Tag: Church

Where’s the Beef?

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Where’s the Beef?

 

  Do you remember a popular television commercial of some years ago that featured an older woman looking at a hamburger?  With an expression of bewilderment on her face, she asked the server in the fast-food restaurant, “Where’s the Beef”?  Her predicament is somewhat analogous to the feelings of persons who look for the substance of holiness in the lives of Christians today.  Where the beef of holiness?  Where’s that thing that makes Christians different from non-Christians?  Where is the Christ-likeness?  That ingredient of Christian experience that John Wesley described as religion itself.  Where’s the beef of Christianity?  Where is that similarity to the spirit and mind of Christ?

 

  Look at what poll after poll; study after study, says about the conduct of those who call themselves Christian compared with those who do not.  The divorce rate is reported to be slightly higher among those who call themselves Christian.  Of course, not everyone who calls himself a Christian actually is.

 

  The Holy Spirit inspired the writer of the gospel of Jesus according to Matthew to preserve these words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount: 7:19-23 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

 

  The Calvinistic claim “I sin every day in thought, word, and deed; can’t help it – that’s just the way it is” sounds very much like standing on sand.  Where’s the Beef of Christianity?  Most of the Christ followers stuck in that rut don’t intend to justify their carnality they just haven’t been shown the considerably more firm footing of Holy Spirit empowered heart holiness.   It is a footing that allows us to stand firm and reflect Christ-likeness so that others will say “there it is!  That thing that makes Christians different from non-Christians.”

 

Sin is spoken of in the Bible as filthiness or defilement of the body, mind, or spirit.  Purity in Religion must mean, therefore, the absence of such filthy things as drunkeness, gluttony, dishonesty, cheating, falsehood, pride, malice, bad tempers, selfishness, unbelief, disobedience, or the like.  In short, to be pure in soul, signifies deliverance from all and everything which the Lord shows you to be opposed to His Holy Will.  It means that you not only possess the ability to live the kind of life that He desires, but that you actually do live it.

 

Holiness Possible

  The Church of The Nazarene believes in holiness.  Holiness is our distinguishing tenet.  That’s what we are all about – perfect love, Christian perfection, being filled with the Spirit, entire sanctification. The Church of The Nazarene is not a generic church.  We are not all things to all people.  We believe that God teaches that regeneration is the work of God’s grace, preceded by repentance and obtained by faith.  We also believe regeneration is to be followed by another work of grace – entire sanctification, that act of God that frees believers from original sin and brings them into a state of complete commitment to God.  Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus and wrought by the Holy Spirit to this experience the Holy Spirit bears witness.

 

Sanctification begins when a person is justified by faith, converted, and progresses as a believer who grows in God’s grace and conforms more and more in obedience to Christ.  Believers are entirely sanctified when they are filled with the Holy Spirit, cleansing them from a sinful nature.  This experience is available to the seeking Christian.

 

We must not allow the failures of others to persuade us that holiness is impossible.  We must not justify our own uncleanness of heart and become callused in sin.  We must not settle for an experience and a lifestyle that is less than holy.  When this happens we begin to blame others for our moral failures, or we blame environments and situations.  All the while we continue to be jealous, manipulative, proud, dominating, unkind, critical, and self-serving.  All the while those who don’t have time for church continue to say “Where’s the Beef?”  They are pleading for us to be the salt and light which Christ called us to be.

 

  J. B. Chapman said, “I got saved so I could get sanctified.”  Phineas Bresee said, “A sanctified life is a delight to Jesus, a joy to the soul, a benediction to the home, a power in the church, a terror to sin, and a continual disappointment to the devil.”

 

Eph 2:8-10

    For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

    For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  (NAS)

 

Matt 7:19-23

            “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

            “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

            “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

            “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

            “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’  (NAS)

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Church

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Long but worth the read🥰
A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going.
After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening.
The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.
As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.
Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.
The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave.
He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.
Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, ‘Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon.
I will be back in church next Sunday.’
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
The Lord is my Shepherd —– that’s a Relationship!
I shall not want —– that’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures —-that’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters —–that’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul —– that’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness –that’s Guidance!
For His name sake —– that’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death–that’sTesting!
I will fear no evil —– that’s Protection!
For Thou art with me —– that’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me —–that’s Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies——that’s Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil —–that’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over —– that’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—-that’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord —–that’s Security!
Forever —– that’s Eternity!
Face it, God loves you!
What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives! ❤🙏🏼
-from a friend

Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira

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Rev 2:18  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 

Rev 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 

Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 

Rev 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 

Rev 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 

Rev 2:23  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 

Rev 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 

Rev 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star. 

Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

Verse 19 gives the impression that all is well with this church.  But we quickly find otherwise. First the commendation, or praise, then that which needs to be corrected because the Christ will not ignore the faults; a lesson which we all need to take careful note of. …Hello…

Like the saints in Pergamos, the believers tolerated sin in the church.  In Pergamos the false teachers were compared to Balaam and Balak. Here the false teacher is compared to Jezebel, the proponent of idolatry and immorality. Idolatry and immorality usually go together, and Jezebel personifies both (1st Kings 16:29-34; 21; 2nd Kings 9:30-37) The teaching was being spread that self-indulgence was better than self-discipline and more.

