BLJ: There is a danger in man pleasing. When you allow your fear of others to cause you to cease from the walk on the highway of holiness, you have compromised. Compromise is a great danger to the church collectively and to the individual. Candidly, I believe most churches have more of the world in them than they do the Holy Spirit.
THE NO-BALM BACKFIRE
When a Christian on any level of responsibility sees that he must succumb to the carnal element in order to survive -- if he sells out and surrenders his convictions in order to remain secure with men, he will become insecure with God, and will be headed toward that spiritual wilderness where there is no balm. Many poor souls, like King Saul and Judas, have reached that hopeless state before they ever left this world (Heb. 3:19).
The Children of Judah revolted until there was no mollification for them with the oil of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 1:5-6). There was no balm for them because they would not repent of the wrongs they had done -- nor would they change their ways and live right. "To be saved from the leprosy of sin therefore, is to be saved from leprosy of self." [48]
Anyone who reads the chapters of this book may feel that some of the statements are too severe, and they may wonder: "Is there no balm?" What could be more tragic than the desolation of the deserted house? (Matt. 23:38). As there was no balm for old Israel when they rebelled against God -- just so there will be no balm for us if we fail to enter into the life of true holiness (Heb. 4:1). Think of the soul-torturing anguish when a lost soul finally realizes he is eternally and hopelessly locked up in hell and banished from God forever! (Heb. 6:3-6). When we get to where these Scriptures no longer frighten us, we are in deep trouble, because "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7). Where is the fear of God when backslidden church members can continue brazenly down this apostate road, over the top of warning after warning? Many will hunt for the answer to that question for all eternity in that world "...where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44).
BLJ: While some may find Bro. Boardman's book harsh, he is sounding an alarm that needs to be sounded. The church has compromised with the world. It's not too late, but its getting close. The church needs to preach holiness morning, noon and night. It needs to be clearly proclaimed from the pulpit, from the Sunday school room and from the nursery. Holiness unto the Lord, both now and forever more!
There comes a time in the process of human rebellion when it is too late for any balm, because the moral and spiritual cancer has made such headway that there is no cure. There is no balm or mollification for those who have allowed that infernal monster in their hearts (the carnal mind) to go too far in withstanding the Holy Ghost. "For to be carnally minded is death" (Rom. 8:6).
BLJ: Don't delay! Don't procrastinate! Today is the day of salvation, full and free!
"Death enters, and there's no defense,
His time there's none can tell;
He'll in a moment call thee hence,
To heaven or down to hell."
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Self vs Christ
BLJ: You can put self on the throne of your heart, or you can put Jesus Christ on the throne. Putting self in charge will bring heartache, disappointment and regret. Putting Christ on the throne is the Biblical approach. It leads to life, and life more abundant. Put Christ first, not self. Many "Christian" books today are more self help, e.g. getting your best life now or determining your purpose. Christ wants you dead to sin, self and the world. That is your best life. That is your purpose.
ESSENTIAL ESTEEM
Christianity, with its "Lowliness and meekness" (Eph. 4:2), shuns the glorification of self and admonishes its followers not to be lifted up, but rather to "denounce self," and mortify the same. Where ESTEEM fits into the life of a true Christian -- is not to esteem one's self, but, as Paul put it: "...Let each esteem OTHER, better than themselves" (Phil. 2:3). All "Christian Humanism" so-called, is diametrically opposed to true Christianity because it tends to worship the creature instead of the Creator (Rom. 1:25).
Paul puts the cap sheaf on the whole proposition when he said, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3).
CHRIST OUR CHAMPION
All arrogant self-esteem should fall into the dust at our feet when we are reminded that Christ, our Saviour, "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,...he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:7, 8). Are we not commanded to take up our cross and follow Him? (Matt. 16:24). Furthermore, the Word of God teaches that since Christ "...suffered for us, leaving us an example, that [we] should follow his steps" (I Peter 2:21). Besides all of this, Christ said of Himself: "...I am meek and lowly in heart..." (Matt. 11:28).
"Alas and did my Saviour bleed
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?"
It was self-esteem that turned Lucifer, "son of the morning" (Isa. 14:12-15) into the devil (Rev. 12:9), and it follows that all who adopt Satan's arrogance will suffer Satan's fate: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).
Someone with a very keen insight has wisely said, "All of the troubles of the world are caused by somebody who wants to be important."
"...For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14).
BLJ: I cannot stress enough that self must be renounced. We are to crucify self. This is taking the death-route. We surrender the carnal traits one at a time and then when faith is appropriated, God will send the Divine fire and purify your heart. It will be either the way of self or the way of Christ. Your move.
