THE GREAT COMMISSION: MATTHEW 28:18-20 AND ACTS 1:8
The great commission was exemplified by God and by Jesus in the four gospels. How do the great commission passages relate to the lostness of mankind? Does God, the ultimate missionary, still reach out to certain men, people groups or just the children of Israel? Jesus is our example; we must look to the scriptures to see what Jesus did and do what He did.
I would like to start after Jesus’ baptism because this is when He started to go forth and to proclaim – the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him out to the wilderness where He would be tempted by the devil. Jesus used the Word of God to fight off the devil and became victorious. After His time of temptation, He began His ministry in Capernaum (Luke 4:23; John 2:11) and went to His birth town of Nazareth. Jesus’ custom was to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, but this day was going to be a little different. For He stood up and read from Isaiah 61, a prophecy about Himself. After He was done reading, He said that today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus came to fulfill the scriptures; what a way to start by reading and proclaiming the word of God and His mission.
Jesus proclaimed Isaiah 61 as His mission to:
• Preach the gospel to the poor.
• Heal the brokenhearted.
• Preach deliverance to the captives.
• Restore sight of the blind.
• Set at liberty those who were bruised.
• Preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus was rejected in His home town so He gave them an example of how Elijah was rejected and went to minister to a widow and to Naaman, the Syrian. Both were outside the tribes of Israel which makes me believe that Jesus was already saying, “I have come to tell the good news to my children first and then to all nations.” Jesus exemplified the points in Luke 4:18 and 19 by going out to teach and preach the good news as well as to heal the afflicted in body, soul, and spirit.
Jesus also selected men to disciple, and He associated with them and set them apart. By imparting to them the knowledge of God, He demonstrating the offices of Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. He then delegated them to go out. Finally through supervision, He reproduced disciples who could go out and accomplish the great commission in Matthew 28.
Jesus selected men from different occupational backgrounds: Simon, later called Peter, his brother – Andrew, and James and John – the sons of Zebedee who were all fishermen, Matthew – a tax collector. Simon, the Canaanite, was a zealot (a political radical who wanted the Messiah to come and restore Israel and free them from their oppressors). The others were not well known, but as we can see, they were not all from one place which means they could reach different people in different places and in different occupations. This would eventually help spread the gospel to all people no matter their economic or occupational statuses.
As Jesus began to set them apart by explaining to them the parables and answering their questions. He was preparing them to teach all things which they observed through Him by His words, His deeds, and by His demonstrations. Jesus delegated first to the twelve and then to the seventy to go “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:6-8 KJV). After He had said unto them “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38 KJV). He had prepared them through association, consecration, impartation, demonstration and now through delegation. He was building up their confidence to go and preach the truth, so they could reproduce other believers.
Jesus continued to supervise and to teach them through the above mentioned ways until the time of His final ascension. Even the process of His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection were demonstration of character, obedience, hope, and deity which we all can learn from. His final commandments to His disciples are seen at the end of the gospels and in Acts chapter one. Here are two of them:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {teach…: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)
After we receive the gospel, we can be tempted. I believe the devil tempts us to see if we really have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. If we falter, we may not be truly saved. The parable of the sower – the four types of ground in which the good seed has fallen on – may portray either our true salvation or the devil who can snatch away our salvation before conversion. This is just like Jesus Who fought off the devil with the Word of God. We must also do so. Jesus proclaimed and did this in His home town, so it would only make since for us to do the same. Start where you are. If we are to go out as Jesus did, I believe we ought to go as Luke 4:18 & 19 describes. As we read and apply God’s word to our lives, we begin to increase our faith and become prepared for God’s good pleasure. God will send us or bring others into our paths to spread the good news and disciple others as He wills even to the ends of the world.
We need to learn the process of selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation, supervision, and reproduction to be an effective witness and disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We need to go from our own home town, to the outer suburbs, to other counties, states, and nations to bring the Gospel to the lost and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King; and His very elect.
Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 relate to the lostness of mankind in that we need to learn the truth. Jesus said to teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you and to be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. Jesus is telling us to go because we now know the truth and there are lost souls that need to hear the gospel and be discipled. We need to follow His example as He taught His disciples and go and do what Jesus did.
Remember Jesus has called all of us into a ministry especially the ministry of reconciliation as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)
Go therefore and proclaim the good news and help disciple others in Jesus Name.

