Category: Penny Pulpit

Msg #1444 Three Vails Removed in Christ

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Three vails that are removed through the gospel of Christ, remain in man's religions. The Gospel opens a new covenant relationship with God, and 2Cor 3 details how the Lord is the life giving Spirit of that covenant. “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses which put a vail over his face that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ” (2Cor3:12-13). Moses hung another veil in the tabernacle. It separated the holy place (containing a lamp, a table of shew-bread, and an altar of incense), from the most holy place (containing the ark of the covenant). It separated the ministering priests from the presence of Jehovah God. Man's religions have robed priests, clergy or imams standing between common man and God, but in Christ that veil and those robed clergy are done away, “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Mark15:38). A third vail done away in Christ is the woman's vail. In Gen 24 Rebekah “took a vail and covered herself” to show Isaac that she accepted him as her lord. In weddings the bride is still vailed, until the marriage. The beauty revealed when Boaz says, “Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it” (Ruth3:15), reveals Christ as our kinsman redeemer who fills our vail with six measures of barley, and promises to soon make us his bride. These three vails are removed via the Gospel of Christ. Make him Lord, strip away the vails.

An Essay for week #44 11/02/2014

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In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs141102.mp3

View Thesis “Reformed Theology NOT” at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1443 The Golden Streets Soon Coming

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

You can know for certain that you have permanent residence in the kingdom of heaven. The residence is secured when one is “born-again” (John 3), and has your name on it when you are converted to Christ (Matt 18). But only a student of the end times knows that it will not have streets of gold until a thousand years has ended. The Bible speaks of three heavens, one where birds fly, one where stars fly, and the third heaven where the full glory of God is forever manifest. When a saint dies, they are absent from the body and present with the Lord in this third heaven. But the streets of gold in the city with twelve gates (for the twelve tribes of Israel) and twelve foundations (for the twelve apostles of Christ), does not show up until there is a new heaven and a new earth described in Revelation 21. Between now and then there will be a trumpet call, the rapture of the church, and the 1^st resurrection, which puts us in an incorruptible body. There will be a “Bema Seat” judgment for the saints while the world sees seven years of great tribulation. The second advent of Christ, where he returns with his saints, riding into the battle of Armageddon, is described in Revelation 19. Chapter 20 describes the one thousand year reign of Christ and the Great White Throne judgment. The 2^nd resurrection and the 2^nd death meted out in that judgment mark the end of this world; it is all destroyed with a fervent heat (2Pet3:10). Only then are the saints from the 1^st resurrection ushered into the city with streets of gold. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power” (Rev20:6).

An Essay for week #43 10/26/2014

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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs141026.mp3

View Thesis “Reformed Theology NOT” at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1442 The Millennial Reign of Christ

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

After Revelation chapter 19, where heaven opens and the Righteous Judge, called Faithful and True, rides a white horse into the battle called Armageddon, comes chapter 20. Believing the premillennial return of Christ is that simple. Had the Roman reformers stopped allegorizing they would believe Revelation 20 which describes the thousand year reign of Christ. He reigns from the hills of Zion in Jerusalem (Psalms 2). He sits on the throne of David (Isaiah 9). And the twelve tribes of Israel are regathered into The Promised Land, because it is The Promised Land. One is not a “Zionist” because they believe in the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God. Dr. Chafer, founder of Dallas Theological Seminary, wrote seven volumes of theology trying to get Presbyterians and 70+ denominations to change their pernicious ways, and believe premillennialism. He was largely unsuccessful because reformed theologians would rather hold to Roman dogma than believe these two chapters in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. For the Bible believer the millennial reign of Christ is the last of seven dispensations. Each previous dispensation ended in mans failure. The Church age we live in will end as it was in the days of Noah and in Sodom and Gomorrah, just like Jesus said. And when Christ lifts the curse on this earth, so that wolf lays down with the lamb, when he binds Satan for a thousand years, and when he physically sits and reigns on this earth, man again fails catastrophically. All seven dispensations manifest the depravity of man. Such Bible truths are for those with ears to hear. They don't fit with reformed Roman covenant theology, no matter how many modern bible translations they copyright. Study to shew yourself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth into its seven distinct dispensations. 

An Essay for week #42 10/19/2014

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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs141012.mp3

View Thesis “Reformed Theology NOT” at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1439 Developing Intimate Friends

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice 

Intimate friendship only happens when two come to know and to trust each other. The more one knows and trusts, the more intimate the bond. Everyone needs them but you can count your intimate friends on one hand. Relationships mature and improve as this truth is learned and leaned on. Consciousness helps. If what you know about God comes from the theologians who wrote the Westminster Confession, you don't know squat. In God's revelation of himself to man, he comes to know, and then to trust a man named Abram. When God is cramped into a Calvinist's little box, he already knows everything, and many Bible verses must be trashed. “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings” (Prov 5:21). In Hebrew, “ponder” means ponder. In the Bible God comes to know a person and eventually comes to trust some of them. When they reciprocate, there is an intimate bond of friendship. All this takes trials. Spending more time with a Bible, and less with the theologian, helps one see the splendor of this reality. In Genesis 17, God gingerly takes a step of trust in Abram. It is awesome to watch the development of God's friendship with Abram. God reveals to Abram that he is El-Shaddai, the nourisher and sustenance of life itself. Understand that friendship takes a development form both sides, and here, “God talked with (Abram) saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee” (vr. 4) When God was ready he gave Abram a new name. He made his covenant clear, then gave Sarai, Abraham's wife a new name. Trust and Obey, pass a couple tests, and become a friend of God. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

