The Black Church

When you think of the so called "Black Church", who do you think of & what things run through your mind while imagining or remembering your typical experiences past and present? This question could have various answers depending on who you would ask. If you ask me, I can only speak from my experiences and what I have read. To answer my own questions, I would say I think of a bunch(generally speaking, not for all) ignorant people who specialize in the terrible art of eisegesis and think that they can praise there way through the trials of life. In which they have been told that when trials come, all God wants from you is praise and He will work it out. Here are some others; Give your way out of your storm by sowing gobs of money to your church or TBN or some other insidious apostate pseudo-christian organization. Can we mention any prominent black leaders? Many would say Martin(Michael King) Luther King, TD Jakes, Fred KC Price, IV Hilliard, Creflo Dollar, and the list would go on. All of these men are black and may have done some good things for society, but according to their beliefs and doctrinal statements they would be disqualified from being a Christian from a Biblical standpoint.

I have to be honest and say that this makes me and continues to make my very saddened and angry at the same time. WHY? Simply because we do not hear about Thabiti Anyabwile, Ken Jones, Anthony Carter, Saiko Woods, John E Coleman, or the men from Black and Reformed Churches of America. So when people see me carrying my Bible, they jokingly starting running in circles, doing cart wheels, speaking in tongues, or some type of generalization(a truth typically) of the Black Church.

I think the fact the norm in America and a harsh fact is that Sunday is the most segregated day during any given week. Why do people have such a hard time separating themselves from tradition or what makes your feel comfortable? This was a question I had to come face to face with. At the time I was a 26 year old male(now 27) who God dragged out of my comfortable feeling because I have a God given desire to hear the Word preached accurate and authoritatively. I got to the point where I felt that I was losing my mind because no one spoke my language amongst my own black people. I hated church with a passion and thought, "there is no one in the church who thinks things through logically or anyone who has the guts to tell there pastor that they were wrong."

Where does this begin? Typically we are taught to respect our leaders in the church and nowadays pastors are saying that they hear directly from God and not always from the Bible. So we hold them in a higher regard. Here is the problem. When your pastor starts to say things that do not line up with the revealed will of God(the Bible), at that time you challenge him in a respectful way. If he does not give you an answer backed by scripture, GET OUT!!! Some might differ with me here and say follow the Matthew 18 approach, but I say no. Why? Unfortunately if you are in that church and you go to your brother or sister in that church, they are not thinking like you. If they were they would not be there. This may be a good approach to wake up some people in the church but typically from all of the stories I have heard; it is a rarity. I also say this because sometimes pastors can be very deceptive and manipulative and you may not be prepared to discern his craftiness. Once again this is based off of my experiences and stories I hear all the time, but I would be prayerful in seeking God in how you should handle this.

The intent of my writing & our(me and Lionel's) other site is to sound the alarm for not only black people but all people. I believe reformed theology to be **100% Biblical. Most people in the black church will never hear about reformed biblical theology and will look for black churches only. We want to be that light in this darkness. Get out of the mode of thinking that says, "black church, white church, Asian church, Indian church etc." God's elect are of every tribe and nation. My white pastor is my brother just as much as my black brethren. We are not related by any type of physical lineage but we are tied to together by our Lord Jesus the Christ. Do not be dismayed when you have strife in the home about what God has enlightened you to. Just obey Him and trust Him.

** J. MacArthur made a comment at his 2003 conference concerning that issue and stated, "I embrace reformed theology as long as it is Biblical & where it is not biblical I do not embrace it". He went on further to state, "They [Reformers] got their anthropology right, their harmartiology right, soteriology right, ecclesiology right, but when they came to eschatology, that's when the problem started". Just to clarify, some current Reformed Baptist preachers and former one's had different eschatoligical positions. When I stated Reformed Theology, I am speaking mainly on TULIP & how we are Saved.(i.e. 1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone") 2 Sola fide ("by faith alone") 3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone") 4 Solus Christus ("Christ alone") 5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone").

Free Books

Lionel graciously bought some books from John Piper's ministry. I have a couple of copies left from the stash he sent me. If anyone would like a free copy. Please email me with your address and I will send you a copy. God Bless in Christ




tlhorton80@hotmail.com

Good Videos Clips

Apostasy

I remember at at time in my walk with the Lord when I thought that Hebrews chapter 6 and 10 was talking to the believer who had sinned after being saved. I was terrified when reading this and thought I was doomed and had lost my salvation. I thought that my salvation was something that I decided and therefore if I messed up I could lose it. Glory be to God it is not me holding it together. If I made the wrong mistake or slipped I was forever lost. This was before I was introduced to the Biblical doctrines of grace.(i.e. TULIP-Calvinism) I hope you know that for a true believer in Christ it is impossible to lose your salvation. Why? Not because I said it, but because God has said this in His Word. (John 10:27-29, Rom 8:35,38-39, 1 Pet 1: 4-5, & Phil 1:6)

I would like to focus on these two passages.

Hebrews 6:4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

In the book of Hebrews the writer starts out building a case for the supremacy of Christ against everyone else prior to his first advent. He proceeds and makes it ridiculously obvious that the Israelites had seen the wonderful works of God and still would not believe in chapter 3. From all of this we are built up to what we understand to be a warning to the apostates. We understand that this could not possibly be talking about the believer simply because we have all sinned prior and after coming to salvation. (1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.) Christ died for our sins past, present, and future.