ESSENTIAL ESTEEM
Christianity, with its "Lowliness and meekness" (Eph. 4:2), shuns the glorification of self and admonishes its followers not to be lifted up, but rather to "denounce self," and mortify the same. Where ESTEEM fits into the life of a true Christian -- is not to esteem one's self, but, as Paul put it: "...Let each esteem OTHER, better than themselves" (Phil. 2:3). All "Christian Humanism" so-called, is diametrically opposed to true Christianity because it tends to worship the creature instead of the Creator (Rom. 1:25).
Paul puts the cap sheaf on the whole proposition when he said, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3).
CHRIST OUR CHAMPION
All arrogant self-esteem should fall into the dust at our feet when we are reminded that Christ, our Saviour, "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,...he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:7, 8). Are we not commanded to take up our cross and follow Him? (Matt. 16:24). Furthermore, the Word of God teaches that since Christ "...suffered for us, leaving us an example, that [we] should follow his steps" (I Peter 2:21). Besides all of this, Christ said of Himself: "...I am meek and lowly in heart..." (Matt. 11:28).
"Alas and did my Saviour bleed
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?"
It was self-esteem that turned Lucifer, "son of the morning" (Isa. 14:12-15) into the devil (Rev. 12:9), and it follows that all who adopt Satan's arrogance will suffer Satan's fate: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).
Someone with a very keen insight has wisely said, "All of the troubles of the world are caused by somebody who wants to be important."
"...For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14).
BLJ: I cannot stress enough that self must be renounced. We are to crucify self. This is taking the death-route. We surrender the carnal traits one at a time and then when faith is appropriated, God will send the Divine fire and purify your heart. It will be either the way of self or the way of Christ. Your move.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Humanism and Self Promotion
BLJ: At the time Bro. Boardman wrote his book, Robert Schuller was the main voice of promotion of self as opposed to crucifixion of self. Today, there are a number of television prosperity preachers that would fall into the same ditch. Their message is all about you as the focus instead of God as the focus. God becomes the "granddaddy sugar daddy" who sits in heaven and wants to give you a Cadillac and make you monetarily rich. I find it is interesting that these "preachers" ask you to give them money for their ministry needs and they tell you to trust God to provide for your needs. This humanistic approach is opposed to the death-route and must be avoided at all costs.
HUMANISM SCHULLERISM A PATH TO APOSTASY
Anything less than the crucifixion of self, is, in essence, rebellion against God, because either Christ or self will reign in every life. When self demands control, then Christ backs off (Luke 14:26). He will not play "second fiddle." Self on the throne is humanism -- self worship. Humanism, which, in essence, is rebellion against God, leads directly into witchcraft and the occult, because Samuel said, "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..." (I Samuel 15:23). Carrying this analogy a step farther: the spirit of self-worship, which places self before God, is the spirit of Antichrist. When self is elevated, Christ is lowered.
BLJ: To oppose holiness is to oppose God.
Thus, carnality leads from rebellion to humanism; from humanism to witchcraft; from witchcraft to apostasy, and from apostasy to eternal damnation. This coincides with the reasoning which led the preachers of the early holiness movement to preach "holiness or hell" -- an emphasis which the more liberal holiness advocates will no longer accept.
BLJ: Carnality must be dealt with to make heaven.
The humanist says, "I can do all things through the latent powers within me, once those powers are released." The Christian says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). Therefore, the crucifixion of self is the only absolute safeguard against humanism, witchcraft and eventual apostasy. When one shies away willfully from the crucifixion of self, he invites self-worship and is on the open road to humanism, witchcraft, apostasy and finally, eternity in the fires of hell, without God and without hope forever.
"Oh, how I hate these lusts of mine,
That crucified my God;
These sins that pierced and nailed His flesh
Fast to the fatal wood!
Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die,
My heart has so decreed;
Nor will I spare those guilty things
That made my Saviour bleed.
While with a melting, broken heart
My murdered Lord I view
I'll raise revenge against my sins,
And slay the murderers too!"
BLJ: Who is in charge of your life? Is it you or God? Who has rule over your heart?
SCHULLER'S SPIRITUAL SUBVERSION
There may not be a stronger anti-death-route voice in the electric Church of today than that of Robert Schuller, pastor of the famous Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. His television program, "THE HOUR OF POWER," is said to be the most widely watched church telecast in the world, and is raising up "self-esteemers" by the multitudes. His doctrine of self-esteem is the very opposite from the self-renunciation, which is supposed to be the controlling conviction of all true Christians toward self. His brand of self-esteem is the carnal pride which Christ will not tolerate in any of His followers. Why does Mr. Schuller not realize that for one to exalt self is to supplant God? Someone has said: "To DEIFY man is to DEFY God."
HUMANISM SCHULLERISM A PATH TO APOSTASY
Anything less than the crucifixion of self, is, in essence, rebellion against God, because either Christ or self will reign in every life. When self demands control, then Christ backs off (Luke 14:26). He will not play "second fiddle." Self on the throne is humanism -- self worship. Humanism, which, in essence, is rebellion against God, leads directly into witchcraft and the occult, because Samuel said, "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..." (I Samuel 15:23). Carrying this analogy a step farther: the spirit of self-worship, which places self before God, is the spirit of Antichrist. When self is elevated, Christ is lowered.
