CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
Greetings to all from America’s heartland. Spring is us here in full force. The grass is greening, the trees are budding and the robins are returning so it must be spring. I will also at this time ask forgiveness for the tardiness of this. I have sat down many times and began writing and the Lord has not seen fit to allow me to write, so please forgive me and I will attempt to labor on.
As I pondered this quarters Corner, I went back and read some of the past articles. I have written many times of the need of one being saved. I have attempted writing using real world examples as illustrations of how and why one needs to be saved. Today I will touch on this one more time. There are some who find offence with my directness and that does bother me at times as we all crave acceptance from our peers. But, I would rather offend you on this side than to answer to a Holy God on the other side as to why I didn’t fulfill my responsibility to share the gospel.
Buchanan Avenue Baptist Church is where I attend. Last night we completed special meeting on Baptist heritage. God saw fit to come down and really bless in our services. The music was provided by Evangelist/Singer Brother Doug Ramage from North Carolina and the preaching was provided by Pastor Dolton Robertson of Alabama. God used these men mightily to move on the hearts of our people. Praise His name. People must understand where they come from before they can fully understand who they are. My only wish is that I had heard this kind of preaching 30 years ago when first saved, than in the last ten, since attending where I do now.
I have written before of Jesus Christ being a man’s man, but I read a recent article on the internet stating that too many Christian men are wimps. There was a large rally to train Christian men to be strong. I was appalled by this. We are to use Christ as our example as we walk the pathway of life. Training like this will pump up the flesh and cause us to be more abrasive, but what is it really to be a man’s man and be meek. The only place today where you will find this training is in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church. The bible is full of men of tremendous character who were used greatly of God, that were meek. Meek does not equal weak. Meekness is power under control. In this application, I am talking about the power of the Holy Ghost. Let me clarify one thing right here. I am not talking about speaking in tongues. Tongues ceased when the Apostles past off of the scene. If you believe in speaking in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you are in error.
Now with that out of the way let’s continue our discussion of meekness. Our example in this text is Jesus Christ. Matthew 21 will be our text.
Mat 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
Mat 21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
Mat 21:3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
Mat 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (compare with Zechariah 9:9)
Mat 21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
Mat 21:7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
Mat 21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
Mat 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Mat 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? Many call this the triumphal entry but don’t miss the question. These people were all gaga over something going on and didn’t even know who he is.
Mat 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. They didn’t recognize the man Jesus, the Jews promised Messiah. They were looking to a coming King who would free them from the rule of Rome, not this meek one.
Mat 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Don’t miss this. He walked into the Jewish temple and cleaned it out. Does this sound like some Marvin milk toast? No it was this God/man Jesus. Who was completely under control of the Holy Spirit and commanded authority over these ones who were making gain in ‘His’ house. What do you think would happen if Jesus walked into one of his houses today and found the bingo games going on or bake sales or rummage sales or……….. you fill in the blank. God has expectation of what is to occur in His house and it has become a refuge of iniquity. We have ordained women, and allowed homosexuals to be ordained. We have allowed the destruction of countless lives through pedophilia. And the people sleep on, to their own destruction.
Mat 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
Mat 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, Jesus had just healed a multitude and these stiff necked priests and scribes were sore displeased. Why? Because he had removed their money pit.
Mat 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Mat 21:17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
Mat 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
We will drop down to verse 23.
Mat 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? You must see the brazen attitude of these as they come and confront Jesus as he teaches. He is not one of them. He is not an learned man. They feared him, and were desperately attempting to discredit him in front of the people. The very ones who provided their living.
Mat 21:24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? These were the very ones who had spiritual responsibility for the Jews, and they were no more than schemers. We have all heard that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is corruption to its rotten core, and it still goes on today. Many hirelings stand behind the pulpits of America and tickle the ears of the congregation and it has caused this nation to become rotten to the very core. II Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Mat 21:26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
Mat 21:27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
I trust you are able to appreciate the way Jesus handled things in our text. He is a man’s man and one who will stick closer that a brother. He walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his very own. He has effected a change in my life that has been nothing short of a miracle. He has seen fit to heal me of many hurtful things and he isn’t done yet. I have a long ways to go, but I know he will continue to peal layer after layer of damage from me, if I am willing.
The first coming of Jesus was that of a humble servant. His second coming will be that of a conquering King. At the end of the tribulation when he mounts that white stallion and rides down to earth with his army and plants his feet on the Mount of Olives. Time is very short right now. The next prophetic event is the rapture of the church.
I read on the unit’s website where someone had suggested reunions at a more frequent interval since we are all getting a little long in the tooth. I concur with the statement of becoming older and so does my aching joints. We are all running on grace and we are sustained by a loving God. But there will come a time in the not so distant future when we will be visited by the death angel. Many who read this can remember back to RVN and recount the times when for no logical reason we survived a close encounter with the enemy. If you were like me, I thought it was because I was such a good soldier. As I look back, I have to humble myself to the fact that it was God’s love for me that brought me through.
During my Christian walk I have made many errors. I have tried to share the gospel to others as it was brought to me many years ago. I have learned through these last years that it isn’t about me, it is all about Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life and no man cometh unto the Father but by him. I have been told many times that he is just the way of many to get to heaven. I would be remiss if I didn’t refute that notion. The scripture above is proof. I have also asked many if they died today, would they go to heaven. Some answered I sure hope so. My Jesus does not give a hope so salvation. He gives us a know so salvation. I can take you to the very place where Jesus saved me. If you can’t do that or are trusting in your infant baptism, catechism, church membership or just doing the best you can well my Ranger/LRRP brother, you are not going to fulfill the requirements. John 3:3 is where Jesus tells Nicodemus, “you must be born again”. The bible tells us that today is the day of your salvation. What will you do with Jesus? The bible says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, that Jesus is Lord. You have but one chance while you are here on planet earth. Once you die it will be too late, but you will still bow and confess Him as Lord. But, it will be too late for you and it will occur just prior to him smiting you into an eternal hell. You do not have to end up in hell as He awaits you today.
Thanks to all and if you have any questions please call or write. RLTW
I wanted to take this time to thank those who have prayed for my wife, Dawn, who has been rehabbing from double knee replacement. She has had quite a battle these last couple of months, but she is doing much better.
I would also appreciate prayer for my youngest son, Caleb. Some of you may remember him from past reunions he has attended. He is finishing up his training at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. He has been assigned to the 1st ID at Ft Riley, KS. He will complete his training on 20 April and come home for 17 days with the likelihood of deploying shortly thereafter. He is an Arabic linguist and works in MI, so we know what and where. He is born again so we have that assurance, but it is still difficult to see him deploy. I have a nephew, Spc Michael Jeptha Breece, in Iraq right now on his second tour with the 1st Cav. So those of you, who are of a mind to, please pray for him. He is not saved and has been in the thick of things many times.
I will not be able to attend the reunion this time. This is two in a row and it really grieves me. With the expenses incurred with Dawn’s surgery and Caleb’s leave time being so precious I can’t see my being able to come. Please know that my heart will be with you in Florida. RLTW
Thanks,
Norm