Category: Penny Pulpit

Msg #1731 Deep Water People

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Trials of life can soften the soul, but for some God sends enough trial to completely melt the soul. When a soul is melted it can be poured out like water. Jesus Christ was (Ps 22:14). One is therein equiped to pour out their soul to God. Hannah did (1Sam 1:15). At the NE Vision Summit Pastor Doug Fisher aptly described soul melt using Psalm 107:21-30. There, those “that do business in great waters… see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.” It is God who brings the stormy wind on these deep water people, and “their soul is melted because of trouble” (107:26). Perhaps you've been there. Perhaps you are there now. You surely know someone doing such a melt down. Know that cancer can put one there. “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end” (107:27). At wits' end one looses all understanding of a situation, none of it makes sense. “Why Lord?… What am I supposed to do?” We reel to and fro. The leader Moses was there; the prophet Elijah was there; the rich man Job was there. They all said, “God, just kill me!” but he didn't. (Num 11, 1Kngs 19, Job 3). Naomi was there, and could have turned bitter, but she didn't (Ruth 1:20-22). Go back and visit why God melts souls, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing (107:21-22). Keep that foremost and you will soon get to verse twenty-eight, twenty-nine, and thirty, the desired haven. God is good, all the time.

An Essay for week #31 Jul 30, 2017

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1728 Only Those Who Believe, See.

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The Prophet Isaiah records God's words with such fervor that one needs to carefully heed every first, second, and third person pronoun. “My servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13). Dr. Luke records in his Acts of the Apostles that a newly ordained deacon, Philip, found an Ethiopian eunuch who was confused by these pronouns (Acts 8:34). When he got it straight he got born-again! So it behooves us to read carefully. God's inerrant word has no misplaced, dangling or squinting modifiers. None. Zip. Notta. “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” That man, it says in Isaiah 53, will see this soon-to-be exalted servant, the Christ (Hebrew – Messiah), grow up as a tender plant (vr2). That man will see him despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief (vr3). That man, the believer, to whom the arm of the LORD is revealed, will see him carry our sorrow, see him wounded for our transgressions, see him bruised for our iniquity (vr4-5). Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson won't see it. Bill Nye the Science Guy won't see it. Bill Maher the atheist comedian won't see it. That trio of frogs (Rev 16:13) say Bible believers are child abusers when they teach God's Holy Word as truth! Isaiah, however, carefully uses the first-person plural pronoun when he records, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (vr6). Evangelist Loren Dawson used to say, “If you go in under the first all and come out under the second all you will be born-again.” It is just that simple, Neil.

An Essay for week #28 Jul 9, 2017

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1729 The Foolishness of Preaching

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When God moved on Dr. Luke to write down accounts about His Only Begotten Son he did not just arrange them in chronological order, there is always a theme unfolding. When the corrupt lawyer tempted Christ, “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan. That chapter starts with seventy disciples sent out into the villages. Jesus warned them, as lambs among wolves, that they might not be well received. Jesus promptly pronounced woes on Chorazin and Bethsaida, they should have repented. The city where God's Son did innumerable miracles, Capernaum, is given a special condemnation because of their rejection of the Christ. The nineteen-fifties were marked by a tremendous reception of the gospel, and a growth of Independent Baptist Churches. The agnosticism and apostasy of the 21^st century has ground most of that to a halt. The gospel is not being well received. Christ's woe could be pronounced on our cities and like Capernium, America has seen a special side of Christ and is all the more accountable. The disciple is not to glory that the message is well received. It is not. They are not even to glory in the devils being subject unto them. “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, … but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). In the military and in business we are goal oriented and success driven. As a feckless preacher of the gospel our satisfaction and our joy must come from three things: 1) our names are written down, 2) our “boss” is pleased with our service, even if our audience is not, and 3) we get to call our “boss” Aba-Father. The lawyer was taunting Jesus with his sarcasm, and that is not unusual today. Preach the gospel.

An Essay for week #29 Jul 16, 2017

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1727 Wanted: Full Time Reconcilers

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

In Luke 16 the unjust steward goes haplessly about using his lord's resources to secure his own well being just before he gets fired from his job. He has authority to barter the forgiveness of peoples great debt to his lord, and he uses that authority to gender their gratitude. No wonder he is called unjust, but look what our Lord says about him, “And the lord commended that unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (Luke 16:8). This is not hidden allegorical stuff, it would be wise for you to do what this unjust steward did. You have authority to barter the forgiveness of peoples great debt to our Lord. II Corinthians 5:18 calls that “the ministry of reconciliation,” and, sure enough, you and I, as born-again believers, are supposed to be in that ministry. Too many stop memorizing at verse 17 and never connect to verse 18! All that “new creature” stuff and the “old things passing away” is so that we can be full time reconcilers. All around us are souls indebted by their sin, and we have our Lord's authority to adjudicate their sentence. Luke 16 charges that we would be wise to do so, that people would be grateful to us for it, and that we should be about our Father's business, full time – recall the theme here, we cannot serve two masters (Luke 16:13). Be a minister of reconciliation today, give some indebted soul the gospel. If they take the deal, they will be forever free from sin's debt, and forever grateful to you for preaching to them, just like in Jesus' Luke 16 parable. Awesome.

