09/06/17 BIBLE STUDY OFFER

09/06/17 BIBLE STUDY OFFER

FOR FOLKS ALONG THE CRYSTAL COAST
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY?
Either for your family and/or friends, or with another small group.

I would like to gather with some folks once a week to lead a series of short Bible studies, giving opportunity for questions and discussion time. Here are some of the suggested topics, from which you may choose. (contact me to set up time and location).

TOPICS
End Times Outline (Overview).

What Happens After Death?

The Key to Our Present World Chaos.

FOUR Main Judgments (Calvary, Bema Seat, Nations, Great White Throne).

TWO Resurrections (the Righteous and the Unrighteous).

Two Phases to the Second Coming of Christ (Rapture and Return).

The Tribulation.

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart.

Biblical Perfection Required.

The Origin and Nature of Man.

The human nature, the three parts of man (body, soul, spirit).
The sinful nature, the Divine nature.
The Old man, the New man.
The Flesh, the Spirit.
The "FLESH" is not always sinful.

09/05/17 REJECTING AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP

09/05/17 REJECTING AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP

Rebellion not only resists legitimate authority, it shuns legitimate leadership. If you read this and don't what it says, then it probably applies to you.

There is authority and leadership in every arena of life.

And there are insurgents in every arena of life, refusing authority and leadership.

And yes, there are demigods and usurpers in every arena of life abusing their leadership and authority.

In this article, I am going to refer to legitimate parental and pastoral authority and leadership.

Parenting and pastoring are very similar in nature, because they have a common origin, purpose and goal. God appointed parents (fathers in particular) and pastors to lead and train and discipline and encourage people in serving God and living their lives by Biblical standards.

However, this article has to do with leadership more than with authority. (I often address the question of authority in the home and in the church).

The person who is obstinate, rebellious, self centered, not only resists and rejects authority, he/she doesn't even like leadership. Let me illustrate with a sports model.

The coach calls his team together. The coach (or the coaching staff) shows the players how to catch or throw, field or hit, dribble or kick. The teaching, the leading is not a matter of "THOU SHALT... (whatever)." It is a matter of, "Here is how to... (whatever)." Some people don't want to be told that they must do certain things or do certain things in a certain way, even when they are being told by a person who has the right to instruct and direct them. But the rebellious spirit moves from resisting and rejecting authority to resisting and rejecting leadership. They quit listening to loving, legitimate guidance. They not only choose their own way, they don't even listen to any helpful instruction. This leads to failure and friction in the team (the family, the church).

This can happen either because they do not have respect for the leader or because they have no respect for any leadership. They can be so self oriented and puffed up that they don't even give respect or consideration to anyone else.

This mentality is not only directed toward other people, it is raised against God. When the parent or pastor teaches Biblical truths, the rebellious person does not accept the validity of the teaching. When the parent or pastor has to enforce that which should have been readily accepted, the rebel becomes more obstinate and disruptive.

It is better to follow the direction of legitimate leadership than to be confronted with authority. God would rather have us follow and obey Him because we desire to do His will than to force us to do His will, or to punish us for not doing His will.

Families are better off when the members work together in harmony than being forced into subjection by the hand of authority.

Churches are better of when the people are eager to learn and follow godly leadership than to choose their rebellious own way of resistance and rejection.

Submission, humility, surrender, service, kindness, compassion, self denial are good and essential qualities in the most Christ like Christians.

If you don't yield to authority, you will eventually reject leadership as well. Rebelling against authority and leadership is not a characteristic of a Christian.

09/05/17 DEVILISH DOUBLESPEAK ABOUT 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

09/05/17 DEVILISH DOUBLESPEAK ABOUT 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21
(and personal testimony at the end of this article)

Sinning religion tells it two different ways in one verse.
2 Corinthians 5:21...
(21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(I did a short article on this verse yesterday (0/4/17) entitled GOD DOES NOT MAKE SIN).

You ever notice that sinning religion says that Christians are "counted" or, "seen" as righteous (holy or pure) because the righteousness of Christ is IMPUTED (not imparted) in salvation, but Christ ACTUALLY BECAME sin (unrighteousness, wickedness of every kind) because our sins were imputed to Him on the cross (when they actually are saying that our sin and sins were imparted to Him?

