northland-church

May 10th Worship Service

Mon, 11 May 2026 02:08:32 GMT

Worship Service

A Goodly Heritage

Mon, 11 May 2026 02:06:59 GMT

May 10, 2026 - II Timothy 1:1-6 - Lois and Eunice left Timothy a Godly heritage. Mothers have a grave responsibility in this regard, as they form much of the heritage for their children. What kind of heritage are you leaving?

How's Your Mindset?

Sun, 03 May 2026 18:42:36 GMT

May 3, 2026 - Colossians 3:1-4 - The course of our lives will ultimately be set by the way we think, and the way we think will be determined by the source of our philosophy, our Worldview, our mindset. Where does your's come from?

Legalism Does Not Produce Life

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:57 GMT

April 26, 2026 - Colossians 2:16-23 - Paul warns the Colossians that Legalism, Mysticism and Asceticism are of no use against the sins of the flesh, and will not produce life.

Alive in Christ

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:14:38 GMT

April 19, 2026 - Colossians 2:11-15 - the Bible uses pictures to bridge the gap between the material and the unseen worlds. Here Paul uses the pictures of circumcision, baptism, and crucifixion to teach us about how God has dealt with our sin.

How's Your Walk?

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:11:22 GMT

April 12, 2026 - Colossians 2:6-10 - Paul encourages to walk in Christ. In these verses he talks about the way to walk, and the dangers to our walk. So How's your walk?

Countdown to Resurrection

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:46:46 GMT

April 5, 2026 - We have a very different kind of service today, connecting the Passover, the last supper, and the Resurrection.

Hidden Treasures

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:23:44 GMT

March 29, 2026 - In Christ are hidden the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge. God's people need to know those treasures, in order to avoid delusion, and the plausible arguments of false teachers. Paul poured himself into them to bring about this knowledge.

Christ in You

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:01:57 GMT

March 22, 2026 - The object of Paul's ministry to the Colossians was to make God's Word fully known, the subject was the person of Christ Himself, and the goal was to bring the saints to maturity in Christ.

The Preeminence of Christ in Sanctification

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:47:43 GMT

March 8, 2026 - Christ is preeminent in every way, including sanctification. In order to accomplish His work, He had to be very God as well as very man, and the purpose of all that He did was to present the church, the saints, holy and blameless.

The Preeminence of Christ in Reconciliation

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:25:50 GMT

March 1, 2026 - Colossians 1:18-20 - Christ's Preeminence is also seen in Reconciliation. Only He can reconcile people to God, by means of his shed blood, and when they are reconciled, He adds them to His body, the church.

The Preeminence of Christ in Creation

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:24:23 GMT

February 22, 2026 - Colossians 1:15-17 - As we get into the meat of Colossians, Paul begins with the most comprehensive dissertation in Scripture on the Preeminence of Christ, and His Divinity. He first deals with His preeminence in Creation, as well as His incarnation as the embodiment of the essential being of God.

Natural is not Better!

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:09:07 GMT

February 15, 2026 - I John 4:7-11 - Our natural loves are not bad because they are natural, but because they are fallen, as is all of nature. They must be redeemed by Divine love if they are to be useful. The natural "longing to be loved" is the source of most of our emotional pain. Supernatural love is the cure.

What is Knowing For?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:53:21 GMT

February 8, 2026 - Colossians 1:9-14 - Contrary to Gnostic ideas, knowledge is for everyone, and everyone can have it, because God has revealed it in His word, and it produces truly practical results.

Faith, Hope and Love

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:56:03 GMT

January 25, 2026 - Colossians 1:3-8 - Paul commends the Colossians for their faith and love, springing out of hope. This trilogy of virtue is a favorite of Paul, and we should take the time to understand what it is and why Paul preaches it.

Colossians - an Introduction

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:04:33 GMT

January 18, 2026 - Colossians 1:1, 2 - Today we begin our study of Colossians by examining the greeting, and what we can learn from it.

A Virtual Church - Why Not?

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:57:29 GMT

January 11, 2026 - Hebrews 10:23-25 - The one thing that is impossible with virtual church is fellowship, and we cannot do without fellowship. This passage gives four reasons why we must have the fellowship of the believers.

What a Fellowship!

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:53:44 GMT

January 4, 2026 - I John 1:1-10 - There are many counterfeits, but no substitutes for Christian fellowship. So what is it, and why is it an essential part of our mission as a church?

The Roses of Success

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:59:45 GMT

December 28, 2025 - Our choices truly do matter, and God is the God of the second chance. It behooves us therefore, to refrain from the vanity of regret, and keep short accounts with God.

Builders Together

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 20:47:49 GMT

December 14, 2025 - I Cor. 3:6-10 - Even though all of us are supposed to be involved in making disciples of Jesus Christ, we don't have to do it alone. God has given us the church, and the many spiritually gifted people in it to collaborate with in this task.

Passing the Torch

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 23:13:34 GMT

December 7, 2025 - Matthew 28:16-20 - In this message we discuss the importance of not breaking the chain, but faithfully passing on the message to others who will also pass it on.

Dangers in Discipleship

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:20:40 GMT

November 30, 2025 - Romans 3:1-8 - There are serious dangers to be avoided in Discipleship.

What Have I Got to be Thankful For

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 23:14:36 GMT

November 23, 2025 - This message answers two questions: Why are we unthankful, and what can we do about it?

Tactics of Discipleship

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 20:31:46 GMT

November 16, 2025 - There are many tactics that can be used in discipleship. Some are Biblical, some are A-biblical, and some are anti-biblical. Anti-biblical one should never be used. They are suited to different situations and different cultures, some utilize certain spiritual gifts, others utilize other spiritual gifts. The most important thing is to be involved.

The Strategy of Discipleship

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 21:05:39 GMT

November 9, 2025 - Matt. 28:16-20 - Jesus' strategy of Discipleship was to pour His life into 12 men, so that they could reach the world by means of the same strategy, pouring their lives into others who could teach others also. We should follow His strategy.

Follow the Master

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 02:22:51 GMT

November 2, 2025 - John 6:60-71 - Being a disciple means daily commitment to Christ, Becoming a friend of Christ, being an imitator of Christ, being a student of the Word, and Looking to the reward. It's a full-time Life-time commitment.

Discipline and Discipleship

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 20:37:30 GMT

October 26, 2025 - Matthew 28:16-20 - We are commanded by Christ to make disciples from all nations. One must be a disciple before they can make disciples, so what is a disciple, and who should make them?

Here, There and Everywhen

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:16:32 GMT

October 19, 2025 - Deuteronomy 6:5-9 - Worship is personal, domestic and corporate. It should be engaged in everywhere and everywhere. Every part of our life that is morally right can and should be an act of worship.

The Way to Worship

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:46:51 GMT

October 12, 2025 - John 4:20-24 - Even in America, we do not worship the way we please, our worship must be according to what pleases God .

Born to Worship

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 01:04:48 GMT

October 5 , 2025 - Luke 4:1-12 - Human beings are born worshippers. Everyone worships something or someone, but there is only One we should worship.

The Father Seeketh Such

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:06:49 GMT

September 21, 2025 - John 4:7-26 - What is Worship? What is not worship? God does not need our worship, so why does He desire our worship?

Far Above All

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 20:31:17 GMT

September 14, 2025 - Ephesians 1:15-22 - Our church's mission is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? We cannot actually exalt Him, because we do not have the authority to do that. God has already done it. What we can and must do is recognize His exalted state, and point it out to those around us. There are many ways we can do that.

Messiah

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:49:13 GMT

September 7, 2025 - Genesis 3:8-24 - In the name "Lord Jesus Christ" we have covered Lord and Jesus, and today we want to consider the last name, which is really a title, Christ, or "Messiah." In this name we see Christ as the great deliverer, the one who comes to fix everything. He was promised from the very time when man first sinned, and He has been promised over and over throughout Scripture, especially in Isaiah.

Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 23:03:16 GMT

August 31, 2025 - Matthew 1:18-25 - Jesus was given the name because He was destined to save His people from their sins. His identity was wrapped up in who He was and what He would do.

Lord and Master

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:04:11 GMT

August 24, 2025 - John 13:13-20 - There are at least three reasons why we call Jesus Christ "Lord," To define His person clearly, to clarify our relationship with Him, and to honor and reverence Him.

What in the World are we Doing?

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:30:33 GMT

August 17, 2025 - Luke 14:25-35 - In order to build the church, we need to know what we are building, why, and how. This message introduces a series on our church's mission.

The Weaponized Virtue

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 20:04:03 GMT

August 10 - Psalm 103:6-14 - How our world has weaponized a false idea of compassion against the church, and the need to resist it.

That You May Know

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 01:03:37 GMT

August 3, 2025 - John 3:14-21 - Many Christians suffer from doubts about their salvation. God wants us to be more than saved, He wants us to know we are saved. I pray that this message will help you know, if you have doubts.

