Learning How To Know If What Is Said Is An Excuse Or A Reason

The elders among you I exhort,

who am also an elder, and a witness

of the sufferings of Christ, and also

a partaker of the glory that shall be

revealed: Feed the flock of God which

is among you, taking the oversight 

thereof, not by constraint, but 

willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of 

a ready mind; neither as being lords

over God's heritage, but being examples

to the flock. and when the chief Shepherd

shall appear, ye shall receive a crown

of glory that fadeth not away.

1Peter 5:1-4

     Peter now turns his attention to the elders, those leaders of the church and gives to them admonition as to how they are to lead. Do not think that that advice of Peter is just for the elders, even though they are the primary, that advice is for all Authentic Christians. Peter reminds them that he too is an elder and in fact he has something that they do not have: he is a witness of Jesus Christ in person and that he was one of the three Who Jesus took with Him onto the mount of transfiguration. Peter was qualified in all ways to give this advice and all elders, and we, are to heed that advice. Peter reminds them that they are partakers of the glory of Christ with him and that glory will be revealed when Jesus returns for His bride. 

     The word translated "lucre" is translated in the King James Bible as "not greedy for money" and this is a good translation for the Greek word: "αίχροκερδω̃ς" (an adverb) means to be greedy of base gain,or for dishonourable gain, or in this case of the word it means an eagerness for base gain, to be worldly can apply as this is the goal of many in the world to gain all they can as though the one with the most toys win (really? both die). Excuses are not reasons! We probably have all attempted to use excuses as reasons. An excuse when used in this manner to overlook or to judge with indulgence and this is meaning of an excuse for in this way of use it to give forth a pretext, or to subterfuge a thing or person, to hide what is the truth of a matter. A reason is a statement that is presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action. There is a matter of sound judgement based on conclusions, or judgments, or inferences from facts or premises. In other words reasons have support with facts and by facts a sound judgment can be forwarded whether you agree with those facts or reasons or not. 

      Let us look at a few of those men and women that are living, not as men of God, even though this give as excuses for their luxurious lifestyle and preach to their congregations that they too can have this wealth if they do certain things: i.e., give money.....

Paul and Jan Crouch's Earthly Empire... TBN
TBN's Annual Income, Salaries, The Crouch’s Homes, The TBN Building and Private Suites

Joel Osteen
Lakewood Church and Osteen’s 10.5 million Dollar Home

***********

THE INVESTIGATION

Kenneth Copeland
Salaries, 18,280 square foot Parsonage/Housing Allowances, Private Airport for nine aircraft, Travel and Shopping

Creflo Dollar
Rolls-Royces, private jets, million-dollar Atlanta home and $2.5 million Manhattan apartment

Paula (And Randy) White
If one can afford a $2.1 million home on Bayshore Boulevard and a $3.5 million Trump Tower condo in New York, giving away a Bentley as a birthday gift is no big deal.

Benny Hinn
10 million seaside mansion; a private jet, a Mercedes SUV and convertible, and “layovers” between crusades at the cost of $900 - $3,000 per night at locations including Hawaii, Cancun, London, Milan etc.

Joyce Meyer
Ministry Headquarters, Sports Cars and Plane, Meyer's Irrevocable Trust, Family Compound (including aerial view) and Personal Spending

a painting of Jordan on a throne – as God – with his three sons hovering around him as angels.

T.D. Jakes
$2.6 million luxurious pink brick, seven-bedroom home with swimming pool in the affluent White Rock Lake area of Dallas...next door to the former mansion of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt.

- See more at: http://inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html#sthash.LlvMdcSq.dpuf

      These men and women are living in "filthy lucre" and are "lording" it over their followers and the example they are giving to their followers is not that of Scripture but so that they can live in luxury, money by means of greed of base gain, or for dishonourable gain. If you too do not fall prey to this form of "Christianity" one that uses excuses for not living according to God's truth found in a truthful expository reasoning, then how will you receive from God a crown of glory that will not fade away? You will not! 

     As an elder, a leader in your home you have a responsibility to live as Jesus taught, not as men are teaching today to gain for themselves rather than to gain converts to Jesus Christ and teach them what it means to be a Christian and how to live as an Authentic Christian. Be humble and an example to your Church, your friends, your co-workers and do not leave a bad taste in their mouths about Christianity, rather be a faithful servants of God and see what God will do when you are faithful to Him. 

A wicked man listens to evil lips;

     a liar pays attention to a malicious

tongue.

                  Proverbs 17:4

 Who are you following?

Richard L. Crumb 

IntroductionMost of the people on this page made their millions by preaching the Prosperity doctrine, which is the Word-Faith/Positive Confession movement applied to finances. It is centered around the idea that although Christians should keep one eye on Heaven, the good news is that God doesn't want His people to wait until then to inherit His blessings.

It is deeply alarming that most Christians seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact that the principles of the Word-Faith movement being trumpeted from pulpits across the land, stem from the same occult sources as the spiritual movement known as New Thought. 

The non-believing world claims that there are spiritual “laws” which people can learn to use on their behalf. These laws, which will work for anyone regardless of their religious beliefs (or even lack of) are referred to in different terms, but both sides use exactly the same techniques. [See Comparing The Methodology/Technique]. Make absolutely NO mistake.. the secular world, by learning and applying certain principles, can and does match, or even exceed, the gain that "Christian" ministers promise. And we are to believe that this is from God?