Many people today and even then in one way or another experience the blessings of God(Romans 1:20). We see the grace of God alone in just life and breathing and others like the Israelites and the people during the life of Christ seen His works first hand. Let us just think of the Pharisees who seen the very hand of God before their eyes and attributed that good to the evil one. To go even further all we have to do is examine the life of Judas and see how he betrayed our Lord after being with the Lord on many more intimate and personal occasions and still turning his back on Christ. In this we see that mere intellectual understanding does not save anyone. Without the gift of faith given to us from God, surely we would all be without hope. The gift of faith(Ephesians 2) coming from the Father is the key that unlocks the shackles that bind us to sin and the evil one. No this does not mean that after salvation we never sin. If you've been through the book of first John he makes it clear that after salvation our affections change and we begin to love what God loves and hate what God hates more and more as we get to know him in our temporal earthly journey. (1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.) ( 1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.) We are to be Christ-like. What does this mean? Well we have to get to the understanding of how badly God hates sin. We simply have to look at the first sin that was committed in Eden to see how serious God is about sin.

I caught of glimpse of this first hand last week at work. My boss simply told all of the people on our team to not do something. I knew that my boss was in a meeting and willfully decided to do it anyway. Immediately the phrase popped in my head, "premeditated sin" and I thought of Psalm 19. Now did I lose my salvation? I certainly hope not!!! We as Christians ought to become so acquainted with the Word of God that sin should not be habitual or permanent in our life.

In Hebrews 10 the comparison is made of the ones who rejected Moses, how much more will they be off when rejecting the one time propitiating blood of Christ and regard it as a common thing. The Greek word used here lets us know that this is not general knowledge but more of a personal "knowing without a shadow of a doubt knowledge."
Epignosis akin to epiginosko, denotes "exact or full knowledge, discernment, recognition," and is a strengthened form of gnosis, expressing a fuller or a full "knowledge," a greater participation by the "knower" in the object "known," thus more powerfully influencing him.

I wanted to make it clear that when Paul says in Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation(damnatory sentence, condemnation) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. He meant exactly what he said. My question is what sin do you haphazardly let reside in your life and say, "it is only a small sin." Does your sin bother you? What things are you doing to eliminate the sin in your life. I leave with a interesting quote by Spurgeon.

“Of all the sins that can happen to us, perhaps the deadliest of all is that of not being conscious of having any sin. A good old Scotchman used to say that there was no devil in the world so bad as having no devil at all, and that not to be tempted was the worst sort of temptation. So I think, and not to be conscious of any sin is, perhaps, to be at the furthest point from God to which any human being can go; for, the nearer we are to God, the more conscious we are of our own shortcomings, and the more earnestly do we struggle to overcome every atom of sin which we discover to be within our souls.”

Free Inserts for Christmas Cards

My Pastor Jim Elliff and some of his associates have some great Biblical materials for free. I plan on printing some of these out and putting them in Christmas Cards when I send them. Very good material-God Bless

Here is the Link

Above the Clouds

Psalms 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. 9 [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee]. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

As many of you know, I had the pleasure of attending the 1st Stand Up Conference in Newark New Jersey. I have to be honest here. I hadn't flown since I was 5 years old and at the time I had the pleasure of having my wonderful mother to sit with me and comfort me in my fear. Fast forward 22 years later and I was flying alone. I have the full assurance that the Lord is with me where ever I go just as David said listed above. It is such a blessing when all the head knowledge I have had the pleasure to obtain by the mercies of God come to life before my eyes. What do I mean you ask? Well I understand that God is totally sovereign over absolutely everything. The hard part is believing what He has said in His Word and then when you have to apply it to your life. Understand that the purpose of us having to apply what we believe is not so that God can test us for His knowledge, for He already knows exactly what we possess simply because He is the Giver of all we have. The purpose of us being tested is so that we know what the Lord had placed in us for His glory.

Certainly as stated above I understood that God is in control of every single aspect of my life but even as I took off in the plane I feared. After thinking about this while flying I realized how incredibly stupid(this is how I talk to myself sometimes-I am harsh with me) I was on this topic. I say that I would love to be with the Lord and I am looking forward to spending all eternity with Him and loving him without my human flaws. (1John 3:2)What a pleasure it will be to see him and then be like him. This is my position and I firmly hold to this but I had to think; Do I cherish anything over Christ in my life? What a pleasure to have this desire placed in me. I have absolutely no reason whatsoever to fear death because Christ has already conquered this for the elect.(1Cr 15:55)

Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

After arriving in Newark I literally wanted to kiss the pilot and tell him," next time give me a parachute chump!!" Just joking here. How shallow of me to have the understanding that God is totally sovereign but only apply it when it is convenient or comfortable to me. That is not how it works and I am thankful that the Lord showed this to me. To top it off I had the temerity to talk with Saiko Woods about the sovereignty of God and not even really apply it to certain aspects of my life. It was blessing to hear his sermon about the complete sovereignty of God over everything.

On my flight back the Lord really gave me a peace while flying. I began to cry as I left the conference and cry even more when we took off. I was very joyful to see so many people who adhered to the Word of God and also felt sad that so many where without a body. I know the people who were sitting across the aisle from me wondered why I was crying. During my flight it was snowing and the pilot took us above the clouds and I got a chance to see the Glory of God in a whole new perspective. Some of you who frequently fly might not think this is a big deal. I once again began to cry like a new born baby uncontrollably. In the past year after soaking myself in the Word of God and with the Lord supplying me with a life breathing body of believer's. From going to a person who literally despised the church because I honestly thought church go-ers where the most Biblically ignorant people on the earth. I used to be just a church go-er and God sovereignty started me actually reading the scriptures and studying for myself. Once I did that I realized either I am crazy or you all are not reading your Bible. I am not and was not crazy. I longed for a body of like minded true Christians and the Lord graciously supplied.

