Tag: Bible

SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

Tagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

By Rick Mathes

Did you know that if a baby was born the moment Jesus died and lived for seventy years and then a baby was born and lived seventy years and on and on; if you laid the bodies our end to end you would find the we are less than 30 bodies away from the Cross! Think about that the next time you are in a room with 30 people. It wasn’t that long ago!

Albert Einstein proved that light bends time. If that I true and you followed the curve of that time-line, it would meet itself and be a circle. That means time is constant and doesn’t change. The “I AM the I AM” is making a lot more sense to me. Time doesn’t exist for Jesus. It is one long continuum. Imagine that; I can’t.

I believe we are a hairs-breath away from the person of God. Our five senses as so dull that even an eagle can see better that we can and a dog has better ears that we have. We really are sadly inept to sense the presence of our Lord. We are so close and yet so far away.

I’ve even imagined alternate universes all occurring at the same time. Or imagined that our galaxy was just a speck of dust on the arm of the Lord’s throne. Or how about this one: that a molecule has a thousand universes in it, inhabited by a thousand Adams from many ages. Thinking out of the box is fun for me. I really enjoy asking “What if?”

However, all praise the glory be to Jesus, I keep my feet on the ground by keeping my nose in God’s Holy Word. It’ the only thing that brings any reason or sense to this world gone insane where evil is good and good is bad.

Thank you Jesus for assigning your buddy the Holy Spirit to keep o the right track to glory. I may not know all the answers to all my questions but I have learned from the Word has kept me healthy, happy, and content with my assurance of salvation.

I really believe God and what I believe to be time and space will never be understandable to me but at least I can think in concepts of infinity and laugh at a joke: the very things that separate me from the animal kingdom.

SHUT EYES

Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

SHUT EYES

By Rick Mathes

It is because we shut our eyes that we become so sadly blind. I once questioned a donor about his Lutheran faith. I asked him, “What do you as a Lutheran believe? What is your doctrine?” He responded, “I believe what our church believes.” I pressed further, “What does your church believe?” He fired back, “They believe what I believe.” I insisted, “What do you both believe?” He answered, “The same thing!”  This is called circular reasoning as opposed to objectivism. It is a perfect example of “shut eyes.” There can only be one 12 inch ruler. It can’t be 11 inches for the carpenter and 10 inches for the mason and 13 inches for the electrician. This would be chaos.

I was born with two questions in my mind that have hounded me to this very minute. What is truth” and Why? I need to know the root cause and effect and this pursuit has been an exciting adventure I have no regret of continuing. All my thinking is proceeded with these two questions and they have got me in a lot of trouble over the years.

So I seek the greater truths and I chase down the “Why?” to it source. It has and continues to challenge my world view and provide an apologetic for my faith. What is greater than man personified in Christ, the God-man or Son of God?

There are greater truths in His Word:

  • Greater depths of experience
  • Greater heights of fellowship
  • Greater works of usefulness
  • Greater discoveries of power
  • Greater expressions of love
  • Greater levels of wisdom

Remember my question, “What is truth?” He makes the answer crystal clear when He announced “I AM the way, the truth and the life.” My follow up question “Why” is answered:

  • We see Him in His truth without shadow and deception in His Word.
  • We bask in His unbelievable love of sinners so much so as to wash dirty feet.
  • We reach to His level of excellence to realize our level of mediocrity.
  • We drop to our knees and give all submission to His Sovereignty

So here we are, back at the beginning. Shut eyes won’t help so take a good look at reality and turn your eyes upward to His guidance, not downward to spiritual blindness..

SAY WHAT?

Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

SAY WHAT?

By Rick Mathes

Have you ever noticed that you are watching people who are watching people watch people? It’s a fun game to play as you size them up by looks, occupation and temperament. Well, there are roughly four categories to choose from: manlike, beastlike, Satanlike and Christlike. Learn to spot these personalities and you will have a leg-up on communicating with them.

Manlike: This is the “good neighbor” guy that is always falling over backwards to be accepted. This is what I call the good-for-good deeds and he’s a great guy to know: good for good.

Next is the Beastlike character. He is the one that always replies in kind. If you slug him, he will strike a blow back. You stab him and he will shoot you: bad for bad. This is normal in the animal kingdom but civilized people should know better to show restraint but instead we exercise retribution. God said, “Vengeance is mine” and He meant it!

Satanlike is the nastiest personality of all: bad for good. I shudder when I reflect on all the good people I hurt and trampled with no regard for the pain I caused. The devil delights in having you  damage those who love you so when you return love with hate, or bad for good you are in the image and likeness of Father Lucifer himself.

Now is good for good is manlike and bad for bad is beastlike and bad for good is Satanlike, what is Christlike?