However, since they claim to be Christians, the Word Faith group have to somehow “Christianize” the concepts, by adding God into the mixture. This in spite of the fact that a) there are no clear examples of Positive Confession in the Scriptures, b) The texts quoted over and over again by the Word of Faith teachers are usually taken way out of context and therefore do not prove their point, c) The Scriptures refute the general principles behind the beliefs and teachings of the Prosperity Doctrine camp and d) The teaching that believers are to confess rather than to pray for things which God has promised is contradicted by the Bible.

If you happen to be among those who think Christian leaders are entitled to obscene amounts of money, visit the GFA (Gospel For Asia) page, read the article then order their free book Revolution In World Missions (No ‘love gift’ asked for). Then, in view of millions who have never heard of Jesus, imagine how many souls an organization like GFA could save with money wasted on million dollar homes, antiques, jets, jewelry, fancy cars, wardrobes and watches. Finally decide whether you want to help Benny Hinn buy another Rolex, or help a missionary get a megaphone, some Bibles, a bicycle, a warm coat or even a pair of shoes, all of which are desperately needed. 
- See more at: http://inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html#sthash.LlvMdcSq.dpuf

IntroductionMost of the people on this page made their millions by preaching the Prosperity doctrine, which is the Word-Faith/Positive Confession movement applied to finances. It is centered around the idea that although Christians should keep one eye on Heaven, the good news is that God doesn't want His people to wait until then to inherit His blessings.

It is deeply alarming that most Christians seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact that the principles of the Word-Faith movement being trumpeted from pulpits across the land, stem from the same occult sources as the spiritual movement known as New Thought. 

The non-believing world claims that there are spiritual “laws” which people can learn to use on their behalf. These laws, which will work for anyone regardless of their religious beliefs (or even lack of) are referred to in different terms, but both sides use exactly the same techniques. [See Comparing The Methodology/Technique]. Make absolutely NO mistake.. the secular world, by learning and applying certain principles, can and does match, or even exceed, the gain that "Christian" ministers promise. And we are to believe that this is from God?

However, since they claim to be Christians, the Word Faith group have to somehow “Christianize” the concepts, by adding God into the mixture. This in spite of the fact that a) there are no clear examples of Positive Confession in the Scriptures, b) The texts quoted over and over again by the Word of Faith teachers are usually taken way out of context and therefore do not prove their point, c) The Scriptures refute the general principles behind the beliefs and teachings of the Prosperity Doctrine camp and d) The teaching that believers are to confess rather than to pray for things which God has promised is contradicted by the Bible.

If you happen to be among those who think Christian leaders are entitled to obscene amounts of money, visit the GFA (Gospel For Asia) page, read the article then order their free book Revolution In World Missions (No ‘love gift’ asked for). Then, in view of millions who have never heard of Jesus, imagine how many souls an organization like GFA could save with money wasted on million dollar homes, antiques, jets, jewelry, fancy cars, wardrobes and watches. Finally decide whether you want to help Benny Hinn buy another Rolex, or help a missionary get a megaphone, some Bibles, a bicycle, a warm coat or even a pair of shoes, all of which are desperately needed. 
- See more at: http://inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html#sthash.LlvMdcSq.dpuf

1. Bishop T. D Jakes: Bishop Jakes lives in a $1,700,000 mansion, he has been called America’s best preacher and has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine. He is a writer, preacher and movie producer. Thomas Dexter “T. D.” Jakes, Sr. is the bishop/chief pastor of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American mega church, with 30,000 members, located in Dallas, Texas. T.D Jakes wears custom made suits and sports a diamond ring the size of a coin. This man of God has been endowed with a $150 million net worth.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/55285.html

1. Bishop T. D Jakes: Bishop Jakes lives in a $1,700,000 mansion, he has been called America’s best preacher and has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine. He is a writer, preacher and movie producer. Thomas Dexter “T. D.” Jakes, Sr. is the bishop/chief pastor of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American mega church, with 30,000 members, located in Dallas, Texas. T.D Jakes wears custom made suits and sports a diamond ring the size of a coin. This man of God has been endowed with a $150 million net worth.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/55285.html

1. Bishop T. D Jakes: Bishop Jakes lives in a $1,700,000 mansion, he has been called America’s best preacher and has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine. He is a writer, preacher and movie producer. Thomas Dexter “T. D.” Jakes, Sr. is the bishop/chief pastor of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American mega church, with 30,000 members, located in Dallas, Texas. T.D Jakes wears custom made suits and sports a diamond ring the size of a coin. This man of God has been endowed with a $150 million net worth.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/55285.html

Learning How To Glorify God In All Circumstances

Beloved, think it not strange concerning

 the fiery trial which is to try you, as

though some strange thing happened

unto you: but rejoice, insasmuch as

ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings:

that, when His glory shall be revealed,

ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If ye be reproached for the name of

Christ, happy are ye:for the spirit of

glory and of God resteth upon you:

on their part He is evil spoken of,

but on your part He is glorified. but let 

none of you suffer as a murderer,

or as a thief, or as an evildoer,

or as a busybody in other men's 

matters. Yet if any man suffers as a

Chritian, let not be ashamed: but 

let him glorify God on this behalf.

