A The Baptist Deacon

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Job 32:8 -9

What inspires you? Do you have the inspiration of the Almighty? Do you trust what he is telling you? Why are there so many interpretations of the Bible?

I had an email conversation with someone curious to know why I haven’t posted in a while. I believe him to be a brother in Christ even though we haven’t met. I told him that I had been busy and that when I did have time to write I wasn’t inspired to write anything. I did not realize that God would build off of the word “inspired” in my reply back to him. So the answer to my first question “what inspires you” has to be God. Now I realize that I draw inspiration from a lot of different places; my wife, kids, family and friends are just a few examples, but I am talking about spiritual inspiration.

The living word which is the “Holy Bible” is an excellent source of inspiration. Talk to God and take time to listen is another excellent place to find inspiration. Be sure to listen or you might miss out on your inspiration. Be willing to do what he tells you if you want to continue to be inspired by Him.

Look at 2^nd Timothy 3:12-17 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  ¹³But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. ¹⁴But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ¹⁵And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  ¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Do the first part of those few verses sound like the world today? Evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. If you need an example look at California. Do you think God intended for marriage to be between two men or two women?

Now lets look at the next four verses and take comfort in what is written there. It is an example for us to continue in the things which we have learned even from a child, it has made us wise unto salvation through faith (which is the only way). The scripture “all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. God set this world up, sent His only Son to die on a cruel cross for our sins and on the third day rise again victorious over death, hell and the grave. He gave Godly men the inspiration to write the books of the bible for us to use as a rule and guide for our everyday spiritual lives. Take comfort that God did this for us, his people.   

God sent his word to us so we could find Devine Inspiration. To my brother in Christ that wrote to check on me thank you, I found inspiration from God in my reply to you.

Until next time may God richly bless you!

Brent

This post is being written in response to Jubei’s assessment’s of the Gospel. I was going to leave a comment on your blog but you are not allowing comments. As a rule I will generally not post on the weekends, but I am making an exception this morning.
We must call sin what it is. How can we expect God to be happy with his people when we go against the Word of God?  
In your post you say “So the question now becomes, is it “morally correct”. Biblically speaking there is no statute in all honesty in the messianic laws or rabbinical laws nor Christian apostolic successive rights that outlaw gay marriage, because it never occurred. There were homosexual relationships since homosexual relationships were just as normal an activity as any heterosexual relationship. In many cases they were synonymous with the expectation of marriage.  Yet the apostles and Judaism had an entirely different perspective on the matter. The pursuit of “strange flesh” was condemned by God in his judgment upon the cities of “Sodom & Gomorrah”. (Jude 1:7)”
We need to look at Sodom & Gomorrah. From Genesis chapter 19. What do you think the men that came to Lot’s door after the angles of God were in his house had in mind to do to them? Lot even offered his own daughters that new not man 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Look at Romans chapter 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Now we will go back and look at Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
I am what I would consider a “King James Bible Believing Christian”.  I agree with you that we do not have to be married within the confines of a church. Marriage is an institution designed by God.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. The Lord's purpose for His human creation was that of a permanent, monogamous marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:21-24; Matthew 19:3-6), with children raised in the corresponding family unit. Any other type of sexual relationship is wrong, whether pre-marital, extra-marital, homosexual, incestuous or anything else. "God will judge" these illegal affairs.
I find nowhere in my bible where God said it was okay for men to be with men and likewise women to be with women. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, not two men or two women.
I am not arguing with you, maybe I misinterpreted what you wrote, but if you are willing to accept the homosexual life – stile then we have a huge difference of opinion.   
I understand we cannot stop this life stile, but we can stand against it. Like I said before call sin what it is. If it was sin in days of old then it is sin today. Call it what it is; it is sin.
Do not misunderstand me I do not hate those people, but I do not and will not condone what they are doing.
My comments are turned on therefore anyone and everyone is welcome to leave a comment. It may be late evening before I am able to post them, but if it is relevant, your comments will be posted.  

May God Bless You! 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  Romans 1:16

Where are you at? Are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Are you willing to accept the bible from cover to cover and believe everything inside it? Are you willing to do what God asks you to do? Do you want to have power with God?

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:17-20

You must have faith in God. You must hold fast to his instructions (the Holy Bible) “because that which may be known of God is manifest in them”. I am talking about people men and women who are able to hold the truth in all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

We (the saved) are without excuse. The sinner is without excuse lets dig a little deeper. Still in Romans: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

We can see the same thing happening in our world today. Women with women and men with men. We follow images made by man, we give into our own lust. I don’t care what you believe this was not the way God intended his creation to be. If you are caught up in this lifestyle then you are wrong. The “Word of God” tells you that you are wrong, not me. I am not judging you the “Word”is. Can man plead that he has fulfilled his obligation to God?

Our Creator's invisible power and Godhead are so clearly shown in the works he has made, that even idolaters and wicked Gentiles are left without excuse. They foolishly followed idolatry; and rational creatures changed the worship of the glorious Creator, for that of brutes, reptiles, and senseless images. They wandered from God, till all traces of true religion must have been lost, had not the revelation of the gospel prevented it. ~ Matthew Henry’s Commentary

This chapter is a call for us to examine ourselves. When we do will it convict us for things we have done?

I am not ashamed of how I believe, I am not ashamed to call sin what it is. I am however ashamed of some of the things I have done in the past. I am ashamed of how God’s creation has turned their back on him.  I fail God in my spiritual life often and if you will be honest with yourself you do to. We have not reached perfection yet, but one day…

May God Bless You!

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

The above verses are from Matthew chapter 5: 43 – 44. There is a lot to be said in those verses.

