THE STUMBLING BLOCK

Hello believers. Everyone believes in something...even if it is nothing. An atheist believes in the great nothingness...the intellectual believes he has got it all figured out. The agnostic would like to believe but can't quite get there from here. Humanism believes...well...in humans. Liberals believe we owe it to everyone... while conservatives believe we owe it to ourselves. Religious people believe we must work our way to God by convincing Him that we are worthy. Hedonist believe in self-gratification is the ultimate belief. Inclusionist believes that all roads lead to heaven...Jesus believes that He is THE way...THE truth...and THE life...and that NO ONE comes to the Father but by/through HIM. The Welfare state believes that their hand is out...and you need to fill it. The non-Welfare state believes that you need to get off your good intentions and help yourself. Politico's believe that the politician has the solution...the non-politician believes that politics means poly=many...ticks=blood suckers. Many people believe Christianity is like a buffet table... and we pick what we want to believe and add to the table what we want on the menu.

In the words of Wayne Gregg..."You guys are making it too hard."


As we enter into the final days of this Lenten season...preparing for the grand entrance of Palm Sunday...that will quickly turn deadly as they mock, torture, flog to a bloody pulp, pull out his beard by their hands, grind long and sharp thorns into His brow, drive a spear into His side, and then wait as the agonizing death comes... and as He dies...and is buried...and is RAISED FROM THE DEAD...let's consider what the GOSPEL is...and what the GOSPEL is not.

Gospel simply means...the GOOD NEWS. It was something that Paul was not ashamed of...because it was the POWER OF GOD...for SALVATION...to the Jew first...and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

This good news...was good news about a KINGDOM...a place where there is a king...and kingdom principles rules. When Jesus went about...He (1) Taught in their synagogues (2) Proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom (3) Healed all manner of sickness and disease. (Matthew 4:23; 9:25; 11:5)...based on the anointing of the Holy Ghost and power...where He went about (1) Doing good (2) Healing all who were oppressed by the devil (little d)...for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)



The gnostics...anti-Christ/Anointing...the religious people of the day...all had their spin on this thing called the GOSPEL. The gnostic's believed: (1) Knowledge is superior to virtue (2)the non literal sense of Scripture is correct and can be understood ONLY by a select few (which you probably not) (3) evil in the world precludes God's being the only Creator (4) the INCARNATION (Jesus/God coming down in flesh form) is incredible because DEITY cannot unite itself with anything material such as a body (5) there is NO RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH. The ethical standards of many Gnostics were low. (Thanx and a Tip O' Da Hat to Ryrie Study Bible Notes to Ist John)

There ain't nothin' new under the sun...unless it is under THE SON. Gnosticism with deep roots in the spirit of anti-Christ...run deep in this world as they DENY THAT JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH. (Read Ist John to see how you can KNOW that you have eternal life.)

This thing called the CROSS stumbles up many an intellectual. "For the WORD OF THE CROSS...is to those who are PERISHING foolishness...but to us who are being SAVED it is the POWER OF GOD. (I Corinthians 1:18).
(Read I Corinthians 1:17-30 for full details of thes thing called THE SCANDILON...THE STUMBLING BLOCK.)

The gospel ain't WORKS...or DEEDS done in righteousness (See Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 3:1-5)...but that does not mean that you get to sit back on your best intentions...(Ephesians 2:10; James 1:19-27; James 2:14-26). Works don't save you...but you do get saved unto works. The GOSPEL ain't what you do or don't do. It ain't about how good you are or what you gave up or how much you gave to the poor.

Back to my friend Wayne Gregg...who told the Mormon council..."You guys are making it too hard."

"For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son...that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

"Now I make known to you...brethren...the GOSPEL which I preached to you...which also you RECEIVED...in which also you STAND...by which also you are SAVED...IF...you HOLD FAST the word which I preached to you, unless you BELIEVED in vain. For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE...what I also received that...(1) Christ DIED for our sins (2) He was BURIED (3) He was RAISED on the 3rd day. (I Corinthians 1-4) This was witnessed by Cephas/Peter, the twelve, to more than 500 brethren, to James, to all the apostles...and last of all to Paul.