Making the Change

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:47:31 GMT

July 27 , 2025 - I Corinthians 6:9-11 - The ability to change is a wonderful blessing, but it's not easy. Today we look at the dynamics of change.

Dividing the Land

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:38:42 GMT

July 20, 2025 - Ezekiel 48:1-35 - As we finish the book of Ezekiel, we see God specifying how the land is to be divided, and the square shape of the city, with 12 gates named after the 12 tribes of Israel. We see clear similarities to the Eternal Jerusalem described in Revelation. We also see that Ezekiel is a microcosm of the history of humanity as a whole.

The River of Life

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 22:08:45 GMT

July 13, 2025 - Ezekiel 47:1-23 - Their are intriguing similarities between the river that flows from the Millennial Temple, and that which flows from the throne of God in the New Jerusalem, in the eternal kingdom.

The Foundation of the Republic

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 19:09:13 GMT

July 6, 2025 - Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1, 2 - The world views that our nation was founded upon, why it works, and how we should see it.

Kimberly Johnson's presentation

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:49:42 GMT

June 29, 2025 - Kimberly Johnson shares her work with the deaf in Guatemala.

Temple Worship in the Millennium

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 02:03:02 GMT

June 22, 2025 - Ezekiel describes the temple worship, which includes both sacrifice and fellowship. We discuss the significance of sacrifice.

The Faith of My Father

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 22:04:09 GMT

June 15, 2025 - I tell about my Father, both to honor him, as well as to encourage others by his example. I show from the Scripture the principles that he used in raising his family.

The Provision for Religion

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 14:24:42 GMT

June 8, 2025 - Ezekiel 54:1-25 - In this chapter, Ezekiel reveals the means by which the priests, prince, and Levites will live, and where. In the process, he makes several points about justice and oppression.

The Prince, The Priests, and the Levites

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:55:34 GMT

June 1, 2025 - Ezekiel 44:1-31 - Ezekiel's instructions regarding the Millennial Temple and the people connected with it. A renewed emphasis on the transcendence of God, and the importance of Holiness.

The Return of the King

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 19 May 2025 01:01:41 GMT

May 18, 2025 - Ezekiel 43:1-27 - We come full circle. At the beginning of Ezekiel, the glory of God leaves the temple, and the city. Now at the end, the Glory of God returns to the Millennial temple, through the same gate it left by, and Christ establishes his throne in the temple, and the Altar is described in detail.

Honor Your Mother

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 12 May 2025 04:08:12 GMT

May 11, 2025 - Today is Mother's Day, and we are going to examine what our attitude should be toward our mothers, and what an honorable mother is like.

The Millennial Temple

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 04 May 2025 18:32:17 GMT

May 4, 2025 - My apologies ahead of time, this message will be harder to follow than usual, as I am going through the description of the Millennial Temple, and I felt compelled to use pictures to help people in church follow it. We look at it's layout, and the significance of it.

God's Crushing Victory

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 19:44:24 GMT

April 27, 2025 - God lures Gog and the northern armies to destruction in order to show His power and glory to Israel and the nations.

Why I Believe the Tomb was Empty

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 20:01:11 GMT

April 20, 2025 - John 20:1-18 - The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.

The Armageddon Campaign Begins

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 20:51:13 GMT

April 13, 2025 - Ezekiel 38:1-23 - The northern Kingdoms will invade Israel near the middle of the tribulation, and God will destroy them by means of natural disasters, and friendly fire. This will awaken many Gentiles to the fact that God is the Lord.

Dem Bones

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 18:57:42 GMT

April 6, 2025 - Ezekiel 37:1-28 - The Israelites think their situation is hopeless, like a bunch of dry bones. God gives them hope, promising that He will regather them from the nations, restore their national unity, and make a new everlasting covenant with them. We cannot do without hope.

Regathering and Restoration

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 22:43:02 GMT

March 30, 2025 - Ezekiel 36:1-38 - Ezekiel changes his focus in the rest of this book to the future of Israel, specifically to the thousand year reign of Christ, and the regathering and restoration of Israel. Here he gives a Birdseye view of what he will expand on in the rest of the book.

The Enemies of Israel

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:12:24 GMT

March 23, 2025 - Ezekiel 35:1-15 - Israel's enemies will be judged according to how they have treated Israel. Edom is doomed because they hated Israel, wanted their land, and magnified themselves against God. Only those who have treated Israel well will be allowed into God's millennial Kingdom.

Shepherds of Israel

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 02:51:41 GMT

March 16, 2025 - Ezekiel 34:1-31 - God contrasts the bad shepherds of Israel with Himself, the Good Shepherd. He pronounces judgment on the bad shepherds, and declares that as Shepherd of Israel, He will gather Israel from all the lands where they have been scattered, and will set over them His servant David under a new covenant of righteous rule.

Here and There

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 03:21:13 GMT

March 9, 2025 - Ezekiel now has two messages, one for the people left in Israel after the destruction of Jerusalem, and one for the people in exile in Babylon. Neither group has learned their lesson yet, so his message is not very comforting. When they finally start keeping the covenant, then they will be able to be restored to their possession.

Ezekiel's Second Commissioning

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:53:07 GMT

March 2, 2025 - Ezekiel 33:1-20 - Ezekiel is commissioned for the second time as a watchman, as he begins the second half of his ministry, this time a promise of future restoration. The difference between righteousness before men, and righteousness before God.

The Doom of Egypt

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 23:56:16 GMT

February 23, 2025 - Ezekiel 29:1-32:32 - God takes four chapters to declare the doom of Egypt, because of Egypt's significance in the history of the Jewish people. But through it all, His ultimate goal is that Egypt might come to know that He is the Lord.

Love or Sentimentality

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:58:19 GMT

February 16, 2024 - Ephesians 5:25-33 - Where do we get our ideas about love, and how do they compare with what the Bible says. Love is sacrificial, but it doesn't advertise its sacrifice. Love is also self-beneficial.

Who's to Blame?

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 21:58:16 GMT

February 9, 202 5 - Ezekiel 28:20-26 - God has promised to judge all of Israel's neighbors for their treatment and influence upon Israel, but He does not excuse Israel, for they are being judged as well. We can never blame anyone else for our sin.

The Power Behind the Throne

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 21:32:11 GMT

February 2, 2025 - Ezekiel 28:11-19 - The "Prince" of Tyre was Ethbaal III, but in this passage we are introduced to the power behind his throne, the "King" of Tyre, who is Satan himself. Like the prince of Tyre, his great sin was pride, and God will ultimately destroy him, consigning him to the Lake of Fire. He is a defeated enemy.

The Prince of Tyre

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 03:16:46 GMT

January 26 , 2025 - Ezekiel 28:1-10 - Apologies again for the last half of the message, more mic problems. The Prince of Tyre, because of the sin of pride, considered himself a god, and God has to take him down. It is a temptation that all of us face. It is a temptation that we all must struggle against.

The Wreck of the Good Ship Tyre

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 04:31:54 GMT

January 19, 2025 - Ezekiel 27:1-36 - Ezekiel raises a lament over the city of Tyre, likening it to a stately ship that is wrecked by the east wind, and sinks with all hands and cargo lost. Human achievement is vain if God is rejected.

Destruction of Tyre

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 23:10:28 GMT

January 12, 2025 - I apologize for the audio, mic problems. You will probably need to turn it up. Ezekiel spends three chapters on Tyre. Tyre is targeted by Nebuchadnezzar right after Jerusalem, but Tyre is also typical of Human achievement and government, and the common failing of human beings - pride, and refusal to recognize God's Lordship.

Judgment of the Nations

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 04:11:24 GMT

January 5, 2025 - Ezekiel 25:1-17 - God pronounces judgment on Ammon, Moab, Eden, and Philistia, because of their treatment of His chosen people. We would do well to avoid the same fate.

The Roses of Success

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:27:33 GMT

December 29, 2024 - Acts 15:36-41 - John Mark needed both Paul and Barnabas in his life to help him become a man who was useful for the ministry. God is the God of second chances, and we learn most from our failures, if we respond in the right way.

Living With Loss

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 22:04:15 GMT

December 15, 2024 - Ezekiel 24:15-27- Ezekiel is faced with a great personal tragedy, the loss of his beloved wife. Many would accuse God of cruelty because of this, but we should seek to see God's perspective about it.

The Boiling Cauldron

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 04:20:53 GMT

December 8, 2024 - Ezekiel 24:1-14 - God uses the same metaphor the people used in 11:3, but with the opposite application. Jerusalem is indeed a cauldron, but not of safety, rather, a cauldron of destruction and judgment. Sin cannot be allowed to continue. It is a cancer that must be eradicated.

The Two Sisters

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:01:24 GMT

December 1, 2024 - Ezekiel 21:1-49 - Ezekiel propounds a parable of two sisters, Samaria and Jerusalem, and their political and spiritual adultery, as well as the consequences of such. It is a grave danger that the church of Jesus Christ has often been guilty of as well.