How many of us can say we love our enemies? Do we do good to those that hate us? Do we pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us?

As part of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” he teaches us we should love our enemies and bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you and to pray for them which despitefully use and persecute you.

Look at what verse 45 has to say: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  

This is an example to us God’s people how we are to walk before men. We should have a loving and forgiving spirit about us. Christ like love. 

Verse 48 finishes out chapter 5 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. The flesh that caries our spirit cannot be perfect because sin is in the flesh. Perfection comes with that inward man, the man that God saved, cleaned up and made a fit subject for Heaven and Immortal Glory.

Strive to do good to those that would do evil to you. Be the person God wants you to be. I know that in the flesh the tongue sometimes engages before you have had a chance to think about what you are going to say.

Again is Christ seen in you by others that know you? If I met you could I tell you are a Christian? Don’t get me wrong I am not without sin; I’m not perfect I’m just forgiven. God’s people ought to be able to tell one another apart.  

In our comments to others we should let Christ shine through.

You may be thinking what is he getting at today? To tell you the truth I’m not quite sure myself. Just something I believe needs to be posted today.

God Bless You!

I expect there will be many things posted this weekend in regards to our mothers. My post will be no different. I will provide scriptures from Proverbs chapter 31 at the end of my post to honor the women in our lives, whether it be our mothers, grandmothers our wives (the mother or our children) or a special woman that has influenced you in some way.

I dedicate this post to the ladies that read my blog, my mother, grandmother, wife and to my mother-in-law. I hope and pray these words are uplifting to you. I pray each of you have a blessed “Mothers Day”.

I realize that as I write this morning that everyone has not had the same opportunity I have had. I have and still do (because my mother is still living) a wonderful example of Godly love given to me by my mother. It is an unconditional love. She made sure I went to church when I was young and it is something that has stayed with me my entire life.

I am not trying to take away from the love of God just simply stating that a Godly mother (woman) should be praised as it is an extension of Gods love.

Proverbs 31:10-31:

As I bring my remarks to a close this morning I want to say thank you to my mother, grandmother, wife (who without her I would be incomplete) and to my mother – in – law. I say thank you for being the special ladies that God put you here to be. I especially want to thank my wife for be a Godly example to my children. These ladies are truly a gift from God!

Until next time may God Bless You!

Brent

1^st Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

What do the above two verses say to you? What do you know? Do you love God? Can people see God in your lives?

1^st Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 

One should "diligently strive" to be silent and calm except when speaking is necessary, gracious and purposeful (Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. ). Christ soberly warns against "every idle word" (Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.), and Paul against "foolish talking" (Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. ).

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Where am I going with all of this? I must confess I am on a “soap box”. I have been keeping up with several blogs and I find myself thinking “what are these people talking about and how does putting someone down fit in with God’s plan”. How can Christian people be so hostile? Are Christian people not referring to the word of God for guidance? Do we not think before we speak (or in this case write)? What can hostility show sinners? I’ll tell you what it shows… it shows them that they are just as good as we are. Bold statement? Yes it is. If they (sinners) look at you and cannot see anything different why would they want to change?

I have made the statement many times that we (Christian People) are the only bible that some people will ever read. What do they read when they see hostility?

Letmebefrank. I am in agreement with you. I am disappointed. If a person cannot be corrected by scripture, who or what can correct them.

http://letmebefrank.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2008/05/03/disappointing

I understand basic differences, which are some of the reasons there are so many different churches with so many different names over the door. I do the majority of churches are striving for the same thing. I also believe that some have an agenda that differs from the word of God.

People that have been around me know that I will not argue over the word of God. I will tell you what I think and in some instances give scripture to back up my thinking.

God gave us instructions. He inspired men of old to write the Holy Scriptures. Everything we need to deal with life is in this set of instructions.

I have given you examples of how we should act before men. Can you do this?

Everyone is certainly entitled to there opinions. Are you searching the word of God to make sure you are correct?   

2^nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Do not think that I am being hostile. I am just simply relaying what is on my heart, backed up by scripture.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Until next time may God Bless You!

Brent

A deacon is an official in the Christian church. The exact definition of a deacon varies, depending on which branch of Christianity is under discussion. In some cases, a deacon is a member of the clergy, who has undergone religious training and been ordained. In other instances, a deacon is a member of the lay public who wishes to assist his or her church. In my case I am a servant.

Acts: 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

The words "ministration" and "serve" (Acts 6:2) are cognates in the Greek to the word which later became rendered as "deacon." The "seven men" (Acts 6:3) here chosen are not actually called "deacons" in this section, but it is probable that their activities later became codified into an actual office. Every local church would need leaders to handle the more mundane matters in order to free its pastoral leadership for prayer and for the study and preaching of the Word (Acts 6:4). KJV Defenders Study Bible.

Who is qualified to be a deacon? 1^st Timothy 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.   3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.   3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The above is the qualification of a deacon. The first part of chapter 3 deals with the qualification of the bishops. The qualifications of both are similar.

Now I may be step on some toes with my next statement; bishops (elders) and deacons have been and are being ordained when they are not qualified. Some even disqualify themselves after there ordination. The biggest thing that disqualifies these men is what I have highlighted above the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

The bible is very clear on this. I am a member of a The Baptist Church which believes this. If a man cannot meet these qualifications he cannot be ordained to the offices of a bishop or a deacon.

I am the husband of one wife. I teach my children. They know their bounds.

On my ordination certificate under my name this is written: having been chosen one “of good report, full of the Sprit and of wisdom, “and capable of using the office well, was set apart publicly to the office and work of DEACON. Personally I sometimes wonder about being full of the Sprit and of wisdom. I personally sometimes feel so unworthy.

May God Bless You!

Brent