An Essay for week #27 Jul 2, 2017

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg #1744 A New Heaven and New Earth

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When the redeemed step into the presence of our eternal God we will gain a proper and holy perspective of all things. In the mean time we are to study to shew ourselves approved unto God, and to rightly divide the Word of truth. That Word of truth unfolds the most intimate plans of God. Biblical prophecy is ennobling; it is written for our comfort, not our curiosity. The rapture, the Bema Seat Judgment of the bride, the marriage supper and our eternal union with Christ are a consolation. Even the described seven year tribulation, the battle of Armageddon and the salvation of Israel culminating in the thousand year reign of Christ from the throne of David are to bring us solace. There is coming a second resurrection wherein all unregenerate souls stand before our Holy God on his Great White Throne (Rev20:11) before they partake of their second death. And then, finally, there is a new heaven and a new earth. This present heaven and earth “shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2Pet3:10). Peter gives pause to ponder these prophecies, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness?” (vr.11). It is ennobling that God has shared his hopes and plans for the future; it is a great act of intimacy when friends do that. Only the believing eye can see these portrayals in Scripture. The old adage is reversed for Revelation, here, “Believing is seeing.” Bible revelation is thus meant to change our attitude as our world plunges toward his prophesied end. As our country leans reprobate, what manner of persons ought we to be? Ministers of reconciliation (2Cor 5:17-21). Another adage, “Let's get cracking.”

An Essay for week #44 Oct 29, 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#1652 Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

  In the lambing season, while shepherds watched their flock by night, there came to some in Judea the announcement that the Lamb of God was born. Shepherds were the news network of the day, their travels from town to town and market to market caused this Noel to be broadcast. “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.” The angel of the Lord had given them two signs to look for, but the announcement of the birth of their Saviour, which is Christ the Lord is what caused them to leave their flocks in the middle of the night and trek to the city of David. The Bible does not say the shepherds came to worship; they came to see and announce. They became the news network, “and all they that heard it wondered.” When I was saved as a young lad I had an angel of the Lord come to me, and their were a host of heavenly hosts praising God. The angel was a Baptist Preacher named Cecil Palm; the praising hosts were my mom and dad and the Gang Mills Baptist Chapel. Under-shepherds are still God's good news network. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15). We need uncompromised preachers of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in every corner of God's green earth. It is white unto harvest, and very soon the harvest will be passed.

An Essay for week #52 Dec 25, 2016

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg#1650 The Son of the Highest

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isa 9:2). Our Heavenly Father shines best in desperate darkness. Israel, in the throws of their mighty God's severe judgment, needed hope. There were seven woes pronounced against her before this promise was rehearsed but they needed to know that their God would keep the promise about Messiah. They needed a hope to hang onto. The light that their God gave them pierces through three-thousand years and shines into lives today. His promise is led with this premise, “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established” (7:9). Belief in the virgin birth of Christ is a fundamental of the Christian faith. “The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (7:14). Belief that Jesus was God in the flesh is also fundamental. Belief that he will soon have the government upon his shoulder and be King of kings and Lord of lords is fundamental. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (9:6). Those seven woes hang over America. Israel rejected her Redeemer and embraced dumb idols. America has rejected her Creator and embraced Charles Darwin. As the woes come to fruition we find troublous times in the kingdom. Christ is the Light of the world. In all the celebration of his birth light beams abound, reflect the true Light into the lives around you. There is hope in Christ alone.

An Essay for week #50 Dec 11, 2016

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg#1651 Wise Men Still Seek Him

Msg#1648 Your Family Singing

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When on has a new birth they get a new name and a new song. Except ye be born-again, ye cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:1-18). “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it” (Rev 2:17). “And he hat put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD” (Ps 40:3). “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints” (Ps 149:1) “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth” (Isa 42:10). “Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation” (1Chr 16:23). “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof: for thous wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Rev 5:9). Some Christians have their new song squelched out by their old one. Mind altering rock music fits well with the mind altering drug culture of this world, but not with the new song of the redeemed. Those who are “a little bit country” lose their love, their dog, and their pickup-truck in their music and need to drown their loss in some booze, but “It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink” (Prov 31:4). As a Christian you need to always be “speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19, cf Col 3:16).

An Essay for week #48 Nov 27, 2016

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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Msg#1649 Unto Us a Child is Born

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The believer knows the Old Testament prophecies align exactly with the New Testament's presentation of the Christ, but the scoffer, the skeptic and the modernist scholar cannot deal with such miraculous revelation. In what is likely the first book ever written for God's Bible Job said, “I need a daysman… I know that my redeemer liveth… and in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 9:33, 19:25, 26). David's Psalm records God's decree, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion… Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee… I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance” (Psalm 2:6, 7, 8). When God had Isaiah the prophet pronounce woe on Israel he gave them hope with, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isa 9:6-7). Every manger scene should cause one to recall Gabriel's declaration to Mary, “Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33). God was made flesh and dwelt among us.

An Essay for week #49 Dec 4, 2016

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