BLJ: To oppose holiness is to oppose God.
Thus, carnality leads from rebellion to humanism; from humanism to witchcraft; from witchcraft to apostasy, and from apostasy to eternal damnation. This coincides with the reasoning which led the preachers of the early holiness movement to preach "holiness or hell" -- an emphasis which the more liberal holiness advocates will no longer accept.
BLJ: Carnality must be dealt with to make heaven.
The humanist says, "I can do all things through the latent powers within me, once those powers are released." The Christian says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). Therefore, the crucifixion of self is the only absolute safeguard against humanism, witchcraft and eventual apostasy. When one shies away willfully from the crucifixion of self, he invites self-worship and is on the open road to humanism, witchcraft, apostasy and finally, eternity in the fires of hell, without God and without hope forever.
"Oh, how I hate these lusts of mine,
That crucified my God;
These sins that pierced and nailed His flesh
Fast to the fatal wood!
Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die,
My heart has so decreed;
Nor will I spare those guilty things
That made my Saviour bleed.
While with a melting, broken heart
My murdered Lord I view
I'll raise revenge against my sins,
And slay the murderers too!"
BLJ: Who is in charge of your life? Is it you or God? Who has rule over your heart?
SCHULLER'S SPIRITUAL SUBVERSION
There may not be a stronger anti-death-route voice in the electric Church of today than that of Robert Schuller, pastor of the famous Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. His television program, "THE HOUR OF POWER," is said to be the most widely watched church telecast in the world, and is raising up "self-esteemers" by the multitudes. His doctrine of self-esteem is the very opposite from the self-renunciation, which is supposed to be the controlling conviction of all true Christians toward self. His brand of self-esteem is the carnal pride which Christ will not tolerate in any of His followers. Why does Mr. Schuller not realize that for one to exalt self is to supplant God? Someone has said: "To DEIFY man is to DEFY God."
Monday, January 13, 2020
Who Is In Charge of Your Church?
BLJ: Who is in charge of your church? Is it a board? A committee? A denomination? A pastor? It had better be the blessed Holy Ghost if you want a church that is alive and flourishing. When churches become so concerned with "order" that they make services so structured that there is no room for the Holy Spirit, the church has allowed man to become the driving force of the service. The service needs to be God centered. Yes, announcements, offerings, and greetings are part of a service, but they should be in the beginning or the end of the service as not to interfere with the moving of the Spirit. If we want the Holy Spirit to break into our meetings, we want a concentrated time of worship, prayer and preaching so God can deal with hearts.
What does it look like when the Holy Ghost is in charge? There will be Biblical messages that denounce sin and promote holiness. There will be saints testifying. There will be songs of worship that sing of the blood of Christ, the highway of holiness, and real heart felt worship. You shouldn't think you are at a rock concert or tavern.
ASSUMING ABERRANT AUTHORITY
All too many church members seem to forget that the Holy Ghost is the Executive of the Godhead, and the Administrator of this dispensation, and they take the church management into their own hands. Instead of working humbly with God, they soon operate on human judgment, and worse yet, carnally. When they do so, they are taking the same path that hopeless apostates of the past and present have taken. They failed to accept the challenge such as appears in these lines from an unknown poet-philosopher, who pled:
"Rouse up, brother! Rouse up sister!
Seek, O seek, this holy state;
None but holy ones can enter,
Through the pure celestial gate.
Can you bear the thought of losing
All the joys that are above?
No, my brother; no, my sister,
God will perfect you in love."
There is a balm this side of the moral and spiritual deadline, but there is no balm on the other side. There is a balm for all of the "Peters" who go out and weep bitterly (Matt. 26:75). They are truly sorry for the wrongs they have done. But there is no balm for the "Judases" who go too far in taking things into their own hands, betraying and crucifying God's anointed (Matt. 27:5). The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 had no pity for the poor, suffering man who lay at his gate full of sores, but later, in hell, he lift up his eyes in torment, but there was no balm for him.
The only way for us to produce more Peters and less Judases is to have "death-route" revivals which will plow deep enough with heart-searching to root out the carnal nature from the depraved hearts, until they will be like Peter, who was restored, and later received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, instead of ending as did Judas, who went to a suicide's grave and a devil's hell.
BLJ: We need real Holy Ghost revivals where salvation from sin and entire sanctification are preached. We need men and women of God to bring the thunder with the rain. This is an old expression that references ministers being loud, or entertaining, making the people feel good (lots of noise, i.e. thunder), but there is no anointing, i.e. the rain, on the message.
