NO MORE, NO LESS

FEBRUARY 7, 2012
NO MORE, NO LESS
Don't argue, just trust and obey. God calls us to Biblical perfection. It does not mean any less than God intends and it does not mean any more than God intends.
Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

This is grace being demonstrated through self denial.

Upward And Onward In Jesus,
Pastor David L. Gould

THANK YOU FOR BEING KIND

FEBRUARY 8, 2012
THANK YOU FOR BEING KIND
Sometimes I make errors in my online postings. I appreciate those who don't get all bent out of shape when this happens and I addressed the subject on my FaceBook page. That is not really the purpose of this article today. Actually, it was the verses that I attached to my post that I wanted to share with you, since the truths are applicable in so many different situations. First I will give you the FB post and then I will give you the verses. 

FB POST
I want to thank my friends for looking beyond the mistakes and typos in my posts and seeing the meaning and message of my posts. Though your kindness seems to be a small thing, it is an indicator of a greater truth. Here are some verses that are well worth our meditation. I hope you enjoy.

(I added) I noticed something about the verses in my comment. Each verse can be read alone and still have great influence. In context they are more powerful, but if a person only read and applied one verse per day or even per week, that person's life would be lifted to a higher level. Remember, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." These verses can ignite and stir faith, they can transform and direct our thinking, our lives, our relationships. If these verses take possession of our hearts, we will be controlled, guided, empowered by the love of God.
(see comment below).

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

Ephesians 4:31-32
(31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
(32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Philippians 2:2-5
(2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
(3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
(4) 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:

Colossians 3:12-17
(12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Peter 3:8-12
(8) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
(9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
(10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
(11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
(12) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

2 Peter 1:5-11
(5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
(6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
(7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
(11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


Upward And Onward In Jesus,
 Pastor David L. Gould

LEARN IT EARLY

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

LEARN IT EARLY

Here is what I would do.

First: I would get my little ones to memorize basic Bible verses, (such as, John 3:16; Genesis 1:1; Psalm 119:9 & 11; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Timothy 4:12 and Titus 2:13-14). I would help them understand the basic meaning of each passage.

Next: As they get a little older, I would have them memorize longer passages, popular passages (such as, the Ten Commandments; Joshua 1:5-9; Psalm 1; Psalm 23; Psalm 19; the Beatitudes; Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 & 51-58; Galatians 5:13-26; Ephesians 2:1-10).

Then: I would have them review what they learned on a regular basis.

Psalms 119:11

(11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The Sooner, The Longer...

As I have gotten older, and especially since my West Nile Virus, I find it more difficult to memorize longer passages. This is partly true because I have so many more things on my mind and activities that require more time. I am guessing this is true with most people.

Anyway, my point is, people should get as much Bible memorization done when they are young.

Also, the sooner we memorize something, the longer it will serve us.

Plus, the fact that the more we memorize, the easier it is to memorize.

2 Timothy 3:15-17

(15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

(16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

(17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

There Are No Promises...

It is not always age that limits our abilities, so don't think that you have plenty of time. Do not become the victim of the old saying, "Too soon oldt, too late shmardt."

Ephesians 5:16

(16)  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Upward And Onward In Jesus,

Pastor David L. Gould

EVER FILLED?

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

EVER FILLED?

The old potato-chip commercial said, "You can't eat just one." This is true for all desires. AND... the more you have (of what you want), the more you want to have. Are you driven by your desire for God. Love Him, seek Him with your whole heart, and you shall be filled.

Upward and Onward in Jesus,

Pastor David L. Gould

ON ARNOLD MURRAY

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

ON ARNOLD MURRAY

I just met a man who is deceived by Arnold Murray, the TV religious personality, who teaches a Pre-Adamic human race; the pre-existence of souls; the Serpent Seed doctrine (the erroneous belief that the Serpent, Satan, had sexual relations with Eve, producing Cain); Satan's Seed (present day "Jews," according to Murray's false teaching) escaped flood on Noah's ark: Anglo-Israelism (the anti-Semitic belief that the "real Jews" are Anglos] ; Modalistic Monarchianism (heresy that God is not three Persons, but rather, He takes the mode or identity of three persons); Annihilationism (the false notion that the soul or essence of man ceases to exist, therefore, there is no eternal punishment); Denial of the physical resurrection; Denial of the Rapture, along with other heresies. These people are fully persuaded. So sad.

For the Record

How can people miss the clear teaching of the word of God.
*The Bible does not refer to a pre-Adamic human race.

*There was no pre-existence of souls (Mormon doctrine).

*Eve DID NOT have sex with the Serpent in the Garden of Eden (and ultimately a threesome with Adam), producing Cain.

*The Bible clearly tells us that Cain was the product of Adam and Eve. (Interesting side light; the Mormons believe that Adam sinned in order to save the human race and that he received God's blessing for his sin).

*The Jews are in the linage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah not the evil seed of the Serpent, through Eve.

*British (Anglo) Israelism is an antisemitic repudiation of the revealed word of God, and is taught by SDA and white supremacists, Identity movement.

*The Godhead is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons, but one God. Oneness has been a heresy taught since the early days of the Church (Arius and Sabellius among others).

*The Bible clearly teaches that the soul/spirit of man neither sleeps or is annihilated, as is taught by the SDA and the JWs.

*Jesus was raised physically from the dead, contrary to the JWs and we will also be raised from the dead physically. (Remember, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord).

*The order of end times events can only be literally understood if there is a pre-tribulational, pre-millennial rapture. Literal interpretation is a key issue here, which is where reformed and covenant theology errs concerning the second coming events.

Consider...
It is interesting to observe that people who follow cult leaders justify their beliefs because "Dr. Whozit says so." Whereas a Bible believer, even when he is in error, will base his beliefs on what he believes the Bible says.If we readily accept the Bible as its own interpreter and if we accept the Bible as the final and only authoritative revelation of God, we can be lead into God's truth. But if we follow men, instead of God, we may never see the truth.

Upward and Onward in Jesus,

Pastor David L. Gould

PURPLE GORILLA

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

Purple Gorilla

Now that I have said purple gorilla, and if you have thought about a purple gorilla, it will be difficult to not think about a purple gorilla, even if I tell you not to think about a purple gorilla.

Likewise, when a person has been introduced to, and saturated with, false doctrines, it is almost impossible to get that person to read the Bible without the constant presence of those false doctrines. God's truth is viewed through the grimy and distorted lenses of error.

When the church in the west abandoned, traded in, neglected and rejected the Bible and basic Christian truth, the doom of the next generation was secured. It is so difficult to win the deceived to Christ.

Upward and Onward in Jesus,

Pastor David L. Gould

COSTLY ENTANGLEMENTS

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

COSTLY ENTANGLEMENTS

Have you ever been fishing with a person who did not understand the importance of keeping his lines straight? Crossed, tangled lines can happen whether fishing from a pier, beach, anchored boat, drifting or trolling, even with the best of fishermen. However, a novice is more prone to get tangled lines. Many fish are lost or missed while you are trying to clear up the lines, not to mention the loss of equipment and valuable time.

This is true when a Christian allows false doctrine to foul his thinking. It takes time, work, sacrifice and understanding to untangle the confusion that thwarts his growth and service.

Launch Out And Hold Fast

Pastor David L. Gould