Dog Shoots Owner

Every dog has his day!

Dog Shoots Owner During Hunting Trip

CNN released this article:

 

Utah hunter shot by his dog.

 

The incident happened over the weekend during a duck-hunting in the Great Salt Lake near a bird refuge outside Brigham City, (Utah?) One of the men, a 46-year-old from Brigham City, got out of his boat and laid his 12-gauge shotgun across the bow of the vessel.

 

“The dog got excited, was jumping around inside the boat and then it jumped on the gun. It went off, shooting the (man) in the buttocks,” Box Elder County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Potter told the Salt Lake City Tribune.

 

The man was apparently setting up decoys when the gun went off, said Potter. The man is expected to recover.

Salvation

Aint it good to be born again?

 

Thats all…

If I Could Just Touch The Hem of His Garment

A woman one day tried many physicians
But daily grew worse in the Bible we’re told
But when she had heard, she came to Jesus
And she found what she needed for her body and soul

Blind Bartimaeus sat by the wayside begging
Nobody to help him down life’s weary way
Then Jesus passed by and He heard His sad crying
He reached down His hand and He healed Him that day

One day I sat by the wayside begging
Nobody to help me down life’s weary way
Then Jesus came by and He heard my sad crying
He reached down His hand and He saved me that day

Chorus:
If I could just touch, the hem of His garment,
If I could just touch, some part of His clothes,
I know I’d be healed, my sins all forgiven,
If I could just touch Him, I know I’d be whole

Faggot Gets Beat Up By Little Girls

I’m usually against blacks ganging up on whites (or visa versa) but in this case I’ll make an exception.

This drunk fag tried to flirt with somebody’s boyfriend and got his sissy butt kicked by a bunch of little girls. That’s right! A 14 year old girl kicked its tail!  So I wonder how old the boy was “it” was flirting with?

Upon requesting to file charges, its rumored the “victim” was told “Son, you are a walking violation of the laws of nature, but we don’t enforce them laws.”

Hear Ye The Rod! Judgment’s Voice

 

“…Hear   Ye   The   Rod…”

“The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.”

(Micah 6:9)

In Micah 6:6-9 the Lord has a controversy with

Ignorance

Not ignorance in general, I’m talking about willful ignorance… being stupid on purpose. People don’t like it when you say this or that is God’s judgment.

You want controversy?  Just say Katrina was the judgment of God or tell people Haiti’s earthquake was the judgment of Almighty God.  If you really want to stir them up, say that AIDS is God’s judgment on sodomites.

That’s when people tell you what they really think. Oh, “You’re not very Christlike… Jesus preached love… Jesus said you shouldn’t judge… He said let him that is without sin cast the first stone…” and all that other stuff liberal Devils love to twist and take out of context. (See picture to right)

But even they have to admit, whether you’re talking about AIDS, whether you’re talking about 9/11 or some natural disaster, God still knew about it before it happened… He knew who would get hurt; He knew how many people would die; but He let it happen anyway!

God rules and overrules in the affairs of men and there’s not a tragedy in this world that has ever taken Him by surprise.  In fact I believe He does things to shake us up every now and then… get us out of our comfort zone. “Hear ye the rod!“

The purpose of a rod is to bring the pain.  It’s got no mouth but it speaks volumes.  Let me illustrate.  My nephew is a great kid but he can be every bit as stubborn as his uncle Jason.  Mom can say, “Seth, stop that…” But he won’t pay her a bit of attention. She can say, “Stop that or I’ll call your dad…” and he’ll probably hand her the phone.

But when he hears Papa’s belt unbuckle and that pap-pap-pap sound it makes coming out of the belt loops… son, does he ever get cooperative!  He knows he’s sinned and he’s real anxious to get it right.  He hears the rod! And because he hears it, he might not have to feel it.

The problem we have in this country is the same problem Israel had.  We FEEL the rod but we don’t HEAR it. “For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 9:13)

….MORE TO COME….

Praying For A New Tongue?

Praying For A New Tongue?

Most Folks Can’t Handle The One They’ve Got!

When a prophet named Balaam was headed somewhere the Lord didn’t want him to go God sent an angel to block his way.  The beast on which Balaam rode was apparently more sensitive to spiritual things than he was.  Because the animal kept turning out of the way to avoid the angel, Balaam became frustrated and started beating her.

