Category: Evangelical Christian

PLAIN MESSAGE

By Rick Mathes

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We must be born of the water and the spirit. In context, I take the obvious plain message of natural birth and the Spirit-filled birth again. Born twice and die once is just fine with me.

The first birth is one that is corrupted and totally depraved because of Adam’s first sin. Not eve a speck of darkness can gain its way into a holy heaven. Sin pollutes our very essence and our form becomes carnal and world loving. What a foolish decision it is to chose to be a slave to sin, cuffed to the devil. (Think for a moment about that.) As an ultimate transgression our first natural birth causes us to be children of wrath.

The second birth is incorruptible and complete in holiness without which we will never enter heaven and see God as His is: how serious can it get? Holy means clean of all sin and to be holy we need to be wholly His. It’s a very wise decision form the Holy Spirit to seek spiritual growth above all worldly and carnal allurements. It takes a free man that is able not to sin to cease from sin. If any sin remains an option, no matter how weak the desire Satan will fan that spark into a blow-torch of desire for the fatality of condemnation. Seeking holiness with the urgency of taking a breath confirms you are a child of the promise.

You are born again by being born from above. No one can reverse this process for who can resist God. Satan can’t because he is just a created being as we are. This new birth makes our divine nature come alive in the fullness of His grace. Justification confirms that the atonement of Jesus was accepted by His Daddy (Abba).

Complete salvation is a full regeneration of all you are as you pass from death to life. Prayer, your personal prayer becomes your spiritual breath that contains His praises of which He inhabits. Being born again gives you a new heart, affections, delights, joys, man, eyes, ears, hands and feet. Step out past your steps to that place beyond your reach, where He begins, and enjoy the adventure of life He preordained for uyou to serve and love Him.

Accept the plain message and His arms will open out to you right now!

PHEAR-PHOOEY

By Rick Mathes

Matthew 14:30 But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Fear and doubt are sins that must immediately be repented of. They are the opposite of what Christ requires of you: trust and faith. When you fear, you doubt the Lord is in control and can handle it. WE must repent of fear, end it and run from it. Peter learned that lesson real quick as he began to sink in the deep of the sea. All he had to do was cry out “Lord save me!” and he was recovered from the deep. He had faith and trust; a complete 180 degree u-turn. It’s easy to be a Christian when its easy but you learn the truth of how deep your love goes when it get tough going.

Let’s turn our attention to the Lord’s simple command, “Come.”

That was a bold request considering the surrounding circumstances. The fishermen clearly knew that no one walks on the water not even a Super Apostle; Peter, the boldest of the Twelve, took the Lord up on this gracious invitation. The Lord gently invited Peter to a successful supernatural adventure. This is what Peter was made for so he stepped out of the boat; Wow!

Notice here that only one stepped out of the boat. The rest stayed in the boat and so it is in most churches. 10% of the church does 90% of the work. Few will rise to leadership and many will lift them up to the challenge facing them.

Sure, there was a momentary lapse of faith but Peter cried out to Jesus an earnest plea: “Lord save me!” On the immediate heels of this prayer was his speedy deliverance. The waters became cement under his feet and he and our Lord walked back and got into the boat.

Jesus couldn’t help but rebuke them for their lack of faith. After all the centuries and witnesses to the validity of keeping the faith, too many still fear and doubt. Learn from our Lord and Peter that when you earnestly cry out to Him there is always a blessed result. All it takes is faith and trust. Over the years, Jesus has proved this so many times. I rarely slip from trusting Him and obedience to His commands but I still do from time to time. It’s at that moment that I step out of the boat and reaffirm my faith in Him. Won’t you follow me?

PETER REMEMBERED

By Rick Mathes

Mark 14:72 (NASB77) ⁷² And immediately a cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.

May Peter’s example teach us all that although we are human and sin, the Lord will always answer our prayer of repentance even if unspoken? He hears our heart aches. WE still have to think before we act:

• Think about resisting the Holy Spirit
• Think about your Christian progress
• Think about backsliding-heart wandering
• Think about neglecting or souls
• Think about how little you pray
• Think of the shame you bring His name
• Think about your obligation to Him

This begs the question: How could he betray Jesus and are we doing the same? Every time I sin I think of Peter and am encouraged to repent but learn more about sin so as to avoid it by all means

Sin blinds us to the very beauty of the creation around us. We never notice our Creator’s choice of blue for our sky much less His creation of nature here and beyond our galaxy system. The first cry of a newborn baby is music to the ears of all who are pro-life as is the flourishing of a newly planted flower.

Sin makes us deaf to His word and we live in denial of our ignorance as well as understanding of His Holy Words. It turns out feet toward hell and we are irresistibly attracted to the flames as a bug to a torch: certain and immediate death.

Our veins are poisoned with sin and it affects the whole body, the church. As it reaches our heart it is ever closer to polluting our soul and then we never turn back to Him. Our heart becomes deceitful beyond measure.

God uses His glove of mercy but don’t forget He will eventually have to use His fist of judgment. Dwell much with Him and it is impossible for you to be at peace with sinl

PENNED IN

By Rick Mathes

John 10:1 (NASB77) ¹ “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.

