Msg #1420 Babylon is Fallen, is Fallen
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Just as God's chosen people, Israel, portray the great hope of mankind and the profound assurance that God will keep his promise, Babylon portrays the great damnation of mankind and the profound assurance that God will display his wrath. Isaiah 13 begins, "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see." One thousand five hundred and thirty years earlier man gathered, right after the world flood, to build a kingdom that would reach up to heaven. There, in Mesopotamia, the land of two rivers, God confounded their languages and called their kingdom building, Babylon. On hundred and six years after Isaiah, the seer, saw this burden, Nebuchadnezzar, the brand new King of Babylon would lay siege to Jerusalem. It was his very first conquest. That is not a coincidence. God, for a 70 year season, to chastise his own, surrendered his chosen people to a Babylonian captivity. When released from this bondage his chosen people were a wholly different people. They never embraced idolatry again. God had gotten hold of their stiff neck and stoney heart. The born-again believer has been released from a Babylonian bondage and entered into the Kingdom of Heaven. No longer under the prince and power of the air, we are in the world, but not of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ will soon return to receive his Kingdom. Before he comes there will be a new world order, and a center of world commerce. That center will be called and located in Babylon, and its fall is depicted in The Revelation of Jesus Christ chapter 14. We expect the rapture of the church any day now. The Lord is coming for his saints and then with his saints. Israel will receive her King. What a day that will be.
An Essay for week #20 05/18/2014
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Msg #1418 Awesome Name in an Awesome Chapter
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
God's revelation lets man know what God has done, what God is doing, and what is going to happen next. It is marvelous for the believer to read Isaiah 12 and see a description of the New Covenant relationship that we have in Christ. Penned by God through Isaiah 746 years before the Only Begotten Son of God became our propitiation it begins, "And in that day..." It defends the use of that word, "propitiation," with this insight, "though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away." (vr.1) We know now that Isaiah's wording "and thou comfortedst me" is prophetic of the Comforter that Jesus sent after his ascension. "Behold God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid," is descriptive of the New Covenant in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The personal name of God is only spelled out in English four times in the Holy Bible. All other times this most revered name is handled in English, as it was in spoken Hebrew, by substituting LORD in its stead. Appropriately two exceptions are when Moses and David spell out what his name actually was in Exodus 6:3 and Psalm 83:18. The remaining two exceptions drip from the pen of Isaiah when he writes about God being our salvation in a New Covenant (Isa. 12:2) and Israel's salvation in the 1,000 year kingdom reign of Christ. (Isa. 26:4) The meaning of that carefully, reverently used name is given in Exodus 3:14, "I Am, that I Am." In Jesus Christ, called the Mighty God, called the Everlasting Father, we have our salvation, and our Saviour is called by that most revered name. Here, for the "first-fruit" inhabitants of Zion's kingdom (vr.6), that Holy One of Israel is our salvation. What an awesome chapter.
An Essay for week #18 05/04/2014
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In audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140504.mp3
Msg #1419 Mothers Day and Healing
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
On this Mothers Day we want to give special tribute to moms who have lost loved ones to, or are right now wrestling with America's health crisis called cancer. There is a known cure, it is preached here each Sunday, "Christ is the Answer." This old world cannot even fathom the problem. America loads our food with growth hormones and antibiotics, artificial flavor, artificial color, artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and then laden s us with artificial air fresheners, color enhancers and cleaning products, and then asks us to walk a million miles and spend a million dollars to figure out why our bodies are having artificial tissue growth. The Bible still instructs us best about all this, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1Cor 6) Our God who now lives in his temple, is still the Great Physician, and can heal all our infirmities. In Proverbs 31 King Lemuel's mom teaches 7 things that all mothers need to teach us, the first is Prophecy, or "Thus saith the LORD." She follows with 12 characteristics of a virtuous woman given in 22 verses of unparalleled Scripture. The crowning virtue of all 12 is the fear of the LORD. The LORD we fear still commands, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray... Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."
