THINKING AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD

Thinking as the People of God...                 Ephesians 1                  11.30.12

      When we think of  those who have  made a  mark  for  the Lord in
this  life,  some  things  are  consistent  about  their  experience.  The
first  that  occurs to  me  is;  they,  without  exception,  lived  with no
concern  for  what  other  men  might  think  or say.   It  seems  they,
having  assurance from  God of  their goals,  and  the authenticity of
their relationship with  the Father,  refused to be stopped,  slowed or 
distracted by the things  that blew  others off course.  Being students 
of  the Word  of  God,  their  thoughts and  actions ran counter to the 
culture.   Another  attribute was  humility.   Although  they  were,  at 
times  thrown  into  the limelight,  it did not  throw them  off  course.
they did not seem  take notice of  their status.  Their goals were stra-
tegic and the press, positive or negative,  had no noticeable affect on 
their performance.

    Going back to the Old Testament,  we  find the history of great men
of  God who  had  feet of  clay,  as  do  all men.   They did not  let their
imperfections  keep them  from  the business of serving  the Lord and
His  people.   King  David,  a  “man  after  God’s  own heart.”  His fail-
ures did not keep him from getting business done for the  Lord.  Each
of the patriarchs in turn, men created from the dust of  the earth, fal-
lible and failing miserably at times,  completed the task assigned  him.  
Even though their histories were tainted by failure and sin, they were 
approved  of God.  It  would  be less than  honest  not  to note the fact 
that the sins of  these  men did scar  their lives in some ways and had 
disastrous personal and familial consequence.  Their confidence was
not in self,  but in  the Lord God,  the God of  Abraham,  Isaac and  of
Jacob.  

   One favorite Bible character, Enoch, was an  exception. It  is said;
“...Enoch was not, for God  took him.”   Apparently,  the man Enoch
was such a Godly man that he never experienced death.  It is said in
God’s  Word,  “Enoch walked  with  God.”   That is the key to serving  
our  lord.  It  is  uncomplicated;  it  is within the reach of every child
of  God and there will  be no excuse when  we stand before the Lord 
to  give account of  the deeds done in the  flesh if we did not exercise
this discipline.   We know His desire for us to have a close daily walk 
with Him. The book, “Knowing God,” by J. I. Packer,  has taught me 
the  concept of  “knowing God,”  rather than just knowing  about the 
Lord  God.   There is a  quote by  Pastor C. H. Spurgeon, on  the very 
first  page which elevates the acquisition of  first hand knowledge of  
God above every pursuit in which a man  may spend his life.
       (This book is available on Ebay and I highly recommend it.)

     From Enoch, Abraham, Moses, etc.  to John the beloved, Peter, the
impetuous, and the Apostle Paul,  down to our present time, the great
men are those who made it a lifestyle and  habit to be in the pursuit of
getting  to  know  the  Lord  God.   How else will  one  have any idea of
what He has for us to do with the life with which He has entrusted us?

     In order to serve our Lord, we must first know Him:
Getting  to know Him is as plain as getting  into  His word,  finding His
revealed  will and getting to the business of  practicing  that will.  Why
would our Lord reveal  anything to one who is not already in obedient
to available light.  The key, faith in God;  “Without faith it is impossi-
ble to please God.”  All of the above comes of an unquestioning faith,
and subsequent obedience to  things we  learn as we get to know Him.  
In the Word of God we read,  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of 
God, these are the son’s of God.”  It  leaves little  room for a child of
God to live a life that does not feature a personal walk with the  Lord 
God, the only true and living  God.  All  other "gods" are creations of 
mankind with perverted or overactive imaginations.  (Vain  Imagina-
tion)

  Having discussed, briefly,  some things in God’s Word about walking
with Him, we now look  into how this works out  everyday.  In order to
know  how to walk with God  we look to  the one who  gave the  perfect
example.  Jesus Christ  (God in the flesh) humbled Himself  becoming
a man although He was God.  (This can only be addressed in a lengthy
discussion of God’s omnipresence,  at another  time.)  Being  God,  He 
took  the form of a man separated  Himself  from God  the Father and 
became an entity apart.  (Although in form of man, He was God in the
the flesh. He shed His glory in order to be incarnate and fulfill the mis-
sion to which  He was born.)  Eternal  ramifications of  this to the Son
are staggering to consider.  He then walked in submission to God,  His 
Father, serving the  Father through  his deeds of  service to  mankind. 
After his rejection by the very people  He came to save,  paid the price 
for  the sins of the world by His sacrificial death on the cross.  He was 
put  to death by those He came to serve and save.  As we study the life 
of Christ,  in depth, we have answers on how to walk with God;  A life-
long commitment, reaping eternal rewards;      AMEN!!

