Category: Penny Pulpit

Msg #1530 What Can a Remnant Do?

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The LORD God explains seven things that he wants his remnant to do as they are held in a heathen nation. He tells them to settle down and dwell there (Jer29:5). Jesus tells us to be in the world, but not of the world (John17:10-17). “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1John2:15). The song writer puts it, “This world is not my home I'm justa passen thru.” God tells them to reproduce (Jer29:6). A wise believer is a soul-winner. Ergo they would be wise to chain reference Psalm126:6 with Proverbs11:30, Daniel 12:3 and James 5:20, even to memorize them. The remnant dwelling in a heathen land were told to intercede for it and pray for their peace (Jer29:7). So too are believers in their plight, “I exhort…that supplications, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority” (1Tim2:1-2a). Further, believers are told, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom12:17-21). Fourth, the remnant are to refuse false teachers. Galatians1:6-9, 1John 2, and 4 tell believers, “let them be accursed.” The remnant are told to have hope, their captivity will soon end, and they will be restored to their Promised Land in Jerusalem (Jer29:10-11). Well, 1Corinthians 15, 1Thessalonians 4, and Revelation 4, all reveal that Bible believers will soon hear a trumpet say “Come up hither.” Then, in a moment, Christians will be gone. Two more things for his remnant, then and now, seek him with all your heart (Jer29:12-14) and expose the liars on every side (Jer29:21-22, 31-32). Believers need to be about their Father's business. This is no longer a Christian nation.

An Essay for week #30 Jul 26, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150726.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1527 Life Changing Trials

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When a man looks straight down the gun barrel of his mortality, it forever changes his perspective on life. One of the greatest joys, and greatest frustrations, of a youth pastor is dealing with people who think themselves invincible. When Peter spent the night on death row, he walked out a changed Apostle. Herod, in Acts 12, had killed James the brother of John with the sword, and saw that this pleased the Jews. His intent was to give them an even grander pleasure the next day: the public execution of the outspoken Apostle Peter. When God opened prison doors and set the captive free, the miracle is sometimes dwarfed because preachers want to emphasize the prayer meeting in this chapter. Look what happened to Peter. He was sleeping comfortably, content to die for Christ, when the angel of the Lord kicked him in the side and said, “Arise up quickly!” Luke eloquently records the many miracles and the dreamy stupor of Peter. Then he writes, “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me…” Sometimes we do not know things for sure until he takes us through the near death trials. Twenty years later, Peter wrote what I call the Know-Grow-Shew-and-Go series in his first epistle. It starts, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy…. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation … But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 1:16,18) God will save you till you know it, and change you till you shew it. Don't wait for your mortality to come in view.

An Essay for week #27 Jul 5, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150705.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1528 Militant Fundamentalists

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

At the turn of the 19^th century, as apostasy seeped into the Church, a fundamental line was drawn. One hundred years later that fundamental line needs to be dusted off, sort of like an umpire brushes the edges of home plate. Back then those within the lines were deemed Christian, and those who ventured outside the fundamentals were deemed apostate. The conference in Buffalo NY defined five primary points of doctrine which must be adhered to by true Christians. A compromise of any of these doctrines would label a group as apostate to true Christianity. Clear lines are good, especially in a diverse, gray world, filled with mixed multitudes. Today these lines should be dusted off in every congregation. Paul said in 2Cor 6, “What part hath he that believeth with an infidel” (verse 15b)? An infidel might reject, 1) the trinity; or 2) the inerrant, infallible, plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture; or 3) the doctrine of Christ, to include (a) the incarnation = Christ was God in the flesh, (b) the virgin birth = God is Christ's physical father, (c) Christ's sinless life = he was the spotless Lamb of God, (d) Christ's death, burial, and resurrection = the gospel of 1Cor 15, and (e) Christ's substitutionary atonement and propitiation for our sins = “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” An infidel might reject 4) personal salvation by conversion alone, that is repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts20:21); or 5) the reality of a literal (not allegorical) second coming of Christ, a literal heaven and a literal hell. Rejecting any of these five fundamentals still makes one an infidel to Christianity. Separating from infidels makes one a fundamentalist. Calling them out makes one militant. Today we need more unashamed militant fundamentalists.

An Essay for week #28 Jul 12, 2015

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150712.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1525 Meekness on Fathers Day

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Num12:3). When it comes to honoring and remembering our fathers, meekness is a commodity that rarely gets bragged up. It is one that is not found in our original nature. If you have it, it was grown (or beaten) into you by your environment, or it came as a “fruit of the Spirit of God” (Gal 5:23). The apple tree only gets fruit when filled with sap. The born-again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ gets it when they are filled with the Holy Ghost. Consider, for a moment, this fruit called meekness. It means showing patience and humility, easily imposed on, submissive. Consider the context where Moses' meekness is hallmarked. Miriam and Aaron had just slandered his wife and rejected his authority to be God's prophet. It was their selfish power grab, they wanted to be in charge. The LORD God issued a just punishment, head to toe leprosy! But Moses interceded: “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” (vr. 13) Another striking example of meekness is found in King David. Abishai wanted to lop off Shimei's head, and he could have. I would be on his side here, but David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Let him alone and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him” (2Sam 16). That is meekness. The Apostle Peter, of all people, says we should walk in Jesus' steps and display his meekness. “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not” (1Peter 2:21,23) When facing the calamities of life, fathers need meekness… I guess we all do.

