What’s the Joke? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: June 28, 2020 by RR7

Why is it that so many pastors refuse to preach the pure word of God? This is a trend that’s been growing over the course of many years. Today it seems that preachers are more worried about being politically correct rather than Biblically correct. Instead of preaching God’s truth, it’s more important to appease the congregation rather than pricking consciences and bringing sinners to a right relationship with Christ. It’s a sign of the times, but nothing to be proud of.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Jesus never patted anybody on the back for their sin, but forgave them and told them to stop sinning. He never got angry with the common people, but had many confrontations with the religious leaders who compromised God’s truth. Maybe the religious leaders today should take a look at Scripture and learn from Jesus. A good lesson in preaching is seen in the Book of Acts.

Pentecost occurs a few weeks after Passover, and Jewish men were expected to celebrate it in Jerusalem; and so the Apostles were gathered there. They had no idea what was about to happen. There was a sound like a mighty wind, and what looked like tongues of fire sat upon each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Things have never been the same since! The Holy Spirit gave them power and boldness to share the Gospel. The people who saw this didn’t have a clue what was happening.

“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:12-13).

It was Peter who explained. He didn’t joke or cite worldly “authority,” but quoted Scripture as his authority. That sermon brought 3,000 people to salvation. Maybe today’s preachers should learn from Scripture rather than seminaries that teach psychology and give lessons about how to build a congregation rather than how to share the Gospel.

Peter recognized that prophecy was being fulfilled and used Old Testament Scriptures to teach the crowd. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16).

Joel 2:28-32 foretold a time when God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh and people would prophesy and have visions from God. We always think that prophecy will be fulfilled at some other time, but today we are seeing prophecy being fulfilled. Unfortunately, most preachers don’t teach it, so most Christians are as ignorant of prophecy as the crowd to whom Peter spoke. Peter had more to say, and none of it was politically correct. He spoke God’s truth to the crowd.

Peter explained who Jesus was and that He had been crucified, but rose from the dead. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:23-24).

Peter didn’t sugarcoat what had happened, and he directly blamed those who were listening. How many in the crowd had seen the miracles Jesus had performed? How many had received healing from Him? I also wonder how many of them had been in the crowd a few weeks before yelling “Crucify Him.”

Brothers and sisters, remember that Jesus died for your sins and my sins, just like He died for the mocking crowd around Peter. It was not a joking matter, but very serious. There were souls at stake, and Peter spoke through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He not only quoted the prophet Joel, but he also quoted from Psalm 16 where King David stated that he knew that the Messiah would come and conquer death.

“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” (Acts 2:30-31).

Because Christ conquered death and sits by the right hand of God, the Holy Spirit was poured out that day. God promised this, and we still have that promise today. It’s too bad it isn’t spoken of from our pulpits. Christians might be more aware of the power we have through the Holy Spirit, and we might win more souls to Christ.

Peter ended with a declaration of Christ. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

Those powerful words brought conviction to the sin-filled crowd who listened. Peter’s sermon was so intense and convicting that the listeners were cut to the heart and pleaded to know what they needed to do to be saved.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

Good question. Peter had the answer. “Then Peter said unto them, 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39).

This promise was meant for the people listening that day, as well as people in distant lands and distant times. It’s meant for you and me. Peter said to “repent.” The Greek word “metanoeo” translated “repent” means to change your mind about something. For the sinner who comes to Jesus, it means that you must change your mind about sin. The worst and deadliest sin is rejecting Christ. Because Peter spoke frankly, many people came to salvation that day.

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42).

Notice that they didn’t say a few words, get baptized, then return to their previous way of life. Once you accept Jesus for salvation, other sins should begin to repulse you. Anger is a sin, and you should change your mind about it. Sexual immorality is a sin that you need to repent and stop participating in. Pride is a sin and needs to be removed from your life. There are more, and the Holy Spirit will guide you in a closer walk with Jesus. They continued to fellowship with the Apostles who taught them God’s ways. It’s important to fellowship with Christians and encourage each other to grow in faith.

So, what about today? How many times do you sit in a pew and hear one joke after another? Or else Scripture takes second place to a secular book, and very few Scriptures are quoted. When your pastor quotes John and Paul, is he quoting the Apostles or the Beatles?

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

Sound doctrine is only found in Scripture. Christians have been forgiven of our sins, but we need to be encouraged to continue to turn from sin that compromises our witness to the world for Christ. Unfortunately, the “feel-good gospel” taught by Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, and others have compromised the truth, and people get upset if their own sin is brought to mind.

That time has come.

