I Don’t Have Anything to Give to God

It is hard to imagine anyone who has faith in God who has not had those moments when they begin to reflect about all that God has done for them and wonder how they could be so blessed. In those sobering moments of reflection, we look at ourselves and think of how many times we have not measured up to the high spiritual aspirations we set for ourselves. Who has not thought, “What does God see in me, and how can I ever repay Him for what He has done?”

If you have ever had such thoughts, just remember that you are not the first.  The Psalmist asked, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me” (Psa. 116:12)? Hundreds of years later Micah asked, “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow before the High God” (Micah 6:6)?

What shall I give to Him? He already owns the world! Did He not say, “For every beast of the forest is Mine and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the bird of the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are Mine”? All of the gold, silver and jewels are already His.  What can I give to Him?

Perhaps, the answer is found in Paul’s letter to Rome. The members there had escaped from the bondage of paganism and false religion. Paul reminded them of the mercy of God. Based upon this mercy, he appealed to them to offer the only sacrifice we have to give to Him which is acceptable. “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).

We do have something to give to God! It is worth more than all the treasures of this earth. Jesus described its worth when He said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26). Our amazing God has given us the right to decide how to use our souls, and the only choice to be made is to give it to Him! We do not bring to Him the resplendent jewels He already owns, nor the decaying carcass of dead animals—we bring Him ourselves as a living sacrifice.

Look at Romans 12 again. That sacrifice is holy. That sacrifice is acceptable. That sacrifice is reasonable. That sacrifice is service to Him.

Now, here is the question each should consider. Have you ever reflected about what you could possibly have to give to God? Here’s an even more important one. Have you brought to Him the only gift worth more than all the world? Have you given your life to Him as a holy sacrifice of service?

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Wicked Abominations

Wicked Abominations Seen Through a Hole in the Wall

Beginning in Ezekiel 8, the prophet begins a description of what is taking place in Jerusalem leading up to the Babylonian captivity (and providing reasons for such). While it seems to be from the perspective of a tour of Jerusalem and the temple, God, through Ezekiel, is giving a tour into the hearts of the Jews therein: “Son of man, seest thou what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations” (8:6).

As his guide led him to the wall of the temple, Ezekiel sees a hole in the wall (8:7), and after his guide told him to dig through such, he went inside to see “the wicked abominations that they do here” (8:9). He begins to describe the idolatrous worship that they were offering inside, influenced by the foreign nations around them. They had so deceived themselves into thinking, “The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth” (8:12). Yet, his guide responded to such wickedness, “Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do” (8:13), and again (8:15). He then concluded in this chapter,

Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. [8:17-18]

As I read this vivid imagery from this prophet, I could not help but contemplate on the condition of America today. I realize that Judah/Israel was a theocracy, and America is not, and I realize that these were the people of God, corresponding more appropriately to the condition of the church today, but they were still a nation that God would soon punish. Try as I may, I cannot ignore the fact that the Bible (not to mention history) demonstrates time and again that God rules as Sovereign King over all nations and kingdoms (cf. Dan. 2:21), and wicked nations that do not practice righteousness will not endure (cf. Prov. 14:34). Therefore, if God would allow us to see the true condition of our nation through “a hole in the wall,” what would we see?

We would peer inside, and therein we would find a woman on her way home from work. An attacker grabs her and stabs her repeatedly over an extended period of time. Nonetheless, none of her neighbors who witness such comes to her aid or calls the authorities until after she dies. Those who do express astonishment are not surprised in the brutality of the murder as much as the apathy of its citizens. Thus, we note a mark of our society—people are not as important to us as our possessions. “Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than they do.”

We look further to see a well-known scientist and entertainer who has taught science to children for many years come out recently and spread falsehood by advocating organic evolution as factual, and urging everyone to deny creationism as truth. Thus, he is further advocating false theories and doctrines, which only continues to confuse the public as to the infamous question, “What is truth?” In a society that already is confused religiously, many people are shirking religion altogether because of the number of “counterfeits” out there! Still others complicate matters by teaching and advocating, “Whatever you believe to be true is truth.” It has led to a society steeped in religious and moral chaos! “Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than they do.”

We look further to see a nation that is increasing its exposure of sexual activities (and aberrations) to its young people. Children are watching exposed nakedness on television and movies. Husbands are viewing pornography on the family computer late at night when everyone is sleeping. Homosexuals are proudly advocating their lifestyles from the halls of Congress to the couches of nightly television viewing. Young girls are crying themselves to sleep because they are either are pregnant from their boyfriends, or because they have contracted herpes. College students are committing suicide because of pressures they never had to face when they lived at home. Childhood innocence is destroyed, and the sexual revolution rolls onward!