The Sheep pen is the Church and the Gate is the Holy Spirit. The Good Shepherd of course is our Lord and we are His sheep. This parable is perfect to show our relationship to our Master.

We follow Him because He knows His sheep and they know Him and respond to His calling. They are very close to each other in person and in spirit. His sheep love and follow Him wherever He goes.

The big difference between sheep and His people is that sheep are herded from behind but He leads those who are His from the lead. It’s a real family in every way.

Our Lord, our Good Shepherd talks to us through His word as if He were talking to His children. We respond with our prayers. How can anyone have a meaningful relationship with another unless they have a continuing conversation and fellowship?

Our hearts beat with His because we owe our lives to Him. We were once lost and following only bad shepherds that crossed our paths. Now, praise the Lord, we have the Good Shepherd that has saved us from the clutches of that roaring lion of destruction from Hell.

There isn’t any counterfeit satisfaction that is an improvement of the real thing. Only Jesus can fill that “God space” in us. Only Jesus and His Word will give us the fullness of His glory, the glory our souls agonize for.

He died for us. Let this sink in and never tire of searching the depths of this truth that He actually took our Hell upon Himself and died so that we might live. His resurrection and glory This alone unites us as one Body and one Soul. We can return to our first nature if only we will follow the Good Shepherd and leave the false shepherd behind in the flames.

 

PEACE BRO

By Rick Mathes

Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Whatever happened to Shalom, Salaam and Peace be with you? The Arabs and humanists don’t have it to give because it only comes from God (Eloyim) through our Lord (Adonai) Jesus Christ (Messiah). It all comes together for our justification. We can stand in the presence of our Creator without stain of sin because of our Savior. When Father God looks on us, He sees His Son and blesses us as He does Jesus. This is the only way to Shalom.

The Salaam of the Muslims or Peace be with you of the godless humanists means nothing because they don’t have any real peace to offer. The more we see the war, carnage and chaos of this world the more the peace of Jesus will mean something to us.

The key to this peace for believers is immediate access to God. I have a hard time just waiting for my doctor see when he is 15 minute behind or when I have to wait a half hour for a haircut. But I can just step into the presence of Jesus whenever I want to and He is not put out. In fact, He is thrilled I came to visit Him even when I bring a load of problems. How refreshing can it get that I always have the ear of God when I nee it.

This gives me an assurance that the Word is true and my Lord’s promises are valid. He’s not hiding from me or lining up a litany of excuses. He looks me square in the eyes and says, “I love you.” Isn’t that what we all want: a big bear hug from a daddy that means it?

Once this communion of souls occurs, we are indwelled with all He is. We become the skin He lives in and works through. We literally become ambassadors of the King and He accomplishes His purposes through us. We begin to step into His footsteps and do here what He id there when He and His roamed the country side with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

When you put this all together, we know we know we are preserved in Him. Everyone has eternal life. It’s not just a matter of where will you spend your eternal life. Also, it’s how we live it starting right now. We will not rot and be eaten by worms for long. He promised that after we are planted in the earth, all that we did and lived will blossom in the fullness of our new resurrected bodies and life form united with His essence. That’s peace bro!

 PAUL’S 12 PRACTICES

By Rick Mathes

Philippians 3:8-9 (NASB77) ⁸  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,  ⁹  and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
There isn’t enough space for me to elaborate on each of thee in any depth with the attention they deserve. However, in the best interests of getting this information and essentially an outine of these to you, the following should surely salt your spiritual tongue and challenge you to go and do likewise.

1. Worship God in the Spirit: step sin free into the holiness of god.
2. Rejoice in Christ: consider what would you do with you if you were God?
3. No confidence in the flesh: you did it your way and look what happened.
4. Count all thing a loss: all you have is sand through your fingers at death.
5. No self-righteousness: do you really believe you can do it your way?
6. Follow after knowledge: the mind is a terrible thing to waste.
7. Count all things dung: you can’t take any of it with you (no U-Haul)
8. Forget the past: take a dump and flush your toilet. (thing about this)
9. Reach out for future things: build up your rank and treasure in heaven.
10. Press on toward the prize constant pressure will move any mountain.
11. Bean example: when people get to know you do they get to know Him.
12. Look up for Jesus: Look outward for Satan. (do you get this)

His greatest weapon was knowledge and fear of God; he who knows wins. Learning is a personal and ongoing experience. I have DDiv and DTh Degrees and can say with all truth I have only learned how much more yet there is to learn. We must apply our intelligence and not be satisfied with our level of mediocrity but we must strive for His level of Excellency.

I have a deep-seated affection for the Word of God. I have a kinship with its authors and really feel I am spending time with my family when I get lost in study. There is nothing more satisfying but for me to discover a new truth in an old worn out reading. It’s like fining a diamond in a coal-bin. I actually sense excitement as I craft a bible study or a sermon. What Go speaks to me I want to dutifully pass on to you. Be as blessed as I am!

