Tag: mission gate

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 by 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.

PRESS ON!

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CONDEMNED

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CONDEMNED

By Rick Mathes

Twenty-six weekend revivals in twenty-six prisons over two states simultaneously! It had never been done before. The logistics of this prison invasion boggled my mind, not to mention the trembling of my heart. Over a thousand volunteers would have to be instructed, assigned, security cleared and coordinated with musicians all at the same time. Well, this overwhelming task sure go my soul winning juices going as I sharpened my marketing skills and committed to this undertaking. Direct mail, church meetings and endless phone calls. A blur of apprehensive Christians caught up in the peer group pressure, contagious excitement, invading prisons for Christ. Setting the captives free

As the December invasion drew nearer, I became disquieted and panicky of possible prison violence and danger. I had recruited these lambs and sent them to the slaughter. The prisoners would chew them up and spit them out. I was walking in fear and doubt. My spirit had weakened and at least I had enough discernment to press on in prayer an fasting in preparation for this spectacular event. While deeply into it, the Lord impressed me on the importance of spiritual combat.

The light turned green and the invasion was a go when I received an eleventh hour call from death row in the state maximum security prison over 100 miles from me. They wanted to participate and not be left out. I volunteered to do a Sunday morning service and the arrangements were made.

I arrived at the penitentiary earlier than the visitors and subsequent to a very meticulous search I was permitted to enter the confined security area clutching my Bible. I entered the walkway with ten thickly screened cages on both sides that were only three feet square and barely tall enough for a man to stand up in. Very comparable to a zoo. Extremely debasing and smothering. I made a stand at the gat and resolved to preach out and down the corridor. I wasn’t sure anyone would show up so I just paced the floor and prayed.

Three hours had passed before all the C. P. (capital punishment) inmates were positioned in these cramped cubicles. Each C.P. had to be brought out one man at a time, cuffed from behind and leg-shackled. A further obstacle was caused by the “No Physical Contact” rule in effect. The unbroken pathway caused much complaining and inconvenience for the other prisoners. One by on they stepped into these disgraceful cages and the cuffs and chains were removed. No physical contact whatsoever. They were phlegmatic and sulky and then it really hit me!

I was in an arena of death row prisoners that had committed crimes that were so unforgivable that civilized society required their lives as retribution. They had all been sentenced to die by lethal injection. Not competent to live. They would all eventually walk that last mile and return in a box. The awesome responsibility for their souls overwhelmed me and it was at that instant that I experienced a tremendous illustration from the Lord that has influenced my ministry to this day.

I opened us up in prayer and began turning to Psalm 51 when I noticed that I couldn’t see the print very well. I searched myself and realized that my glasses were missing and I would be helpless to read the text without them. Why would God do this to me? Didn’t he know how significant this service was? What did he expect me to do now? On my left was a murderous looking convict with a sneer across his disfigured and pock-marked face. Impulsively, I asked him if he could read this for me. He said he would.

I remembered a television service I had watched where the minister had someone read each line, and the preacher would preach. Seemed like a good idea to me, so I put the open Bible against the screen for him to read. And he began to read slowly and reverently, not however pausing for me to preach. Everyone hung on every word and the Spirit of God settled down on them in an incredible way.

When he was through, I couldn’t believe my eyes! One by one they dropped to their knees and began weeping. I hadn’t preached a singe word. Instinctively, I did a call to repentance and they responded as one. We then sang some praise songs to Jesus and the sentry ushered me out and on to the street. My head began to clear and the lesson sunk in.

Jesus Christ had done the service and what could I have possible have added to Psalm 51 but a death row convict to read it? My lesson? The Lord was with them before I got there and that He had remained after I left, still setting captives free 2,000 years later!

 

CHOOSING A MINISTER

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CHOSING A MINISTER

By Rick Mathes

Lucifer was an angel of light. He was the superstar of heaven until his narcissism consumed him in pride and he challenged God for heaven. Well you know what happened, he dropped like a rock to earth and began his war on Christendom

Be honest with me. When did you meet privately with your pastor and quiz him on his doctrine? Let’s go a little deeper. Do you even know what doctrine you believe and can prove from the Word that it is true? There’s two serious considerations you need to make.

Just because you park your body in a church doesn’t make you a believing Christian. And that Preacher in your pulpit might be a devil with a mask on. You don’t know and probably don’t care. As long as he’s entertaining and you get “holy ghost bumps” from the music, the rest is ok with you.