An Essay for week #19 05/11/2014
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Msg #1417 The Seven Spirits of God
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
"Christ is the Answer" is the theme of the 66 books of the Holy Bible, and the 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah. That is not a coincidence. After seven woes in six chapters Christ comes on the scene as a son born to a virgin in 7:14, then as a child given five unbelievable titles in 9:6. A dire woe is extended to all of mankind in chapter 10, and then, in chapter 11, after God's anger against Israel "is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still," after he assures the Gentile nations that "he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and they shall fall by a mighty one," his Christ is introduced in chapter 11. That introduction presents him as the Rod, a righteous judge, and a Branch, a giver of everlasting life. The Rod comes from an obscure stem, and the Branch from an all but destroyed root. The Rod and Branch of God which springs from the line of David, son of Jessie, refers to Christ's humanity. Theologians might disagree, but the Bible is clear, when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, he set aside the omni and the infinite and became finite. Without the omni and infinite attributes, Jesus used the Seven Spirits of God to accomplish all that he did while in the flesh. The Spirit of the LORD, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. These, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, are called the Seven Spirits of God. Isaiah 11 gives an awesome description of the Messiah. But the Seven Spirits listed are available to all believers. That is why Jesus said that we could do even greater things than he did in the flesh. (John 1412)
An Essay for week #17 04/27/2014
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Msg #1416 You Gotta Love Easter
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months, it shall be the first month of the year for you... Your lamb shall be without blemish... and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” (Exod 12) When Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month Abib, later called Nissan, the only begotten Lamb of God became our Passover Lamb. Three days after that crucifixion when he rose victorious over death, he became our High Priest. There is only one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (ITim2:5) The world tries to drown out this truth with Cadbury eggs from clucking bunnies. Religionists with robes and backward collars assist with annual Easter egg hunts. But the truth remains “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Despite the grand cover up, regardless of the compromised clergy, Jesus, the way the truth and the life, is the True Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9) He judges and tries the reins and the heart. (Jer 11:20) All know his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse. (Rom 1:20) Easter is a time when the resurrection of Christ is rubbed into an unbelievers knowledge of God. It can make them uncomfortable. His witnesses can use Easter to touch loved ones and neighbors with the Words of God which are sharper than any two edged sword. Christ the Lord is risen today, Allelulea. Sons of men and angels say, Allelulea. Believers love Easter. We need to learn to use it better.
An Essay for week #16 04/20/2014
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Msg #1414 Great Deception and The Hand of God
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Isaiah records national actions and reactions with God's eye. National judgments are recorded for a spectra of nations, two with Godly heritage. These are full scale models of nationalistic behaviors, and the USofA is presently following the second best model, Israel. Mind you, the best of the best, Judah, has its flaws and ends in captivity. With all the Godly heritage and founding, a miraculous redemption from the world, and established as a God fearing nation with laws and constitution, one would expect that she follow justice, truth, and Jehovah God. Yet before 300 years, the whole head was sick. (cf Isa.1:5) “Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries... and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.” (Isa 9:11-13) In this chapter, and in this model, things turn out bad for Israel's rebellion. It is a mirror for America. They say we have no Creator, just two rocks in a primeval sea doing spontaneous generation! The masses believe them! They say we have no Judge bringing calamity to smite our land, it is caused by “Global Warming” from our burning fossil fuels and breathing out CO2! The masses believe them! They outlaw light bulbs, shut down coal plants, and pursue “Green Energy” as their lord and savior. “Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened... For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” (vr. 19,21) This message is not to the deceived masses, they are quite deceived. God says instead, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves.”
An Essay for week #14 04/06/2014
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Msg #1415 Your Alabaster Box
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Jesus' last walk to Jerusalem is wrought with drama, Pharisees and lepers, Lawyers and blind men, Scribes and short publicans climbing trees. Not to mention disciples fighting over their greatness as they chased little children away from their Lord! The trip culminates with the two high drama events of John 12. The only one who really understood why Jesus was come to Jerusalem was Mary who once again anointed him with an ointment from an alabaster box. She was forgiven much, and she loved much. She also had a relationship with her Lord and Saviour. A relationship found lacking in the 12 disciples. Even today it is only a few who comprehend the importance of the Christ's selection on that Palm Sunday. The Passover Lamb anointed by Mary six days before Passover was, on the 10th of Abib, four days before Passover, exactly as recorded in Exodus 12, separated from the other sheep with the cries of the crowd. Their cries of “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest,” (Matt 21:9) were soon followed with the question, “Who is this?” (Matt 21:10) Then after four of the most recorded days in human history, the same crowd cried “Crucify him!” It behooves a believer to study this trip, this week, and that relationship with great vigor. Set aside all Roman and Reformed theology and study him in the events of this week. Therein one can find a relationship akin to what Mary had. It is a rare thing in “Christianity” today, it was then. It is worth falling in love anew with the Passover Lamb. Let this Easter be one where your alabaster box is broken, and your expensive ointment is poured out.
An Essay for week #15 04/13/2014
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Msg #1413 The Hobby Lobby Battle is The Lords.
