ANCIENT ISRAEL BATTLES THE UNHOLY SEED

By Pastor Don Elmore

September 8, 2019

Scripture Reading Judges 1:28

Israel (not the Jews) had been slaves less than a half-century previously in Egypt. Their God had led them out of Egypt in a very dramatic fashion by performing many miracles. He led them like a shepherd leading the sheep from Goshen (Egypt) to the Promised Land (Canaan Land).

But Israel failed to believe that they could conquer the giants who had intermingled into the family of the Canaanites living in the Promised Land. Because they believed this lie, they were made to wander till forty years had expired. Therefore, only two of the men of the 12 spies older than 20 years old, could enter the land west of the Jordan River. They were the only two men, Joshua and Caleb, who spoke for the Israelites to fight against the Canaanites. So much for democracy. Democracy failed. That was one reason that ancient Israel never had one—they were a theocracy and then a monarchy. Moses then died, being 120 years old, and Joshua became the next commander of Israel.

Joshua led Israel in conquering the Canaanites in the Promised Land. But even though the Israelites were strong, they failed to drive out all the Canaanites. Chapter one of the book of Judges tells us what happened after Joshua died. It first tells of the victories of Judah, the first tribe of Israel who fought against the Canaanites. The latter part of the chapter tells of Isreal’s failures: it names the tribes that were strong and didn’t have the courage to drive out all the Canaanites. If they had, they would have been a separate nation. But they weren’t. What happened next?

DO YOU BELIEVE?

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

August 18, 2019

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:16

IN THE NEWS

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell at 7:30 am in the morning last week, according to police. He was under “suicide watch,” which was of course a designation placed on him roughly two weeks ago to set up the back story for what just happened. Jeffrey Epstein was murdered for the simple reason that dead men don’t talk. And Epstein had a lot to say that would have implicated Bill Clinton and dozens of high-profile global power brokers who happily raped young boys and girls that were provided by Epstein as part of his blackmail-based wealth creation scheme.

The Clinton Body Count is already about 70 dead; people who have mysteriously died after possessing potentially damaging information about the Clintons. Think about this for a little bit. From the two teen age boys who were supposedly killed by a train while they were lying down on the tracks in a drug stupor, to the suicide of Epstein, there has been about 70 others murdered in mysterious ways. Found dead in a car, killed in a plane crash, found dead after supposedly jumping off a high building, found dead at home with a gun shot wound, etc

GOD'S VIEW ON THE SPIRIT AND SOUL'S HOUSE

By Walt Giddings

July 28, 2019

Scriptural Reading:   I Corinthians 9:27

In I Corinthians 9:27, what kind of example is Paul setting? What is he saying about the house for his spirit and soul? What does “keep under my body” mean? What is this “subjection” into which he brings his body? “Keep under” is translated from the Greek verb “to subdue. “Bring into subjection” is translated from the Greek verb “to enslave”, or “be a slave driver”.

There is a second witness in the Scriptures to our bodies being slaves. I am almost daily amazed at the understanding of God’s Word the men of King James appointment brought to the Authorized Version 1611. In Revelation 18 God’s servant John heard a voice from heaven list the Bible Biology.

Merchandise of Mystery Babylon. This list of merchandise begins with the most highly valued, and descends to the cheapest.

Revelation 18:12-13: "The merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots and slaves and souls of men."

The “slaves and souls of men” are dead last. “Slaves” is translated from the Greek word for body, soma. The Greek word “soma” appears in our English expression “psychosomatic” and “somatopsychic” indicating the soul-body connection.

This lesson is Bible Biology.  In sharing this lesson together, our hope is we will be much more alert to matters of biology in The Scriptures, and we will have more of the mind of Christ in being good soldiers with these fallen bodies.

HEBREWS ARE HEIRS

By James N. Jester

July 14, 2019

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, 14; 2:1-4

The book of Hebrews was written during the last half of the first century. We do not know for sure who wrote this Epistle. The mention of Timothy (Heb. 13:23) has led some to think that Paul or one of his associates wrote it. Our friend, Bill Fink, an Internet C. I. teacher at Christogenea.com, believes Paul did write it.

The church of Alexandria appears to have been the first to consider that Hebrews was written by Paul or reflected his thought. Clement of Alexandria (c. A.D. 150-215) named Paul as the author and that he wrote it in Hebrew, but argued that Luke translated it into Greek. Origen (c. A.D. 185-253) concluded that the thoughts were of Paul but that the phraseology and composition were those of someone who was recalling the apostle’s teaching (e.g., Clement of Rome, Luke, or Priscilla). Most say it was written during the last half of the first century.