I admire Peter. He sinned by denying Christ, but when Jesus restored him, Peter had no fear in serving Christ. His sermon on Pentecost should be an example to preachers today. He didn’t tickle ears nor did he appease the government. He spoke the truth in a way that convicted 3,000 people of their sin, and they understood their need for Jesus. Peter would not be silenced from preaching God’s truth even when faced with imprisonment for preaching about Christ in the Temple. The high priest had forbidden the apostles to preach the Truth, but the apostles knew who their true authority was.

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey them” (Acts 5:29-32).

Too many pastors today keep silent on certain subjects in order to stay tax exempt. They’re more afraid of offending “Big Brother” than they are of offending God. The silence in the pulpits has led to professing Christians looking and acting like the world rather than reflecting Christ as we should. It’s not only pastors who are to blame for letting the congregation starve, but also deacons who allow Scripture to be subordinated to the government gag order. How many people have been led astray in order to remain tax exempt? If you allow the gospel of big government to be taught rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then woe to you when you give an account before the Bema seat of Christ.

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1, NKJV).

Think about that, pastor, when you choose to water down your teaching.

Can we blame the pastor and deacons alone? Brothers and sisters, you can read. You have no excuse for not knowing Scripture. Christians are afraid of being judgmental if they confront sin, so many condone it. That leads to bad doctrine and sin within the congregation being accepted. Because many pastors joke about Scripture and don’t call sin what it is, sin, Satan is sneaking into congregations. Satan is on the inside of our hallowed halls, and Christ is on the outside.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

That’s the epitome of Christianity in the final days. Guess what? We’re there. Sound doctrine isn’t tolerated, and preachers don’t care. Christ is on the outside while jokesters are on the inside. Brothers and sisters, don’t sit around waiting for your pastor to feed you the pure word of God. You can read…you can study…you can pray for understanding, and the Holy Spirit will open God’s truth to you. Scripture is our guide

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

We’re living in the end times, and if you’re not living by the word of God, then you’re in the crowd that mocks Him. Scripture, not the latest self-help book or psychology article, is your guide.

Today we see the evil influence of Satan filling people with hatred. Mobs of people spew hatred, burn businesses, injure and kill people while calling for an end to law enforcement. The savagery has grown to the point of frenzied hatred. Let me ask a question. What if a man who was empowered with boldness of the Holy Spirit would preach the truth to these deceived people? Would 3,000 of them turn from their wickedness? Would those 3,000 people share with others? It’s not the people who are the enemy but the satanic force that drives them. It’s really nothing to laugh at. Souls are being lost, and Christians keep silent.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks of putting on the full armor of God. He ends with a prayer request. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:18-19).

You have to know the Gospel in order to share it, and that takes serious study. Scripture contains words of edification, encouragement, and reproof. It needs to be held in authority.

So, what’s the joke? There is no joke. Teach against sin, but teach about the forgiveness that only comes from Jesus Christ. Sin isn’t funny, and God’s truth isn’t to be laughed at.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos” – God breathed.

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The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: June 21, 2020 by RR7

People like to feel unique. Just go to any shopping mall and you’ll see just how unique people like to be. Pink hair, tattoos, clothes that can leave you shaking your head in wonder. You don’t need a multi-colored Mohawk to show your uniqueness. All you need to do is live your life to please God instead of pleasing the world. Those of us who try to please God are unique, and even “peculiar.” “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Jesus redeemed us from our sin and sees us as “a peculiar people.” Christians belong to God, which makes us different from those of the world who belong to Satan. If you belong to Jesus, you should be eager to do good works to honor Him. Let’s take a look at our Guide in spiritual matters, and indeed in every facet of life. Our Guide is the Holy Spirit.

The best place to start is in the beginning. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity. Like God the Father and God the Son, He has always existed. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Satan wants us to believe that we evolved from pond scum, but that’s just one of his many lies. We first see the Holy Spirit at work at the creation of all that is. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).

Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Holy Spirit at work. We read of Him coming upon various people, but never indwelling. Nobody loved God more than King David, and his desire was to please Him. When David chose to sin with Bathsheba, he could have lost his place with God. David was heartbroken over his sin and turned to God instead of allowing his pride to lead him to Hell. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:10-11).

Read the entire Psalm and you’ll feel David’s anguish over his sin and the fear that he had lost his anointing. As you read through Scripture, remember that the Old Testament is a history book and there are many lessons to be learned by reading and pondering the truths found there. Those men and women looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, and God worked with them in a very different way than He works today. The Cross changed everything.