An Essay for week #25 Jun 21, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150621.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1524 Got A Spiritual Birth Day?

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Being born again involves a second birth. It is a spiritual birth, but Jesus parallels it to our physical birth because we can understand that. In a SBC I met a deacon who “never had a head-on collision with God, he just believed a little, and over the 20 years of involvement in Church, he eventually came to believe it all.” Jesus was clear, “Except ye be converted… ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt18:3). Conversion is, “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). And Jesus was emphatic, “I tell you, nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5). I have known women who spent 20 hours in labor before a birth, but a birth, spiritual or physical, cannot take 20 years! A physical birth is relatively instantaneous and you have a birth DAY. Your spiritual birth day is even more instantaneous. Our “Conversion” initiates three instantaneous things, 1) Quickening, 2) Indwelling, and 3) Immersion into Christ (transliterated from Greek as baptized but here requiring NO water.) These three, accomplished in a soul bring about “Justification” (Gal 2:16, 3:24). The day before you get saved, you are headed for a well deserved eternal hell. Jesus calls it your second death. (Rev 2:11, 20:6,14, 21:8) The day after your spiritual birth you are headed for an undeserved eternal life, and there will never be a second death. In Haiti we worshiped with many who had no idea when they were born, just the same they knew they were. I don't know the date for my spiritual birth, but I know the day. If you don't have a spiritual birthday, if you never had a head-on collision with God, if repentance toward God is foreign to you, be afraid (Phil 2:12).

An Essay for week #24 Jun 14, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150614.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1522 The Unrighteous Are Without Excuse

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

One of the most thorough dissertations in the Holy Bible declares its theme in two sentences, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). We have outlined what the soul-winner calls the “Romans Road” from this revelation, and sometimes forget that the theme of Romans is not the gospel and its salvation, from this first sentence, but the Righteousness of God from the second. Three things about the gospel that one should never shame or shun are listed; 1) the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, it is not the power of logic, philosophy, or reason; 2) The gospel reveals the righteousness of God and that the unrighteous can only attain his righteousness by faith in His faithfulness, i.e. from faith to faith; and 3) That the unrighteous are without excuse. Some have tried to shame the gospel because a soul from the darkest jungles of the Amazon, or the darkest jungles of Chicago, might never hear the the gospel message and “unfairly” be cast into the eternal flames of hell forever. God is, however, righteous in such a case, because of the next sentence, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them” (Romans 1:18,19). The unrighteous, no matter which jungle they live in, are thus, as God puts it, “without excuse” (cf. verse 20).

An Essay for week #22 May 31, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150531.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1523 The Stairway to God

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Romans 1:21-25 portrays a spiraling stairway leading away from the LORD God. America has taken all seven steps down, and is now languishing in the moral deprivation at the bottom. All nations, and all humans, begin at the top. All know of God's eternal power and Godhead, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them. Jesus Christ the righteous “was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,” he tries the reins of every man's heart, and they are without excuse (John 1:9, Jer17:10, Rom 1). God does not believe in atheists. So every individual and every nation begins on the top step, then they make their descent. The seven steps are these, “Because that, when (1) they knew God, (2) they glorified him not as God, (3) neither were thankful; but (4) became vain in their imaginations, and (5) their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, (6) they became fools, And (7) changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness . . .” This stairway leads away from God, down into base immorality, but if you get turned around facing up, it also contains the steps back into the presence of God. You can find your location on that stairway. Put a “You Are Here” pin on it, and make particular note which way you are facing, up or down. That works for your kids too. Going up the steps would require that we 7) Worship the Creator, 6) Seek Truth, 5) Receive Christ – the Light, 4) Set aside vanities, 3) Be thankful, 2) Glorify God, and 1) KNOW God. Awesome.

An Essay for week #23 Jun 7, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150607.mp3

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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Msg #1533 Biblical Dispensationalism

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

A Christian should read a lot of Scripture, as a cow chews down great quantities of grass. A cow, however, sits under a shady oak tree and chews it over a second time, and swallows it into a second stomach. Before the cow gets full use of the grass, he chews the cud again and passes it to a third stomach. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night” (Josh1:8a), and again, “his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Ps1:2). If one rereads the book of Ephesians like a cow chews and re-chews, they could draw things out of that meditation. It has some depth that has not been often visited. The Apostle Paul had languished in jail for two silent years. God sent him into the two years of silence to think about the animals he was going to have the temple priest sacrifice for his offerings. God stepped in and prevented the travesty, and now Paul writes to Ephesus. He explains the dispensation that we have entered and the new covenant that has the perfect sacrifice. Protestant theology, reformed or not, is all Roman Replacement Theology mixed with Calvin's Covenant Theology. Bible believers need to be dispensationalists, and Ephesians, well digested, will ground you in those truths. We are in “the dispensation of the fullness of times,” called “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph1:10, 3:2). And Paul, in this epistle, explains the mystery of dispensationalism (Eph3:1-5). Don't be afraid of that seven syllable word. It is a good Bible word that makes Clergy tremble. Believer's need to study this out, they will not hear it taught in a Protestant Church.

An Essay for week #33 Aug 16, 2015

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

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