Moriah Primitive Baptist Church

Madison County, Georgia

Blind Men’s Faith
(April 6, 2007)

Faith is defined as confidence or trust in a person or thing.  Blind Faith is often used to describe faith that does not rest on logical or material evidence.  Blind Men’s Faith is a level of faith I hope to aspire.  Consider the faith of a few blind men:

>  The blind man of Bethsaida:  A few saints led their blind friend to Jesus.  Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of town  -  Mark 8:22-26.  The blind operate best on familiar terrain.  Following Jesus out of town is a little action for a person with sight, but requires tremendous trust for a blind person.  This man exhibited great faith with a little action.

>  Blind Bartimaeus from Jericho:  A blind beggar sat by the roadside.  Jesus asked that he be brought to Him.  Bartimaeus cast away his garment and went to Jesus  -  Mark 10:46-52.  The blind operate best when things are in their proper place.  Casting aside a garment is a little action for a person with sight, but requires tremendous trust for a blind person.  This man exhibited great faith with a little action.

>  Two blind men of Decapolis:  Two blind men call to Jesus.  Despite their unanswered calls, the two men follow Jesus into a house -  Matt 9:27-30.  The blind operate best in known settings.  Following Jesus into an unfamiliar house is a little action for a person with sight, but requires tremendous trust for blind persons.  Again, we see great faith in little actions.

>  The blind man near the Pool:  The Pharisees interrogated a man Jesus healed of blindness.  Trying to discredit Jesus, the Pharisees used the healed man as a political pawn.  The healed man’s parents cowered, but this man held his ground  -  John 9:1-33.  This man exhibited great faith with a few words.

Too often, we think great faith is manifest with grandiose actions.  Not so!  Great faith more often manifests itself with little actions (ie., tossing a garment or defending kindness).  Oh, that we possessed the faith of blind men and manifest it with actions, big and little.

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If Jesus Looked In
(April 13, 2007)

Jesus wept as He neared Jerusalem  -  Luke 19:41.  He entered the temple, looked around, and did not like what He saw.  Saying nothing, Jesus left, for evening was near.  But Jesus arrived early the next morning and expressed His displeasure (if turning over tables and driving out the merchandisers could be described as expressing displeasure)  -  Mark 11:11-17.

Two thousand years later, we read this account and think, "Those terrible people!" and  "I never!"  But we must realize, their vices are not our vices.  So let us bring this lesson up close and personal.  Instead of looking around the church building, what if Jesus: 

*  poked His head in your living room and saw what you were watching on television last night.  Would He like what He saw?
*  poked His head in your den as you were surfing the internet last evening.  Would He express pleasure to you the next morning?
*  listened on an extension of your telephone as you were sharing your opinions of another saint, the preacher, an in-law.  Would He like what He heard?
*  poked His head in the church lunch room the day your church had several visitors.  Would He be pleased with whom you were sitting?
*  looked at your check or date book.  What would He say to you about the manner you were spending your time and money?  Would He be pleased?

The scenarios are endless.  Too often we think religion is the manner we conduct ourselves in the worship service or on church grounds.  We must hone our concept of religion.  True religion is:  the manner we conduct ourselves when no one is looking, and how we minister to those who can do nothing for us  -  James 1:27.  Funny, the lesson above asks us to consider our actions if Jesus were in the room, but let us never forget, He is in the room.  Always!

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Jesus Borrowed Things
(April 20, 2007)

Most of us look at neighbors who borrow often as a bit of a nuisance.  Personally, I don’t like borrowing simply for the fear of breaking something not mine.  But Jesus borrowed, and did so on more than one occasion.  Consider a few items Jesus borrowed:

Jesus borrowed a boat to preach a sermon.  In the past, Jesus preached on hills, in houses, and from pulpits; yet, He borrowed a boat to preach a sermon.  Why?  Jesus knew His earthly ministry was short and needed no long term investments  - Luke 5:3-4.

>  Jesus borrowed water pots for a wedding.  Jesus spoke of water from wells, water from within, and washings; yet, He borrowed water pots for a wedding.  Why?  Jesus knew earthly water satisfies temporarily  -  John 2:6-7, 4:13-14.

>  Jesus borrowed a colt to ride into Jerusalem.  Bethany and Jerusalem were not far apart and Jesus walked the distance many times; yet, He borrowed a colt for this one trip.  Why?  Jesus knew a fulfilled Law, meant an old Law  -  Zech 9:9, Mark 11:2-3.

