The Most Illogical Conclusion to the Question: Who is Jesus?

By Tony V. Hammack
 

As far as I can understand, the majority of non Christian world religions and some cults, conclude that Jesus Christ was a historic figure at least but some elevate Jesus to the status of "Good Person" or "Accurate Prophet" or "Good Teacher" or "Healer" or some other title you'd place upon a very gifted or kind hearted human being.

As I was reading my Bible today I came across a passage in John 10:33 where Jesus, was about to be stoned for blasphemy.   John 10:33 says, "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

My Bible tells me that the contemporary listeners of Jesus understood him to be making distinct claims to DEITY.  If Jesus wanted to refute the accusation he easily could've said, "Hey wait a minute guys, I'm a man just like you, I never said or tried to imply I'm divine."  However these words are not found in scripture.  Amazingly enough Jesus is also worshiped by people who are on the receiving end of miracles but it's never recorded in scripture that he told the people to stop, like the apostles do and angels do in other places in scripture.    Now this is critically important because Jesus makes claims to deity it dispels the idea that Jesus was just a good person or just a prophet or just a nice teacher or whatever other illogical conclusion a person would want to draw concerning his identity.

Let's explore the idea of someone making distinctive claims to deity in modern times.  Suppose your neighbor walks over to you and says, "Hey come over here, I've got something to tell you."  You walk over and he whispers in your ear, "God and I are one!",  "When you've seen me you've seen the father".  Now, you have a choice to make.  Is your neighbor telling you the truth or is he not?  If he is you should stop what you are doing and worship him on the spot but if he isn't you could not conclude any longer that your neighbor is a "good person".  Let's explore what you must conclude if he's not telling the truth.

#1 He's a liar!  So if your neighbor tells you he's equal with God and he knows in his own mind he's not, that makes him a liar.  Now on the scale of lies this is one of the worst kind of lies a person could tell.  So he knows he's not the way to salvation but knowingly leads others astray from the truth.  This is the worst kind of lie because it's devilish in nature.  Your neighbor could lead thousands or perhaps millions away from the truth by concocting this hoax on humanity.  So your neighbor can't be considered a good person if he makes distinct claims to deity knowing he's not.

#2 He's a lunatic!  So if you travel down to your local mental institution you may find people who are mentally ill who claim to be God.  Now in their defense they are convinced in their own minds that they really are.  Unfortunately one wouldn't consider a person with this level of mental illness a "good person".  Perhaps they were a victim of some horrific crime that damaged their mental capacities to perceive reality or maybe they have a genetic predisposition for this kind of thinking.  Perhaps they are suffering from a demonic presence.  We don't really know but we know one thing.  This person is not capable of leading in a good way nor is this person someone most of us would "follow", because there will be other components to their mental illness that make them hard to coexist with let alone die for. 

So let's review our two choices for the person who decides to make claims to deity but isn't.  #1 Liar: Not just a little white lie kind of liar but a hoax on humanity kind of liar, someone who should be put into the worst kind of liar category.  #2 Lunatic: A person who really believes they are God (and isn't) is crazy.  And not just a little crazy, very crazy.

#3 He's Lord and God! So looking at the manuscript authority of the New Testament, and the teaching, life, miracles, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; one, who's logical, must conclude that Jesus claims to deity are substantiated by his words, attitude and actions.  The only logical conclusion for who Jesus is, is who he said he was.  Jesus is who the Pharisees understood him to be claiming to be.  If you can't draw this conclusion for yourself, for whatever reason (your eyes are closed or blinded by some other ideology) then please don't make the idiotic statement that "Jesus was JUST a good person".  "Jesus was JUST a prophet". or "Jesus was JUST a good teacher".

 
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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Peace on Earth - One Pastor's Response to the Sandy Hook Shooting

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

 These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.    Scriptural Basis:
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Genesis 6:13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.
Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
Mark 13:7 Says When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Introduction:  We know we live in a volatile environment where wars can start in various places in the world. These things can be alarming especially if you are serving or have loved ones serving in our military. Today however I want to speak on the shooting in Connecticut and what I believe will happen and how we as God's people should respond. Our First response should be found in Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. As painful as it can be I believe the Lord has called us to be empathetic to other people's loss and suffering.

Empathy - the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.

Once we move through this phase of understanding I believe the next logical step is to start to think, “How can we prevent something like this from happening again?” There are two basic ways to control someone's behavior.

Creating External Controls & Fostering Internal Controls

External Controls are modifying the environment of an individual or society limiting their choices by external restrictions. Putting someone in prison would be an example of applying an external control to a person who has trouble meeting societal standards for co-existing.

Internal Controls are modifying the environment of an individual or society giving them freedom but instilling in the individuals in that society an internal code of conduct that prevents them from engaging in anti-social behavior.