It seems that long-term Christians tend to be more vulnerable to the more subtle temptations and more susceptible to caving in to pressure than new converts. Many of them become so callused that they don't even feel sheepish or ashamed when they do wickedly. Jeremiah saw this happening in his day. He asked a question and then answered it: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush..." (Jer. 6:15; 8:12).
BLJ: We need the senior members of the church to stand and testify to what God has done for them over the years as an inspiration to the newer converts.
What does it look like when the Holy Ghost is in charge? There will be Biblical messages that denounce sin and promote holiness. There will be saints testifying. There will be songs of worship that sing of the blood of Christ, the highway of holiness, and real heart felt worship. You shouldn't think you are at a rock concert or tavern.
ASSUMING ABERRANT AUTHORITY
All too many church members seem to forget that the Holy Ghost is the Executive of the Godhead, and the Administrator of this dispensation, and they take the church management into their own hands. Instead of working humbly with God, they soon operate on human judgment, and worse yet, carnally. When they do so, they are taking the same path that hopeless apostates of the past and present have taken. They failed to accept the challenge such as appears in these lines from an unknown poet-philosopher, who pled:
"Rouse up, brother! Rouse up sister!
Seek, O seek, this holy state;
None but holy ones can enter,
Through the pure celestial gate.
Can you bear the thought of losing
All the joys that are above?
No, my brother; no, my sister,
God will perfect you in love."
There is a balm this side of the moral and spiritual deadline, but there is no balm on the other side. There is a balm for all of the "Peters" who go out and weep bitterly (Matt. 26:75). They are truly sorry for the wrongs they have done. But there is no balm for the "Judases" who go too far in taking things into their own hands, betraying and crucifying God's anointed (Matt. 27:5). The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 had no pity for the poor, suffering man who lay at his gate full of sores, but later, in hell, he lift up his eyes in torment, but there was no balm for him.
The only way for us to produce more Peters and less Judases is to have "death-route" revivals which will plow deep enough with heart-searching to root out the carnal nature from the depraved hearts, until they will be like Peter, who was restored, and later received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, instead of ending as did Judas, who went to a suicide's grave and a devil's hell.
BLJ: We need real Holy Ghost revivals where salvation from sin and entire sanctification are preached. We need men and women of God to bring the thunder with the rain. This is an old expression that references ministers being loud, or entertaining, making the people feel good (lots of noise, i.e. thunder), but there is no anointing, i.e. the rain, on the message.
It seems that long-term Christians tend to be more vulnerable to the more subtle temptations and more susceptible to caving in to pressure than new converts. Many of them become so callused that they don't even feel sheepish or ashamed when they do wickedly. Jeremiah saw this happening in his day. He asked a question and then answered it: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush..." (Jer. 6:15; 8:12).
BLJ: We need the senior members of the church to stand and testify to what God has done for them over the years as an inspiration to the newer converts.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Second Study of the Quarter: “Solomon’s Fall”
Today’s study comes from 1 Kings 11: 4-13. It is a somber study. It speaks of the process of backsliding. To be clear, you can backslide and forfeit your salvation. Once saved always saved is wishful thinking but not Biblical. It is a doctrine that will bring a large following because you believe you can still live in sin but the “golden ticket” of salvation will get you to heaven. Don’t be deceived.
Several years have passed since our study last week. The glory of Solomon’s reign has turned dark and evil. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a process and it is that process we will examine today.
The first section is “Sin-Solomon’s Indulgence vv. 4-8.” There were several influences that led Solomon astray:
1. Polygamy: Solomon took a number of foreign wives and they turned him to other gods. While polygamy is illegal now, the concept of who you marry is extremely important. We are not be yoked with unbelievers. To form a life commitment with an unbeliever is an insult to God.
2. Bad Company: No one is strong enough and wise enough to be safe while in constant companionship with people of wrong principles and false religions. We are to witness to the lost, but not hang out with them and act like them.
3. A False Toleration: God’s holy people must not hold fellowship with or bid Godspeed to those who are opposed to the holy way. We live in an age of tolerance. We are told that the Christian is just to love everyone. Yes, we are to love, but that does not mean to condone sin. It is more loving to tell someone they are going to hell than it is just to be nice to them. Tolerance is dangerous to the holiness church. We should accept everyone in the building to hear the truth, but not accept their lifestyle if it is contrary to Biblical standards. Solomon allowed his wives to have their own religion and these religions were destructive of the morals of the nation.
4. False and Lawless Pleasure: Solomon sought after what brought pleasure rather than what was morally right. Today, many churches do the same thing. Church is not for our pleasure but for God’s pleasure. If your heart is right, that will bring you pleasure. Churches try to be fun, especially the youth services. The result is that people feel less spiritual after they leave than when they arrived. That is simply wrong.
5. His Great Wealth: It is not a sin to be wealthy, but it is if that wealth has your heart. Someone once said, “it doesn’t matter what you have, as long as what you have doesn’t have you.”