In Christ,
Greg

THE LOCAL CHURCH COMMITMENT TO WORLD MISSIONS
The Church’s commitment to world mission should be similar to that of our own mission, yet on a grander scale.
The Church’s commitment to world missions should grow with the church. Jesus told His disciples to “be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV). If we take this scripture as a model, we are to first be witnesses right where we are. Then as we grow in the spirit of missional work, the church would then continue its outreach to the surrounding areas and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
SELECTION
The local church must first find out what their interests and common local surroundings are which can be points of interests to evangelize. In other words, the local church (the members of the local assembly) must select a location where they can start to influence others for Christ. Maybe some of the members are mechanics or equestrians; if this is the case, the church could look into local horse ranches or mechanic shops to start a Bible study or prayer group. One of my fellow pastors started a Bible and Burritos Bible study at a Mexican restaurant; it did not start off quickly, he first talked with the owner on casual subjects (like Star Wars). Then one day, he had the restaurant cater to his church. When the owner asked if he was the pastor, he said, “Yes.” The owner’s guard came down and it opened a door to start a Bible study at his restaurant on a slow night once a month. This helped some of his employees and opened the door for the gospel to be heard and seen.
This example of selection was somewhat like the market place where Paul may have been proclaiming God’s word to the owners which sold goods. This strategy of selection was a point of connection, the owner in this case. It may have been a waitress in another situation or place. A local church must look for opportunities in their local areas to reach out and build relationships to establish a multitude of selected people and places to be witnesses for Christ and the furtherance of the gospel.
ASSOCIATION
Through association one may find a living testimony of truth; through the truth one finds virtue, knowledge, patience, self-control, godliness, brotherly love, and finally agape love. It starts with the leader’s example and the follower’s observation. If the follower sees that the words and actions of a leader line up, then the follower will begin to listen to the leader. As the follower(s) learn more through their observations, they become more intrigued with the truth and want to spend more time associating with the leader.
Association may start off with just getting to know someone through casually conversation about family, occupation, religion, and personal testimonies; it can grows beyond that. As the leader widens his sphere of influence through different situation and circumstances, the followers will observe the leader’s actions and teachings in each scenario: the association of one on one teaching, group teaching, teaching in town, teaching at a church. Each may have different needs or approaches to be effective in ministering to the people. Association takes time and consistency.
The church and its members must start to associate with the selected points of interest to become effective and influence others. Only by staying close to these points of interest and the people, will they become effective. As the church becomes more involved in this process, it can touch a multitude of people and influence them to want to associate with the church. The church needs to be a continuous source of association by staying in contact with new associates and or believers. One way is a daily program like a reading plan, or an accountability partner, or a daily devotional plan. Association cannot be a weekly or bi-weekly event, especially when the follower does not have a firm foundation. The church needs a plan, and the church members need to be encouraged to take action in the association process. After all, Jesus said, “Follow me.” He did not say come see me once a week if you can make it. The association process never ends; the church’s obligation is to make disciples of all nations.
CONSECRATION
A disciple of Jesus is a loyal follower and a student of His word. When you submit to His authority, you have surrendered your will to Him and effectively set yourself aside for the Master’s good pleasure. Obedience to Christ is therefore a necessity to be consecrated. One must surrender their whole body, soul, and spirit to God’s sovereignty. Total surrender to God is essential. If you hold even 1% back, you will not be loyal. Some part of your life will be subject to an invasion of the enemy. Any area of your life not surrendered to Jesus will become a foothold for Satan. He will use it to gain control of you and cause you to stumble.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV)
You cannot serve two masters. Whoever you yield to becomes your master and the consequences of your actions will either be a curse or a blessing. Consecration is a serious issue in today’s church. Many want to say, “I am a Christian.” When in reality, they are trying to stand on both sides of the fence having conflicting ideas between God’s truth and worldliness.
How can anyone follow Christ and say I am surrendered to His will and then steal from someone or commit adulterer or idolatry? Consecration is to be set apart from worldly desires and commit oneself to the truth of God and His word. Everyone will not become consecrated by following after a leader, but there will be a time in which the loyal followers will be set apart from the wishy washy unstable followers of Christ. Jesus said, “If you love Me keep my commandments.” Do you truly love Him? If your answer is yes, then what ever commandment you have learned, keep it. In doing so, you will show your love for Christ and be an example for others to follow.
The church needs to be consecrated to Biblical truth and be an example in today’s world. If the church is waffling in its moral values to try and be seeker sensitive, then they are essentially saying I love the world more than Jesus. They are trying to serve two masters. The end results will be instability instead of a pure and holy sanctuary for God.
IMPARTATION
Briefly, Jesus imparted to His disciples by His example and His teachings. He lived and walked in the Father’s will and even told them if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Jesus imparted the logos into the rhema of God and put it into action.
The Church needs to do the same. They need to be an example, have discipleship classes to help their congregation grow, have outreaches for their surrounding community, and reach out to the world.
DEMONSTRATION
Jesus was our walking example in the gospels. He selected, associated, consecrated, and imparted knowledge through His words and deeds. The church must also be a model to follow. The congregation must demonstrate Christ-like character. Just as Jesus prayed in front of all and in seclusion; He also walked and taught directly to His disciples and those who would listen. The church is to be a continuous sermon to demonstrate the characteristics of Jesus our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.
DELEGATION
Jesus delegated to the twelve disciples and then to the seventy; He said, “And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8 KJV). These are all things the disciples saw Jesus perform. Jesus knew it was time to put His followers into action.
The church must prepare and equip others to go out and preach the Kingdom of God and do what Jesus did. There is a five step process in training: Show them what to do, have them do it with you, let them do it while you watch, let them do it on their own, and lastly, come back and check on them. The church needs leaders to put into practice these steps to help reproduce ambassadors for Christ.
SUPERVISION
Jesus continued to supervise His disciples. For example, after He sent out the seventy, they came back saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17 KJV). Jesus told them not to rejoice in that the spirits were subject unto them, but that their names were written in heaven. Another example is when He came down from the mount of transfiguration and His disciples could not cast out a devil. Jesus cured the child and gave them another demonstration on how to cast out the possessed.
The church needs to continue to supervise its disciples until they are ready to go out on their own as well. The need for discipleship seems to be more apparent today. The church needs to learn the process of selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation, supervision, and reproducing effective witnesses and disciples for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We can go from our own home town, to the outer suburbs, to other counties, states, and nations to bring the Gospel to the lost for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King; and His very elect.
In Christ,
Greg