Everywhere we look through this hole in the wall, we find immorality, pride, selfishness, lost priorities, every form of worldliness, no respect for any type of authority, violence, lack of compassion for our fellow man and general ungodliness. “Is it a light thing to the United States of America that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.” When will we wake up? When will the church rise above the loud voices of wickedness with a call to repentance? When will the church truly weep over the sins of our nation, and beg God to forgive us? Actually, we do not need such a “vision” as this to see these wicked abominations through a hole in the wall—we already know them and see them vividly every day! May God have mercy on us all!

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The First Gospel Meeting

The gospel meeting I am referring to is not some 1830’s log cabin meeting with Barton W. Stone, Alexander Campbell, or some other Restoration Era gospel preacher. The meeting I am speaking of predates those men by approximately 1,800 years. The very first gospel meeting was held by twelve men, in the city of Jerusalem in the year 33 A.D.

This gospel meeting was one that had been in the works since the beginning of time. It was a meeting that God had planned and had made preparations for from the moment He first “spoke” the world into existence. In order to make that meeting successful God first prepared a people to bring the Lord Jesus Christ (the object of that first gospel meeting) into the world. Also, He prepared an environment in which that primitive gospel could grow and thrive. Finally, He prepared the message to be preached and the preachers to deliver the message.

A Prepared People

From the very beginning, God selected a family into which His Messiah would be born. This Messiah was born to deliver mankind from sin and reconcile him back to God. After Adam and Eve were forced from the garden, the Lord selected one of their sons as the root from which the Messiah would eventually emerge. That chosen man was Seth, the son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:25). Of the descendants of Seth, the next man selected by God as the progenitor of Messiah was Noah. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8. Noah, of all his generation, was the only man still faithful in his service to God. Therefore, God saved him and his family and destroyed the rest of mankind. Generations later, Abram was selected by God to bring forth the seed from which all mankind would be blessed. “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3.

From Abraham, Isaac and Jacob descended the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. This great nation of people began with just 75 men, women and children, who went down into Egypt in a time of great famine. 430 years later, 603,550 men upwards from 20 years old emerged with their wives and children, numbering approximately 2-3 million. This nation was given a Law at Mount Sinai after their exodus from Egypt. That Law was meant to teach them the importance of sacrifice and service to God and to prepare them to receive the Messiah and to obey His gospel. “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:23-25.

At the close of the Jewish dispensation, God sent John the baptist to restore the Jewish people back to faithfulness under the Old Covenant, so that they would be ready to receive the Messiah and His gospel. John did exactly that. He made “straight the way of the Lord…” (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3). His work as the forerunner to Christ restored faithfulness among the Jews. It was the disciples of John the baptist who, later, made up the bulk of Jesus’ disciples.

A Prepared Environment

God sent His Son into the world, born of a virgin of the Jewish nation. His birth, life, teachings, death and resurrection are the “good news” that embodies the gospel message. However, before that blessed event could occur, God had to allow for the proper environment in which to bring His Messiah and to spread forth His gospel. Isaiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be the city from which the gospel would proceed (Isaiah 2:2-3). In the first century, Jerusalem, Palestine, and the entire Mediterranean region were part of the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire provided for the ideal environment into which the Messiah would be born. Under Rome, as never before in human history, was much of the world under the control of one government. Never before had there been so much stability in the world. The Roman Empire provided a framework for maintaining an orderly society, such as a common language (Koine Greek), a common currency and well established code of law. They built and protected a highway system that rivaled even our modern highway systems. These highways made it possible for people to travel around the Mediterranean region quickly and safely, thus furthering the gospel’s spread.

In addition, by this time, the Jewish people had been scattered across the entire Roman Empire. Those who were the most faithful returned to Jerusalem each year for the three feast days as prescribed in the Law of Moses. The aforementioned societal framework the Romans created allowed them the security and ability to make the journey. It was during one of these three feast days, the day of Pentecost, in which this first gospel meeting was held. On that day, it is estimated that there could have been upwards of 3 million Jews on hand to hear those first gospel sermons.

Prepared Preachers

Before that first gospel meeting could be held, preachers were needed. Jesus selected twelve men and named them apostles. Of this first select group, one fell by the wayside (Judas), but another (Matthias) was selected to take his place. Jesus spent three years with these men teaching them the things that they were in turn to go out and to preach. He promised to them that he would send unto them the Holy Spirit Who would, (1) guide them into all truth (John 16:13), (2) teach them all things (John 14:26), (3) remind them of all He had taught them (John 14:26), and (4) speak through them (Mark 13:11).

A Prepared Gospel Message

On the day of Pentecost, these twelve men received the promise of the Holy Spirit with power and began to speak the words of the gospel message to the gathered multitude. It was the apostle Peter who began the gospel meeting with an inspired defense and explanation of the miraculous events that were transpiring that day. This was according to God’s plan, for Jesus had said to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19. Peter would be the one holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven – the church. He would be the first one to “unlock” the doors and invite those who desired to be saved to enter in. The things that he would “bind” or “loose” on earth that day, would be the things that already had been “bound” or “loosed” by God in heaven. Peter was simply the inspired “doorman” to usher in the church age.

