A Monumental Happening

              Reading Mark 16:1-8 quoted below, we know that our Jesus, our Christ has risen from the grave.  As we look at the years that Jesus walked on the earth, several monumental things happened in His short life.

              The first important monumental event was the birth of Jesus.  He was born of a virgin in a livestock barn.  The next, (I am not discounting all the miracles, healing which were all monumental,) was His death on His Cross; the blood spilt, the grieving, the mocking all a part of His death.  The third event we see God has lifted Him out of the tomb.  (He Is Risen.)

              We then see eyewitness accounts of Him walking, talking, and eating after the tomb was opened.

              Each of these instances by themselves was monumental, but each was necessary for the whole.  Without His birth, there would not have been a Cross.  Without the Cross, there would never have been a need for a tomb.  Without the tomb, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus would never have happened.  Without that resurrection, you and I would not have a resurrection in our future.  We would be without Hope, the Hope our Lord gave us by dying on that “Old Rugged Cross.”

              When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, and bow our head in subjection and humility to Him, a monumental event happens.  Jesus places the Holy Spirit within us.  With the Holy Spirit, we become one with Christ and His Father in Heaven.                 

              Have you received Jesus?  Have you subjected yourself to the One who died a horrible death for you?  Jesus is calling.  He is calling you.  Accept His Monumental Salvation.  Accept Him and see your life change.  It will if you have willingly accepted Him on His terms.                    

Bro John R. E Chastain

Mark 16:1-8  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.  (2)  And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.  (3)  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?  (4)  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.  (5)  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.  (6)  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.  (7)  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.  (8)  And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Do You?

          The scripture Isaiah 26:4-7 quoted below tells us to trust in the LORD.  We are also told in (Isaiah 26:4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:  In each of these verses we see LORD written in capital letters.  In both cases we are given the definition of LORD is LORD JEHOVAH.

            In (Deuteronomy 6:5)  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.   In this verse we are told (Commanded) to love the LORD.

            God has not given us an out in what we are to do.   God, our Holy Father, the LORD JEHOVAH, loves us so much He gave His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus the Christ, to hang and die on that “Old Rugged Cross.”  His death was for you and I so we would not have to hang on that tree for our own sins.  He paid the bill for the worthlessness of man. 

            We each are not capable individually nor as a church body to pay the bill for any sins,   (Romans 3:23)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;   however, we are not to use this verse or any verse as an excuse to sin.  We are to follow Jesus’ example and the Word of God our LORD JEHOVAH. 

            God tells us that those who do not follow Him will be brought down.  The way of the saved, those consecrated, set apart to God, are to follow a righteous path regardless of the consequences.   God tells us we will win in the end, so love Him, and Trust Him.

            We are not what we should be, but we have no excuse.  It should be our desire to live for Him, He lived and died on that cross for us.  Our verse below tells us to trust in the LORD for ever.  The question to us ought to be, Do I?                                             

Bro John R. E Chastain

Isaiah 26:4-7  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:  (5)  For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.  (6)  The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.  (7)  The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

Who Can?

            The scripture Romans 8:35-39 quoted below tells us once we are saved; nothing, not even we ourselves can remove us from the Love of God.

            We are told by Jesus in (John 3:16),  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  Jesus tells us that if we will believe Him, He will give “…everlasting life.” to those who do believe.  With just a limited mastery of English word definitions, we can know that “everlasting” means “eternal” and “eternal” means “forever,” consequently forever means “everlasting.”

            All of these words are used in scripture to teach us of “eternity” (another word which could have been placed in the circle of words above.)  By accepting Christ, we will live in eternity with Him.

            Our scripture below tells us nothing can take our salvation away.  Some after accepting Jesus as their Saviour will slip into sin, yet, Jesus has already covered them with His blood.  This covering is an eternal, everlasting, forever, covering for an eternity.

            We must know that not all who call on Jesus’ name will be saved.  Without a sincere heart, a true heart along with the desire of eternal, everlasting, forever, eternity with Jesus Christ, Salvation will not happen.