THE LOSTNESS OF MANKIND
Starting from the creation of Adam and Eve, we can see the lost condition of mankind escalate over and over again throughout the Bible.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they became separated from God. This brought about the lost state of mankind, a broken relationship from the Creator. The spiritual condition of the human being has been separated from their original innate nature in which they were created, body, soul, and spirit. Without the spirit we cannot commune with God; therefore mankind is lost and the lostness of mankind started with Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God’s commandment. This disobedient nature is the sin nature which has been passed down by the seed of Adam ever since.
The spiritual condition of mankind is separated from God. This is why God came into the Garden after Adam and Eve had sinned and said, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). God knew where they were physically, but their spiritual condition changed and God could no longer commune with them through the Holy Spirit and their innate spirit which dwelled in them before their disobedience. Truly when God said if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die; the spiritual condition was the first thing that died in all mankind from that point forward. The communion with God through man’s spirit was severed.
Left to ourselves in our lost condition, we no longer think God-centered thoughts but self-centered thoughts. We can see that mankind’s lost condition is self-centered without the thought of consequences. In the account of Cain and Abel, Cain did not like that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and his was rejected. He took matters into his own hands and killed his brother because of it. The human race did not get any better; its decline can be seen within ten generations. Every imagination of mankind was evil continually, so God repented that He had made man and was going to destroy creation. Noah found grace in God’s sight. God reached out to Noah to guide them back into a relationship with Him. God was the missionary here as He reached out to save Noah and his family from destruction.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:5-8 KJV).
After another ten generation, Abram, the descendant of Noah, was living in the city of Ur, a place which resembled worldly self-centered values – the lostness of mankind. But God again reaches down to guide man into a relationship with Him. We can see many examples of Abram’s lost condition; one is when he went to Egypt and deceived the Pharaoh by telling him Sarai was his sister and not his wife. Another example is Sodom and Gomorrah, we see Lot and his family taken in by the ways of the world, but God delivers him too.
This is the lostness of mankind separation from God, our Creator, which is confirmed in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, Paul writes through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God reveals unto us (mankind) by His Spirit. The spiritual things of God whereas the natural or lost man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are not spiritual discerned. In Ephesians Chapter 2:1-5 it says,
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV).
Again this scripture shows the lost condition of mankind for we all were dead in our trespasses and sins. We were walking in the world and its desires. We were disobedient and fulfilling the lusts of our flesh and our minds, but God has regenerated the believer and has quickened us or made us alive in the spiritual realm once again.
Paul also confirms the lostness of mankind in the book of Romans. In chapter 1:19-32, Paul tells us about the soul’s diseased condition: from unrighteousness, idolatry, impurity, and dishonorable passions to covetousness, malice evils of the heart, even the condoning of those who practice them. Paul concludes all are under sin and in need of the Saviour. For there is none righteous – no not one (Romans 3:10, Psalms 14:3). For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
The lostness of man is seen throughout the Bible both in the New and Old Testaments. It is the spiritual separation of mankind’s fallen nature since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God has been trying to bring His creation back into a right relationship with Him ever since. He has reached out from the very first missionary herald, “Where are you?” to Biblical examples like walking with Enoch, instructing Noah how to build an Ark to escape destruction, to Abraham and Moses in whom He called His people out of the worldly system to become children of God. He sent prophets, priests, and kings to save His people who continually backslide into idolatry and their fleshly desires. He finally sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who proclaimed that He came to save the sick and the lost and said, “except you repent, you will likewise perish” (Luke 19:10; 13:3). The Bible not only shows us the lost condition of mankind but the love, mercy, and grace of God Who acts as the missionary and calls out to His lost creation as an example to all believers the necessity of being sent to save the sick and the lost people of the world.

