Tag: Christian

JUSTICE?

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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 FOUND HIM IN HELL

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I FOUND HIM IN HELL

By Rick Mathes

(Author of “Allah or Jesus”)

Mr. Carnal was a professing Christian that lived an exemplary life. He was a deacon in his church and taught Sunday school Bible study. All the congregation looked up to him and the pattern he set for others to follow. On the outside, the side all could see, he was the husband and father that all the women wished that their man would become. Unknown to everyone was the real truth that on the inside he confessed that Jesus is Lord but never became obedient to His lordship. He was living a lie that finally caught up with him in a sudden and unexpected death!

He died and went straight to hell.

As he looked out over the glowing lake of liquid flames, the abhorrence and inexpressible torture he witnessed was more than his damned soul could bear. As far as he could see was a holocaust of screaming human beings thrashing about in the white blistering conflagration, begging to die and escape this deathless tribulation.

Silently, Satan himself slithered up and rasped, “I have you!” He responded, “I know. I never confessed Jesus AS my Lord,” and began to sob. Through tears he pleaded, “I beg you, give me 24 hours more before you throw me into that lake of fire.” Satan smiled a toothless smirk and growled, “Granted!”

He hesitated and then began trudging along the steamy shoreline while flames licked at his exposed carcass. Reaching down from time to time to hoist up to eye level one wretched body after another, he looked them full in the face and cursed with all his pent up venom of loathing. Again and again he would choose and grip an anguished cadaver to curse as he eventually found his way around the smoking abyss, counterclockwise to where he began his twenty-four tedious hours before. He was totally spent and lacking the strength left to stand in front of the immoral one who had patiently waited for his prey to return.

As he collapsed on that smoldering shore, Lucifer quietly approached and hissed, “Your time is up! But before I cast your body and soul into the black inferno, I must ask you just one last question. Why were you doing that?”

The condemned looked up and gasped, “I was looking for that preacher that told me I was saved!”

Satan’s twisted features gleamed with pride as he snarled, “That was me who told you that you were saved!

www.missiongateministry.org

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I CAN SEE

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I CAN SEE

By Rick Mathes

Vison that looks inward becomes duty,

Vision that looks outward becomes aspiration,

Vision the looks upward becomes faith.

Whether it be a program, movie or commercial the cameraman directs your eyes to focus of what he wants to keep your attention. Try looking away to the area around what he’s drawing your eyes to focus on. It’s really hard to do at first but eventually you ‘get out of the box” and see what’s round you and be amazed at what you didn’t notice.

Looking inside yourself is equally difficult because the first thing Jesus reveals is the evil that resides there. This is not what the devil’s cameraman has in mind as he directs your eyes to sin.

What Satan doesn’t what you to see an does everything he can to blind-side you is your worth to Jesus. God doesn’t make junk. He has a purpose for your life that makes the angels jump and shout “Glory!” You have a huge need to prepare your future to comply and conform to His reason for electing you to choose Him.

Your eyes will be opened to the truth when you turn from the focus on the lie. Hell’s cameraman used both hands to hold your attention to his focus on sin. If only you will look around, you will see the joy of your salvation and the freedom of broken shackles only the Holy Spirit can do.

Now with your spiritual eyes wide open, the meaning of truth becomes glaringly apparent. The fog lifts and your line of sight goes upward instead of outward.

You can count on the fulfillment of God’s promises as the end of God’s discipline lets the blue skies of glory emerge from the terrifying heat and darkness of the eternal furnace fades into all the tomorrows. Satan hounded you to look away from what the Cross or Christ so plainly would immerse you in. The beauty of our Satvior cannot be hid by the smoke, cinders and flames of Hell. You can see and your blindness has been healed.

GROUND AND POUND

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GROUND AND POUND

By Rick Mathes

Satan is a formidable opponent and is the champion of all unbelievers. He has won all his matches with those that train in the flaming camp of this world’s kingdom. Prejudice is his number one weapon for becoming the forerunner of many future victories: fools fall so easily for it stealth blow. It doesn’t matter if it sex, skin color, faith, natural origin, political sway or economic status. I can’t help but comment that the believers understand that we are all equally created in His image and likeness. Stripped of our bodies, we would all look identical to each other! If only those infested with sin specialties knew that only Jesus and His are beautiful just as they are.

