Moriah Primitive Baptist Church

Madison County, Georgia

Outgiving God

(January 3, 2008)

Bible economics runs contrary to most forms of earthly economics. Consider:

1. The head of household who reduces expenses, increases savings. Savings rise as food, housing, and utility expenditures are minimized.
2. The business owner who increases efficiency, increases profits. Profits rise when overhead, material, and labor expenditures are minimized.
3. The government which reduces waste, maximizes service. Tax rates fall when expenditures are minimized.
4. But, the child of God who reduces expenditures will not increase savings, profits, or blessings (earthly and/or spiritual). The lower the giving, the skimpier the blessings.

How does Bible economics work? God rewards givers. Is the writer advocating a prosperity gospel? Call it what you will, but no one has ever out given God. For thus saith the Lord:

and expenditures need not be financial. Time, prayer, and offerings of self also please the Lord.

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Eternal & Non-Eternal Election

(January 10, 2008)

The word elect means to chose or select, but the Bible speaks of two election types, election with and without eternal consequences. Let us first examine a few of God’s choices without eternal ramifications. Scripture says God chose:

In each election above, God: 1) was the picker, not the pickee; 2) did not inform the pickee an election was forthcoming; 3) selected men to earthly offices. Non-eternal election is the subject under consideration in each of the above passages.

Now, let us next examine God’s choices which have eternal consequences. God chose a people:

In the second set of election passages, God: 1) was the picker, not the pickee; 2) did not communicate with the pickee an election was forthcoming; 3) selected men to eternal inheritances. Eternal election is the subject under consideration in this second set of passages.

Our response to both election types ought to be similar. As a good steward, we ought to fulfill the duties of the earthly office God elected us to the best of our abilities; and in a spirit of thankfulness, we ought to fulfill the duties of the eternal position God elected us. God requires responsiveness to both election types. May the Lord bless each of us to be a faithful elect.

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Man’s Impotency

(January 17, 2008)

Moriah Church’s 5^th Article of Faith states: We believe in the doctrine of man’s impotency to recover himself from the fallen state he is in … Impotency is a curious choice of words. Depravity is more commonly used to describe fallen man’s condition. A survey of the Bible will give us insight into the thoughts of Moriah’s charter members.

Act 14:8-10 gives the account of an impotent man who was healed by the Apostle Paul. The passage describes this man as having impotent feet, crippled from the womb, and never having walked. The man’s feet had neither the power nor the ability to walk, that is until the Lord worked His miracle.

Act 4:9 speaks of an impotent man who was healed by the Apostles Peter and John. Act 3:1-11 describes this man as void of strength, lame from the womb, and dependant on others to carry him about. The man was completely helpless, that is until the Lord worked His miracle.

John 5:3-9 speaks of an impotent man who was healed by Jesus Christ. The passage describes this man as bed ridden, able to lower himself into a pool of water, but only at a very slow pace. The man tried often to be healed, sought the help of others, but was unsuccessful. The man could not move about effectively, that is until the Lord worked His miracle.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines impotent as having no power or ability to do anything; helpless or ineffective. I do believe the Bible, the OED, and Moriah’s founding fathers are in agreement when it comes to the definition of impotent. So back to Moriah’s 5^th Article of Faith, we (they and I) believe natural man has neither the power nor the ability to do anything to recover from his fallen state, that he is completely helpless and ineffective in his efforts. Natural man is impotent. But praise the Lord, God is potent!

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A Featherless Crow

(January 24, 2008)

Hours before Jesus’ death, Peter adamantly proclaimed he would not forsake his Savior. Jesus responded with the words, “this day, even in this night, before the cock crew twice, thou shalt deny me thrice” - Mark 14:29-30. And as Jesus had prophesied, the cock crowed immediately after Peter denied the Lord, and a second time after Peter denied the Lord twice more - Mark 14:68-72.

Jesus’ prophetic words were fulfilled, however, I do not believe Jesus’ words were fulfilled by a bird, but rather by a town crier. Luke’s account describes a good deal of activity which occurred between the time Peter wept bitterly and the Sanhedrin trial which occurred near daybreak - Luke 22:62-66, Mark 15:1. If the crowing Jesus spoke of came from a bird, the abuse Jesus received at the hands of the Jews could not have happened in the chronology scripture says it happened. The Bible would contradict itself. However, if the crowing came from a town crier, scripture would not be broken.

Jesus used the following labels to identify the four watches of a night: even (6-9pm), midnight (9pm-12am), cockcrowing (12-3am), and morning (3-6am) - Mark 13:35. The crier would most likely have made two announcements that night. He would have made the standard announcement, “all is well,” and have proclaimed the seasonal news, “the Passover Lamb will soon be slain.”