6. Flattery: No doubt people flattered Solomon because of his wealth and position. Only the entirely sanctified are immune to self-exaltation.
Solomon gave into these influences and backslid. His fall was not sudden, but little by little. Finally, he fell into great sin. What were his sins?
1. A Wrong State of Heart: “His heart was not perfect with the Lord.” His heart meant his will, emotions, and affections. It reached to the very core of who he was. Wisdom is in the mind, but temptation attacks the heart, your spiritual self. When evil is embraced, it clouds the mind and conscious.
2. Polygamy: Solomon violated God’s directions not to marry heathen wives. God had given the Hebrew people clear instruction that they should not intermarry with the heathen. Yet, Solomon knowingly did so.
3. Idolatry: “Solomon went after Ashtoreth.”Ashtoreth was the highest of the Phoenician deities. Solomon did not entirely forsake the true God, he wanted to serve both deities. That cannot be done. Some try to say that they are Buddhist Christians, or other such combined religions. You can’t sow mingled seed. You will either worship the true God alone or you will be guilty of idolatry. God will not share your heart with another. He wants all of you and you should want all of Him.
4. Extravagance: Solomon’s extravagance was in proportion of his wealth. No country could bear that strain for long.
5. Oppression: Solomon appeared to have developed a disregard for human suffering. Thousands were turned into slaves to build onto the extravagance.
6. Dishonored God: In the ways referenced above, Solomon dishonored and insulted God. Regardless of your age or experience, no one is immune to temptation. Unlike Solomon, we must keep our guard up to insure we don’t follow in Solomon’s path.
The second section is “Shunned-God’s Warnings vv. 9,10.” Solomon had every possible good influence sent his way. He received special warnings: "The LORD was angry with Solomon." God was angry because of Solomon's sin. God hates sin. To the surprise of many, "God is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:11) God "had commanded him." Solomon had received instruction in visions. He had the Mosaic law, the books of Judges, Joshua, and most of the books of Samuel. Today, we have the Word of God to instruct us, warn us, and guide us. In addition, God had given him wisdom. Solomon should have foreseen what sin and idolatry would lead to. Moreover, God had blessed him. Every earthly blessing had been given to him. This fact should have made it difficult for him to disobey the God who had bestowed these blessings. Solomon rejected God's repeated efforts to keep him from backsliding.
The third section is "Spoken-The Consequences vv. 11-13." As a result of his sins, Solomon would lose his kingdom. However, for his father's sake, one tribe would be left to Solomon's son. The consequence of sinning is to become a castaway. They that sin must eat the fruit of their own way. I remember the old saying: "Sin will take you further than you wanted to go. Keep you longer than your intended to stay. And, make you pay more than you ever intended to pay." Sin destroys lives. It did to Solomon and will do the same for anyone who embraces sin and walks away from holiness.
The Golden Text is, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12) We should guard our faith. The principle ways are through prayer and Bible study. In addition, we are to perform acts of kindness, testify to what God has done for us, and use every means available to us to evangelize.
My summary points:
1. We need to watch who we spend time with and what are the influencers in our lives.
2. We need to heed God's warnings to us whether they come through prayer, visions, through the Bible, or from those in authority over us.
3. Sin has consequences. We can become a castaway and lose our salvation. We need to guard against compromise and sin.
Next week, "The Kingdom Divided (1Kings 12: 6-17).
Don't forget to read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration.
Several years have passed since our study last week. The glory of Solomon’s reign has turned dark and evil. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a process and it is that process we will examine today.
The first section is “Sin-Solomon’s Indulgence vv. 4-8.” There were several influences that led Solomon astray:
1. Polygamy: Solomon took a number of foreign wives and they turned him to other gods. While polygamy is illegal now, the concept of who you marry is extremely important. We are not be yoked with unbelievers. To form a life commitment with an unbeliever is an insult to God.
2. Bad Company: No one is strong enough and wise enough to be safe while in constant companionship with people of wrong principles and false religions. We are to witness to the lost, but not hang out with them and act like them.
3. A False Toleration: God’s holy people must not hold fellowship with or bid Godspeed to those who are opposed to the holy way. We live in an age of tolerance. We are told that the Christian is just to love everyone. Yes, we are to love, but that does not mean to condone sin. It is more loving to tell someone they are going to hell than it is just to be nice to them. Tolerance is dangerous to the holiness church. We should accept everyone in the building to hear the truth, but not accept their lifestyle if it is contrary to Biblical standards. Solomon allowed his wives to have their own religion and these religions were destructive of the morals of the nation.
4. False and Lawless Pleasure: Solomon sought after what brought pleasure rather than what was morally right. Today, many churches do the same thing. Church is not for our pleasure but for God’s pleasure. If your heart is right, that will bring you pleasure. Churches try to be fun, especially the youth services. The result is that people feel less spiritual after they leave than when they arrived. That is simply wrong.
