Tag: Rick Mathes

OUR FIRST BUSINESS

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OUR FIRST BUSINESS

By Rick Mathes

Once you look to heaven for your employment, the world under your feet experience a metamorphosis of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, black and white to vivid color, blindness to sight, nothing is ever the same again. You are now under new management and the author of your “owner’s manual” will remind you when maintenance is necessary.

Your full-time employment is to make His business your business in every sense of the word. Now you may have to drive a bus or flip hamburgers or perform delicate surgery or stand before a judge to plead a case to afford your full-time job, so be it. Rise to His level of excellence in all you do for income but don’t fall to your level of mediocrity or wore yet abysmal failure.

Do His work and His blessings will immerse you in a world of miracles, love and grace like you have never experienced before. Exchange all you are for all He is and your words will become His. Out of the well of the Holy Spirit living rivers of life will flow. You will truly become a fountain of life for all who will step into the deep end of the pool with you. Faith is truly amazing when it is exercised where a leap would not do.

The only remnant of our “business life” down here is to take our best developed character and integrity up there so to speak. Man is a trinity: mind, heart and soul. When we carry out His will and not our own, this is welcomed baggage on that one-way journey home.

If all heaven is but absorbing His love, that’s all it needs to be to satisfy me forever. The employment for Him new is to n His love before an evil and unloving would which close up might begin right in our own families.

WE know that the wages of sin is death but uppermost to the wages of His righteousness is eternity with Him! He promised that He went before us to prepare our “retirement mansion” and He meant it. What a joy it is to do His will on earth as it is in heaven. Try it, you will like it!

OFF MY CHEST

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OFF MY CHEST

By Rick Mathes

There are many issues I would like to expound on and they have all piled up on me so I am just going to unload the “whole bale” on you and invite you to agree with me or throw rocks but at least have some thought and an opinion. For me and my purposes I precede all I say with this question and you might do well to do likewise: Does it exalt Jesus Christ?

There cannot be a divided Christ. There is one faith, one baptism and one Body. Any cleric or group that teaches otherwise is an agent for Father Lucifer.

The Epistles do not advise they command. God so loved the world that He didn’t send a committee! When the Word speaks to you it only expect one answer, “Yes sir!” We are not to arm-wrestle with the Holy Spirit.

Carnal Christians till have the seed of salvation in them. They just don’t know that they know. So teach them and don’t give up.

You have been forgiven so act like it! If you don’t walk your talk then don’t tell anyone that you are a Christian and shame those of us who are elect. Just shut up.

On our own, we would never choose Jesus to be our Savior and repent of our sins. Be blessed that He chose you before the beginning of time before you became an obvious low-life sinner.

The Word of God is His breath, indestructible, eternal, uncompromising, authorative and forever awesome, inerrant and immutable. There is nothing in all of creation comparable.

His almighty Word and power has leaped down from heaven much to the Devi’s dismay.

God’s holy Word is both our terror and our only hope. Mark Twain said that it wasn’t what he didn’t know about in the Bible that worried him it was he did know that made him tremble.

Everything, from God’s perspective is recent, temporal and transient until He returns in glory. Imagine if you can, heaven forever.

Luther sowed, Westley watered and Edwards reaped. The best is yet to come so put on your seat belt and prepare yourself for the ride of your life; an experience you won’t soon forget.

Above all: take heed lest you fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NASB77) 12  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

P.S. Thanks for letting me get these issues into ink before I explode!

 

 

NO ESCAPE

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NO ESCAPE

By Rick Mathes

We are in a revolt against God: as a nation, as a civilization, as a church and personally. We are warring against heaven itself. Satan is our Lord because we are obeying him. Scary isn’t it? But it is the truth. We have been in rebellion with God since we left Eden and there is no sign that we will be letting up.

Think about it. Man has renounced Divine Lordship. Even professing ministers hare rejecting the light of God’s Word and being consumer friendly with large music productions and stage shows instead of a solid sermon from God’s Word. This is a complete rejection of the purpose of the Holy Spirit to bring to our remembrance God’s Words and guide us through the deep knowledge of who Jesus is and what He did: the words and works of our Savior.