Honestly, most people choose their church like they pick out their favorite hamburger: this one has cheese, the other has catsup but this one has a sesame bun and that one didn’t have a pickle. Oh, please spare me this mindless nonsense.

If your preacher is a counterfeit you will never or very rarely hear the words: sin, death, hell, believe, repent or obey He will say those things that will sooth your checkbook into a generous donation.

The next time you sit under him and his sermon take a steno-pad with you. On the left side do a stick count every time he says: He, Him or His. On the right side do a stick count when you hear I, me or mine. Look at the bottom totals and you will know who he was lifting us to worship.

True evangelical Christianity is Bible only, Jesus only, grace only and faith only: nothing added. The true gospel according to Jesus is commonly called Calvinism. All other faiths are “doing” but the real deal in “done.” Jesus really meant it from the cross when He said, “It is finished!” So I strongly suggest that you trust your soul to the real ambassador of Jesus. You only have one soul, one life, and once chance to get it right!

YA GOTTA HEAR THESE!

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The Thief

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-45.mp3

You Must Be Born Again Again.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-44.mp3

The Great Pretenders

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-43.mp3

Gerald Boyd

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-42.mp3

Goal of my soul

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Ministry-41.mp3

What if Jesus came to your house?

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-40.mp3

Iron Sharpens Iron

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-39.mp3

Hit Man Ken 1

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-37.mp3

Hit Man Ken 2

http://traffic.libsyn.com/missiongate/Mission-Gate-Podcast-38.mp3

CAUSE EFFECT

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Satan JC

CAUSE – EFFECT

By Rick Mathes

Every cause has as effect, every action has a reaction, and every effort has a consequence and so on. You can always tell the value of the tree by the fruit it will produce. Truth may be obscured by a lie but it will truth will prevails, it will emerge.

J.I. Packer: “Justification is the truly dramatic transition from the status of a condemned criminal awaiting a terrible sentence to that of an heir awaiting a fabulous inheritance.”

Repentance is God’s answer to Satan’s sin. John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and Peter all began their ministry with an altar (alter) call. This is an acknowledgement of an upward call to holiness. To be holy we must first be wholly His. You can’t be part pregnant nay more than you can be part saved. Jesus wants all of you or none of you: it’s that simple.

Repentance is a full pardon from the King. If ever you have even did time in a prison you really understand a retrial that provides you with an acquittal from all charges and a release from the prison cell. “Bunk your junk.” I have picked up more than one who when we got through the prison gate fell to the ground outside the fence and kissed it. I’m sure we’ll do the same when we sets foot in glory.

Repentance is a new lease on life. You were one a dead man looking for a place to be buried. It’s a personal renaissance to a better level of existence and a new life in Christ like you have never imagined. If you really have the Lord it is quite comfortable and He fits like an old shoe, so to speak. The tail doesn’t wag the dog anymore.

Remember though, the sin you have is the sin you want more than Jesus. Because if you didn’t want it more than you do want it you would have it! The devil didn’t make you do it.

Repentance is a gift of love from God. It’s the key that opens your heart to believe and obey the Lord of your salvation. You can accept it as the Holy Spirit’s labor of love, AMEN?

CAGE FIGHTING DEMONS

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CAGE FIGHTING DEMONS

By Rick Mathes

Our culture leans increasingly toward returning to the arena of violence and bloodshed. Unless we Christians pull out the whole arsenal of Holy Spirit weapons we are going to find ourselves in the Superbowl of Christians vs. demons in a high tech coliseum. Only the champions of the universe will survive in a new kind of “ground and pound: that has been around since Cain did a number on Abel.

Winning is everything in the kingdom because we stand with Jesus and cannot fall in defeat to Satan. The evil one has no defense to combat our weapons of war and as a result he is not even a worthy opponent to stand before “the look of love.” Our enemies dissolve before our very eye when we look at them with a look of pity and love for those that only need to confess Jesus as Lord to see the glory of His creation through our eyes.

A soft word is a razor sharp sword that circumcises a dead-beat heart and re-awakens it to a rush of ecstasy no drug can surpass. The swelling love, the rightly placed Word, births a delight to observe as he stained tear stained face of the attacker melts in bewilderment as we speak love and resuscitation to even the “least of these.”