>  Jesus borrowed a room for a supper.  In the past, Jesus prepared meals in fields, on the go, and allowed others to provide; yet, He borrowed a room for this one meal.  Why?  Jesus knew His next meal would be with His Father -  Matt 26:18-19, 29.
>  Jesus borrowed a sepulcher.  Jesus died on the cross.  He could have called twelve legion of angels, been transfigured, or never have come down; yet, He borrowed a grave for His broken body.  Why?  Jesus knew the tomb would be used for only three days.  As a matter of fact, for 3½ years Jesus told everyone His tomb would only be needed for three days  -  Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34  …  Matt 27:62-63.

       Why did Jesus borrow?  Jesus knew His time was short.  He focused was on the things of God, not the things of earth (as should we)  -  John 9:4, 6:38.  Jesus borrowed, for He was not interested in accumulating stuff.  Think how much time we spend acquiring and maintaining our "stuff."  If borrowing would keep me God-centered, then maybe I ought to be less adverse to borrowing.

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Uncommon Comrades
(April 27, 2007)

Jesus became angry early in His ministry at the profiteering being performed in His Father’s temple.  Jesus overturned tables and drove out merchandisers with cords  -  John 2:13-17.  Jesus displayed the same anger late in His ministry.  Again He overturned tables and drove out merchandisers for defiling His Father’s temple.  The various Jewish sects became very unhappy with Jesus  -  Mark 11:15-18.

The loss of income and public humiliation motivated these men to form an unlikely alliance.  The Sadducees, the Herodians, the Pharisees and the chief priests united for the purpose of killing Jesus.  Normally, these factions fought bitterly against one another, but unified themselves to destroy Jesus.

Allow me to use a pro wrestling tag team match for an illustration.  Picture a strong man in the ring with a weaker opponent.  After taking a considerable beating, the weak man tags his teammate.  The teammate jumps in, but receives the same thrashing.  So the teammate tags a 3rd teammate.  The 3rd teammate jumps in and he too receives a whipping.  I trust this not-too-distasteful illustration explains what happened to the Jewish sects as they challenged Jesus.

1)  Mark 11:27-33  -  The chief priests, scribes, and elders confront Jesus.  Jesus thrashes these men and they tag their partners.  Their teammates enter the ring.
2)  Mark 12:13-17  -  The Pharisees and the Herodians confront Jesus.  Jesus thrashes these men too.  They also tag off and more teammates enter the ring.
3)  Mark 12:18-27  -  The Sadducees challenge Jesus but left with their tails between their legs.  With no more teammates to tag, the alliance engaged the Romans.

Don’t be surprised or alarmed when uncommon comrades confront your faith.  Jesus was confronted and so will His followers  -  John 17:14.  But never forget, we have victory - for Jesus whipped them all!

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The Preparing of First Fruits
(May 4, 2007)

       And if thou offer a meat offering of thy first fruits unto the Lord, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy first fruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.  And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankin-cense thereon: it is a meat offering.  And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof:  it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord  -  Lev 2:14-16.

Leviticus 23 details seven O.T. feasts the Lord established as memorials.  The second of the seven was the Feast of Firstfruits.  The first of a crop was taken to a high priest which he waved up and to the Lord.  Lev 2:16 describes the manner in which a firstfruits corn offering was to be prepared.  The corn was to be beaten, oiled, and perfumed.

Jesus Christ, our first fruits offering, was taken to the High Priest to be waved up and to the Lord  -  1Cor 15:20, Matt 26:57.  Because Jesus came to fulfill the law, we ought not be surprised His preparation was in keeping with a firstfruits offering:
>  Jesus was perfumed.  Six days before the Passover, Jesus ate a meal with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  Mary anointed Jesus’ feet.  Using the hairs of her head, she wiped Jesus’ feet with a pound of costly ointment, and the ointment’s order filled the house  -  John 12:1-3.
>  Jesus was oiled.  Two days before the Passover, Jesus ate a meal at Simon the leper’s house.  A woman anointed Jesus’ head.  She broke open an alabaster box and poured its contents, expensive spikenard, on Jesus’ head  -  Mark 14:1-3.
>  Jesus was beaten.  The day after Jesus observed the Passover meal, Jesus was delivered unto the High Priest.  Jesus was beaten by the Jews, scourged by the Romans, and waved up and to the Lord on a cross  -  Mark 14:65, 15:15-19.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:  I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill  -  Matt 5:17.  Boy, did He fulfill.  He fulfilled every jot and title.  The intricate details of this fulfillment makes this writer stand in awe.  Glory!

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A Man Not Far
(May 11, 2007)

In a well quoted passage of scripture, a scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment?"  Jesus answered, love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; to which He added, love your neighbor as yourself  -  Mark 12:28-34. 

The scribe’s response to Jesus’ answer shows incredible insight.  Sure, the scribe recognized Jesus’ quoting of Deut 6:4-5 and said, Well spoken.  But, the scribes went a step further.  Unlike the legalists of his day, this scribe acknowledged Jesus’ emphasis of attitude.  The scribe recognized that purity of heart is better than burnt offerings.  Whoa, a major break through!  No wonder Jesus said to the scribe, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."