In the past year and a half the Lord has changed my heart to the point is all that I see is Him. I could no longer look at the moon the same. I started to see the handy work of God in creation. I began to see my total depravity and God's holiness. I began to deteste what God detested. I began to love what God loves. You see before when I would see a sunrise or a simplistic star, it did not move me. Now I understand more and more every day that the Lord does not and has not saved everyone. For this I am forever thankful. I don''t understand why God saved me nor do I care. He did not see anything in me good and nothing I could ever do to be accepted by Him. I was just like Adam and all other creation after him. But glory be to God for Christ Jesus-The Lamb of God. Worthy Worthy Worthy Is the Lamb that was slain.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Rev 5:12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Workplace Religion

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

What great joy I find in Jesus the Christ. Here in Hebrews the writer talks about the history of Israel and how they seen all the works of God and still did not believe. Now God has spoken through His Son and if some of Israel did not enter the rest after not believing, how much worse off shall we be if we disregard His Son.

While at work today two people on my team went on a extra long lunch to buy some Christ-mas things to decorate our work area since we are having a contest for tomorrow for "Best Decorated Work Station." The two people who went to gather the materials by mistake bought a statue of Christ being born in a manger. They were going to put it in with the decorations and decided "That would be too religious and might offend someone." An unbeliever who is on my team said, "too religious? how could that be when we are celebrating Christ-mas?" Yes I wanted to say, "PREACH PREACHER!!!!" "WELL WELL!!" "UM MMMMMM"

From here somehow we got into a discussion on the Bible and its legitimacy. Some of the comments said were, "The Bible was written by men and is not reputable now" "King James Version was the only true translation" "God does not judge" Oh and check this one out..."Before you die God gives you a chance to get it right with him"(deathbed conversions) "I hope I just make it in" "I am going to have a long talk with God when I get to Heaven and tell him what is up and why I better get in"

If you know me I started throwing scriptures like I was a world class pitcher. Obviously with those few comments my theological juices were flowing like the Nile. I quickly became the bigot and narrow minded one when I began to speak about the judgement of God and His standards. I made very clear that the only acceptable sacrifice and righteousness that God accepts is His Son-Jesus the Christ-The Lamb Of God.

What bugs me is why do people want to wait to die or until they get close to death to try to figure God out? Why not seek God now when things according to you, seem to be going smooth. After our conversation I felt bad for these people and prayed the Lord would be gracious in opening their hearts for salvation. In the same thought I felt great joy for God saving such a wicked filthy man like me who at one time used to be just like these people who are absolutely blinded to the truth of the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This year in my christian life, I like never before long to be with Christ. While at the conference in Newark New Jersey and when I listen to Pastor John Coleman I constantly hear him say how he does not fear death and that he like all Christians should do-embraces death. Ephesians 2:3 says-Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

It seems in our culture we naturally view tribulation as the judgement of God or think that we are going through a trial because of sin in our life. Lets look at what James says on this.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Is Jesus Christ your joy. Is there anything or anyone in this world that you find more satisfaction in? This is a difficult question because Jesus says

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

More Conferences Photos.

This is Steve Lumbley and his wife from Carrolton, Texas. his site is here.
















This brother came from England. His name is Ron Perrott. He plans on moving to the states soon. God willing. Ron says there are not many good churches in London area of England. Keep him and his family in prayer.



Here is Pastor John Coleman on the left and Melvin(the sarcastic apologetic giant)on the right. We never knew that Melvin was so big. They are both great guys standing up for the Truth. Both men are extremely intelligent and gifted from the Lord. These 2 men were the tools GOD used as confirmation for me when I was seeking the truth of God's word. Melvin site is here. John's site is here.

Women Pastors?

I am posting some dialogue from a Pastor and myself. How did we meet? I have never met this gentleman. I put a lot of funny pictures up on my site and I get them from various places. Sometimes google, yahoo, and many others. Long story short I somehow got a picture of his that was copy written by his church and he asked me to take it down. I complied, but I also checked out his site and he had some views that contradicted scripture and if you all know me, you know I had to let him know about his error in a loving but stern way. Here are the questions I asked him and also here is his response. Please leave comments and let me know what you think about his answers. The questions I asked him are the same one's Pastor Saiko Woods asked IV Hilliard but unlike Hilliard this gentleman answered. I got his permission to post his answers-God Bless.

Q. What reliable source(s) (i.e. books, commentaries, etc.) do you have that support the biblical view you have cited regarding 1 Tim. 3:1-7? Does the passage in the original language support such a view?

A. William D. Mounce, vol. 46, Word Biblical Commentary : Pastoral Epistles . (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002), 153ff.

Q. What was the historical setting in Gal. 3:28 that prompted Paul to make such a statement? Is he discussing salvation by faith w/o distinction? Or is he discussing the acceptance & approval of women to minister as Pastors?

A. No, Paul is not so much discussing salvation by faith without distinction, as he is discussing that we are all on a level playing field before grace, faith, and in standing before God. He is indeed not discussing specific functions or roles of the body, but he definitely places all the body on the same basis of equality.

Q. If gender is not an issue of concern with God, why would He distinguish the roles of men & women in the home, church, society, etc. (Gen. 1:27; 1 Cor. 11:3)?

A. I did not intend that gender is of complete unimportance. We are not created complete until we are both male and female. Genesis 1:27 says nothing about God creating them for different roles. Mankind is only complete as male AND female. If you pay attention to the Hebrew nuances of the terms for male and female in Gen 2-4, the same applies. Certainly there are different functions in sexual reproduction, yet it is the question of wholeness that applies rather than positioning one over the other. The question of male dominance in chap 3 can be read in terms of “male domination of women is a byproduct of sin.”
As to 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul seems to deal mainly with issues of cultural interpretation and perception. If a culture does not associate head coverings with issues of modesty and propriety, this text will not apply directly to that culture. It will apply in terms of how our actions communicate in the culture within which we live. Paul says we need to respect how the larger society interprets our actions, norms, and manner of dress. Note that Paul refers to women prophesying in this passage. That is essentially the task of preaching—professing God’s word.

Q. If gender is not an issue of concern with God, why does Paul in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 in the original Greek language use the noun for “man or he” in the masculine form & not the feminine?