A tear from a repentant child will wash away any hard-heart to forgiveness as that of our worst enemy will. We may have to lose the battle to win the war but in time our opponent will tire of beating up a praying saint and will drop to his knees and plead “forgive me for I have sinned.” If only we will fight our battles on our knees. A prayer of love that is sealed with a genuine tear will ratify any peace agreement.

The annihilator of course is a “love bomb” whereby we love our enemy! I’m a person that once had a volatile, violent temper that would quickly turn into a street-fight. I learned that it is real hard and not at all fun to slug another fighter that is on his knees praying for me! That takes all the fun out of it. It takes the wind out of my sails, so to speak. Love is more than a conqueror and you can also be if you will only go into training at Camp Jesus. He’ll make you a champion over a adversaries and you will be a new-world gladiator that has put down the sword and lifted up holy hands, has put down the bottle and picked up the Bible and has put down the needle and picked up the Cross of Christ. Walk in His footsteps to the victory lane and all of creation will applaud you!

BLACK AND WHITE

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solitary

BLACK AND WHITE

By Rick Mathes

Two years of preaching and teaching every Friday night at this prison had developed a dependable and capable fellowship of believers. A small turnout was seventy attending, out of an inmate population of several hundred prisoners. Any praise band or female volunteers would swell the chapel attendance but I resisted that because I was resolved to disciple these inmates and solidly ground them in the Gospel according to Jesus Christ, without distraction.

I have memories of many exhilarating services where the altar was frequently flooded with repenting sinners. However, one particular evening stands out above the rest.

It was a chilly nightfall and more prisoners than usual had shown up. It seemed that they were up, positive and ready to worship and praise the Lord.

We began with a thoughtful prayer, sang a few old time hymns and as usual asked for testimonies before I got into God’s Word. It was at this time in the service that a big muscular inmate with a callous expression stood straight up. He was one of those athletes who pumps iron all day long and everyone fears his strength. He got up in the center of the men and spoke is a coarse gravel voice, “Hey Mr. Preacher man! I got something to say!” I relied in humor, “Anyone your size can say anything he wants! And take your time sir.”

Everyone had a good laugh at my feigned timidity and when the clamor had died down he continued, “I’m a two time loser. If I mess up again they are going to give me a life sentence. I’ve been a violent man all my life and it’s my fists and uncontrollable anger that has put me in the joint every time. I want to thank you for leading me to Christ last week but I’ve got to tell you about this crazy thing that happened to me the day after I gave my heart to Jesus for real.”

“Remember, you said that the Holy Spirit would come upon me, that I was a new creation? Well, the very next day I was in the day-room, just killing time and this big black dude come in and gets right in my face with an attitude. He was making fun of me being a Christian. He was doing this right in front of everyone. Well, Rick, to tell you the truth, I have killed men with my bare hands for less than that!”

“He kept on and on and all of a sudden, Bam! I was knocked to the floor. He blindsided me with a great left hook sucker punch. Down I went but I jumped right back up on my feet. It was then that something real strange happened to me.”

“My arms dropped to my sides, my hands went limp and ice water flowed through my veins and my mouth said, ‘Forgive me brother if I have offended you.’ I couldn’t believe it! He couldn’t either. He was all set to go at it but this took the fight out of him. He turned around and walked off real fast.”

“About four hours later, he came to my cell and said he was sorry that he had picked a fight. We talked for a while and I told him that I was born again and that Jesus now lived through me. We got on our knees and he gave his heart to Jesus.”

At that moment, the black guy got to his feet. They both walked toward each other, hugged and wept for joy in front of everyone. A hush went over the inmates and one by one they headed for the altar. I led them all in the sinners prayer and I hadn’t even preached yet!

Jesus had become Saviour and Lord to these two brand new evangelists and the witness of their salvation was winning souls to Christ. I learned from this experience that men would rather see a sermon than hear one.

 

BEFORE AND AFTER

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BEFORE – AFTER

By Rick Mathes

The following is a good overview of an unbeliever. I know it describes my thinking until I received my Lord’s invitation to be saved and accepted it. It might sound like you.