“And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Num 22:28)

Notice first of all (1) something is speaking that shouldn’t be.  2Peter 2:16 says this “dumb (mute) ass” was speaking “with a man’s voice.”  This is not the 1^st time you find an animal speaking in the Bible (the serpent spoke to Eve in the Garden) but this is interesting.  Notice also, Balaam’s ass was a ‘she’.  In the average charismatic church, I’d say, women do 90^% of the tongues speaking.  Paul was dealing expressly with the gift of tongues when the Holy Ghost moved him to write:

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (1Co 14:34-35)

Paul knew it was the will of God for the “women to keep silence in the churches” when it came to the matter of tongues.   But Paul was also a realist.   He knew that people do not like being told what they can and can’t do.  Paul knew that later on liberal scholars would rise up out of the crevices of Hell and downplay what he had just written.  Accordingly, some argue that the prohibition against women speaking in tongues here in 1Corinthians 14 and the qualifications of a pastor in 1Timothy 3 are all just Paul’s “opinion.” Paul anticipated all of this and wrote verse 37 for everyone who tries to justify their charismatic grandma or one of their friends who happens to be a woman preacher. In an almost sarcastic manner, he says:

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1Co 14:37)

Paul knew many folks don’t care what the Bible says.  So he writes in verse 38: “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” (1Co 14:38)

Secondly, (2) this unnatural behaviour didn’t appear strange to Balaam.  Any sane person would have found this event beyond bizarre.  But remember, Balaam is not right with God.  People who are out of fellowship with the Lord are frequently and strangely comfortable in unusual circumstances.  For instance, when Jonah was running from God, the Lord sent a storm that nearly destroyed the ship he was in. The heathen sailors were calling on every god they could think of!  (It’s just natural to pray when you’re going thru a storm.)  “…But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.” (Jon 1:5)  In his backslid condition Jonah seemed immune to his problematic surroundings.  If you have the slightest knowledge of the Bible you should know the Holy Ghost won’t make you act like a complete fool.  If you see nothing wrong with men and women foaming at the mouth and babbling on like idiots, then there’s something wrong with you (you’re spiritually retarded).

The Mosaic Law demanded that God’s people (the Jews) abstain from unclean meats. Many of the Jews continued to observe these dietary laws even after they were converted.  They did this more out of habit than necessity.  But, in their defense, there was no verse in the Old Testament that said, “After you become a Christian you can eat whatever you want.”  So in their minds, certain things like pork were still taboo.  When Gentiles started getting saved, because of their eating habits, many of the believing Jews were uncertain whether or not they should fellowship with them.  (It was hard for them to believe God would bless someone who ate bacon.)  On one occasion, because of this mindset, God revealed to the Jewish companions of Peter that He did indeed pour out His spirit upon Jew and Gentile alike.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,” (Ac 10:44-46)

Again the Bible says they spoke with “tongues” (plural) and not with an “unknown tongue” (singular). Tongues were necessary since, as 1Cor 1:22 says, “The Jews require a sign.”  Until the New Testament scriptures were complete, the sign gifts were necessary for unbelieving Jews.  Mark 16:20 indicates the Apostles had been commissioned to confirm (authenticate, backup, or validate) the Gospel with signs.  The purpose of tongues was to confirm that God had indeed stretched out His saving arm to the Gentiles.

The word ‘tongue’ in Scripture refers to either: a language or an actual part of the body known as the tongue.  As far as the Bible is concerned, the gift of tongues was the supernatural ability to speak in a language not previously learned. For instance if I was suddenly endowed by God with the ability to speak and understand Japanese, that would be similar to the gift on Pentecost.  1Corinthians 14 gives instruction concerning the utilization of this gift.   Many of these rules are violated and completely disregarded in charismatic circles.  However, the utter confusion, which “they” refer to as ‘speaking in tongues,’ is NOT that gift described in the Bible.  Tongues, such as in Acts 2 and 10, were known languages and not ecstatic, unintelligible, gibberish.