5. His Great Wealth: It is not a sin to be wealthy, but it is if that wealth has your heart. Someone once said, “it doesn’t matter what you have, as long as what you have doesn’t have you.”
6. Flattery: No doubt people flattered Solomon because of his wealth and position. Only the entirely sanctified are immune to self-exaltation.
Solomon gave into these influences and backslid. His fall was not sudden, but little by little. Finally, he fell into great sin. What were his sins?
1. A Wrong State of Heart: “His heart was not perfect with the Lord.” His heart meant his will, emotions, and affections. It reached to the very core of who he was. Wisdom is in the mind, but temptation attacks the heart, your spiritual self. When evil is embraced, it clouds the mind and conscious.
2. Polygamy: Solomon violated God’s directions not to marry heathen wives. God had given the Hebrew people clear instruction that they should not intermarry with the heathen. Yet, Solomon knowingly did so.
3. Idolatry: “Solomon went after Ashtoreth.”Ashtoreth was the highest of the Phoenician deities. Solomon did not entirely forsake the true God, he wanted to serve both deities. That cannot be done. Some try to say that they are Buddhist Christians, or other such combined religions. You can’t sow mingled seed. You will either worship the true God alone or you will be guilty of idolatry. God will not share your heart with another. He wants all of you and you should want all of Him.
4. Extravagance: Solomon’s extravagance was in proportion of his wealth. No country could bear that strain for long.
5. Oppression: Solomon appeared to have developed a disregard for human suffering. Thousands were turned into slaves to build onto the extravagance.
6. Dishonored God: In the ways referenced above, Solomon dishonored and insulted God. Regardless of your age or experience, no one is immune to temptation. Unlike Solomon, we must keep our guard up to insure we don’t follow in Solomon’s path.
The second section is “Shunned-God’s Warnings vv. 9,10.” Solomon had every possible good influence sent his way. He received special warnings: "The LORD was angry with Solomon." God was angry because of Solomon's sin. God hates sin. To the surprise of many, "God is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:11) God "had commanded him." Solomon had received instruction in visions. He had the Mosaic law, the books of Judges, Joshua, and most of the books of Samuel. Today, we have the Word of God to instruct us, warn us, and guide us. In addition, God had given him wisdom. Solomon should have foreseen what sin and idolatry would lead to. Moreover, God had blessed him. Every earthly blessing had been given to him. This fact should have made it difficult for him to disobey the God who had bestowed these blessings. Solomon rejected God's repeated efforts to keep him from backsliding.
The third section is "Spoken-The Consequences vv. 11-13." As a result of his sins, Solomon would lose his kingdom. However, for his father's sake, one tribe would be left to Solomon's son. The consequence of sinning is to become a castaway. They that sin must eat the fruit of their own way. I remember the old saying: "Sin will take you further than you wanted to go. Keep you longer than your intended to stay. And, make you pay more than you ever intended to pay." Sin destroys lives. It did to Solomon and will do the same for anyone who embraces sin and walks away from holiness.
The Golden Text is, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12) We should guard our faith. The principle ways are through prayer and Bible study. In addition, we are to perform acts of kindness, testify to what God has done for us, and use every means available to us to evangelize.
My summary points:
1. We need to watch who we spend time with and what are the influencers in our lives.
2. We need to heed God's warnings to us whether they come through prayer, visions, through the Bible, or from those in authority over us.
3. Sin has consequences. We can become a castaway and lose our salvation. We need to guard against compromise and sin.
Next week, "The Kingdom Divided (1Kings 12: 6-17).
Don't forget to read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Don't Sin Against Light
BLJ: Never sin against light. This means if you know something is wrong, don't do it. If you do so, and continue to do so, the light that shows what is right and wrong will grow dim. There is a place the old timers called, "crossing the dead line." This is the place where the Holy Ghost no longer speaks to you. Repentance is highly unlikely. Eternity is forever, don't disobey the Spirit's leading.
THE LONG LOST LEGACY
Multitudes of poor souls continue sinning blatantly and brazenly over the top of light, till they get to the place where the light goes out and they can't get their prayers through to God. King Saul got to that state. Others get to the sad state where it is impossible for them to believe God. St. John said there were people who COULD NOT BELIEVE (John 12:39). He then quoted Isaiah as saying the reason they could not believe was because "He [God] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them" (Verse 40). God blinded their eyes? That's right!
BLJ: God will allow you to harden your heart and conscious. The end result is disastrous.
HEART-HARDENING HAZARD
God hardened old Pharaoh's heart back in Egypt. No less than six times Moses declared that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. (Ex. 7:13; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 14:8). How can we account for that? It is not difficult to understand how God hardened Pharaoh's heart at the same time that He softened the heart of Moses. The same sun that softens the wax, hardens the clay and the sun is not to blame for the two opposite reactions. God's light shining on Moses, melted him; and the same light shining on Pharaoh hardened him. God is not to be blamed when His light and truth and conviction hardens the hearts of the rebellious. My friend, if there is the smallest, faintest speck of rebellion in your heart against obeying God, you should be scared almost to death, because every pleading and overture of the Holy Ghost in your behalf will harden your heart if you reject it, until you will get to the place where your heart will become so hardened that you cannot pray and you cannot believe.