That’s right! Good for bad. Jesus called us to love our enemies, turn the other cheek and wash dirty feet. When others get to know us do they get to know the peace and love of our Savior? We may be the only gospel that they will ever encounter. They will know us by our love. We are certainly called to protect our Lord, family and church from the evil one, including war against deadly force but in all other cases we are to return bad with good. Say what? You got to be kidding me.

PREACHERMAN

Tagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

PREACHERMAN

By Rick Mathes

The gates of hell have unleashed counterfeit preachers that have graduated from our finest seminaries. They have gravitated to an estimated seven out of ten pulpits, from small country churches to large mega-churches where thousands are lied to. No lies of commission, commission or permission. A mass of our earth’s population will be destroyed by the conflagration of flames St. Peter has prophesied.

How can we know the minister we learn from speaks fresh from the throne of Jesus? What test can we put them to so as to be certain we are being taught by God? We will never know until our Lord returns but I do have a few guidelines that I go by.

My minister must have holiness of character. Even a minister occasionally worldly is an indication that his integrity is soiled and what you get may be what you see. Any minister that winks at sin does not hate sin and thus does not love the Savior. Look closely for Christ-likeness!

He must have a high degree of spiritual life in his family as well as in darkness it is in light. I would be suspect if he is inclined to abuse any of the seven deadly sins or violate the Ten Commandments. I know we’re all human but this minister of yours cannot just be called he must be chosen to be the Lord’s ambassador. When you get to know your minister do you get to know Jesus? If not, tread carefully.

He must live out the faith he professes. If he doesn’t walk is he should be restrained from talking it. I would rather see the sermon than hear it. His true self should mirror Christ with his most earnest effort. We are able not to sin and he should be the highest example for you to emulate.

Now I’m not trying to make your minister some kind of super human being. I just expect that he should be fully committed to Christ in the simplicity of his heart. Look deeply into his soul and discern if he has complete surrender to God. He must example what he preached and encourage how to rise to our Lord expectation of your fleshly levels of mediocrity.

To be holy we must be wholly God’s and our minister must lead the way.

POWER OR PROVISION

Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

POWER OR PROVISON

By Rick Mathes

It is very heartbreaking to see the sheep fooled and they destroyed so subtly by the ravenous wolves of the faith, speak it into existence charismatic movement. The greatest proponents of this works driven nonsense begin with Kenneth Hagen and now Joel Olsteen. Both are agents and work for Satan.

The ways of deceit are so subtle but the red flags are all around.

The most likely to be taken in by these snake-oil salesmen are those that are attracted to them because of the crowd they draw. That’s no surprise because the road to hell is a wide one. They are looking for the supernatural excitement of the original signs and wonders that faded out with Apostle John’s death. Drug users are very attracted to the music, lights, and often stage productions and laser shows before the star preacher (poacher) shows up!

To a man they are seeking earthly, materialistic benefits. God is just a great big jolly Santa Claus waiting for their requests, so eager to please them. The more they are blessed the more indifferent they become to true and holy worship. Chattering in tongues, gyrating in seizures, falling in the spirit and even holy clucking replaces prostration at the feet of a Holy God.

They all seek personal prosperity and that is the weak like in man that Satan seizes upon. Their relationship to God is measured by their limos mansions, jewelry and bank accounts. Everything on the outside but hollow and empty on the inside. All they are consumed with is, “What can God do for me,” instead of, “What can I do for God.” They are selfish instead of selfless.

Do you feel fulfilled in God? When you confess Jesus AS Lord, you have made your last selfish statement. Everything is Christ only to true believers.

Please make a special note: Satan is an expert at counterfeiting feelings. I almost wish I were Dr. Spock: pure logic. Feelings lie to you. Loving Jesus is not a feeling necessarily, but rather a decision. Feelings frequently follow but don’t trust them. There are a legion of demons all over America that make us promises and make us feel good for a season. But eventually the truth will prevail!

MORE THAN A MAN

Tagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

MORE THAN A MAN

By Rick Mathes

Maximum security penitentiary leaps off the screen of a James Cagney movie with long metal catwalks and tier after tier of cages holding the incorrigibles locked down 23 hours a day. The level 5 security risks are separated into four geographical quadrants so that even a chow or shower-time, the gangs cannot assemble together. Divide and conquer is particularly applicable to this bizarre nation of murderers and mutilators doing life without parole sentences.

Once a month, at my evangelistic service, the chapel is the place where all the campus general population is restricted to a central and presumed contained location; the chapel! As over four hundred inmates began filing in by group sections, I was painfully apprehensive that two high-powered rifles were being directed at them by sharp-shooters from the safe position overhead and behind my back. They assembled into their respective gangs; Chicago, East St. Louis, gang-bangers, black Muslims, white Aryans and of course the Christians.