1Peter 4:12-16

     Christians suffer not due to giving to God anything for how can a man add to the well when taking a drink of the water? You cannot think that suffering is God's plan for your life. You suffer not to give but because you are living a life according to God's commandments and precepts which the world hates. Those evildoers hate God and do not want anything to do with Him as they desire to live autonomously. A Christian knowing that they will suffer is to know that they are living the life of Christ for He too suffer innocently. If you are reproached for living according to the life of Christ, be happy for you are not one of the evildoers that blaspheme God, and the Son of God (that word "blaspheme" is the word in Greek that is translated "He is evil spoken of"). Yes, we know that it is wrong to murder, to steal, or to be an evildoer, but Peter adds not to be a busybody and this is a problem for many love to gossip (the Greek word means to be an overlooker of other people's matters). We are as Authentic Christians to glorify God, no matter the circumstances. 

     Do you want to be used by God? Well, He will use you for God uses means to accomplish His purposes. To be used by God will by the grace of God take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. God does use you like a puppet and allows your humanity to remain intact, but He will take you by the hand (if you let Him) and lead you through whatever comes your way. Peter in addressing the act of being a busybody is important as it is thrown in alongside of murder, stealing, and evildoing, but many feel that they cannot deal with that person, the person they do not like or even may not know (which is the case more often than not). We must remember that God gave to us the opportunity to be that one that comforts, and speaks with, others even if it seems stupid to do so. Do not be the one who barges off because it may seem stupid, wrong, or just to leave it to others who you may feel are better equipped. God will equip you so do it!

     Jesus Christ suffered as no man has suffered for He was innocent and did no wrong. Jesus Christ suffered according to the will of God for He came to die and for that to happen evil men must cause suffering leading Him to His death. We suffer by not from that point of view that our suffering is the will of God, it is due to the evil of this world. When we are rightly related to God, to Jesus our God in the flesh, then we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. Authentic Christians strive to know what the aim of God is and not to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Too often men and women have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order (that order is to take the Gospel to the world, and for us to live according to His commands) by short-cuts of their own. This suffering is a "long, long trail," to endure is to be in a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

     Are you suffering as a partaker of Christ's sufferings? Or are you suffering due to you own shortcomings? Are you prepared, or are you preparing to be that witness for God,f or Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you? If so then you must stamp out all your personal ambitions and allow God to destroy by transfiguration or individual determinations. Will we know exactly what God is allowing us to go through? No! If we did know then we would become a person who is self-righteously concerned with observance or things as some denominations teach. We often feel as though we must understand the will of God before we act but this is wrong for we must act as we go through this life with all its circumstances in our life misunderstanding Him for how can we know the will of God perfectly? We cannot! But, when we go through circumstances, sufferings, we look back and see that God has girded me, you, through it all and we did not know it. 

     Peter ends this discourse about suffering in this manner: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1Peter 4:17-19).

The secret things belong to the 

    LORD our God, but the things

revealed belong to us and to our

    Children forever, that we may

follow all the words of this law.

                  Deuteronomy 29:29 

 A right relationship will take you through

Richard L. Crumb

Learning How To Exercise Fervent Charity

But the end of all things is at hand:

be ye therefore sober, and watch

unto prayer. And above all things

have fervent charity among yourselves:

for charity shall cover the multidude

of sins. Use hospitality one to another

without grudging. As every man hath

received the gift, even so minister

the same one to another, as good

stewards of the manifold grace

of God. If any man speak, let him

speak as the oracles of God; if any

may minister, let him do it as of the 

ability which God giveth: that God in 

all things may be glorified through

Jesus Christ, to whom be praise

and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1Peter 4:7-11

     Peter declares that the end is at hand and if so then it is even more at hand today. We do not know the day and hour that Jesus returns but we do know that in the course of time He will return for His bride and destroy in completion sin. The Greek word translated "sober" is greater than our English for it means to be "sober-minded." Some may think that this word "sober" means to not be drunk with alcohol. It does in some sense but it means more inasmuch to be of a sound mind, temperate, discreet, to be in one's right mind, to have a humble mind and this is what Peter had in mind when wrote those words for us as he goes on to write about charity and love. If a person is watchful then they will be in a mind of prayer and by this relationship to God you will have charity among others especially those of the bride of Christ. Not just some kind of charity but one that is fervent for this is the type of charity that will cover a multitude of sins. 

     Hospitality or to be hospitable is to treat guests or strangers warmly and generously therefore hospitality is a friendly reception, to show welcome to strangers, those who may come to visit your church looking for a church and you will be judged by your hospitality. Peter expands this word "hospitality" to those within your church. To often there is grumbling and a begrudging of others forgetting that God called them to Himself and that He gave to them gifts and those gifts will be different from yours and will be stifled if not receiving hospitality. You and I are to minister to those others that we too often avoid and if you do so then you will be a good steward of Jesus Christ. You are to show grace to them as God showed grace to you. Another Christian may speak different from you and even have another thought about certain practices and doctrines but we are to hear them and if they are in error in love correct them by if they speak the truth and speaking the oracles of God we are to allow them to speak. Listen to another, check him or her out by taking time privately to study Scripture and assure the truth. The goal is not to prove the other wrong but to glorify God and to grow in our relationship to Jesus Christ to whom should have and will have our praise forever starting NOW!. 