Historical accounts confirm a night’s third watch was called the cockcrowing, Jewish law declare roosters forbidden within Jerusalem’s city limits, and Hebrew experts confirm town (or temple) criers were referred to as crowing cocks.

So let us go back to Peter, the one who wept bitterly. Did Peter hear, “Err-er-err-er-rrrrrr?” Or did Peter hear, “The Passover lamb will soon be slain?”

I ask readers, do we hear noises which remind us of our weaknesses? Or do we hear: Jesus died for the ungodly, He died for me? - Rom 5:6, 8.

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No Stick, No Erase

(January 31, 2008)

Not only does the blood of Jesus impute righteousness unto God’s children, but it keeps sin from being imputed to us. To whit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation - 2Cor 5:19. What exactly does the word impute mean?

The OED defines the word impute as: to lay to the charge of, to attribute or assign; (credits and debits placed on a ledger, if you will pardon my finance background). But of greater value than the OED is how scripture employs the word impute - 1Cor 2:13.

The Bible defines impute as: to charge, credit, or hold accountable. The opposite of impute is to release, expunge, or forgive. Consider a few passages:

Timing can determine which side of the ledger an act is recorded. God accepted and imputed good to those who made peace offerings; however, if the offering was eaten on the third day: not only was the offering not imputed for good, but consumption of the offering was imputed for evil - Deut 7:18.

The peace offering described above will affect either the asset or the liability side of a Levite’s ledger, but Jesus’ offering simultaneously affects both sides of a saint’s ledger. Jesus’ blood fills up (no erasing) the righteousness side of our ledgers and Teflon coats (no sticking) the liability side of our ledgers. This is very important, because our righteousness has its own no stick properties - Is 64:6. Praise the Lord for the no stick and no erase properties of His imputing. 

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Battle of the Minds

(February 7, 2008)

Scripture has no shortage of adjectives when it comes to describing a child of God’s mind - Rom 8:6-9. Scripture describes a saint’s mind both positively (sober, renewed, forward, pure, humble, willing, steadfast, wise, sound) and negatively (carnal, doubtful, fleshly, blinded, unbelieving, coveting, corrupt, unstable, reprobate).

Picture the Apostle Paul lying on the couch of a psychiatrist, reciting Rom 7:15-24:

No doubt a modern psychologist would diagnose Paul manic depressive or schizophrenic and heavily medicate the poor man.
 

The illness must be catchy for Paul warned the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians to expect the same internal conflict - Gal 5:16-25, Eph 4:17-24, Php 3:14-21, Col 3:1-5. Actually, the war Paul described is a sign of spiritual life, for a person without such conflict is a person without spiritual life.

Which mind wins? A Christian once shared the gospel with an American Indian. The Indian, recognizing this conflict, said he often felt two wolves fighting within. When asked which wolf won, the Indian responded, the one I feed. “Garbage in, garbage out” and “Spiritual in, spiritual out” has Biblical roots. What affects us?

May the Lord help us recognize and monitor the things which influence our minds, and give us strength to win our mind battles.

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Truth: Our 1^st Line of Defense

(February 14, 2008)

Being schooled in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the image of a hippie sitting in the yoga position comes to mind when asked the question, “What is truth?” Despite the claims of political correctness and social relativism, truth is not determined by the majority, society’s perception of reality, or our interpretation of history.
 

Modernists are not the only ones who attempt to define truth. Despite Paul’s “scripture is sufficient” dogma (2Ti 3:16-17), Religionists contribute their share of rhetoric in the search for truth:

Religionists haven’t become extinct. They exist today.

To be able to withstand the wiles of the devil, Paul exhorted the Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God - Eph 6:10-18. The devil examines his prey from head to toe. He looks for weaknesses, searching for missing or sub-standard pieces of armor. Truth was the first piece of armor Paul commanded us to put on (having your loins girt about with truth - v. 14). What truth ought we gird ourselves?

Don’t all saints want to go into battle with the best armor available? Put another way, are any of us willing to take on the devil with man’s truth? Scripture says, God is truth, Jesus is truth, the Holy Ghost is truth, and the Bible is truth. That’s it! Do we really need anything else? Let us be true to God and His word.

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Three Results of Spiritual Birth

(February 21, 2008)

Three actions take place during spiritual birth. First, a saint’s inward parts are programmed with a core faith and knowledge. Second, a sinner is cleansed vitally, not legally. Third, a saint receives a new nature. Using John 3:3-6 as an outline (Jesus’ explanation of spiritual birth) we’ll look at each action in more depth.