Characteristics of the Man of God:

1. Listens to God rather than man.  Acts 5:27-29
2. Student of the Word of God resulting in obedience to revelation.
     Acts 26:19-20
3. Personal humility of spirit.  Ephesians 3:7-8, 4:1-3
4. Does not focus on personal faults.  Ephesians 2:1-9
5. Focuses on Christ and His perfection.  Ephesians 1
6. Experience a close walk with his Heavenly Father.(Prayer)
    Colossians 4:2-3,
7. Personal knowledge of and relationship to God.(God’s Word)
    Romans 16:25-27
8. Awareness of coming day when he shall stand before his creator to
    give account for the deeds of the flesh and opportunities of service.
    Romans 14:12, Matthew 12:36,
9. Reliance on God and no confidence in the flesh.  Romans 12:3
10.Realizes the invisible is permanent and material is temporary.
     Luke 17:20-21
    (All of the above could be summarized, “a man of faith in God.”)
                                                                  donporter 11.30.12 ed.8.25.14

TRUE WITNESS JOHN 5

 True Witness                                          John 5: 31-32                           2004
        "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  There
        is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the 
            witness which he witnesseth of me is true."

  In the following passage of Scripture we will consider the testimony 
of a witness according to God’s law of  objective witness as opposed to 
subjective witness.   In subjective witness one testifies of  himself.   In 
objective testimony, one testifies of/for another.  Subjective witness is
not authoritative in  God’s  court any  more than  in the  courts of  our 
land.  In the realm of  the Lord God,  the only authoritative  witness is\
the Lord God, Jesus Christ or the Spirit,  (Holy Spirit) 

  Our first consideration is the verse listed above, our key Scripture. If 
one bear witness of himself it is not authoritative. To carry weight, the 
testimony must come from another.  Every Scriptural reference shows
our Lord coming in the name of  God the Father.  One passage confir-
ming the authority of Jesus Christ is found  in  Acts 4: 8-12; Peter was
first filled with the Holy Spirit.  In verse 12  stated,  “Nor  is there sal-
vation in any other; for there is none other name under  heaven given  
among   men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved.”    Here, the  Holy Spirit,   
through  Simon  Peter,  testifies to the authority of  the name of Jesus 
Christ.  We look in the  gospel according to John and  find many such 
references.  

In John 4:22-24, during Jesus' conversation with a woman of Samaria
at the well,  he  stated, “God  is  a  Spirit...”  This  lays  groundwork for 
the Holy Spirit’s entrance into the  world in the name  of  Jesus Christ
after His ascension,  to  represent God  the Father.  In  John 5: 43-44,  
Jesus Christ states he has come in  the name of  His Father.  It is inte-
resting also,  in John 14:26  where  Christ states,  “But the Comforter,
which  is the  Holy Ghost,  whom  the Father will send in my name, he
shall  teach you all  things and  bring  all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said  unto you.”  Here he restates, the Spirit is sent 
of  the Father,  but comes  in  the  the name of  Jesus  Christ.  Without 
exception,  witness  is given,  as  one gives  testimony of another.  You 
may say Jesus gave  authority to  the Holy Spirit  and  God  the Father 
and the Holy Spirit  gave  witness  to  the authority of  God the Father 
and God the Son. (Another title of Jesus Christ) The Holy Spirit never 
gives  witness to  Himself.   Is there  name given the Holy Spirit except 
that of  Holy Spirit,  Spirit of God,  Holy Ghost,  Spirit,  or the Spirit of 
Jesus Christ?  

 All of  this  gives  confirmation to  the  assertion  of  Jesus Christ who, 
 before  His  ascension,  stated  His  disciples  would  perform  greater  
 works than He. Since Christ did not testify of Himself  and  the power 
 of God rests in  his name,  the disciples had  the potential for  greater 
 works than did He. In other words, disciples of Christ have the power 
 of His name in performance of their deeds while Christ did not testify 
 in that name.   (verse 12 of Acts 4)

NEVER THOUGHT OF IT IN THAT WAY, NOR HEARD
         ANYONE ADDRESS IT.  HOPE THIS IS CLEAR...  

Thanks for looking.                 donporter  11.29.12  edited 9.29.14    

"THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE..."

                         “I am the way, the truth, and the life...” 
              ("No one cometh to the Father but by me"  John 14:6)
                         
    This statement by our Lord, Jesus Christ, must be one of His most 
memorable.  Jesus,  alone could make such a  statement as  this and 
back it up.  I  had at times  paraphrased the verse;   I am the  way to 
God, the truth about God and the life in God, but I have found it does 
not have the meaning Christ had behind these words.  This verse has 
come to mean even more upon closer study of the three words, “way,  
truth, and life.” When we consider the first word and how many times 
and ways it is used  in the "Word,"  our understanding  is challenged.  
True, He  is the way to God the Father.  He  is also the  way  in other  
respects.  First, we see the word “way” used to describe the life of  a 
Child of God or the church as  a whole.   Anyone who is “in the way,” 
 is living for Him.  If one is to be successful in this  life,  there is one 
“way,” and  that way is  Jesus Christ.  To keep from being  lost,  one  
must know the way, and that way is Jesus Christ.  As we show one the 
“way,”  we  are showing  him Jesus Christ.  The way is a route.   It  is 
also the means of  traveling along that route.   Jesus Christ is not only 
the route to the Father, he is also the means of getting from where you 
are to the Father.  In another respect, the way is a synonym of “how.”  
How do we live the Christ life, or a Godly life except through the way,  
Jesus Christ.  He is also our how.  It is  impossible to live a Godly life 
in the flesh, that is, in our own abilities.  We must have the way, Jesus 
Christ, living and active in us.  It is He who gets things done.  He uses 
us as vessels.  He is the power;  the direction.  (way) Without His  pre-
sence in our lives, along the the way,  we would  be impotent  working 
our way to and for our Lord.  He must also be acknowledged as Lord
of Life.  We can only acknowledge Him to be Lord in the Power of the
Way; the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

