But God Be Thanked

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:17).

In the past we were all servants of sin. Without God (and usually unaware of it) our lives were steered by self serving needs and lusts. The doctrine and designs of those without God are rooted in gratification. It is carnality at its most primitive level, curbing appetites only to stay within civil law and some self established moral standard. Striving to be independent and self-sufficient, not realizing we were nothing more than servants of sin.

“but ye have obeyed from the heart”. This is the difference between two people. Both do the same thing. Both go to church, tithe, read the Bible and help other people the best they can. One person does it out of obligation, from a code of justice and principle, some cosmic scale of weights and balances. This person believes that if they do enough good things and enough righteous things then the scales will tip in their favor and will gain entrance into heaven. Their deeds have a purpose and it is to secure their place in the kingdom of God. This is a stressed out person because they will never know exactly how much good is good enough to get into heaven. How much good is required to tip the scales? And human nature being what it is, if there was a certain amount of good to counter balance the bad, then the minimum amount of good would be done to get into heaven. After all, why keep exerting the effort to do good if you don’t have to, right?

The other person is obedient to God from the heart, their very spirit. They do because they want to do for God. Their reward is the expression of love and compassion for his fellow man and in pleasing God the Father.

Obedience is not a matter of will or calculation. It is a natural outflow from our being. This all comes about when the Spirit of God quickens our spirit. We become aware of the Holy Ghost and the love that God has for us. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This love generates our desire to do for God and for His creation. We understand that, “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

The Holy Ghost is the gift from God as a result of Christ and the price he paid on the cross. To be filled with the spirit of Christ is to know that He paid the ultimate price for all of our sins. Christ did it, it is done. We just have to accept him as our Savior.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9).

The children of God have the spirit of Christ in them. They responded to the spirit when it quickened them. It is this spirit that, “beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

To receive the Holy Ghost, the spirit of Jesus Christ, of truth and of comfort is a simple matter of asking. If we believe in Jesus Christ and ask him and his spirit into our heart and mean it with all of our heart, mind, body and soul then he will enter.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Won’t you ask Christ and His spirit into your heart?

Bill Hitchcock
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When Does Life Begin? The Biblical Answer

There really is no adequate way to describe how fantastic what you’re about to read truly is. Tucked away in Psalm 139 are two verses that are just inconceivably written. If not for God, there is no explanation of how anyone could know the inner workings and mechanics of an embryo and a baby in the mother’s womb. But this Psalm demonstrates that God does. When does life begin and what part does God have in it all? You’re about to find out.

Psalm 139: 15) “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”

My substance was not hid from thee. My bones to which my strength is built upon are evident to you Lord as you fashioned me within the mother’s womb.

“Curiously wrought” or the Hebrew, “raqam“, literally means embroidered or needlework. It brings to mind imagery of God weaving and stitching our bones and body together into an intricate fabric as perfect and beautiful as it is particular and unique.

To highlight the great significance of the phrase “Curiously wrought” or “raqam“, as it is being used to describe God making a baby, the only other time raqam is ever used in the Bible is when the Lord is speaking to Moses on how to make the Tabernacle of the Congregation (God’s portable residence), The Holy of Holies (The tabernacles inner sanctum) or the Holy clothes to be worn by the High Priest Aaron. The one exception is here, when the Psalmist is describing God creating a child in the mother’s womb.

“The lower parts of the earth” is Hebraism, a poetic way of saying within the mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:16) “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect.” God saw us and knew us when we were nothing more than an embryo. Not shaped or formed and as of yet, unknown to the world. But God already knew us.

“My substance, yet being unperfect” comes from the single word, “golem”. It literally means unformed matter that is rolled up into a ball, or by definition, an embryo.

The term used of God creating a child is a term that is reserved solely for God’s most Holy of holiest creations. The Bible describes God seeing and knowing us when we are just an embryo and then writing our names in the Book of Life.

“Seeing that thou didst know me before I was composed of either flesh or bone, much more now must thou know me when thou hast fashioned me,” commentary from the 1599 Geneva Bible.

God knew us before we were even conceived of matter.

Dear abortionists. You are killing what God has created and already claimed as His. You may be destroying God’s precious needlework, but the name of the child has already been written in the Book of Life and its soul will live on forever.

Bill Hitchcock

Your Voice Comes From Your Spirit

You know, it doesn’t really matter what you say or how you intellectualize it. Your voice is coming from your spirit, not your head. Oh, your brain justifies what is coming out of your mouth. But the source is your spirit.

Jesus said, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).
The heart (Spirit) is where your convictions originate. The mouth is the final destination. But the path of your convictions passes through the brain along the way.

Your principles, precepts and beliefs come from your spirit. The brain simply justifies that spirit.

With that being said, beware of two things.
1) Be in tune to the spirit of the person you are with. The spirit is the rudder that will guide the ship. Watch where they go.
2) Now here’s a biggy. A spiritually deficient person may be an intellectual superior. Do not engage.
“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall” (Proverbs 4:14-16).

And finally, although the spirit goes from the heart, through the brain to the mouth. The opposite happens too. What is said can reach down to our very spirit.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8)

As Christians, we are to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

God’s word quickens the spirit and invigorates the soul. The mind justifies through the word of God and not by the philosophy of man or his “vain jangling”.

The power of God’s word is in our faith in that word. That faith comes from our awakened spirit. The spiritually deficient or dead have no such quickening or faith, only intellect.

One final thought about intellect
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).