For Creatures Only

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:28:13 GMT

November 24 - There are some virtues that are only for creatures, not the creator, and one of those is Thankfulness. It is, in it's essence, an admission of our complete dependence upon God, and unthankfulness is closely related to the sins of entitlement and pride.

Prosecuting Jerusalem

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 22:51:06 GMT

November 17, 2024 - Ezekiel 22:1-31 - God makes His case clearly against Jerusalem, illustrating that His governance is not arbitrary or capricious, but perfectly just.

Song of the Sword

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 22:45:46 GMT

November 10, 2024 - Ezekiel 20:45-21:32 - God warns the people of Jerusalem that He has drawn His sword, has polished and sharpened it, and will soon use it to bring retribution on Judah for her sins.

A Promise Kept

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 22:28:09 GMT

November 3, 2024 - Ezekiel 20:33-44 - After a scathing history lesson with a promise of judgment, God tempers his message to Israel by pledging to keep his promise of regathering them and restoring them to the land under his rulership.

Ezekiel's History Lesson

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 19:26:49 GMT

October 27, 202 4 - Ezekiel 20:1-32 - Ezekiel gives the Elders who come to inquire of him a history lesson in the unfaithfulness of Israel, and the graciousness of God. But since they are continuing to worship idols and reject God, God will no longer withhold the judgment they deserve.

The Lions of Judah

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 22:34:00 GMT

October 20, 2024 - Ezekiel 19:1-14 - A lament for the last two lions of Judah, a warning to Zedekiah, and a prediction that there would be no more kings of Israel until the King of Kings!

A False Proverb

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:37:16 GMT

October 13 , 2024 - Ezekiel 18:1-32 - The people of Jerusalem were using a proverb that was false, and God was not pleased. He made clear to them that people would be punished for their own sins, not for the sins of their fathers. Those who repented would be forgiven, those who had lived a good life and then turned their back on it would be punished.

The Eagle and Vine Metaphor

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:46:08 GMT

October 6, 2024 - Ezekiel 17:1-24 - Ezekiel's next metaphor teaches two major lessons, as well as predicting the future of Judah. God gives us the interpretation, so there is no speculation.

The Unfaithful Wife Metaphor

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:32:08 GMT

September 29, 2024 - Ezekiel 16:1-63 - The point of this metaphor is simple. Jerusalem has been unfaithful to God, and God is going to discipline her to bring her back, but He will never be unfaithful to her. God places a very high value on faithfulness, unlike fallen human beings.

The Vine Metaphor

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:53:38 GMT

September 22, 2024 - Ezekiel 15:1-8 - God likens Jerusalem to a fruitless vine, that is good for nothing but the fire. This metaphor is a common one in Scripture, and we can learn much from it.

God Isn't Listening

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:41:12 GMT

September 15, 2024 - Ezekiel 14:1-23 - God has never promised to answer the requests of everyone. The Elders in Babylon were hypocrites, and God said He would not listen to them. He tells us why, so we can deduce from that what we must do to assure that God will listen to us. God is just, and He never acts arbitrarily.

The Necessity of Truth

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:03:09 GMT

September 8, 2024 - Ezekiel 13:1-23 - Ezekiel addresses the false prophets and prophetesses. They are whitewashing the edifice of lies that the people are building, and failing to build a wall of truth. They will perish in the devastation that is sure to follow.

The Play's the Thing

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 01:24:26 GMT

September 1, 2024 - Ezekiel 12:1-28 - God is not stingy with the truth. He proclaims it over and over, in various ways. In this chapter, he has Ezekiel perform a drama, picturing what is going to happen to King Zedekiah, and he assures the people that He will do as He says, and soon.

The Curse of Wicked Rulers

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 01:24:19 GMT

August 25, 2024 - Ezekiel 11:1-25 - Wicked rulers contribute massively to the fall of a people. Also, many feel that what is happening to them is a catastrophe, but often, as in the case of the people who were taken into captivity, they are actually being blessed and preserved.

Ichabod

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 20:52:29 GMT

August 18th, 2024 - Ezekiel 10:1-22 - Ichabod means "the glory is departed" and that is exactly what happens in this chapter. God deserts the temple in Jerusalem, and the land is ripe for judgment. What triggered this worst of all possible events?

"Begin at My Sanctuary"

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:18:42 GMT

August 11th, 2024 - Ezekiel 9:1-11 - God shows Ezekiel what He intends to do about the abominations that Jerusalem has been engaged in, and it isn't pretty. But there are some people who will be spared, and He explains why, and there are others who will be judged first, and there is an explanation for that also.

Your Room of Pictures

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 02:41:48 GMT

August 4, 2024 - Ezekiel 8:1-18 - In this passage God shows Ezekiel the abominations that the people of Jerusalem are committing, which include both open and secret idolatry. In your imagination, your room of pictures, what are you worshipping?

When the End Comes

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:35:20 GMT

July 21, 2024 - Ezekiel 7:1-27 - The message of this chapter is that judgment is coming, and God is revealed as the God who strikes! God is long suffering, but He will not bear with wickedness forever. The flood, Sodom, the dispersion, and the prophesied end of this world all attest to this fact. The world doesn't believe it, but we as Christians should be prepared, whenever it finally happens.

The Purpose of Judgment

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 18:59:52 GMT

July 14, 2024 - Ezekiel 6:1-14 - The sin of God's people that triggered the judgment God is promising was idolatry. God declares through Ezekiel that His judgment will result in his people knowing that He is God. There is no more important knowledge that we can have than the knowledge that God is Lord. Knowing God is critical.

The Fate of Jerusalem

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 21:13:55 GMT

June 23, 2024 - Ezekiel 5:1-17 - God gives Ezekiel an object lesson for the people, and the interpretation is that Jerusalem will be destroyed, 2 thirds of the people killed, and one third scattered over the earth. Because they had not glorified God in their living, God will glorify Himself in their judgement. God's glory is inevitable.

God's Plan for Fathers

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:33:56 GMT

June 16, 2024 - Genesis 1:26-31- when God finished His work in creation, that didn't mean there was nothing left to do. God intended that the humans he was creating would add to His creation, increasing order, managing and enhancing His work. Fatherhood is a huge part of this.

The Siege of Jerusalem

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 19:28:30 GMT

June 9, 2024 - Ezekiel 4:1-17 Ezekiel is called upon to illustrate the siege of Jerusalem by participating in it vicariously. It cost him deeply to be God's mouthpiece, and it will cost us as well.

The Watchman

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:42:21 GMT

June 2nd , 2024 - Ezekiel 3:16-27 - Ezekiel is given the job of watchman for God's people. He is warning about temporal danger, but we are watchmen as well, and our message is one of Spiritual and eternal danger. It is a serious responsibility.

Same Culture Communication

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 19 May 2024 23:59:59 GMT

May 19th, 2024 - Ezekiel 3:1-15 - Ezekiel wasn't doing cross cultural ministry, and God said if he had been they would have listened. In some cases, same culture communication is tougher, and it takes tough people to do it.

Proverbs on Motherhood

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:32:26 GMT

May 12th, 2024 - Proverbs 31:1-9 - God's Word, and especially Proverbs, rates mothers pretty high. The challenges of motherhood are pretty significant, and Proverbs has much to say about being a good mother. Thank God for good mothers!

Ezekiel's Call

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 06 May 2024 01:02:27 GMT

May 5th, 2024 - Ezekiel 2:1-10 - After seeing the vision of the Glory of God, Ezekiel is called by God to declare His Word to His people. They would know that a prophet had been among them! I apologize again for the audio quality, we are still having mic issues.

Ezekiel's Vision of God

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 23:10:41 GMT

April 28, 2024 - Ezekiel 1:4-28 - God gives Ezekiel a vision of His glory, in preparation for his ministry. We all need the same vision. I apologize for the drop in audio quality toward the end. We seem to have lost a mic.

Getting to Know Ezekiel

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:00:06 GMT

April 14, 2024 - Ezekiel 1:1-3 - The life and times of Ezekiel the prophet, and the background information for this book.

Truth and Consequences

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 20:45:38 GMT

April 7, 2024 - In a post-truth society, we must return to and understand what truth is, where we discover it, and why we should tell it. The love of truth must become the foundation upon which we build everything else.

The Rising Son

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 20:45:23 GMT

March 31, 2024 - The resurrection is required belief for the Christian, and there is plenty of evidence for it, but we are not required to feel that it is true, which is much harder to do, and for many reasons. We must trust our minds more than our hearts!

Mountain Tops and Valleys

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 02:11:48 GMT

Ma rch 24, 2024 - The disciples went from the highest of Mountain Tops to the lowest of valleys in one week. In both, God's purposes were being accomplished.