We live in a very unique time. Christians have a blessing that nobody had before the Cross nor will have after the Rapture. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. When we make a true and honest profession of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is sealed within us and our salvation is secure. God knows if you really meant the words, or if you were just pleasing your parents, or maybe you were in a bad situation and promised God that if He got you out of it you would follow Him. If you didn’t mean the words, you aren’t sealed with the Holy Spirit. God knows your heart.

On the other hand, if your profession was sincere, then you’re indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

When the Holy Spirit is sealed within you, it’s an unbreakable seal. Does that mean your troubles all go away or you never sin? No. Trouble and temptations will come your way, and you’ll have to make the choice of choosing to follow God’s will or follow Satan’s ways of worldly actions. The Holy Spirit will guide your choices, but you need to listen to Him. Study Scripture and pray. This is God’s way of telling us how we’re to make choices, and the Holy Spirit will illuminate Scripture. We still have the right to refuse to listen, and our poor choices hurt God. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

If you’ve truly committed your life to God, why would you want to grieve Him? If you can easily make sinful choices, then you may not have truly accepted the salvation that only comes through Jesus. We’ll never stop sinning while we live on this side of Heaven, but our sin should grieve us just as it grieves the Holy Spirit.

Is there any evidence of your commitment to Christ? If you truly love Him, your life will show it. The Holy Spirit will lead you to honor God in your words and actions. Your life will bear fruit that honors God. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:22-24).

Examine yourself. Do you see these characteristics being manifest in your own life? Have you crucified your lusts of the flesh? Jesus Christ is our example in all things, and His life was the epitome of each of these traits. You might think He had an advantage because He was God. The truth is, when Jesus entered His creation, He emptied Himself of His divine nature and relied upon the Holy Spirit. The miracles He did were done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

Jesus wasn’t ashamed to become a servant in the form of a human in order to save us from our sin. Using His example, we need to humble ourselves before God and be more like Jesus.

In addition to the fruits, which are traits every Christian should demonstrate, we also are given gifts from the Holy Spirit. Those gifts vary from one Christian to another. Some Christians can speak in tongues, some can heal, and some can teach. There are many gifts, and God may give you one or more. Whatever He blesses you with, be sure you use your gift for His glory. How do you discover what your gifts are? First of all, don’t waste time trying to figure it out. Get busy serving the Lord, and you’ll soon discover what your strengths are. You may find that He will give you a gift in an area that you never thought of. Look for ways to serve Jesus, and you’ll discover how God wants to use you. Offer yourself to God and be willing to serve Him.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

You may never be fully aware of a specific gift you have, but if you’re serving Jesus with no thought of your own glory, you’ll find that you’ve been using your gift without knowing it.

The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you, but you must understand that He will never tell you to do anything sinful. Too many people who profess to be Christians still follow the world in thoughts and actions. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

If you keep your thoughts on worldly matters, you won’t hear the pure word of God. You run the risk of twisting Scripture to fit your world view rather than fitting your life to God’s ways. Prayerfully study Scripture to find out how God desires you to behave. Scripture is very clear about sin, and I know too many people who take Scripture out of context or twist the meaning so they can justify their favorite sin. It takes humility for a person to admit they’re wrong. Humbly go before the Lord and ask forgiveness; turn away from sin even if it means losing friends. It can be done through the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, the Holy Spirit lives inside you; and when you choose to ignore Him and sin, you take God with you into the sin. No matter how hard you try to justify your actions, sin is sin and God doesn’t excuse your sin because you’ve got a “good reason” for your actions. He may not excuse you but He will forgive you.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:9-10).

The Holy Spirit will lead you along a path of righteousness. Listen to Him.

It was God the Father who sent the Comforter…the Holy Spirit…in Jesus’ name. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

Christians are blessed to have this precious gift sealed within us. Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

Those who follow Christ have this assurance of security. It won’t always be that way. There’s coming a day when Christians will be Raptured, and the Holy Spirit won’t indwell people any more. He will still be very active, and people will come to know Christ during the Tribulation period, but the sealing of the Holy Spirit won’t happen anymore.

Don’t wait to truly repent and ask Jesus for His gift of salvation. Don’t think that you have time and can live sinfully now and repent later. You cannot know when a fatal accident will happen or the Rapture will take Christians home. If you’re not sealed with the Holy Spirit, you won’t like your eternal destination. If you’re not sure if you’ve truly given your life to Christ, do it now. The choice is yours. Don’t rely on “infant baptism” or any baptism. Only your sincere acceptance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will give you eternal life. Once you’ve accepted His gift, start allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you away from sin.

The blood of Jesus Christ saves you, and the Holy Spirit seals you. Trust Jesus now and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout your life. You’ll be eternally glad you did.