The word “seek” from the passage above comes from the Greek word “zeteo”. It means to think or to reason.

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Those void of the spirit of God but full of intellect and philosophy will not be able to enter the strait gate.

Bill Hitchcock

Overtaken In A Fault

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)

“Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to faultfinding.” - Corrie Ten Boom

Discernment is the ability to perceive, recognize, and distinguish God’s word and way in contrast with that of the worlds. This God given ability of discernment is intended for us to use with others when we see them burdened and weighted with unrighteousness.

Not everyone can or should intercede with others. The Apostle Paul clarifies and defines that discernment and intercession belong to, “ye which are spiritual”. There are a couple of things to keep in mind as to who the “spiritual” is. Paul isn’t talking about those who claim to be “spiritual” and “one with the universe”.

When Paul speaks of “spiritual” he is referring to those who are in the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Christ is in them. Anything that is truly of this spirit is true, righteous, and eternal. The temporal is temporary and of this earth and will surely perish.

Paul and Corrie Ten Boom are both telling the Christian of their responsibility and obligation to discern righteousness from unrighteousness and to help “restore”, or bring the righteous back to righteousness after a fall. Corrie addresses the carnal side of the Christian by saying do not use this ability to find fault in the fallen (See Matthew 7:1-5). Paul warns that we need to be careful not to fall for the same sins our Christian brother or sister did.

There is a difference between discernment and judgment. Discernment is as we defined it earlier, a recognizing and detecting righteousness from unrighteousness. Judgement does this as well but adds the element of administering condemnation and punishment. The latter is strictly in God’s domain.

Discernment is a Christian responsibility. It is up to us to recognize “if a man be overtaken in a fault”. 

We are to make aware of the sin of a brother in love and, “never to faultfinding”. The Christian in a right relationship with Christ should respond positively to this. After-all, this is an act of love. The reason why anyone would want to restore another is to save them from death and destruction. You don’t want them hurt or to dead.  

Bill Hitchcock

This Is Our Church Service

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

“Pure” free from any and all admixture of what is sinful and false.

“Religion” is a reference to an external religion or ceremony. According to the theologian Richard Trench, “The writer (James) purposely uses the word (religion) to set in contrast that which is unreal and deceptive”.

“Pure religion” is speaking on the deeds and practices of the Christian religion that are true and Godly.

The Greek word for “fatherless” is “orphanos”, and is where we get the word “orphan”.

“To visit”-means to check up on and to look out for, to assure one's welfare, condition, and status.

“In their affliction”. In a literal sense, affliction means pressure and spiritual burdens. Affliction can be both spiritual and physical, it’s anything dealing with anguish, tribulation, troubles, and distress.

Let’s step back for a moment and look at what James is saying. The true Christian religion is to take care of the orphaned and widowed. This is the true “ceremony” of our religion. Forget your smoke, chimes, watering your forehead, genuflecting, etc. Our religion demands that we enter the world and help the orphans and widows. And of course all the while we are out and about in the world practicing our religion we are to keep our self, “unspotted from the world”.

How wonderful. We are to bring our religion out from the four walls of the church and practice it out in the world and, “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. But this is true and pure Christianity. This is how we can be Christ-like. This is our church service and our, “religious ceremony”.

Maybe if we practiced what we preached we wouldn’t have states like New York instituting abortion laws that are nothing but a license to kill children.

Bill Hitchcock

The Politically Correct Culture

The PC culture does not take responsibility for their own feelings. When they get hurt or offended the PC’ers expect someone else to take care of their own personal emotional pains. No one can make anyone feel anything. What we feel is totally dependent upon our self and how we react to external stimulus.

In addition, the PC culture defines things as they want to define them and not necessarily as they are

or intended to be. Where in the above example they do not take control of their own emotions, here the PC’ers attempt to control the situation to the point of altering and changing what it is completely.

For example, at the present moment, PC’ers are greatly hurt and offended by the red Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats. The desire for American prosperity has hurt their feelings. In addition, the PC’ers are redefining the hat by saying it is the same thing as the KKK’s white pointy hoods. None of these things are real. All are figments of the PC’ers imagination, but they expect the hat wearers to change so as to heal their (PC’er) imaginary plight and condition.

Bill Hitchcock

It’s Not About The Candidates

You do realize that the presidential candidate doesn’t matter. The 2020 election is about Socialism. The Democratic Party wants Socialism. Everyone else doesn’t. The only difference between their candidates is the urgency and expediency in which they intend to institute it in totality.

Who the candidate is isn’t the issue. Oh you may be able to relate to one candidate better than the other. But the end goal is all the same for the Democrats. Socialism.

We’ve been spoon fed Socialism for decades. Inch by inch, anything is a cinch. Yard by yard it’s hard. But we’ve eaten enough of it to where Socialism is now palatable. Hold on America. Socialism is getting ready to be served to us as the main course.

Socialism is evil. It’s a sin. Do you know who the biggest enemy of Jesus Christ was while He walked the earth? Government, both civil and religious. Why? Because these types of totalitarian governments require you to serve them explicitly. Socialism and Communism demands that it be government and you. There is no room for God. We see it happening at this very moment where in communist China, Christianity is being abolished.

In the book, “Death by Government” we find out that approximately 110 million people were murdered by socialist/communist democide from 1900 to 1987. Think people. In 87 years a 110 million people were murdered by the type of government the Democratic Party is trying to institute here in America.