The second element of  the statement, “truth,” is  remarkable as well.  
We would not even know truth except for Him.  Just as Jesus Christ is 
love,  He is also truth.  This does not  mean truth defines Christ,  but it 
means Christ defines truth as he does love,  being the well spring.  He 
is indefinable, without limits,  and cannot be contained.   We, however;  
are able to  see much about His  person, by studying  the many  words 
it takes to describe the Word,  Christ.  Using  truth to describe Christ, 
we find  He is the starting  place for  anyone  interested  in uncovering 
truth.  If one chooses to ignore  Jesus Christ, he will  never know truth 
and can never be free.  “You shall know the truth and the truth, Christ 
shall set you free."  Since nothing  binds or restricts one as  does a lie 
or the inability to determine  the truth of  a  matter,  one believes a  lie
concerning a matter, finds the solution to a problem relating to the mat-
ter is closed to him.   When  one refuses to accept  truth, Jesus Christ,   
all of  life is  a closed  book.  Our Lord is He who holds the world toge-
ther by the power of  His word.  (Thy word is truth)  When He makes a 
statement,  it is true,  since His saying it  would make it  true.  There is
is another  facet to His inability  to lie.  His  essence (his being)  keeps 
him  from doing so.  Again,  He is truth.  When Jesus Christ  made the 
statement, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” He was not defining 
 himself. He was giving  us  insight  into  God  and when  we add to this 
statement,  the  many other claims  He made,  we know  enough about 
God the father, to be able to relate to Him, but only through a belief in, 
and  reliance upon Jesus Christ,  God the Son,  and His finished work.
(He is not only the Way to God,  He is also our mediator and interces-
sor with His Father. 

  (Virgin born of God, [His Son] Lived a sinless life, was Crucified, buried, 
   raised the third day, ascended to the Father, interceding on our behalf.) 
 
The third part of our text, life, is also vital to us.  In truth, we do not sepa-
rate  the passage.  We try  to  understanding it  in small  increments.   Life 
encompasses  everything.  Life was  originally  given  when  God breathed 
the  breath of  life into Adam, the original created  man,  and this  life was 
passed to succeeding  generations.  It's true in a real sense;  death reigned 
over mankind from the time of the fall.  Grace,  another  term  applying to 
our Lord Jesus Christ,  was  also extended to  His  creation in  the form of 
Divine Providence,  withholding the final judicial sentence until the embo-
diment of  God's  Grace,  Love and Mercy came  to  this  earth to effect the 
work that would offer redemption to mankind  resulting  in eternal  life to
all who would receive HIM.

 There is another aspect to this  life in Christ.   Life in Christ has beginning 
as do all  things having  to do with mankind, but  this  life  has no end.  It is 
eternal  and could  not  be otherwise.  Since  Jesus Christ  did this work of 
grace at the  behest of  the Father,  it  could only be eternal.   It is obvious; 
this  eternal life will not be withdrawn because of failure on the part of the 
beneficiary,  since it  never  depended upon  the worthiness  of  same.  The 
worthiness and  the work is wrapped  up  in Christ and  He will  perform it 
until the Day of  the Lord as in Philippians 1:6.   We, God’s Children, have 
the best of  both worlds.  In Romans 8 we find, “There is therefore now no 
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according 
to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of  life in 
Christ Jesus has made me free from  the  law of  sin  and  death.  For what 
the law could not do in that it was weak, through the flesh, God did by sen-
ding His own Son in the likeness of sinful  flesh, on account of sin;  He con- 
demned sin in the flesh, that  the righteous requirements of  Law might be 
fulfilled in us who do not  walk according to the flesh  but according to the 
Spirit.”   The Spirit giveth life...2 Corinthians 3:6, 
                                    1 Peter 3:18, Luke 12: 27 (KJV)

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-then-shall-i-live.html
                                                                                   
don porter...11.25.12, edited 3.30.14
                                                             

HOW THEN, SHALL I LIVE? Philippians 4: 13

How Then Shall I Live?               (Philippians 4:13)                      11.25.12 

         "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."         

Having been a member of  a local  congregation of  baptized believers,
known as a Baptist Church, for most of my life, I have a question. Are 
there differences in my life, one is led to expect, from the lives of those 
around me who do  not name the  name of  Jesus Christ?  I do  believe 
there is a difference in our eternal destinies. There are also philosophi-
cal difference having to do with our hope of  life  after death our neigh-
bors do not have. The question remaining has to do with the mundane
or practical. What is it every day, distinguishing my life from the lives 
of those we see every day who do not possess this New Birth in Jesus 
Christ taught in the Word of God?