The story of Jezebel’s reign is the story of the quick corruption and utter downfall of the Kingdom of Israel.  Idol feasts were followed by “chambering and wantonness” and corruption spread rapidly among the youth of Israel.  In a like manner a love of talk about forbidden things was setting in, regard for the law was being weakened; audacity was taking the place of reason and conservatism.

Notice, however, the angel of this church is not charged with teaching this doctrine but with tolerating it. 

The church ruler seems to have had an inadequate sense of the authority of law.  Both he and the church are charged with neglect of duty. The woman called herself a “prophetess” and the thinking may have been “Who knows but that God may be speaking through her notwithstanding all that is suspicious in her teaching?”  even the “judge not” thing may have come into play.  The strong of Christian character may not be prone to succumbing but that does not negate their responsibility to their fellow believers in the Christ.

Not everybody in the fellowship was guilty of sin, and the Lord did not warn them.  Instead, He encouraged them to hold to the truth and be faithful.

The minister was not charged with sharing the doctrine but with tolerating it; both he and the church were charged with tolerating it and warned of their neglect of duty.  Doubtless, he bore with her because she was a woman.  The gracious tolerance of a strong man often takes this form. It is very hard for such a one to assert himself at all; most hard where self-assertion seems most easy.  Next the woman called herself a prophetess.  Here comes in regard for the freedom of prophecy; the very inspiration of the Church was a hindrance.  After all, who knows whether God is not speaking by her, notwithstanding all that is in suspicion in her teaching that was contrary to scripture.

The appeal to reality.  Nothing is more needed than occasional plain speech about the foulness which lurks in much that professes to be an enlarged spirituality.  They who encourage display of the peculiar charms of womanhood and seek to advance public causes by constant speech of things which nature and piety tell us should be held in strict reserve, degrade the women they supposedly seek to emancipate and brutalize the man. A corrupt doctrine will lead to a corrupt life.  Creed and conduct have vital connection with each other, a very vital connection indeed.

— The above is an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Pastor Ward Clinton. See some of my books here

A Love Song for Jesus

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This was such a blessing to my heart. I hope it is a special blessing to yours as well.

Woman at the Well

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Amen. John chapter 4

Obey God

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The phone calls

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Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth, and Vladimir Putin all die and go to Hell. While there, they spy a red phone and ask what the phone is for. The Devil tells them it is for calling back to Earth.
Putin asks to call Russia and talks for 5 minutes. When he is finished the Devil informs him that the cost is a million dollars, so Putin writes him a check.
Next Queen Elizabeth calls England and talks for 30 minutes. When she is finished the Devil informs her that the cost is 6 million dollars, so she writes him a check.
Finally Trump gets his turn and talks for 4 hours. When finished, the Devil informs him that the cost is $5.00. When Putin hears this he goes ballistic and asks the Devil why Trump got to call the USA so cheaply. The Devil smiles and replies, “Since Biden took over, the country’s gone to hell, so it’s a local call.”
Have a great day!

Pastors, Now is the Time to Stand Against Tyranny!

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https://pastorwardclinton.com/2021/02/27/pastors-now-is-the-time-to-stand-against-tyranny-5/

Prayer for Removal of the Wicked

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Image may contain: text that says 'PRAYER FOR REMOVAL OF THE WICKED Father, we ask in the name of Jesus that all WILLFUL WORKERS OF WICKEDNESS be removed from positions of power, prominence and prestige. Open the eyes of those being deceived and place people who stand for your righteous cause in the high places of government and influence. AMEN.'
Pray in the spirit of 2nd Chronicles 7:13-14

My fellow Christ followers it is time for us to seriously pray for the disempowerment of all the leftists (the wicked) from any position of influence.

This is the day…

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This is the day that the LORD has made.

Where I sit at the moment the skies are overcast and the sun seems to have risen recently even though it is not clearly visible.

About 1,930 years ago, on the first day of the week, it may have been a clear and cloudless sky but for the followers of Jesus of Nazareth it was a very gloomy day.  The One whom they had believed to be the promised Messiah had been seized, killed, and entombed.  All hope was gone.  Only doom and gloom lay before them.  Then the women came with a strange, very strange, story.  The Son is Risen!  Glory be to God; He is risen!

The folded napkin in the tomb says, “I’m not finished, I will be back.”

On the cross, Jesus had said, “It is finished,” not “I’m finished.”  It was a statement of victory, not defeat.

The Son has risen and it is a beautiful day, a good day to rejoice in the Lord, Jesus the Christ (Messiah).  Grey skies or blue, it is a beautiful day today because Messiah Jesus lives and the napkin is still folded.

Maranatha!