A. Masculine pronouns can refer to either gender, especially in a sense of a plural reference. John 3:16 also uses a masculine noun for “whoever”. From your question, that would infer that only females will be saved on the basis of trusting God.

Q. What reliable source(s) could you refer that states that 1 Tim. 3:1-7 was a temporary command due to the culture and not a universal command given to all churches for all time as Paul so states under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Tim. 3:15; 2 Tim. 3:16)?

A. Thomas C. Oden, First and Second Timothy and Titus (Interpretation, a Bible commentary for teaching and preaching) Louisville: J. Knox Press, 1989). Acts 18 shows that Priscilla taught Scripture alongside if not before her husband. The couple is first introduced as Aquilla and his wife Priscilla. When they go to correct Apollos teaching, however, it is Priscilla with Aquilla in tow. You must reconcile the praxis of the early church along with your interpretation of proof text verses.

Q. If gender is not an issue with God, why should we as Christians discourage the practice homosexuality, lesbianism, & transvestism in society and its consequences? Why not allow them to pursue whatever gender they decide to choose?

A. This question misreads my comments on gender.If gender is not an issue with God, should the wife be allowed to lead the home when there is a husband present? (Please provide scriptural support for your answer)Timothy was raise in faith by his mother and grandmother. There was a father present. What you are asking, however, is a question of culture and tradition. Deborah stood as a judge in her own right. We would assume a husband, but I don’t recall mention of such.Where in Mark’s gospel does it state that Mary preached the gospel to the disciples after Christ’s resurrection? Wouldn’t the writer have made that point clear if that were the case? Why would she have had to preach the gospel to someone who already followed Jesus (Jn. 17:6, 9, 14, 20)?Mark 16:7 they are commissioned to tell the news of the resurrection to the disciples and Peter. They have a specific message of meeting Jesus, yet implicit is the news of the resurrection. This was the first version of the gospel—“The Jesus you crucified is raised from the dead.” The disciples had believed, yet they still had not understood the rest of the story. If they had, they would not have run to the tomb to verify (per other accounts) and still turn away without believing (John 20:4-9).

Q. According to scripture, when does God allow the culture to influence or determine His creative order? (Please provide scriptural support)

A. Irrelevant and not dealt with precisely in these terms. (Slavery is allowed from a standpoint of culture and Scripture. Scripture likewise shows a higher way of living that would rule out slavery and its other forms in economic and oppression. Women in ministry is not so much a cultural issue as it is that society has helped us recognize elements in the gospel that many ignored.)

Q. Where in the Bible does it clearly state that women led churches in the five-fold ministry gifts described in Eph. 4:11? (Please refer to the gender form of each word used in the original language)

A. The gifts in Eph 4:11 are the people who exercise said functions. Acts 18 shows Priscilla in a teaching position, as well as working with Paul in evangelism. Acts 21:9 mentions four prophetesses, the term indicating the professing of God’s truth (what we call preaching). Apostles is not indicated. As to gender, these terms are given in the plural, which makes no specific indication of gender.

Q. Where in the Bible does it state that Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Euodia, Syntyche, & Junia ever had pastoral positions of authority in the early church? (Please see the word for “servant” (diakonos) in the original language)

A. Diakonos is not pastor. Neither is episkopos. Pastor as we use the term did not exist in the early church. 1249. διάκονος diákonos; gen. diakónou, masc., fem. noun. A minister, servant, deacon. The derivation is uncertain. According to some it comes from diakónis, in the dust laboring, or running through dust. Others derive it from diákō, the same as dié̄kō, to hasten, related to dió̄kō, to pursue.Also used in the NT as a technical term side by side with epískopos (1985), bishop or overseer (1 Tim. 3:8, 12; Phil. 1:1). The deacons in this sense were helping or serving the bishops or elders, and this is why they were probably called deacons. They did not, though, possess any ruling authority as did the elders.[1] The only passage in which special officials of the church are mentioned is 1 Tim. 3:8–12. In verse eight it speaks of diakónous which undoubtedly refers to male deacons because the adjectives that are used in the verse such as semnoús (4586), grave, are in the masc. pl. and not in the fem.[1]The only possible reference to a woman as a deacon is Rom. 16:1, 2, although the word diákonon may just as well be translated “servant.” In this regard we must note that the story of the early church significantly begins with the inclusion of women in the apostolic meetings for prayer (Acts 1:14). Their presence and activity are clearly illustrated by the references to Tabitha (Acts 9:36), Mary the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12), Lydia (Acts 16:14), Damaris (Acts 17:34), and Priscilla (Acts 18:2). The story of Sapphira (Acts 5:7f.) implies the comparatively independent membership and responsibility of women within the Christian community. Priscilla illustrates their active evangelism (Acts 18:26). Attention is expressly called to the “multitudes” of women converts added to the church (Acts 5:14). In Phil. 4:2, 3 Euodias and Syntyche (both women) are spoken of as fellow laborers of the Apostle Paul, and in 1 Cor. 1:11 Chloe is mentioned as having reported to Paul the condition of the church at Corinth. In Rom. 16:1–3, 6, 12, 13, 15 we have numerous salutations to women. Nevertheless, aside from the normal and expected involvement of women in a wide range of church activities and auxiliary ministries, they are never found to be holding ordained offices or engaging in the work of those positions.

Pliny the Younger’s letter to Trajan denotes the torturing of two slaves women who were deacons of the church. They are mentioned in relation to some recognized position of leadership. By the way, pastors are not ordained in the New Testament. Only deacons and missionaries are ordained. Our use of pastoral ordination comes from Roman Catholic traditional ordination of priests. This does not have NT roots, so much as roots in issues of ecclesiastical, structural authority. The NT speaks of mission and purpose, rather power, position, and authority. (“If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you must be the servant of all.”) In Jesus’ words, it is the act of serving as a foot-slave that indicates true greatness, not the recognition of ordination.

