The Day of the Lord Is Near

 

August 5, 2020

 

Zephaniah 2:7-18

 

The Day of the Lord Is Near

 Be silent before the Lord God!  For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.   And on the day of the Lord's sacrifice—
“I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.   On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold,
and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud.  “On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills.  Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!   For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. At that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent,  those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’  Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste.  Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.”  The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.   A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.  I will bring distress on mankind so that they shall walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.   Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end  he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

 

For the people of Judah when the Babylonians attacked, it was the day of God’s judgment, yet for those who were spared it was a time of silence before God, they went from house to rubble.  Shall we bring it into a time we understand, Nazi Germany was going through Europe destroying army after army, most of Germany was not part of the Nazi party, but if you did not agree, the brown shirts of Hitler’s bunch of thugs would hurt you, if they did not kill you.  If you were a Jew they put you in concentration camps, and later when He came to power they would kill six million of them in gas chambers.

 

But in God’s providence, He allowed the evil man Hitler to believe he could attack Russia with the same success as those he had so easily defeated the nations in Europe and also attacking shipping of American supplies to China, Russia, and England.  The six-year and one-day war ended with Germany in rubble, and those left were silent before the Lord God.

 

Many who go by the title of Christian have lived in fear during the China virus, but a day when God brings His wrath on those who have put their faith in government, leaders, and wealth, will be judged, and not one thing will stop God’s judgment on this nation.  I believe we are having the birth pains of a Nation that has moved from in God we Trust to in Hollywood, in Socialism, in big government, we trust.  I do not know what tomorrow brings, but this I do know, my Father has full control over all things.

 

Are you one of those the Father has consecrated as his guest?   Shall we revisit verse 7, “Be silent before the Lord God!  For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Coming Judgment on Judah

 

Zephaniah 1:2-6

The Coming Judgment on Judah

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away man and beast;  I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble^[a] with the wicked.  I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.  “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom,  those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.”

 

When talking about sweeping away everything from the face of the earth, Holman Study Bible states that is a  Hyperbole, for those with my lack of education it means an exaggeration.  They make that claim that God is merciful, and He goes on to proclaim that a remnant of Judah will be saved, and others also.  It was again not deserved, it was not required to spare anyone, but His judgment last but a moment, but God's mercy last a lifetime.

 

Once more Zephaniah is using a hyperbole in verse three to give an account of the wicked people of the world and of Judah, who worship even animals.  It is not in any way telling us that Judgement is not coming to the wicked.  The sad news is only a few of the wicked have an understanding of how detestable they are to a Holy God.

 

In verses 4-6, we get a clear picture of God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem.  For those who have chased after the gods of this world and have not sought repentance, judgment is coming.  But God has a special judgment for those who were to be spiritual leaders and lead his people after the little gods of this world that cannot see or move or hear.  A pastor or teacher should be very careful to not lead anyone in the wrong way.  2 Peter 2:1, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

 

Let me close this paper with this statement, I would be very careful in any statement about the meaning of what has been written in God’s word.  Is it clear that Zephaniah is using hyperbole to make clear the judgment that is coming on the wicked people of the earth, even those of God's chosen people?

 

Shall we look at what the Bible has to say; Genesis 6:7, So, the LORD said, "I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them."  We know that in this case, one man found favor in the eyes of God, his name was Noah, and the Bible tells us he was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries, “Noah walked with God.”  He was not the second Adam, for he like you and me had been passed on the nature of sin from Adam; trying to get our needs met outside of God's only Son.  We also know that the book of Zephaniah was addressing a later time.  I’m not sure of many things, but be very careful handling the Word of God.

I also would look at Isaiah 6:11, Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man and the land be utterly desolate, land.