His sermon began with a defense and ended with an invitation to, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” Acts 2:38. This first great gospel meeting resulted in the salvation of 3,000 people! “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41.

Conclusion

The first gospel meeting was a great success! God had planned it perfectly! He had perfectly prepared the audience, the environment, the preachers and their message. The gospel went forth from that place, on that day, to spread throughout the entire world within 30 years. Many of the gathered multitude of Jews, “out of every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5), “gladly received his word” and “were baptized” (Acts 2:41), and carried that gospel message back to their scattered homes and families abroad. Later, the apostle Paul and others would carry that gospel message unto the gentiles bringing many of them into the church as well.

All this was able to take place because God had scheduled that first gospel meeting! None of the wondrous things that resulted from that meeting would have taken place if no one had been there to hear it! The same can be said of our gospel meeting this week. If you do not attend, members or visitors alike, you will miss out on a wonderful opportunity to be strengthened and encouraged by that Old Jerusalem Gospel that still saves today.

 

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The Days of Our Lives

The days of a person’s life pass with great rapidity, to think that we have unlimited time here on the earth is a serious mistake. Many people live as though they have forever to get the most mundane things done, when the things could be done very quickly if the person put the task first in their priorities and began to do it. The great problem that hinders too many people is the willingness to put off (i.e. procrastinate), rather than take a task, beginning it, and following through to its conclusion. Indeed, some things require planning and thoughtful consideration before they are undertaken but the putting off indefinitely the commencement of a useful project is a contributing factor to an unproductive life and an old age full of regret. Because people have different levels of ability each person must decide for themselves if their approach to living life is productive or unproductive to good, only then can one begin to tackle projects within the range of their ability and proceed to finish them one by one. This concept is also effective at building a Christian life (i.e. a life for God) and a satisfied and fulfilling existence while one lives out the years of their life here on earth.

CONSIDER THIS:  The Bible has several very pointed statements about our pursuits here on the earth and what our priorities in life ought to be in order to live a successful life (i.e. successful by God’s standard). Please read the following truths, found in God’s Book, think on each reading and consider the ideal of “considering, seeking, and following through to completion.”

Matt 6:31-34, “31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (NKJV).

Luke 11:9-13, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (NKJV).

John 5:41-45, “41 “I do not receive honor from men.  42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God” (NKJV)?

Rom 2:11, “1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:   7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God” (NKJV).

Col 3:1-4, “1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (NKJV).

Heb 11:6, “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV).

Heb 11:8-10, “8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (NKJV).

CONCLUSION: So, as the wise man so adequately states the case – Psalms 90:10-12, “10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NKJV).

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Belief and Confession

QUESTION: “Isn’t it true that all one has to do to be saved is to simply believe in Jesus and confess Him as Lord?”

According to some uninspired, man-made denominational teaching, yes. But according to the Divinely-Inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), totally inerrant (Psalm 19:7-11), and eternal truth (Psalm 119:89) of Almighty God, NO. While believing in and confessing Jesus as Lord are absolutely essential elements to the Scriptural picture of salvation (Romans 10:9-10), they are certainly not the ONLY elements essential in the salvation process. Consider these three Biblical cases:

  • The demons both believe (James 2:19) and confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Mk. 5:1-7; Lk. 4:31-34); yet they won’t be in Heaven will they? Of course not! (If they were, it wouldn’t be heaven!)
  • The deceived and deluded yet very committed and convicted religious people Jesus mentioned who will plead their case on Judgment Day in Matt. 7:21-23 called Him “Lord, Lord” and apparently believed they were saved with all their heart too… but they weren’t, were they?
  • Saul of Tarsus, upon meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus both called Him “Lord,” and certainly believed Him enough to obey Him as such didn’t he (Acts 9:1-9, 22:6-11)? And yet, three days later (Acts 9:9), even after believing and confessing Jesus as Lord, his sins were still unforgiven, despite his having done those two things alone. We know this because he was then instructed as to what he had to still do in order to have his sins washed away (Acts 22:16; See also Acts 2:38).

(And just as a side-note to Acts 22:16, please note that water baptism for the forgiveness/washing away of their sins – and not some so-called “sinner’s prayer” which is never found since the inception of the New Covenant in Acts 2 as the way sinners are to be saved – is how and when one calls on the name of the Lord to be saved – according to the bible that is.)

Three cases where belief and confession (although essential) are not, and were not enough by themselves alone, to save anyone, nor are they now if the Bible is still true – which it absolutely is (John 17:17, 12:48). Even the Romans 10 passage indicates that those two elements are merely foundational and are meant to lead to further essential actions such as calling on His Name (vs. 13 – which Saul did: Acts 22:16) in obeying the gospel (vs. 16) which all who hope to go to Heaven must do (2 Thess. 1:6-10). To study further into all of the  essential elements to being saved, please contact us with your additional questions or come and visit and study exclusively from God’s Word with us in person… and you hall know the truth… (John 8:32).

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