Some say that “speaking in tongues” is evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost.  Some go even further, saying that you’re not even saved if you don’t speak in tongues.  I strongly disagree.  Take Jesus for example.  Can you think of anyone more sanctified and Holy than the Lord Jesus Christ?  None would ever accuse Him of not being Spirit filled.  Yet in my Bible, I never find a single instance where Jesus ever spoke in tongues.  If “tongues” is the evidence of having the “baptism of the Holy Ghost“, why did the Lord not leave us that example in His life as He did with water baptism and communion? Moving on…

“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” (1Cor 4:2)

The word “spirit“ in this verse is lowercase.  It refers to our spirit and not God’s Holy Spirit. Notice, the word “unknown’ here is italicized, and the word ‘tongue’ is singular. ‘Unknown tongue’ refers to any language not understood by others.  We are told not to forbid people to speak with ‘tongues’ (plural) in 1Cor 14:39. However, the Bible does NOT say “Forbid not to speak in the unknown tongue” (singular) this is Bible Doctrine, not merely my opinion.

And as Forest Gump once said, “That’s all I got to say about that.”

More Compromising: Billy Graham, God, & George Bush

Reading George Bush’s new book Decision Points, I was shocked to read Billy Graham’s answer to Bush Sr.’s question.  He basically asked, “Is it essential to be born again?” You’ll have to read this for yourself…Its unbelievable!  

In the summer of 1985, we took our annual trip to Maine. Mother and Dad had invited the great evangelical preacher Billy Graham. Dad had asked him to answer some questions from the family after dinner.  That was typical of Dad, always willing to share.

It  would  have  sent  a  signal  of importance  to  have  had  Billy  to  himself,  but  that  is  not George H.W. Bush. He is a generous man, devoid of a big ego.  So  there  we  sat,  about  thirty  of  us—Laura,  my grandmother,  brothers  and  sister,  first  and  second  cousins —in  the  large  room  at  the  end  of  the  house  on Walker’s Point.

The first question was from Dad.  He said, “Billy, some people say you have to have a born-again experience to go to heaven.  Mother [my grandmother] here is the most religious, kind person I know, yet she has had no born-again experience. Will she go to heaven?”

Wow, pretty profound question from the old man.

We all looked at Billy.  In his quiet, strong voice, he replied, “George, some of us require a born-again experience to understand God, and some of us are born Christians.  It sounds as if your mom was just born a Christian.” (Pgs. 48-49 of the Ebook)

Hopefully, Bush misremembers Graham’s exact words.  Otherwise, this is compromise of the nth degree!

Jesus said, “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) It’s imperative.  It’s essential.  There’s no getting around it.  “…Ye MUST be born again.” (John 3:7)

Quotes From Marines

QUOTES FROM MARINES

– WARNING –

THESE QUOTES CONTAIN VULGAR & SOMETIMES OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE

"Retreat Hell! We're just attacking in another direction." (Attributed to Major General Oliver P. Smith, USMC, Korea, December 1950.)

“So they’ve got us surrounded?.. good! Now we can fire in any direction; those bastards won’t get away this time!” -CHESTY PULLER, USMC

“I come in peace, I didn’t bring artillery.  But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes:  If you f@#$ with me, I’ll kill you all.” [Marine General James Mattis, to Iraqi tribal leaders]

“The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!” [MGen. Frank E. Lowe, USA; Korea, 26 January 1952]

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.” [Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985]

“There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.” [Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army]

“Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.” [Ned Dolan]

“Hell, these are Marines.  Men like them held Guadalcanal and took Iwo Jima.  Bagdad ain’t s*%#.” [Marine Major General John F. Kelly]

“We signed up knowing the risk. Those innocent people in New York didn’t go to work thinking there was any kind of risk.” [Pvt. Mike Armendariz-Clark, USMC; Afghanastan, 20 September 2001. As reported on page 1 of the New York Times]

“Marines know how to use their bayonets. Army bayonets may as well be paper-weights.” [Navy Times; November 1994]

“Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like having a piano and thinking you are a musician” [Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)]

Matthew 3

Chapter

3

In the previous chapters, the birth of Christ had stirred up a lot of things. There was political unrest and parents were uneasy.  Now, another prophet is unveiled.

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

“In those days”   This man named John was raised up for “such a time as this!” In the darkest of times God often sends His brightest lights.