The Warden came up to me and he said that he anticipated an insurrection to take place because he was compelled to allow sixty trouble makers and effeminate homosexuals from Protective Custody to join us from the balcony overlooking the auditorium. These infidels could not even live their own kind! The bottom of the barrel.

The balcony began to fill as they flexed their muscles, sneered and could he heard cursing the name of Jesus. The crowd was growing anxious and I sensed the presence of Satan. I signaled the praise team to begin singing and I dropped to my knees in foreboding desperation of the danger I had led my devoted volunteers into. I cried out to the Lord and began rebuking Satan with all the faith that was in me. A hollowed hush fell over the chapel and through tear blurred eyes, I looked out over the assembly and witnessed a modern day miracle.

About two hundred Christian prisoners had turned their backs to me and were standing upright, in the midst of this living hell. They lifted their holy hands to the balcony and began praying out loud in the Spirit of the Lord. Those few minutes seemed like an eternity as I observed the Spirit of God rush through that demon possessed gallery of incorrigibles. Behold, fourteen notorious gang leaders rose to their feet and cried out to Jesus for salvation! With tears streaming down their faces, the overwhelmed gang members on the ground floor began to stand with their leaders to do the same and I had yet to deliver a word of my sermon to any of them. I cried out, “There is a God!”

The service then began and at the completion I gave an alter call. The alter was flooded with a sea of repentant sinners. I was sobbing too hard to even recite a sinner’s prayer, so I handed the microphone to the black Pastor assisting me. He too was helpless to say a word. So a prisoner doing a double life sentence plus 50 years led them to the throne of grace; the old rugged Cross.

When the service had concluded and the men were led out cell block by cell block, I gathered our team for praise and prayers of thanksgiving. I later learned that 23 shanks (weapons) were left on the stage! Faith coupled with fervent prayer had prevailed.

LESS THAN A MAN

Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

LESS THAN A MAN

By Rick Mathes

The penitentiary mess hall was tidy but colorless and institutional; that is, void of any warmth or contrasts. Barred windows and sulky workers. Inmates shuffling past counters of tasteless, stench-filled food that fell barely within government nutritional guidelines of minimum vitamins. I suffered through lunch in the Officer’s quarters and was astonished at how they managed to eat this unappetizing menu with such relish and enthusiasm. I had lost my appetite for this torture when I was informed that the green baby lima beans were really creamed corn! And a fish head was floating around and looking up at me from the sea-food soup! It was a blessing to escape from this noxious event and begin the lengthy walk to the Chapel. An unpretentious Asian guard or as they prefer to be addressed, Correctional Officer or C.O. for short, began escorting me out of the cafeteria into the dimly lit hallway, down some metal steps and then through a labyrinth of twisting and turning, often loud catwalks past bad-tempered prisoners on lock-down.

In one particular corridor, our gait has hasty but my eyes were drawn to the darkened prison cells in a blurred kaleidoscope of unshaven faces and slumped or sleeping bodies. All at once I stopped in my tracks and turned back to the cell I had just passed by. I had seen an attractive woman stretched out on the bunk in a very alluring pose!

Now wait a minute, wasn’t this an all male maximum security prison? What was a seductive woman doing here? I had turned so abruptly that the Officer did not think to respond before I looked again into this cell to ascertain that it wasn’t a female but rather a transvestite with long silky hair, a smooth shapely body and very obvious breasts. Horrified is an understatement!

Our eyes met in an uneasy brotherhood as I asked, “Would you like to receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour and be born again?” He leisurely got up and off his bunk, then glided in a seductive manner to the bars in front of which I was standing. As he drew nearer and I was able to scrutinize him more he said to me, “How can I change what I’ve done to myself.” His masculine voice startled me. I responded, “You must be born again. You need to change on the inside first and that begins with permitting Jesus to be your Lord. He is the God of miracles and you will become a walking trophy of His grace if only you will become willing and believe.” He looked me in the eyes and whispered, “I want to do that very dearly,” and began to sob uncontrollably.

We slipped to our knees right there on the cold concrete and tenderly held hands through the bars. A woman with man’s hands asking God for a spiritual healing. We prayed a heart-felt prayer and he sincerely asked that he would be delivered from homosexuality and become the man that God had created him to be. Just then the C.O. took my arm securely and said sharply, “We have to keep moving.”

I learned months later that he was severely beaten by his “husband” and repeatedly raped by homosexual “gang-bangers.” The prison administrators had learned of a contract on his life so they transferred him to a single cell in protective custody. The last word I received is that he is remaining steadfast in the Word of God and his family has raised the money for cosmetic surgery to physically reconstruct his manliness.