     Let us go back and investigate this word "charity." To be charitable and show charity is to be generous toward another either by gifts to aid another but it is more: it is to be kind or lenient in judging people. It is these generous actions that show your love a love that you received from Jesus by His death on the cross paying that debt you owed to God. You did not earn it, you did nothing to be given this gift for it is a free gift. Yes, you must accept it and this by choosing to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior but it is free. Do you avoid some in your congregation? Do you notice when someone is absent especially when they are most regular to come to church? And do you take time to find out why they are missing from church, and do you take time to call them? Do you avoid those who cannot wear the best of clothing? Do you avoid those who have issues that at times get worn when this is all they have to speak about? It may be that they are lonely and need to feel loved. We do not go to church to to go to Sunday School, or to sing worship songs, or to just hear the preacher, no, we are to do more and that is to show charity and to minister to one another. Are you leaving this charitable work to the minister or other elders? Are you leaving church to go and play, to do other things that you desire to do but have no reason to do, as in work. Do you leave church early leaving all behind so that you do not have to deal with those you do not like? 

     Well, if any of those questions apply to you then you need to make changes for you are not just another person, you are a member of the bride of Christ and you have a responsibility to those in the bride of Christ. Will you take up this responsibility? The choice is yours but remember you will give an account of all you have done and said on the day of judgment and if this does not compel you do what Jesus requires, what the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write then I do not know what will. We are not the world and are not of the world even though we are in the world. Leave the world and become a faithful and loving brother or sister. 

My eyes will be on the faithful

     in the land, that they may

dwell with Me: he whose walk

    is blameless will minister 

to Me.

                  Psalm 101:6

Show charity to someone today

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Be Foolish To The World

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered

 for us in the flesh, arm yourselves

likewise with the same mind; for he 

that suffered in the flesh hath ceased

from sin; tht he no longer should live

the rest of his time in the flesh to the 

lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past or our life may suffice

 us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles,

when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, 

excess of wine, revellings, banquetings,

and abominable idolatries: wherein they

think it strange that ye run not with them to 

the same excess of riot, speaking evil of 

you: who shall give account to to Him

that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For for this cause was the gospel preached

also to them that are dead, that they might

be judged according to men in the flesh,

but live according to God in the spirit.

1Peter 4:12-6  

      Suffering, this problem that we all strive to avoid but find that we cannot so we seek other means to salve our hurts and the suffering that we hate. Some people turn to drugs, illegal drugs if necessary or even to abuse prescribed by a doctor drugs designed to help. Some become alcoholics, and others become fornicators and adulterers. Some sufferings are the result of our own inefficiency and caused by us and others are the result of those who bring upon us suffering: i.e., wars, riots such as happened in Ferguson when some looted and caused fires and harmed others because of something that they feel the need to do even if they are doing what is wrong. People do things according to the flesh and not according to the will of God. When a person does not involved themselves with those who are seeking means to avoid suffering they are considered strange and are often disliked as evil desires evil to participate with them so that they feel warranted to be evil. What they do not know is that they are being judged by God who will call them into account for all that they have done and said so that no matter how much salve they place upon themselves they will be found guilty or if an Authentic Christian will be found not guilty. 

     This word, "lascivious" is a word not used often and most not used in everyday language but it must be understood for it means to be inclined to lustfulness, to be wanton, another word not used often that means to be malicious or unjustifiable, to be deliberate and without motive, extravagant and this is what is lasciviousness which is to be lustful in sexual interest, to be unrestrained, to be libertine by going beyond law or general morality, to be immoral. God has sent into the world the Gospel so man is not with some excuse that they do not know unless they have not been preached to and this is what Jesus commanded His bride to do: take the Gospel to all the world. But, too many people who call themselves Christian are too busy attempting to be "well-off" and to be very cultural avoiding the sneers and sufferings they may have to face if they really did what Jesus commanded them: do they think that they will not give an account on the day of judgment? Jesus suffered so why would a "Christian" think that they will not suffer? We who call ourselves "Christian" must live by the will of God and not according to our own desires. 

     Jesus spoke these words: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). This is not "Prosperity Gospel" for that which will be added unto you is eternity with God and this is only going to happen if you seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore we shun those things that Peter is outlining for us that we are to avoid. We as Authentic Christians are to take no thought for our life: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:34).

     We, as Authentic Christians do not sit back and allow God to do what we can do but we do what we can using the will of God and His will is outlined for us in Scripture that He inspired men to write so that we have no excuse to not follow His words. There is discipline involved in the life of and Authentic Christian and that discipline is to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into harmony with the teaching of Jesus Christ. You are not blessed because you take thought of nothing for that is foolish and that man is a fool. If you develop your relationship to God then the dominating factor in your life is to not allow this world and its culture to become the factor in your life as to what you will receive from this world, you are not to be careless about earthly affairs for God will hold you responsible. What is being said by Jesus is that your first care is to your relationship with God and everything else second. 