(Hebrews 10:22)  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

            A person must willingly accept Jesus with a desire to draw near to God.    Only through Jesus can we attain the eternity we want.

(John 3:36)  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

            We will each have an eternal life. The question is Where?  Scripture tells us without Jesus, the wrath of God abides on us.  That wrath is “Hell,” a place of torment, a place of loneliness, a place no one ever expects to go, but many will.  Know where you are going.

            Accept Him this hour, now, today.                  

Bro John R. E Chastain

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  (37)  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  (38)  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mary Saw Him

            Reading our scripture from John 20:15-18 quoted below, we can almost hear the surprise in Mary’s voice.  It would be nice to be able to hear her say “Rabboni” I can only imagine a high shrill voice, one of super surprise, and one of super excitement in actually seeing her Master alive, knowing He is Risen. 

              When a loved one has departed this life we would expect, in this life time, never to be able to hug them, nor hold their hand nor speak to them again.   There are times I would like to just tell my Dad I love him.  I cannot tell you I ever told him that or that he ever told me he loved me.    In my heart I know, but I would really like to know that I did tell him that I loved him. 

              Here Mary is standing before a Risen Christ Jesus, and she is not allowed to touch Him.  Don’t you know she wanted to hug Him, tell Him how sorry she was about all that had happened?   Yet she couldn’t.  It wasn’t possible.

              You see we cannot see Jesus, nor can we physically touch Him, yet, we know He loves us, and if you have accepted Him with a sincere, desiring heart, you love Him.  However, we know He ascended to Heaven to be with His Father, and our Father, and to His God and our God.

              I have gotten past even remembering who my physical Father was over the sixty plus years.  I do remember his history, his name, yet, that is all I know.  I don’t know why God took him away from my Mother, my Sister and I, but He did.  My God, through His Word, has taught me that what has happened in my life was for a reason.  

              So back to Mary, she returns to the Apostles and relays her story to them.  They all consider it “women’s tales” except Peter and John.   They check out Mary’s story and find an empty tomb. As Paul Harvey would always say, “Now Here Is The Rest of The Story.”  As we read on, we find that Jesus is Risen, He was resurrected from the dead.

(Romans 10:9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

              Here we are at Easter, celebrating our Risen Christ.  “…why weepest thou?”  We are here to celebrate the Life God has given us through His Risen Son, our Lord Jesus.

              If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, do it today, so you can know Him and know you haven’t let opportunity pass you by.                                                                                  Bro. John R. E Chastain

John 20:15-18  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.  (16)  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.  (17)  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.  (18)  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Let This Mind Be In You

              Reading Philippians 2:4-8 quoted below reminds me how much I stumble with my Pride.  When I think about what my Saviour did on His Cross just for me, and doing what He did in subjection (obedience) to His Father, I shake in my mind as to the smallness of my subjection.

              I work hard at being humble, and try to follow God’s will.  Yet in all I do, failure seems to be my answer, not abject failure of “not getting the job done,” but in spiritual failure like, “Have I done enough for my Lord Jesus?” or “Have I done enough for my church?”  What about that one person sitting in row five, seat two, “Have I helped him enough?”                          

              The absolute answer is “NO.”  I have not nor will I ever succeed at a level that will be satisfying to me.      I believe for the most part that I am doing God’s will, (even those days when I seem in doubt.)  My honest intent is to do the “will of God.”

              After my secular college, and after I had been in the Aviation Industry for several years, I had to write resumes detailing all the types of work I had done.  I puffed myself up, and at that time, my mind was not “His mind.” 

              After finally being saved by God, I had a real hard time getting myself wrapped around the phrase, “Let this mind be in you…”  I was so accustomed to promoting myself that it was hard to bring my Pride down.  I wanted to continue to promote myself as to how “good” I had become. 