Let's explore the success or failure of external controls related to the shooting in Connecticut. The first thing folks seem to think about is gun control.

The Second Amendment:  I want to touch briefly on the 2nd amendment and then we'll move right along. I would define gun control under the category of external controls. The Constitution of the United States of America is the highest legal document and has the highest authority in our country. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. A Militia is a body of citizens organized for military service From the checks and balances in our government and the founders leaving the tyranny of a monarchy it's clearly understood that they knew what Jeremiah knew (Jer. 17:9) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? William Pitt said, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" (Speech to the UK house of Lords 1770) A more familiar quote that sums up what I believe our founders felt is dated from 1887 and is from Lord Acton. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." So when talking about the 2nd amendment we're not just talking about the right to hunt or defend our homes against burglars or our country against an invasion. The spirit of the 2nd amendment was to equip the citizenry with enough military might to fight against the governments military should that government turn tyrannical. So if we want to get real, right now in our country it would be next to impossible for our citizenry to stand a chance against our military in open combat because military weaponry and technology has developed to very effective levels. In 1791 a 1,000 man army with muskets vs. 1,000 guys with muskets was a relatively even fight. Today A guy out in the woods with a 30-06 against an AC-130 specter gunship wouldn't stand much of a chance. So when gun control folks start talking about restricting the size of the clips and the type of rifles we're allowed to own it's really an infringement on our 2nd amendment rights. To me a better approach in the gun control realm would be better training for people who buy guns and certain safety requirements for gun owners. It should be difficult for someone to steal your guns and people should have to exhibit a certain level of competency before being allowed to purchase a gun. We could take some time to compare the gun laws and rules as well as the gun related deaths in various countries like Japan as well as Switzerland but that would go beyond the scope of what I feel is appropriate for a Sunday morning.

Let's focus in on the internal controls. I believe when a person has a relationship with Christ the Holy Spirit begins to convict that person of their sin. This sin can be challenged by the Holy Spirit at the thought level. If you have your thought life in check, you will never have to commit an act of sin ever again. John 16:8 The Holy Spirit can prevent crime when a person has a relationship with Him. The Spirit of the Lord will speak to a person clarifying what's right and wrong coupled with the Word.

Human behavior is not a simple subject and there are obviously many factors that go into driving our decisions but one thing we can all do is introduce someone to Christ and open the door for the Holy Spirit to begin his work of revealing God's ways to a person.

One other thing we can do is sign a petition I've written. Unfortunately this petition did not reach the threshold requirements the Obama administration required to release a statement about it. This petition would've let our lawmakers know that we, as American citizens, as Christians, believe prayer is important and faculty initiated voluntary student prayer (like what we had before 1963) is a move in the right direction to begin to rebuild the damaged moral fabric of our country.

Let's continue to pray for national revival.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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The Christmas Story

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124
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Encourage the Next Generation

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio.

 

We must lead the next generation by example if they are to catch the Spirit of Christ that is on us and transmit it to a time we will never experience.

Deuteronomy 3:28
But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Noah went religious on the people striking the rock (Numbers 20:8-11) when he was supposed to speak to it. Therefore God raised up another man to take them into what God was going to do in their time.

You can’t pour new wine into old wineskins. (Luke 5:37) We must pray for new wineskins if we’re to receive what God is going to do in our time and in our generation. The message is timeless however some of our methods are subject to change with culture.

Martin Luther brought the pipe organ into the Church which had previously been associated with some of the less desirable elements of society. His intent wasn’t to be scandalous or controversial he simply wanted the common man to be able to not only read the Word of God but to also be able to worship.

There is some debate out there but some in the modern Lutheran Church state that, “Luther needed to find music that a congregation could sing, when they had no musical training and no resources for printing music. Some of the first music he chose was the music from taverns. Although the lyrics were sometimes scandalous and thus changed, the melodies were recognizable and reproducible. ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God’ is one of these such tunes, stolen from a tavern song. And today it is probably one of the most beloved and reverent songs in the Lutheran Church. ~Jenna Pederson

I heard a story about a tribe in Africa that lived in round huts. A group came in that built the tribe a Church and they made it rectangular. For 2 years no one would enter the church. The leadership had the building torn down and then built a round Church which is now flourishing today.

In order to raise up the next generation we will have to make some changes ourselves.

• Have Vision to do it
• Sacrifice Time, your most important asset
• Believe that you have something good to impart
• Relate with someone outside your normal circle
• Have Vision to do it

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus spent the most important part of his ministry raising up others to carry on the work he was doing.

In John Maxwell’s book, the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership the law of the legacy states, “A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.”