PAUL

By Rick Mathes

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

It I were to write a message to the city of New York and sign it, “Rick” all who read it would say, “Rick who?” Now if I signed it “The Donald” they would all be familiar with the Donald Trump I was referring to. Such was the notoriety of the name “Paul.” They know who he was and a contract was put out on his life to kill him on sight.

Paul suffered mistreatment by unbelievers that started the moment he believed. Jesus appeared and gave him his marching orders. What else could he do but obey with the zeal of a saint that had found his Savior?

He had a holy boldness that only the Holy Spirit could provide. And you know what? It is the same Holy Spirit that dwells in you this moment. One match can light a whole universe and one man can change a nation of unbelievers to seek the forgiveness of Jesus. He was in great conflict with those who he loved so deeply he once said he would go to their hell if they would only come to Jesus for their salvation. How deep is your love of neighbor?

Today’s fast-food, fast-track salesmen that are ordained by demons use every deceit their leader ever invented for you to put off to tomorrow anything that will draw you closer to Jesus today. Even those who appear most trustworthy may be a devil with a mask on. Judas was trusted with the primitive church’s treasury and he not only stole from it but sold out Jesus for the price of a lowly slave; how appropriate.

Paul and each Timothy who has ever followed in his foot-steps preached only to please Jesus. Before I ever preach a word I pray to the Lord that if I misspeak the Word to change it to the hearing of my audience. He never used flattering words. C.H. Spurgeon taught new ministers to get into their guts, grab their hearts and point to Jesus. I might add that Jesus never made it easy to be a follower of His. John Calvin remarked that we have made it so easy for someone to be a Christian that we don’t know who isn’t.

No, Paul stood before his Commander-in-Chief and said, “Send me, Lord” and he stood firm. He knew that the gain was worth the pain. So where does that put you and I. Well I’m writing and you are reading. It’s my prayer that we will both stand up now and give Paul a heartfelt ovation, “Amen”, well done!

 

PAIN IS GAIN

By Rick Mathes

Acts 12:12 (NASB77) ¹²  And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

The root word for temptation or testing in Greek is the same word. In either use, Jesus is showing the resolve of the believer to remain faithful to Christian values. This inevitably will work good in a man even if there is a growing pain “ouch!” in the process.

It’s been my experience that the Lord’s primary target to uncover is the pride of self that needs to humbled. This sin was the demise of Lucifer. Pride, in fact, is the root of most all sins that follow. The death of self demonstrates faith in the promises of the Lord that we will be forgiven, will rise from our graves and be raptured into heaven where He reigns supreme. Oh what a blessed hope to live for!

Everyone has doubted at one time or another so a positive spin on testing is to challenge our sincerity. Are you a Christian for real? I believe there is a hotter place in hell for hypocrites that pose as Christians but live for the devil. The flames of hell torture but the holy fire of the Holy Spirit refines and purifies the soul of dross so that only purity remains as a treasure you store uf for that special day when you return to your first nature.

Affliction can increase your power to resist sin and to humble and correct your perverted thought process an rationalization that makes evil good.

This whole experience of temptation is designed to make an example of you as a typhoon tests the roots of trees it lashes it fury at with full force. The calm that follows this temptest manifests love because it has prevailed against the blow-torch blast of flames from hell.

What reward can be expected as we learn obedience? Joy and the good will of Jesus make the holocaust the devils can throw at us worth surviving for Him. This is truth that pain precedes gain. The last beatitude of persecution will open the gate to the throne room. The Father is waiting for us to fight the good fight and stand before Him in victory.

 

PAID IN FULL

By Rick Mathes

John 19:30 (NASB77) ³⁰  When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ” It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.

My wife and I had a very large debt from our “before Christ” days that followed us ino full-time ministry. We chose not to bankrupt because of the poor example that would be so we dug in and had pasta without the meatballs for seven years and paid everyone in full. We were so thankful that we paid them all off we celebrated with a very expensive dinner, tuxedoed waiters and all. It was a blessed experience we will never forget.

On my knees in my pastors office I was sobbing “Tetelestai, it is finished!”  All my Roman Catholic punishment in purgatory and hell went right out the window and I was forgiven, my debt was paid-in-full. I have salvation from the punishment of sin, the presence of sin and the future temptations of sin. In the Spirit of the Lord we are able not to sin. Listen carefully to this: the sin you have you want because if you didn’t want it more than you do want it, you wouldn’t have it!

We are at peace with all mankind; Roman Catholics and Muslims included. Our death penalty has been stayed and with so big a forgiveness from Jesus, how can we not forgive our neighbors no matter how heinous the crime to us can be. We have been set free!

Our Lord is the Great Physician and He has a healing for us all. No matter how far you feel yourself from the Cross of atonement you are only one breath away from repentance. When you turn your back on the devil you are face to face with Jesus. One look into His forgiving eyes and your knees will buckle beneath you and your mouth will say “Lord save me!” and He will. You are in for an experience you won’t soon forget.

Once the Holy Spirit is released in you the new covenant contract is sealed with the offer, acceptance and consideration. It is unbearable and not even all the demonic hounds of hell can prevail against you. No one, not even Satan and all his legions or fallen angels can beak this contract with God; covenantal salvation, an offer you can’t refuse.