These scavengers of sins garbage dump called earth will love sin over the Savior, selling Him out for “chump change.” The will consent to the beating they have taken from their life choices, pass blood and vomit the return of their investment: red eyes and throbbing headache it’s reward. How sad. And then they look for more sewer sludge to wallow in as darkness covers their deeds and the odor overwhelms their senses.

The Light I out and only darkness prevails on the inevitable downward slide to depression and walking dead. Despair washes over in an overwhelming tsunami of pain, hopelessness and suicide. I know; I’ve been there and I remember those dismal days of sobbing in tears that wouldn’t come anymore, a sinner plainly needing a Savior.

I still had to pick myself up one more time and sing, “I did it my way!” until the joke was on me: my way was death, insanity or incarceration. It became crazy to say that this was fun. I had few alternatives. I had to kill myself or surrender to the King. I was a coward to pull the trigger and end it all (make it all begin again in flames) so I chose the slow death of alcohol, drugs, sex and crime. Maybe you have been there also where death seemed to be the only solution.

Well, I learned that the undefeated champion of hell was “unbelief.’ God cannot save you from the devil’s assault of self-destruction if your name is unbelief. A thousand crucifixions of our Lord could not help you. Satan will make you tap out! Choosing the devil is one you will regret for many forevers!

What “Plan B” is better than a risen Savior? Think, stupid before you make the wrong choice again!

GOD’S DIRTY DOZEN

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GOD’S DIRTY DOZEN

By Rick Mathes

(Author of “Allah or Jesus”)

If I were to get to know those who know you best and ask them all the questions I could think of about you, I would get to know you very well, wouldn’t I? Well, then it stands to reason that if we get to know God’s best friends really well, we will get to know a whole lot about God, won’t we? Let’s then make some observations of those that he used, each in a mighty way. I call them, “God’s Dirty Dozen.”

First, we have Abraham. His parents were idolaters and I’m sure as a young man, you could see him with his Watch Tower Magazine under one arm and the Pearl of Great Price book under the other, being chauffeured in his stretch limo to the nearest name-it claim-it, go-go cult of carnal hustlers in the name of Allah. And yet, god used him to emerge as the father of the chosen nation.

Now we know that Joseph didn’t do it. Potipher’s wife knows he didn’t do it. God knows he didn’t do it. And we all know he didn’t do it. But when Joseph filled out the application to be Prime Minister of Egypt it read, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” He was an ex-con with a record of being a sex offender and yet God used him in a mighty way.

Let’s also remember Moses. He looked both ways, killed the Egyptian with his bare hands and then had the audacity to dig a hole and bury him in broad daylight in front of witnesses. That is a classic, premeditated, first degree murder! If that happened today, he would be on death row awaiting execution. And yet, God used him in a mighty way.

And what about David? He didn’t have the guts to assassinate so he ordered a hit man to knock off Bathsheba’s husband so that they could keep their torrid love affair going. David should have had a jail cell next to Moses! And yet, God used him in a mighty way.

Do you really think the Priestess Rahab went around the temple genuflecting and lighting holy candles? Of course not! She was a temple prostitute that sold her body for dirty money just like any two-bit trash on the waterfront. And yet, God used her in a mighty way.

“If the children turn out bad, it must mean that the parents weren’t any good!” It ain’t necessarily so. There aren’t any fathers that raised their sons worse than Eli and Samuel and yet God used them both in a mighty way.

And have you ever heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the touch gets going?” Some Christians have turned tail and ran when the Lord needed them the most. Just like Mark did, so quickly that he left his clothing in the clutches of a cop and escaped naked.! And yet, God used him in a mighty way.

Can you imagine saying, “No, dammit! I have never known this criminal named Jesus!” God forbid, it would never leave my lips even in the torment of torture. But with the gentle pressure of a teenage servant girl, Peter the Rock, turned into a little pebble when he denied the Lord quicker than a New York heartbeat, not once but three times within a couple of hours. His eyes met those to his Lord and he realized the shallowness of his commitment. And yet, God used him in a mighty way.

