From The Desk of Pastor Ed ... 2022 Archives
God’s Wisdom and Knowledge Are Unsearchable August 26, 2022
“In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:1-2). The FATHER made fantastic vegetation, live creatures, the skies, and countless, other marvelous things. Then, the SPIRIT of GOD moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2b). Finally, the SON of GOD (LORD God) created the earth such as the Garden of Eden, (Genesis 2:4-ff) and then living humanity in the image of Adam and Eve.
God and man lived together wonderfully. Adam was assigned to give all creatures in the world names. Adam was brilliant. Everything from galaxies to that tiny hummingbird, God created them.
It is foolish that a huge, huge ball exploding in space can give a human a brain.
Reality can be seen in this: the Law of non-contradiction. That means that we hold these truths to be self-evident. The apostle Paul was a scholar. In his youth he learned in Greek school. Roman 1:20-23, he wrote. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse; Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.”
God is real, just as real as the history written in the book of Genesis.
Pastor Edwin Anderson
A MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE May 31, 2022
The United States of America has fought in 11 wars and is engaged now in the 12th. It is in a new type of war—but not against any one nation. The “war of terrorism” that terrible wreckage of 2 towers in New York City in September 11, 2001. Standing before loss of over 3,000 innocents, President George W. Bush determined that America should put its military into action. Truly our veterans from the Revolutionary War to this Day earned liberty and peace for all Americans.
Our USA government maintains 129 cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico, and 12 in foreign countries from North Africa to the Philippines. My family visited the most well-known - Arlington National Cemetery - 612 acres across the gently rolling hills near the Potomac River. Not far away stands the Vietnam National Memorial. In my high school days of gym, I wrestled with Arnie and Glenn--both died in Vietnam. My older brother Dale drove a truck over a hidden mine. One leg was seriously damaged. In the 2nd World War my father raised to the rank of major and followed General MacArthur up the Pacific Ocean march. His anti-aircraft artillery defended US air bases that shook up Japanese bombers and so ruined their target. Most of his crew were Black brothers that he trained to help save America and did very well.
Let Abraham Lincoln speak for this Memorial Day, 2022, at the Gettysburg cemetery:
“Four score and seven ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far about our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” (Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863)
May God bless America
Pastor Edwin Anderson
The Man Who Lent His Tomb for Three Days May 1, 2022
Joseph is his name, the 12th Joseph in my library. He made his home 20 miles from the City of David – Jerusalem. He and his relatives grew up in a small city of priests – Arimathea. And thus he is known to us today as the Bible calls him, Joseph of Arimathea. This man was a Bible scholar and was waiting for the Kingdom. And, the greatest of all Sanhedrin governing lawyers, he lent his precious grave to the SON of GOD!
His deep studies in the Scriptures fascinated him: Abraham, the father of the nation (Kingdom) Israel, a lineage out of Judah, narrowing to King David and the town of Bethlehem. Then all Israel began to hear of a Nazarene citizen by the name of Jesus, meaning “God saves.” This Jesus preached to thousands and thousands and preached what? THE KINGDOM of GOD.
“That’s it!” – the miracle at Bethany when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Joseph had heard of this Jesus. No one had ever revived a four-day human carcass. Jesus did. All the Jewish rabbis said they believed only God could raise a dead person back to life. Jesus had done it. So Joseph of Arimathea believed Jesus to be the Son of God, and he became a secret disciple of Jesus. The Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees ganged up to capture, judge, and crucify Jesus. His crime—claiming He was the Son God. What did God claim? Jesus IS MY SON (Matthew 3:1 by God and John the Baptist).
After the death of Jesus on the cross, Joseph hurried to Governor Pilate to ask for the beaten and bloody crucified Body. He got it. With his servants, he carefully took the Body to Joseph’s newly finished tomb. Another new convert, Nicodemus, joined with his servants to carry expensive 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes to use in carefully wrapping the body like a king. They rushed to finish the burial before sunset.
“After this, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, [and] a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God; good and just man [and] a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews. He had not consented to their decision and deed. Coming and taking courage, this man went to Pilate and asked that he might take away the body of Jesus. . .. Pilate gave him permission [and] commanded the body to be given to Joseph. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
“Then Joseph bought fine linen [and] took Him down. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in strips of clean linen cloth with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.”
Matt. 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42
Scripture taken from One Perfect Life by John McArthur
Pastor Edwin Anderson
PREACHING Christ February 26, 2022
Let’s begin by Silent Preaching.”
What’s this? First, we walk in the steps of Jesus. The apostle Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1st Corinthians 11:1). We aim to imitate His behavior- ‘love, joy, peace, …” Galatians 5:22-26f. People do notice!
The Jewish rulers “perceived that they [Peter & John] were uneducated and untrained men, and they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts of the Apostles 4:13).
These ancient men had been walking with God – Enoch walked with God so well that God whisked him right up into Heaven. (Hebrews 11:5-6). Though the whole world was wicked, Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9; Hebrews 11:6-7). Abraham was a genuine man of God (Hebrews 11:8-19).
These godly women standout—Ruth watched the godly behavior in her mother-in-law and then believed in her God (Ruth 1:1-4); Esther lived a pure and courage life though pagans surrounded her (Esther 1- 12); and Mary, the pure virgin whom God chose to be the mother of the Messiah (Luke 1 – 2).
All of these “walked with God” while eyes were glued and hearts impacted.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit helped to “Preach Christ” and save their souls’.
So, where might we begin? Commit ourselves to live like Jesus. Commit not to be a critic. Commit to pray for their salvation. Give Gospel tracts to others.
Let’s “PREACH: JESUS!
Pastor Edwin Anderson
Can a Christian Have Assurance of Salvation? January 10, 2022
The first verse of I John 5 answers the question. The apostle John and 10 more others had the answer. When Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven’s throne where God was sitting, He prayed, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your Name. Those whom you gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost….” John 17:12.
Jesus testified like the Shepherd in an earlier time and place. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall perish; neither shall anyone snatch out of My hand.” Almighty God, “My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. John 10:27-29.
How can this be? Here is the path to salvation
(1) With heart and soul – “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) is born (has) been of God….” I John 5:1.
(2) Repent of all sins, hatred, and evils. Acts of the Apostles 2:36-39; and 3:19-20.
(3) Place faith in God with whole heart into Jesus Christ. Romans 10: 9a, 10-11, 17.
Genuine Christianity changes one's heart and lifestyle; loving true 1st John 4:7-12; 5:1; 5:1 and living right. The Holy Spirit teaches behavior, 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21; obeying our Lord and Savior 1st John 5:2-3; Gospel John 15:9-15.
A new Christian will grow and grow seeking to walk with our Lord—loving and enjoying Him knowing our Lord is always near.
Pastor Ed Anderson
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