No, the presidential (and other) elections are not about the candidates. Although they will try to make it about candidates, their personalities, their histories and their (believe or not) their morals. The candidates will micro-focus on specific issues, usually something they promise to give to you.

But all of that is part of the sleight of hand to misdirect you from the real issue. It’s all about Socialism.

Bill Hitchcock 

The Influence Of The Holy Ghost On Our Ability To Think

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)

That’s the real question. What will a man give in exchange for his soul? The spirit and soul of righteousness or the carnal nature of sin.

Here’s the problem. The spirit, encased in a carnal, fleshy shell, has to suffer the influences of sin in the skin and battle with its whims of lust and desire. These things contradict and confound the spirit and soul.

Will and reason faithfully serve whichever is in control, be it our righteous spirit or sinful self. Fortunately for the elect, “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:26). The Spirit of Christ mingles with our spirit. It quickens our spirit and soul and awakens us to the truth.

Do we choose the Holy Ghost? No.

Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you” (John 15:16)

Without the influx and the influence of the Holy Ghost, we would all surely burn in Hell.

No man can win the battle of life and death without the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

Now I’ll leave you to decide. Do you have free will? Yes. Do you have a free choice? Yes. But this must be understood. No man can overcome sin on his own. Sin controls your thoughts and actions.

Without the Holy Ghost quickening us to the truth, we would never be able to see or know the truth. The ability to think clearly and choose would be lost on us.

The Holy Ghost is a gift from God given to whomever He sees fit to give it to. Not all are of the elect. Not all are chosen.

“That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:38)

“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Bill Hitchcock 

I Command Love

"These things I command you, that ye love one another."

(John 15:17)

This is probably one of the most overlooked verses by Jesus. We all know the part of the Great Commandment as described by Jesus that we are to love our neighbor as our self (Matthew 22:36-40). That message is a description, a telling of what the Great Commandment is. But what Jesus says here in John is different.

"These things I command you, that ye love one another." Jesus makes it crystal clear. This is not a statement, a goal, a desired end. This is a straightforward commandment. We as Christians do not have an option or say in the matter. To love one another is a direct order. It is a command to be done. This is not up for discussion or debate.

But a point of clarity is needed. How do you turn on the emotion of love and love someone you may not know or even like? The answer is simple. You don’t, you can’t, and Jesus isn’t asking us to.

The word love is transliterated from the Greek, “agapeo”. Most folks define it as Godly love, which is correct, but really doesn’t explain what it is and what is involved with it. Agapeo isn’t the emotional type of love that we presently think of when we hear the word. In fact, the Greeks defined love in a multitude of ways, with each form of love dealing with a specific circumstance. For example, there is a love felt and expressed for a friend. There’s a different type of love felt and expressed for a family member, there’s one for a spouse, an object, there’s a different type of love regarding sex, and so.

The love that Jesus commanded us all to have and express to our neighbor and to each other is a type of love that is concerned with the welfare for another. This type of love is concerned with their well-being, of having their basic needs met spiritually, materially and emotionally.

Agapeo type of love really doesn’t require any feeling of emotional love towards another, but can certainly be the catalyst for it to develop.

To love another and our neighbor as our self simply means being available and amenable to the care and support of their well-being. This actually leads us to dive deeper into self. For to give, we must first have. Jesus wants us to be able to aid in the welfare of another to the level of our self. What is that level? What do we have to give? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not necessarily speaking in terms of material wealth. But spiritually and emotionally, where are we? This I know; those weak in the spirit will be weak in the concern of their fellow man and will be weak in giving of them self. Is this why we don’t just automatically help each other? Is this perhaps why Jesus made loving another a commandment and not just a suggestion of a good idea? Non-emotional and non-sexual love does not come naturally for fallen man. So for us to give agapeo love, we first have to get it and where do you think we get this love from?

 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8).

Get God, Get love, then we can give that love to another.

Bill Hitchcock

Weightier Matters Of The Law

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23)

Woe is a very strong word that expresses great grief. It is used to denounce someone in the strongest possible terms. It should never be taken lightly. Jesus is obviously very upset with the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus goes on to call them hypocrites. The word hypocrite, or the Greek, “hypokrites” was originally the name for an actor, a stage player. During this time period, it was common for actors to wear a variety of masks during the course of a performance. Each mask would depict a different mood and character. Later the term for actor, or hypocrite was applied to people who presented a false self, or a “mask”, to the world for the appearance of virtue and holiness. This is why Jesus is so upset.

The scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders and religious elite, were taking an easy route. Although they were tithing of their abundance, and no question the proper amount, it was something that in real and practical terms meant nothing to them. This was no sacrifice for these religious leaders, nor a true display of God’s value to them. They probably could have tithed ten times the amount and financially it still would have meant nothing to them. In short, tithing was no biggy.

Jesus explains what we are talking about when He was in the synagogue watching people tithe.

Jesus witnessed a poor widow tithe 2 mites (one mite equals 1/5 of a cent), which was all the money she had. Jesus called His disciples over to Him and said, “That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:43-44).

The scribes and Pharisees gave a portion of their abundance. The widow gave God her all. Which do you think demonstrated greater faith and love towards God?

But onto the “weightier matters of the law”. The important things of spirit, obedience, love, holiness, and virtue. The things that God commanded, the way of life as prescribed by the Bible, the scribes and Pharisees had neglected.