This pastor wanted me to give this link if I posted this dialogue. So here they are

www.theotrek.org/resources/th/2007_Ecclesiology.pdf

www.theotrek.org/about_us/believe.shtml

My Doggie Bag

MY DOGGIE BAG

More Reflections from the Conference

By Saiko Woods

This past Saturday evening after the conference, my wife and I and several other brothers went to IHOP for dinner to discuss and reflect on what we learned so far from the conference and to fellowship with each other as well. After we finished our meal, one of the other brothers still had some food left on his plate and requested for a “doggie bag” for him to take back to his hotel room where he could later on finish eating what he had left over. The thought came to my mind as my brother Tyris said that. There are so many things that I’ve learned from the conference and was convicted, & challenged to consider as I spent time learning from everyone that I met that weekend that I decided to bring home my own spiritual “doggie bag” that I would like to share with all of you and pray that the Spirit of God will speak to your hearts as you read my thoughts and to apply them in your lives daily as we meet other brothers/sisters in Christ.


Our fight (struggle) is not inside (against one another) but outside! Don’t take petty, non-essential matters personal (Eph. 6:12).

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Strive to keep unity within the body of Christ no matter the cost (Eph. 4:1-6).

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to  walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Cultivate (learn; practice) ways to show love to one another (1 Cor. 13:4-7; 16:14; 1 Jn. 3:18; 4:20).

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not  arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked,  does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Let all that you do be done in love.

 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Reflections on the Conference.

This past weekend I attended the first Stand Up Conference and I had a excellent time. I would like to just highlight some of the events from this weekend. I have always been very observant even as a youngster and even more so as a man. I have the tendency to observe peoples words along with their actions to see if they match. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to be ministered to on more than one occasion.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Sean Isaacs(NY):Friday. The conference started promptly at 7pm. Sean Isaacs speaks on the "Fear of God". I have to be honest here and say that I did not expect him to preach well. Typically when a person tells me they have been in over 100 churches in a year; I basically write them off as a unstable church hopper who has dabbled in every wind of doctrine and would coin them as unstable and unsubmissive to church discipline. WRONG!! This brother preached on this topic as if Jesus was coming back tomorrow. Which by the way is how we should preach all the time. Honestly Sean is a learned brother. He unlike most knows about church history and understands the Gospel. I would encourage these brothers to stop playing and start a church or either link up with Vincent Grimsley to assist him in building a church or doing a house church to avoid the cost of maintaining a building. Sean spoke about cultivating a healthy fear of God based on learning about HIM through the Word of God. Scripture highlights from Sean are:Proverbs 1:7, 16:6 Psalms 89:7 Luke 9:51 Hebrews 2, 10:26-27 Deut 31:10-12 2nd Cor 7 Acts 9:31 Phil 2:12

Isa 45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].

Saiko Woods(TX):Friday I know Saiko personally and honestly was expecting him to preach and teach well. This is the kind of brother we need to see on TV. I know good preaching. I have heard Paul Washer, John MacArthur and many others. I am always put in a weird state of mind when I hear a combination of John MacArthur with the heart and passion of Washer. This, to me is how John Coleman preaches and I can now put Saiko in this category too. We rarely hear about Thabiti Anyabwile, Anthony Carter, Ken Jones or any other solid expositional black preachers. Typically when the world or even some of the (so called) church thinks about solid black preachers; they think of heretics(wolves) like Jakes, Dollar, Price, Hilliard, and many others not worth mentioning. I describe Saiko's preaching as an Expositional Charismatic. I know Charismatic is a dirty word nowadays. As a people(blacks) we try to separate ourselves so far from where we have come from and now think that preaching with emotion or speaking with passion is a bad thing. It is not!! From reading the scriptures I cannot believe that the Apostles were light hearted and without passion. I too get passionate about speaking and talking about the Word of God. Emotion combined with sound doctrine is somewhat lacking in the Evangelical church. We cannot speak passively about the truth God has entrusted us with. Saiko spoke on the Sovereignty of God in 1) Creation, 2) Humanity, 3) Suffering-Death-Calamity-Sickness 4) Salvation. What a treat this was!!! Scriptures: Job 42:2 & 7 Psalm 115:3, 50:10-12 Psalm 8:1-9 Gen 1:26 Isa 45:5-7 and many others.

Pastor John(CA) Saturday morning. Pastor John Coleman I have known for about a year now and he is one of the tools that God used to pull me out of the Word of Faith heresy. He taught on a myriad of topics on Saturday morning. I can't say enough good about this man! He has a heart to bring theology to the inner city where it is needed the most. He does not charge to teach and had a wealth of information on is computer and not to mention in his head. Pastor John is 63 years old. With his own money he bought 4 hours of time(from his own pocket) so he could teach us. Keep in mind this was not part of the original conference time. John is not seeking to make friends or make a name for himself. He just simply wants to do what God has instructed Him to do. In 4 hours he taught us many things but what I learn most about PJ is how wise he is. I honestly don't think just because you are old that you are wise, but PJ is older and wiser than most because he stays in the Word. Wisdom comes from God and is not gained with age.

Saiko Woods(TX) Saturday evening. Saiko Woods spoke to the Doctrine of Hell. Scriptures proofs: Matt 3:12,5:29-30, 8:12, 10:28, 13:45 Luke 16:23 Isa 33:14 Rev 20:15 and many others.

