Category: Penny Pulpit

Msg #1725 The Good Samaritan

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan more eloquently answers the unscrupulous lawyer's first question than his second. The eloquent answering of, “Who is my neighbor?” is so renowned that it made “Good Samaritan” a cliché, but look more carefully at that lawyer's first question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). This lawyer was tempting Christ, with his question, and likely emphasized the “I” as if he were a special case, and the “do” as if there were some kind of work in the answer. Jesus, knowing “there is none righteous, no not one” (Rom 3), knowing that “all we like sheep have gone astray” (Isa 53), knowing that “by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal 2:16), and knowing “the law was a schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ” (3:24), told the haughty lawyer, “Go ahead, keep the law.” A mature believer can look into the depth of Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan and see that no human priest can give out eternal life. They might just have a Roman dress and backward collar, or be a legitimate Aaronic Priest, but there is no salvation from a priest, he passed by on the other side. So to the Levite, with the keeping of all the Levitical law, and ministering daily in the temple, had no power to save. But when there came a despised and rejected one, who reached out with compassion and touched the half-dead pilgrim, salvation came from his hand. To inherit eternal life, you need to be touched by the Good Samaritan, the Lord Jesus Christ, who said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14). Priests and works won't cut it. Praise His Holy Name.

An Essay for week #25 Jun 18, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1745 So-Great-Salvation and its Villains

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The account of Naaman being healed of his leprosy is a superb portrait of what Hebrews 2:3 calls “so great salvation,” but 2Kings 5 also reveals salvation's villain. In 5:3-12 one first has to admire the persistent 3^rd person testimony of a child, the blundering kings who know nothing about how God works, and the man-of-God who only sends a messenger, and confounds all of Naaman's preconceived notions. After Naaman's cleansing don't miss the seven results of authentic salvation recorded in 5:15-19: 1) He returned with his whole company to the man-of-God, 2) A “Now I know” salvation, 3) Overwhelming gratitude, 4) Silver and gold are nothing more than “burden of earth,” 5) A “No other God” mentality, 6) A consciousness of sin, and a need of pardon, and 7) A “Go in peace” joy of salvation. But notice, oh man of God, the seven traits of the villain of this account. In 5:20-25 for Gehazi 1) Gold is not as dirt, 2) long time service is obscured by greed, 3) he pursues after new-converts, 4) he lies about the man-of-God, what he did, what he said, and what he wants, 5) Gehazi is trusted by the new convert, 6) he sneaks around and hides things, and 7) he lies to the man-of-God. Wow, what a portrait. It reminds us that the faithful man of God will indeed be challenged in this old world. Don't miss Elisha's compassion on the villain as he confronts him, rebukes him, and leaves all punishment to the hand of God. Seven years later chapter 8 reveals that the villain struck pay-dirt for a new job, is still talking about the man-of-God, still bumping into people changed by the man-of-God, and is, coincidentally, providentially used to bring God's blessing on them. God is good.

An Essay for week #45 Nov 5, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1726 The Fate of the Rich Man

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Robert Ingersoll, credited as the founder of atheism is America, listened to his father, a Presbyterian Pastor, preach, “The rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment… in the flame…” (Luke 16). A faithful witness for John Calvin, his father taught him that God, before the foundation of the earth, choose this rich man to go to hell, and there was nothing the rich man could do about it. To these false teachings of Calvinism Robert Ingersoll wrote in 1878, “If that is the God of the Bible, I want nothing to do with him.” Calvinism brought a similar response from Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Glover Eddy, and Ellen White, all of whom founded cults opposing Calvinism, but also violating the simple truths of God's Word. That is pretty sobering, but Jesus' account of Lazarus and the rich man is very sobering. The rich man did not have another life. He did not have another chance. He did not have another witness to his family. Our life is like a vapor that appears for a little while, than vanishes away. Eternity is looming in your not to distant future and hell is real. The Bible says more about hell than it does about heaven. In life the rich man had options. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom 10). “Whosoever believeth in (the only begotten Son of God) shall not perish” (John 3). There are 164 “whosoevers” in the Bible, ninety-three are in the New Testament. All of us have the power and responsibility of choosing who we are going to believe, and there is a judgment day coming. Choose you this day whom you will serve. Trust Christ.

