My GOD Shall Supply All Your Need

As the Apostle Paul found himself imprisoned in Rome for the Gospel of Christ in A.D. 62, he penned a letter to the members of the Church at Philippi, a church he had planted on his second missionary journey to the Macedonia region. After encouraging them in their walk with Christ, the Apostle Paul thanked them for their generosity once again to him before concluding his letter. As he had moved on from his time in Philippi, no other congregation supported him throughout his ministry as had the Church at Philippi. (Philippians 4:10-20)

Paul wrote to them in his letter of how he had learned from the experiences he had endured, including imprisonments, beatings, and stoning, to be by God’s grace content whether in want of need or while in abundance, in hunger or full, how to be abased or how to abound to the Glory of God. As a result, the Apostle Paul was able to proclaim, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” no matter the circumstance. (2 Corinthians 11:21-28)

As the Church at Philippi continued to give to Paul’s necessities even after his departure from their congregation as he journeyed throughout the Gentile world sharing the Gospel of Christ, the Apostle Paul commended them for their sacrificial giving to him, which he wrote was “wellpleasing to God.” It is then Paul wrote in response, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” As a result of the generous giving by the Philippian believers to the furtherance of the Gospel by God’s messenger, the blessings of God would be poured out upon them, not as repayment for what they had done for Paul, but from God’s riches He would abundantly provide above and beyond anything that could be asked or thought, so that fruit would abound to their account as they lay up treasure in Heaven. (Ephesians 3:20)

The Coming Rapture

In 1 Thessalonians 4 the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Thessalonica in Ancient Greece of a time in the future when Christ, who was seen by His disciples ascending into Heaven by a cloud after His Resurrection, would appear again in the clouds to call those who have placed their faith and trust in Him to join Him in Heaven. The event, known as “the Rapture” from the Greek word for “caught up,” would occur “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” In the Scriptures we find Jesus’ ascension was not the first, and was not to be the last, for on that yet to be seen “Great Gettin’ Up Morning” when Christ returns in the air “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God… so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Enoch, the seventh from Adam and father of Methuselah, was the first to ascend into the clouds as he walked with God one day. Moses wrote, “He was not; for God took him.” In the Great Hall of Faith of Hebrews11, it is written, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 1:14)

Some 2,000 years following Enoch’s translation to Heaven from planet Earth, the Prophet Elijah was transported to Heaven almost a decade after his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel during the reign of King Ahab. Elijah was aware of his impending “rapture” foretold to him by God, for “It came to pass when the LORD would take up Elijah into Heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.” The two men traveled on together to the banks of the Jordan River near Jericho, with “fifty men of the sons of the prophets” watching from afar as Elijah smote the waters, allowing he and Elisha to cross the river on dry ground, just as had occurred with Joshua and the Children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land. As they continued to walk on together, talking as they went, “there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire… and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. And Elisha saw it.” (2 Kings 2:1-12)

It was the Apostle Paul who was “caught up to the third Heaven…caught up into Paradise,” and the Apostle John who being “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” was caught up to Heaven to the very Throne of God, “writing to the seven churches which are in Asia” what he saw with his own eyes. The Apostle John also writes of the two witnesses in Jerusalem during the time of the Great Tribulation who will hear “a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither,” whereupon they will ascend to heaven in a cloud just as Jesus did, as all their enemies look upon them. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Revelation 1:1-19; 11:3-12)

The coming Rapture of those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ’s blood alone for salvation is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled at any moment on any given day. Jesus told His disciples before His crucifixion when the end time events described in the Scriptures “…begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your Redemption draweth nigh.” “Surely I come quickly… In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (Luke 21:7-28; Revelation 22:20)

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus”

In Christ Alone

In this testimony Amber Head shares why she left the Church of Christ, a denomination in which her father was the pastor of a local church. Amber explains the denomination’s doctrine concerning their requirement of baptism for salvation and its effect on her growing up in a Church of Christ church until she came to the Truth of Scripture, that it is in Christ Alone for salvation, plus or minus nothing.

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Blood of JESUS”

The True ROCK

In the closing days of Moses’ life God commanded Moses to write a song for Israel, a song that “When many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness.” God had shared with both Moses and Joshua the direction, contrary to His commands, the Children of Israel would go once they entered the Promised Land, eventually succumbing to the idol worship they would encounter. “Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the Children of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 31-32)

Moses began the song by declaring the God who had brought them out of bondage in Egypt into the glorious light of The Promised Land, “HE is The Rock, His work is perfect… Just and right is He.” Upon recounting God’s leading from the time of Adam to the present, Moses then included in his song a time when they would “forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation… Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.”

The song continued that because of their turning away from God a foolish nation would arise, provoking them to anger, and the Children of Israel would be able to put to flight a thousand of the enemy by one man, and ten thousand by two, made possible only “except their Rock [the Children of Israel’s] had sold them, and The LORD had shut them up? For their rock is not as Our Rock… For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.”

 In the closing lines of the Song of Moses the Children of Israel would learn was to be sung, “The LORD shall judge His people… And He shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted… Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.” In full assurance it is then proclaimed, “See now that I, even I, am HE, and there is NO god with me.” The Rock of man’s salvation is none other than God Himself… “Upon This ROCK I will build My Church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it,” (Matthew 16:16-18).