Programmed faith: John 3:3: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Notice the order, spiritual birth then sight. Sight is perception of spiritual things, not functioning eye balls. Jer 31:33 describes the programming as God writing His law on our inward parts. Heb 8:10 describes it as God writing His law in our minds. And Heb 10:16 describes this programming as God writing His law upon our hearts.

Vitally cleansed: John 3:5: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, to which water meant purification. 1Co 6:11 & Tit 3:5 describe spiritual birth as a washing. Ezek 36:21-28 describes the work as a sprinkling with clean water, a saving from uncleanness. Rom 2:29 describes the work as a circumcision of the heart.

A new nature: John 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Jesus differentiated natural birth from spiritual birth. He also differentiated the natures of physical man and spiritual man. Eph 2:3-4 describes our nature before spiritual birth as wrathful. 2Cor 5:17 describes us after spiritual birth as a new creature. 2Pet 1:4 describes born again children as partakers of God’s divine nature.

The Gentiles described in Rom 2:13-15 summarize these three actions. God described Gentiles who never heard the gospel as: having been programmed (written in hearts), having been cleansed (justified), and having been given a new nature (doing by nature). So, how often do we (who have been born again) walk as though God had programmed us, as though God had cleansed us, as though we had been given a new nature? I suspect not often enough.

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The Most Important One Another

(February 28, 2008)

I have found fifteen kinds of one anothers in the New Testament. Listed below are fourteen:

1. prefer one another - Rom 12:20,

2. receive one another - Rom 15:7,

3. salute one another - Rom 16:16,

4. serve one another - Gal 5:13,

5 & 6. do not provoke or envy one another - Gal 5:25,

7 & 8. forbear and forgive one another - Col 3:13,

9 & 10. teach and admonish one another - Col 3:16,

11. comfort one another - 1Thes 4:18,

12. edify one another - 1Thes 5:11,

13. exhort one another - Heb 10:25, and

14. love one another - 1Pet 1:22.

Impressive list, huh? But the 15^th one another is the most important. That’s right, without the 15^th none of the fourteen will occur. Can you guess the 15^th? Scan the list once again.

By reading on, I assume the reader is ready for the answer. Heb 10:24 commands us to consider one another. Consider doesn’t seem very powerful, but in reality, it’s crucial.

Action toward another can not take place before observation and reflection occur. Think about it: How can one love or serve another without first considering the other’s needs? How can one pray, comfort, or edify another without first considering another’s condition? Not until we get off our preoccupation with self will we do anything for another.

The process starts with an observation, Jesus spoke of a priest who would not so much as look - Luke 10:31. The process proceeds to reflection, Jesus spoke of a Levite who ignored what he saw - Luke 10:32. The process is completed with action, Jesus spoke of a Samaritan who acted, but only after he considered - Luke 10:33-35. May we consider one another - Jude 22.

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Crazy She Goats

(March 6, 2008)

My grandmother, Sarafina Conti, was born and raised on a farm about an hour south of Rome, Italy. She came to America in her twenties. As young men, my cousins and I were often exhorted by our grandmother about the women we would one day marry. In sternness, in love, and in broken English, she warned, “No crapa pazzo! Stay away from the crapa pazzo (crazy goats).” My grandmother knew the women we married would tremendously impact our mental and spiritual happiness, for the rest of our lives.

My grandmother’s formal education was limited, but on this matter, her advice agreed with the second wisest man who ever set foot on this planet. Although King Solomon never used Grandma’s “crazy goat” terminology, his proverbs conveyed similar principles. Consider the kinds of women he told his son to avoid:

Crazy goat, I can not think of a better expression to sum up odious, conscienceless, contentious, angry, brawling, and indiscrete. May the Lord bless our sons to find virtuous women, and steer clear of the crapa pazzo.

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Crazy He Goats

(March 13, 2008)

The scripture in last week’s article spoke sternly against certain kinds of women. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, and Grandma Conti exhorted my sisters about the men they would one day marry. Grandma was just as concerned with their mental and spiritual happiness. She also told them, “Stay away from the crapa pazzo (crazy goats).”

Security is state all individuals appreciate, especially women. Solomon issued plenty of warnings about certain kinds of men, men who offer little or no security.

Prideful and bribable men offer little spiritual security, for their self betterment comes first. Slothful and girlie men offer no mental security, for they fear work. Indebted and addicted men offer little physical security, for others govern them. Angry men offer no emotional security, for their feelings rule.