“…Preaching in the wilderness…” Luke 1:80 says that John “…was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.” Like Moses on the backside of the desert, John had a long dry spell of his own before his ministry kicked into high gear.

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John the Baptist preached “repentance!”  John had a large following but he did not offer a free camel ride to whoever brought the most people to hear him preach, nor did he give an autographed copy of Isaiah to the oldest grandmother present. He was his own publicity and needed no press agent. ⁽⁶⁾ He said “repent” because the kingdom of heaven is “at hand“.   Like a man would say, “I like to keep my gun handy.”  “At hand” means close by.  John was saying the kingdom wasn’t far away.  In fact, Heaven’s King was about to begin His ministry on earth.

“Kingdom of heaven” is a phrase which appears thirty-two times in Matthew but nowhere else in the New Testament.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.[1]

Preparing “the way” involves removing stumbling blocks.  Accordingly, John’s preaching involved a lot of stump pulling.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

“Raiment” means clothing. I find it interesting that it only took 62 words before the Holy Ghost told us about John’s clothes. He was a preacher, but he didn’t dress like one (or should I say ‘he didn’t dress the way we think a preacher should‘).  Notice, everything about John was rough.  He wore camel’s hair coats, leather britches, and ate insects.

At the Bible College I attended, we had chapel services each night.  For a long time, it seemed all we heard were ‘encouraging‘ messages.  Don’t misunderstand me: I’m for encouragement, but when that is all you have, it kind of makes you sick.  On a particular occasion, I noticed the preacher they had in was wearing a bowtie.  I thought to myself, “Great! We’re about to hear a sermon from Mr. McGoo!“  To make a long story short, he preached the devil out of us Bible college students and most of the staff too.  When he was done, I didn’t have enough hide left to close my eyes.  It was Harold Sightler’s grandson.  He was a normal looking man; however, that bowtie threw me off.  If not for that experience you’d never convince me that the power of God and a bowtie could be on the same man. That just goes to show you, you cannot put God in a box and you cannot always judge a book by its cover.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

John’s pattern would later be a commandment.   Just as he started in “Jerusalem and all Judaea,” the disciples were told in Acts 1:8 “…ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

The Sadducees and many of the Pharisees didn’t believe what John was preaching, but they came anyway.  Why?  Because John was popular and religion always wants to be part of the latest thing.

Note: this is the first mention of “O” in the New Testament. “O generation of vipers” John said, “Yall come from a long line of snakes!”  There are several things you should know about snakes: (1) they cannot hear, (2) they respond to movement, and most importantly (3) they will bite you!  In fact, they pose the greatest danger when their mouths are open.

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet[2] for repentance:

“Repentance:” Regret is being sorry mentally only (King Saul, for example). Remorse is being sorry both mentally and emotionally (like Judas).  Repentance is being sorry mentally, emotionally, and volitionally (like Matthew, among others). ⁽⁵⁾

“Fruits meet for repentance” include a (1) denial of sin, (2) departure from sin, (3) desire for Scripture, and (4) dependence on the Saviour.

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Many of the Jews believed their Abrahamic descent alone was pleasing to God.  John, however, chopped their Theology to pieces.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Remember, John was preaching to a mixed multitude.  Some would be saved and some would not.  Those who were not saved would be baptized in Hellfire.

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

“Unquenchable” means: greedy, ravenous, unappeasable, unsatisfiable, or limitless. ⁽⁷⁾

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

In being baptized by John, Jesus was identifying Himself, not only with John’s ministry but with the three Old Testament offices and anointing.  There were three substances used to anoint people.  These included; water, oil, and blood (Lev 8:6, 12, 23).  The three offices were prophets, priests, and kings.  While prophets and kings were anointed with oil only, priests were anointed with all three of the above.  Jesus, as Prophet, Priest, and King was anointed: with water by John the Baptist (vss. 15-16), with oil by the woman with an alabaster box[3], and with blood by Himself[4].

Since many misunderstand the meaning of baptism, it is necessary to point out that getting baptized has never saved anyone.  If water could wash away sins they’re in revival at Myrtle Beach.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Many times as preachers we have more honors bestowed upon us than we deserve.  However, if it be the will of God, we are not to decline from our duty, even though it may flatter us.  We can do no more than our duty; we should desire to do no less.  Note: it was John the Baptist.  Not John the Methodist or John the non-denominational.