If  there is no visible or discernible  difference between my manner of 
life  and  the  manner  of life  of those  around  me,  is there  reason to 
believe our eternal destinies not the same. According to our only guide 
for information on this subject, we are without  basis for such a  belief.  
There must  be a gap, if  you  please,  between a life  lived  for Christ 
and life, lived for self and the now.  Everything the Child of God does 
is  tempered with  this knowledge;  things  we see  are temporary and  
only the invisible are lasting.  If  this one  belief does not  make a dif-
ference in our lives, we have little  basis to believe there is  an  inner, 
or heart difference.  Understanding the phrase, “...led by the Spirit of 
God,” our lives are 180 degrees opposed to the lives of those who do 
not know Christ.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
                                             (Romans 8: 14) 

     If there is a difference, how will it show  itself?   I believe the  prin-
ciple difference may be that of attitude.  One who is filled with Christ, 
having died to self, is led by the Spirit of God. He will be a work in pro-
gress.  He or she will be growing to be more like the Christ  he serves,
ie. gentle, caring, a helper of the underprivileged, slow to anger, quick
to forgive.  One whose life is not changed, is still bound by poor habits.
He/she  may grow  in some ways,  but will  be growing  more as per his 
nature.  Persons  having a tendency to  be bitter,  will become more so 
as they age.  A  person  who tends to  be self absorbed  may become a  
 recluse.  A person who has a substance abuse problem; excessive use 
of alcohol or drugs, will become more dependent upon these crutches.  
The  Bible says  that  sin  leads to  death and these  lifestyles are sure
"examples" of  this truth.  The question of  immorality  seems  to take 
care of  itself  with age, but is only changed into inner turmoil. Burned 
out men or  women is the result.  Have you noticed persons with these 
kinds of  issues age differently  from  a Child  of  God,  who  ages with 
apparent contentment.

     Another observation; the Children of God are able to contend with the  
setbacks and  reversals of  life and seem to accept  illness, when  it comes,  
differently from others.  This does not mean we as His Children enjoy ill-
ness, setbacks, deprivation or any of  the difficulties occurring in the lives 
of  everyone from time to time.  We see a greater purpose with a limitless 
reservoir from  which to draw, not  our own.  When  Christ  takes up  resi-
dence  in our  lives, He brings His nature and  makes it  available to  us as 
a resource,  as  we  choose  to exercise  it.  This is  not automatic.  We still 
have a "will" He may not choose to override. This "will," at times, causes 
us to  act as mere  men and to  fail to  make the  most of  the supernatural 
element available to us in Christ. I have even heard this quality described 
as happiness, ie. Christians are  a "happy  people."  It must go  far deeper 
than mere happiness.  It is a sense of settled contentment that supersedes 
this.  Happiness is  largely dependent  upon  issues and  situations.  Accor-
ding to natural thinking,  one is happy who  has everything  going  his way.  
In the life of a Child of  God,  the sense of  contentment is  not  so  limited.

How  then  shall  I  live?   In Hebrews  chapter 11 there is a recounting of  
faith  of  Old Testament  Patriarchs.  This  shows how they  overcame  the 
greatest of  obstacles  with  which  they  were  challenged, through faith in 
God  and  the Coming  One.   Chapter 12,  shows how we  should  live since 
we are  surrounded  by  so  great  “cloud  of  witnesses.”   Read  these  two
chapters and find our  initial  salvation, is  not  the end of our struggles on
this earth.  We can overcome our trials through reliance upon our God for 
everything necessary for success in our walk with Him.  

Reference again Philippians 4: 13.  The same Lord, who is a 'consuming 
fire' in Hebrews 12: 29  is He who "strengthens" us as  in  Philippians 4: 
12-13,  as the Apostle Paul says: 

    "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere 
        and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, 
          both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through 
            Christ which strengthens me." 

 How then shall we live?  INDEED!!!   donporter 9.25.12  ed. 10.27.14

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/10/salt-and-light.html

UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, HIS CHURCH

Unity In The Body of Christ                                                            James 3

"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you." Matthew 6: 33 

 When we reflect on this passage in Matthew 6, then in James 3, there 
is a  principle  taught we might all  practice  to best  advantage as  we; 
"seek..the Kingdom of God and His righteousness."  It is the practice 
of submitting our  wills to the will of any within the assembly.  We will 
practice the art of forgiveness, without regard to the nature or degree 
the wrong perpetrated against us, we must make a practice of  prefer-
ring  others,  their ideas and  wishes ahead of  our own.  According to 
Scripture under  consideration and other  passages in the New Testa-
ment, any other course of action may well result in schism in the body 
of Christ.
  
     James 3 begins with handling of the tongue, or conversation.  This 
seems to be  the first area  in which  we have  opportunity to exercise 
the  discipline  of   preferring  others.   In  conversation  it is  easy  to  
interrupt,  speak over another or  want to display our superior under-
standing of a matter before the group.  The correct approach is; fully 
hear others first.  In doing so  we may  be spared  the  humiliation of  
displaying our total misunderstanding of  a matter.   It  gives opport-
unity to  affirm the statements of  another using our insight to encou-
rage  the group, to clarify a point that may have been presented in a 
less than crystal manner.  We have all observed the one in any group  
who  has the ability to  listen to everyone's  input, summarize a situa-
tion, and add  pertinent  missing factors  as  the one who speaks last 
or  near to last.  This  gives opportunity to know the mind of a group 
before exposing an  incomplete understanding of  a situation,  it also 
gives him/her, the ability to  put into coherent order a topic that  has 
been "re-hashed" to a point of confusion.  As in all instruction  from 
Scripture, this practice enables one to honor the injunction; "...quick  
to  hear and  slow to  speak."  “Quick  to hear and slow  to  speak  ” 
shows respect for other speakers,  protects ones self and is honoring 
to God and His Word.