How 'bout we either say
God MADE JESUS TO BE ACTUAL SIN and then He ACTUALLY MAKES Christians to be righteous (pure, holy),
OR we say,
God did not MAKE JESUS TO BE ACTUAL SIN and He Actually DOES NOT MAKE Christians to be righteous (pure, holy).

OR WE COULD just state the facts of the Bible.

God did NOT make Jesus to be actual sin (which is an heretical statement, with blasphemous implications), but God did make Jesus to be the SIN SACRIFICE, and in His sacrifice, Jesus takes away the sin and sins of the word and He IMPARTS to Christians the Holy Spirit and Divine nature, and Christians are then conformed to the image of Jesus, in righteousness and true holiness, and delivered from all sin, as they walk in the light.

From one verse, sinning religion says that God MADE JESUS TO BE SIN, but God DOES NOT MAKE CHRISTIANS TO BE HOLY, PURE and RIGHTEOUS. Only the devil could come up with such a lie.

Don't be Duped by Devilish Deception.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
BY THE WAY, early in my ministry I also preached that Jesus became sin. I don't remember anyone ever preaching anything differently. It seemed right because of the faulty translation that should have said SIN SACRIFICE instead of SIN. However, as I thought about it I knew something was wrong. I KNEW JESUS DID NOT BECOME ACTUAL SIN. I studied and found out that a great truth from the past was no longer being taught today. God did not make Jesus to be sin, He made Him to be the Sin Sacrifice, which is consistent with the redemption plan found in the Bible.

I changed the way I preached this passage. While I preached this passage incorrectly, I actually did love the Lord with all my heart, and I thought that explanation made sense. However, God showed me in my own spirit (through Biblical truths) and then through closer Biblical study that my understanding was flawed.

Sinning religion has done more damage to the preaching of the gospel than we can imagine. We must be willing to listen, learn and then leave our errors behind.

09/04/17 GOD DOES NOT MAKE SIN

09/04/17 GOD DOES NOT MAKE SIN

God does not create sin or make sin. Therefore when 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God made Jesus to be sin, we need to consider all the evidence.

2 Corinthians 5:21
(21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Well, I am not taking the time to consider all the evidence in this post, though there are brilliant and godly, Bible believing Christian scholars who have studied this passage and agree that God did not make Jesus into a sinner, did not make Jesus into actual sin, did not make Jesus sinful or guilty, but rather understand the word "sin" (in its first use in this verse) to be used, as meaning "Sin Sacrifice."

This is the exact same way this word is translated in many other parts of the Bible. God did not make Jesus into a sinner, God did not make Jesus into sin, did not make Jesus sinful or guilty. God made Jesus to be a "Sin Sacrifice" (as the word is often used in the Bible).

Jesus did not become sin, He took away our sin. Jesus did not become sinful, He became a sin sacrifice, so that we, who were sinners, we who were condemned because of our sin, could become the righteousness of God.

The meaning of this verse is not determined by scholarship, since scholars differ in their understanding. It is not determined by doctrinal bias. It is not determined by popular theology. It is determined by the consistent and congruent message of God and the usage of the words.

A person can choose to believe whatever he wants to believe. Believing it does not make it so.

However, I believe that God made Jesus to be the "Sin Sacrifice" for the entire world. This is consistent with the rest of Scripture. I believe God made Jesus to be the Sin Sacrifice, because this is consistent with the usage of this word.

I choose not to believe that God made Jesus a sinner, or sin, or sinful or guilty, because that is not the message of the Bible.

God made Jesus, who knew no sin to become the Sin Sacrifice for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. That is consistent with the rest of the Bible. This is the redemption message of the Bible.

God does not make sin, and God did not make His Son to become sin, and God did not make His Son to be sinful or guilty. God gave His Son to become the Sacrificial Lamb of God that takes away our sin and makes us righteous.

09/03/17 WHAT IF THEY WERE YOURS?

09/03/17 WHAT IF THEY WERE YOURS?

Imagine the horror of knowing that you had children shipwrecked in turbulent and shark infested waters, and the ones who were trained, organized, responsible for the saving of those children had no more drive to reach them, to rescue them, than to give a minimal effort and offer an empty excuse for failure.

I was lost in a sea of sin, and God became a Man, knowing He would be despised and rejected by the ones He loved the most, knowing that in His love and sacrifice He would be beaten, mocked, tortured and forsaken, knowing that He would die for the many, but only the few would receive Him.