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Conception involves three entities coming together. As immorality devours the thought and intents of American society and “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” a Bible believer needs to be very specific in this understanding. An egg and a sperm in a “test-tube” or a fallopian-tube, without a receptive womb, does not constitute conception. Only the fertile egg cleaving to the womb constitutes conception, wherein another human is formed. In a moral society that little individual has certain inalienable rights and protections. Any purposeful separation of the human life from its sustenance of life is thus immoral. The Hobby Lobby and the Amish Furniture Factory is not contesting religious rights as much as they are contesting a humanist government that would force them to partake in an immoral act. Christians are to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you. (1Pet 3:15) We have no exception for this particular issue. We need to be even the more clear after Roman ideas have muddied the water around the truth. It is not a “religious” issue. It is a moral truth. A truth, not just because of God's Text, but because of the obvious Biology Text as well. With Obama in power and the ACLU lawyers emboldened, Christians face waves of attacks against their freedom. Jehoshaphat, a king no stranger to compromised righteousness, prayed, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” (2Chron 20:12) You gotta love God's response. “Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. (vr.15b)
An Essay for week #13 03/30/2014
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Msg #1437 The Faith of a Friend
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Abram, the friend of God, believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness, but he never even came to know God by his first name. It is not that the LORD did not reveal his proper name to Abram, "I am the LORD" (Gen15:7, Exod 6:2). God said it to Abram and to Moses. But he also told Moses, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH (LORD) was I not known to them" (Exod 6:3). Bible believers are conservatives who despise progressive ideas. Progressive Liberals trust Karl Marx's doctrine that capitalism must progress to socialism, then evolve to communism. Just the same, God uses progressive revelation to reveal himself and all his plans to man. Today we have all 66 books, and know God's first name, but don't have all the faith that Abram displayed. Genesis 15 is interesting because God says to Abram "I am the LORD," and Abram does not get it. Even though Abram missed a lot, what he did get he thoroughly believed. That pleased God. God tells Abram all his plans for all Abram's seed. He passes through an exotic multifaceted sacrifice with him. He appeared to him as a smoking furnace and a burning lamp (15:17). Much later Ezekiel gave a more progressive picture of God's mobile presence, it was a glowing wheel in the middle of a wheel. There was more revealed to Abram than he could take in, but he believed everything he could comprehend. Thus, he is called the father of faith, and the friend of God. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... without faith it is impossible to please him" (Heb11:1,6) Be His friend.
An Essay for week #37 09/14/2014
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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140914.mp3
View Thesis "Reformed Theology NOT" at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com
Msg #1423 Unjust Stewards, Mammon, Law and Grace.
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Luke chapter 16 is unique out of all the chapter outlines of Scripture. It curiously leads with a strange parable addressed to his disciples. An unjust steward, was caught wasting his masters goods was to be fired. For his own gain, he entreated his lord's debtors mercifully, to where even his master commended the unjust steward for his genius. Generally parables have only one major truth that is being emphasized, this one has four called out. 1) The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. God does not expect Christians to use the methods of the world, but to at least have the savvy of the world. 2) Use the mammon of unrighteousness to make to yourselves friends. If you have a Ranger Bass boat, use it for eternal purposes, use it to be a gospel witness. 3) Be faithful in that which is least. Some of us do not have a Ranger Bass boat, nonetheless... 4) No servant can serve two masters. Daily, be certain who your master is, ... with all your heart, soul and mind. Aimed at disciples, this parable did not set well with the covetous Pharisees, and they derided him. In this chapter Jesus rebukes them and their "letter-of-the-law" mentality. The law and the prophets are being replaced, more exactly "fulfilled", by the incoming kingdom of God that Jesus preached. Two notes; Luke 16:18 is not Jesus' teaching on divorce, it is his illustration of the harsh exactness of the law, in contrast to the supreme grace found in the kingdom of God. Also, the accounting of the certain rich man and of Lazarus given in the close of this chapter, is the capstone of the truths presented in this chapter. Rereading Luke 16 is beneficial.
An Essay for week #23 06/08/2014
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Msg #1435 Sanctification and Friendship
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
"Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends" (John 15:15), a friend of God. A son of Eber obeyed God and set out looking "for a city which hath foundation, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb 11) When he crossed over one Jordan River, his path took him to friendship with God. It is a path worthy of our consideration. "Hebrew" defined, are son's of Eber, ones from beyond, who multiplied in God's blessing. They were given the oracles of God which give Abram's account. Genesis 13 details Abram's second step towards this friendship, he had to separate from things before he could have an association with God. The Hebrew tongue has a word for association, it is Hebron, which is where Abram was camped in the last verse of this chapter. The chapter opens with Abram camped between the house of God (Hbrw- Bethel) and a heap of ruin (Hbrw- Hai) and it details his separation from his kindred (Lot), his kindred's wealth, aspirations, and evil eye. The Bible says Lot had a righteous soul, (2Pet 2:7-8) but God was pleased when Abram separated himself from Lot's pernicious way. When walking toward God one needs separation from the world, but sometimes we need to separate from believers in their error. Even a believer can operate like a wolf in sheep's clothing, doing great harm to the cause of Christ. Even though Lot was a believer, family, and companion, when Abram separated from him, God expanded Abram's promise, and led him to the plain of strength and fatness (Hbrw- Mamre). There God reestablished his association. (Hbrw- Hebron). Sanctified means separated unto God, and sanctification is an essential to friendship with God.
An Essay for week #35 08/31/2014
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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140831.mp3
"Reformed Theology Is Not A Biblical Theology " found at http://www.gsbaptistchurch.com/seminary/master_thesis/thesis_reformed.pdf