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

They say, “Never think too highly of yourself, even God became a baby!”  And here, the Son of God submits Himself to baptism.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

The wording here demands baptism by immersion.  For it would be difficult if not impossible to come “Up…out of the water…” if you’re only being “sprinkled.” In other words, sprinkling is not the Biblical mode of baptism.  Furthermore, water is the only proper element to be baptized in.  That should be elementary.  In fact, I wouldn’t have brought it up had it not been for a humorous story involving the translators of the King James Bible.

One day, when the translators were discussing baptism in front of King James, the Bishop of Peterborough made an off the cuff comment.  He said that he knew of one case in which an ancient father had baptised with sand instead of water. James blurted out, “A turd for the argument. He might as well have pissed on them, for that had been more liker to water than sand.” ⁽⁸⁾ Reportedly, the bishop’s reputation never recovered.

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

In this chapter we see all three Persons of the Godhead manifested: the Son in the water, the Spirit in the air, and a sound from the Father in heaven.  We serve a God that is so big He had to manifest Himself in three Persons!

It is true that the word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible.  However, it is also true that the word “Bible” does not appear in the Bible, yet both exist.  “Godhead” is the King James word for “Trinity”.  It is only fitting then, that the word “Godhead”[5] appears three times in Scripture.  Three, of course, is the number for divine completeness or perfection.  Jehovah’s Witlesses question the doctrine of the Trinity on the grounds it is hard to understand.  Speaking of which, someone has well said, “To try and understand the Trinity is to lose your mind; to deny it is to lose your soul.”

The Apostle John asked a good question: “Who is a liar?”  We could answer that by listing the JW’s, LDS, etc.  Why?  Because a liar is any man “…that denieth that Jesus is the Christ…” and “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1John 2:22) Again he says, “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (1John 2:23) I do not attempt to fully comprehend; much less explain the Trinity.  The Bible does teach it, however, and I accept it.  Someone has said, “The Bible says it; I believe it; that settles it.”  But if the Bible says it, it does not matter who believes it; it is still true.

---

[1] Isaiah has 66 chapters just like the Bible has 66 books.  Matthew is the 40^th book in the Bible.   The quotation in Matt 3:3 is from Isaiah 40:3.  Students of Bible Numerology will find this connection interesting.

[2] “Meet” means fit; suitable; proper; qualified; convenient; adapted, as to a use or purpose. (Webster)

[3] “There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.” (Matt 26:7)

[4] “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt 26:28) “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb 9:12)  “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Heb 1:3)

[5] Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9

Matthew 2

Chapter

2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

In the book of Exodus, God’s people had been in Egypt for over four hundred years. In all that time, over four centuries, the Lord never sent them a prophet or even a message from Heaven. Then one day the children of Israel began to cry out for deliverance. They had been slaves to Pharaoh for many years. But it wasn’t until they began to groan under weight of their burdens that God sent them a deliverer whose name was Moses

The life of Moses, his birth and ministry parallels that of our Lord Jesus Christ. For instance, when Moses first revealed himself to his fellow Israelites, he was rejected; likewise with Christ at His first advent.  Both of them did great miracles and brought salvation through the blood of the lamb.  When Moses was born, along with being under the rule of a foreign government, multitudes of innocent children were being slaughtered.  What am I getting at?  I’m saying I believe the second coming of Christ will in many ways be similar to the first coming. That being said, I want to look at the conditions in Christ’s day and then compare them to our own.

First of all, in vs. 1, there were very few wise men left! In fact, these had to be imported from the East. (By the way, we generally think of “three” wise men, but the Bible does not say how many there were.) Though it is hard to imagine wise men coming from the land of Iraq, these men were probably from Babylon[1] and had knowledge of Daniel’s seventy weeks (Dan 9:24).

I believe the Bible calls these men “wise” for two reasons. First of all, vs. 2 says, after they saw his star, (after they ‘saw the light’) they came “to worship him!” Today wise men still worship Him! Secondly, I believe they were called ‘wise’ because they feared God.   That is not in our text but Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”  You don’t even come close to wisdom until you fear God.  And if America lacks anything today, it is the fear of our God.