Jesus was not teaching a new doctrine when He preached obedience with a sincere heart.  The O.T. has much to say on the subject.  Long before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah preached God to be more concerned with a pure heart than with sacrifices  -  Is 1:11-17.  Ezekiel and Malachi preached the same message  -  Ezek 10:39, Mal 1:10.  And the Book of Job heavily emphasizes the distastefulness of self-righteousness.

Obedience with a pure heart is a common theme in the New Testament.  Purity of heart was the theme of the Sermon on the Mount, and the conclusion to the Olivet Discourse.  Much of Jesus’ interaction with Jewish leaders addressed motives and attitudes.  And the principle behind a good many parables teach lessons of the heart.

Therefore, we must ask ourselves the following questions:  What motivates us to keep the Lord’s commandments?  Do we fear man, or do we fear disappointing the Lord?  Do we seek to glorify ourselves, or do we seek to glorify our Lord?  Are we looking to promote ourselves, or are we looking to promote the kingdom of God?  Jesus was not impressed with the Pharisees’ motives and legalism.  They were far from God.  On the other hand, this scribe came much closer.

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A Packed Passage
(May 18, 2007)

Who (God) hath saved us [1], and called us with an holy calling [2], not according to our works [3], but according to His own purpose and grace [4], which was given us in Christ Jesus [5] before the world began [6], but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ [7], who hath abolished death [8], and hath brought life and immortality to light [9] through the gospel  -  2Tim 1:9-10.

The amount of doctrine packed into these two verses is incredible.  Even more incredible is the simplicity with which this doctrine is stated.  The passage has been divided into nine thoughts.  The thoughts (labeled above) are outlined below:

1.  God saved us.  A past completed action which cannot be undone  -  Matt 1:21.
2.  God called us.  A calling which cannot be ignored, as with Lazarus,   -  John 5:25, 11:43.
3.  Man did nothing.  To God, man’s best efforts are filthy rags  -  Is 64:6.
4.  God did everything.  He is the author and finisher of our salvation  -  Heb 12:2.
5.  In Christ Jesus.  Any and all spiritual blessings are found in Jesus Christ  -  Eph 1:3
6.  Before the world began,  a time table which unquestionably places salvation in Him  -  Eph 1:4.
7.  Visible when Jesus came to earth, visible via His miracles & resurrection  -  Col 1:26-27.
8.  Jesus conquered death.  Many sacrifices were made, but Jesus perfected  -  1Cor 15:54-55.
9.  The gospels tells us about eternal life;  not causing eternal life, but declaring it  -  Eph 1:18.

Paul provided a second witness in Titus 1:2 and 3:5.  Eternal life is by God, in God, and through God.  Eternal life is without man, before man, and in spite of man.  Not only was God good enough to save us, but He was kind enough to tell us about saving us.  Praise God

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Stewardship & Integrity
(May 25, 2007)

Jesus boldly exhorted Jewish leaders with the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen  -  Mark 12:1-11.  Though Jesus’ teaching was to a specific people at a specific time, the principle of this lesson is applicable to all generations, including you and I.

Allow me to summarize the parable.  A land owner prepared a vineyard.  He planted it, hedged it, provided the means to convert grapes into wine, built a tower, and secured husbandmen to oversee operations.  But over time, the husbandmen forgot to whom the vineyard belonged.  The owner would return to judge the husbandmen for their wickedness, especially the mistreatment of the owner’s servants and son.

Consider the application of this parable to the church leaders at the time of Jesus.  The Lord prepared the O.T. church.  He populated it, protected it, provided the means to mature saints, built a tower, and secured priests to oversee operations.  But over time, the priests forgot to whom the O.T. church belonged.  God returned to judge the priests for their wickedness, especially for the mistreatment of the God’s prophets and Son.

Consider the application of this parable to the church leaders of our day.  The Lord prepared the N.T. church.  He populated it, protected it, provided the means to convert saints, built a tower, and secured pastors (and deacons) to oversee operations.  But over time, the ministers forgot to whom the N.T. church belonged.  God would return and give the church to another.

The N.T. church once flourished in the Middle East, but God took it away and put it in Europe.  The N.T. church once flourished in Europe, but God took it away and put it in America.  The N.T. church once flourished in New England, but God took it away.  God promised His church would always be on earth, but He never promised it would remain in a geographic location.  Let us not forget, the N.T. church is His, and He won’t hesitate to give it to another.  May we be faithful stewards of His church and walk with integrity.

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All Articles Written by Elder Dolph Painter, Moriah Primitive Baptist Church

pastordolph@aol.com

This site created by Steve McCannon. This page last updated 07/18/2008