An Essay for week #39 09/28/2014

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View Thesis “Reformed Theology NOT” at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1440 Don't Be Left Behind

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice 

There is coming a Last October. “In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation… Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: …and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD… The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles…” (Lev23:23-24,27,34). Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles mark the important fall memorial of blowing of trumpets. Bible believing Christians are listening for the trumpet symbolized in this feast. It will be a voice “as it were of a trumpet, talking with me; which said, Come up hither” (Rev 4:1). “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible” (1Cor 15:52). “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and (we) shall be caught up… to meet the Lord in the air” (1Thes 4:16-17). This is the rapture of the Church, and one must here distinguish between Bible believers and the Bible allegorizers. The Roman Religionists taught their reformers to allegoize away Jews and the premillennial return of Christ. Consequently Protestants do not perceive the rapture in these verses, and the Reformed cannot conceptualize our Christ on the Throne of David, in Jerusalem, for a 1,000 year dispensation. The truths in the 2^nd advent of Christ are reserved for those with ears to hear, and eyes that don't allegorize. Bible believers often “stand gazing up into heaven” (Acts 1:8-11). A “Hunt for the Last October” begins, don't be left behind.

An Essay for week #40 10/05/2014

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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs141005.mp3

Part 2 in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs141005pm.mp3

Msg #1438 Men Teaching, Praying, and Prophesying

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Abram believed God, and is called the father of faith, but in Genesis 16 he makes significant mistake. Sarai, his wife, the weaker vessel, lost faith and tries to help God out with his impossible promise. God had said “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet (appropriate) for him.” God says it is not appropriate that women take a lead role in teaching, praying, or prophesying (1Tim 2:12, 8, 1Cor 15:34). He gives three reasons, 1) man was made first (1Cor 11:9, 1Tim 2:13), 2) women are more deceivable (1Cor 11:3, 1Tim 2:14) and 3) a woman's physical, physiological, and psychological makeup are designed for mothering not for leading men, homes, or nations. (1Cor 11:12, 1Tim 2:15). In this feminized culture Bible believers spend to much time apologizing for what God said and to little time practicing what God said. Sarai is not in error proposing a solution involving her Egyptian maid. She is doing what women do, pursuing a compromise, seeking conflict avoidance, and manipulating things behind the scene. The error is worded in verse 2, “And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” The role and responsibility of the husband is to provide the leadership and make the righteous decisions when given other options. Abram's failure is clear, don't put the blame on the weaker vessel and appropriate helper. Men have the responsibility to take the lead where women should not go. Men should lead in teaching; praying; and prophesying. The man is to be the head and lead in paths of righteousness. Our society is likely irrecoverable, but our homes and fundamental churches should have testosterone laden, unfemenized, male leadership wearing the pants. That theme unfolds in Genesis 16, and is found lacking in America.

An Essay for week #38 09/21/2014

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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140921.mp3

View Thesis “Reformed Theology NOT” at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1509 Jesus Our Perfect Example

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

God was made flesh and dwelt among us for only one reason, but while he was in the flesh he gave a perfect example of how we can live. Jesus was our example in five particulars. 1) Growth, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”(Luke 2:52). His four-fold growth is our example. Some of us have grown to large in stature, and need to focus on less artificial sweetener, preservatives, and color-enhancers in our growth of stature! When you stop growing you start dying, and Christians are appointed to more abundant life. 2) Witness, John 4 records that “Jesus must needs go through Samaria,” and details Jesus' longest soul-winning conversation. It is an example for being a good witnesses. 3) Prayer, Luke 11 finds disciples asking, “Teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” How often did Jesus pray? He had a place of prayer, a practice of prayer, a position of prayer and a propensity for prayer. If the Son of God in the flesh needed prayer, what of me? Men ought always to pray and not to faint (Luke 18:1). 4) Ministry, “He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet…For I have given you an example”(John 13:5,15). Abraham and Mary Magdalene washed the feet of God, Mary with tears. The Holy Bible does not establish foot washing as an ordinance, but Jesus established it as an example of ministering to others. Walk in his steps. And 5) Love, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John15:13). Jesus is our example to grow, witness, pray, minister, and love. There is no greater example, but despite what Barack Hussein and the Muslims say, that is still not why he came.

An Essay for week #9 Mar 1, 15

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs150301.mp3

In Nook format at http://www.gsbaptistchurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays15.pdf

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