Moriah Primitive Baptist Church
Madison County, Georgia
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Articles in this archive |
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| An Abstaining Vote - April 3, 2009 | I Don't Know - April 6, 2009 |
| Off to Work We Go - April 10, 2009 | Christian Seals - April 13, 2009 |
| Traits of Sheep - May 8, 2009 | The Word World - May 15, 2009 |
| That's Not Fair - May 22, 2009 | Childlike Behaviors - May 29, 2009 |
| Stuff Happens - June 5, 2009 | Defining Words - June 12, 2009 |
| False Things - June 19, 2009 | Pray Anyway - June 26, 2009 |
(April 3, 2009)
Endorsements come in many forms. There are front-door endorsements, back-door endorsements, and there are side-door endorsements. Onlookers rarely see which door a policy gains entrance, they simply see a policy up and running. Consider an example of each:
| A back-door endorsement (1Ki 21:1-11) - Jezebel wrote orders in King Ahab’s name and she used the king’s seal to authenticate her orders. There is no indication Ahab authored or approved such orders, but Ahab did nothing to stop her. Jezebel’s wicked orders became law through the back-door, a “turned head” endorsement. God held Ahab accountable for that which was written in his name and he allowed to proceed. |
| A side-door endorsement (Est 3:1-13) - Haman wrote orders in King Ahasuerus’ name and used the king’s seal to authenticate these orders. There is no indication Ahasuerus understood Haman’s primary motive. Haman’s wicked orders became law through a side door, an endorsement with a hidden agenda. Thankfully, Esther interceded to save the Jews before they were exterminated. |
| A front-door endorsement (Est 8:1-10) - Esther wrote orders in King Ahasuerus’ name, and used the king’s seal to authenticate these orders. Esther disclosed every detail and every motive of her request. Haman’s wicked orders were reversed through the front-door, an endorsement with full disclosure. |
Have your ever not voted during a national election or at a church meeting? All abstaining votes are not bad, but a person who disagrees with a policy cannot absolve themselves from wrong doing by “biting their tongue.” For years the Lord’s people have squabbled over every little thing, that’s one ditch; but the other ditch is to stand for nothing, abstaining when a policy is fundamentally wrong (Pr 31:9). Endorsements may be vocal or silent, but they are endorsements nonetheless. May our speech be measured, our policies use the front-door, and our vocal and silent endorsements be God-honoring.
(April 6, 2009)
The I don’t know’s below were plagiarized from a message delivered by a preaching gift in our congregation [Bro. Ernie]. Consider a few things scripture says we do not know [and never will]:
There is a lot of information God has chosen not to reveal unto saints. Deut 29:29 reads: The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. But, there is a lot of information God has revealed unto us. Those revealed things can be found in a collection of sixty-six books we call the Bible. We glory in the things God has told us: the incarnation of His Son, Jesus’ finished work, the preservation of His word and His church, the everlasting joy which awaits …. - to name a few. The list goes on and on.
(April 10, 2009)
I am convinced saints’ lights shine brightest and dimmest at a place we call work. Why? 1) The majority of our waking hours are spent at work; 2) A significant portion of our trials happen at work; and 3) The most frequent opportunity to apply Sunday’s lessons occur at work. Should we be surprised scripture addresses employee attitudes? Consider:
Eph 6:5-8: Check out these employee attitudes: 1) be
obedient, 2) in singleness of heart, 3) as unto Christ, 4) not with eye service,
5) with good will, and 6) as to the Lord. Paul commanded us to work a job as if
God were our boss. Why? God blesses faithful servants.
Col 3:22-24: Consider employee attitudes in this passage: 1) obey in all things, 2) not with eye-service, 3) in singleness of heart, 4) fearing God, 5) work heartily, and 6) as to the Lord. Again Paul commands to work a job as if God were our boss. Why? God respects a servant’s heart, and cares little for earthly status.
Titus 2:1, 9-10: Notice good attitude is called sound doctrine: 1) be obedient, 2) please masters well, 3) no back talk, 4) no stealing, and 5) show good fidelity. Once again, Paul said work a job as if God were our boss. Why? Faithful workers adorn Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:18-19: This passage ties up any loose ends, for we are subject to both good and bad masters. It’s one thing to work faithfully for a kind boss, but it’s quite another to work faithfully for a harsh boss. God said serve both as if God were our boss. Why? Endurance is acceptable in God’s eyes.