500th Anniversary of “THE REFORMATION”

On October 31, 1517 a German monk named Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg seeking a discussion on the selling of Indulgences for the remission of sin by the Catholic Church. The aim of the Church in selling the Indulgences was to raise money to rebuild St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Luther, who had become the Professor of Theology at the college, knew from his reading and studying of the Scriptures there was no forgiveness of sin except through the blood of Jesus Christ. The people were being put under great deception by being told by their priests the Catholic Church held the key to God’s forgiveness through the purchase of Indulgences. The simple act of Martin Luther on that day began a Reformation to return to the Truths of Scripture and away from what had become the tenets of a man-made religion.

During Martin Luther’s early days as a monk he came under great conviction of his sinfulness before God. Whereas other monks in the monastery would spend a few minutes a day confessing their sins to the priest, Luther would spend hours confessing his for he was cognizant of how sinful man is in his fallen state. It was not until he read in Galatians 3:11, “But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith,” that he realized it was not by the works of confession, simplicity of living as a monk, or even self-flagellation that provided forgiveness of sin but having a living faith based totally ALONE upon Jesus’ voluntary death on the Cross for man’s sin, His burial, and bodily Resurrection triumphant over sin and death (Romans 10:9-10). As a repentant sinner, Luther placed his full faith and trust in Christ apart from the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church from which he was eventually excommunicated and proclaimed anathema, bound for hell.

Only available in Latin and confined to only being read and interpreted by the Catholic Church, Luther began translating The Scriptures into the language of the German people so they, too, could read for themselves, “The just shall live by faith,” and find salvation in none other name but Christ Jesus as the Apostles preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 4:12). In doing so, Luther found himself having to be in hiding to complete the task as those led by the demons of Hell sought to stop his work. The Scriptures we hold in our hands today, written in our own language, found its beginning in the days of Luther on that fateful day in October 1517 when God opened the floodgates, that whosoever reads and keeps those things written therein will be blessed (Revelation 1:3).

Why So Many Denominations

In his classic book, “The Trail of Blood,” J.M. Carroll, a Texas pastor and educator of the last century, lays out the beginnings of the multitude of different religious denominations. After the ascension of Christ back to Heaven as recorded in the first chapter of the Book of Acts, the spreading of the Gospel by the Apostles and the early Christians continued as Jesus had commanded before His departure, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature,” (Mark 16:15). Once the early believers passed on to Glory through death and new generations arose, the way of salvation in Christ Alone as found in Scripture began to be distorted by some of the churches that had been established throughout the known world. Those churches began requiring the addition of baptism for salvation, referred to as “baptismal regeneration.” It was from this error that the birth of different denominations arose.

The separation of churches thus began. As early as A.D. 251 churches loyal to the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ broke fellowship with the erring churches. As an outgrowth of requiring adults to be baptized for salvation, it was determined by A.D. 370 to begin baptizing infants by immersion, too.

A group of the erring churches formed into the Catholic Church, organized during Constantine’s reign, and became involved in legislative activities. In A.D. 416 a law was passed making infant baptism mandatory throughout the Roman Empire. Those who rejected the practice as unbiblical took their stand against obeying the new law and suffered the consequences. Just ten years later in A.D. 426 the “Dark Ages” began, lasting over 1,000 years with over fifty million Christian martyrs giving their lives for the Truth of the Gospel.

It was not until 1530 during the Great Reformation the Lutheran Church came about in Germany under the leadership of Martin Luther, a former Catholic monk who was converted to faith in Christ Alone upon reading in the Scriptures, “The just shall live by faith,” (Romans 1:17). In 1541 the Presbyterian Church came into being in Switzerland under the leadership of John Calvin who left the Catholic Church upon his conversion to Christ. England’s King Henry VIII established the Church of England around 1534, making himself the head of the church after the Catholic Church would not annul his marriage to his first wife. In spite of their coming out of the Catholic Church, each of these denominations continued the practices of church and state alliances, baptismal regeneration, and infant baptism, which had evolved throughout the intervening years to either sprinkling or pouring for baptism.

The Methodist Church was born out of the work of John and Charles Wesley, and George Whitfield, in the 1700s, who had been members of the Church of England and had hoped to reform it from within. The Episcopal and Anglican churches also derive from the Church of England begun by Henry VIII. Those who remained true to the Scriptures since the days Jesus walked with His disciples and taught them salvation is by grace alone through faith alone were first referred to as Baptists in 1523 in Switzerland.

Who is a Saint?

Contrary to popular belief it is not man who determines who is a saint, it is GOD. Looking at the numerous verses related to saints in the Holy Scriptures, it is obvious saints are not named after their death, but are called saints while still very much alive and on this earth. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth gives a clear definition of who is a saint, “them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” Throughout Scripture everyone who had, like King David in Psalm 51, confessed their sin to God, repented of their sin, and trusted in Christ as Savior are called saints.