I am glad that He came. God help me to never come short of a total effort in reaching any of the lost, especially the children, since You have told us that they hold a special place with You.

I say, I write, a lot of things that some folks take personally, and they are offended with my bluntness. My response is GOOD. Now just think how much more God is concerned about the same issues that I address.

Let the Church be the Church let the world see that we love one another.

09/03/17 ORDERS TO GO

09/03/17 ORDERS TO GO
Please watch and listen as if your family is lost at sea.

09/02/17 RE-POST KNOWING THEY ARE SLAVES

09/02/17 RE-POST KNOWING THEY ARE SLAVES

SO TRUE FROM 01/24/12

How Sad! People Are Held Captive.
I constantly meet people who have been Christians for decades, attending supposedly respected evangelical churches, but have nearly no grace or knowledge of Biblical Christianity. Always learning but never attaining.

Harriet Tubman said,
"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves."

The Power Of The Gospel
The Gospel has the power to deliver.
It can free those who are enslaved, once they realize they are enslaved.
It can regenerate the dead, once they realize they are dead in sins and trespasses.
It can empower the weak, once they realize they are powerless.
It can restore the lost, once they realize they have gone astray.
It can give sight, knowledge, understanding and wisdom to those who realize that they are in spiritual darkness.

When Jesus Launched His Ministry He Read From Isaiah,
Luke 4:18-21
(18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
(19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
(21) And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Listen To The Preacher With God's Message
Romans 10:14-17
(14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
(15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
(17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

09/01/17 SINNING THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN

09/01/17 SINNING THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN

(if that is too bold, how about, "Sinning on their way to heaven.")

GOD SAID
Romans 6:22
(22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

NOW READ WHAT OTHERS SAY
Sometimes really smart people say really stupid things. Ravi Zacharias (a highly esteemed voice in Christianity) said, "Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive."

REALLY, HE SAID THAT.

He was right in saying that Jesus does "make dead people alive," but he was DEAD wrong in saying, "Jesus did not come to make bad people good."

People are so afraid of, and opposed to holiness of heart and life that they lose their minds when they open their mouths. (btw, Ravi knows better).

Of course this mentality explains why there are fewer people being delivered from sin while more people are claiming to have eternal life. It is the false religion of sinning your way to heaven.

HOWEVER, you cannot have one (eternal life) without the other (delivered from sin to righteousness). If you don't get delivered from sin, then you cannot have eternal life.

2 Timothy 2:19
(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

08/31/17 FARRAKHAN, THE JUDAS GOAT OF NOI

08/31/17 FARRAKHAN, THE JUDAS GOAT OF NOI

(Louis Farrakhan made a speech, to mislead people away from the Christian message to the message of Islam)

Louis Farrakhan's Christian conversion is real (a real ruse). In other words, Louis Farrakhan is trying to convert "Christians" to Islam by deceiving people into thinking he believes in the same Jesus.

Louis Farrakhan, leader of Nation of Islam (NOI), i.e. Black Muslims, proclaims...
Liberation Theology (deliverance for American blacks through violent overthrow and killing white people),
Anti-Christian and Anti-Bible message,
Allah of the Quran is God, not the God of the Bible,
Islam is the true religion and Christianity is not true,

You must understand...
There is nothing Christian in the message of Islam.
The Jesus of Islam is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Farrakhan and Islam present a convoluted message (spinning Islamic and Christian concepts together in double speak) when trying to appeal to people in the Christian tradition, in order to lead them away from the Bible, the God of the Bible, the salvation of the Bible and the message of the Bible.

08/30/17 DEALING WITH GREENER GRASS SYNDROME

08/30/17 DEALING WITH GREENER GRASS SYNDROME

There are reasons why people think "the grass is always greener" somewhere else.

WHY IT SEEMS SO
Sometimes it is because it is.
Sometimes it is because it has been painted green by the neighbor.
Sometimes it is because the "green eyed monster of jealousy" sees it that way....
Sometimes it is because negativity blinds a person to the realities of life.
Sometimes it is because, spiritually speaking, green bile rises up from a dysfunctional relationship with God and colors the person's view of life.
Sometimes it is because a person refuses to trust God fully.