The ranks of the righteous are loaded with poor, wretched, withered souls who have walked against light so long that they are deluded and have deviated from the path of truth. They have been that way so long there is hardly a faint chance they will ever find their way back. When they get to that deplorable state where they can't touch God in prayer and they can't believe, what hope have they? None whatsoever! unless through deep repentance, through the mercy of God, they can yet be softened and their faith re-ignited. However, the Scriptures make is explicitly clear that many souls get so far out that they can never get back.
Alright! Where did they miss it? They missed it when their will first clashed with the will of God, and they set up a trend of disobedience in their lives. They wanted their own way, and they became determined to run their own lives. They refused to "die to self" and "die out" to the will of God, and let Him run their lives. They took their lives into their own hands, and they ran it into the fog -- then into the darkness, and finally into the regions of hell. And God will not stop any individual against his will.
BLJ: Holiness is about crucifying self and surrendering your entire will to the will of God. The old-timers called it surrendering "the unknown bundle." You give God all your past, present, and your future. This is the best life you can live.
THE LONG LOST LEGACY
Multitudes of poor souls continue sinning blatantly and brazenly over the top of light, till they get to the place where the light goes out and they can't get their prayers through to God. King Saul got to that state. Others get to the sad state where it is impossible for them to believe God. St. John said there were people who COULD NOT BELIEVE (John 12:39). He then quoted Isaiah as saying the reason they could not believe was because "He [God] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them" (Verse 40). God blinded their eyes? That's right!
BLJ: God will allow you to harden your heart and conscious. The end result is disastrous.
HEART-HARDENING HAZARD
God hardened old Pharaoh's heart back in Egypt. No less than six times Moses declared that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. (Ex. 7:13; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 14:8). How can we account for that? It is not difficult to understand how God hardened Pharaoh's heart at the same time that He softened the heart of Moses. The same sun that softens the wax, hardens the clay and the sun is not to blame for the two opposite reactions. God's light shining on Moses, melted him; and the same light shining on Pharaoh hardened him. God is not to be blamed when His light and truth and conviction hardens the hearts of the rebellious. My friend, if there is the smallest, faintest speck of rebellion in your heart against obeying God, you should be scared almost to death, because every pleading and overture of the Holy Ghost in your behalf will harden your heart if you reject it, until you will get to the place where your heart will become so hardened that you cannot pray and you cannot believe.
The ranks of the righteous are loaded with poor, wretched, withered souls who have walked against light so long that they are deluded and have deviated from the path of truth. They have been that way so long there is hardly a faint chance they will ever find their way back. When they get to that deplorable state where they can't touch God in prayer and they can't believe, what hope have they? None whatsoever! unless through deep repentance, through the mercy of God, they can yet be softened and their faith re-ignited. However, the Scriptures make is explicitly clear that many souls get so far out that they can never get back.
Alright! Where did they miss it? They missed it when their will first clashed with the will of God, and they set up a trend of disobedience in their lives. They wanted their own way, and they became determined to run their own lives. They refused to "die to self" and "die out" to the will of God, and let Him run their lives. They took their lives into their own hands, and they ran it into the fog -- then into the darkness, and finally into the regions of hell. And God will not stop any individual against his will.
BLJ: Holiness is about crucifying self and surrendering your entire will to the will of God. The old-timers called it surrendering "the unknown bundle." You give God all your past, present, and your future. This is the best life you can live.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Balm for Healing the Heart from Carnality
BLJ: Balm means a fragrant ointment or preparation to heal or soothe the skin. The balm in the passage referenced below was used medicinally and available more than a day's journey away in Gilead. Even though it was so close, the people refused God's help. Today, the healing for carnality is close by for those who will take the death-route, die to self, and have self crucified by the Holy Ghost. Just like in the Old Testament, people refuse help even though it is close by.
BALM OR BEWAIL
A lay friend, after reviewing a manuscript, wondered about the "Balm of Gilead." The reference obviously was to Jer. 8:22. The prophet went on to ask why there had been no recovery. Multitudes of professed Christians, many of them high officials, have lived and died in the land of no recovery, simply because they would not pay the price, "die out" to their own carnal nature, and get a sanctified heart. There is no balm for those who are walking behind the rejected light of "death-route" holiness.