An Essay for week #26 Jun 25, 2017

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1743 The Millennial Reign of Christ

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The kings (presidents and prime ministers) of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD (Jehovah God), and against his anointed (Messiah, Christ)… the Lord (Hbr-Anonay, Grk-Kurios– owner, possessor, creator, master) shall have them in derision… Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion, I will declare the decree: the LORD (Jehovah God) hath said unto me (Messiah, Christ) Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:2,4,6,7). The seventh and final dispensation (Grk-oikonomia – period of human management or stewardship) is the Millennial Reign of Christ. While previous dispensations were supervised by 1) man's innocence, 2) man's conscious, 3) man's governance, 4) the promises of God, 5) the laws of God, and 6) the Holy Spirit of God, the upcoming dispensation will be supervised by our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, from his seat on David's throne in God's holy city of Jerusalem, in God's holy hill of Zion. The Roman amillennialism of the Protestants and Reformed has done three things for American Churches: 1) it has kept them embedded in replacement theology wherein they learned a hatred for God's real chosen and elect people Israel, 2) it kept them from a literal-grammatical-historical interpretation of the Holy Bible, wherein the amoral feminist movement has invaded, and taken over, and 3) it has kept them apostate to the point of no return. The end of the 19^th century found Fundamentalists with this realization. The resurgence of Christian Fundamentalism in America is over. Apostasy rules in American religion and reprobates rule in our government. What is a Bible believer to do? That is easy, get into a Bible believing church and “Preach the Gospel to every creature.” It is our commission.

An Essay for week #43 Oct 22, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Good Samaritan Baptist Church

Msg #1735 Know Christ, Know Peace

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

In an essay one cannot describe the peace of God that passes all understanding (Phillipians 4:7), but surely the four commandments that precede it could be expounded (vr. 4, 5 & 6). “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” is easy until one gets to the “alway” part. In all things, in all circumstances, and in all ways can be a challenge for some of us. “Let your moderation be known unto all men.” Baptists are often extremists, and rarely, if ever, “moderationists.” Moderation around the dinner table dare not be addressed here, nor the exotic chemicals called “sugar-free” or “diet” that create and plague obese bodies, but we could point out a needed moderation in our point of view. Extremes plague our pulpits and pews. “Be careful for nothing,” is an interesting command. Our children often make us full-of-care instead. After enough exotic pills and aforementioned chemicals health issues often concern us. It is hard to be “careful for nothing” when our country is governed by infidels who pursue reprobate agendas; just the same this is not a mere suggestion. The last command before the superb promise is instrumental to accomplishing the previous three, “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” To often we have a “word” of prayer, when we should have a “season” of prayer; we are “nestled” in prayer, not “wrestled” in prayer; we .have “trivia” in prayer, but not “travail” in prayer. That perfect peace of God settles in only after the rejoicing, moderation, lack of worry, and seasons of prayer. Recall the line “NO Christ, NO peace. KNOW Christ, KNOW peace.” Let's get cracking, if there is ever a day in need of peace, it's today.

An Essay for week #35 Aug 27, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1742 Armageddon

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Armageddon, the whole world knows the name. The number six-six-six, they know of its implication. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, God closes out his whole written revelation to man. Therein is the one mention of Armageddon, in Rev 16:16, and therein is the one mention of that number, in 13:18. Both speak to the climactic end of the world as we know it. Both speak to the rebellious hatred of depraved humanity. And both speak to the coming judgment of this world, which comes when the Only Begotten Son of God, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb-as it had been slain, the Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes, the Lord Jesus Christ, comes with his saints as described in Revelation 19 & 20 et. al.. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Unrighteous men hold the truth, that which may be known of God is manifest in them. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20). President Obama called Islam “a great religion,” and it is muscling-in, but today America's god is Evolution. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, … Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (vr 22, 23, 25). Armageddon, don't go there, be saved instead (Rom 10:13).

An Essay for week #42 Oct 15, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1732 Going to a City

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Curiously, the New Jerusalem, that God lowers from the new heaven to the new earth, has walls, gates and foundations. Roman Catholic Saint Origin taught the Catholic Church how to allegorize away all the literalness of God's Holy Word, but a true Bible believer dare not follow their pernicious ways. Logically this new city, where God literally dwells with man, needs no gated walls standing on stone foundations, but it sure enough has them. When a born-again Christians departs this world they immediately stand in the presence of God. That is heaven, but there is coming a city that is described in Revelation 21. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God, and when the Revelation of Jesus Christ reveals it to our eye it has description and dimension that this world cannot contain. Only a precious few would believe it to be literal, and one might call them Bible believers. The walls signify that some things will not be allowed in; the Pearled Gates, the twelve tribes of Israel whereby the Only Begotten Son entered into this world; the twelve foundation stones reflect the Apostles who laid the doctrinal foundation of the the New Covenant. These symbols present in the New City of Peace will be reminders through all eternity. As incorruptible but finite humans walk on streets of pure gold, they will remember Apostles of the New Covenant that got them there, the tribes of Israel that opened the way for Messiah, and the walls that ban all sin from the presence of a Holy God. Bob and Darlene Puffer sing, “Jesus Knows Me, This I Love.” If he don't know you, you too will be banned from this city. Receive Christ before it is eternally to late. I am going to a City.