Bob Miller(NY) Saturday evening. Rev. Miller spoke on "Pressing Towards the Mark". This was a great emotion filled sermon. Miller preached with fire and stayed true to the text. Miller gave a great historical setting of 1 Corinthians 9:24. Miller spoke on what Paul's intent was on comparing this life to a race. I really enjoyed his preaching and teaching and I am glad that Tim has this brother on the Stand Up Crew!!
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

John Coleman(CA) Sunday Morning. Pastor John taught on "Hermeneutics." He went over the 5 Basic Premises of Interpretation.
1) Literal
2)Grammatical
3)Historical
4)Literary
5)Theological

Pastor John also teaches philosophy at a secular college in the Los Angeles area and did an excellent job in going over this truth and many more for 4 hours.
Lords Supper: One highlight for me in this conference was the Lord's Supper. John stayed true to his duty as a Pastor and warned the people not to partake in the Supper if they are unregenerate. John, Saiko, Bob, and Tim served the congregation after breaking bread(literally sharing one piece of bread) amongst each other. This was a very emotional time for many; seeing the humility in the pastors serving the people. What a treat this was for me and many others.
This was a very emotional weekend for me especially departing back to Kansas City. WHY? Because I seen so many families who were searching for a TRUE BODY and could not find one. A lot have been burned by the churches who are not the true body of Christ but only imposter's. I would encourage those to seek Bible churches who teach sound doctrine and stay true to the Word of God. This may mean venturing out and getting in a position that makes you uncomfortable for a bit. The body of Christ is not just black and white but reflects every nation and tongue.

Rev5 :9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev: 14:9 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

More Stand Up Conference Videos

Big Thanks to my older brother in the Lord-Saiko Woods for the Videos

Videos from Conference

This is Steve Lumbley from Apostasy Watch.

*****Big Thanks to my older brother in the Lord-Pastor Saiko Woods for the Videos******

New Site "Black and Reformed Ministries"

Lionel and I decided to put some foot work to our words. The intent of the site is to point those of us blacks who absolutely cannot find any solid black churches in our area. Our aim is to point us to Biblically sound churches regardless of the nationality & regardless of race. We will feature sound churches at least one a week in which Lionel or I will call and speak to the pastors of these churches personally and see if they are sound. Once completed we will put them on our Good Churches list and build from there. We also would like to give out free materials to all people that will help better equip the entire body of Christ. Please let us know if you have any information or would like to assist in equipping the Body of Christ. Thanks.

New Site listed Here.

I will be here at the conference from Friday November 30-Sunday December 2nd. Hope to see many fellow Christians here and I can't wait!!!

This coming Friday (30 November 2007) is the start of the Stand Up Conference in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s the location.
The Robert Treat Hotel
50 Park Pl.
Newark, New Jersey 07102
(973) 622-1000

Day 1)

And here’s the schedule for the three days.
7pm-11pm Friday night
Friday – 30 November- A bit of music Standing Up – Sean Isaacs (New York)


The Sovereignty of God – Pastor Saiko Woods (Houston)

Question and answer period

Day 2)

Saturday – 1 December from 2-6pm

The Sovereignty of God– Pastor Saiko Woods
Pressing Toward the Mark – Bob Miller (New York)
The Wrath of God – John E. Coleman (Los Angeles)

Day 3)

Sunday – 2 December 10am-2pm
Hermeneutics and the Dialectic – Pastor John E. Coleman

Living Water

John 4:4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Here in John 4 Christ seems gracious and stern at the same time. He offers her something spiritual but like Nicodemus in John 3 she thinks Christ is talking about something natural or physical. I think this is an excellent example of how a true witness should share the Gospel of Christ. He offers something she knows not and then diagnoses her with the sickness-her sin. He then makes her sin obvious and shows his sovereignty in knowing her past, present, and future. Lastly he offers the cure-HIM-The Living Water!!

Today I had the painful discussion with a long time friend. This person said, "I understand that Christ is all that matters but you talk about HIM too much." This is a mystery to me. I delight in the Lord and have been known for talking on the phone with many people such as my great friend Lionel for hours just about HIM. I could not imagine Lionel saying, C'mon man lets talk about something besides Jesus sometimes." I know how to have fun and talk about other things besides Christ but everything that I do revolves around HIM. He is the SUN and I would say I am the Earth. My everything is affected by HIM and what He thinks and what He has said through His Word. My questions is....

How much Jesus Christ is too much? Can you ever get tired of learning of HIM? Does His Word bore you at times? What about Wednesday and Sunday, is that your maximum time capacity for Jesus Christ?

I recall Pastor John Coleman when he came to Omaha to teach us about theology and he taught us for basically 6 hours straight. Pastor John got snowed in and had to leave the next day and we told him, "Let us go back to Miguel's house and we want you to teach us for 4 more hours." We stayed to about 1am just conversing about the Faith and enjoying the fellowship of one another; sort of like Heaven on Earth. Why? I think for one we alike, had never met a solid black pastor who can teach theology like PJ. I like Miguel and Nate have been hearing watered down messages in churches for decades and when we got exposed to the true Gospel we simply could not get enough. We thirsted for Christ and we could drink Him and will drink HIM forever!!!

Can we ever get enough of Jesus? I would say no!!

Who are the true believer's and how can they be described? I thought these terms fit well...
clamorous, crying, demanding, desiring, exigent, gluttonous, greedy, importunate, insatiate, insistent, intemperate, pressing, quenchless, rapacious, ravenous, unappeasable, unquenchable, unsatisfiable, unsatisfied, urgent, voracious, yearning.

Apostle Paul says this.... That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

This whole verse is just ridiculous. Let's do a brief look at the Greek text at some of words.

1) That I may know=ginosko-Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. This is a very intimate knowing that liken unto a wife and husband.

2) The fellowship=koinonia-intercourse, fellowship, intimacy. This is used 18 times in the New Testament and is the type of fellowship we should have with our fellow brethren and with of course the Messiah.

3) Sufferings=pathēma-also the afflictions which Christians must undergo in behalf of the same cause which Christ patiently endured, an enduring, undergoing, suffering.

WOW!! I just sort of scared myself. Could Christ require that we suffer-Certainly HE WOULDN'T!! This is the Gospel we rarely here in American Churches today.

