Watch Out!!

by Nick "slick" Herring

The Christian life is hard and anyone that tells you otherwise is lying to you. When we become a Christian and are born again we become enemies of this world and the world is always after us. The word born again means that we are now dead to this world and alive to God. That doesn't mean that we don't have times when we get off the path and walk in the ways of the world, but it does mean that we will want to walk in the way of the Lord. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:3 put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. The devil would like nothing more than to get you back into his kingdom. As soon has you get out of bed the devil will be attacking you. I am not saying that every time you are tempted to sin that the devil is making you do it. We are tempted to sin when we are carried away by our own lust (James 1:14). Your old nature and the devil are fighting against you every day and all day. John Owen said that when "sin stops fighting against you, then you can stop fighting against it". "That day will happen when we get to heaven and not a second sooner. We are at war and we must have to the right weapons to fight the enemy. The Bible is called the sword for good reason. It is used for offense to attack the sin in our life. We need to hide the word in our hearts like as the Psalms say . We are most likely not to sin when we have the word on our minds and lips. Whatever you are thinking about doing that is against God, it is not worth it. There is always a way out of your sin, you just have to look to Christ for help. Let's make the most of our time because the days are evil (Eph 5:15-16). No sin is worth the wrath of God, no matter how good it may look to you. Jesus said that you can't serve two masters for you will hate the one or love the other. Chose life or death, chose Christ or this world for you can't have both.

Real Christian Life

Christ Centered Marriage

Husband and Wife question

Regarding our sermonette today "The Fulfilled Marriage," we have had a couple common questions. The first is (1.) Should a woman literally submit to her husband in everything?(2.) We know that a woman should submit to her husband but doesn't Ephesian 5:21 (the preceding verses to your sermoneete) read "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ," meaning that the husband should also submit to the wife?

These are good questions, one I will address in here in this blog and the other in tomorrows sermonette. Regarding questing one, yes, a wife should literally submit to her husband in everything in every-way except when he calls for her to flagrantly disobey God's word. In Acts 5:29 Peter was faced with the same type of question and here was the response, "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." Yet Romans thirteen is clear in verse 1-2

13:1 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment"

Make no mistake about this issue, the husband is the governing authority over his house hold. Therefore, this verse is appropriate for the regulation of a marriage also. Christians must obey all (yes that mean speed limit's too) authority up to the point when the authority is clearly contrary to God's word. (Ex 1:15-17; Da 6:4-10)


Until next time, stay Christ centered!

The Fulfilled Marriage

In our sermonette (a mini-sermon that is about 5-10 min's, listen above) today, we discussed the fulfilled marriage. With the divorce rates at soaring numbers, with the disappearing instatution of the home, with the media imposed idea of marriage, the time is long overdo that we return to a biblical position of marriage. The Bible teaches complementarianism. Comlementarianism is very accurately defined by Ligon Duncan when he said 'God has created men and women equal in their essential dignity and human personhood, but different and complementary in function with male headship in the home and in the Church.' May this sermonette bless you in your marriage, consider your ways.

Our text today is from Ephesians 5:22-28

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [1] 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Are you blameless?

In our sermonette (mini-sermon 5-10 min's, listen below) today, we discussed being blameless or above reproach. Lit." not able to be held" in a criminal sense, meaning that there is nothing valid that can be held onto in order to lay a blame against an overseer. No blatant, flagrant sin can scar the life of a man who is called to be an example to the people of God (Heb 13:7, 1Pe 5:3, Php 3:17, 2Th 3:9, Ps 101:6) Blamelessness (above reproach) is the waving banner for all elders; all the other requirements expound on what it means to live that way.But remember an elder is to be an example for all the people of God to follow. So that means that you too (if you are a lay person) must make these requirements your own. Every believer is called to a priestly type of life, therefore, we all must take pains in the joy of living 1 Timothy 3:1-7, which is truly an exemplary life.

Do you love your swine more then Jesus?

by Nick Herring

I have been reading the book Knowing the Heart by Jonathan Edwards. This book is very convicting and has given me a better view of the deceitfulness of my ownheart. In his chapter about the Gadarenes loving their swine more then Jesus, I was thinking about all the things that people love more then Jesus. Jesus said, "whoever doesn't hate his own mother and father and yes even his own life can't be my disciple."

Following Jesus may cost you your very life and or everything you own. Too many people are saying today that it is easy to be a Christen and you don't have to give up anything. I would guess that these people don't read their Bibles much and see all the people that were killed for their faith in Jesus. People like the all Apostles, and people who this very day are being killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. We must not put anything before Christ. God is a jealous God and He will NOT be put in second place to anything or anyone.

In the story of the Gadarenes we see that the men loved their earthly things more then Jesus. Even after Jesus cast out the demons they still didn't want anything to do with Him. Men are naturally lovers of the "things" of this world and of the God who made this world. The Gadarenes loved their "swine" more then having the Son of God in their home. Here is the amazing thing to think about, the Son of God was in the Gadarene's home land and they didn't want anything to do with Him. Are we any different today? We have more "things" then any other country in the world, but the obvious question is, how many of the people of the USA would give up their "swine" to have Jesus? If Jesus is not the most important thing in your life, then I commend you to examine yourself and see if you really are in the faith. Make sure you really are saved!!!

Christian's are the ONLY light of the world.

Matthew 5:14

You are the light of the world.

Christ made it clear that Christians are the light of the world. The Greek brings out the force of the statement stronger, it goes like this; you and you alone, are the light of the world!

Though the philosophers ponder much and the scientists test galore, the fact remains; Christians alone are the light of the world. The knowledge of man is purely mechanical and biological, and obviously no avail to the basics of life. Someone may say, "How can you say such a thing, we have more life enhancement inventions than ever before in history?" Yes we do, but, alas, they are no avail to the basics of life. Do not these grow worse everyday, marriage, friendships, virtue, morality, etc? Whenever in History have you seen "Marriage Guidance Classes?" I tell you never have such challenges arisen in any age. We see the Scripture fulfilled that says; God has chosen the base things of this world to shame the wise. Indeed, He has. We use DVD's, CD's, MP3's. Microwaves, Fax Machines, TV's, Internet, Pacemakers and Jetliners, yet over 50% of couples can't even stay married. Yes indeed, much shame.

The reason Christians are the light of the world alone is; God is light. Therefore, know ye not that the Christian's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? Since God is in us alone, He shines forth and is visibly manifest in our lives, willing and working His light to the world. Thus, I say again; Christians and Christians alone are the light of the world! Amen!