As a sidebar, notice the first thing Jesus mentions as one of the “weightier matters of the law”. It is judgment. The same holds true of the Mark telling of the event (Mark 12:43-44). Too many people today still glean onto “Judge not” from Matthew 7:1 and believe that judgment is a bad thing. Without judgment, there can be no discernment of truth. Judgment is vital and necessary. This is not the place for a complete discussion on the subject of judgment, but I would encourage everyone to read and understand Mathew 7:1-5.

“Judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done” and the Mark version of the event adds, “and the love of God”. The scribes and Pharisees failed in their religion. What they did do, tithe required very little of them. But these religious leaders enjoyed all of the praise, admiration, and platitudes that came with their station. And Jesus was very mad about it all.

These events give cause for each of us to judge our self. Are we good Christians? Do we go to church services regularly and tithe from our abundance? But are we leading the life of a Christian? Are we putting on airs as if we are? Do we love God with all of our heart, might, soul, spirit, and strength and love our neighbor as our self?

Are practicing what we preach?

Are we a hypocrite or a child of God?

Bill Hitchcock

Edge of the Sword

Maybe it’s just me, but at least it is an interesting observation.

The phrase, “edge of the sword” appears a total of 34 times throughout the entire Bible. What is interesting is the word “edge”. “Edge” is transliterated from the Old Testament Hebrew, “Peh” and from the New Testament Greek, “Stoma”.  But both Peh and Stoma by definition mean “mouth” and not “edge”. So instead of the phrase being the “edge of the sword”, it should more accurately read, “mouth of the sword”. Now why is this significant?

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” (Revelation 19:15)

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:21)

The sword is the word of God, which proceeds out of the mouth of God. Anytime you see the phrase “edge of the sword” in the Bible, you can invariably replace it with “the word of God” and the statement makes equal to or greater sense.

Which brings to mind the following verse from Hebrews and bests explains the phrase, “edge of the sword”.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Bill Hitchcock

Give Not That Which Is Holy

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matthew 7:6)

Some folks take a more literal reading of this verse. When Jesus says, “Give not that which is holy…” they think in terms of things, like the bread and wine of the Holy sacrament of the Eucharist. Don't give Holy things to sinners and apostates.

But a careful examination of the New Testament shows the Greek word for holy, “hagios” is almost always in reference to the Holy Ghost or to a person. In fact, often times the word hagios is transliterated into English as being “saint” when talking about a follower of Christ.

For example, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?” (1 Corinthians 6:1). The word saint comes from the Greek, “hagios”.

With that in mind, is Jesus suggesting that we are to keep the Holy Ghost and Christian’s away from the “dogs” and the “swine” and all of the evil that's in the world?

No, of course not.

The great commission as given by Christ which concludes the Book of Matthew states that we are to:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus commands us, (this is not a suggestion) to spread His Holy Word, to teach it to everyone and to baptize people in the name of the Holy Trinity.

We are commanded to engage the world with Christ and to baptize them into salvation of those who freely and willingly accept Christ as their Savior.

But with that said, the Bible is very clear as to whom we are to associate with.

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

But let Matthew 7:6 serve as a warning, a preparatory bit of advice, if you will. Do not be surprised or dismayed when you bring something Holy to someone if they attempt to rend you or trample you underfoot. The devil will always react adversely and usually quickly to anything Holy.

Jesus has the answer.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” (Matthew 10:14)

Shake their sinful dust off of you and keep on keepin’ on!

Bill Hitchcock

Moses and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here's an interesting parallel between Moses and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both Moses and King go to the mountain top, view the Promised Land and then die.

MOSES

From the last chapter of Deuteronomy.

“And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 34: 1-5)

DR. KING

The following is from the transcript of the very end of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I've Been to the Mountaintop”

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!

And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!” -END-

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated the very next day.

Both Moses and King, “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” (Hebrews 11:13-14).

Please do not misinterpret my intent. I am not trying to make Dr. King a saint or some 20^th century Apostle or prophet. The purpose of all this is to demonstrate that both Moses and King saw a better place for their people. They spent their lives leading people to that better place. Everything they did they did in faith in God. We need to do the same thing.

Any better place will be by the design of God. Any pathway to that better place will be by way of righteousness. Sharing the vision with others and leading people to that vision is the purpose of the leader. This is what both Moses and King did.

The purpose of leadership isn’t self-serving. The goal is not to get people to follow you. The objective is to get to that Godly place in a Godly fashion. This is what both Moses and King did.

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.” (Joshua 1:1-2)

God gave us Joshua to take up the mantle held by Moses in leading God’s chosen people to the Promised Land.

We’re still looking for a Joshua to take up Dr. King’s mantle. We’ve had several charlatans and false prophets attempt it. But just judge the fruit that these “trees” have produced.  Our current status of race relations and progress is in many ways worse now than it was before Dr. King ever got involved.

The reality of the situation is that we don’t need to wait around for a civil rights leader or a community organizer to appear. Each of us can march on towards the Promised Land of freedom and equality. Just do what King did and follow God’s plan.  

God shows no partiality to race, creed or color (Acts 10:34, Rom. 2:11). It doesn’t matter to God if you are male or female, rich or poor, slave or free, what your nationality, ethnic background, none of that matters (Col. 3:9-11, Gal. 3:28).

Most important to understand is that God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:27). We are God’s children (2 Cor.6:18). All we have to do is to act like children of God. Obey the Father. Love Him with all of our heart, soul, spirit, strength, and mind. Finally, we need to love our neighbor as our self. “POOF!” Things like racism disappear!