Ecc 9:10: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. May the Lord help our lights to shine brightly, especially at work.
(April 13, 2009)
Most birth certificates, marriage licenses, and diplomas are authenticated with a seal. In each case, a document proclaims an event has occurred. The seal did not cause the event to occur. The seal attests to the accuracy of the documented event. For instance, the seal on a birth certificate had nothing to do with conception or birth; the seal affirmed a child was born to a particular set of parents at a certain time and place well after the birth took place. Saints receive similar seals. These seals do not make saints God’s children, these seals confirm saints’ sonship.
For example, Jesus received a seal shortly after His baptism (John 6:27). Both the Father and the Holy Ghost affirmed Jesus’ Sonship (John 1:32-34). Did these seals make Jesus God’s Son? No. These seals authenticated John the Baptist’s proclamation, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Man seals his documents with stamps, ribbons, and circular impressions. God uses a different set of seals. He uses:
| Rom 15:27-28: The sharing of carnal things authenticates the sonship of a saint. Sharing does not make a person God’s child, it verifies spiritual birth has already taken place. |
| Eph 1:13: Faith in Jesus Christ authenticates the sonship of saints. Faith does not make a person God’s child, it verifies spiritual birth has taken place. |
| 2Ti 2:19: The departure from sin authenticates the sonship of saints. Departure from sin does not make a person God’s child, it verifies spiritual birth has already taken place. |
In a sense, saints are living documents. When folks view a saint’s life, they read his or her document. How many seals do they see? Do they see charity, faith, or a holy life style? Will a neighbor readily see the authenticity of your document? I pray so.
(May 8, 2009)
Ever wonder why God often refers to saints as sheep? Consider the traits below. Sheep are/have:
| easily lost, unable to find their way home |
| excellent voice and face recognition |
| easily incapacitated; wet and upside down, sheep become stuck like turtles |
| heft (settle) and be forced to rotate pastures |
| closely related to goats: beards, upturned tails, and divided upper lips distinguish |
| defenselessness: depend upon guard donkeys, dogs, and shepherds for protection |
| young can be rebellious, submission is taught by a broken leg |
| vulnerable when eating; four stomach compartment digestion minimizes head being down |
| easily scared, will not lie down until they feel safe. Shepherd sits among sheep to calm. |
| lying down is important to digestion |
| if one sheep bullies another, all become upset and food isn’t digested |
| cannot differentiate between good and bad water, or poisonous and non-poisonous vegetation |
| will drink only quiet, still water, but dew can be a sufficient source if they eat early enough |
| cuts, scrapes, and bug bites must be anointed daily |
| very few recover from predatory injuries |
| will not walk in dark places without their shepherd |
| susceptible in valleys (wolves hide), but will follow a trusted shepherd into these places |
| over a billion on earth and come in many varieties |
| the more sophisticated the economy, the less importance sheep play in the economy |
| a shepherd sleeps across the mouth of a pen, keeping sheep in and wolves out |
After reading these traits, we might better understand these sayings: “I am the good shepherd”, “My sheep hear my voice”, and “the sheep shall be scattered” (John 10:11, 27; Mark 14:27). Also, after reading these traits we might better appreciate all that our Shepherd does for us.
(May 15, 2009)
The Oxford English Dictionary lists eighteen definitions of the word world. How does a Bible reader know which of these definitions to apply or if a 19th definition is the correct meaning when interpreting a passage? Context and avoiding contradiction elsewhere in scripture must be performed when interpreting scripture (2Pe 1:20, Neh 8:8, 2Co 2:13, Pr 8:8).
A classroom exercise: Below is John 1:8-10, a passage of scripture in which the word world is used four times. The reader is challenged to select the appropriate definition for each usage. For simplicity‘s sake, only four of the OED’s eighteen definitions are listed below. Place either an a, b, c, and/or d in each of the blanks. Letters maybe used once, twice, or not at all.
a. the planet earth
b. a portion of the earth
c. the whole of mankind
d. a portion of mankind
He [John the Baptist] was not that Light [Jesus Christ], but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world _____. He was in the world _____ , and the world _____ was made by Him, and the world _____ knew Him not (John 1:8-10).