How many amazing ministries, have ended with the death of the “head” minister. It’s unfortunate that more in leadership today aren’t more focused on raising up disciples, especially since it’s so central to the ministry of Jesus.

Timothy, Paul’s ‘Son’

1 Corinthians 4:16-17
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Sacrifice Time, your most important asset

In order to encourage the next generation it’s going to take time. It would seem that many today in the modern Church want to do anything but fulfill the great commission.

Believe that you have something good to impart!

Many of us may feel like we are not equipped or we don’t have anything to offer but this is all a matter of perspective.

The person you are reaching out to on a one to ten scale when it comes to family modeling may be a 3 and you are an 8. You would therefore have a lot to offer this person. They may be able to solve complex algebraic equations but without your influence they will have a hard time holding their future marriage together.

In the previous example it will be next to impossible to measure the impact your influence had on this person but we don’t serve to be recognized. We serve to be faithful and obedient to God’s word.

Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Relate with someone outside your normal circle

Sometimes we’re creatures of habit and we have a routine that we get very uncomfortable changing. It would seem rather obvious however but to reach out to someone else, we’re going to have to make some subtle changes in our lives until we make the connection(s) with the people we want to encourage.

1 Corinthians 14:3
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Romans 14:19
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

The neat thing about building these relationship is your intent is to give but very often there is some give and take that goes on and the person from the next generation that you are encouraging can have a way of enriching your life.

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. ~ Greek Proverb

Lord give us opportunities to encourage someone in the upcoming generation so we can leave a lasting legacy for your glory.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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Has God Called You to Do Something?

By Donna Santini


Has God called you to do something?

He will never call you to do something He hasn’t equipped you to do. All He asks for is obedience and a willing heart. Only then can God accomplish through you the things He put in you to operate in so you can be the vessel He intended you to be and touch the people He sends your way.

He never said it would be easy. What He asks of all of us is to have faith & take that first step. Sometimes you just have to step through the fear that grips you & just do what God’s told you to do. It’s not easy and will normally take you out of your comfort zone.

I remember reading about Barbara Streisand and how she has battled severe stage fright and thought to myself “You’ve got to be kidding. She has such talent!”. Many actors have to deal with being extremely nervous. One important thing they have going for them is that they manage to push through their fears to do what they need to do to be successful.

That’s exactly what God is reminding all of us to do. Fear has kept many of you from walking in the anointing and purpose He has for your lives. After failing miserably at a task God had instructed me to do, I made the comment that I was never going to do that again. That’s just what the devil wants to hear you to say!

How easy it is for us to give up. The devil tells us that we’re not good enough and instead of declaring what God says about us, we are way too quick to agree with the enemy! We always compare our talents to someone we feel we could never measure up to.

For years I struggled with fear and feelings of inadequacy that held me hostage and kept me from having the freedom to function in the gifts God had given me. God told me what to do and instead of blatantly stating that I wouldn’t do it, I decided I’d do it “eventually”. If you told your child to clean their room and every day you went by it you saw them playing with their toys or playing on their xbox but never actually cleaning it, I imagine that there would be some unfavorable consequences to their disobedience. When God calls you to do something and you don’t do it, no matter what the excuse you give, you’re being disobedient and God can’t use you like He wants to.  We have a tendency to become spiritually stagnant.

He’s not looking for perfection. God took a tone deaf Down syndrome boy and anointed his song so heavily that everyone in the church was in tears. He just wants a willing and obedient heart that He can use, to mold into the vessel of honor that He can use in the capacity He wants.

What is it that God’s called you to do? What has kept you from operating in that gift and calling? Fear? Fear of failure? Feelings of inadequacy? We are all going to fail and stumble at some point but it’s important to get up and keep pushing forward. A baby doesn’t go from laying on its back to running overnight. I’ve made plenty of mistakes and embarrassed myself way too many times but God dusts us off and says “Great job my precious child. Let’s take another step.”

The problem is that we place our confidence in ourselves and our own abilities. We are like toasters that haven’t been plugged in. We might be polished and shiny and look great but unless we’re plugged in to the power source, we’re not operating in our intended function. A pastor preaching without the power of God in his life can be a person who speaks well. A singer without the anointing of God is just someone who can sing a pretty song. In our own strength both of these people are like the unplugged toaster. In God’s strength and power, they are like the power lines that carry power to everything attached to it.

So today, God is asking you what it is that He has called you to do that you are not doing and why? He’s ready. His hand is stretched out waiting for you to take it, to be obedient. Has He called you to a specific ministry? Has He called you to write, sing, preach, work with kids, teach, evangelize, help others?

Today is the day you need to decide that God is bigger than your fear, bigger than your failures, and able to accomplish in you what He has planned for your life. When you do that, you will be amazed at what God can do through you!

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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