How the World Works

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 01:45:41 GMT

Mar ch 17, 2024 - What is a Worldview, how do we develop one, and how do we know which one is right?

The Practice of Baptism

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:06:58 GMT

March 10, 2024 - Why should you be baptized, is it for today, and how young can one be baptized?

The Significance of Baptism

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 04:30:15 GMT

March 3rd - What is the significance of water baptism, and why should christians be baptized?

Members of His Body

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 21:50:10 GMT

February 25, 2024 - I Corinthians 12:12-27 - Evidence that the early church did indeed have a membership, and why membership is essential to church life.

Our Sufficient Savior

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 03:02:30 GMT

February 18th, II Timothy 4:16-22 - God is sufficient to meet all our needs, but that doesn't mean He meets them all directly. In fact, He meets most of our needs mediately. But when we are all alone, He is there for us. Paul was forsaken by men, but not by God.

In Defense of Marriage - February 11th, 2024

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 22:46:43 GMT

I Timothy 4:1-5 - Marriage is under attach in our generation, but it was ordained by God, and is an institution that ought to be defended. It is the best school in which to learn divine, self-sacrificial love, and is a major part of God's plan for sanctification of the majority of people.

In Rome Alone

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 02:04:37 GMT

II Timothy 4:9-15 - Paul has been left mostly alone in Rome, and he urges Timothy to come to him. We see Paul lonely, forsaken, tired, and discouraged. He isn't that much different than you and I! My apologies for the recording - we had mic problems.

Crossing the Bar

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 21:55:02 GMT

II Timothy 4:6-8 - Here, Paul gives his elegy to Timothy. He states his present situation, and then he looks back at his past service, and forward to his glorious future.

His Final Word

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:03:45 GMT

II Timo thy 4:1-5 - Paul passes the torch to Timothy, as he contemplates the end of his life, and gives him a charge that every one of us should take to heart.

The Sufficient Word

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 20:19:47 GMT

II Timothy 3:14-17 The Scriptures are breathed out by God, and are all we need for Salvation and Sanctification, as well as being true in everything they address. We desperately need to get back to building our lives upon God's Word.

Follow Me, Boys!

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 23:40:13 GMT

Follow Me, Boys - Paul explains the reasons why Timothy chose to be his disciple and join his team. There are many lessons about discipleship that we can learn from him.

Looking Ahead

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 20:58:28 GMT

Looking Ahead - Will the rapture take place soon, or not? And how should we live in either case?

The Birth of a Cult - II Timothy 3:6-9

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 03:10:20 GMT

The Birth of a Cult - II Timothy 3:6-9

Perilous Times - II Timothy 3:1-5

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:47:45 GMT

Perilous Times - The character of the people who make the last days so perilous.

A Mission of Rescue - II Timothy 2:22-36

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 21:26:46 GMT

A Mission of Rescue - How to be the kind of person who is able to rescue those in captivity to Satan.

Fine China - II Timothy 2:20, 21

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 23:45:17 GMT

Fine China - How we can be useful and honorable vessels for the Master's use.

Thanksgiving Psalm - Psalm 100

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:51:47 GMT

Thanksgiving Psalm - It is not enough to praise God, we must praise Him for something. It is not enough to thank God, we must know what we are thanking Him for.

A Firm Foundation - II Timothy 2:16-19

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 01:34:08 GMT

A Firm Foundation - We must never trust the ideas of men, but place our complete confidence in the Word of God.

A Certified Technician - II Timothy 2:14, 15

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:30:01 GMT

A Certified Technician - We must strive to be a certified handler of the Word of God!

Remember - II Timothy 2:8-13

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:13:33 GMT

Remember ! - We must remind ourselves of who Jesus Christ is, of what He has done, Of what He expects of us, and of what He has promised.

II Timothy 2:1-7

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:22:28 GMT

Marvelous Metaphors - Paul uses 4 metaphors in this passage that give us a great deal of insight into what it means to serve the Lord.

II Timothy 1:13-18

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 23:39:08 GMT

F aithful and True - We must guard the truth that has been entrusted to us with eternal vigilance, or we will begin to drift. We must never substitute man's authority for God's!

II Timothy 1:8-12

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 14:25:17 GMT

No Need to Blush! - There are several reasons why we should not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Copy of II Timothy 1:1-7

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 14:08:02 GMT

Fan the Flames! - Paul begins the letter by trying to encourage Timothy in four ways, and urges him to encourage himself as well.

Titus 3:8-15

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 23:45:00 GMT

Profit and Loss - What God wants is always profitable, and disobeying Him will always result in loss.

Titus 3:1-7

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 02:35:02 GMT

Things Are Different Now! - How can we be truly Holy without being "Holier than Thou?"

Titus 2:11-15

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 22:54:00 GMT

God's Glorious Grace - God's grace brings salvation -- and a whole lot more!

Titus 2:1-10

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 22:41:43 GMT

A Multi-generational Church - Paul addresses all the age groups in the church, because all are important.

Reasons for change

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:37:17 GMT

The board of Northland Bible Church

Change simply for the sake of change is not a good thing. Tradition has value, and one does not overthrow tradition on a whim. At the same time, change does happen, and when people change, it is important to recognize that, and make adjustments that are within the scope of what God has commanded. For many years the tradition has been to have Sunday School on Sunday morning before the Worship Service. In our church, we ultimately abandoned Sunday School for children, since we had so few of them, but we still had an adult Sunday School class. In recent years, even that has been attended by fewer and fewer people. Yet the need for Christian Education has not lessened, it has probably increased. So how can we meet this need? We have decided to test a new format in the hopes that it will encourage more participation in knowing and understanding the Word of God. We are going to drop the Adult Sunday School class before the Worship Service, and instead begin the Worship Service a little earlier, at 10:15 AM. We will have our Worship Service first, and then we will have a break of 10 or 15 minutes, and then we will have a discussion of the message, seeking to answer questions that people may have, clarify things that were not understood, and share insights and applications that people may have had in response to the message. People are, of course, free to go before the discussion time if they wish, but our hope is that you will stay and participate, because we believe that it will be of real value for you to do so. We expect the discussion to last about 30 minutes, but we do not want to limit it, so if some people leave, but there are those who want to continue the discussion, we are fine with that too. We want to be flexible, to meet needs without imposing on people's time. Sometimes, if there is not a lot of discussion, we might end things earlier, and at others, if there is a great deal of discussion, and a lot of interest in learning more, we might continue on, with people being free to go when they need to. Our desire is to meet the needs of God's people. If we can get folks who are willing to help with it, we would be delighted to provide instruction for children separately during this discussion time, especially since we have many more kids than we used to have, and their instruction is as important as that for the adults. Our hope is that this format will prove valuable to all and encourage greater knowledge and understanding of God's precious Word. If it fails in that goal, we can always go back to what we did before, but we believe that there will be many benefits and value to this new way of doing things. We would welcome your input as we experiment with this.

What About Harry Potter?

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:34:19 GMT

Pastor Joel DeFord

My daughters (both of them grown) have asked me to critique the Harry Potter books. I will begin by saying that before I ever read the books, I was at an event at Central Baptist Seminary when Dr. Kevin Bauder talked about the books, and his general assessment was that they were more like junk food than poison. I agree with that statement. But I know that my daughters want something more comprehensive, so let me go into a little more depth.

I found the books an enjoyable read. They keep your attention, are very imaginative, and create an intriguing and interesting world. I had been told that they taught kids real witch-craft, and that is certainly not true. It is a fantasy world, not our world, and as such you must accept it as the author creates it, and evaluate it accordingly. It is no more this world than is Narnia or Middle Earth. But right and wrong are the same in all worlds. Love, courage, loyalty, truth, honor, friendship, and many other qualities are universal, and you will find them in both of those worlds, and in this one as well. You will also find hatred, rebellion, deceit, duplicity, and selfishness in all worlds, and this one is no exception. The fact that they exist does not make the books bad - they exist in the Bible as well. What has to be observed is how they are treated.

Let me begin with Harry's adopted family. I find them a bit un-believable. Perhaps the author intended them to be a caricature. Maybe I'm naive, but I have never met anyone who's cruelty was so useless. Most people have a reason for being cruel, even if it's a bad reason. The only reason these people seem to have is fear, and they don't seem to have a very good reason for the fear. I know we live in a culture that blames everything on fear, and it is for that reason that I doubt the premise. I know perfectly well that the things they accuse me of fearing I do not fear at all. I doubt that other people have such irrational fears either. The idea that everyone fears anyone who is different from them is a crock.

That is, however, a minor point. It is just an example of the nods to PC culture that are in the book.

I appreciate the examples of genuine friendship that are found in the story. There is much to be admired in the loyalty of the three friends, and their loyalty to Hagrid, and Dumbledore.