     Will you be foolish to the world and place the dominating factor for your life to be concentrated upon God and your relationship to Him? This question can only be answered by you.

And you, son of man, do not be afraid

    of them or their words. Do not be 

afraid, though brier4s and thorns are

    all around you and you live among

scorpions. Do not be afraid of what 

    they say or terrified by them, though

they are a rebellious house. You must

    speak my words to them, whether 

they listen or fail to listen, for they

   are rebellious.

                    Ezekiel 2:6-7

How is your relationship to God?

Richard L. Crumb 

Learning That The Mercy Of God Extends Even To those Spirits In Death

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,

the just for the unjust, that He might

bring us to God, being put to death in the

flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by

which also He went and preached unto

the spirits in prison; which sometimes

were disobedient, when once the 

long-suffering of God waited in the

days of Noah, while the ark was a

preparing, wherein few, that is,

eight Souls were saved by water.

1 Peter 3: 18 -- 20

     Peter is reminding us that Jesus Christ suffered and not due to His sins but for ours. Jesus did not become a martyr when He died upon the cross for this was the very purpose for why He came to earth and that was to put to death death itself. Furthermore, by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross we are now able to be brought to God.  Jesus died on the cross in the flesh but as God He was quickened, that is, given the vigor and stimulation and to be restored to a life that allowed Him to go to those spirits in prison and preached to them who were at times disobedient. Who are those spirits in prison? Some would say they are the fallen angels but why would this be true for the angels who fell from heaven have no opportunity or chance to be saved.  Did not be angels receive from God or nature and receive from Him their goodwill by the Holy Spirit imbuing them with love?  Therefore there is no natural efficient, as for the evil will for evil, since evil itself is the origin of evil in mutable spirits by which the good of their nature is diminished and corrupted and the will and evil is made by nothing else than the defection from God.

     When a person dies he or she is separated from The body and their in spirit.  These spirits are those who are sometimes disobedient at now are being offered mercy and those who would accept it should be saved and those who did not accept it would be utterly destroyed.  What does it mean that they were in prison?  The Greek word is an interesting word because we often translate that word in prison when also can mean to guard or to watch to keep watch in the stands for a condition of imprisonment.  In other words those spirits were held in confinement but by the mercy of God Jesus went and preached to them the Gospel for why else would he go to them unless this was not true.

     Peter reminds us about the eight persons who were saved from death in the great flood that encompassed the earth destroying much of all life and changing the very landscape of the earth.  And then Peter goes on to show was that this great flood was also a figure in regards to baptism, not of the flesh but of a good conscience toward God and this is by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Who has gone into heaven and at the right hand of God: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him" (1 Peter 3: 21 -- 22).

     Peter is going to speak much about the suffering of Jesus Christ and our suffering.  Let us understand that the saints of God by suffering the first death which is due to evil for the truth sake, are freed from the second death.  When a man dies faithfully for the truth sake, it is still death he is avoiding.  What do I mean?  This man submits to the separation of soul and body, lest he be separated both from God and from the body, it and then the whole first death is completed and the second death received him everlastingly.  Death is good too none while it is being actually suffered, and while that is doing the dying to its power; but it is meritorious Lee endured for the sake of retaining or winning what is good.  What happens after death and its absurdity?  It is not absurdity to say that death is good to the good, and evil to evil.  For the disembodied spirits of the just are at rest; but those of the wicked suffer punishment, untill their bodies rise again -- those of the just of life everlasting, and of the others to death eternal, which is called the second death.

     Keep your eyes on the prize even in the face of death and suffering for by doing so you will be strong in your faith, firm in your hope, and be welcomed into heaven and be called a wise and faithful servant of God.  What joy that will be for the one who remains faithful to God.

There seems a way that seems right to a man,

     but in the end it leads to death.

Even in the laughter heart may ache,

     and joy me in and grief.  The faithless

will be fully repaid for their ways, and 

    the good man rewarded for his.

                           Proverbs 14: 12 -- 14

Keep a good conscience toward God

Richard L. Crumb

 

Learning How To Suffer For Rigteousness' Sake

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, 

and His ears are open unto their prayers: 

but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be

 followers of that which is good? But and if 

ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: 

and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 

but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that 

asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, 

thereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, 

they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

IPeter 3:12-16  

 

     God is invisible and we cannot see Him with our naked eyes but God sees all things and hears all things.  This invisibility of God often allows men to think that He does not see them in their sins and in their true worship of Him. We prayer to this invisible God and we do not see any results of our prayers as though He does not hear or will not answer our prayers. It is this lack of an answer according to our hopes and desires as to our prayers that cause many to become lax in their Christian duty and makes an excuse to live as the world culture lives. To not fully believe that God answers prayers or that He is actively involved in our daily affairs that causes men to fear those who are against Christianity, therefore it is easier to live as the world than to live as a Christian. Yet, if you suffer for righteousness you have nothing to fear or be troubled. How can this be? Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts! How do we do this sanctification in our hearts? Paul in writing to Timothy states: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Peter then gives us the same admonition that we are to ready ALWAYS to give an answer for our faith, our hope to anyone who asks about your Christianity. If they do not see that you are living according to the commandments of God or are doing what anyone knows is wrong then your life is either one of fear or that you are not an Authentic Christian.      