 

 

From the Back Porch, 

 

Bob Rice

Introduction to Zephaniah

 

August 3, 2020

 

Zephaniah 1:1

 

The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

 

Introduction

 

Zephaniah

 

One of the Minor Prophets, Zephaniah focuses on the need to live in righteousness before God.  Of all the prophets, Zephaniah probably gave the most forceful description of judgment, but he also lifted up the possibility of restoration for those who repented and turned to righteousness. (Introduction is taken from the Holman Study Bible)

 

I find myself being reminded of the words of Isaiah the prophet; “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5)

 

Never have I seen such evil, and those who do it are not the poor, but the leadership in the Congress of the United States.  Often they are funded by very wealthy evil men, who call evil good and good evil.  Often these people make statements that they are praying for the president of our Nation, but when examining their words, one must question to whom are they praying.

 

As one who seeks to follow Jesus, I find the need to examine myself often, and to pray for those who would allow the evil powerful people to control their lives.  But I also find myself asking forgiveness for my evil thoughts and many shortcomings.  Can we as brothers and sisters in Christ agree that we must seek righteousness before God?  It will not happen unless we ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to our need to repent and seek the face of God.

 

That is the approach I will take as I explore what the prophet has to say to me.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Do you listen when God speaks-Do you do what He says?

 

August 2, 2020

 

Haggai 2:20-23

 

Zerubbabel Chosen as a Signet

The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,  “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.  On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

 

When God speaks do you believe Him, and the answer from most church-going people is yes, but that’s not true, for if you believe Him you would do as He has instructed.  When God's man Haggai spoke to Zerubbabel, he had little power, not much of a military.  Here is the kicker that many of us do not get, God knew that Zerubbabel had few that believed in him as a leader, that he had few resources, a small number of men in his army, but it was God that was going into battle with Zerubbabel.

All that was required for Zerubbabel to be a great leader was to obey God totally and that is all that is required for God to use you and me.  God promises Zerubbabel that He would make him like My signet ring, for God had chosen him.  WOW, to be chosen by God, is that possible for one such as you and I?  You can bet eternity on it.  If you have by faith entered into Christ, through the redemption of His bloodshed on the Cross for the forgiveness of sin, then you have been Chosen.  

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  (Ephesians 1:3-6)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Blessings for a Defiled People

 

Haggai 2:10-19

 

Blessings for a Defiled People

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet,   “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.”   Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”   Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. 

And what they offer there is unclean.   Now then, consider from this day onward,  Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.   I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.   Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider:  Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

Do not miss what is being asked to the priest by Haggai in verse 12, holiness cannot be transferred.  It could not be transferred from the meat to the bread, and it cannot be transferred from your grandmother or mother to you.  It is not transferred by joining a church, walking an aisle, or being baptized; it requires faith given to you by God, to believe in His only Son, Jesus Christ, and Jesus taking your place paying for your sins, by the shedding of His blood as the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world.

 

Verses 13 &14 give us a clear picture of works, even giving to your church or the building fund does not make one holy, it is not doing, but faith in Jesus Christ,   Many a Jew then and now believed it made them holy by touching the temple, but God is the only source of holiness and He looks at the heart, not what one does.

 

If no matter how hard you work it seems you never get caught up, things wear out or break long before they should, your family seems to always be going to a doctor, lay out  your plans before Him, and wait for His leadership.  The people of Israel were not so, God withheld His blessing, and yet they kept trying to do it all themselves, only giving God lip service.  Have you taken that inventory, have you examined yourself?

 

God speaking through His prophet Haggai, is telling you and me also to “Consider from this day onward,”  to confess our sins of getting our needs met outside of Christ.  My friend Bill Gillham often said the following: “If your self-acceptance is tied to the flesh, it is only a matter of time until you encounter a crisis.  God never intended for you to get your needs met through your own resources.  The flesh is incapable of supplying what God intends to supply Himself.”

