Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 242 BOCNEWS.com MARCH 2017 The True Gospel of Christ, A Hard Sell! – PT 2 During the Presidential Primary & General elec- tion process, I asked the LORD how can people accept/approve of some of the positions/rhetoric espoused by a certain candidate. I believe His response to me was: “people are not THINKING, they are being moved by their EMOTIONS.” I believe He further indicated: “It’s not just in Politics; – it’s also in His Church. – Many are driven by their Emotions, NOT by Hearing/Believing His Word of TRUTH!” It was Henry Ford that stated: - QUOTE: “THINKING is the HARDEST WORK there is, which is the prob- able reason why so few engage in it.” – END OF QUOTE. I know that Henry Ford was an automobile manufacturer, but he spoke like a true Psychological Theologian. The apostle Paul counsels his son in the Gospel – II Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.” The words "Rightly Dividing" are critical to our subject at hand. There are critical and proper divi- sions in the Scripture that we must observe in order to keep our understanding, not only of the Gospel, but of the Bible itself, in proper perspective. The word "dispensationalist" is a dirty word in many circles, but in reality, ‘Every Real’ Christian should be a “dispensationalist.” The word simply means one who recognizes that God has worked differently in the Past, and will do so in the Present & Future. There is a marked difference in how God worked in the Old Testament/Covenant as compared to the New Testament/Covenant. Even within the New Covenant, there was a progression of ‘Truth’ that culminated in the teaching of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. I often time make the statement: “Methods are many, Principles are few, Methods may change, but Biblical Principles Never Do!” Again, the apostle Paul writes: “For the time will come when people WILL NOT PUT UP WITH SOUND DOCTRINE. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the TRUTH and turn aside to myths.” II Timothy 4:3-4. - 21st Century Church - These are those times! Satan, the Devil, the Old Serpent uses our misun- derstanding/eisegesis instead of exegesis of God’s “Truth” - with the endeavor to ruin God’s reputation; but he CAN’T EVER affect the “TRUTH” of God’s Character of “LOVE.” Have you ever asked why is it when pain, suffering, misfortune and tragedy happens, the first question many ask [sometime believers], “Where is God???” “IF God is a God of Love, then Why ____ ____…???” It simply shows a lack of understanding of God and the revelation of His “TRUTH.” God is the God of Love, “GOD IS LOVE!” I John 4:8. Yet, He is a God that respects/hon- ors our decisions/choices. Having read and studied Ephesians 4:30 – “do not Grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” I remember asking God, how can we mere mortals “Grieve” You, Who is the Eternal/Self Existing ONE? I believe He declared to me, “Because I CARE!” If He didn’t ‘Care,’ we could not Grieve Him. Hallelujah! Most, I suppose, of us have read Luke 1:30-38, where the angel tells Mary about the baby she will have. I have probably read that Scripture annually for over 40 years at Christmas time. Only a few years ago, the LORD caused me to give ‘Greater’ thought/consideration to her response: “Let it be to me according to your word.” And the LORD made known to me, “It was Consensual. I did not force it on her, she gave her consent.” He further indicated, “He wants to do more for His Children today, but they must give their consent.” I can hear someone saying: “okay preacher-man, if we’re not ‘ALL’ promised/guaranteed Health, Wealth and Happiness in this world as Christians, what do we get out of IT???” You just answered your own question: “We GET OUT OF IT!” Jesus promised He was going away to prepare a place for us, that where He resides, we would be there as well. As a Christian, we are pilgrims and strangers in this world, we’re Heavenly citizens. God has a Plan for us To Get Out Of This World – because it’s doomed to destruction! I hear one of the old songs [songs that use-to-cause our Hearts to move – Not our hipsJ] City called heaven …, I want to make it, Lord help me to make it, to that City called heaven somewhere.” The late Andrae Crouch sang a song before his passing: “If you want to know, Where I'm going? Where I'm going, soon. If anybody ask you, Where I'm going, Where I'm going soon. I'm goin' up yonder, I'm goin' up yonder, I'm goin' up yonder. To be with my Lord. I can take the pain, - The heartaches they bring, - The Comfort in knowing I'll soon be gone - As God gives me Grace, I'll run this race, Until I see my Savior face to face. I'm goin' up yonder, I'm goin' up yonder, I'm goin' up yonder, To be with my Lord. Conclusion for now: Is the Christian life ONLY about Suffering, Pain, Persecution, Hunger, Sorrow, having Lack …? NO!!!!!!! Neither is it ONLY about Health, Wealth and Happiness!!! God promises to always be with His Children. Psalm 34:15 “The EYES of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His EARS are open to their CRY,” - We Gonna cry sometime! 1 Corinthians 10:13“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is com- mon to man: but God is faithful, who Will Not Suffer (allow) 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.” I John 4:4-7“Ye are of God, little chil- dren, and Have overcome Them: because Greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore, speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of TRUTH, and the Spirit of ERROR. …” Does God Heal today, does He Make Provisions for His Own today? YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! However, the Totality of the “Curse” of Genesis 3 hasn’t been Completely removed. Much of creation is yet under the “Curse.” “We know that the WHOLE CREATION has been GROANING as in the PAINS of childbirth right up to the Present Time” Romans 8:22. Our physical bodies [made of earth] are yet under the “Curse.” That’s why we get sick and die. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death.” I Corinthians 15:36. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your Hearts on THINGS ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on THINGS ABOVE, not on earthly things. For you died, and YOUR LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. When Christ, who is your LIFE, appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) Hal-le-lu-jah! The first rule of Bible Study: 1. Who’s speaking? 2. To whom it’s Spoken? 3. What time or Dispensation? 4. Why? If we apply this rule of Bible Study, we’ll not find ourselves so easily traveling down the road of Theological ERROR. There may be those who are questioning: who does this preacher think he is or where is he trying to go? I say like John the baptizer: “I am a voice in the wil- derness/desert, preparing the way for the coming of the LORD!” JEHOVAH- ZIDKENU – Jehovah our Righteousness By Al R. Combs, Founder / Pastor CCAI Al R Combs SCRIPTURE Does God Heal today, does He Make Provisions for His Own today? YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!