      A final  benefit of deferring one's comments until  all others have
opportunity to speak,  is the privilege this affords to put facts in per-
spective, in coherent order and bring the discussion back to the main 
thing.  The main thing is reminding all present of how a matter being 
discussed will bring glory to our Lord or to show how a  matter might  
reflect  poorly on him.   If  we have been in submission to  the others  
throughout the discussion,  this will give our  remarks weight.  If  we 
have attempted to push an agenda, we have already lost the respect 
of  the group and will not b  heard.  Doing  the right thing in the right 
way at  the right time is a wonderful  way to bring honor to our Lord,
and edify  the body of  Jesus Christ (the church) in the bond of unity. 

              Unity within any group does not indicate "sameness."
                    Remember to never sacrifice sound doctrine on
                      the altar of agreement or "apparent peace."
                             
                                                                                          donporter  11.22.12    

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

Personal  Testimony                                                           November 8, 2003

 "O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory? The 
  sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks 
    be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus 
      Christ."                          1 Corinthians 15: 55 - 57  (54)
                                                                       

Faith in Jesus Christ, my risen Savior,  has been  part of my life 
for as long as I can remember.  There has never  been any doubt  in 
my heart concerning who He is, what He did, where He is now and 
how all of  this can affect  the life of  one who has  trusted  Him  for 
salvation.  Faith  has up grown over  the years by degrees and  is at 
the present,  praise His Holy Name,  more  firmly established as the 
 focus of  my  life than  ever. There are several reasons for this,  but 
recently I was brought face to face with my mortality and the exper-
ience, not only confirmed  my faith, but gave me a fresh perspective.

Having  been one who  has never had  an  inordinate  fear of death, 
it was  still quite revealing  to awake from  sleep in the  early  hours 
one morning, three months, ago experiencing hard  pain in my chest.  
At age 63,  there was no  reason  to think  this unusual.  I  was  well  
aware that death  happens to  all men.  The thing that  surprised me 
was  my  attitude  toward  my very possible  impending  demise  that
morning.

  I awoke to the pain, lay there for possibly  twenty to  thirty minutes 
deciding just what to do about it.  I thought about calling the Emer-
gency Medical people or one of my daughters-in-law, both competent   
R.N.'s.  I decided to do neither,  but to wait on the Lord.  “They  that  
wait upon  the Lord shall renew their strength...”  (Psalm)  Thinking 
of  the fallout from heart surgery,  extended hospitalization,  and the 
 financial  repercussions to  the  family;   it was a  no-brainer  to  me. 
 I  also  discovered  a  complete  lack of  fear  at  the  prospect  of   my 
 personal passing  into eternity.  One other thing that occurred to me 
was the way people normally handle the death of  friends and family.  
It seems there is great  mourning for a time among friends and family 
and there may be one or  two who mourn  for weeks and have  regrets 
after years.  For the most part, however; even friends and  family just
return to life and business as usual in short  a time and the deceased, 
no longer part of life, becomes a non-person.  We may speak of seeing  
that one again in heaven, remembering pleasant times and humorous 
instances in their lives,  but  that one is no longer the  focus of  life.  

     I  have always believed  we  must not  let any  one  incident  consume  
the rest  of  life.  With  some  individuals there  is an inability to “let go” 
of  the deceased and death seems to make the departed one more impor-
tant  than those left  behind.  Surviving  siblings seem  to suffer the most  
from parents unable to “get over” the death of a child. One mother who 
lost her teenage  son, was going to the grave site,  maintaining his room
 and in general devoting her life to the mourning of  her lost son several 
years later, as all around her were neglected because of the obsession. I 
have seen  divorced  persons  lose  their  grip on  life and  allow  that one 
experience to adversely affect the rest of their lives. .   

All  of  this consideration occurred  during a  relatively short period 
of  time at the end of which I rose from the my bed, walked into the kit-
chen,  drew 4 ounces of cold water,  added 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda 
and drank it.  Within  about  5 minutes,  my chest  pains were gone and  
I returned to bed.   

    I realized this lack of a fear of death was not the result of any inner 
personal strength, but of the Lord.  I gave thanks to Him for this faith 
He has  given me and  lay there for  some time reflecting on what had 
happened.  A few weeks later,  after  relating this incident for the first  
time to one of  my  daughters-in-law, a Registered  Nurse,  I  was told 
when a  patient is  received  in  the emergency room  with severe chest 
pains,  the first  treatment issued is  an antacid.  This procedure sepa-
rates  the heart  patients  from  those of  us  who  abuse our  bodies by 
eating unwisely before going to bed.                    
                                                                                     donporter       12.03.12

...in the IMAGE OF GOD, Genesis 1:26-21, 2:7

...in the Image of God,  Genesis 1: 26-31, 2: 7                                11.10.12

 In the first chapter of Genesis, beginnings, we find the following:
       Then God said,  “Let us make  man in our  image,  according to  
our likeness; let them have dominion over  the fish of the sea,  over 
the birds of the air, and over the cattle,  over all  the earth and over 
every  creeping  thing  that  creeps on  the earth.”  Without  further  
information, we see the Lord  had done an unbelievable work;  has 
given man,  that’s us,  a lofty and noble  purpose  on the earth.  We
know of  no other of 's creation  being in “His” image and  no other 
He  has placed in charge of anything.   He entrusted  mankind with  
responsibility for His creation and gave him autonomy.  He did not, 
however;  give man authority or  power approaching  his own.  “So  
God created  man in  His own  image, in the image of  God  He cre-
ated him, male and female He created them."  This important pas-
sage indicates that  generically,  God did not  distinguish male and 
female as  distinct classes  at creation.  This equality is  not  same-
ness.  Does it not seem sad  to you,  as it  does to me;  some  think 
the differences  to be only  physical and fail to see a uniqueness in
each, creating an interest, even curiosity about the other that does 
not flag in a proper relationship over years.
 