There is also a certain amount of insight in the situation of the house elves. They are generally willing to give up their freedom in order to gain security, and in that they are very much like people in our own world who have given up freedom for the same reason. They are quite willing for the government to tell them how to live, provide them with a pittance to live on, and then hold them in contempt, so long as they don't have to fend for themselves. I don't know if the author was trying to hint at this, but it is the first comparison that came to my mind.

I was also intrigued by another parallel I saw in the book, which I am again uncertain if the author intended. It could just be something that shows the influence of a background that is implicit, and thus the author may not have been aware of it. I am thinking of the fact that in the end, the hero of the book has to die to save his friends. This is certainly reminiscent of the Redemption story. Christ had to die in order to save mankind. He defeats Satan in His death, just as Harry defeats Voldemort by dying. In both cases, it turns out to be voluntary, since Harry discovers that this is what is going to happen before it does and goes ahead anyway.

The primary negative I saw in the book is that breaking rules seems to be regarded as a good thing. Now before anyone starts telling me that Jesus and the Apostles broke rules too, I want to make something clear. I understand that there are more than one kind of rules. There are absolute moral rules, and there are rules that are simply regulations. Absolute moral rules are given by God, regulations are man-made. Absolute moral rules should not be broken, and Christ never did break such a rule. Regulations however, are a different thing. There are times when one must break regulations in order to obey absolute moral rules. An example. There is a regulation that says that we should not trespass on other people's property. If we do we can be prosecuted. But nobody, (at least in a rational government - and ours is not always so) would fault you for trespassing on someone else's property in order to save someone's life. Another example. It is against regulations to drive over the speed limit, but nobody will fault you for driving over the speed limit in order to get a friend to the Dr. when they are having a heart attack.

So, I am aware that sometimes breaking regulations is admirable. However, one should not break regulations without a good reason. Paul, in Scripture, commands us to obey those in authority over us. Harry Potter and his friends are constantly breaking regulations without a good reason, and they are applauded for doing so. How are they applauded? Simply by this device, that in the book whenever they break the rules, it turns out just fine, in fact if they hadn't broken the rules, things would have turned out very bad indeed.

But they didn't know that breaking the rules was going to have that result, so one can't say they broke the rules in order to do something good. They were just breaking the rules because they wanted to, and the fact that things turned out good because of it seems to justify it. I do not think this is teaching children the truth, and these books were written for children after all.

This seems to me the only really grave danger in these books. Other than this, they are fun and entertaining, and that is certainly a good thing.

I'm sure more could be said, both good and bad, if a person were to analyze the books carefully. I do not have the time or inclination to do that. Therefore, I will leave my essay as it is, and hope that it will be helpful.

Passive Service

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:32:09 GMT

By Pastor Joel De Ford

As I have become older, the realization that, unless Christ returns first, I may well reach an age at which I will constitute a burden upon my family has occupied more of my thoughts. As with most people, the thought disturbs me. I do not wish to be a burden. I have seen many people, as they age, become a terrific burden upon their families in their efforts not to be a burden. I have seen them become unreasonable, stubborn, and even cruel. Or perhaps they were that way before they got old, and were just better at hiding it, I don't know. But as I have observed these things, my heart has cried out to God, "Oh, Lord, please do not let me become unreasonable as I get older. Help me to know when to relinquish control over my life, and when to let my family tell me what to do, and help me do so graciously and without bitterness. The truth is, few of us really want to be a burden, and rightly so. We should take care of ourselves as long as we can. But the fact is that unless we die first, we will all at some point become a burden, unless our children just stick us away somewhere and ignore us, and if they do that we ought to be ashamed of them and they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

We must face the fact that God has not given us the authority to determine the time of our own death. Suicide, whether Physician assisted or not, is sin. I realize that what is suicide and what is simply allowing nature to take it's course is not always a simple question to answer, but that is not my subject today, and I will not go into it. The fact is that God does allow most of us to become, in our old age, a burden on our families. Please do not make the case that it isn't really a burden because they love us. Of course it's a burden. We love our children, too, but you'd be a simpleton to try to make the case that they are not in any way a burden. The fact that they are well worth it does not take away the burden. So why does God permit us to become burdens?

I think the first step in understanding this is to correct the idea that a burden is necessarily an evil. Who is it that gives us our burdens? It is surely God. And God does all things well. If those burdens were not good for us, He would not give them. Spurgeon said that if there were no heavy loads we would not know good horses. I will go further. If there were no heavy loads, we would not have good horses. It is the heavy loads that make the horses strong. If I want to build strong muscles, I must lift heavy burdens. There is no other way.

God has told us that to be great, we must serve (Matt. 20:26, 27). But how could we serve if there were nobody who needed our service? Most of us think that the best life would be one in which we could always do exactly as we please. No demands, no burdensome responsibilities, no duties. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we had such a life, we would become utterly and completely self-centered. When I was a bachelor, the thing that disturbed me most about myself was that I was becoming more and more like myself. There was nobody to cross me, nobody to defer to, nobody to try my patience, nobody to make demands upon me, nobody to serve except myself. The purpose of people in our lives is to stop us from doing as we please. The only way to be Christ-like is to serve and please others. The most genuine service is the service that is given to us, rather than chosen by us.

In the book, "Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss, Katie is having a conversation with Mrs. Campbell. Let me quote her conversation here.:

"You know, I began, "dear Mrs. Campbell, that there are some trials that cannot do us any good. They only call out all there is in us that is unlovely and severe.

"I don't know of any such trials, she replied.

"Suppose you had to live with people who were perfectly uncongenial; who misunderstood you, and who were always getting into your way as stumbling-blocks?

"If I were living with them and they made me unhappy, I would ask God to relieve me of this trial if He thought it best. If He did not think it best, I would then try to find out the reason. He might have two reasons. One would be the good they might do me. The other the good I might do them.

"But in the case I was supposing, neither party can be of the least use to the other.

"You forget perhaps the indirect good one may receive by living with uncongenial, tempting persons. First such people do good by the very self-denial and self-control their mere presence demands. Then, their making one's home less home-like and perfect than it would be in their absence, may help to render our real home in heaven more attractive.

"But suppose one cannot exercise self-control, and is always flying out and flaring up? I objected.

"I should say that a Christian who was always doing that, she replied, gravely, "was in pressing need of just the trial God sent when He shut him up to such a life of hourly temptation. We only know ourselves and what we really are, when the force of circumstances bring us out.

"It is very mortifying and painful to find how weak one is.

"That is true. But our mortifications are some of God's best physicians, and do much toward healing our pride and self-conceit.

"Do you really think, then, that God deliberately appoints to some of His children a lot where their worst passions are excited, with a desire to bring good out of this seeming evil? Why I have always supposed the best thing that could happen to me, for instance, would be to have a home exactly to my mind; a home where all were forbearing, loving and good-tempered, a sort of little heaven below.

"If you have not such a home, my dear, are you sure it is not partly your own fault?

"Of course, it is my own fault. Because I am very quick-tempered, I want to live with good-tempered people.

"That is very benevolent in you, she said, archly.

I colored but went on.

"Oh, I know I am selfish. And therefore I want to live with those who are not so. I want to live with persons to whom I can look for an example, and who will constantly stimulate me to something higher.

"But if God chooses quite another lot for you, you may be sure that He sees that you need something totally different from what you want. You just now said that you would gladly go through any trial in order to attain a personal love to Christ that should become the ruling principle of your life. Now as soon as God sees this desire in you, is He not kind, is He not wise, in appointing such trials as He knows will lead to this end?

I meditated long before I answered. Was God really asking me not merely to let Martha and her father live with me on sufferance, but to rejoice that He had seen fit to let them harass and embitter my domestic life?

"I thank you for the suggestion, I said, at last.

Now I understand that this situation is not precisely the same as the one we are considering, but I do believe it is directly applicable. Even when my children are grown up, and perhaps have children of their own, they still need someone to serve, someone to care for, and minister to, if they are going to be Great Servants Of God. Even when I become old and senile, and perhaps don't even remember my children, I can be of service to them by being the one God uses to keep them serving and caring, and putting others before themselves. This is a great comfort to me. Even when I can no longer be actively of service to my children, I can still be passively useful to them. I can be a sanctifying force in their lives, by being God's tool to keep them looking outward instead of inward. It may not be a glamorous or self-fulfilling mission for me, but if that is the use God wants to make of me, I ought to be glad that He is able to use me so.

This does not mean that I should deliberately seek to be a burden, or an annoyance to my family. Of course, even when I must allow them to serve me, I ought still to try to serve them in every way I can. I can pray for them, and encourage them, and love them, and give them the benefit of my experience for as long as I am able. But even when I can do absolutely nothing for them, actively, I can still be of use to them, as long as God sees fit.