 

I will leave you with this thought also from my friend  Bill; “God accepts you based upon what you have done with Christ.  If you have based acceptance upon anything other than Christ, you have higher standards than God.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

God is Sovereignity and all He has stated will take Place

 Haggai 2:1-9

 

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,  ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?   But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.  ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

The twenty-first day of the seventh month was when the people celebrated the blessing of a good harvest and recalled when their ancestors lived in tents, wandering in the wilderness.  It was also the last of the Feast of Tabernacles.  A large crowd of people would have been there for the feast and so Haggai would be able to address many people with God’s message.  When Haggai ask who had seen the temple before it was destroyed, it was only a reminder that the temple was only a shadow of the former temple.

The message, be strong, was to remind the leaders and the people that God had not changed, and His Spirit was with them, as it was with the people coming out of bondage in Egypt.  “Do not fear.”  In this time of the China Virus, how often do we have to be told by God and His Word to not fear?  Many a churchgoer has listened more to some talking head on TV than to God.  Do you recall God saying all men are liars and only God is truth, have you again put faith in man?

 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.   I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.  ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.   ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place, I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

What God is saying He is going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the land, He is reminding us of His sovereignty over all that will happen.  Haggai, God’s mouthpiece is telling the future of what the Persians would pay for the full cost of reconstruction, it is found in Ezra 6:8.  King Darius not only is funding the project but has given orders to put to death anyone that tries to stop the rebuilding of the Temple or the walls of Jerusalem.  

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

When people fear God

 

 

July 30, 2020

 

Haggai 1:12-15

 

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord.  So, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,  on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

 

The Church has never been in greater need of a Haggai than today.  It is apparent as a whole the Church has little fear of God’s wrath.  Haggai challenged the discouraged people of Jerusalem to examine the way they were living and to set a new course, with new priorities that would please God.  He reminded them that God was with them, that it was God who controls their future, and that the desires of God are for the people who go by His name to be holy.

 

When leaders obey God, and we see the people of God doing as their leaders, it is a good thing.  Let me share a few examples of evil kings leading the people away from God.  Hezekiah was a good king that led his people in the ways of God, but his son Manasseh was evil and led his people into evil.  His son's name was Amon, and he also led the people in evil to worship the gods of the nations around them.

 

Pastors are called by God, it is not a profession, it is not a career.  It is not even an easy life, but if you are being led by the Spirit of God, and not by trying to be liked by the mayor and leaders of the community, or even the members of your church, but seeking the will of God, it is the only life and the only way you can have the power to fulfill your calling.  When pastors first examine their selves, and confess their sins, and humble themselves before God and His church, then the people will do likewise, and renewal happens.

 

God has given pastors this insight often in the Scriptures, and we see the governor and the high priest doing so and the people following.  A healthy fear of God had come because of the leaders and the people because they knew that God was speaking through Haggai.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

“You expected much, but see, it turbot be little."

 July 27, 2020

 

Haggai 1:9-11

 

 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home; I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.   Therefore, because of you, the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.   I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

 

Shall we the Church ponder on verse 7, ”This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.”  Are you, and am I, guilty of putting our wants and needs before what God has called us to be about?  How often are you taking inventory of your life, as instructed in verse seven?  We are reminded more than once about doing so, and Paul the apostle of God does so in 2 Corinthians 13:5.  At the time Haggai was the Lord’s prophet, the people were living busy lives planting crops and vineyards but were never satisfied, for God was withholding His blessing.  Give thought to what God has said, yes ponder on are your wages being put into a purse with a hole in it?  How many things in your home, on your car seem to break or wear out way before they should have?  

 

Do you ask a lot of questions, I do and that has served me well over the years, and I’ve learned to ask Jesus questions as I study His written word, but also as I go, I often need more understanding of how to do so many things.  The challenge is not asking the question, but waiting for God’s answer.   What are you expecting?   We must ponder on these verses,  “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home; I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.   

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Final Instructions and Greetings

 

July 25, 2020

 

Titus 3:12-15

 

Final Instructions and Greetings

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.   Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.   And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

All who are with me, send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Finial instructions: do whatever is in your ability to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. do so.  Be about the truth, be about kindness and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in your giving and ministry.  

