GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE

GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE – EXODUS 7:1-9

As I read the beginning of the seventh chapter of Exodus, several things drew my attention. One was that God made Moses a god to Pharoah. I became curious about this statement and began to understand that as a representative of GOD, Moses would become some one that Pharoah would eventually look to as one that speaks on the behalf of God. This is the position that every child of God should realize that we hold in our relationship with God. To others we are the voice of God. This should encourage us to be truth seekers so we can repeat Godly truths and not error. 2Co_5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. We should always conduct ourselves as representatives of God at all times. The lost to know Him as Saviour and the saved to know Him as Lord of their life.

This relationship requires obedience. Look at verse 6 and you see obedience. Obedience to the lost in repentance and belief. The saved in living in obedience to the commands of God, and living a God honoring life. God did not say to Moses and Aaron that partial obedience was okay. Notice the repetition in verse 6. “And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they. This is an emphasis on obedience. Complete obedience. Complete obedience to God is against our carnal nature. We want control of our lives. We want to make decisions. It is all about us. Our carnal nature is in part a narcissistic nature. Everything is about us. The universe revolves around us. That is why some people are so easy offended and others are great offenders. That is where sensitive “your words” hurt me lies and “sarcastic bombastic” declarations are issued, the depths of a narcissistic soul. Complete surrender and obedience carries these away as we respond to the Spirit of God and our lives are lived in obedience to Him.

Verse 9 gives specific instruction and we will look at this later.

CHURCH HISTORY – INTRODUCTION

CHURCH HISTORY – INTRODUCTION

 

Eph 3:9, 10, 21 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

INTRODUCTION

There are great difficulties tracing Baptist Church history.

The true church that Jesus built cannot be traced through its writings. Most of those writings have been burnt by the enemies of the Church that Jesus built. Those enemies were religious entities that opposed and tried to eradicate the teachings of the Church that Jesus built.

 

The history of the true Church that Jesus called out cannot be traced through its name, even thought we accept the title that John the Baptist carried. He was called “John the Baptist” because of the mode of baptism that he practiced. This mode of baptism is what the Baptists practice because of the distinctiveness of the practice. We have also appropriated the name to identify not only who we are, but also how we practice the same mode of baptism that John the Baptist practiced.

 

No specific title was needed since at the time of the institution of the church, there was only ONE Church.

 

Special names were given to various groups in different periods of history. In Ephesus, they were called “that way”. Acts 19:23. We find in Acts 24:22 that Felix had more perfect knowledge of “that way”. Some were given the names of the prominent men that led them. Names such as Henricians, Paulicians, and Novatians. Other names were given because of the clean living evidenced bythe followers of a life lived as an example to others. The name given was Cathari. The name Waldenses came from the area these giants of the Word were located. Also names were given because of doctrinal practices. The ana-baptists were re-baptizers therefore ana-re baptists-baptizers.

 

Most of the recognition that is received by the Churches that Jesus built and sent out is chronicled by our enemies. The Catholics have given evidence of our existence and their attempt to exterminate Jesus Church. The Lutherans have historians that have documented our existence and stories of their persecution of baptists. Methodists have testified of our lengthy history and its source as Jesus of Nazareth. We glory that our enemies have thought so much of us that they have written our history for us.

 

What is a church? – Saved Baptized believers covenanted together to observe the ordinances, maintain the doctrine of Christ and carry out the great commission.

 

Where did it begin? – Matthew 4:18-22;

 

Before the Day of Pentecost – Matt. 18:15- 18

 

Jesus sang in the midst of the Church – Hebrews 2:12

 

Held a prayer meeting and business meeting – Acts 1:14; Acts 2:23-26

 

What was it built upon? – Matthew 16:18; I Cor. 3:11; Eph 2:20

 

Requirements for membership – Acts 2:22, 41

A Simple Life

Memories

Justmemusings

I grew up in a country home on a gravel road. I ate fish my Daddy caught at least 3 days a week. We didn’t lock our doors. It just wasn’t needed. My school had 13 people in my class. It was a simple life.

My family ate lunch at my grandmother’s house every day, as did my three Uncles and their families. We all gathered every day. It was a simple life.

I spent summers bare foot, riding bicycles, running through ditches, and catching crawdeads. I rode in the back of the truck when we went to town each week. I had a dog named Jack. It was a simple life.

I strive to teach my children that same simplicity. Life is more than money, name brands, possessions, and popularity. Life is meant to be simple.