     When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior they are compelled to abandon their erroneous life and doctrines that they may have been under before they learned the truth of Scripture. A person may have a lifestyle of contemplation, or an active life or a composite of them, but, and this is important, they are to preserve their faith and and to overlook truth and duty. No man or woman has the right to forget by being so immersed in contemplation his or her service due to their neighbor or to be so immersed in contemplation that they actually forget God. This forgetfulness in contemplation is when a person empties their mind as taught be some so-called "Christian" teachers. A person must not become so charmed by this worlds culture, a culture of leisure and not be indolent which means to be slothful as in dress that is proper, etc., or to be inactive, benign, but are to investigate so as to discover the truth of Scripture. To study Scripture and to be active in the exercise of your Authentic Christian Faith is be prepared and to have a good conscience and by this you will be ready to give an answer for your faith, your hope even if others speak evil of you. Others may falsely speak evil of you but when they see your Authentic Christian Faith at work and that you can give an answer to them about your belief in Jesus Christ they will be ashamed: "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing" (I Peter 3:17). 

     If there is no true religion then there will be no true virtues. It may seem that the soul rules the body admirably, and the reason the vices, if the soul and reason do not themselves obey God, as God has commanded them to serve Him, they have no proper authority over the body and the vices. There will be no restraint against those vices, those corrupting influences of this world and there is no reference to God in this matter. The world sees this dichotomy of your faith, as to what you say and what you do and will see this as double-talk, a speaking out of both sides of your mouth. 

     To study and to be prepared will bring to you a peace that is peculiar to Authentic Christians as you enjoy God by your faith, for you will enjoy eternally with Him, not by His invisibility, but by sight for you will see Jesus Christ who bodily rose from the dead and will be seen by your when He comes to bring you home to and with Him. This peace, even now under some persecution by those who advance evil against you, will become blessedness from the Supreme God, our God Who has saved you. Therefore, take the time to do as commanded: study, be prepared, and then to live according to His commandments. 

 

But the eyes of the LORD are on 

    those who fear Him, on those 

whose hope is in His unfailing love,

   to deliver them from death and 

keep them alive in famine.

                     Psalm 33:18

 

Prepare now to defend your faith

 

Richard L. Crumb

Learning The Meaning Of Authentic Christianity

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having

compassion one of another, love as brethren,

be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering

evil for evil, or railing for railing;

but contrariwise blessing; knowing that

ye all our thereunto called, that ye should

inherit a blessing.  For he that will love

life, and see good days, let him refrain

his tongue from evil, and his lips that

they speak no guile: let him eschew evil,

and to good; let him seek peace, and

ensue it.

I Peter 3: 8 -- 11

     Christians have the responsibility to endeavor to be of one mind of the great truthful points of faith.  Christians have the responsibility to exercise real affection in their Christian practice.  Far too often Christians, denominations, nature on the minor points of doctrine.  There is a problem within the Christian community that holds matters of indifference to be matters of difference when in fact they are not, for example: some churches will use wine in the communion, others will say this is wrong and will only use grape juice and then give some sort of reason which is nothing more than an excuse to hold out what they are doing is a greater Christianity doctrine.  I have seen where some churches get mad when crackers are used instead of a loaf of bread for communion.  Often prove scriptures are given for the reasons why they do what they do when in fact scripture is silent not just for those things but for other matters of indifference that people make it be important differences.  Is this what we are called to do and to be?  No!  Is it not true we are called as brothers in Christ to be? No!  I am not suggesting that every denomination must be the same in all matters for this would be inconsistent with human nature.  Christians cannot be of one mind for all things at all times but they should be the same with all the greater doctrines of faith.  First, love the brother and have compassion on them and don't rail against them as though they are sinners or even worse heretics.  When there is truth that they are in the wrong according to Scriptures then as Authentic Christians we are to address those wrongs that are wrong according to the truthful faith of Scripture.  Paul in writing to the Romans stated:"Now the God of patients and consolation grant to you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15: 5 -- 6).  All true servants of God inherit a blessing from God and as a blessing is infallible making you to have full possession of heaven. 

     To many churches today preach a very soft cuddly Christianity with words that one could hear by listening to psychologist for they sound good and easy to swallow but do not teach true Gospel faith. Do you desire to live comfortably on earth, or are you desire to possess eternal life in heaven?  If you desire have an idea must bridle your tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words.  Jesus spoke to us that we must deny ourselves even if that denial means to deny family members or friends.  Yes we want to have and see peace for all men but not towards those who are openly persecuting Christians and practicing all sorts of evil.  As an Authentic Christian you must flee from such ones.  For those Christians who practice righteousness and follow the true faith of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are copying the example of Jesus Christ and His essential goodness we are not to cause any harm or evil towards them.

     The antidote against being one who is acting contrary against true and Authentic Christianity is to arm yourself with the word and rules of holiness.  An Authentic Christian will look for ways to be zealous in their progress in the ways of holiness.  Arm yourself with others of like mind who will advance you in your growth of your faith and by their advice and example you will not wander from the narrow road that Jesus spoke about whereby His bride would travel. 