Dr. King saw the Promised Land of all men created equally by God. He chose a righteous pathway to that objective. King knew he wouldn’t get us all there. This is what is so significant about drawing a parallel between him and Moses when he said he had been to the mountain top and, “I've seen the Promised Land”. King knew he wouldn’t be able to complete the vision. And you know what, I don’t believe Dr. King was expecting a Joshua to follow up behind him either. I believe that Dr. King was expecting all of us to pick up his mantle and move on, keeping God as our guiding light.

Bill Hitchcock

I Was Born This Way

“I can’t help it. I was born this way” Really? You were born that way. So you are telling me that you have no say in your own life? You’re telling me that you have zero control over yourself?

Regardless what you are or are not born with, each person still has their own will, their own mind, their own spirit which gives them the ability to choose. You are the captain of your vessel. You choose what prevails in your life. You choose the course. You choose who and what you are and who and what you are going to be.

Let me let you in on a secret. Everyone has experienced every urge of lust and passion. Everyone. As the Apostle Paul said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). No inclination, desire, thought or lust needs to have an unwelcomed control over you.

To say, “I can’t help it. I was born this way” is a cop-out. Anyone that says that is trying to justify themselves without having to admit to who they are and commit themselves to that way of life. They are trying to lead a double life by doing “A” while attempting to be, “B”. It doesn’t work.

Here’s what needs to happen. You need to decide who you are, then what you do will follow. This is also the wish of Christ.

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” (Revelation 3:15)

Saint or sinner, Jesus knows our works. Stop trying to lead a double life. Admit and commit to who you are. Don’t try to deny it. And don’t attempt to contort things in an attempt to justify it.

Bill Hitchcock

Giants In The Bible

Were there actual giants during Biblical times? Did really tall and large people live back then? The answer is simple. Yes and no. The following isn’t so much of an article or message, but rather the barebones of the issue. I think you’ll find it fascinating.

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” (1 Samuel 17:4)

So, exactly how tall was Goliath? A cubit used the forearm as the unit of measure. A Hebrew cubit could be subdivided into 6 palms. The standard Hebrew cubit expressed in modern-day English is 18 inches.

A span is half a cubit.

Goliath was six cubits and a span which equals 117 inches or 9 feet and 9 inches (9’9”) tall. To put it in modern day terms, if Goliath was standing flat-footed under an NBA basketball goal, there would only be a 3-inch space between the top of his head and the goal.

The first mention of giants in the Bible is Genesis 6:4

“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:4)

The word “Giants” is transliterated from the root word “Naphal” which means, “to fall, to be cast down”. The word, “Giants” used here isn’t a reference to height or stature. This is a description of the apostates, the fallen sons of God. These fallen sons of God were known as the Nephilim.

The second and final time Giants is used for Naphal is in Numbers.

“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33).

Again, giants are the fallen sons of God. But the Bible points out that they were also the sons of Anak. Anak was, in fact, a giant, a person of unusually large stature. Anak literally means “length of neck”. The Anakims were a Canaanite tribe of giants.

All the other Old Testament references of “Giants” is transliterated from the word, “raphe” which means hero or champion. The tribe was called, “Rephaim” and originated in the land of Canaan. Rephaim were true giants, large in stature.

Besides the Book of Numbers, you can find references to the Rephaim in Deuteronomy 2:11, 2:20, 3:11, 3:13. Joshua 12:4, 13:12, 15:8, 17:15, and 18:16.

The word “Giant” (singular) is used in Job 16:14, but this is a reference to strength and might, not height.

Final Thought: If you believe the Bible then you have to believe in Goliath. The Bible gives us a very precise and clear measurement of exactly how tall he was. This wasn’t some metaphoric description like in Numbers 13:33 (“we were in our own sight as grasshoppers”). No, the Bible lets us know that Goliath measured 9 feet and 9 inches. So I guess the only questions that need to be answered is, do you think 9’9’’ qualifies as a giant?

Bill Hitchcock

Godly Love

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24)

There are three parts to this verse, each holding its own significant message.

1. “And let us consider one another”. The verse could end right here, in fact the entire chapter could end right here and would have put forth the most profound Christian ideal. Let us think about each other. To put into practice the simple idea of not putting ourselves first, but rather those around us. This is not just a thought, or practice, but a way of life.

2. “To provoke”. This is an interesting term. It means to irritate, incite or excite. To provoke is to motivate, to cause something to happen. And what is that something?

3.  “unto love and to good works”. There’s that word again, “love”. The Bible loves to use the word love. “Love thy neighbor”, yeah, well, what happens if you don’t even like your neighbor? It doesn’t matter, at least not with the love spoken of here.

Most people have heard there is this type of “Godly love” that the Greeks called “agape”. It is the basis of almost all love spoken of in the Bible. But “Godly love” isn’t really a good descriptive because it doesn’t really explain what agape is or what it does.

Agape or Godly love is concerned with the welfare of our fellow man. This is how “good works” ties in with the love. Agape is goodwill and benevolence towards others. It is help and care for someone else. In short, the agape type of love is our effort towards improving and bettering a person’s situation. We don’t have to know that person or even like that person to be able to love them in this manner.

Now let’s look at what we got when we add all three components together. We are to consider and to do for other people. We are to cajole others into thinking and doing the same. The key is the welfare and betterment of others and to cause and motivate folks to think and do likewise.

Godly love is more than concern over the welfare of others. Godly love is made manifest in the act of benevolence towards others.

