dr. Mary Jackson also preached at Memorial and was a close friend of Geraldine until her death.  I was privileged to receive several books from Bro. Barnes library. His Ironside commentaries are underlined extensively.

I have no idea the breadth of that ministry.  I just remember hearing that "he was a great preacher" and when people who heard the broadcast would come to Arlington, they were disappointed to find he pastored a small church.  Today, many gifted pastors struggle to keep the Church going.  It's not a new problem.

The Langstons left the church when I was ten to go to the big church across town.  My parents were concerned that my older brother and sister needed a youth group.  It was probably the right decision, but I know that many small churches have such a wider impact than they will ever know this side of eternity.

The same year I was born, however, Hillcrest Assembly of God  was a light in the midst of darkness to the growing city of Arlington.  I'm providing this article as tribute to the man who brought the gospel to me, and who knows how many thousands of others.  This article comes from the January 24, 1965 Pentecostal Evangel  available here.  





Hey Governor Perry, Guess What? Mormonism is a Cult

First and foremost, let me provide a disclaimer.  I like watching political news. That's probably why I know about this.  Secondly, I don't ever comment on politics really, unless it involves moral and theological issues.  Third, I am privileged to teach Introduction to Theology at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. So maybe I have a sensitivity to ridiculous theological assertions.  I think its important to point out when error is being propagated, no matter who it is.

This week, Governor Perry was introduced by Dr. Robert Jeffress, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist, Dallas.  I appreciate FBC Dallas for the stand they take for Jesus.  Here is the article that mentions the event I'm referring to.

What concerns me is this comment made by the office of Rick Perry.

"Perry spokesman Robert Black said in a statement after the event, “The governor does not believe Mormonism is a cult."


You can't have it both ways. Let's not affirm the evangelical credentials of ANY candidate that suggests mormonism is not a cult.  


Watch this video about the Bible vs. the Book of Mormon.


Colossians 2:16–23 and Galatians 1:8 make it quite clear that one cannot be a Christian in name only.  Evangelicals and Pentecostals are not ignorant, Governor.  We read our Bibles and and we make our theological decisions based on the authority of Scripture, not the latest poll numbers.  Maybe if you would read your Bible you would discover the difference between truth and error.

Could Mitt Romney be a good president?  Probably.  Is he a Mormon?  Yes.  Are Mormons Christians?  not unless they have denied the jesus of the book of Mormon and accepted the Jesus of the Bible. Is the Gospel available to Mormons?  Absolutely!  Romans 10:9-10 is for everyone.

The Miracle of the Dead Sea Scrolls

I may be one of a minority that care, that's ok.  In 1948, some shepherd boys stumbled upon some scrolls in a cave by the Dead Sea.  The result of that discovery was objective proof that the wonder of oral tradition and the transmission of the Old Testament was clearly telling the revelation of God to man. Now,  this week, 63 years after that discovery, ANYONE can study the Dead Sea Scrolls.  I won't tell you how, I'll just let you click on the links:

Dead Sea Scrolls Online   What an amazing time we live in,   The Israel Museum in Jerusalem; the Shrine of the Book, has just partnered with Google to present the Dead Sea Scrolls to the world.     This just happened this week. Watch a video about it.     The Great Isaiah Scroll   View where Dead Sea Scrolls are stored.     History and  significance of the Scroll. When you look at it, make sure you navigate from right to left, it's Hebrew!

When Peter was writing to the Church at the close of the first century, after Christianity had spread over the known world and as the New Testament was being written, he linked up the power of Scripture in the Old Testament with what God was doing then.  Even as Nero was persecuting Christians, Peter declared this truth about the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament revelation:



2 Peter 1:16–19 (NASB95)

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—

18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

Now because of this gift from the Nation of Israel.  You can study the "word of the prophets" by simply clicking on a section and watching an pop-up translation in English.

May the Lord bless you as you encounter His word.