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

In the Old Testament, the first question God asked of man is, “Where art thou?” (Gen 3:9)  In the New Testament, the first question man asks was “Where is he…?”[2]

“His star in the east…”[3] After studying the nativity story, my mom confessed she had always assumed the lady’s group known as the Eastern Stars had something to do with the star of Bethlehem. She was mistaken.   These men were in the East when they saw His star.  That would have made it, if anything, a western star. Cults like the Eastern Stars, Masons, Shriners, Ku Klux Klan, etc. have nothing to do with the Babe in the manger.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The Herods were an Edomite line of kings, who, under Rome, got control of Judea shortly before Christ. Herod the Great (37-3 B.C.),[4] got his throne, and kept it, by crimes of unspeakable brutality, murdering even his wife and two sons. He was cruel, cunning, coldblooded. It was he who slew the children of Bethlehem in an effort to kill Christ. His son, Herod Antipas, some 33 years later, killed John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29), and mocked Christ (Luke 23:7-12). His grandson, Herod Agrippa I, 14 years still later, killed James the Apostle (Acts 12:1-2). His great grandson, Herod Agrippa II, 16 years later, was the king before whom Paul was tried Acts 25:13-26:32). ⁽⁴⁾

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,[5]

Herod was told to look for Jesus in Bethlehem.  “Bethlehem” means the House of God or a place of bread.  If a man is looking for Jesus, he ought to be able to find Him at the house of God.  Herod, however, did not seek the Lord for the right reasons.

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Herod “had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together.”  This is one of the most striking parallels between Christ’s day and our own.  Herod gathering all the religious leaders together reminds me of the Ecumenical[6] movement infesting churches today. It seems like every time you turn around, some spiritually-retarded Church wants to get everybody together.  Baptists, however, have always been diametrically opposed to everything the Roman Catholic Church stands for.

Recently, the news media (Fox) has been lambasting John Hagee for calling the Catholic Church a “Great Whore.”  In fact, the Bible calls the Catholic Church a “great whore” and a “mother of harlots” in Revelation 17.

Dr. Sightler used to say, “There’s strength in division” and he was right.  I would still rather be divided by truth than united by error. The Bible says, “…come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord…” (2Cor 6:17) But for some reason, many professing Christians don’t see a thing wrong in fellowshipping sixteen different faiths.

By the way, let me throw this in; Baptists are not Protestants.  We did not come out of the Catholic Church.  We never were part of it.  Before Martin Luther or John Calvin ever came along, there were men standing up with a Bible saying, “What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”   No, the name “Baptist” does not go all the way back to the days of the Apostles.  But down through the ages, there have been men who believed the basic tenets of what we believe today.  Unfortunately, the established church of their day persecuted them, branded them as heretics, and forced them into obscurity.  Baptists need to read books like J.M. Carroll’s Trail of Blood or Fox’s Book of Martyrs and develop some doctrinal backbone.

But notice something about the ecumenical movement in our text. In Vs. 2 the wise men saw His star in the east. We read elsewhere, that shepherds saw it. However, we don’t read where Herod, the Scribes, or the Pharisees ever saw the light!  The religious crowd knew about Jesus. In fact they told Herod where He would be born.  But we don’t read where they ever looked for Him much less found Him. Might I say that the prominent, so-called preachers; the Joel Osteens, Jim Bakers, and the Oral Roberts may know a lot about God, but they’ve never met God!

7 Then Herod, when he had privily[7] called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Note: when Jesus came the first time, the country was governed by two-faced lying politicians[8].  Herod made out like he loved God and he loved children, but in reality, he was a devil! He told the wise men to find Him because he wanted to worship Him too!  But Herod didn’t care a thing about that little baby, he didn’t care about the wise men, he just told them what they wanted to hear in order to get the information he wanted.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Broadus says it was common in the East to travel by night and avoid the heat of the day. ⁽⁹⁾

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

These wise men were perhaps the first Gentiles to worship Jesus.  What a privilege.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:[9] and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

“Into the house:” Apparently then, some time had elapsed as the scenery changes from a stable to that of a house.  In fact, judging from Herod’s orders in vs. 16, Jesus was probably around two years old at this time.