Bill Hitchcock

Mind, Spirit, Reason

In this morning’s message, I wrote that "Mind and spirit create reason", or better said, Mind and spirit create our ability to reason, deduce and to think logically. Most think that reasoning comes strictly from the mind. It doesn’t. The spirit of the man is his essence and sentient element. The spirit coupled with his soul enables man to think, feel, perceive and know. Reasoning is a product of both mind and spirit.

This now explains how an intelligent person can have radical if not outright wrong ideas and conclusions. While the intellect of his mind has functioned properly, the spirit of the man is of a baser, meaner sort, thus producing misguided thoughts and conclusions.

An example would be Adolph Hitler. The man was unquestionably a genius. But the spirit of Hitler was unquestionably evil. Genius mind plus an evil spirit produced World War II.

Billy Graham was an intelligent man with the spirit of God active and alive inside of him. Reverend Graham held over 400 crusades, in 185 countries and territories, while reaching more than 215 million people with the word of God.

Two men, both intelligent had two radically different viewpoints and impacts on the world. The difference? One was of a bad and evil spirit, the other of a good and loving spirit.

Mind and spirit are the two components that are essential for reasoning and to be able to reason. The mind needs to be educated. The spirit (and the man) needs to be saved if it is to be good, virtuous and righteous. Otherwise, the spirit will be open to the devil.

To demonstrate how important mind and spirit are, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment of all was, He said that the Lord our God was one and that we are to love God with all of our heart (spirit), soul, mind, and strength. These are all the things that enable man to reason.

Reasoning is an essential part of our relationship with God. It was God Himself who said, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). What God is demonstrating by saying that is our relationship with Him is not purely spiritual. I know, that contradicts what a lot of folks may think. But our minds must be involved in the relationship. We must have our minds and spirits together in concert, in Him to be able to reason properly and adequately. God wants it this way.

Let’s take this a step further. When we open up our spirit and allow the Holy Spirit into our lives. What does this spirit bring with it?

“And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears” (Isaiah 11:2-3).

This may be confusing to some. Look at these spirits, these are things associated with the mind, thinking and reasoning. There is the spirit of wisdom, one of understanding, of counsel, might, there is a spirit of knowledge and of fear (awe, admiration, and respect) for the Lord. When a spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit then we will be wise to not judge by sight nor by hearsay. Do not these qualities and attributes make for better reasoning, deducing and logical thinking? These are all in the realm of the spirit, not of the mind.

So what happens if the man rejects God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? What happens if the man has chosen to lead a “good” and moral life on his own?

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so, shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45).

Spiritually speaking, there is no such thing as a void or a vacuum. If not filled by God, then it will be filled by the devil. You can keep your good and moral house, “swept, and garnished”. You can attempt to keep your good and moral house “empty” of anything to do with the spirit. You may have thought you booted God and the devil out and are going to be a “good person” and lead a good and moral life on your own. But the unclean spirit will return and he will bring more unclean spirits with him that are far worse than himself. “And the last state of that man is worse than the first”.

Our reasoning abilities are a product of both our mind and spirit. Our will is applied to what we have reasoned, deduced and concluded. Our conclusions determine what we say and do. Educate your mind and save your spirit through Christ. Get filled with the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghost.

Bill Hitchcock

The Power of Choice and Will

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. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

No temptation, no lust is above our will. The war between temptation and will is determined by choice, our choice. Mind and spirit create reason and it is our reasoning ability that allows or disallows carnal desires to reign supreme.

Lust and carnal desire unfettered, “dominates the mind, despoils it of the wealth of its virtue, and drags it, poor and needy, now this way and now that, and even defending what is false as though it were true….Whoever wants to live rightly and honorably, if his will for this surpasses his will for temporal goods, achieves this great good so easily that to have what he wills is nothing other than the act of wiling.” Augustine

We might get blindsided by some lust. But once we are cognizant of it, then it becomes a matter of first, choice, then will.

Our number one choice should be God and His will. That is the right and virtuous way. No sin can be committed as long as we are in His way.

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there” (Isaiah 35:8-9)

Tapping into God in full faith and belief will enable God’s grace to fulfill, empower and guide us.

“My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

It is our choice and our will, but it’s God’s grace, God’s will and God’s way that saves.

Bill Hitchcock

Sea of Diversity

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2)

All of the first verse and half of the second verse are the set up to Paul’s point. As Christians we are to be, “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

Might I suggest that we, Christians as a group in totality, which includes all of the religions under the Christian umbrella, at best have accomplished only one of these things, and even that is questionable. The entirety of the Christian religions have in common one love, which is Christ, supposedly.

All of the Christian religions are not of one mind and certainly not of one accord

Why is that? Why are the Christian religions so factious? Why are there so many different Christian religions in the first place? Why isn’t there just one religion, Christianity? There is but one God, one Christ, one Holy Ghost, one Word, then why so many different Christian religions?

Let’s back up a little bit and see how the Christian religion began. What is the origin of it?

“Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:25-26)

Much has been debated as to who gave the followers of Christ the name Christian. Was it the Gentiles? Or by Barnabas and Saul? Was it a title the followers of Christ gave themselves? Equally debated is whether or not the name was meant as a compliment or insult.