Crazy goat, an appropriate term for describing prideful, bribable, slothful, excuse ridden, indebted, angry, and addicted men. May the Lord bless our daughters to find faithful men, and steer clear of the crapa pazzo.

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Moses Grew in Faith

(March 20, 2008)

Moses’ induction into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) was well deserved. The growth of Moses’ faith as recorded in Heb 11:23-29 is phenomenal:

1. By faith Moses, when he was born - v. 23: describes Moses as the passive recipient of deliverance via his parents’ faith. Moses, a newborn, was incapable of exercising faith. It was Moses' parents who defied Pharaoh’s baby killing decree. Moses’ parents’ faith delivered Moses.
2. By faith Moses, when he was come to years - v. 24: describes Moses as a faithful man following God. Moses walked away from a cushy life, forsaking power and prestige. Moses’ faith gained him a closer relationship with the Lord.
3. By faith he forsook Egypt - v. 27: describes Moses’ obedience to God despite Pharaoh’s wrath. Pharaoh’s threats did not affect Moses’ behavior. Moses' faith allowed him to sit before kings.
4. Through faith he kept the Passover - v. 28: describes Moses as a benefactor, a head of household who delivered near kinsmen. Moses’ observance of the Passover delivered his firstborn son and most likely Aaron, his older brother. Moses’ faith delivered family.
5. By faith they passed through the Red Sea - v. 29: describes Moses as a great benefactor, a man whose faith delivered a million Israelites. At the Red Sea, Moses led a murmuring, rebellious nation - Ex 14:11-12. Israel was without faith. It was Moses’ faith which delivered Israel.

The growth described in these few verses is truly remarkable; however, Moses’ faith was not without its setbacks.

In the time frame between verses 27 and 28, Moses sinned. Moses lacked faith when he argued with God over a preaching assignment. Moses angered the Lord with his excuses - Ex 4:10-14. In the chronology after verse 29, Moses sinned again when he pitched his temper tantrum, when he smote the rock. His lack of faith cost him entrance into the promised land - Num 20:7-12. If Moses’ faith or the faith of any Hall of Fame inductee (any saint listed in Hebrews’ chapter 11) were plotted on a graph, I suspect their graphs would look like that of the stock market.

The apex of Moses’ faith had to be at the Red Sea. Think about it: a blood thirst army behind, a sea in front, and Moses in the midst of a million murmuring voices. Yet Moses stood firm and exclaimed, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” - Ex 14:13. Wow! What a scene. What faith. But we cannot ignore the valleys which appear before and after this great act of faith.

I suspect Moses’ faith chart would look like that of David’s, Elijah’s, and Barnabas’. Other than Jesus, I know of no man whose faith line could be plotted without a dip. Even Abraham had a couple of "she is my sister" dips. As a matter of fact, Solomon, Asa, Josiah, Jehu, Jephthah, and Hezekiah’s lives ended on dips.

So what can we learn from Moses and his fellow Hall of Fame inductees? Many things:

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Consider

(March 27, 2008)

Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God - Job 37:14. A few nights ago I arrived home after our Wednesday evening service. I parked my car in the driveway (as usual); gathered up my Bible (as usual), turned off the lights and grabbed my keys (as usual), got out of the vehicle, closed the door, and began toward our warm home (as usual). But that evening I happened to glance up at the sky. The sky was exceptionally clear, the stars were exceptionally brilliant for the lights from the city did not wash out the star’s magnificence. I froze. That evening I did something very unusual, I actually got off life’s tread mill. I stopped the spinning ring in the gerbil cage, stepped out, and looked up. I stood still, and couldn’t believe what I saw. I stopped to consider the stars God flung into space. What a sight!

As I stood in the driveway, nose pointed straight up, I thought of five words: he made the stars also - Gen 1:16. Yes, God made the earth, the sun, the moon, all the plants and animals, and by the way: He made the stars also. Then I thought, my eyes are only scratching the surface of His handiwork. I recalled how scientists have placed high powered telescopes on rockets and sent them far into space. These rockets relay electronic images of many more stars hidden from the naked eye.

The experience was very humbling, but then I am humbled every time I stand still long enough to consider God and His works - Is 1:3, 5:12. Think how our walks would be affected if we regularly considered God, His deliverances, His love, and His provisions for us - Deut 4:39, 8:5, 32:7. Think how our talk would be affected if we regularly considered Jesus and His finished work - Heb 3:1, 12:3. But none of this will happen unless we take time to stand still.

Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for ye and your king - 1Sam 12:24.

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

                                                                  pastordolph@aol.com

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