I am blessed that Paul did not divulge to us the gruesome particulars of all the atrocities he inflicted on blameless Christians or I would be less given to read and study his Epistles. I suspect that I might forgive him but I would not forget. The captivity, injustice and even annihilation of these gentle souls might possibly raise a doubt about Paul’s conversion experience. Was he beyond being saved? And yet, God used him in a mighty way.

If you have been counting, that’s just ten. Including you and I, it makes an even dozen. My life was so depraved that I cursed God, shook my fist at heaven and demanded that if He existed, to kill me to end the nightmare I was living.

He saved me that night and I have been sharing the Gospel in jails and prisons ever since.

What about you?

www.MissionGateMinistry.org

 

FISHERMAN

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FISHERMEN

By Rick Mathes

You don’t force a hook into the mouth of a fish. You get his favorite bait on your lure and coax him to take a bite and bingo, you have him. This same principle applies to humans and winning souls to Christ. You have first to lure them with good bait. That is meet them at their need as show them the Word has the cure.

So the first issue is to attract a prospect. I really believe who your really are speaks a lot louder than what you say. It’s been said many times that you might be the only Christ they will ever see this side of glory.

A turning point for me was going to a Christian bachelor party. We didn’t have any drugs, no booze and no belly dancers or porno movies and we were having such a good time that his mom had to chase us out of the house at 2am with a broom! I have never laughed so much ad so hard in a long time!

Another tie I was attending a Christian businessmen’s luncheon when I said to them all, “You’re not going to tell me you guys are successful and honest in your business dealings are you? You have to be kidding me. There’s no such thing as an honest merchant or professional! They all and a gasp and then a good hearty laugh at me.

Brace yourself for instant conversions. Some that you share the good news with are primed by the Holy Spirit and explode like dynamite. That was my experience.

I do know that a good fisherman keeps real close to the truth when exalting Jesus. This is real serious business and nothing to have sport with. We will have to account for every word and action before the Lord someday. We can exaggerate about the fish that got away but when it comes to soul fishing, only the gospel truth will do.

We receive salvation and are rewarded with persecution. We clean up our lives and fight the rest of our life to stay that way. We are released of anger and fear but it is replaced with sorrow and heartbreak. Salvation is free but it costs everything.  Be a good fisherman for souls and Jesus will bless your catch and multiply it.

FAITHFUL

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FAITHFUL

By Rick Mathes

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB77) 13  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

There was once a time when a man’s handshake was his bond. Not anymore. There is no honor among thieves. There never was. The only thing you can rely on with the devil’s advocate is unfaithfulness. When the going gets tough it’s every man for him. You stand before the judge alone.

Not so with God, He is infinitely faithful and will always provide you with a way out of sin. He is established in righteousness and evil not only cannot comprehend Him it can’t occupy Him.

The incomparable blessing from this is that He will never give you more testing that you can bear. Yes, I said testing because Satan cannot tempt you without God’s permission and God doesn’t temp, He tests.

Our Lord’s unfailing faithfulness is jaw dropping. Let me ask you, what was he worst disaster or sinful act you have ever experienced? Did you survive it to glorify His name? Of course you did! Does He need to prove His faithfulness again? No. He will never leave you nor forsake you His faithfulness to you is everlasting into the very end of eternity. Where He is you will be: count on it.

This great faith He has in you was born in His faithful Son who loved yous o deeply that He suffered and died for your sins. Jesus took the unimaginable punishment that the devil reserved for you.

Great faith begets great faith. Will you at least trust Him more than fear the world’s worst enticements to sin and death? Even though your body rejected His unconditional escape from the flames of hell, at least try to let your spirit soar to a safe place in His protective love and faithfulness to His Son and you.

Try with all that is within you to be worthy of His faith in you. He is vulnerable to any pain your rejection and sin may cause Him. Hasn’t He suffered enough for you? Thank Him for His unbending faithfulness and pray with all your might that you can reply in kind.

 

WHAT AM I?

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WHAT AM I?

By Rick Mathes

I am not what I ought to be

I am not what I wish to be

I am not what I hope to be

I am not what I once was

I am what I am!

What am I?

There are certainties in the new foundation of my life what clearly forms what I am and you will be if you confess Jesus as your Lord. The cornerstone of your frame I regeneration. This includes conversion, adoption, justification and sanctification. Let’s take a closer look at them one by one so that you can untangle what appears to be a real process.