There was no balm for the Children of Israel who missed it at Kadesh-Barnea. They dug on an average of more than a hundred graves every day for forty years in the wilderness, and not one of those above twenty years old, who missed it at Kadesh-Barnea ever was permitted to enter the Land of Canaan (Deut. 1:39-40). When they camped for two days in one place, they left at least three hundred fresh graves as a mute testimony to rejected light and willful disobedience. Frightening, isn't it? They had never "died out" to their willful determination to have their own way. When God told them to go up and possess the land, they refused to go. Then when God told them not to go, they determined to go (Deut. 1:43). They went, but came back defeated, discouraged, and humiliated (w. 44-45).
BLJ: Self will usually leads to a destructive result. Taking God's way always brings God's results.
There was no balm for old Pharaoh and his hosts when they took the fatal step of rebellion into the death trap of the Red Sea and were swallowed by the receding waters (Ex. 14:28).
There was no balm for King Herod who brushed God aside, and took the glory and was eaten of worms until he died (Acts 12:23).
There was no balm for Pilate who made the public statement: "I find no fault in this man" and then scourged Him and turned Him over to the mob to be crucified (Luke 23:4).
There was no balm for the five foolish virgins when, at midnight the cry rang out, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." The foolish ones were panic-stricken and cried out, "Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out" (Matt. 25:1-13). But they became alarmed too late. The door was shut.
There was no balm for Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Ghost and dropped into hell without a chance to repent (Acts 5:1-11). Those two should have been with the other believers in the upper room on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell and purified the hearts (Acts 15:9). We know they were not there when the fire fell because the Word says of those present, that they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4). If Ananias and Sapphira had been Christians at all, to say nothing of being sanctified wholly, they wouldn't have conspired together as they did, or lied to Peter and to the Holy Ghost. They were not dead to their selfishness, their possessions, their deceitfulness, their desire to make themselves appear better than they were and their evil influence on each other.
Could we not travel throughout the Bible and across the intervening centuries of church history and find many similar examples? But the point is clear. No, there is no balm for the apostate. He has forfeited his right to the atonement and there remains for him no more sacrifice for sin Heb. (10:26), and no ability to repent (Heb. 12:17).
BLJ: Friend, will you not take the balm and get a holy heart? Take the death-route. Don't settle for the easy way. Christ didn't and He is our example.
BALM OR BEWAIL
A lay friend, after reviewing a manuscript, wondered about the "Balm of Gilead." The reference obviously was to Jer. 8:22. The prophet went on to ask why there had been no recovery. Multitudes of professed Christians, many of them high officials, have lived and died in the land of no recovery, simply because they would not pay the price, "die out" to their own carnal nature, and get a sanctified heart. There is no balm for those who are walking behind the rejected light of "death-route" holiness.
There was no balm for the Children of Israel who missed it at Kadesh-Barnea. They dug on an average of more than a hundred graves every day for forty years in the wilderness, and not one of those above twenty years old, who missed it at Kadesh-Barnea ever was permitted to enter the Land of Canaan (Deut. 1:39-40). When they camped for two days in one place, they left at least three hundred fresh graves as a mute testimony to rejected light and willful disobedience. Frightening, isn't it? They had never "died out" to their willful determination to have their own way. When God told them to go up and possess the land, they refused to go. Then when God told them not to go, they determined to go (Deut. 1:43). They went, but came back defeated, discouraged, and humiliated (w. 44-45).
BLJ: Self will usually leads to a destructive result. Taking God's way always brings God's results.
There was no balm for old Pharaoh and his hosts when they took the fatal step of rebellion into the death trap of the Red Sea and were swallowed by the receding waters (Ex. 14:28).
There was no balm for King Herod who brushed God aside, and took the glory and was eaten of worms until he died (Acts 12:23).
There was no balm for Pilate who made the public statement: "I find no fault in this man" and then scourged Him and turned Him over to the mob to be crucified (Luke 23:4).
There was no balm for the five foolish virgins when, at midnight the cry rang out, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." The foolish ones were panic-stricken and cried out, "Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out" (Matt. 25:1-13). But they became alarmed too late. The door was shut.
There was no balm for Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Ghost and dropped into hell without a chance to repent (Acts 5:1-11). Those two should have been with the other believers in the upper room on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell and purified the hearts (Acts 15:9). We know they were not there when the fire fell because the Word says of those present, that they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4). If Ananias and Sapphira had been Christians at all, to say nothing of being sanctified wholly, they wouldn't have conspired together as they did, or lied to Peter and to the Holy Ghost. They were not dead to their selfishness, their possessions, their deceitfulness, their desire to make themselves appear better than they were and their evil influence on each other.
Could we not travel throughout the Bible and across the intervening centuries of church history and find many similar examples? But the point is clear. No, there is no balm for the apostate. He has forfeited his right to the atonement and there remains for him no more sacrifice for sin Heb. (10:26), and no ability to repent (Heb. 12:17).
BLJ: Friend, will you not take the balm and get a holy heart? Take the death-route. Don't settle for the easy way. Christ didn't and He is our example.
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