KENTUCKY FRIED CHRISTIANITY

Tagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

KENTUCKY FRIED CHRISTIANITY

By

Rick Mathes, author of “Allah or Jesus”

http://www.MissionGateMinistry.org

“Step right up ladies and gentlemen! Come one come all and see for yourself the one and the only church, held in captivity since modern man began! One green dollar, folding cash, a silent offering will give you happiness, excitement and feelings you’ve never felt before! Step right up and hear from the books written by the experts that know better than the Bible!

“With your eyes you will see the fellowship of pretenders. They hug, they laugh and they cry as you want them to. They are at your beck and call. Trained and skilled in displays of affection and carnal love, so convincing, you’ll think that they are for real. Hurry, hurry, hurry! The show is about to begin!

“See them pray, hands lifted or eyes down; you have a choice. Guaranteed results or your money back! Step right up to a prayer booth and they will pray to the god of your choice. One day only, so don’t hold back. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

“Don’t forget the relic display and authentic souvenirs marked down to half-price but full of indulgences. A piece of the cross and bones of the saints. Can you believe it! Of course you believe it. You’ll believe anything.

“Our goal is to give you anything you want at the price you are willing to pay! Look for our cross at the top of any one of our convenient outlets, or call our 24-hour hot-line and get saved. You will be healed when you write us a big fat check. But hurry, limited time only!”

(Oh, how I pray the time is limited.)

 

JUSTICE?

Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Justice?

Rick Mathes

There I stood in a chapel packed out with death row inmates. To the novice this can be very disconcerting. And I admit I still get nervous to this day because any one of them can do harm to you and what does it matter to his sentence of death?

Looking over this unusual congregation I could hardly notice any difference from a normal church service except for the drab uniforms they are required to wear. It was and has been since a blessed event to bring the good news to the last, lost and least which I have been committed to these last 20 years.

As the inmates are dismissed they return to their regular activities such as watching a big screen television with a bowl of popcorn at their side. Or they resume playing fooz-ball or ping-pong while they wait for their craft classes to start.

You will notice that they are all well shaven and fed and have a wonderful fellowship that for most is the best life they have ever had.

Contract this to the dead victims and their families which essentially had no part of the judicial process and no restitution has been made. They are dead or grieving and in many instances falling out of society and away from the God that permitted this dastardly event in their lives.

Now I am all for justice and mercy but something is wrong with this picture.

Numbers 35:30 If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death…..

Capital punishment is meted out for punishment and their life is required as restitution to the life they so wantonly took. They deserve their punishment to the full measure not to have mercy this side of glory.

I once discipled a death row inmate scheduled to be executed and he told me that it was like peeling an onion. He kept taking off layers such as wife, kids, friends, minister, etc and crying until he got down to just him and Jesus. He said, “You know Rick there is really some humor in this execution.” I was aghast at his comment and asked him to explain further. He replied, “They are punishing me by sending me straight into the arms of Jesus!”

For those on death row, this side of glory should be hell itself and the other side mercy in the presence of our Lord.

I YIELD TO NONE!

Tagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

“I YIELD TO NONE!” CHS

By Rick Mathe

Someone said, “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.” It is so important for you to plant your stake on holy ground and press on no matter what. Preachers of the true faith must stand firm on the gospel according to Jesus and not be so concerned with church attendance numbers nor federal tax exemptions What is the true doctrine that we must all believe?

Bible only

Jesus only

Grace only

Faith only

This is the profound yet simple outline for the basis of evangelical fundamental faith. I bet my soul on these precepts and I stand with C.H. Spurgeon and the other reformation ministers. Join me and look Satan in the eyes and say, “I yield to none!” or as Luther once said, “I can do no other.”

We may not like our absence of participation in predestination and election but then He’ God, not us. Luther and others including John Calvin nailed down the most specific principles. They can be remembered by the acronym TULIP.

T: Total Depravity

No matter how hard we try to be holy, without sin, we always have a stain that precludes us from standing in the presence of God’s Holy Light.

U: Unmerited Salvation

This rubs against every fibre of “self” within us. We have had absolutely not one drop of effort that caused our salvation. It is completely our Lords choice.

L: Limited Atonement

It’s just logical that if God knows in advance who will choose the sacrifice of His Son and who will not, neither can change that decision. Jesus did not die for those that refuse them. They will need to take their own punishment.

I: Irresistible Grace

As the elect, all our decisions flow to Him and His purposes as metal is drawn to a magnet. We are irresistibly drawn to His perfect will and make our decisions accordingly.

P: Perseverance of the Saints

The elect always get up and off the mat and press on no matter how hard they are hit by the devils blows. We Christians just simply do not give up. No matter what, we return to the Cross.

Now don’t get mad at me, the messenger, because you take issue with all the above. Take issue with the message not the messenger. Rebuke and correct me Biblically and I will repent and publically beg your forgiveness if the above is my mistaken theology. Thank you.