Go back and often read, Titus chapter 3, and especially verses 3-7, ^“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.   But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

But God

 Titus 3:3-11

 

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.   But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

 

Titus, being led by the Holy Spirit gives insight into the before and the after of every person's life without Christ, and all of us were like this at one time.  But God, if it was not for those two words, you and I would be in a mess, for it was grace through faith we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit makes this very clear as He speaks through Titus, in verses 4-7,  “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

 

Titus is instructing each follower of Christ, be on guard against the flesh, be on guard against old habits and thought patterns, we are to allow God’s Spirit to lead us into good works. Titus goes on to share the works we should be about, works that are excellent and profitable for people.  The other day I had a man who is very godly tell me he disagrees with my thoughts on the China virus and asks me to remove him from my email list.  I was shocked, he has shared that he read the New York Times and it often prints lies and untruths, but he has not dropped them.  I did as asked, and I still love and respect that man for he loves God.  

 

As a follower of Christ, we should never allow differences of opinions on a matter make us break fellowship with another believer.  If you find yourself in a church body, and you disagree on what is being spoken from the leadership, please leave, but do not stir up division, leave and pray for that body of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Be Ready for Every Good Work

 

Titus 3:1-2

 

Be Ready for Every Good Work

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.   

 

Let’s be clear if for any reason you have doubts about current events, God is not calling us to turn off our brains and believe what the New York Times and CNN are telling you or Dr. Fauci, whose track record on this virus does not look all that good unless you only read the New York Times or watch T.V. News. 

 

We have the mind of Christ, but you will not find that mind at Fox news or your local rag you call a news source.  It took a while to come to an understanding that much of the China Virus was not true, and yes people have died, but most of them had premedical conditions that would not allow their bodies to fight the virus.  I do not believe that all over the people of the nation began to riot because a bad man under the control of drugs was killed by the police, and I do believe the policeman was wrong in what he did, no excuse.  I do believe powerful men who are evil were behind the riots, they were and are organized and well planned out.  Not only are the poor fools destroying business, and people’s lives, but in their foolish evil hearts are now burning the word of God.  I have news for these fools, and I’m only agreeing with God when calling them  fools, “the fool says in their hearts there is no God.”  The good news is they could burn all the Bibles in the world, and the Rock would carry the living word to those chosen by God.

 

With that said, I wear a mask, and where required by law I do the six feet thing, and I know a little about masks, most are pretense at best, many do you more harm than good.  Even the N-95 if not fitted correctly has very little value.  If you have facial hair like a beard, it does not work.  I wear a pretense mask because God has told me to obey authority, He did not tell me to keep my thoughts to myself.  I do not attend church service, I do not have fellowship with my brothers and sisters, in Christ because the doors are closed to worship, do I like that, not on your life, but I don’t have a voice and I’m under authority, but I still have the freedom today to share my thoughts.  They are not mean-spirited and yes I believe I have looked at both sides of the issues. The only place in the Scriptures where I am told to fear is to fear God.  There are many verses such as Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  I also find in Scripture the book of Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  

 

Do you find it hard to do good works locked up in fear of dying from the China Virus?  Have you wondered how many people have died from the flu, from car wrecks, from heart attacks, and from cancer?  If you have a different opinion based on facts, I will be happy to have a dialog with you.  Do you understand, that before you were formed in your mother, God had seen each day of your life and appointed a day for you to die, and no mask, no virus, nor anything is going to change that day?  Jan and I have chosen to believe God, not doctors, nor anyone else unless they are obeying the written word of God.  Choose this day who you will follow, as for me and my house we will follow the Lord.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

P.S. Does the Scripture to respect authority, supersede Hebrews 10:25?