What was Paul's motivation and why? Paul knew that he knew that he knew!! That everything his eyes could see was simply temporal and his affections were set on things heavenly. He like us understand by the sovereign grace of God electing us that we our life is simply a vapor and short lived.

2 Corinithians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I have to be honest here and say sometimes I feel is if I should be less zealous for the Lord but why......... I am not the fool here-I am simply doing what comes natural since I have become a new creature in Christ Jesus. When I was a slave to sin I did what my father wanted me to, but now I have become apart of the eternal family of God. We are Christ-followers and we simply DELIGHT IN HIM WITH NO APOLOGIES!!!

The Lord's Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.



The Lords supper spoke of here is one of the church ordinances that we are to do until the Lord's return. The purpose of this is mentioned in this passage; For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes and this is to be done as a constant reminder that the Lord will return just as He said He would and He is not slow to keep his promises.



What I would like to focus on is this passage of scripture.



1 Corinthians 11:28 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment(emphasis mine) on himself.



The word examine here is dokimazō.

1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
2) to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

It is used 12 times in the New Testament. At the time of this passage many Corinthians were better off than others at the Lord's supper and were not being Christ-like in sharing the food since the Lord's Supper was a feast for all believer's regardless of social classes. Jude mentions the love feasts in verse 12:



Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.



Jude speaking in this particular context is speaking very harshly of these same types of people who did not take the Lord's supper at what it was worth and had a misconstrued view of the Lord's supper. Things they were doing are mentioned to the Corinthians in verse 11:27 and 29. People were not thorougly examining themself by the Word of God and were taking the Lord's supper without true repentance or maybe having a hard heart towards their brother or sister. It should be a regular deed in the life of every believer and follower of Christ to examine theirself according to the Word of God-the Bible.



2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

In Matthew scripture speaks of the fact that the non-believer will always be with us even in some churches. Only God knows the heart of man. In my church when you visit you are not able to partake in the Lords supper for various reasons. I would love for you to read the reasoning why and maybe talk to your pastor if he lets non-believer's join in communion, an example would be a child who has not been converted or a visitor in which you do not know if he is a genuine Christian. Read this article HERE on this position.



Matt 13:24 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28 "'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29 "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

Hebrews 2

The book of Hebrews flows like a beautiful symphony with all the melodious instruments playing their part. I love how it flows. I have been attempting to go chapter by chapter. The thing is that the Bible in its original context did not include chapters. It was just a letter written to a certain group of people. This is why it is so hard to just stop when a chapter ends. The chapters were inserted

Fact: The first person to divide New Testament chapters into verses was Italian Dominican biblical scholar Santi Pagnini (1470–1541), a system that was never widely adopted. Robert Estienne created an alternate numbering in his 1551 edition of the Greek New Testament. The first English New Testament to use the verse divisions was a 1557 translation by William Whittingham (c. 1524-1579). The first Bible in English to use both chapters and verses was the Geneva Bible published shortly afterwards in 1560. These verse divisions soon gained acceptance as a standard way to notate verses, and have since been used in nearly all English Bibles.

Hebrews 2
1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet." 8 In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." 13 And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

The book of Hebrews is wonderful to me and I just love it. Starting in chapter 2 we see the hinging door word "therefore." Chapter one establishes the supremacy of Christ over the angels and over all creation making us listen a bit more to what He has said. The writer of Hebrews gives us a sharp warning to take heed since now we have Christ who has spoken and Him being much more than the angels; we ought to listen. In verse 2 my question would be "when did Christ speak through the angels?" We can look back to Acts 7:38 when Stephen is making the people gnash their teeth with his short history lesson of who killed the Savior.

Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

This takes us back to Deut chapter 33 when it states: And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them.

Who are these saints spoken of here? This is understood to be the angels spoke of here in Hebrews 2. If the Israelites experienced such swift judgement how much more if we disregard the Son? This will be a hard day when the people who neglect Christ stand before Him at their final judgement. Later in verse 4 it speaks of the wonderful acts done by Christ and the Apostles. These were done to confirm the gospel message and can be later seen to be done away with throughout the end of the New Testament. No! I am not into total cessationism but I firmly believe these signs were primarily done to authenticate the Gospel message and is NOT normative today. I say that with full understanding that God is totally sovereign and does as He pleases according to His perfect and good will.

Next we see this familiar quotation from Psalm 8. This is echoing the total sufficiency of God. He does not need us and is not like a nice teddy bear just wanting, lusting, or coveting our affection. God is sustained in Himself. We ask why oh Lord did you even bother in creating us? We are here according to the purpose of God.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Verse 9 talks about the fact that for a time Christ was made like man a little lower than the angels as well but lived the sinless, sacrificial, efficacious life for everyone so he would taste and defeat death. Now, everyone does not mean all. This everyone speaks of the one's who believe or shall we say the elect. The one's that have been chosen by the Father be able to come to the Christ. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

For a great understanding of the humiliation of Christ I would recommend you read through the book of Philippians. When verse 10 speaks of Christ being made perfect through sufferings, it is understood the Christ was 100% GOD and 100% man. He was divinely perfect but his flesh had to be subjected to the sovereign will of God. You can see this struggle in Christ' flesh at the garden of Gestheneme. Verse 12 is a quote from Psalms 22 where we see Christ likens himself to be our brethren since he understand our griefs and has been tempted like us but yet did not yield to sin making Christ all the more merciful-what a interesting contrast. We have a mediator who personally knows exactly how we feel and has mercy but still a standard of holiness.

Verse 16 speaks of Christ being an aide to the seed of Abraham. Certainly Christ is not talking about Himself here even though we know according to Galatians that Christ is the Seed. I am reading a book called, "Abraham's 4 Seeds" so now I will take the time to tell you who the seeds are speaking of.