Notice, the wise men did not give gifts to Mary. They gave gifts to Jesus. God knew that Joseph and Mary were poor.  Without these gifts, especially the gold, they probably wouldn’t have been able to afford their escape to Egypt (Vs. 14).

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

After “being warned of God” the wise men didn’t go back the same way they had come.  They went “another way.”  There’s a whole lot in that verse.  After you meet Jesus you will walk another way too!  It will change your direction.

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Notice, after the marriage, divine directions are given to the man and not Mary.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

They left by night, indicating that Joseph wasted no time in heeding God’s warning.

15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.[10]

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men[11], was exceeding wroth,[12] and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

With all the other signs of His soon coming, isn’t it strange that when Jesus came the first time, the mass murder of children was sanctioned by the state?   Today, there are some who believe certain situations exist where abortion might not be that bad.  People with this mentality can be found, even among professing Christians.  What do you think?  Would you consider abortion in any of the following four situations?

(1.)     There’s a preacher and wife who are very, very poor. They already have fourteen children, and now she finds out she’s pregnant with the fifteenth. They’re living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you consider recommending an abortion?

(2.)     In one family, the father is sick and the mother has tuberculosis (TB). Of their four children; the first is blind, the second recently died, the third is deaf, and fourth has TB. The mother finds that she’s pregnant again. Given their extreme situation, would you consider recommending an abortion?

(3.)     A white man has raped and impregnated a thirteen-year-old black girl. If you were her parents, would you consider recommending an abortion?

(4.)     A teenage girl is pregnant. She’s not married. Her fiancé is not the father of the baby and he is highly upset. Would you consider recommending an abortion in this situation?

If you said yes to the first case, you just killed John Wesley, one of the great evangelists in the nineteenth century. If you said yes to the second case, you killed Ludwig van Beethoven. If you said yes to the third case, you killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer who thrilled audiences for many years at Billy Graham Crusades around the world. And, if you said yes to the fourth case, you killed Jesus Christ. ⁽⁵⁾ Would you have killed anybody important?

Isn’t it strange the same bleeding-heart liberals, who talk about how important it is to educate our children, can turn around, and in the same breath, promote killing them in abortion clinics?

The average politician today is a low-down, sorry, tax-raising, fag-loving, baby-killing devil. That is exactly right!  They might get some heathen’s vote because of it but they’re selling this country down the river.  But brethren, the Bible is still true.  Queers are still going to Hell and abortion is still murder in the eyes of God.  I don’t care whether you call it an embryo or a fetus, it is a baby!   And God hates “hands that shed innocent blood.”  (Prov 6:17)

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy[13] the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.[14]

Herod had a warped sense of mercy.  It probably made him feel better that he didn’t have anyone killed who was over a certain age.  Rachel is mentioned because she was buried in Ephrath which is Bethlehem[15].  Thus Micah refers to it as Bethlehem Ephratah.[16]

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Herod was a formidable foe, but now “Herod was dead.”  Mary’s husband Joseph has a lot of similarities with the Joseph of Genesis.  Both had dreams (Gen 37:5) and both had a daddy named “Jacob” (Matt 1:16).

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Notice, Jesus was a Nazarene and not a Nazarite.  This difference is important to point out when dealing with the subject of long hair.[17]

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[1] H.A. Ironside says these men had probably read the LXX.  (See comment and footnote under 12:21)

[2] “The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?” (Song 3:3)

[3] Thus begins the first “Star Trek.”

[4] When you’re dealing with time before Christ (B.C.) the years go down.

[5] “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  (Mic 5:2)

[6] “Ecumenical” Relating to, involving, or promoting the unity of different Christian churches and groups (often at the expense of Bible doctrine).

[7] Secretly

[8] The word “politics” comes from poli (many) and tics (blood sucking creatures).

[9] “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalm 95:6)

[10] “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” (Ho 11:1)

[11] Note:  sometimes wise men mock public figures.

[12] Note:  Herod was “exceeding wroth” liberals can’t stand to have their authority questioned.

[13] See the comment on Matthew 27:10

[14] (Jer 31:15)

[15] (Gen 35:19)

[16] “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  (Mic 5:2)

[17] “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (1Cor 11:14)