Trained to stand against ungodliness and worldly passions

  

Titus 2:11-15

 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.  Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Have you been trained to stand against ungodliness and worldly passions?  I ask myself that question on a regular basis.  I have never observed more ungodliness than in the last three years in my nation.  The New York Times, CNN, MBC, ABC, and CBS have put forth a lie about the Steele Dossier, in fact, they had the truth and kept doing so.  And we ask why it fits their agenda.  Congressman Adam Schiff represents California's 28th Congressional District, he has been caught in more lies, than anyone and cost us the Taxpayers millions of dollars to do what brings down a President that was elected by the people of this Nation.  The FBI leadership and the CIA leadership both working with the Clinton’s have to lie and brought false prosecution against a man who served his country for 33 years.  That is just the tip of the evil that is taking place in our nation, yet we as Christ-followers are told by our church leaders, we should not concern ourselves with these things.  

 

If the Church will not stand against those who are for killing babies, lying about anyone that opposes them, in their evil acts, who hate our freedom to assemble, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to bear arms, against a government that is trying to remove these rights from every Citizen.  Is that the real Church?  Let me be very clear, the main message of the Church is God so loved you that He bought you out of sin by the redeeming blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Romans 10:9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” That gives us all the information needed to receive this gift, but it will not happen until you agree with Romans 3:11-16, and those verses are summarized in Romans 2:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

 

If you have a problem with that as the central message of the church, then I would challenge you to go back to 2 Corinthians 13:5, and take the test.  But that does not remove the church from renouncing and taking a stand against evil in our Nation, and opposing a system that would encourage people to lie, to get more money and power, to encourage fake news, or to make statements from that news without knowing it to be of the truth.  I have a big problem with anyone that goes by the name Christian and would vote for a party that not only encourages to use my tax money to support the taking the life of an unborn child.  I’m against anyone that would honor a no-good evil man, who was high on drugs because it fits their political desires.  A black Senator who gave much of his life to fighting for his people, will not get dragged around the nation for weeks to be honored as was a criminal like George Floyd, something is very wrong with that!

 

Are you waiting for Jesus' soon return?  If not let me share this insight from Dr. J.I. Packer, who passed away July 17, 2020.  “Dr. Packer told interviewer Ivan Mesa that “in the days when it was physically possible for me to do these things I was concerned, even anxious, to get ahead with doing them.  Now that it’s no longer possible I acknowledge the sovereignty of God.”

 

Describing what he called Christian realism, Dr. Packer continued, “God knows what he’s up to.  And I’ve had enough experiences of his goodness in all sorts of ways not to have any doubt about the present circumstances. Some good, something for his glory, is going to come out of it.”

 

As one who is a follower of Christ, I know and have experienced that goodness and am looking forward to this world having one last awaking before Christ returns.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Value of a Mentor

 

Titus 2:6-10

 

 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.   Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.   Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

 

Often, we need to ask who is the audience, to whom the speaker is addressing.  Let me assure you it is not the older woman, nor the wife, it’s the older men.  Some men were blessed to have a dad that was a spiritual man and taught his sons the values and precepts found in the Bible and lived them out in front of his sons in the home.  But those numbers seem to be few in regard to the number of men that attend church.

 

Then there are even a few in number, that we're blessed to have men who mentor them.  Men in the Church have been taught that Iron sharpens iron, it takes men with a heart to invest in the lives of another man so that they can also be in the field of discipline other men.  My first mentor was a very successful oilman, name Jack Archer, Jack had another name in the Oil industry, it was dry hole Jack.  Twenty-one failures before he hit the one that made him a millionaire, and it was not long before we crossed paths that Jack and ten other businessmen came to the understanding that Jesus was all they needed, and Jack and the other ten ask him into their lives as Howard Butt, shared with them at Laity Lodge.  Jack was a great mentor, and he taught me what he knew, God loves me.  I had heard that for years but Jack, not that far ahead of me in his new walk was able to help me understand that truth, and apply it to my life.  He also introduced me to reading the works of C. S. Lewis and others Oswald Chambers and George McDonald. 

