AN ANGRY GOD PART THREE
Sunday 2/14/2010 12:01 amAN ANGRY GOD
PART THREE
If you are new to this message, please read parts one and two under Previous Posts section before reading today's blog.
Before beginning part three of my message I would like to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day and me a happy 55th “born day.” In the past I have written several times about a conclusion that I had reached. It is just this: if everyone would begin to celebrate their “born” day and clearly distinguish it from their “birth” day, it might help people who are considering aborting (killing) their un-birthed babies to reconsider.
The idea that there is a distinct difference between being born and being birthed is one of those cases where “science” and the Bible are in complete agreement. First the Bible evidence; Psalm 139:11-16 “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not his from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth...” (Read very carefully the next words.) “...Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Notice the words “… curiously wrought … my substance, yet being unperfect … which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
The above description, of course, is recording a child being born, what we call conception. Life is apparent before a body is even present. Notice something else... God is recording in a book all of the members of the body. Have you ever wondered how God can reclaim a mortal body that has been completely destroyed here on Earth? As every child is born in the womb of their mother, God is recording what men call DNA in a book He has in Heaven. That is why at least there is some good news for the babies who are destroyed by their mothers while still in the womb. At conception, God recorded their DNA and He will give that child a body in Heaven. (Actually, God calls what He does... ATK and not DNA. Of course, ATK stands for … “After their kind.”)
Now to the “scientific” evidence of this same truth: In April, 1981 there was a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, which held hearings on the question of when does human life begin? A group of internationally known biologists and geneticists all said the same thing … life begins at conception!
French geneticist Dr. Jerome Lejeune (discoverer of Down's Syndrome) said, “If a fertilized egg is not by itself a full human being it could not become a man, because something would have to be added to it, and we know that does not happen. This is not opinion; it is a fact.” (Remember... all of the DNA (ATK) the human being will ever have is found in that small dot of another “born” human being!)
Dr. Landrum Shettles, who is referred to as the “Father of In Vitro Fertilization” said, “Conception confers life.”
Dr. Michelle M. Matthews-Roth from Harvard Medical School confirmed their testimony and gave support with more than 20 embryology and medical textbooks which all confirmed that life (being born) begins at conception.
Dr. Hymie Gordon, Chairman of the department of Genetics at the Mayo Clinic said, “By all the criteria of modern molecular biology, life is present from the moment of conception.” (I have many more but I will just type two more.)
Dr. Leo Schneider said, “You are composed of trillions of cells now, but at one time in your life you were just a single cell. It is important to realize that even as that single cell 'you' were informationally complete.”
(Please read very carefully the last one I am including in this brief list.) Dr. Alfred Bongiovanni, University of Pennsylvania School of medicine, concluded by saying, “I am no more prepared to say that these early stages represent an incomplete human being than I would be to say that the child prior to the dramatic effects of puberty … is not a human being.”
I was birthed on November 12, 1955, but I was not “born” on that day. That's why at parties people sing “Happy birth-day to someone” and not happy born-day to someone. You (just like me) were “born” approximately nine months before you were ever “birthed.” From my actual “birth”day (November 12) I counted backward approximately nine months (272 days between birthed and born dates = 8 months and 30 days) and it brought me to Monday, February 14, 1955 (Valentine's Day) the day I was born or conceived. Then, on Saturday, November 12, 1955 after growing in the womb to sufficient size... I was finally birthed.
Nicodemus in John chapter three alluded to this truth, i.e., the difference between being born and being birthed. When Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (verse three) read carefully how Nicodemus phrased his questions. (John 3:4) “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” You see, exiting the mother's womb is being birthed. Yet, entering the mother's womb (conception) is being born!!! That is why he asked... “can he 'enter' the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”
Therefore, you can celebrate your “born” date and your “birth” date and I sincerely pray for those reading this that all of you can celebrate your “born-again” date! For me that is Valentine's Day each year is my born date. November 12 of each year is my birth date and December 17 of each successive year after 1981 is my born-again date.
Not only if you begin to think this way it will help you to view differently un-birthed (yet born) babies in the protective wombs of their mothers, it will also let you celebrate three times each year. Think about it... cake and ice cream three times each year!!! (lol) Now, to part three of this message.
Primarily I want to help drive home the point of fearing God by showing just a few of the actions of Christ (during one of His many appearances on Earth) as He takes on the role of sacrificial lamb in the New Testament. What do you imagine when you think of a lamb? Meek, gentle, non-violent, wouldn't that be three true characterizations of that animal?
Now, let's look at some of Christ's actions as a meek, gentle, and non-violent creature... the sacrificial lamb. In John chapter two this “meek lamb” sees people corrupting the House of God as they are selling animals to be used in sacrifice to God. So, He takes some cords and braids them into a whip and begins to swing this whip as He dashes through the Temple and He throws over the tables and the money of the people who were selling in the House of prayer. Do you think He did this while smiling and acting like a helpless lamb? Or, do you correctly see Him very angry as He swings the whip around and according to the Word of God... He “drives them out.” John 2:15 “And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;”
Remember, God (Jesus) never changes. He is today what He was in the past and what He will still be in the future. HE CHANGES NOT!
Let's look at this meek lamb in Luke chapter 19. The story is found beginning in verse 11 and it continues until the end of the chapter; It is the parable of the ten pounds. I want to call your attention to the slothful servant who did nothing with the gifts (money) he was given. He simply put it in a safe place and returned all of what he was given back to Jesus. Keep in mind that this servant lost nothing: however, he did not gain anything for the Lord either.
Luke 19:20-22 “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:” WOW!!! Are those the words of a helpless lamb? And if that isn't enough: look at the words of Jesus as He finishes His words on this parable. (verse 27) “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Does that sound like a squeamish and soft person: or a meek lamb? “... slay them before me.”
You are aware I hope that men who are soft and don't like the truths of the KJV always seek other books they can call “Bibles” because they don't like the actual portrait of Christ: rather, they want a “pacifist god” to serve... not the real Jesus!
If Graham were preaching this passage he would say that when the servant called Christ “austere” he would say that Jesus came back with; “No my friend... you misunderstand my benign nature and you must not have looked upon my soft and loving countenance... let me please remind you that I just humbly wish that you would, in the future, just try a little harder... pretty please... at least think about it... okay?”
If Osteen were preaching this passage he would say that when the servant called Christ “austere” he would say that Jesus came back with: “C'mon buddy, you can't be serious... why... I don't judge anyone, I'm not a hard guy... I just want you to be happy, healthy, and (of course) rich!” Then, as Jesus was leaving he patted the poor misguided man on his shoulder, and then He skipped around giving all of His followers high-fives. Osteen would finish with: “And naturally, the Lord of Glory always had a perpetual smile plastered on His face.”
I want to comment on that last thought I just wrote about: however, rather than break the continuity of this message, I will put in brackets those comments at the end of the this (third part of a four part) message.
From the 14th century until today... the meaning of the word “austere” has not changed. The reason I am explaining that is the fact that the KJV was translated in the 16th century. Those translators had the same meaning for the word that we do today. The following are accurate definitions of, “austere.” ...stern and cold in appearance or manner... morally strict... giving little or no scope for pleasure.
Keep in mind that the Bible (KJV) records what Jesus said. He DID NOT say that He wasn't “austere.” In fact, He stated that the wicked servant got it exactly right. Here are the words of Jesus. “Thou knewest that I was an austere man...”
Jesus, the Lamb of God, said of Himself... while in the role of a lamb... THOU KNEWEST THAT I WAS AN AUSTERE MAN!
Do you think that Moses, in his day as Jesus communed with him thought the Lord was austere... hard? Let's take a look. Moses had everything the wealthiest nation in the world could give him: fame, money, food, clothes, women... nothing would have been withheld from Moses, that is if he would decide to stay in Egypt, rather than serve God in the wilderness.
For forty years … forty years … Moses faithfully served God amid all of the hardships the desert and God's people brought on him. According to the Bible there is only one … only one … time the Bible records that Moses did not do exactly what God had bade him to do. What do you think his punishment was? 40 years of obedience, one time of being disobedient and God did not allow Moses to do the one thing he really longed to do. Moses was not permitted to set foot in the Promised Land. Eighty years of trying to get there and God said... “No.”
Moses loved and feared God, but I also think he recognized Jesus as austere, the very word that Christ used to describe Himself.
Do you think Paul saw Christ as austere? Let's take a look. After Paul was converted and gave up all of his own desires in order to be God's servant he was beaten on five separate occasions. (forty-stripes save one) He spent several years in prison. Three times he was shipwrecked. He spent a night and a day in the middle of the sea. He was in peril and running because people were always seeking to kill him. He had a thorn in the flesh that greatly troubled him and even though he repeatedly asked Christ to take it away... Jesus said, “No.” And those are just a few things that befell one of Jesus' most faithful servants.
Paul loved and feared God, but I think he recognized Jesus as austere, the very word that Christ used to describe Himself.
Jesus, in the role of a lamb said the following: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6) I have two questions: what do you think this “Lamb” would do to such an offender? Do you believe this was bluster or an empty threat by Jesus?
Jesus, as a lamb, talked about the difference between a person coming to Him for salvation: exactly what would happen to such a man, and what happens if Jesus has to search that person out: Matthew 21:44 “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Picture a millstone being used to grind and mash wheat into grain... now picture Christ, as a Rock grinding his adversaries to powder! Do you still see a picture of only a meek little lamb?
Paul, preaching the whole council of God said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;”
If Graham were preaching that verse he would lie and say... “Knowing therefore the love of the Lord...” Osteen would lie and say... “Knowing therefore the joy of the Lord...” But you see, Paul actually knew Jesus,,, unlike these other men who tells lies about Him... and Paul correctly said, in speaking about Jesus the Lamb of God, “... Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” Also, and please do not miss this very important part. The “terror” of the Lord that Paul is alluding to in this passage... is directed toward the redeemed! This terror is directed toward those who are born-again, as these verses are talking of the judgment seat of Christ: the place where the saved will be judged!
In the last part (four) that I will type next week, I will reveal the three-word-phrase that trips up all of these false men of God and causes them to be found liars. I will also contrast Jesus as another animal when He returns at His next advent. Even as a meek Lamb I showed you several times that He displayed great strength, anger, and even promised retribution for His enemies. Just wait until I show you some of His mighty works when He returns as a lion ... from the tribe of Judah!
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com
The following are some of my thoughts as it relates to men like Osteen and others who falsely teach and apparently believe that you can somehow grin your way to glory.
(Are you aware as a Bible believer that it is not recorded even a single time that Jesus ever smiled, let alone laughed. In fact, the Bible declares that Christ was a “man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3) “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” “...A MAN OF SORROWS, AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF...” He was not a man of happiness and acquainted with joy!
If you look at every emotion that either man or God has been known to display... there is one emotion that is glaringly absent from God's side: anything that has to do with mirth is absent on His part. (And that is true in both Testaments.) In fact, the only time the Bible mentions laughter, as it pertains to God (Jesus) is when He uses it to mock those who call out to Him and He refuses to help. It is because He had extended His love and mercy to them in the past and they refused Him: now, He mocks when their fear comes. Psalm 2:4, Psalm 37:13, Psalm 59:8, Proverbs 1:26 “ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;” There are a great many other verses that teach this same truth also.
I can find at least twice (in the New testament) that Jesus cried, I can find several times He displayed anger, I can find Him sad, wistful, sorrowful, exasperated, yearning, and loving. Albeit: I do not find any record of Him being playful, laughing, or silly in any way. He is not your buddy... He is your God, and He is to be (both) loved and feared!
There is just too much heartache and sadness in the world because of the many who are lost and hurting... for men like Osteen, who purport to follow God's teachings to permanently tattoo a smile on their face and act as if the world is just a “jolly good place to be.” Many times Jesus wept over the lost, but He never tried to smile them into the kingdom. If you doubt that, then why was Jesus described as a “man of sorrows” and why do we have a written record of a “weeping prophet” but no happy or smiling prophet? Dr. Hyles understood this truth much better than many of the clowns on CBN. He often said he had a tear in his eye because the “world is a vale of tears.” It's okay to smile because you have a home in Heaven... but for every smile you have because of that wondrous thought... pause to cry a million tears for the mass of people who Christ will banish to Hell because they have not trusted in Him!
I'm not being facetious, men like Osteen remind me less a prophet from God and more like an escapee from Ringling Brothers: all that he needs is a large rubber nose, oversize shoes, his present message, and then his schtick would be complete. My, how (as a nation and supposed men of God) we have fallen.
The reason many people can't seem to understand this truth is that things have been this way our entire lives. So, for us it appears to be the norm. The reason it is so easy for people like myself to understand and believe that most of these people are clowns is that I study history. Because of that I see that it was never this way before, only since the turn of the last century has it been this way with preacher's who are supposed to be God-called.
Try this: find any preacher or text of any message from the Old Testament, New Testament, or any writings for the first 1,900 years of the early church leaders and preachers who behaved, taught, or preached the message that comes out of CBN and Trinity broadcasts? They simply do not exist. I might also add that this sad truth of a light-hearted message that precludes all fear of God and is full of joke- telling permeates many fundamental churches also. I have just one question: are verses like I Corinthians 13:11 and Ephesians 5:4 still in the Bible, or not?
I want you to try and imagine what would happen if Jesus came in bodily form to your church this morning, Valentine's Day … Sunday February 14, 2010? But, He disguised Himself as He did to many of His disciples after He arose from the dead. In other words, you do not know it is Jesus, but, He will behave as the only description given of Him in the Bible. In your service, He will be a man of grief, and acquainted with sorrows.
Be honest in your assessment. Would you study his countenance and begin to doubt even His salvation: because, after all, He never even smiled one time during the entire service.
Perhaps someone less then the King Himself might show up... what if Jeremiah came to your service this morning? And please... be honest in your assessment. What if he came and you didn't know he was one of the most important prophets in all the Bible... all that you see is a man who has not stopped crying since he sat down. Then, during testimony he stood and wept as he said, “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night...” Then, overcome with tears, he sits down and sobs uncontrollably.
Because of all of the false preaching by men who do not know God wouldn't you think the following thoughts about this stranger, “Poor man, if he only knew the love of God, he couldn't help but smile all the time.” You see, modern Christians are taught to think this way because of all of the “love” preachers who do not preach or teach the Jesus of the Bible. Remember, they are god-makers and regardless the fact that the Jesus they preach has no resemblance to the Jesus the Bible records, they continue with their lies!
Incidentally, the words I typed above are Jeremiah's actual words in the Bible... “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! (Jeremiah 9:1)
Look, it's okay to smile: but I assure you... smiling is no indication of the depth of your spirituality. Keep in mind that clowns smile... and often. Neither is being morose or mean an indicator of devotion to God. My only point in writing about this is to try and let people know that men are not sent from God who only tell you that God loves you without causing you to quake and fear with the present knowledge that this same God who loves and can make alive... can also hate and make people quite dead! That, my friend is the whole council of God.
Saint, you are still going to be judged by Christ at His judgment seat... and sinner, you are going to be judged by a God with eyes as a flame of fire and no power in the universe will stop Him from casting you alive into a lake of fire! Be afraid... be very afraid!!!)
posted by Robin Johnson @ 11:59 PM
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