Photo by: skitterphoto

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HEBREW HONEYCOMB

HEBREW HONEYCOMB

William Andrew Dillard
CHILDREN OF PROMISE
The first two thousand years of human history might well be called “the age of experimentation.” Will mankind left largely to himself seek after God, and His will for their life? The obvious answer was, and is, “No!” Thus it was proven through the Noahic Flood, and the subsequent Tower of Babel that, though some were saved people spiritually, their way was corrupt. It followed then that God moved to implement a specific covenant relationship with His people. Abraham is the beginning of that line. He received a covenant of promise that is still in effect to this day. Although predicated upon spiritual salvation relationship with God, the covenant has to do with the life of obedience to God His people are to live.
The apostle Paul taught the church at Rome, and the churches of Galatia about this special standing with God in the following terms: “That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:8. “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Gal. 4:28. Some theologians would apply these scriptures to all who have repentantly received the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, yet walk after the world or worse, walk after the heresies of Satan’s promotion. Such lifestyles have no advantage over the antediluvian population or those who busied themselves with the Tower of Babel. Furthermore, the loss of the true meaning of life on earth is just as sure to those of that mindset.
Let the reader consider that God would not have Ishmael for His heir, but the child of God’s promise: Isaac. His offspring was given a temporary covenant of Law that they might learn the awfulness of sin. It also prepared them for the next and last stage of the covenant relationship, the Anointed One’s body: the New Testament Church, purchased with the lifeblood of the Son of God. It is a covenant that will remain to give glory to God throughout the age, and in worlds to come. Among its multi-purposes is that of preparing a people to rule and to reign with Jesus in the fast approaching millennial reign.
Men have sought to offer to God various forms of legalism as His inheritance. Others have despised their heritage and sold out for worldly exaltation or temporary gain as did Esau of old, thereby losing something that cannot be regained. But it is true church saints that constitute those to whom the beloved apostle said, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Here then is the sweet possession of God’s true people on earth. Let it be cherished and never abandoned!

The Pearl of Wisdom

Excellent thoughts

Justmemusings

Two men were once riding through the heart of the city, when one said, “I wish I was as smart as you!” Never having had the opportunity of education, he felt insecure.

They pulled up to their destination, and the wise man said, “Did you notice that homeless boy playing back there?

“Why, yes I did.”

“If I had a few minutes to spare, I would sit down beside him and talk to him. There is something he knows, that I don’t. I live my life trying to learn what others know.”

We may easily get caught up in the delusion that knowlege is only housed in universities. That is false. There is wisdom in the smallest of things, if we will only take the time to investigate.I’m

When I was young, I had an adult friend, named Sis. She had that brilliant type of mind I always wished I…

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America founded with Divine Help

American Minute with Bill Federer

The 55 writers of the U.S. Constitution were:

26 Episcopalian
11 Presbyterian
7 Congregationalist
2 Lutheran
2 Dutch Reformed
2 Methodist
2 Quaker
2 Roman Catholic
and Dr. Franklin, who called for prayer at the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787, stating:

“In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.

Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered.

All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor…

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men.

And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?…”

Franklin continued:

“We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’…

I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel…

I therefore beg leave to move – that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”

New Hampshire Governor John Langdon called for a Day of Fasting, February 21, 1786, to pray for the new government:

“That He would be pleased to bless the great Council of the United States of America and direct their deliberations…

that he would rain down righteousness upon the earth, revive religion, and spread abroad the knowledge of the true God, the Saviour of man.”

New Hampshire became the 9th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution on JUNE 21, 1788. Now, with 2/3’s of the States having ratified it, the Constitution went into effect.

Were the “United” States originally established Christian – ON THE STATE LEVEL?

The answer can be seen by examining the acknowledgements of religion in the State Constitutions at the time those States ratified the U.S. Constitution.

DELAWARE, the first State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1776 State Constitution:

“Every person…appointed to any office…shall…subscribe…

‘I…profess faith in GOD THE FATHER, and in JESUS CHRIST His only Son, and in the HOLY GHOST, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration.’”

PENNSYLVANIA, the 2nd State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1776 State Constitution, signed by Ben Franklin:

“Each member, before he takes his seat, shall…subscribe…

‘I do believe in one GOD, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the Rewarder of the good and the Punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration.’”

NEW JERSEY, the 3rd State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1776 State Constitution:

“All persons, professing a belief in the faith of any PROTESTANT sect, who shall demean themselves peaceably under the government…shall be capable of being elected.”

GEORGIA, the 4th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1777 State Constitution:

“Representatives shall be chosen out of the residents in each county…and they shall be of the PROTESTANT religion.”