     “Then God  blessed them, and  God said  to them, ‘Be fruitful and 
multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of  
the  sea, over the  birds of  the air, and over  every  living  thing  that 
moves on the earth”  (Restating  part  of vs 26)  “And  God said, ‘See, 
I have given you every herb that  yields seed which is on  the face of  
the earth, and every  tree whose fruit  yields  seed;  to you it shall be 
for food.  Also,  to every  beast  of  the earth, in which  there is life, I 
have given every  green herb  for food,’  and it was  so.”  Here we see 
a distinction in  the diet  of  mankind and  the diet of  beast,  bird and 
creeping thing. Man was to eat every herb and fruit of the plants and  
trees that have seed,  while the other members of  creation ate grass.  
Even in this, nman is higher than the animals.  “Then God saw every-
thing that  He had made,  and  indeed it was  very  good.  So the eve-
ning and the morning were the sixth day.”  The only comment here is 
a fact; God reckons a day beginning with evening then morning, as do
His people the Jews.  Gentiles, reckon a day beginning in the morning
then evening.  We must, from this  passage, deduce creation days  as
 twenty-four hours each, discounting the theory of creation taking mil-
lions of  years through some impossible, discredited evolutionary pro-
cess.   (Although it  is anything  but  proven or scientific in any  sense, 
 it  is  taught as  an accepted  scientific fact  without alternative  in the
public schools and universities in this land.  

     “And  the Lord  God  formed  man of  the dust of  the  ground;  and 
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a  living  
being."  (Soul)   God  used  existing  material,  earth,  to  create  man.  
Man was  not created of  nothing  as was the material  universe.  One 
other thing here is the fact;  since  man is made of earth, in his bodily 
state,  he is  dependent on  the earth  for  life.  (“Flesh  and  blood will  
not inherit the Kingdom of  God.”)  Although we are  eternal and  hea-
ven  bound, our bodies of flesh must be changed to Spiritual bodies in 
order to enter God's eternal presence.
                                                                           donporter 11.19.12

BIBLE WORDS DEFINED

                 (These words are defined in the context of Scripture.)

ATONEMENT,  to cover,  restore purity & innocence.  (Hebrews 10:14)

FAITH,    Expectation in hope and belief without hard evidence, simply
because we consider the one who promised to be just, able and depen-
dable...    (Hebrews 11:1)

GRACE,   Beauty, gratitude, benefit given, precious, and well favored.
            The disposition of the Lord God toward his child.(Rom 3:23-24)

GOSPEL,  Good news announced in advance.  Specifically, the good 
news of the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus  Christ, 
His intercession  with the  father on our behalf and expectation of His  
eminent return  for His bride  (church).  That which  must be believed 
for the Salvation of our souls.   Always  an element of prophecy in the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ.    (1 Corinthians 15: 1-5)

HOPE,  Confident  expectation  of  future  good,  not  in evidence. 
(akin to faith) (Eph. 2: 12, Rom 15:4,  2 Corinthians 1:7)

INCARNATE,  Having a body of flesh or as human.  Subject to death...

INIQUITY, crooked and evil, transgression of God's law brought on by
perverse cravings.  (Ezekiel 3:18,  Luke 13:27, Hebrews 1:9,  James 3:8)

JUDGE,   to take  time to decide as in a  “trial” or court.  (Rom 2: 15-16,
Acts 17:30-31)

JUSTIFICATION,  vindication  by  statute  or  decision.   Fair,  honest,
 square. (Romans 5: 1,2 & 9)

MERCY,  to favor with kindness and compassion.  (Matthew  9:12-13)
          "...and His mercy endureth forever."  Psalms 136 : 1-26

PROPHECY,  a word (message) that proclaims an event from the 
future ...a message inspired by the Lord God.  This Word is contained
within the Holy Scriptures, or uttered by one who is God's messenger
           2 Peter 1: 19-21

PROPHESY, (preach) to foretell events from Divine inspiration.  Pro-
                      claim the Word of God.  1 Corinthians 14: 1 

PROPITIATION,  Reconciliation of God and man by offering mankind
                               perfect righteousness in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 3:25) 
                       
REDEEM,  to ransom, obtain release at a cost.  (Galatians 4: 4-6)

REGENERATION,  (new birth) The gift of Eternal life, as in the Atone-
                                    ment.  (Matthew 19:22-28, Titus 3:5)

REPROBATE,   failing the test,  worthless,  having spurned  truth, and
                            following  the  lie.  (Romans 1:28, Titus 1:9-16)

REDEMPTION,  ransom paid in full,  Realized.  (Galatians 4:5, 
                              Ephesians 1:7, 4:30)