Church after church has turned a blind eye to adultery, active homosexuality, incest, child molesting and all responsibility to account for the sheep before the throne of God. The revenue of offerings cannot be disturbed because the costs go on for salaries and overhead expenses that must be met, no matter what. We must keep our doors open to everyone! A practical of choice made is to actually avoid messages that mention death, sin, or hell. You will never hear the words “believe and obey” ring from the pulpit of a church for fear of losing tithing membership! The church has totally ignored man’s last condition before the throne of judgment. We can’t be judgmental can we?

Why has Christianity degenerated to a helpless pool of wimps?

The answer is the unsaid escape plan man has of 3 ways to avoid God’s wrath. His first thought and probably yours is you won’t get caught. Somehow your plans to escape the detection of your sin will succeed to allow you to continue to sin freely undetected. You next consideration is that you can escape the jurisdiction of the sin by making life changes of where you live and the people you associate with. If that don’t work you will have to fall on the errors of our legal system and depend on your attorney to find a loophole in the system that lets you beat the charges. But when all this fails your only recourse is to escape!

The formidable difficulty is that none of this will get by the Paraclete and there in no escape from hell but for you to repent right now, this very moment!

The time will come when it will be too late. You must settle out of court of face the consequences, there is no escaping the truth.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

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WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

By Rick Mathes

 

Welfare’s 23rd Psalm

The Government is my shepherd,

Therefore I need not work.

It alloweth me to lie down on a good job.

It leadeth me beside still factories;

It destroyeth my initiative.

It leadeth me in the path of a parasite

for politics’ sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of laziness and deficit-spending,

I will fear no evil,

for the Government is with me.

It prepareth an economic Utopia for me, by appropriating the earnings of my own grandchildren.

It filleth my head with false security;

 

My inefficiency runneth over,

Surely the Government should care for me

all the days of my life!

And I shall dwell in a fool’s paradise forever.

 

SATAN

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

—Rev. 12:3

 

PRISON

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

—Rev. 2:10

ALCOHOLISM

For as in the days before the flood; they were . . . drinking.

—Matthew 24:38

NARCOTICS

For men shall be . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

—2 Tim. 3:2, 4

MURDER

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

—Rev. 9:21

HYPOCRISY

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

—1 Tim. 4:2

ADULTERY

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children.

—2 Peter 2:14

HOMOSEXUALITY

Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

—Jude 7

EVIL IMAGINATION

Now as Jan-nes and Jam-bres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

—2 Tim. 3:8

JEALOUSY

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

—Romans 13:13

IDOLATERS

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk.

—Rev. 9:20

OCCULTISM

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

—1 Tim. 4:1

MEET FATHER LUCIFER

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MEET FATHER LUCIFER

By

Rick Mathes, author of “Allah or Jesus”

http://www.MissionGateMinistry.org

“Just look at me. Recognize the dignity of my office. I publicize with a pomposity of arrogant authority. My stride is purposeful and brisk. My carriage erect and stately. My apparel is fashionable and professional to perfection, as is my Rolex watch, diamond ring and bright false teeth. I’m tailored to accommodate the image of calm assurance and confidence. I’m always conscious of admiring glances and I respond in due course with heightened self-image. I always appear to be as I must in the eyes of others.

“My reassuring manner is well practiced and my handshake firm and manly. Surely, I exude warmth, intelligence and reliability. The same phony impeccable smile, the same imperial posture, the selfsame charisma. Why change a deception that works!

“My words are invariably just inside or outside the truth. Moderation is best accomplished by compromising ambiguity; ill-defined positions established in a humanizing, solicitous fashion. I give the impression that I am piously contemplative, thoughtful and unprejudiced. None of which is true.

“I never take sides so that I can keep controversy alive, especially in Biblical doctrine and apologetics. I only side with the heavy hitter contributors. This approach is shrewd, forthright and politically correct.

“The misimpression of holiness is very material to my intentions. It’s all a matter of expression and demeanor. Stoic and unobtrusive. Quiet and restrained. The appearance of reflection more than the boredom it really is, but it suits my corrupted purposes. I am held in high esteem by fake Christians. I’m appointed not anointed. Don’t look for Him, just look at me!”

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.

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.