And this helps me to understand the role of my own parents in God's plan for my life. They are getting up in years, but are still able to look after themselves. That will not last forever. Because of location, I understand that it is unlikely that I will be the one to directly care for them on a daily basis. But I can understand that in whatever way I can serve them, God will be using them in my life, to make me more like my Master. What greater usefulness could they have? What a blessing they will be, even in their passive service for God. I must be willing that God should use me in the same way. Even if my last days are days of suffering, I ought to be willing to suffer in order to be used by God in the lives of those who must care for me. To me, this is what dignity is about. I will be useful to God and others until He chooses to take me home.

Cost-Benefit Analysis and Christ

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:26:36 GMT

By Pastor Joel De Ford

Cost/Benefit analysis is something that everyone of us does constantly. Everything we do has a cost. We may not really think of it as a cost, but it still is. The cost may be in time, energy, or any number of other things. We usually think of "cost as money, but that is very narrow thinking.

Even if I decide to take a nap, it has a cost attached, (time) and I have to decide if the cost is worth the benefit (rest). If I don't need the rest, then the cost is probably not worth paying. On the other hand, if I have something else to spend that time on that will give a great deal of benefit, I might choose not to take the nap if I determine that the other activity has more benefit to me than the needed rest does.

The point is, everything has its cost and its benefit. When Moses engaged in cost/benefit analysis, (Heb. 11:24-26) he decided that the cost (suffering with the children of Israel) was worth the benefit (the blessing of God), and that the cost (judgment after a short time) was not worth the benefit (pleasures of sin). Nothing I do will ever have no cost, even if the cost is not doing something else. And everything I do has a benefit, even if that benefit is not worth the cost.

The Bible does not make the case that sin has no benefit, but rather that the benefit is not worth what it costs. The wages of sin is death. No one denies that there is pleasure in sin, and pleasure is a good thing. God is the inventor of pleasure. Evil is parasitic. Nobody does evil for evil's sake. For example, nobody steals simply because stealing is evil. They steal to get some good thing that they are unwilling to work for, or cannot get any other way. Nobody murders simply because murder is evil. They do it to gain some end, even if that end is a sadistic pleasure. The pleasure is not in and of itself evil. Even if it is a twisted and tortured pleasure, it is a corruption of a good thing. Satan cannot create, he only corrupts. When we do our cost benefit analysis, we have to keep in mind that the benefit we desire may be a Trojan horse, that will introduce destructive forces into our lives. In that case, the cost is too high. Still, God always encourages us to do cost/benefit Analysis.

What else can we call it when God tells us, "put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need, ¹ or "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see, ² or "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:

18 though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

²⁰ but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be eaten by the sword;

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. ³

God's obvious point is that righteousness is worth a lot more than it costs, and sin costs a lot more than it is worth. This is doubly true when we realize that God is the one who has paid the price for righteousness.

An obvious question, then, to ask is, "does God do cost/benefit analysis? It is at this point that we begin to discover that God is very different from His creatures.

In the first place there is the question of cost. If God is the infinite God proclaimed in Scripture, (Psalm 50:12; 147:5; Job 11:7; Deut. 33:27; I Kings 8:27) then it is hard to imagine how anything can cost Him. Let us think about His creation of the universe. What would His "cost look like. Did He expend energy in it's creation? We can only think of cost in terms of having used up something, so that we have less of it when we are finished than when we began. But God's power was not used up. When He began to create the universe, he had infinite power, and when He was finished He still had infinite power. It cost Him nothing in terms of power. Did it use up some of God's time? When He began He was eternal, and when He was finished He was still eternal. Time, in fact, can hardly enter the equation, because when He created the universe, He created time. Creating it could not have used any of it up. In fact, when we begin to think about it, we realize that creating the universe cost Him absolutely nothing.

What about the benefit side of the equation. How could creating the universe possibly benefit God? Can we say that creating the universe would make God happier? To suggest so would be to say that God was less than perfectly happy before He created it. Even the thought borders on blasphemy. Did He create the universe in order to increase His glory, His prestige? His glory and prestige were infinite before He created. You cannot increase infinity. That could not possibly be His reason. Did God create the universe because He needed something to give Himself a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction? But of course, God's infinite perfection demands that He has no needs of any kind. So He could not possibly have been fulfilling a need in creation. We must come to the conclusion that God created the universe simply because He chose to do so, and that doing so did not benefit Him in any way. He would have been the same infinitely perfect, infinitely happy God that He is now if He had not done so.

So why would He bother? I believe the only satisfactory answer must be that He created the universe for the benefit of the beings He created as part of it, i.e. human beings. He did it because He is love, and he chose to express His love by creating human beings whom He could shower benefits on. He didn't have to, He didn't need to, He just did it.

And this highlights the infinite difference between God and His creatures. God showers benefits on His creatures, because His creatures are beings filled with needs. Plants need sunshine and rain, and God showers them with those things. Animals need food, shelter, oxygen, water, etc. and God provides those things in abundance. Humans have even more needs. We need the same things animals need, plus we need love, significance, meaningful employment, challenge, beauty and a thousand other things. God provided all those things in the universe that He designed for us. In fact, He made us not only as beings who need love, but beings able to love, and with a need to love. And to fulfill that need, He poured out on us gifts that we are able to give to others around us, including even the other parts of His creation. But because we are finite creatures, for us there is a cost to everything, and a benefit to everything. In a sense, part of the glory of our ability to love is that when we give, it costs us something. (II Sam. 24:24)

Perhaps you will say, "so does that mean that our gifts are more valuable than God's gifts, because what we give costs, and what He gives costs Him nothing? And perhaps in this is the most amazing truth of all. Because in fact there is one thing that God gives us that did cost Him. The price is beyond comprehension. In order to redeem us from sin, God gave an infinite gift. In this, we see the infinite value that God places upon us. The fact that He doesn't need us in no way implies that He doesn't value us. He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) When He gave His only Son, He had nothing more to give. He gave His all. It is the only thing God could give that could cost Him, and He received no benefit from His gift. When He gave His son, He did not weigh the cost and the benefit “ for Him it was all cost and no benefit, and He did it for Love. When we give, even things that cost us, we always benefit in some way. But for Him, it could only be pure and perfectly altruistic love.

This brings up the final issue. As humans, we have an inherent tendency to think that other beings are like us. We attribute emotions to animals, when there is no possible way of knowing if they have emotions, and in many cases, it is impossible that they should have emotions. We attribute loyalty and altruism to honeybees, when in fact all that they do is purely the result of reaction to stimuli. We even try to anthropomorphize inanimate objects. We think that our car has it in for us when it "acts up, or we lavish love upon it, as though it could appreciate our generosity.

But when it comes to God, it is far more insidious. In Psalm 50, God says "These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. " ⁴ When we begin to think that God is like us, we inevitably begin to think falsehoods. It is doubly dangerous, because in some ways, we are in fact "like God. We were created in His image, and that image was not totally destroyed in the fall. In those areas where we are in God's image, we do in fact resemble God more than we do the rest of creation. But in all area's that relate to our creature-hood, we are completely unlike God.

This means that we are prone to think that God's motivation is like ours. It makes us feel good when people praise us, and we think God is like that. We are happy when circumstances favor us, and sad when they do not, and we think God has similar responses. We get a sense of power when we lord it over other people, and we think God feels the same way. We feel slighted when people slander us, and we think God does too. We feel a necessity to defend our own dignity, because it is actually in jeopardy, mostly from our own behavior, and we think God feels a need to defend His dignity. In fact, God's dignity is never threatened. Nothing can make God feel slighted. God does not delight in His power over others. God can feel grieved, but he never feels grieved for Himself, but only for others. The ways in which we misunderstand God are nearly infinite. They almost all arise out of thinking that God is like us. Cost/benefit analysis is one area where we are completely unlike God, and until we realize that fact, we will always misunderstand Him.

This is not to say that we are wrong in operating under cost/benefit. We must, because we are creatures. In regards to morality, we ought to be as much like God as we possibly can. We ought to approach the love of God as nearly as it is possible. We ought to be as truthful as God, as righteous as God, as Holy as God ("You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.) ⁵ But we can never be as self-sufficient as God, and any attempt to be so would result in the sin of Satan, whose pride reached a point where he said "I will be like the most High. That was blasphemy. We ought, instead, to readily acknowledge our dependence, and humbly seek God's help, God's wisdom, God's aid. We can benefit from God, we need God, and we ought to be aware of that. When we serve God, it will cost us, but it will benefit us more. When God serves us, it cost Him nothing at all, except in regards to our redemption, and He can never receive any benefit from doing so.

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Mal 3:10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Re 3:18). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Is 1:18“20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ps 50:21). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

5 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Le 20:26). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Is God Self-centered?