     To suffer for the sake of righteousness is an honor and it does bring happiness in the midst of all the pain and sorrow that it also can bring for as a child of God your delight is in something greater than this immediate torment.  The fear of God turns away fears leaving no room and brings to you a quietness.  The fear of God is your ease for your heart to have got one thing to deal with in the midst of a multitude of carnal fears, those things that vex the soul. 

     You have the support of your Christian friends and the support of the holy spirit living within you, therefore, keep your eyes on the prize for you have been called by God to receive this prize of ever lasting life. Sunday is coming, the Sabbath which we are told to keep and that keeping is outlined for us in Scripture.  There at your church you will meet your Christian friends so be involved, show love and compassion for this is your Authentic Christianity. you will be blessed in ways that you will not understand it may not even know what God will bless your faith.

Every word of God is flawless;

     He is a shield to those who

take refuge in Him.  Do not add

     to His words, or He will rebuke

 you and prove you a liar.

                 Proverbs 30: 5 -- 6

Show Christian love: someone needs it!

Richard L. Crumb

 

Rendering Respect To God And To All

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection

to your own husbands; that if any

obey not the word, they also may

without the word be won by the 

conversation of the wives; while

while they behold your chaste 

conversation coupled with fear. 

Whose adorning let it not be that

outward adorning of plaiting the hair,

and of wearing of gold, or of putting

on apparel; but let it be the hidden

man of the heart, in that which is not

corruptible, even the ornament of a

meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight 

of God of great price.

IPeter 3:1-4

     The old English has use of words that we speak but not with the same meaning, as in: "conversation" used and does not necessarily mean to speak for the Greek means "conduct." Peter, as did Paul, speak these commands and words about husbands, wives, children, even slaves as how to conduct themselves so too then Peter addresses this problem and gives the answer as how to correct the problem. Let us, and I will write some very serious observations, examine what it means to have "good conduct." 

     Television, movies, etc., promotes sexuality going so far as to make it "recreational sex." All one has to do is watch television, those "sit-coms" and hear and see that all that is being said, and even attempting to make it funny, is to jump into the bed to have sex. Comics more often than not use sexual innuendo as well as actual scenes of couples in bed either before or after sex. Men are shown mostly undressed and so are the women. Advertising uses "sex" to sell their product. So the question is: Why so much to do about sex? The clothing industry, especially Victoria Secret with their advertising shows women undressed in their underwear that has very little cloth and are very revealing to sell their product. This so-called swimwear that women wear today is not swimwear for all it does is allow women to be undressed showing as much skin as possible and covering very little of their genitals, which requires waxing of their genitals so they can have their lower "swimwear" worn below their pubic bones, and breasts that cover mostly the areola. Men are just as bad for they wear little as well, "speedos," that will little imagination a person can see their genitals that protrude from their "swim" suits. 

     We see hair in all sorts of design: i.e., spiked, spiked that extend long and the need to shave off hair under the spike, or color that is unnatural, such as, reds, not natural red hair but color that is unnatural, blues, green, and shaved by women, all to show their independence and the "right" to be themselves. Ok! but is this really what a Christian should be involved in? What is worse is that I see women, in church who call themselves "Christian" and wear their tops so low that their breasts are exposed, not just some cleavage, but their breasts showing with little covering. How about this: when it is cold outside one can see men wearing long pants and coats but this is not true of many women for their, in the cold, wear short pants, exposed legs, and then a coat. Are women not affected by the cold or is their another reason to show as much skin as possible? 

     Respect for oneself, and for others, and for God have been tossed out the window. Men come to church looking like they are going to the park to play or to go fishing, or, or or, but they, those especially who have the money and probably in their closets suits that are formal and show respect. I found men wearing those suites to work, to events, even when their are celebrating a special event in their lives, but when Sunday comes, that is if it is not Easter, or Christmas, they wear "play clothes."  Is this how we portray Christianity? Is this how we show our faith? Is this pleasing to God? Yes, if a person does not have the money to have such still can wear good clean clothes and even other who have money can help them have more formal clothes for such a time as going to Church. We have people of the world who are watching and I am afraid they do not see Christians as much different from themselves. Do you know the difference between a drunk and an alcoholic? Drunks do not have to go to meetings. 

    You may say: "Richard you have gone to far." Did Peter? Did Paul? Peter gives us the answer that combats this worldly culture to not enter into the Church, into a person's life destroying their witness: "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, an are not afraid with any amazement" (IPeter 3:5-6). How did those women adorn themelves? "even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (IPeter 3:4b). If you are a Christian you have a responsibility, first to God, then to your husband, and then to your children, and finally to the world. What are you teaching your children and what does the world see about you? Are you afraid to go against this world's culture? 

     Men you are not left out for Peter goes on to write: "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered" (IPeter 3:7). I know that this being called the weaker vessel is anathema to a woman for in this world's culture women are doing everything to show that they are just as smart as men, and they are albeit they have a different intuition, which is not bad, as do men. Men are divorcing their wives, and wives are divorcing their husbands for just about any reason: there is no real commitment. There is real abuse going on against women and even against men, both physical and mental: this must stop! Men are you willing to have your prayers hindered? Well if not then you have a responsibility to be the leader and this responsibility for a married man is to his wife, to treat her with respect for she too is more that just your wife, she is a partaker of the heavenly kingdom, a child of God. Treat her as such and this advice is for women as well.

