Tag: mission gate

IN HIS WILL

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IN HIS WILL

By Rick Mathes

Look back in the sinful history of your mind to the most horrible, despicable, unmentionable, horrid sin you have ever committed. You know, the one that you would never ever tell anyone about and just for this experiment force yourself to live through that nightmare all over again. I know it hurts!

Now brace yourself for a big chuck of raw meat from the Word of God.

You were perfectly in God’s will while you committed this shameful act. Follow me on this: God is all-knowing isn’t He? Then He knew you would commit this sin before you even thought of it, right? Hold on now, God is all-powerful right? That means He personally empowered you to commit the sin. Stop here and think until you agree. Now, He is all-present, he’s everywhere always. He was there when you did this, watched you while you while you were doing it and made absolutely no effort to stop or hinder you. Catch your breath and realize here that you were to tarry in God’s will to Satan’s delight. Whew!

Allow me to clear the air and explain where this is all going.

You are always in God’s will: He perfect or permissive will.

The goal of our soul is to repent, truly repent of all our sins and reach a height of holiness for however it might last. It’s an amazing rush to b wholly His and experience the joy of His Triune fullness: Holy. We will remain in that ecstasy forever when Jesus returns, just hang in there.

In the meantime, He has His permissive will where He allows the devil to have a go at you as He did with Brother Job. This is your chance to stand firm in the Lord and earn your rank. You went through the Lord’s basic training and now your are battle ready to attack the forces of Hell. It was all in His plan, aren’t you glad?

Who better can our Jesus count on for the last days? Certainly not a Girl Scout troop! You personally know Satan well. You once was his best pupil. You responded to his beck and call and you have the mental and physical scars to prove it. You know how he thinks, how he acts, where he is, what he is likely to do and now you are a soldier of the Lord’s!

Unleash the Person of the Holy Spirit within you and in the Name of Jesus shout, “Victory to the King!” and attack. You were formed and fashioned for this moment. You were and are in His will.

I’M NOT READY YET

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I’M NOT READY YET

By Rick Mathes

Walking down a metal cat-walk past prison cells of convicts is an awesome experience that is novel and exhilarating every time. There is an electrifying adventure about it that cannot be adequately described. You never know which prisoner will reach out for Jesus and be saved. It is thrilling to look a prisoner in the eyes with love and encourage him to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. I can imagine that this feeling has similarities to a hunter in the midst of perilous jungles seeking the prey and being sought by the predator. The spiritual combat is indescribable in this heart of hell, called a cell-block. A locus, a concentration of evil. Satan’s turf.

It was in this sense of spiritual adventurism that I was followed by a blue uniformed guide to the prison chapel. We approached the stairwell, serpentine corridors and vacated court yards. Each lower floor level became darker, dirtier and more austere until we leveled off on a dingy walkway with the strongest aroma of stench I have ever smelled!

This was the dungeon within the dungeon for detention of the most evil offenders. A dimly illuminated community of “slickers.” A slicker is an incommodious drab cell with bricked-in windows, no cot, sink or toilet. Nothing but the pollution of an endless number of previous residents. No attempt whatsoever had been made to clean up. A hole in the floor dropped directly into the cesspool that was rumored to back up regularly in these cells. This was the home for those who were ill-suited to live with the other residents. Rejected by their own kind! The odor caused me to gag and gasp for air.

The officer was determined to hustle me out of this, “No Visitor” area. His stride picked up and I was close on his heels escaping this restricted zone. The wall shackles dated back to before the Civil War era of slavery. The men were strangely hushed, either seated on the floor or standing up with a drugged glaze in their eyes. No sound. Silence. No radio, televisions or even idle chatter. A thick dark cloud of oppression; Satan was there.

One of these pathetic captives caught my attention. What I saw and what he said to me has everlastingly cemented itself in my memory as though it just happened yesterday.

He was crouched like a creature on the cement floor. If you looked closely you could see the filth he sat in undulate with the vermin that lived in it. He wore only his grossly stained underwear and his hair was standing out in a frightful, wild fashion. He eyes were bulging and yellow. His fingernails long and his toenails curling under. His matted beard barely hid his rotted teeth and infected mouth.