REPENT, REPENTANCE,  to confess sin, (wrong, error) and turn from
                             (the)  sin to God in faith. (essential for Salvation)  
                             (Acts 17:26-31, 2 Corinthians 7:10)

RESURRECTION,  bodily return from death/the grave to life.
                                  (John 11:24-26)

RIGHTEOUSNESS,  to be made right, to justify, equity.  (John 16: 8-11)

SALVATION,  rescue to safety; deliverance from eternal death.
(Acts 4:9-12, Romans 10:8-10)

SIN,  As a verb; to transgress the law of the Lord God.  ( 1 John 3: 4)

SPIRITUAL,  having to do with the Lord God, not of this world or the
                        flesh. (not of the body)  (1 Corinthians 15: 35-50)

SANCTIFICATION,  the state of having been made clean, purified and
                              set apart for a purpose.  (1 Thess. 4:3, II Thess. 2:13)

WORSHIP,  adore, revere, to prostrate (bow) oneself voluntarily. (leads 
to piety) Joshua 5:13-15, appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ.
                        (John 4:19-24)

(A Key Passage of Scripture, 1 Peter 1: 13 -23)   

 donporter, 11.14.12,    edit. 8.28.16, 9.26.16, 5.13.17             

CLERGY/LAITY?

Clergy/Laity?                                                                                              11.13.12

I do not see a basis in Scripture for “Laity” as defined today. 
 Knowing there are other groups who hold this same view, I 
 have purposely avoided  the reasons  for their  positions.  A 
 person who  publishes a  paper, an article  or a  book with a 
certain view on doctrine, is obliged to use the same principle 
as one who  develops sensible  budgets year  after year.  Just
as zero based budgeting is the proper way to  develop a bud-
get,we who would study doctrine must use the Scripture as a 
base for  our doctrine,  not relying on that done before in the 
area.

  The only source we need to establish correct Bible doctrine 
is  Scripture  enlightened by  the Spirit of God.   It is evident,
much information on doctrine is based  upon  the  way things 
have been taught, tradition,with little reliance on God's Word.  
One  must leave preconceived  notions out  when studying the
Word, for any purpose. The Apostle Paul is said to have spent
have spent three  years in Arabia,  away from the  disciples or  Apostles, who went before,  for an understanding of  his doc-
trine. We must  then do as the Apostle did after his time alone 
with the Lord  and  communicate with those who were before 
us, to determine  whether we have  missed the mark.  Now, to 
the subject at hand: 

   Webster's dictionary defines laity as, "One
who is not  professionally or specially devo-
to a pursuit."  Just using the second  part of 
the definition;  Can we say a "lay" person is
not  specially devoted to  the pursuit  of  our
Lord, Jesus Christ? If I understand anything
about following the Lord Jesus Christ; when
one  receives  Him  as  Savior,  he  receives 
Him as Lord. 

                 Scripture in Romans 8: 14:
  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
these are the sons of God." If we were to use
just this one passage,  there is doubt cast on
the validity of one  being a child of  God who 
not "specially devoted" to Him. There is also
a  passage in Revelation 3: 16 where Christ
says; "So  then, because you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out
of  my mouth."  The Lord is disgusted with a
person who is  not specially devoted to Him,
and passionate about serving and in pursuit
of  such knowledge.  If  we  define a disciple 
as a learner, then, we must be passionate in 
the learning as well. 

     Another view of  this doctrine  is  found in
1 Peter 3:15. This passage says, "But Sanc-
tify the Lord God in your hearts, and  always
be ready to give a defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear."  This was not writ-
ten  to  professionals,  but  to everyone  who
names Jesus Christ as Savior. There is to be
careful preparation  for anyone who will be a
servant of the Lord.  There  is also the narra-
tive  concerning Phillip,  who  was instructed
from  the Spirit of  God to take a walk toward
Gaza.  Now,  this  Phillip  was  ordained as a 
deacon, not a "Minister" or "Pastor,"  but was
always  seeking for ways  to serve  his  Lord.
On his walk he encountered a high official of
Ethiopia, and  explained to him Jesus Christ.
He  was  immediately  translated from  there,
where we find  him preaching  the gospel  to
anyone who would listen.

    There was a man of God, Charles Haddon
Spurgeon, who never attended a university of
theological seminary,  nor was he ordained to
ministry by men.  Mr. Spurgeon is considered
to be one of the finest preachers of  the Gos-
pel of the era.  His Godly life speaks volumes 
as does his  prolific pen.  He is thought  of as 
a professional  and was  specially  devoted to 
Christ, but never consider himself "Clergy. He 
pastored a large church, and at the age of 20 
years exhibited a great depth of Spiritual ma-
turity rarely seen in persons of  any age. The 
following is an  exerpt from  his sermon  deli-
vered at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, 
UK on January 7, 1855.        

   "He who often thinks of God will have a lar-
   ger  mind  than  the man who  simply  plods 
   around  this narrow globe.  The most excel-
   lent  study for expanding the soul, is the sci-
   ence of Christ, him crucified, and the know-
   ledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. 
  Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing 
  so magnify the soul of man as a devout, ear-
  nest,  continued  investigation  of  the  great 
  subject of Deity..." 