The Jamison, Fausset, Brown Commentary also believes Paul wrote it:

“The writer, though not inscribing his name, was well known to those addressed (Heb 13:19). For proofs of Paul being the author, see my Introduction. In the Pauline method, the statement of subject and the division are put before the discussion; and at the close, the practical follows the doctrinal portion. The ardor of Spirit in this Epistle, as in First John, bursting forth at once into the subject (without prefatory inscription of name and greeting), the more effectively strikes the hearers. The date must have been while the temple was yet standing, before its destruction, A.D. 70; some time before the martyrdom of Peter, who mentions this Epistle of Paul (2Pe 3:15, 3:16); at a time when many of the first hearers of the Lord were dead.” –JFB

As to who the Book of Hebrews was written to, there is plenty of confusion in judeo-Christianity.

DOES GOD WELCOME ALL? 

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

June 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Genesis 19:24-25

Zoar was the smallest of the five cities that were on the same very fertile plain of the Jordan River. It was there where Lot begged the two angels that his family could go instead of into the mountains. As soon as they entered the city (minus his wife because she died when she disobeyed God’s command and looked back, and his two married daughters who remained in Sodom) the destruction quickly followed. The smoke from this fire and brimstone was so great that Abraham could see the smoke from where he was living which was in Hebron (Mamre).

Maybe Zoar had 10 or more righteous people living in the city? Maybe the 10 or more righteous individuals referred to each city separately not collectively? If it had, then it could have been spared by Abraham’s intercession given in Genesis 18:23-33. Anyway, Zoar continued for many centuries, not because of Abraham’s request only, but no-doubt also because it was not as ripe for judgment as the other cities. But Lot and his two remaining daughters did not stay in this small city very long. They very quickly left town and went to the mountains. All their cattle were destroyed—they were homeless and desolate.

ARE WE MODERN-DAY SODOM?

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

June16, 2019

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 19:1-3

Thus, begins the story of the destruction of Sodom along with the three other cities that were close by. All four towns were lying in one of the most fertile areas of the world. It has been compared to being close to the fertility of the Garden of Eden.

Two angels came to town while Lot was sitting in the entrance of the city. What did Lot do when he saw them? Did he:

1. Shake their hands?

2. Watch them go by?

3. Bow down to them with his face to the ground and offer them to stay all night in his home?

4. Offer them a place to stay in a local inn?

How did Lot recognize that they were angels? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but it says that when they turned down his proposal, which is listed above, he made another request for them to go and stay at his home where he would fix them a large, delicious meal. This offer was accepted by the two angels.

But shortly after their feast, before they laid down for the evening, they experienced some tribulation. All the men, (old, middle-aged, and young), of the city of Sodom, (that must have been a large crowd), came to Lot’s house and asked for the men (angels) to come out to them so that they may know them.

GALATIONS ON RACE

by James N. Jester

June 2, 2019

Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Introduction

After church last week, we went out for lunch, which we often do as a time of fellowship (or communion) with our racial brethren. One of the waitresses noticed the service dog with our group and so a discussion of dog breeds developed. I thought to myself, that people naturally will discuss breeding among animals; but if one were to discuss the subject within the human realm, it would usually be rejected as ‘not relevant’ or not the same. But of course, it is the same because it is about life and genetics and that is common to all living organisms. And so, we continue in this series to examine Paul’s statements that relate to race.

In our Scripture reading of Galatians, we saw that, “God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). Jesus, the Son of God, was born of a woman of our race, which makes Him an exclusive kinsman Redeemer. He did not redeem all races. Thayer defines ‘adoption’ as: “that relationship which God was pleased to establish between himself and the Israelites in preference to all other nations.”

Then our Scripture further says, “…and if a son, then an heir through God” (Gal. 4:7). What a wonderful thought, that we are literally sons and daughters; and therefore heirs through our God. This is a racial relationship.

by Alan Breitenstein

May 19, 2019

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1: 10

Do you remember what it was like before you came to the knowledge of the truth?  Do you think you know everything now? Do you stubbornly cling to what you want to believe, or is your goal to actually follow the truth wherever it leads? Will you cling to something that cannot be sustained by facts?  Whatever is not of faith is sin.  Faith is not some ether that floats around.  Faith is based upon the facts of God’s Word.