    To live as a Christian is hard in this world that is set against Christianity, but if one is to be an Authentic Christian they will do what it takes even if it is hard. The question for both men and women, even children: will you stop being part of this world and be a true Authentic Christian?

In that day the LORD will snatch away

    their finery: the bangles and headbands

and crescent necklaces, the earrings and

    bracelets and veils, the headdresses

and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume

    bottles and charms, the signet rings and

nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and

    cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen

garments and tiaras and shawls.

                      Isaiah 3:18

Dress nice, respectful as to God

Richard L. Crumb   

The Cross: The Basis And Way For Man To Get Into Communion With God

Servants, be subject to your masters

with all your fear; not only to the

good and gentle, but also to the

froward.  For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure brief, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye be

buffeted for your faults, ye  shall

take it patiently, this is acceptable

with God.  For even hereunto were

ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, 

that ye should follow His steps: who

did no sin, neither was guile found in

His mouth: who, when He suffered,

He threatened not; but committed

Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:

who his own self bare our sins in His

own body on the tree, that we,

being dead to sins, should live unto

righteousness: by whose stripes ye

were healed.  For ye were as sheep

going astray; but are now returned 

unto the Shepherd and Bishop

of your souls.

I Peter 2:18 -- 25

     The word "froward" is the Greek word where we get scoliosis a disease where the spine is crooked, curved and this is the meaning of the Greek word: "crooked." Peter under the direction of the Holy Spirit has given us how we are to react and act then others come against us to harm us in some way.  No level of income, status, is left untouched by Peter to tell us that in no matter what ever our situation is we are to be in subjection.  This subjection is to bring glory to God and not to ourselves for having been under subjection as though we have done something spectacular.  To be in subjection as Peter has outlined for us is to simply be doing what God requires of His children. It is like a person doing the secular work and has done what the supervisor has asked is one who has done nothing more than what was required, therefore there is nothing spectacular and that exercise of subjection.  Jesus Christ left us an example for he was patient under all the trials even going to the cross to die an innocent man for us to follow.  That term "in His steps" reminds me of the book entitled "In His Steps" and I would suggest reading it for you will be touched to do what has been asked of us and that is to do what is acceptable to God which means to be in subjection.  We are not too retaliate or threaten others because of what they are doing to us, rather we are to be in subjection and this does not mean to just allow atrocities, but when there is no other way we are to be in subjection. we must never forget that Jesus is God, albeit, He was also The Son of God, the Wisdom of God sent to die on the cross for sin.

     When you see the cross of Jesus you are seeing God's revelation and judgment on sin.  The death of Jesus was not one of martyrdom and we are never to think of the crucifixion in this way.  The cross of Jesus was an example of a superb triumph over sin.  By means of the cross of Jesus there is nothing more certain in time or an eternity than what Jesus did on the cross for He switched the whole human race back into a right relationship with God. No, this does not mean that all men are saved so that they have eternity without actually believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  What this means is the sin that besets the human race from the fall of Adam until the return of Jesus Christ on the last day, a sin that no man can pay has been paid by God Himself, now by means of the Holy Spirit teaching that gospel man has the ability to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not that man can work in any way to earn salvation, but by the hearing of the Word of God and of faith that comes by actually hearing, having ears to hear, they can place this faith upon the sheer fact of the redemption paid for by Jesus Christ.

     Think of this: by the cross man can come into a right relationship with God for Jesus made the redemption the basis of human life and what this means is that He paved the way for every man to get into communion with God. unfortunately many men will not choose to believe even after hearing the gospel.

     Do not be one who misunderstands the cross for it did not just happen to Jesus for the cross was the purpose for why He came. Do not be as those who teach in theology that Jesus is a created being formed by God, and Angel, even some calling Michael the Archangel, for this is incorrect and they must be aware to separate God manifested in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. Remember the incarnation was for the purpose of redemption.  God did not put away our sins so that we can have some sort of self-realization. No, the cross is the center of time and eternity and is the answer for both.

     The cross is not the cross of a man at the cross of God, and the cross of God cannot be realized in human experience.  Do not forget this one very important fact; the cross is God exhibiting His nature, and it is the gateway whereby any person of the human race can enter into a union with God.  Coming to the cross we do not go through the cross, that is, it is not something esoteric, which means to understand that it is only for a select few have special knowledge or interest, but it is for man.

     The cross of Jesus is the very center of salvation, and is the reason that one can obtain salvation.  The cross of Jesus cost God much for He became the bearer of sin, our sin.  The cross of God is the very point were sinful man can merge into a way of life and that way of life is the heart of God. The question for each of us to answer is: Will we after hearing the gospel and receiving the faith that comes by this hearing follow God?

 Though He slay me, yet will I
     hope in Him.  I will surely
defend my ways to His face.
     Indeed, this will turn out
for my deliverance, for no
     godless man would dare
come before Him.  
            Job 13: 15 -- 16

Exhibit and your life the Cross

Richard L. Crumb