CONNECTICUT, the 5th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, retained its 1662 Colonial Constitution, which was established PROTESTANT CONGREGATIONAL, till 1818:

“By the Providence of GOD…having from their ancestors derived a free and excellent Constitution…whereby the legislature depends on the free and annual election…The free fruition of such liberties and privileges as humanity, civility and CHRISTIANITY call for.”

MASSACHUSETTS, the 6th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1780 State Constitution, written by John Adams:

“Any person…before he…execute the duties of his…office…[shall] subscribe…’I…declare, that I believe the CHRISTIAN religion, and have a firm persuasion of its truth’…

The legislature shall…authorize the support and maintenance of public PROTESTANT teachers of piety, religion and morality.”

MARYLAND, the 7th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1776 State Constitution:

“No other test…ought to be required, on admission to any office…than such oath of support and fidelity to this State…and a declaration of a belief in the CHRISTIAN religion.”

SOUTH CAROLINA, the 8th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1778 State Constitution:

“No person shall be eligible to a seat…unless he be of the PROTESTANT religion…The CHRISTIAN PROTESTANT religion shall be deemed…the established religion of this State.”

NEW HAMPSHIRE, the 9th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1784 State Constitution:

“No person shall be capable of being elected…who is not of the PROTESTANT religion.”

VIRGINIA, the 10th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1776 State Constitution, Bill of Rights, written with the help of James Madison and George Mason:

“It is the mutual duty of all to practice CHRISTIAN forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.”

NEW YORK, the 11th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1777 State Constitution:

“The United American States…declare…

‘Laws of nature and of NATURE’S GOD…All men are created equal; that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights…Appealing to the SUPREME JUDGE of the world…A firm reliance on the protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE’…

People of this State, ordain…the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination…

Provided, That the liberty of conscience, hereby granted, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness.”

NORTH CAROLINA, the 12fth State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, stated in its 1776 State Constitution:

“No person, who shall deny the being of GOD or the truth of the PROTESTANT religion, or the Divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding…office.”

RHODE ISLAND, the 13th State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, retained its 1663 Colonial Constitution till 1843, which stated:

“By the blessing of God…a full liberty in religious concernements…rightly grounded upon GOSPEL principles, will give the best and greatest security…in the true CHRISTIAN faith and worship of God…They may…defend themselves, in their just rights and liberties against all the enemies of the CHRISTIAN faith.”

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Lafayette Black wrote in Engel v. Vitale, 1962:

“As late as the time of the Revolutionary War, there were established Churches in at least 8 of the 13 former colonies and established religions in at least 4 of the other 5.”

John K. Wilson wrote in ‘Religion Under the State Constitutions 1776-1800’ (Journal of Church and State, Volume 32, Autumn 1990, Number 4, pp. 754):

“An establishment of religion, in terms of direct tax aid to Churches, was the situation in 9 of the 13 colonies on the eve of the American revolution.”

The Journal of the U.S. House recorded that on March 27, 1854, the 33rd Congress voted unanimously to print Rep. James Meacham’s report, which stated:

“At the adoption of the Constitution, we believe every State – certainly 10 of the 13 – provided as regularly for the support of the Church as for the support of the Government…

Down to the Revolution, every colony did sustain religion in some form. It was deemed peculiarly proper that the religion of liberty should be upheld by a free people…

Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle.”

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The Moral Liberal Contributing Editor,William J. Federer, is the bestselling author of “Backfired: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance no Longer Tolerates Religion,” and numerous other books. A frequent radio and television guest, his daily American Minute is broadcast nationally via radio, television, and Internet. Check out all of Bill’s bookshere.

‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’

American Minute with Bill Federer

There were ten major persecutions of Christians in the first three centuries, and Emperor Diocletian’s was the worst.

When Diocletian had lost battles in Persia, his generals told him it was because they had neglected the Roman gods.

Diocletian ordered all military personnel to worship the Roman gods, thus forcing Christians either into the closet or out of the army.

After purging Christians from the military, Diocletian surrounded himself with public opponents of Christianity.

He revoked the tolerance issued a previous Emperor Gallienus in 260 AD, and then used the military to force all of Rome to worship pagan gods.

In 303 AD, Diocletian consulted the Oracle Temple of Apollo at Didyma, which told him to initiate a great empire-wide persecution of the Christian church.

What followed was an intolerant, hateful and severe persecution of Christians.

Diocletian had his military go systematically province by province arresting church leaders, burning scriptures, destroying churches, cutting out tongues, boiling Christians alive and decapitating them.