Luke wrote in Acts 9:32 of Peter’s travels, “he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.” Upon Peter’s involvement in the raising of Dorcas from the dead, Dr. Luke further writes, “When he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive,” (9:41). In his testimony before King Agrippa, the Apostle Paul related to him in Acts 26:10, “many of the saints did I shut up in prison.” To be in prison one must be alive. It is not after death one is named a saint by mere man.

The Apostle Paul’s references to saints in his letters to the churches at Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colosse clearly show he is speaking of all those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ for salvation, as the saints of God:

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” – Romans 1:7

“He that searcheth the hearts… maketh intercession for the saints” – Romans 8:27

“Distributing to the necessity of saints” – Romans 12:13

“Now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints” – Romans 15:25

“To make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem” – Romans 15:26

“My service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints” – Romans 15:31

“That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints” – Romans 16:2

“Salute… all the saints which are with them” – Romans 16:15

“Dare any of you… go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?” – 1 Corinthians 6:1

“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” – 1 Corinthians 6:2

“Churches of the saints” – 1 Corinthians 14:33

“The collection for the saints” – 1 Corinthians 16:1

“Addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” – 1Corinthians 16:15

“With all the saints which are in all Achaia” – 2 Corinthians 1:1

“Ministering to the saints” – 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:1

“The want of the saints” – 2 Corinthians 9:12

“All the saints salute you” –   2 Corinthians 13:13

“To the saints which are at Ephesus” – Ephesians 1:1

“Love unto all the saints” – Ephesians 1:15

“His inheritance in the saints” – Ephesians 1:18

“Fellowcitizens with the saints” – Ephesians 2:19

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints” – Ephesians 3:8

“Comprehend with all saints” – Ephesians 3:18

“The perfecting of the saints” – Ephesians 4:12

“Let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints” – Ephesians 5:3

“Praying always… for all saints” – Ephesians 6:18

“To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi” – Philippians 1:1

“Salute every saint in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:21

“All the saints salute you” – Philippians 4:22

“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse” – Colossians 1:2

“The love which ye have to all the saints” – Colossians 1:4

“Partakers of the inheritance of the saints” – Colossians 1:12

“Now is made manifest to His saints” – Colossians 1:26

JESUS is the Seeker

In recent decades churches across America have adopted the seeker-sensitive model of church growth. The plan called for churches to take on the appearance of a non-church setting by taking down their crosses, replacing the choir and organ with contemporary praise teams and bands, replacing pulpits with lecterns, introducing fog machines and disco balls in youth groups, and replacing doctrine filled sermons with self-help sermonettes in an attempt to attract the unsaved to God. Contrary to these feeble attempts to grow the church, Scripture reveals it is not the sinner who seeks after God, but God who seeks the sinner through His Son Jesus Christ.

It was to Zacchaeus, the wee little man who climbed up in the sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed through Jericho on His way to the Cross, that Jesus said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” while abiding with Zacchaeus in his house that day, (Luke 19:1-10). The Psalmist David had written centuries earlier, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God, (Psalm 10:4). In the Book of Revelation the Apostle John wrote of unsaved man seeking death during the Great Tribulation rather than bowing the knee to Almighty God (Revelation 9:6). Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God,” (Romans 3:11). Man does not seek after God; God seeks after man to bring him into a right relationship with Himself, but only those who willingly give of themselves to Him will be saved.

After salvation those who have trusted Christ as Savior seek after God with their whole hearts. Proverbs 8:17, “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD… Then shall ye call upon me… ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught His disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you;” and also, “Seek, and ye shall find,” (Matthew 6:33; 7:7).

“Behold, I, even I,

will both search My sheep, and seek them out.”

Ezekiel 34:11

How Well Do You Know Your Church

Take a look around this Sunday. Notice the center aisle if your church has one. As the pastor stands to preach and looks out on the congregation, he sees a picture of the cross as the aisle splits behind the pews and also continues on to the main door that exits out into the world.

As your attention is drawn to the church doors, notice some church doors are red in color signifying both the blood of the Passover lamb painted on the doorposts and the Blood of Christ shed for our sins. Also, red doors have been a designation of a sanctuary where anyone could be safe from danger.

As you enter the sanctuary, or “holy place,” the ceiling of a cathedral-type church with a wooden roof is built to look like the hull of a ship, bearing God’s people through the storms of life and providing His salvation to those who will enter the Ark.

Interestingly, the platform at the front of the church upon which the pulpit stands is designated the bema. The Bema Seat found in Scripture refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ where those who have trusted Christ as Savior will receive the rewards of their labor for Him during their earthly existence.

Most important upon the bema, or platform, is the pulpit, the largest piece of church furniture. Many modern day churches have done away with the large wooden pulpits, opting for the skinnier less noticeable lectern. But those larger than life pulpits hold great significance, in that they signify the importance of God’s Word in the life of the church. It is from the pulpit the Truths of Scripture are expounded upon and imparted unto the congregation inviting them to come into a right relationship with God, restoring the broken fellowship in the Garden.

The large pulpit is also a picture of how small man is when he stands behind it in relation to the greatness of God, as does the larger than life doors found on the front of many churches. How well does your church say to the world, “How Great Thou Art?”