It’s important to note that “were called” from the phrase, “the disciples were called Christians” was transliterated from the Greek root word, “Chrema”. It means, “Names given to men from the nature of their business” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

Before they were called Christians, these Jewish converts and followers of Christ were simply called, “disciples, i.e. scholars; believers, saints, the Church, or assembly; and, by their enemies, Nazarenes, Galileans, the men of this way or sect; and perhaps lay other names which are not come down to us.” (Adam Clarke)

“It is, however, of little consequence whence the name originated. It soon became a name of reproach, and has usually been in all ages since, by the wicked, the frivolous, the licentious, and the ungodly.” (Albert Barnes).

These Christians were so called because they were not only followers of Jesus Christ, but they themselves were Christ like. They were emulating Him. There’s a big difference between following and being. In every way humanly possible these early Christians were “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”, all of which was of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the focal point and the image portrayed and lived.

There is a huge difference between following Christ and being Christ in all ways humanly possible. It’s the difference between a Church attendee and one who lives, moves and has his being in and of Christ.

And I will make the same distinction between Christians and Christian religions. The different religions are constructs of man. Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Quaker, it doesn’t matter. All of these religions were created and founded by men. The rituals and ceremonies are too. Don’t get me wrong. There are certain things such as the sacraments which are ordained and mandated by God. But even the sacraments have been affected by man. For example, the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper. One religion believes in transubstantiation, that is, they believe the wine and the bread actually turns into the physical body and blood of Jesus Christ once ingested. Where did that idea come from? Not from the Bible.

The rites, rituals, ceremonies, procedures & protocols, songs & prayers, doctrine, precepts, and beliefs are so numerous and so diverse that it is simply impossible to address them all, much less attempt to list them all here. But that is exactly the point of this message. Where is the one mind, one accord and one love amongst this sea of diversity?

The Apostle Paul, said, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

No longer is Jesus Christ the “nature of our business” but rather Church and religion is. To know the difference between Christ and Church & religion, all one has to do is to read the Bible and stay in prayer. Unfortunately, I must be specific here, but reading your Bible doesn’t mean only reading and re-reading your favorite passages. Nor does it mean reading the Bible cover to cover, setting it down, never to crack open the cover again.

The Bible is the definitive word of God. Nothing else is, and that includes your religion, Church and Pastor.

Use your Bible as a sieve. Whatever you pour in it and sticks, keep. Whatever flows on through, let go.

To fulfill the joy of the Apostle Paul, we must be likeminded, have the same love in Jesus Christ and not religion. Only when we are in Christ and Christ in us can we experience divine love, be of one accord and of one mind.

Bill Hitchcock

The Truth Shall Make You Free

“The truth shall make you free”. Just about everyone has heard that phrase. And it’s true! The truth shall make you free. But unfortunately, not everyone knows who said it or where it came from. Most importantly, there are folks who do not know the complete statement. Without knowing that, “The

truth shall make you free” can be taken out of context, the phrase can become subjective and malleable to the whims and ways of man. It can also become very opportunistic, seizing a moment to support what isn’t true.

Here’s the full and complete statement as made by Jesus Christ.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32).

We must “know” the truth for it to be able to set us free. So what is this knowledge? This is the type of knowledge that has seeped into our bones. It is perception and discernment, a familiarity deeper than mere acquaintance and awareness of the subject matter. For example, you may know of a person but may not really know that person. There is a superficial knowledge, then there’s a knowledge so intimate that you know it from the inside out.

Only when we have this type of knowledge of the truth is it able to loose us from the world and unto the divine.

Knowledge of the truth makes us free, so what is this that we have knowledge of? As Pilate once asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

Truth is Jesus and the reality of Him as the expression of God. The many expressions of God that compose Christ include righteousness, holiness, mercy, and love. Truth, in a short answer is God. In a practical sense truth is God’s essence and of all things that consist thereof.

So this is truth, and the knowledge of truth will set you free from the world, and open unto you the divine. But let’s back it up a few more steps.

There is a huge difference between knowing and being. Knowledge of the truth is not the same as truth as part of your being. James speaks of this difference as it relates to faith.  

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20)

You can have belief in God, but do you have faith in Him? It will be obvious as to which for faith will be part and parcel of your existence.

Truth, of which faith is a subpart thereof, is the same. When truth is in you and you in it, truth will be made manifest in all that you do. This is different than someone adhering to the doctrine and principles of truth. Doing is not the same as being.

Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”

Notice Jesus said continue “in” my word. He did not say continue “doing” my word, a huge difference as we just demonstrated.

Jesus is the word. If we continue in Him, and we know that He will continue in us, then we will be His disciples indeed!

According to Vines Expository Dictionary, a "disciple" was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher” (See John 8:31; 15:8)

Again we see the same difference. A pupil learns, the adherent is becoming.

The truth is Jesus and God through Jesus shall set us free from the world and sin. Being like Christ, learning and growing into Christ, is by definition, discipleship.

Bill Hitchcock

The Left and the 30 Something and Under Voter

(NOTE: I really believe that if you understand the following matrix of the left, then you’ll understand why anyone belongs to any group of the Left, including the Democratic Party.)

We just want to belong. We don’t really want to think, we want to feel. And what we want to feel is love, comradery, a sense of fellowship and belonging. We want to be understood and heard. Phatic speech is best because anything else gives us cause to think and reason, and we really don’t want to do that.

As long as you hear me and understand me and love me and agree with me then everything will be alright.

And by love, I mean that emotional upwelling of my feelings manifested as my want and carnal desires.

Intellect is a self-defense mechanism designed to strike at and ward off anything that contradicts our world and our perception of it.

We are the Left. We are the 30 Something and Under Voter. 