              Then I look to my Christ on His Cross, and I know He was and is there for me.  Because He had given himself in obedience (subjection) to His Father, I don’t have to climb on my cross and die for my sins.  My Jesus forgave me from that cross, and all I must do is believe in Him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

              The questions remaining are, “Do you believe?”  Another question is, “If You Died Today, Would Heaven Be Your Home?”  Are you obedient, and do you have “…this mind in you…?” 

              I cannot answer these questions for you.  I can answer only for myself and no one else.  Only you can answer for yourself.                                  

Bro John R. E Chastain

Philippians 2:4-8  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  (5)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

What A Day That Will Be

             As I read the scriptures in Luke 21:25-28 quoted below, my first thoughts are found in the Book of John:

John 3:36  …and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

              When we see the signs described below, the souls who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Saviour will have waited too long. I do not understand fully the extent of God’s wrath; however, I do know it is an eternal wrath.  I also know when we see our Jesus in those clouds, they will have put off their Heavenly eternity one too many times, and the wrath of God will be their personal eternity, a forever, and ever, and an everlasting eternity, beginning in Hell and finally completed in the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:13-15  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Jesus tells us in John 3:16 that “…whosoever believeth in him should …but have everlasting life.”  Life with Christ is also an everlasting, eternal, and forever, and ever life; a glorious life, with never another tear, never another parting, and never another broken heart.  “What A Day That Will Be When My Jesus I Shall See.”

              Our Bible tells us to watch for His return.  He tells us in Scripture that no man knows the hour, so we must be ready for that any moment or hour within which Jesus will return.  

Matthew 24:35-36  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  (36)  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

              Do you know Jesus as your personal Saviour?  Do you know if you died today that heaven would be your home?  You, as a soul, will live eternally.  You can make the choice today.  Where do you want to call home, Heaven with Christ, or live with the wrath of God in that eternal lake of fire?  The Choice is yours.  Decide today your future.  What kind of day will you have?                                                                                   

Bro John R. E Chastain

Luke 21:25-28  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;  (26)  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  (27)  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  (28)  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Fight The Good Fight of Faith

            The scripture 1 Timothy 6:6-12 quoted below tells us we came into this world naked, and we will go out the same way.  We should be content with what we have, yet, most of us are tempted with all kinds of new technology, and with things we to think we need.  These become a snare.

              After reading these verses, I began thinking about what a Pastor did in earlier times without our modern technology. How did he schedule Missionaries, Revivals, write sermons, Sunday School lessons, and just schedule “plain old dinner on the grounds” fellowships? 

              After much thought, I decided he didn’t have as many problems as we do today.  Until telephones became available, a local assembly might not hear from a Missionary or Evangelist for years, and might never have one in their church.  The post office had to suffice, no last minute changes, no sudden anything. 

              It is hard for me to put anything I do for the Lord into the context of “…foolish or hurtful lusts...”  Our problem is how we use our technology.  So many use modern technology “…for foolish and hurtful lusts…”  Take the internet for instance.  I use our modern technology, probably not to the fullest extent I could.  I use an electronic KJBible for preparing the final version of my sermons and Sunday School lessons.  I sometime look up historical background for a message on the internet.  I also converse with Pastors and others via e-mail.  The snare to all this is it takes some free time which could be added to additional study and prayer time, or door to door visitation. 

              We find we are caught in a “catch 22.”   The technology is here and we seem not able to divorce ourselves from it.  Our verse tells us “…flee these things…”  If we could only turn, our clocks back to the fifties, maybe the late forties when time was slower, and we didn’t know as much then as we do now. 

              However, in today’s mind set we have resources and capabilities we could never have imagined back then.  So the best we can do is monitor our time, be sure the technology isn’t our life, and make sure above all that Jesus Christ our Lord is our life.  “…Fight For The Good Fight Of Faith...” 

Bro John R. E Chastain

1 Timothy 6:6-12  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  (9)  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  (10)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  (11)  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  (12)  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I Will Trust

I Will Trust

              As we read the scriptures in Isaiah 12:2-4 quoted below, we are reminded of the fact that God is our Salvation, and in His Salvation, we can trust and never fear. 