Selection of a definition for each use will depend on the answer to several questions: Did Jesus walk the whole earth or did He walk a small geographic area? Did Jesus make the planet earth, all mankind, or both? To whom did Jesus minister; Jews, Gentiles, or both? …
This exercise required more mental effort than probably anticipated. The purpose of this exercise was to introduce the process of Bible interpretation. Context and avoiding contradiction elsewhere in scripture are critical to the proper interpretation any and all verses of scripture. May God help us be true to His word. More specifically, may God help us be true to the interpretation of His word.
(May 22, 2009)
The Apostle Paul anticipated the “that’s not fair” objection after presenting the doctrine of election in Rom 9:11-14. Before reading Paul’s answer to this rhetorical question, let’s first look at the reason many folks object. Maybe, if we understand why folks say “that’s not fair” to earthly situations, we might better answer their “that’s not fair” objection to election.
A laborer once said, “that’s not fair” to a land owner (Matt 20:10-12). This man was unhappy with the hour differential he and his neighbor toiled, despite the fact the contract to which he committed was fulfilled in whole. The laborer became dissatisfied when he looked horizontally and stopped looking vertically.
An older brother said, “that’s not fair” to his father (Luke 15:27-30). This man was unhappy with the party thrown his brother, despite the fact he had food, shelter, and fellowship with family during his brother‘s absence. This son became dissatisfied when he looked horizontally and stopped looking vertically.
Several traders said, “that’s not fair” to a lord (Luke 19:24-25). These men were unhappy with the assets allocated a top performing trader, despite their beginning at the same place with the same opportunity. These men became dissatisfied when they looked horizontally and stopped looking vertically.
Peter said, “that’s not fair” to Jesus (John 21:20-21) after receiving an exhortation. Peter became more interested with the ministry Jesus gave John than with the ministry given him. Peter got into trouble when he looked horizontally and stopped looking vertically.
People have a tendency of looking horizontally when their eyes ought to be on God. This tendency appears to be a weakness in all of us, both in earthly matters and in eternal matters (the election spoken of in Romans 9). Lord, help us look up to thee in matters of duty and doctrine.
(May 29, 2009)
Imagine three stair-step brothers in the living room of their parent’s home, standing over a busted lamp with a football lying next to it. Got the picture? Can you predict the response? I can, not because I am a prophet, but because I’ve been there and done that both as a parent and as a son. “Turn the crack toward the wall.” “I told you we should’ve gone outside.” “I wasn’t the one who threw it.” “Why didn’t you catch it.” “Let‘s get out of here.” …
This broken lamp experience parallels Adam’s child-like responses in Genesis 3. Consider:
Solomon’s “There is nothing new under the sun” certainly applies to the way folks respond to sin. Children are not the only ones who respond with child-like behavior. Adam did, Eve did (Gen 6:13), and so have I.
May the Lord help us behave maturely, when we our hand in
the cookie jar and when the evidence is not so damning. Be mature: don’t duck,
spin, or hide; accept full responsibility. Easy to say, hard to do.
(June 5, 2009)
Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount with a comparison of two houses. He said a person who will hear and obey God’s word is like a wise man who builds his house upon a rock. Jesus also said a person who neither hear or obey God’s word is like a foolish man who builds his home upon sand. BUT, herein is the crux of Jesus’ teaching: He said rain, floods, and wind beat on both houses (Matt 7:24-27).
Sure, we expected the house built on rock to whether the storm, and we were not surprised when the house built on sand fell; but, both houses were tried. In other words, stuff happens to both obedient and disobedient folks. Jesus was not teaching righteous people’s lives will be without storms. But, He was teaching storms come upon all people and that righteous people are better equipped to weather those storms.
We live in a culture where victim mentalities runs rampant. Folks, stuff happens. Economies sour, cars crash, people get cancer, children rebel, sons go to war, and companies reorganize. The fact that storms beat on both house-types ought not surprise us. And I do not believe many of us are surprised when it happens to someone else, but for some reason, we are surprised when a storm descends upon us.
We ought not wonder if a trial will befall us, but when a trial will befall us. If we live long enough, we will face a storm or two or three. Jesus is telling us expect storms. How ought we build a storm proof house? by building our houses on rock, and that Rock is Christ - 1Co 10:4.
When rain, wind, and floods beat on storm proof houses, shingles may need refastening, carpet may need replacing, yards will need cleaning; but the Rock will deliver the house. And great is the fall, when there is not Rock.