From Europe to North Africa, thousands were martyred.

The faithful cried out in fervent prayer.

Then Diocletian was struck with a painful intestinal disease and resigned on MAY 1, 305 AD.

Emperor Gelarius continued the persecution, but he too was struck with the intestinal disease and died.

Commenting on Roman persecutions was Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, who was the Democrat Party’s candidate for President in 1896, 1900, and 1908.

He stated in his speech, “The Prince of Peace,” (New York Times, September 7, 1913):

“I can imagine that the early Christians who were carried into the Coliseum to make a spectacle for those more savage than the beasts, were entreated by their doubting companions not to endanger their lives.

But, kneeling in the center of the arena, they prayed and sang until they were devoured…”

William Jennings Bryan continued:

“How helpless they seemed, and, measured by every human rule, how hopeless was their cause!

And yet within a few decades the power which they invoked proved mightier than the legions of the Emperor, and the faith in which they died was triumphant o’er all the land….

They were greater conquerors in their death than they could have been had they purchased life.”

President Ronald Reagan commented on the Roman Coliseum at the National Prayer Breakfast, February 2, 1984:

“This power of prayer can be illustrated by the story that goes back to the fourth century – the monk [Telemachus] living in a little remote village, spending most of his time in prayer…

One day he thought he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome…

Weeks and weeks later, he arrived…at a time of a festival in Rome…

He followed a crowd into the Coliseum, and then, there in the midst of this great crowd, he saw the gladiators come forth, stand before the Emperor, and say, ‘We who are about to die salute you.’

And he realized they were going to fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowds.

He cried out, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’

And his voice was lost in the tumult there in the great Colosseum…”

Reagan continued:

“And as the games began, he made his way down through the crowd and climbed over the wall and dropped to the floor of the arena.

Suddenly the crowds saw this scrawny little figure making his way out to the gladiators and saying, over and over again, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’

And they thought it was part of the entertainment, and at first they were amused.

But then, when they realized it wasn’t, they grew belligerent and angry…”

Reagan added:

“And as he was pleading with the gladiators, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’ one of them plunged his sword into his body.

And as he fell to the sand of the arena in death, his last words were, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’

And suddenly, a strange thing happened.

The gladiators stood looking at this tiny form lying in the sand. A silence fell over the Colosseum. And then, someplace up in the upper tiers, an individual made his way to an exit and left, and the others began to follow.

And in the dead silence, everyone left the Colosseum. That was the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum.

Never again did anyone kill or did men kill each other for the entertainment of the crowd…”

Reagan ended:

“One tiny voice that could hardly be heard above the tumult. ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’

It is something we could be saying to each other throughout the world today.”

 

A GREAT MAN ONCE SAID

A Great Man Once Said:

It is for us to dig the well, it is for God to send the rain and the water.

It is for us to plant the seed, it is for God to make it sprout and grow.

It is for us to cultivate the field, it is for God to give the harvest.

It is for me to witness, it is for God to give the increase, so save the soul.

When I have done the best I can, then God must do the rest, and He will.

Selected

Live Happier. Here’s HOW.

Want joy and happiness in your life? Pay attention.

thehappylife101

I want to share with you 4 key points that I have learned in order to live a happier life. Believe me when I say that I am still trying my very best to adapt these everyday, and sometimes I fail, but what’s important is I don’t stop trying =)

1. ACCEPTANCE

“I’m okay with what I ultimately can’t do, because there is so much that I can do.”-Sam Berns

It’s our automatic response to make excuses when we are afraid to fail at something that we really want to achieve in life. We can come up with all the reasons that hinders us from doing what needs to be done. But we need to be bigger than our limitations! We should focus on the things that we can control and change.

2. GRATITUDE

“We have a choice. Either to be angry for what we don’t have, or be thankful for what we do have.”-…

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Six short statements with great meanings

 

Subject: Six short statements with great meanings Posted: 01 Jun 2016 06:39 PM PDT What a miserable existence we have when our lives do not reflect these values. Dr. Robert McCurry – 1986 **{1} Once all villagers decided to pray for rain; on the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.** That’s FAITH** ** {2} When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her.** That’s TRUST** ** {3} Every night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but still we set the alarms to wake up.** That’s HOPE** ** {4} We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.** That’s CONFIDENCE** ** {5} We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children.** That’s LOVE** ** {6} On an old man’s shirt was written a sentence ‘I am not 90 years old: I am sweet 16 with 74 years experience!’** That’s ATTITUDE** May you always have love to share, health to spare & friends who care. Author Unknown Submitted by Dr. Robert McCurry