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:13:44 GMT

By Pastor Joel De Ford

There is a common misconception that God's over-arching desire is to promote His own glory, and that that desire control's everything He does. The idea is that God is essentially self-centered. To hear the proponents of this view, one would get the idea that God's greatest pleasure is to be praised, and His greatest desire is to have His glory increased. The rational for this view is that since God is the most important being in the universe, and is, in fact, the center of the universe, (and certainly nobody disputes that fact),therefore He must of necessity be self-centered. This may, indeed, seem quite reasonable. The old adage is "it's not bragging if you can do it. The only problem is that it does not reflect what the Bible actually says about Him. Jesus Christ is the absolutely perfect revelation of the Father, and nobody could ever say that Jesus was self-centered. The truth is, God has no need to be self-centered. He does not need to defend His position. It is not in jeopardy. C. S. Lewis says "We must not think Pride is something God forbids because He is offended at it, or that Humility is something He demands as due to His own dignity “ as if God Himself was proud. He is not in the least worried about His dignity. (Mere Christianity)

There are several passages used to defend the idea that God's primary aim is His own glory. I think the problem is that we don't really understand what glorifying God is all about. But I do think these passages need to be examined. The first is Isaiah 42:8. It says "I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. In context, this verse is talking about God's desire that His works not be attributed to idols. The question we must ask is, "why is God jealous of His glory? We understand that nothing can either diminish or enhance God's innate glory. God's glory is infinite. It can't be increased or decreased. What matters to God is people's perception. If people attribute God's works to idols, then they will trust in idols. If they attribute God's works to God, then they may trust in God. God is not affected one way or the other, but people are. God receives no benefit when He is glorified, but the people too whom He is glorified are greatly benefited. This is, I believe, key to understanding all these verses.

The second passage is Isaiah 43:7. The pertinent part is "I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him. The "him in this passage is the nation of Israel. Surely we understand that God is not saying that He created Israel in order to increase His own glory. That is not possible. God's glory is infinite. He created them, rather, to be a witness to God's glory to all the nations. This is expressed in verse 10 of this chapter. So again, God's concern is not His innate glory, but His displayed glory. God loves the gentile nations, and Israel is to be His missionary to them.

Isaiah 48:11 is a little different. It says, "For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory unto another. What is it that God is going to do "for mine own sake? Verse 9 tells us. He is going to refrain from cutting off Israel, and instead will defer His anger. He will, alternatively, refine them. He is doing so because of His promises to Abraham and others. His name would be polluted if He broke His promise. The world would say that God was not to be trusted. God's purpose is again missionary. His passion is that people would see and know His glory, with the end in view of their coming to Him in faith. God is not seeking His own benefit here (God cannot be benefited), but the benefit of the human race.

Ezekiel 39:21 says, "And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. Here again, God's glory is to be displayed, not increased! The purpose is so that both Jews and heathen will know who God is and what He is like. (vv. 22, 23) Who will benefit from such knowledge? Mankind, of course.

Malachi 2:2 tells us "If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. "Here, we might say, "surely we have an example of God looking out for Himself. But if we think carefully about it, I think we will see that God is still looking out for us. Is God injured when I glorify myself? Hardly. I am injured, because in glorifying myself, I am showing myself to be out of touch with reality “ in other words, insane. The benefit of recognizing reality is mine, not God's.

We could go on and look at Acts 12:23; Romans 9:23; Ephesians 1:6, 12; and II Corinthians 10:17. We will find the same theme in all of them. So what does it mean to glorify God? It means two things. First, it means to attribute glory to God, not because He needs more glory, but because He already has all the glory, and I cannot live successfully unless I recognize that reality. Secondly, it means to display God's glory to those around me, in order that "many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:3) It never means me adding to or increasing God's glory, which is infinite, and it certainly does not mean that God is gratified or flattered by my praise, and somehow made to feel better about himself, as if He were a self-centered tyrant.

How we think about God matters very much, not because it threatens God's dignity, but because wrong thinking about God is destructive to us, and to others.

How Bad Is It?

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:10:17 GMT

By Pastor Joel De Ford

A number of years ago I was taking a group of young people camping in the Black Hills. We were taking a most-of-the-day hike, and everyone was having a great time. We had Hiked along a rails-to-trails trail that went through an old railroad tunnel, which was one of our favorite hikes to take. Along the rail grade there were places where large boulders had been deposited to provide fill for the grade. We were coming down off the grade at a point where these boulders were, and one of the girls, her last name was Johnson, but I can't remember her first name, so we'll call her Paula, was jumping from rock to rock on the way down as any red-blooded kid loves to do, in fact, I still do, and she stumbled and fell face down against a boulder. Her forehead was split wide open, and blood was gushing out as she got up and declared, "I'm alright" it's really nothing. She had no idea how badly she was hurt, but it was obvious to me that we had to get the blood stopped immediately and get her to a doctor. We had a first-aid kit along, but nothing in it was designed to stop a cut like that. We ended up tearing up a shirt and binding it around her head with my belt. Then, of course, we had to get her out and to the doctor, and that meant several hours hiking. It didn't look good. To make a long story short, we met a fellow on horseback, and he had a summer house in the area. He had us get her to the nearest road, and he rode home and got his car and took her to the hospital for us. The reason I tell this story, though, is because that girl was very much like many of us. She did not realize the condition she was in, and we are just like her when it comes to the injury in our lives from sin. We say, "oh, it's really not so bad, all I need is a little counseling, or "if we could just get our debts out of the way, things would change, or "if I just had a different husband (or wife) everything would be fine. We are completely un-aware that sin has so devastated our lives that nothing, but a new heart will ever fix our problems. That's why our situation is so serious. When people realize how much danger they are in, there is hope. When danger is un-recognized, there is no remedy, because we will not take the remedy.

In Romans 6:23 God's Word tells us that the result of sin is spiritual death, and there is no recovery from that. The results of our injury from sin will be eternal torment in a place completely separated from God. That separation alone would be enough to make us miserable forever. Some Band-Aid is not going to help. We must get to the doctor. Jesus is the great Physician. In Mark 2:17, Jesus told the Pharisees, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The problem is that sinners (that means you and it means me) are so often unaware of how serious an injury sin is. As a result, they see no need to go to Jesus. And Jesus' heart breaks over this. In Matt. 23:37, Jesus grieved over the city of Jerusalem, because they would not accept the help he offered.

Because, you see, if we would only recognize how seriously we are injured, and get to the doctor, he could help us! Romans 6:23 goes on to tell us that the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. We don't have to die! The Philippian Jailer recognized how dire his situation was, and he asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved. The answer for him was the same as the answer for us. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and though shalt be saved. It's as simple as that. The publican prayed, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." God tells us "This man went down to his house justified."

Friend don't be deceived. Sin is not "nothing." It will utterly destroy you. It must be taken away, and only Jesus can do that. David cries "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. You can't get any further away than that. Receive Him now, before it's too late. You'll never be sorry that you did.

Submission

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 01:59:51 GMT

By Pastor Joel A De Ford

Submission is a most unpopular word in our present society. No one wants to submit. Amongst the feminist faction, the word produces a reaction similar to that of fire and gasoline. It seems to speak of slavery, abuse, and bondage. We are being bombarded with the doctrine that self-assertion is the key to fulfillment and discovery of one's own identity.

To the natural man, all this sounds very reasonable; it is an attractive philosophy, for it tells us to do what we always wanted to do anyway. However, it is not a Scriptural philosophy. The Bible teaches us precisely the opposite. The real key to self-discovery is not in self-assertion, but rather in genuine submission, nor is it "for women only."

But what is genuine submission? Is it more than mere obedience? Yes, far more. Mrs. E. Prentis, quoting from the Imitation of Christ, gives four steps that lead to peace, and the first of those refers to our subject. "Be desirous of doing the will of another, rather than thine own."

If we give it some thought, we will recognize in that sentence the essence of the mind of Christ and the spirit of genuine submission. Peter exhorts us, "yea, all of you be subject one to another..." (II Peter 5:5). The attitude of Christ is expressed in Hebrews 10:9 - "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God," and in John 4:34, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me..." In John 5:30, Christ says, "I seek not mine own will." David cries, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8).

These verses portray not merely the letter, but the very spirit of submission. The spirit is always more exacting than the letter. Let me give a personal illustration.

When I was young, I felt that I had nearly arrived with regard to submission. I recognized that if it is God's will that we obey civil authorities, and those civil authorities tell us to pay taxes, then it is God's will that we pay taxes. So I conscientiously, albeit grudgingly, paid my taxes. No matter how big a hurry I was in, I gritted my teeth and held the speedometer at 55. I was careful to honor my parents and their wishes. I promptly did all that my employers asked me to do, however distasteful or dull the job. Above all, I sought to obey God, whatever the cost (with the emphasis on "cost"). Then I discovered this principle and my self-confidence received a terrible blow. I could not say that I delighted to pay my taxes! (Or perhaps I could say it, but it wouldn't be true!) There was no doubt that I longed to drive over 55. I may have honored my parents' wishes, but I certainly did not try to discover them so that I could do them instead of my own. I may have been holding to the letter, but I did not have the spirit of submission, and I, therefore, lacked the mind of Christ.