I spoke out, “You need to accept Jesus Christ as both your Saviour and Lord!” He didn’t arouse. I cried out another time, “Jesus is your only salvation. It’s time to repent and receive Jesus!” He turned and looked me full in the face but gave no indication of reply. Finally, the guard angrily took my arm to keep me moving. I shouted behind me, “Why won’t you do this?” I will never forget his heart wrenching reply. “I’m not ready to give it all up yet.”

I was horrified as he left my sight but not my spirit. I still mourn over those who still repeat those words, “I’m not ready to give it all up yet.”

I YIELD TO NONE!

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“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.

 

 

 

 

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.

I AM READY

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I AM READY

By Rick Mathes

The slave asked the young country preacher, “Was you sent or did you went?” It’s a question we should ask every minister. My proof-source is the Word of God and so I am going to use four golden verses to outline my personal calling which may serve as a guideline for you to follow.

My Baptist Brethren, in a church of 600 ordained me a prison minister and Chuck Colson, founder-director of Prison Fellowship encouraged me to form a Mission Gate aftercare ministry and my wife and I joined Sen. Jim and Brenda Talent to form this ministry in 1985.

Romans 1:14-15 (NASB77) I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

We knew we were called and chosen of God to step out of the boat in faith. So I preached an average of 7 times a week in churches and prisons all over two states. We were ready to go anywhere so we put our home up for sale to show the Lord we were dead serious.

Acts 21:13 (NASB77) Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

I abused my body terribly with alcohol, drugs, etc. for the 25 years I ran with the devil. I have since spent all I am and have clean with what was left on my health which isn’t much. I have the body of a man that could die any moment. I remarked to my doctor, “My zeal for the Lord is killing me.” His nurse replied, “What a great way to go!” I want to die in the pulpit so I treat each sermon I deliver as my last. I’ve passed the 70 year mark and I’m ready.

2 Corinthians 10:6 (NASB77) and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

When my sheep (ex-offenders) know better but defy the Gospel I jump on them with both feet big time! If they don’t repent, I throw them out of our program. I consider that their actions are the equivalent of giving Jesus the finger. Don’t mess with my Lord, my wife or my ministry!

2 Timothy 4:6 (NASB77) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

So I am pressing on to lead that last soul to the Cross of salvation. There will be a last one and I can’t help but inquire, is that you? If you are I am eternally grateful o the Lord that he gave me the eternal honor to introduce you sinner to your Savior. Do it now!

HELL’S COMMANDMENTS

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HELL’S 7 COMMANDMENTS

By Rick Mathes

The curse of Lucifer is in the chromosomes that were passed down by our common natural father Adam. His progeny were so evil God flooded the earth and violently drowned all life but Noah and his close family. It is repeating the end times again because man obeys hell’s 7 commandments.

  1. You must have and destroy all races of mankind that are different from you. This includes white trash, niggers, chinks, red skins and any others whose skin tone and culture differs from yours.
  2. You must destroy the civilization whose form of government differs from you. There is no such thing as a democracy or freedom. How stupid can you be? Can’t you see, open your eyes, greed has conquered creed. Don’t be a fool and be taken in by your politicians any more. Armed revolution is the only conclusion.

III.           You must gather all the wealth your greedy paws can lay hold of and take everything you can from others. No, you don’t need more but take it anyway just for the pleasure of destroying others and rising above the ashes a victor.

  1. You must support the suppression of education of knowledge in any form. The answer to mass slavery is dumbing down the populace so that the agent of hell might rise as clarions of the less fortunate. Ignorance is bliss for those controlled by those of higher education and wisdom.
  2. You must propagandize your world domineering strategy through all the arts and means of communication. He who rules the airwaves, arts and sciences, food production and distribution rules the world. Remember it’s the historian of your choice who will write the history you want immortalized.
  3. You must quash any cause of human righteousness. You are the referee of right and wrong and you know as well as I do that is no slight thing as a constant except that there is no such thing as a constant. All people, place and things are relative and subjective to the clenched fist of the biggest bully.

VII.         You must sever and destroy as nonsense all religions. Teach them that religion is man’s weak invention to explain the unexplainable long enough and the masses

will believe it. Remember, Lucifer is god but don’t tell anyone. The end has come!

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!

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?