(June 12, 2009)
The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books. All sixty-six books harmonize and create one truth, despite the fact 40+ stenographers penned these books over the better part of two millennium. Objective Bible interpretation is subject to the purity of one message.
Each book of the Bible is a collection of paragraphs. Each paragraph is dependent upon the who, what, when, and where of the paragraphs above and below. Objective Bible interpretation is subject to context.
Each paragraph is a collection of sentences. Each sentence is subject to verb tenses, identifying antecedents, subject-predicate relationships, … Objective Bible interpretation is subject to grammar.
Each sentence is a collection of words. Each word must be defined, but where ought a Bible student go to define words? Which of the following ought an objective Bible interpreter employ to define words:
a. a lexicon (Greek or Hebrew)
b. an English dictionary
c. confessions and creeds
d. commentaries
e. Church authorities
f. Personal revelation
g. all of the above
h. none of the above
Well, which did you choose? What did the Bereans use to define words? (Act 17:11). What would John have us use to try definitions? (1Jo 4:1). What did Paul instruct Timothy to use? (2Ti 2:15). I think “h” is the best answer to the question above, for the Bible is the best interpreter of itself, definitions included (1Co 2:13). All other tools are uninspired short cuts.
Sometimes these short cuts are accurate, but not always. Surveying one or two hundred times the Bible employs a word is a lot of work, but there is a promise attached to this kind of study. God promised scripture would thoroughly furnish, He never made such a promise with regard to other tools - 2Ti 3:16-17. Roll the dice and save time, or go with the sure thing? When handling God’s word, do we really have a choice?
(June 19, 2009)
For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets … (Matt 24:24). Scripture warns of false brethren who claim to be ordained of God (Act 5:36-38). Some of these imposters plainly deny truth, proclaiming their things to be true. I call these folks honest false prophets. Honest false prophets are relatively easy to identify, but a more subtle kind of false prophet exists. I call these folks dishonest false prophets. Dishonest false prophets claim to hold the truth while they disseminate their false things, and their false things undermine or dilute true things.
An example of a dishonest false prophet. The Roman Catholic Church has turned Mary into a false Christ. The Second Vatican Council claims Mary:
| was born without original sin, immaculate conception; |
| remained sinless her entire life, |
| ascended into heaven three after her death, and |
| is a powerful intercessor to God. |
Catholics do not deny Jesus Christ, but place many of Jesus’ attributes on Mary. By doing so, they have diluted the glory due Jesus. Prayer which a saint ought to direct toward Jesus is directed to another. In this example, the Catholic Church claim to hold as they dilute it.
A second example: Many Bible based churches have turned church fathers into false prophets. Their articles of faith say scripture alone, but their practice places confessions and commentaries parallel to the Bible. These Bible-base churches do not deny scripture, yet they give scriptural authority other things. Study which a saint ought to direct toward the Bible, is directed elsewhere. The glory due scripture has been diluted.
Very few false prophets are honest about their heresy. Very few publicly deny truth as they promote their false ways. Most false prophets are sneakier. They claim submission to truth while blurring lines, shifting definitions, and advancing their new revelation. My friends, we can not and must not be ignorant of their devices.
(June 26, 2009)
This morning I sit in a hospital waiting room as a church deacon lies in an operating room. The manner in which this brother prayed keeps returning to my mind. He began nearly every prayer with “I am not worthy to pray” or “I know not how to pray or what to pray for.” I don’t believe these were rote words, but rather words of sincerity. I believe the brother was saying:
| God, you are so big and I am so small, how can a person as insignificant as myself approach you? |
| God, you are so wise and I am so foolish, how can a person as ignorant as myself speak to you? |
| God, you are so holy and I am so sinful, how can a person as vile as myself come before you? |
| God, you are so giving and I am so selfish, how can a person as self-centered as myself petition to you? |
Despite his feeling of inadequacy, this brother prayed publicly (when called upon) and privately (in his closet). How could he? Easy, he knew he had help.
| Rom 8:26-27: … for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. |
| 1Ti 2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. |
| Heb 7:25: Wherefore He (Jesus) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. |
All Articles Written by Elder Dolph Painter, Moriah Primitive Baptist Church
This site created by Steve McCannon. This page last updated 01/30/2010