ON THE OTHER HAND
There are some people who have a more positive outlook on life because of their natural temperment (even unsaved people).
There are some people who have a more positive outlook on life in spite of their natural temperament (even unsaved people).
There are some people who have had life shaking events (tragedies, losses, near death or windfalls), which also changed their outlook on life (even unsaved people).
There are some people who get saved, and their view of life changes because of grace and because of faith.
There are some people who get saved and then filled with the Holy Spirit, and their view of life springs from a holy disposition.

I MADE AND MAKE MY CHOICE
I realize that some people have things in life that I don't have.
I realize that some other ministers and ministries have things that I don't have.
HOWEVER, I believe the word of God and I have chosen not to have a negative, "woe is me" point of view because I really do believe God does all things well and I trust Him with my whole life.

TWO WAYS TO RESPOND
There are people who would quickly respond to the offer of a Spirit filled life of trust, joy, strength, love and victory if they only had the opportunity to hear it.
There are people who reject the offer of a Spirit filled life of trust, joy, strength, love and victory when they do hear it.

CHOOSE VICTORY
Let God give you the single eye that looks only to Jesus and will not be fashioned by this world, whether the enticements or the threats.
REMEMBER, do this because it is God's will and for His glory.
REMEMBER, doing this is to your benefit.
REMEMBER, doing this is the kind of witness you should be, rather than a stumbling block to others.

08/29/17 WATCH YOUR STEP

08/29/17 WATCH YOUR STEP

I like, WHERE ARE THEY NOW? stories, until I see old photos of certain loved ones.

Sometimes the people who are the closest to us drift so far away that it is as if they don't exist or, the memory is like a fading dream. They are no longer the loving, sensitive, caring, humble people they were. It is not the miles that cause this kind of separation, but the spiritual road that they have taken.

DON'T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU. STAY ON THE OLD PATHS.

Jeremiah 6:16
(16) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

08/29/17 CHOOSE GRACE OVER RACE

08/29/17 CHOOSE GRACE OVER RACE

IF YOU CHOOSE ANY RACE OVER GOD'S GRACE, YOUR HEART IS IN THE WRONG PLACE.

08/29/17 TRUSTING GOD IS OBEYING GOD

08/29/17 TRUSTING GOD IS OBEYING GOD

EVEN IF God had arbitrarily decided to save some people and to leave others in their sins without the hope of salvation (the erroneous belief in the false doctrine of unilateral, double election or double predestination), then that would have to do with His choice and we cannot do anything about that. However, we can, and must do something about the things He requires from us.

The truth is we cannot determine the sovereign will of God, but we can either receive it or reject it. The will of God is for sinners to believe, repent, follow Jesus. To presume on the false doctrines of unconditional election and irresistible grace is to neglect salvation, and those who neglect salvation are lost.
Hebrews 2:1-4
(1) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
(2) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
(3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
(4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

After we believe and receive Christ we are expected to follow Christ in faith, to live by faith, to walk in faith.
Galatians 3:26
(26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

When we follow we have a part in our salvation. God did unilaterally choose to provide salvation through Christ, but He also chose to require people to have faith in Christ in order to be saved.
Philippians 2:12-15
(12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
(13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
(15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

08/29/17 IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWIG JESUS DAILY

08/29/17 IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWIG JESUS DAILY, PLEASE READ THIS SHORT REPOST.

10/24/11 HEAR AND HEED
We sat behind another vehicle at an intersection, waiting for the traffic to clear, when to our horror the man in front of us pulled right in front of a semi, which was probably traveling 50 mph or more. No matter how loud we would have yelled or how much we wanted to help, the wreck was inevitable. We prayed, the man survived and recovered. But sometimes we watch and pray, and the wreck...s of life take their eternal toll.

WHY?
There are various reasons people do not heed the warnings raised for them.

They are too focused on their own destinations.
They are too absorbed with their current problems.
They are tuned into frivolous and noisy interference.
They are too proud to listen to others.
They are too angry with those who are trying to help them.
They are beyond the reach of a warning cry.
They will not take the time to see if they are missing the warnings.

A word of advice, “Stop, Look and Listen,” the soul you save may be your own.

08/28/17 END TIMES NEWS

08/28/17 END TIMES NEWS

Those who deny the accuracy of the WORD also deny the reality of our world.

END TIMES NEWS
God's word tells us the truth, and the Liberal media spins world events (PAST AND PRESENT).

2 Timothy 3:1-5
(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.