Bill Hitchcock

Principles

"People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions." - Martin Luther

People with unrighteous principles in the first will not only fail to perform virtuous actions but will succeed in performing the devilish ones. Principle and character do matter. They are the steering currents of our life.

It’s not necessarily a one to one proposition either. Immorality and unrighteousness may manifest in a particular fashion, but that doesn’t mean that is the only way it will reveal itself.

Bill Hitchcock

Seasons

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Have you ever noticed that God deals with us in terms of seasons? There generally is no rigid time structure per se with God, but rather a span of our life that’s governed more by events and understanding than by time itself.  

- “Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” (2 Chronicles 15:3)

- “My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.” (Job 30:17)

- “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

- “He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.” (John 5:35).

Seasons are timeframes of process, a God-appointed era for something to occur, evolve, grow, die and come into fruition. A season is a not predetermined by time, although they are time segments of our lives.

Seasons are a time of change and personal growth. They are transition periods. Usually, we do not see or understand the change as it occurs nor do we see any clear end to the season we are in. This puts us in a faith position where we must be totally dependent and reliant upon God. This is key. Growth and understanding are always God-dependent. The more independent the soul, the more that soul remains out of season, out of touch and lost.

God forms and shapes us through the experiences we have in life. Positive and negative life experiences and most importantly, how we react to them, is the mold in which we are formed. God works with us purposefully through seasons, these extended sections of our lives to better us, strengthen and to keep us in the path of salvation. But remember, God works in partnerships. Any season we are in, the challenge faced or in confronting one of life’s little curveballs, it is to be dealt with in tandem with God. God won’t do it by himself. You can’t do it by yourself.

And with any season of the year, our seasons of winter and want will be followed up with the season of summer. But we have to learn and grow in winter before we can move on to the abundance of summer.

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Each season will either complete us or perfect us. How we react to each season will determine which. The completed person is done with that season. They have gained and learned all they ever will from that particular time period of life, which isn’t much because they did it without God. Bumped, bruised and dinked, they’re glad that season is over. Ready or not, they move into the next facet of their life, hoping that it will be better than the last. Unsubstantiated hope is all they have for they profited nothing from the experience.

The perfected person allowed God to work with them. They trusted God and learned from the experiences. Regardless of whatever happened during that season, the perfected person pressed forward in the high calling of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The completed person simply survived. The perfected person learned, grew and profited.

There is a reason and purpose for life and all of the experiences we have in it. Life here on earth is nothing but a season, a transition period prepping us for the world to come.

Bill Hitchcock

Reconciling The World

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

(2 Corinthians 5:19-20 KJV)

Reconciliation is, in essence, our factory reset to the default position. Reconciliation is God restoring us to our original good grace, in-favor status with Him. When Paul says that God was, “reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” he is saying that God has erased man’s sins off the books and that mankind has regained his pre-fall status with Him. But all of this restoration and reconciliation hangs on the following, “God was in Christ”. The only way to be forgiven of sin and presentable to God is through Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We must accept and confess Christ, but most importantly, we must live Christ.

But wait, it gets better! What God did through Christ, He has committed, or appointed us to do the same! Not only are we forgiven of our sins, but we can forgive the sin of others, and in so doing restore and reconcile relationships.

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)

We, who are made in the image of God have this power of restoration and reconciliation when we are in Christ and Christ in us. We are made in the image of God and imbued with His Spirit!

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:5-6).

We are ambassadors for Christ! Go, be ye reconciled to God and then set about the business of restoring and reconciling folks back to God’s good graces.

You can remit. You can retain. God remitted sin through Christ. So should we.

Bill Hitchcock

Unto The Poor

"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse."

(Proverbs 28:27)

What is the subject of this verse? It is the poor. But most folks will miss that and will focus on the acts and the consequences of those acts. They’ll focus on the, “shall not lack” or it’s opposite the “curse”. Then they’ll weigh their options and determine if the effort warrants the reward and risk. Why? Because the act and consequence directly involve them. The point and purpose of it all, the poor, do not.

But that’s really the point. We are to have our attention and efforts locked in on the poor, not on our self. What do the poor need and want? We should not be focusing on the price we pay or the reward we may get. True Godly love would only be focused on helping the poor and nothing else.

“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

Bill Hitchcock

Truth Makes For Enemies

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).

The truth is offensive to the world. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is truth. He also said, “…ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22) and, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

The world doesn’t understand the truth or even recognize it. When Pilate looked Jesus Christ directly in the face he asked, “What is truth?”

The world is blind to the truth. When the light of the truth does shine on it, the world becomes offended. Speaking the truth and living a life in pursuit of it will offend the world and create enemies. Jesus warned us that this would happen.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The truth, which is precious and dear and of God, will reveal and convict. It is the hardened heart that refuses the revelation truth brings. And what is this revelation? That God is, the pathway is righteousness, Jesus Christ is salvation and the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of Truth is our help and guide.

The world refuses these things for it deviates away from self. The epitome of sin is self. Self is only concerned with its own interests and lusts. Self consumes and doesn’t contribute. Sin and the world is self-love and self-gratification.

God is the exact opposite. God gives and we as children of God are to give. We give of our love to God and we give of our love to our fellow man.

Our love and faith is manifested by our works towards God and our fellow man. James said, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18).

The world is sinful, it consumes and its only concern is self. God is righteous and loves. This love is manifested by faith in its relationships with God and man.

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” The answer to that is yes. But as children of God we will love our enemy.

Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44-48)

Bill Hitchcock

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