In Christ,
Greg

7 Pillars of Wisdom Proverbs 9:1-12

1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.
Wisdom, has given us seven pillars in which to build on our foundation. What is your foundation?
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV) That is my foundation Jesus our Saviour!
She, Wisdom has furnished her table. What table are you eating from? 1 Corinthians 10:21 says, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.” Don’t you know whom you serve will become your master, and if you are eating at the enemies table you are accepting what he is feeding you. You are partaking with him and eventually you will serve him.
So then wisdom cries out for you in verse 4 “She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” Turn, turn from the desires of the world. Turn from the lusts of the eyes, turn from the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. Turn from self-centeredness and come to Jesus our Saviour. To turn is an act of repentance. It is a stance you take, when you become aware of the truth. It is a stance you take, when you become mindful and realize the things of this world have deceived you and lead you down the wrong paths in this life. O listen to wisdom’s cry and “turn in here!”
Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish”. (Luke 13:3 NKJV)
• Our first pillar of wisdom is repentance; it is a repented stance. Take the stance of repentance.

Verse 5 As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.
After you repent you must accept the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 6 “I am the bread of life. “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” (John 6:48-51,53-57 NKJV) We must accept that Jesus is the bread of life. He later said in John 6 verse 63, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63 NKJV).
Jesus is saying that spiritual life needs spiritual bread we need to turn and accept His eternal sacrifice for our sins lest we perish. There is food that leads to death and food that leads to life at whose table are you eating from? Whose food are you accepting?
• The second pillar is Acceptance. We need to have a stance for what we accept into our lives, our minds, our soul and our spirit. Take a stance and accept Jesus Christ our Saviour and God’s word as your food for eternal life!

Verse 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
• The third Pillar is Stance. We have to take a Stance.
A stance, we have to take a stance for the way we live. We need to grab a hold of Biblical principles. Get Biblical instructions, and knowledge so we can have Biblical understanding. “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV).
Walk in the paths of Righteousness, the way of understanding. Take a stance and go in the way of Biblical understanding.
When we apply God’s instructions, knowledge, and understanding we can discern matters and make a godly decision. When we make a godly decision we will at least appear to be wise. Someone might even say that was a wise decision. Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom.
Verses 7 & 8 say, “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
• Verbal Stance is the forth Pillar

The proverb says, “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears” (Proverbs 26:17 NKJV). When you grab a dog by the ears you know that dog is going to take a bite out of you. The scoffer, the one who treats others with contempt, who disagrees with you, and bullies you, will be like a dog that has been taken by both ears. He will take a bite out of you and mock you. He will twist the truth to save face and throw mud in your face. He is a blame shifter and you will walk away bitten and hated.
On the other hand, when we rebuke or warn a brother in Christ, who is wise, he will love you. He will love you because he wants to be will pleasing to God. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV). We are told to restore our brethren that are in any trespass. When we do this we save a soul from sin and consequences. So we need to take a Verbal Stance. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you spiritual discernment and to help others follow Jesus.

Verse 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
• Disciple Stance is the fifth Pillar
We are to obey Jesus, He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV). Jesus said we need to make disciples. We need to take a disciple stance. We need to make disciples of all nations, we need to teach them to observe all things that Jesus commanded us. In doing so we are not only being obedient but we are preparing the way for His glorious appearing. Matthew 24:14 says,
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 NKJV).
We can help usher in the Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ our Coming King when we take a disciple stance. When we proclaim the Gospel and it is witnessed to all nations, then the end will come. Then Jesus our coming King will appear. Take a disciple stance.