1. The Natural Seed-includes all physical children, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Jews and Arabs

2. Special Natural Seed-The nation, or children, of Israel, all of the physical seed of Jacob and his twelve sons.

3. Spiritual Seed-All believers of all ages, David and Paul, Jewish and Gentile believers, you and me.

4. Unique Seed-Christ he Messiah

In conclusion thus far we see that Christ is far more superior than the angels in pastime in which he spoke to the fathers through the prophets and angels. We also are warned not to neglect such a great salvation since we have had all the prophecies, fulfillment's in Christ and confirmations in works with the Apostles and Christ. We see that Christ has become such a greater High Priest than all the others before Him. He made a public mockery of the devil taking away the fear of death to all who have been predetermined to believe according the will of the Father. Glory be to GOD.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Suffering and Forgiveness?

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; [In] journeyings often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

It is a Friday night in which you and your husband/wife decide to have some time to yourselves in marital bliss. It has been a long time and you both thought this was overdue. So mutually you both agreed to have a sitter watch your only child in which you both labored for after 3 miscarriages; it finally happened "Birth." At the restaurant you and your wife/husband decide to call and check on your baby to see how everything is going. When you call your sitter you ask, "How is the baby doing?" The sitter responds jokingly by saying, "I put the baby in the microwave" You and your mate laugh it off since the sitter sound facetious in her tone and you both take your time coming back from your night out on the town. "What a good time!" you both say since you have dedicated your life to revolve around your son.

When you both arrive at your home you are startled because the sitters car is gone and you are desperately wondering what happened to where the sitter had to leave with your only child. Immediately you call her on your cell and unfortunately no answer. So you call the cops and they are at your house in minutes since you live in the wonderful suburbs of your city. When the cops arrive they ask questions as normal and try to locate the sitters location and expediently searched the house for details. One policeman discovers your child in the microwave roasted to the point of being unrecognizable. The screams and cries from the parents and cops and horrid to say the least.

Fast forward you are in the court room sitting face to face with the schizophrenic sitter in which you both put your trust in. The question is can you and will you forgive? From a Christian perspective we have no choice. Would we not feel justified in seeing the sitter have the death penalty? Of course we would. My question is would not God get more glory in seeing this unregenerate and depraved person come to him. I think yes and we as Christians should have a desire to see this person saved and in the Kingdom of God. How hard does this seem to you? It would be an extreme struggle in my flesh to say the least. I like you would struggle but would ultimately submit to the will of God.

Sounds crazy right but I kid with you not, this is a true story. God has called us to suffer and think not that this could not happen to you.


2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Matt 10 :34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Saints, Christ was put on the cross for your(our) sins and suffered the wrath of God for us. Not to mention the horrid Cruxifiction which is nothing compare to the wrath of God but still terrible to say the least!! We should be our brothers in the book of Acts, when they were persecuted and flogged for HIS names sake they thought it to be an honor to be able to join in the suffering of Christ.

Matt 18:23 23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

My prayer: Lord chasten us and put eternity on our eyelids so that we do not love this present world more than the world you promised to come. Help us to live this day like it is our last and realizing only what we do for you will last. Help us to detach ourselves from anything in this world that we hold in higher regard than YOU. Christ is all that matters!! Amen

Will it ever stop???

I don't necessarily agree with all the insidious sarcasm here by the video narrator but aside from that, it is a shame to see people support such heresy. During the last 2 minutes of the video she lays herself on the table as a sacrifice???!!-God Bless in Christ Alone.

Hebrews 1

Two of my friends and I have decided to go through the book of Hebrews. Taking one chapter per week to see what we can learn from the text and to give us a better understanding of the text. I will continue to post regularly like normal but will also start to exegete the book of Hebrews. I hope it is not boring to you wonderful people called of God.

Hebrews 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son,today I have begotten you?Or again, I will be to him a father,and he shall be to me a son? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God's angels worship him. 7 Of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds,and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. 10 And, You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain;they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up,like a garment they will be changed.But you are the same,and your years will have no end. 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Verse 1 through 4-GOD has now spoke to us through his SON. I immediately upon reading this thought of the parable of The Rich man and Lazarus(Luke 16:19-31). I am sure you all are very familiar with this text in which Christ said, "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Spoke to the fathers by the prophets-Fathers means generator or male ancestor in which the message was related to them by the prophets in Old Testament times. This is also a popular text that can be used to refute the Jehovah's Witnesses when it comes to the Deity and CHRIST being the 2nd Person the Trinity in which it says, "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" Christ is very much God and has always been with the Father and had a hand in creation. This is why in the Old Testament when God is spoke of the word is plural. The word is 'elohiym. Later it talks about Christ being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. I wrote of this earlier and this is where we get the(hypostasis) Hypostatic union. Christ being 100% man and 100% God. HE and HE alone has made the only efficacious propitiation for our sins. Having become so much better than the angels speaks in reference to the fact that the Bible says HE was made lower than the angels but not a change in state(still fully God and man) but rather a change of existence. He was lowered to a humble state to complete the will of God to be later raised to His rightful place after the atoning work He did for our sins.

Verse 5-14 These are direct quotes from Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 speaking of the uniqueness of Christ. The firstborn is the same Greek word used here-Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the (prōtotokos)firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. Another confirmation of Jesus being very much God is the fact that in this text He is worthy of worship. Only God is scripture is worthy of worship. At times in scripture people were sharply rebuked for even thinking of worshipping an angel. Verse 14 regarding the angels-Simply states that angels are ministering spirits to aid us in our journey to be with Christ. A reference scripture is Matt 18:10 a different topic speaking of the seriousness of how we should view sin. But here it also talks about angels being of assistance with our journey to Heaven to be with Christ.

In essence the first chapter in Hebrews is a clear view of the superiority of Christ over created beings like angels and the superiority of Christ compared to the prophets in the Old Testament. Christ is fully God and humbled himself to later being exalted and to have a name above every name.

Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.