 

Jack was not the Bible teacher, that Ken Ryan was, nor a man who had learned to walk by faith as was Greg Hood, who beat into my thick head and heart 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

 

If you are a man who walks upright in the world, what does that mean, Oswald Chambers, give this example; “To “walk and not faint” is the highest stretch possible as a measure of strength. The word walk is used in the Bible to express the character of a person— “.  If you have that walk, mentor a younger man, ask the Lord to send one, and wait till He does.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Teach Sound Doctrine

 

Titus 2:1-2

 

Teach Sound Doctrine

But as for you, teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

When we are taught sound doctrine, our lives project a way consistent with sound teaching, in ways that would affirm rather than deny their claim to know God.

 

At this stage in life, I have arrived as the older man, I did not say wiser for I have much to learn.  The Corona Virus has been a good teacher for the Church, it has exposed men and women who walk by feel and not by faith.  It has made me ask myself this question, can I be the hands and feet of Jesus locked up in my home?  Can I be the hands and feet of Jesus fearful to touch a person? 

 

What does “Sober-minded” mean: “The term sober-minded literally means “free from intoxicating influences.” “More broadly, being sober-minded means that we do not allow ourselves to be captivated by any type of influence that would lead us away from sound judgment. The sober-minded individual is not “intoxicated,” figuratively speaking, and is therefore calm under pressure, self-controlled in all areas, and rational.” (From Got Questions)

 

When under sound teaching and applying it to our daily walk with the Lord, praying for guidance, and spending time in the Scriptures, we come to this understanding the Christian life is an impossible life to live, only one person has done so.  We must ask Jesus to be our life, that sounds easy, but it is not, for He must increase, and we must decrease.  When that happens; Jesus will teach you how to let His dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness be lived out in you.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Ric

Teach Sound Doctrine

 

 

Titus 2:1-2

 

Teach Sound Doctrine

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness

When we are taught sound doctrine, our lives project a way consistent with sound teaching, in ways that would affirm rather than deny their claim to know God.

 

At this stage in life, I have arrived as the older man, I did not say wiser for I have much to learn.  The Corona Virus has been a good teacher for the Church, it has exposed men and women who walk by feel and not by faith.  It has made me ask myself this question, can I be the hands and feet of Jesus locked up in my home?  Can I be the hands and feet of Jesus fearful to touch a person? 

 

What does “Sober-minded” mean: “The term sober-minded literally means “free from intoxicating influences.” “More broadly, being sober-minded means that we do not allow ourselves to be captivated by any type of influence that would lead us away from sound judgment. The sober-minded individual is not “intoxicated,” figuratively speaking, and is therefore calm under pressure, self-controlled in all areas, and rational.” (From Got Questions)

 

And when under sound teaching and applying it to our daily walk with the Lord, praying for guidance, and spending time in the Scriptures, we come to this understanding the Christian life is an impossible life to live, only one person has done so.  We must ask Jesus to be our life, that sounds easy, but it is not, for He must increase, and we must decrease.  When that happens; Jesus will teach you how to let His dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness live out in you.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Living in a time of insubordinate people

 

 

Titus 1: 10 – 16

 

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.  They must be silenced since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.   One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”   This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.  To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.    To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

 

  Living in a time of insubordinate people, but where does the blame lay, we might begin with parents, who have not trained their children in righteousness.   Many go to church but have not been instructed by the pastors and teachers on training up a child.  We have disobedient, rebellious children, who have become parents and we now are reaping what we sowed.  

 

It all begins and ends with the man, he is called by God to lead his family, and he has dropped the ball, in that other things like work and fishing or golf have been allowed to take up the time need in obeying God in this area.

 

But what is an empty talker we know what a deceiver is it is a person acting like a devil.  Because the Scriptures tell us the devil is a liar and deceiver, that is his nature.  Could a preacher that does not tell you the truth of Scripture be an empty talker and a deceiver?  I am blessed that my pastor Ray Still teaches the Scriptures.

 

If you are attending a church where you have an empty talker, leave. For this reason, To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice