On The Damascus Road/Sermon Page

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On The Damascus Road
Sermonette

Whom Else Is Like God
Rev. Kenn Francart
     In the greatest scheme of things there is none that poses the problems like mortal man. Only he can cause world problems. Only he can split families, cause marriages to fail, even cause churches to default on their initial consecration. Only he will lie to achieve a goal that eventually doesn't bring forth true fulfillment of peace and well being. But even he cannot stand the test of time like the devil. Man does not make problems without the devil exercising his will over man and man listens intently to him. Everything mentioned in this paragraph is cause by the devil's influence in the lives of men. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" (Matt 7:13).
     In our churches today there is one and only one foundation for its continued existence. It is Jesus. Jesus is the head of any church that considers itself to be Christian.
     I hear, "God is the head of this church and we to follow Him only."
     Oh, do you mean Jesus is not God? In the Bible we read, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
     "Yes but, God is the Father and the head of the church, Jesus is the Son but does not have the total authority that God does."
     Apparently you have not read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."(John 1:1-3). You see, Jesus (the word) was in the beginning and Jesus was God. The three are inseparable.
     "Three, you say? I counted two in that explanation."
     You must be sited for every occasion? OK, read, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Gen 1:2) There we go, the third person of the Triune God. How do you think we've come to the concept of three persons in one God? Read, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Gen 1:26) The Hebrew word of God is plural in interpretation. God said, 'Let us…" the pluralism is self-evident. But because God had been looking into the future, so to speak, and had been planning on the creation of man, he had prepared the earth, the sea, the heavens and the air with all the needs, wants, and wishes, man would have to have around.
     So we see the Holy Spirit caressing this shapeless ball we call earth into the glorious body of a God designed home for mankind. We know from the above verse that the Word was with Him and was Him, so Jesus was at the creation of the world. In the beginning all three were present and until the incarnate (made into man) Jesus walked upon the earth Jesus was invisible just like The Father and The Holy Spirit.
     I have no idea how God does what He does but I trust His word that what He says is true. It is a divine mystery.
     But let's get back to the church that is divided and examine the reasons for the division. I hear, "The times have changed and we must change with the world or we will be left behind."
     It is true that the world is in an ever-changing mode. We no longer ride donkeys to church nor walk miles to listen to the pastor tell us of Jesus. We have changed with the times as God has given us intelligence to improve our standard of living. But God has not changed. Because a very small group of individuals have decided to go in a different direction the church does not have that option. We follow the edict of God when He tells us what is sin and that we are to shun it.
     God set the standard from the beginning and all those who do not care to follow Him do not need to. He has never said that man must do as He has said. He has said that He wants everyone to follow Him but every person has freedom of choice. There are rewards for the choices man makes and there will be an elite group who will receive His love and worship Him in the way He has prepared for us. The rewards are Heaven or Hell. A chasm is forming within the church.
     There are times when the upper echelon with in the church politic that sends down an edict, which tends to run counter to the laws of God. The thinking people within the church either reject the edict or accept it. The choice that follows is by either the direction from God or the Hierarchy.
     Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10). This is the same yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow.
     We cannot accept in form or fashion the directions of the world within our heritage with God Almighty. Outside directions in any form are and must be repugnant to the sensitivity of the followers of Christ Jesus. Any court order to deny Christians their right to religious freedom cannot be allowed to stand. In countries with a Muslim majority in power there has been orders to remove the Christian from among the living and our prayers go out to those who stand tall for their faith in Jesus. The same could happen in the United States of America and we must stand equally firm in our faith defending the right of religious freedom and confirming our belief in the Christian way.
     A minority of individuals has tried to coerce their standard of living on the majority of people living in this and other countries. This cannot be allowed to succeed. When God shows us a sin and declares a sin to exist the church becomes divided by neglecting to recognize His authority in all that we do. Then we allow the sin to flow into the church. This is unacceptable to those who follow Christ's teachings and the chasm widens.
     Now comes the worst (to my way of thinking) but easiest way to split the church asunder as the curtains were rent in the temple on the day of Christ's Crucifixion. It starts with Ego and ends with apathy. When the greatest ego in the church declares that he/she will no longer support a function within the church or all the functions within the church because his/her feelings were hurt or someone went in a different direction than the egotist wanted there can be (and most often will be) a condescension to satisfy the great ego. This in retrospect is negative to the word of God. Paul again says, "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;" (1 Cor 1:4-5). Thus we are reproved to put egos away and let the Father be the only ego you recognize.
     Just as bad is to allow apathy to encroach upon the churchgoers. You are not in this body of Christians to merely nod assent and ignore a wrong. I've heard it said, "In a hundred years who will care, anyway?" God cares, ten thousand years from now God will still care and worse yet, you will care that you didn't spend your years in the church doing what God was touching your heart to do. Instead you sat back and said, in a hundred years…." Excuses abound but God's word is there to back your every word as you give utterance to your knowledge of Him. Moses said, "And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee…" (Exod 3:11-12) Allow God to move you and direct your speech so those who would mislead you gets the message. Don't harden your heart to The Holy Spirit speaking to you. In hardening your heart to the urging of the Holy Spirit the church is split in twain.
     There is none other by whom we are saved and that is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Your neighbor cannot save you. Your spouse cannot save you. Your pastor cannot save you, even though, in each case, the desire is there to do just that, only God can and has saved you if you receive the gift of eternal life with him.
     God has not changed. God has not been put on the back burner. God will not be left out of hierarchy considerations. "Verily I say unto you, 'This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.'" (Luke 21:32-33) It is time for a decision and either this reader will follow God's word or this reader will not. If you put this down without making a decision until later, you've made you decision, for now. You don't want to follow God's word. It's as simple as that!
Amen

    Jesus is standing at the door to your heart all the time. He is knocking to come in and love you and guide you. He is offering you the gift of everlasting life, but you must hear Him and open the door to Him as He will not kick it in. (Rev. 3:20) A gift is just outside your heart's door at this time. Will you receive this gift? Will you open the door to Jesus and let him flood your soul with His love? If so, read the following paragraph as your prayer.

    Father, I know that I have sinned and I turn from those ways and ask you to come into my heart and cleanse me. I know that I cannot do this on my own and I need your help. Fill my soul, Lord, and make me whole. I want your will for my life to be preeminent. Help me to grow in your way. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus.
    Amen

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