      There are also the Scriptural qualifica-
tions for one to serve as a deacon with the
local assembly.  "Deacon" is a "Spiritual"
office, but  one who serves and assists  the 
widows in distribution of  goods and servi-
ces of  the church to disadvantaged.  Dea-
cons  serve  the  needs of  a  congregation, 
but must exhibit Spiritual  qualifications as
does a  pastor/clergyman. The only quality
required  for Pastor and not  for a Deacon,
is  "...apt to teach."  The  only way we may
justify "laity,"  is when we divide the life of 
a  child of God into two parts, sacred  and
secular.  As  Dr. Bob Jones, the  late foun-
der  of  Bob Jones  University,  Greenville,
S. C. said,  "For the Child of  God,  Life is
not  divided  into  sacred and  secular.  To
the Child of God, all things are sacred.   
  
There is also the principle of our attitude  
toward our  work.   Scripture says to the
Child of God, "Whatever thy hand finds to
do, do it with thy might."  It  would  seem,
then, the Child of  God  is working for the
Lord  even as  he performs  the job that is
providing income for himself,  his family
and  any "charitable deeds"  he might do.
Every  Child  of  God is  "full time"  as  he
serves his Lord. 

  This article is not intended to be an attack 
on the  “professional ministry,” but a remin-
der.  Every Child of God is expected to live 
to the fullest in service to His lord.  Nothing 
less will be blessed of God, nor can be. We 
could use the metaphor; husband and wife.   
I am not a professional husband and my in-
come  is not  derrived from  the practice  of 
husbanding.  It is foolish to say;  because I 
am not a paid husband, I am not devoted to 
my wife and am less passionate about this
relationship than one who  might be called 
a full-time husband. I'm not a paid husband 
and  earn an income doing something else. 
It  could be observed that the reason I have 
a  profession,  is  to  support  that  one rela-
tionship,  help  others  and support service 
to my Lord.

Post Script:  Is it possible there  are  men in today’s
pulpits who  were  never called of God  to  the Mini-
stry?  How does it work?  A man or  woman becomes 
involved in a local church, having had an experience 
of the New Birth.  At some time, this person becomes 
convinced the Lord has issued him or her a call into 
ministry.  As a rule,  the “called," attends a college, 
university or  Bible school and at  graduation offers 
to be in some sort of vocational ministry. There is a 
possibility this one is mistaken about the call of God 
or sees “Ministry” as  a  pleasant  way to earn a liv-
ing.  There is also the possibility the  person was not 
even born again; is deceived a charlatan or hypocrite. 

      Another scenario comes to mind:
Suppose a  young man or lady has true regeneration,  
is filled with  the Spirit, displaying leadership skills
that persons around him or her see as the Hand of 
God on the life.  This persons, not seeking an office
ministry or recognition, is chosen by God through
the people of God to a position of leadership.

Which of these illustrations is most likely to be
blessed of God?    

     One other possibility goes this way; Suppose a  
person begins in ministry; with little apparent suc-
cess and finally quits; a failure? 

It  happens multiplied times in  this  country  
today and has for years. The number of men 
leaving ministry  for  "secular"  work is sad,  
indeed.  There  is  more  than  one  possible 
explanation for this phenomenon.
.  
Here, we offer two:
In  Scripture  there  is  a description of  a 
class  or group of  persons of  whom  it is 
said, “the world was not worthy of them.”  
One  explanation might  be;  the group to 
whom  this  one attempted   honestly and  
in God’s will, to minister,  was unworthy 
of that person, so the Lord removed Him.
(Hebrews 11: 36-38)  Another possibility 
might go like this;  The person was doing
his/her best to minister in the flesh with-
out Holy Spirit annointing, not knowing
better and failed.

     A most important thing to keep in mind on
these  kinds of issues is;  you and I are not to 
judge  whether one  who is  ministering in the 
church is truly what he seems to be. That will 
be settled  by the Lord God who will judge the 
quick and the dead.  Judgment  belongs to the 
Lord. We are, I think, to be wise; not deceived
by every kind of doctrine.  There is a knowled-
geable  appraisal of  persons by each  believer,
and as long as our private knowledge of a per-
son  by their  "fruit," is never used  to verbally
condemn the person, it is right and proper, but
we  must not  be deceived by charlatans, hypo-
crites  or schizophrenics  who have a  guise of 
respectability through an assumed ministry.

   Spiritual discernment, achieved through dili-
gent  study of  the Word, and  consistently put-
ting this wisdom  into practice  through obedi-
ence is key.  Being an effective  knowledgeable 
servant of  the Lord  does not come  automati-
cally  just  because one has  put on  the mantle 
of  "Christianity,”  but is achieved through the 
hard, blessed  discipline of  prayerful study  of 
the Holy Scriptures, lived out daily.

 Note: In 2 Chronicles 35; 7, 12,13 in the New
King James Version of the Scripture, 1982, by
Thomas Nelson,  there are references to "lay" 
people with  an  apparent contrast between lay 
people  and the  priests  or  clergy.  This same 
Scripture in  King James Version, 1631, refers 
to people, or children of  the people and never 
uses the term "lay" people. I consider the refe-
rence to lay  people as a  fairly recent develop-
ment, and  possibly  a misinterpretation of  the 
intent of the Word of God. (The term "lay peo-
ple" probably refers to "people of the land", 
not adherents to Judaism.      

(edited 3.11.17)   donporter,sr