An Essay for week #32 Aug 6, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1733 With a River of Life

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The Apostle John saw “A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelations twenty-two continues the description of the New Jerusalem, a prepared place for a prepared people. Everything in this description of heaven will be a reminder of the seven dispensations of God that perfected his tabernacling with man. The walls, gates, foundations and streets are now accompanied by a river, a tree, and the throne of God and of the Lamb. The river of water is reminisce of Jesus' declaration at the well, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). That springing well is to “flow rivers of living water” out of our belly (John 7:38). In the Kingdom Dispensation the pure water flowed out of the temple to heal the land (Ezek 47:1-9), and the fruit of the tree of life were for the healing of the nations (Ezek 47:7,12, Rev 22:2). Reminders abound but perfection is attained… “And there shall be no more curse.” The 144-thousand servants are called out as present in verse three. Those with his name in their foreheads (Rev 7:3-4) have a special place of service in heaven. Alas, however, the bulk of this chapter contains the assurance that “These sayings are faithful and true” (22:6, 10, 16, 18), and “Behold, I come quickly” (22:7, 12, 17, 20). The sixty-six books of the revelation of God, written by forty men over 1,500 years ends with the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and “if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,…” God's warning is very clear.

An Essay for week #33 Aug 13, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1734 The Romans Road

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

At that Church you went to (are going to) did anyone ever take the time to show you from the Bible how you could know for sure you are saved and going to heaven when you die? Could I show you right now, with just a few verses, out of this 400 year old English Bible how you could know that? John 3:16-18, 36 says God loved, and God gave, and if you believe what he did for you, you can be saved and have (present tense) everlasting life. God wrote out what you need to believe about his Only Begotten Son in what we call the Roman's Road. First, Romans 3:10, 23 says ALL have sinned, ALL come short. Romans 5:8 says while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us; He died in our place. Verse 12 tells how we got like this, we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. Now verse 18 shows that Adam brought us into condemnation, and only one man, Christ Jesus, can bring us out. Look here at Romans 6:23. Eternal death looms over us because of sin, but God, because he loves us, offers a gift. A gift has a giver and a receiver. The receiver does not pay for the gift, does not purchase the gift, and does not work for the gift; that's why its a gift. The giver has purchased the gift at a great price, all the receiver has to do is accept the gift, no strings attached. But the gift may be turned down. One could say to the giver, “I'll not accept this gift from you.” The thing about salvation is, there is a formal method for accepting and receiving God's gift. Religions tell us we must work, be good, do penance, attend church, build karma, or change our life to deserve salvation, but look in Romans 10:9-13 what God says you must do to receive his gift, and look too, who all can receive it. Would you pray right now and accept God's gift? That is all it takes to receive eternal life.

You could show this Roman's Road to your neighbor and lives would change.

An Essay for week #34 Aug 20, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1730 Be Ye Also Ready

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The Bible says, “What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). But Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). Jesus' prepared place for prepared people has been in the works for one-thousand and eighty years and we have every reason to expect him to return in 2017. If he don't, live the year anticipating that you might go to him. Consider that a prepared people can't go to a heavenly mansion with this old body. “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1Cor 15:53). If our mortality catches up with us this year, Jesus gives us example. Death is separation. Jesus said, “Father, into they hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46). And the Bible says “For thou shalt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27). That is the separation. His spirit went to God, his soul to hell (for us), and his body went to the tomb. If the saved die before Christ's return the body goes to the grave, but the soul and spirit go straight to our LORD God. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2Cor 5:8). Believers with such confidence are a tremendous testimony. Some may have more cause to anticipate going this year, but any one could. Carry yourself with confidence in Christ.

An Essay for week #30 Jul 23, 2017

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Copyright © 2017 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

Our mailing address is:
Good Samaritan Baptist Church