• The sixth and seventh Pillars are a Godly and Holy Stance

Verse 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
These pillars need to be the pillars to your entrance way. Without a Holy fear or reverence of God you will yield to the devil and his deceitful ways. We need to guard our minds and hearts so that we can stand against the wiles, cunning, and crafty ways of the devil.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (Titus 2:11 – 12 NKJV)
Jesus Christ our Saviour has appeared and we are to take the stance of repentance and acceptance. Then we are to take a stance and deny ungodliness and walk in the ways of righteousness.
The fear or reverence of the Lord is the righteous wholesome dread of displeasing God. Simply put, it is the desire to please God in everything. When we take a godly stance we are saying we want to be more like Christ. Be holy for I am Holy. Be pure as He is pure, Jesus said, “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:19 NKJV). If Jesus sanctified Himself when He was here on earth, we must have to do the same. We need to stand on the word of God. Take a godly stance; and take a holy stance.
The results are seen in verse 11. “For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” The results are twofold. When we walk with wisdom and these seven pillars we will have days multiplied and years added to our lives. That is a promise. But if you scoff or mock someone, you will bear it alone. And need to go back to the first pillar and repent.
Wisdom has hewn her seven pillars they are a:
Repent stance
Accept stance
Stance in your walk
Verbal stance
Disciple stance
Godly Stance
Holy Stance
Take a stance. A repent stance, accept stance, a right stance in your walk with God, a verbal stance to help your brethren, a disciple stance to help others grow more like Christ, and now take a stance to walk godly and holy for we are to be Holy as He is Holy; Go and teach others to do the same. Take a stance for God and His word. Take a stance and become wise with the seven pillars hewn by wisdom for you. Take a stance.
Set them on your firm foundation. The only foundation, Who is Jesus Christ and you will add years to your lives. Jesus Christ our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and coming King is omnisapient that is He is all wise. Listen to Him and take a stance for Him. He is counting on you. Take a stance today and get wisdom it is the principle thing. Take a stance today and go and tell others.
A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell. (Proverbs 9:1-18 NKJV)
In Christ,
Greg

My Personal Understanding of Christ our Coming King
We are living in the grace dispensation and the time of the gentiles, (Luke 21:24 and Romans 11:25). As we proclaim the gospel of our coming King we are fulfilling God’s command and prophetic proclamation in Matthew 24:14, and then end will come. But there is still an order of events we can follow which must happen first before Jesus comes to rule and reign for a thousand years, His millennial year as our coming King.
I believe in the pre-tribulation and pre-millennial aspects of Biblical teachings.
The preaching to all the nations, (Matthew 24:14); The time of the gentiles and God’s dispensation of grace, (Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25); the pre-tribulation rapture, (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:52); our glorified bodies, (Romans 8:18; 1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:4); judgement of the believer, (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10); the marriage super of the Lamb, (Revelations 19:7-10); the seven years of tribulation, (Daniel 9:26,27; 12; Revelation 6-11, 13-18); the 75 days after the tribulation period, (Daniel 12:11-13); our Coming King Jesus Christ with His saints, (Revelation 19:11); Satan bound for a thousand years and the Millennial Reign of Christ, (Revelation 20:1-6) and in the end, a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21 – 22).
Seeing this time line of events just makes it more real because I have come to believe the Bible is the absolute truth which emanates from God. As I read His word the burdens of His word and the preaching of other men of God leave an everlasting impression on my soul and spirit. Paul had a burden for his kinsmen. Romans 9:1-3 say, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” (Romans 9:1-3 KJV). Paul had a burden that superseded his own life, a heaviness that burdened his very soul. He even desired to be cursed in their stead. How could such a burden be greater than the need to be saved from the pit of hell and eternal torment? Paul’s love for his kinsmen matched the love of Christ who gave Himself as the only propitiation for all mankind.
Nehemiah had such a burden when he heard, “The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3 KJV). He wept and mourned over the condition of Jerusalem and its fallen state. He cried out to God for the redemption of His people and went before King Artaxerxes to get permission to go save the city of Jerusalem from its ruined state.
God has placed burdens on me at various times to see the souls of men as walking dead men or eternal souls set on the fire of hell because that’s where they will end up without the gospel of our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and coming King, Jesus Christ.
My journey has been different than most and my purpose is to be prepared for God’s purpose whenever and wherever He calls me to go and minister. Whether it is in the jail or prison ministry, a church as a worker in the C&MA, or a pastor at some level in His Church, no matter where He places me, my mission is to be a witness for Jesus Christ in word, thought, and deed. In doing so, I believe with the C&MA that the end will come as we bring the gospel to all nations and peoples no matter where they are in this world. I pray that He will give me the power to carry out His purpose to the end, Finis Coronate Opus, even so Maranatha.
In Christ,
Greg