To begin with, conversion is the art of turning from sin to God by faith in Jesus Christ. This is a born again experience that can hit you like a bolt of lightning or slowly absorb you until you begin praising Jesus for changing you from what you were to what you really are; a child of the King, that’s right!

God becomes your Father, Jesus your Brother and the Holy Spirit your best Friend. They are your new family and those that love them like you become their adopted. How blessed that out of all the people in the world God chose you to be His. This is your real family and you know now exactly what you are, the adopted child of the King!

You’ve passed through the justification process of making Him your Lord and now the effect of that transaction is sanctification or the earnest pursuit of holiness. Justification is where He pardons all of our sins and sanctification is where by we are renewed in the image of God.

The new birth is he dividing line between heaven and hell.

The benefits include divine grace, wisdom, power and beauty. So with all of that, “What are you?” It will take you all of eternity to figure it out but if you are His you will have all of eternity in heaven to do so. “What are you?” You are what you choose to be! The decision is your to make right now as you read this. What are you waiting for?

 

DOING LIFE WITHOUT

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DOING LIFE WITHOUT

By Rick Mathes

Ephesians 2:12 (NASB77) 12  remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

What would you do if you didn’t have Jesus? What is your “Plan B?” or second choice? I bet I know: nothing but you. Without God all you have is naked you walking through a field of deadly land mines A Christless life is no life at all. Ask any born-again believer if they would ever trade their relationship with Jesus for friendship with the devil. I can speak for them, there is no life without Jesus. It is all smoke and mirrors of that lifetime of nightmares are as fresh as yesterday to my thoughts. I can’t imagine turning my back on Jesus and walk alone to my inevitable damnation.

Remember the Hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus?” It was the text of my first sermon in our local county jail service. What better friend can you have but Jesus? He personifies agape love. He is Love. He’s all the friend you will ever need. His family makes a house a home.

Just think what would happen to your family, spouse and children if Jesus didn’t live with you all. It would be a living hell to balance all that need to be done in a healthy, prosperous family if Jesus wasn’t welcome to be an important part of all you do. A family would not be a family without Him. It would e self-serving chaos.

I can’t see any hope on the horizon of a Christless home. There would be dry dynamite around every corner just aching for a lit match. What good would there be but that which served selfish needs. When everyone is out for what they can get, the means justifies the end and that results in hopelessness. What is there tolive for when you are planted in the ground and all you once owned is rusting and deteriorating into waste and rubbish?

A Godless life is not life at all. Without God you are just walking dead looking for a place to be buried. I can’t even imagine what is going through the mind of antitheist. How can they say, “There isn’t a God” if there wasn’t a God to say there isn’t one of? Makes sense to me!

DISOBEDIENCE

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DISOBEDIENCE

By Rick Mathes

George Elliott: “It is vain thought to flee from the work that God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found; in loving obedience.”

We need to take the blows that come to correct us or those that we need to respond to fulfill the vision. At last we have a Daddy the will apply a belt to our butt as needed!

Phillip Melanchthon: “Since Adam’s fall, all men begotten after the common course of nature are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in Him and with fleshly appetites.”

There is a consequence of every action. This includes a response from the Holy Spirit when we insist “No” when Jesus says “Yes.” God so loved the world that He didn’t send a committee! When Jesus speaks we need to believe and obey or there is a loss.

To begin with when you say “No” to Jesus you lose your usefulness. When the tool refuses to be held by the Craftsman, it isn’t any good. No world can be done byu it until it fits the Carpenters hand and obeys all the directives it is given to effect the purpose for which it was intended.

When you resist His drawing you lose His approval. We were created in His image and likeness to love and glorify Him. When we resign our sole purpose, we alienate ourselves from the light of His intentions into the darkness and despair of a useless nothingness.

Not only do we risk the loss of our eternal reward but our health, family and our very life is affected adversely. We are falling when we should be rising, resisting when we should be welcoming, disobeying when we should be obeying. Death is the reward.

Once our wealth is dissipated in sinful revelry, our reputation is true to follow. We can always recover our health, family, life and wealth but not so our reputation and respect once lost cannot ever return to its first estate. The sword never left David’s hand no matter how hard he tried to make up with God and his countrymen. It is never the same when you disobey.