There is, perhaps, no more difficult place to implement this principle than in the home. With that in mind, let us deal briefly with the responsibilities of husband and wife in this regard.

A Word to Wives

Many Christian wives recognize the Scriptural responsibility they have to submit to their husbands, and are honestly trying to obey in this area. Still, they feel frustrated and un-fulfilled. Perhaps the problem is in the spirit. Ask yourself, do you delight in doing your husband's will rather than your own? When you obey, is it because you feel you must, or because it is the joy of your life to do so? The spirit of submission seeks to do the will of another even when it is not demanded.

When a wife learns to obey her husband joyfully, and furthermore, to diligently seek out her husband's will, and fulfill it before it is ever expressed, then she will discover the joy of submission.

A Word to Husbands

Husbands often have the attitude that submission, at least in the family, is only for wives and children; certainly not for them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The husband is to be the spiritual leader in the family, and as such, he must be an example of every quality that he seeks to build into the others. It is vital that he illustrate to his family the true spirit of submission.

We have been taught that wives ought to submit to their husbands, and that the balance is found in husbands loving their wives as their own bodies. This is very true, but we need to go a step further. If I love my wife more than myself, what will that prompt me to do? Peter tells us to be subject one to another. A husband does not have a spirit of genuine submission unless he willingly foregoes his own will in favor of his wife's will whenever he can.

This, of course, does not free the husband from his responsibility. Adam was cursed, not merely for listening to his wife, but rather, for following her lead when she was wrong. In that case, he should not have submitted, and was held accountable for doing so. But be honest, husbands. How often does that happen? Most of the time our demands are merely the assertion of our own will. Husbands, ask yourselves, how often do I insist on having my own way when I could give way to my wife without the slightest neglect of responsibility?

God Himself submits His will to ours to this extent, for He delights to give us the desires of our hearts when He can do so consistently with what He knows to be our best interests. In this, He is an example for us. As a husband you must take full responsibility for the overall good of your family, but so long as your wife's will is not inconsistent with that welfare, you should delight in voluntarily subordinating your will to hers. You ought to desire to give way to her whenever you conscientiously can. Furthermore, you should seek to discover her will, and fulfill it wherever consistently possible.

Perhaps this sounds like a hard doctrine. You may say, "What then, am I never to have my own way?" But what does the gospel teach us? To have our own way? No, rather to give way, to seek the other's good. Certainly it is a hard doctrine, for it is not a natural doctrine. I dare say the natural man will think it an absurd way to live. But we were not saved to live a natural, but a supernatural life, and God's grace will prove sufficient even for this, if we purpose not to resist it. In such a home, the only competition will be to see who can do the other's will first! Blessed competition.

The Fatal Flaw of Fatalism

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 01:51:41 GMT

By Pastor Joel De Ford

Materialism is the dominant philosophy among scientists of our day, but that does not make it true. Indeed, it has a fatal flaw, and that flaw is fatalism.

Materialism postulates that all that exists are matter, energy, and the laws of nature. Everything that happens, and everything that exists in the universe can be accounted for by the laws of cause and effect working on matter and energy. If this is true, then every event in the universe could be infallibly predicted if we had adequate knowledge of every preceding event. Few people would have any difficulty with this idea as long as the events in question are simply physical phenomenon, such as the orbits of the planets, and so on. But in fact, this must apply to every event in the universe. That includes such things as the behavior of any individual human being. In other words, this world view declares that every action that you undertake was caused by something else, and given the chain of events that preceded it, could not have been different. You were fated by the laws of the universe to do what you did, and it was not possible for you to have done differently. Your actions were caused by the chain of events preceding it, and they are the effect of that cause.

Francis Crick said "'You', your joys and your sorrows, your memories and ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules."

Understand that if all there is matter, energy, and the laws of nature, then it must be true that all your actions are caused. There is no alternative. But we have to carry this one step further. Not only are your actions caused, but your thoughts are also caused. In other words, every thought in your mind was caused by previous events. You feel as though you came to a conclusion through reasoning processes, but if materialism is true, that isn't possible. The very process of reasoning that you experience was caused, and you could not have taken any other train of thought or arrived at any other conclusion.

This means, of course, that those who disagree with you also could not have come to any other conclusion than they did. They came to their conclusion simply through the laws of cause and effect. You can see the problem immediately. How do we know which conclusion is the correct one? If the laws of cause and effect can produce two totally contradictory thoughts in two different minds, and neither mind could have thought differently, then it is impossible to know which thought is true. In fact, materialism is self-defeating. If it is true, you can never know that it is true, and if it is not true, then it is not true. Indeed, if it is true, then my sitting here and writing about it is a waste of time, and you reading about it is also a waste of time.

The reason that materialism is a self-defeating system is that it is fatalistic. Things could not be different than they are. I'm not saying that this means that materialism is not true, I am saying that if it is, then you cannot know it, and I cannot know it, and even discussing it, or anything else for that matter is an absolute waste of time, but of course, it is a waste of time that I cannot avoid, because I am fated by cause and effect to discuss it!

This problem does not occur only with materialism. You have the same problem with any fatalistic system. For example, Islam is a fatalistic system. According to Islam, Allah has pre-determined everything that is to happen in the universe. "It is written is the phrase they use. But, of course, everything would have to include the thoughts of every single person in the world. That would mean that Allah is the cause of every thought that every individual has. They could not think differently than they do. There is therefore no way of knowing which thought is really true, and which are not. Thus, no Muslim can say that they know Islam is true.

Calvinism falls prey to this same fatal flaw of fatalism. I know, of course, that my Calvinist friends will take exception to this statement but think it through. Calvinism is a fatalistic system.

Let me substantiate this claim. Edwin E. Palmer expresses the system this way.

"All things that happen in all the world at any time and in all history " whether with inorganic matter, vegetation, animals, man, or angels (both the good and evil ones) "come to pass because God ordained them. Even sin “the fall of the devil from heaven, the fall of Adam, and every evil thought, word, and deed in all of history, including the worst sin of all, Judas' betrayal of Christ" is included in the eternal decree of our Holy God. ¹

This is a fair declaration of what Calvin taught “that God is the cause of every thought, word, and deed."

Let us think through carefully what this means. It matters not what the cause is, if my thoughts are caused, I cannot know that they are true. It does no good to appeal to the idea that God caused my thoughts, and that they must therefore be true, because, according to Calvin, God also caused the thoughts of the Arminian. Does that make his thoughts true? But of course, Calvinists and Arminians cannot both be correct. Neither can we appeal to Scripture, because God is causing the Calvinist to interpret those Scriptures one way, but He is also causing the Arminian to interpret them in the opposite way. How can we be sure whether God is causing the Arminian to believe the way he does, or if the Arminian is correct? Indeed, if Calvinism is correct, how do we know what parts of it are really true, and which parts are simply errors that God has caused Calvinists to believe? And of course, there are all kinds of levels in between Calvinists and Arminians. I hold to neither. There are some Calvinists who believe that Christ died for all men, other Calvinists believe that Christ died only for the elect. If Calvinism is true, then God is causing both to believe the way they do. How do they know which Calvinist God is causing to believe truth, and which one God is causing to believe error? Or perhaps God is causing them both to believe error, and the truth is something that God has not chosen to cause anybody to think! How can we know?

The Calvinist cannot, in fact, be certain that the Muslim is not correct. Perhaps God's name is really Allah, and He is causing the Calvinist to believe what he does believe, in error. If the Sovereignty of God is such as Calvinists hold, it is impossible to know for sure, because God (or Allah) causes people to think erroneous thoughts as well as true ones.

Indeed, fatalism is fatal to any epistemology. If any fatalistic system is true, then knowledge is an impossibility, and we are all engaged in a hopeless and meaningless exercise.

Of course, I do not believe Calvinism, Materialism, or Islam is true, and I disbelieve them for other reasons than this problem of fatalism, but I would suggest that this problem should cause any Fatalist to re-examine his system.

1 Edwin H. Palmer, the five points of Calvinism (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, enlarged ed., 20 ^th prtg. 1999), 82

Titus 1:10-16

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 22:15:53 GMT

Dealing with Deceivers - What are false teachers like, and how should they be dealt with? That's the question Paul answers in this section.

Titus 1:5-9

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 21:37:32 GMT

Order In the Church - God requires the church to be an orderly body, and a big part of that is leadership. Paul instructs Titus in this regard.

Titus 1:1-4

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 21:22:04 GMT

Hello Titus - Paul gives his mission statement to Titus, and his blessing

Our Incomprehensible God

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 02:04:15 GMT

Isaiah 55:5-9 The most wonderful thing about God is that He is far beyond our comprehension. Yet there is nothing more challenging and rewarding than trying to comprehend Him!

Motivation for Ministry

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 02:32:08 GMT

What the real "Chief end of Man" is, and how this can motivate us in our service for God.

Glorifying God

douloi@charter.net (Joel De Ford) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 02:30:12 GMT