  1. I will not give up my sins.
  2. I will not worship an invisible God.
  3. I will not attend a place of phony worship.
  4. I really have no love for the man Jesus,
  5. I will not pray in public.
  6. I will not do a morning-evening devotional.
  7. I will not pray in the air to an invisible God.
  8. I really don’t believe anyone is really saved.
  9. I will not tithe or make donations to this nonsense.
  10. I don’t believe He rose from the dead.
  11. I will not be a hypocrite and fake it.
  12. I don’t believe in sin, death and the devil.

I don’t believe the Bible, it was just written by men. The downside of our pilgrimage on planet earth is that Satan’s kingdom is thriving and for all intents and purposes succeeding to twist the Christian truths with alternative thinking contrary to God’s purposes. The history channel’s Ancient Aliens, UFO’s, visitors from other planets, Nostradamus, the list goes on and one to prove every celestial appearance by provable and repeatable science.

Christianity is not a blind leap of faith nor man’s invention to explain the unexplainable. But unbelief is the easy, most comfortable way out. Jesus was spot-on when He published in His Word, “My people perish for lack of knowledge. ”God blessed me to my earliest remembrance as a youth to question “Why?” and “What is truth?”

Those two questions have hounded me all of my life even to this moment. I can tell you before God and man, with all the honesty, logic and secular investigation I am capable of, Jesus rose from the dean of His own volition and in His perfect timing!

This is the hinge that will take you from the before to the after if ony you will make it a priority in your studies. You won’t have a second chance. We only pass this way once. There is no room for error!Before or after, it’s your decision!

BE REASONABLE

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BE REASONABLE

By Rick Mathes

Greg Albrecht: “In the latter half of the 20th century the politically correct view that all lifestyles, behaviors are equally valid gained acceptance and came to be known as postmodernism. If we accept this, we must conclude that there is no objective truth and that each of us are lfet to subjectively decide moral trust” and everyone did as they thought right.”

Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Jesus didn’t waste His breath on him and neither should we. It is so ignorant. Consider that when a dummy says, “There’s no such thing as an objective truth,” what he just said then was relative! Stupidity trumps stupidity.

An indisputable fact is true no matter what you think is. There’s the law of non-contradiction which stats that two diametrically opposed facts cannot both be true. Duhhh!

It takes a wise man to humble himself and keep his rationale modest and simple. Satan makes it so enticing to muddy the waters and confuse the issues in circular reasoning. It’s a dog returning to its vomit.

The liberalism of the majority confirm that flattering and complimenting religious doctrines win the day with the wishy-washy sassiest that don’t man up and have an objective answer for when they profess to be their faith.

Where are the wholesome, uncorrupted and refined apologists who have a fundamental evangelistic doctrine that will depend on their faith and fight for the true doctrine: the truth?

What is sound? Try Bible only, Jesus only, Faith only, and Grace only. Now that’s reasonable.

BASIC TRAINING

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BASIC TRAINING

By Rick Mathes

This worst case training is a professing Christian who lives for Satan! I would like to see the sermon more than I want to hear it. Words are cheap and deceiving because unbelievers don’t understand the true definitions of our vocabulary such as what a real Christian is.

You should know by now if you have followed my writings at all that my bottom line is Jesus only, Bible only, Grace only and Faith only. So it is very important for an ambassador of Jesus to represent Him. In other words, as you get to know a Christian you should get to know Jesus.

For me there have been four areas that I have had to work at so as not to shame my Lord.

Being zealous for doing God’s will is sure a blessed gift but it must be tempered with patience. It is better to do less well. The devil’s most effective weapon to stop or at least slow down a mighty work for the Lord is to get us too far ahead of God’s will so that problems arise and energy fails. Or he will get you way behind where you should be by persuading you that you can do this tomorrow and tomorrow never comes without an admonition that there is plenty of time: just don’t do it now.

When you finally get past your hurry you need to have the courage to press on. The evil one will put up all kind of scary circumstances in front of you to persuade you that your efforts are dangerous and futile.

It takes a Holy faith in Jesus to knock Satan on his butt and push on through to success you know is a certainty because God’s Words says so. If the bible says it, I believe it and that settle it! The small steps soon become giant steps as you crawl to walk to run.

You will so learn that our Lord teaches through trials. What good is untested faith? A true soldier of the Lord completes his basic training and experiences a rush of happiness. What a thrill to overcome all of hell’s road-blocks and press on in faith to the finish line. Let happiness, true happiness fill your mind, heart and soul. Did you know Jesus loves you?