All of this was based on GRACE. Grace is: (1) favor (2) unmerited favor (3) free gift (4) the divine influence in the heart manifested in the life of the believer. Grace is always and inside out working that changes you...never you changing hoping it will change the inside. It is like religion that is always reaching up to God...while Christianity is God reaching down to man.

"FOR CHRIST ALSO DIED FOR SINS ONCE FOR ALL, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD, HAVING BEEN PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH, BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT." (I Peter 3:18)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

CALL: He is Risen
RESPONSE: He is Risen...INDEED!!!!

Love and non-ashamed kisses
Rodney "Don't Stumble Over The Stone" Boyd

TOP TEN REASONS ROD DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009

Greetings all ye who deem themselves to be self-sufficient. Here it is...2009... another year where we can survive on our own. No need for God...since we consider ourselves to be gods. We are the master of our fates...our destiny is in our hands...the world (the corporate and personal0 is just fine. With that in mind...here they are....THE TOP TEN REASONS....ROD...DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009.

DISCLAIMER: For those unaware....this is a tongue in cheek poke at those who think it is all about...them.

So.............with out further adue...let us proceed.

This was originally posted to my wall on FACEBOOK.



#10 I subscribe to the BOOT STRAP THEOLOGY...where I pull up MY OWN boot straps...so I don't owe nuttin' to nobody...including God. I am a self-made man.

#9 I am a follower of Frank Sinatra...so let's all turn to page 245 in our ME BOOKS...and sing all three verses of I DID IT MYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WAY.

#8 Jesus may be Lord, MASTER and Saviour...but I've got MASTERcard, Discover, and American Express to meet my needs according to the debt cycle of the world. I am my Lord/Boss/One in control... Master...and Saviour of myself.

#7 When you are as intellectual as I am...you don't need God. After all...I have come to the conclusion that THERE IS NO GOD...so I can't need help from what is not real. NOTE: Atheist...intellectuals...and agnostics..."spiritual" people may not believe in God...but God sure does believe in them...enough to allow His Son to die on a cross in their place.

#6 I don't really need God...because I've got all my ducks in a row with my 401K, stocks, investments, etc. After all...WALL STREET IS LORD...and as long as WALL STREET is stable...I don't need God.

#5 I will need God...when the world gets bad enough. So far...so good. NOTE: Sometimes you got to stink enough...where even you can't stand your funky smell.




NOTE: We are have way to the # 1 reason. Let's here a word from our sponsor...the RUMINATORS. If you are in the Smyrna and surrounding area...stop by on Wednesday nights...for a JOURNEY through the ONE YEAR BIBLE...RUMINATOR STYLE. Email me for more information. And now back to our exciting adventure of TOP TEN REASONS ROD DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009.

#4 Why do I need God...I've got a wife who tells me what to do. Instead of saying YES LORD...all I have to do is say YES DEAR.

# 3 God is for sinners...and I don't sin. My armpits don't stink either. I am a pristine individual...PRAISE ROD.

EMERGENCY SPIRITUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM: Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.... this is a test...it is only a test...in the event of a real SPIRITUAL CRISIS...you would have been notified to fall on your knees and repent of your self-sufficiency.
#2 God is for losers...and I am a WINNER...or that's what all the positive thinker gurus tell me. All I have to do is awaken the giant within me...confess over and over that I am all I need...become a magnet for good things...do good works...and all of my needs will be met according to the riches in myself.


COMMERCIAL BREAK: Are you tired of being tempted...enticed to evil...pulled away from who you really are? Are you weary of trying to do the right thing... and still missing the mark. Are you fed up with walking in the flesh and experiencing the same old habits and being tied up and bound again, and again, and again? Is that what's troubling you Boopie? Well.........HAVE I GOT A CLASS FOR YOU. On Sunday mornings at Smyrna Assembly at 9:00 CST...you can join the rest of the HERD....for the new teaching series called HOW TO DEAL WITH TEMPTATION, SIN and the FLESH. If you can't make it...you can email Ramblin' Rod and request a copy of the workbook...that will be sent to you via email attachment...for the low, low price of FREE.

And now...we return for the conclusion of TOP TEN REASONS ROD DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009.

And the #1 reason...Rod does not need God in 2009.....

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME BABY...IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See ya next time...for the TOP TEN REASONS.......

Love and RodMEy Kisses
Rodney "As The Deer Panteth For The Waters So My Soul Thirsts After Thee" Boyd