               This is our last day of our Spring Revival, and I pray that we can see reasons for saying, “Praise the Lord.”  I pray that we will talk about and remember the Spring 2010 Revival for weeks, months, and maybe years as the time that brought Revival to our Church.  I pray it will cause a spark and start a Revival in Wellington, Texas.  Because of that spark, we may see another spark that will inflame a Revival in all of the Panhandle, and the State of Texas, and on across our Nation.

              What will it take to bring the Revival that will get our Nation back to God? 

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

              It has to start with Christians who will say “…I will trust...”     It must start in the Church, a New Testament Bible Church, a Church which believes  that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified on that “Old Rugged Cross,”  and three days later God raised Him from that grave.  That must be the premise for you and I to humble ourselves and pray. 

              This Revival will not be remembered as that Great Revival of ought ’10 if we as members are not willing to “…trust…” in His Word.

              Do you, without reservation, without doubt, or fear, trust in our Lord?  If you cannot confess your lack of “trust” today, when are you going to “…trust..?”  Tomorrow?  

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

              Revive yourself with God’s Holy Word.  Transform your mind, and allow the Holy Spirit to take control. 

Bro John R. E Chastain

Isaiah 12:2-4  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  (3)  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.  (4)  And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

All Unrighteousness Is Sin:…

      Reading 1 John 5:17-21quoted below ought to bring cold chills to our hearts, knowing there are souls who will never see the true God and have the eternal life with Him and His Son Jesus.

      It is scary from a Preacher’s view to see Christians who walk so close to the wild side.  They like the appearance of that Broadway Jesus talks about in Matthew 7:13-14. 

(Matthew 7:13-14)  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

      Christians who have found that narrow way and for whatever reason, cannot walk away from their old sin life  because their old sin is too appealing.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

      We are to know if we accepted Jesus Christ as our Holy Saviour on His terms not our, then we should have changed with the help of the Holy Spirit.  It is a change, which requires us to have the desire to change and have the desire to accept Him and walk in His ways.  It states in our verse “…there is a sin not unto death.”  Do understand sin for the Christian is not a “…sin unto death...”  God has forgiven all Christians their sin and the “sin unto death” is the failure to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour.

Bro John R. E Chastain

1 John 5:17-21  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  (18)  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  (19)  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.  (20)  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  (21)  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

God Is Faithful

              As we approach our Revival with Evangelist Bro Schwanke, will your faithfulness be tested?  This will be a good time for each of us to apply what God has commanded us to do.

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

              During these next few days, each of us should have a “need” to be knocking on our neighbors’ doors and inviting them to come to the Revival.  I know there are many here in our town who know Jesus and Salvation is secure for them, however, there is a need for their presence.  Yet, there are many who have walked away from Church and God.  Then there are others in our community who has never adorned the seat of a church pew.

            This article is more about our faithfulness.  We, you and I, are needed in God’s plan to do His work, the work of getting “the lost” to a place where the Holy Spirit (with God’s Salvation) can touch their hearts.  

            God also needs a work of getting those who are Christians (but have backslidden), to a place where the Holy Spirit, (through the revival of their hearts) can lift them back to the realms of God. 

            I know there will be temptations of “The Ritz” and all the glamour of our area that will beckon you away from our meetings.  However, in our verses we are told “…God is faithful, who will…with the temptation also make a way to escape…”

            As a member of this Church, you are vitally important to the success of our Revival.  Do remember, as a member, it is YOUR Church.  It is important that YOU attend all the meetings, regardless of the outside consequences.  Faithfulness to Christ and His Church is of the utmost importance.

            So, what are you going to do?  We are “…one body…” all in Christ.  Be faithful attend.

Bro John R. E Chastain

1 Corinthians 10:13-17  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  (14)  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.  (15)  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.  (16)  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  (17)  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.