A Wilderness Voice
Just another voice crying in this vast wilderness of human existence. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John the Baptist prepared the way over two thousand years ago proclaiming that Jesus is God’s answer for mankind’s salvation. Once again, a lonely voice in this vast wilderness of human activity sets forth a proclamation that Jesus is the only solution God has put forth for mankind’s salvation. Indeed the kingdom of heaven is at hand, for now is the time of salvation. The presence and fellowship of God is within our grasp through Jesus Christ his only begotten son. If anyone would repent, believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, and be baptized, he shall be saved.
Men believe and say many things, but what God says will stand. The prophet Isaiah warns the wicked and unrighteous to forsake their wicked ways and return to the Lord (Is 55 NKJV). He says that the thoughts and ways of mankind are so different from the Lord’s like the distance of the heavens is above the earth.
Imagine a God who has always existed and who is the author and finisher of all creation. Not only has he laid the foundation of the Earth but of all the other planets in the universe. They all work in their orbit like fine-tuned machines and have laws and restraints that govern their behavior without deviation. But on the other hand, there is mankind who arrives on the scene, not of his own accord and has to endure many years of learning to just be able to function proficiently to some degree in controlling his own short existence in a world that is completely foreign to him. He is confined to a very short period allotted to him. Whatever knowledge he may acquire, he then struggles to keep it from seeping out of his memory as time passes. Yet he acts as if the God of the universe has to bend and conform to his ever-changing whim.
But it behooves every man and person to humbly acknowledge God for who he is and give deference to his words and commands. He must first admit to himself that there is a living God who has created him and that any knowledge he may acquire cannot supersede what God has proclaimed. In this book, I seek to highlight some of how God has gone about creating the living things in the world in which we live. I hope that something I say will influence someone else to also believe in this incredible God that I serve.
By Lonnell Stewart
2/3/2024
God sent Jesus into mankind’s world to purchase mankind back to God (Heb 9:13-15).
In Genesis, mankind, through Adam, incurred a debt that could only be paid with his life (Gen 2:17, 3:19).
At that time, God in his mercy, allowed mankind to substitute the life of animals in place of his own to atone for his sins (Gen 3:21).
This had to be repeated over and over because these sacrifices were imperfect (Exo 30:10; Heb 10:1-4).
As a solution to this problem, God fashioned a way where he would sacrifice himself to pay the required debt that mankind owed (Gen 22:8; Eph 5:2; Heb 10:5, 10).
According to the synoptic gospels of the New Testament, God caused the Holy Spirit to overshadow and impregnate a virgin who eventually gave birth to a male child, and they called his name Jesus. Because of this, he is called the son of God (Lk 1:31-35). This child “increased in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and man” (Lk 2:52).
As an adult (Lk 3:23), Jesus went on a three-year mission demonstrating that he indeed was sent from God and that he would offer himself as the sufficient sacrifice required for mankind’s redemption. The people of his day were able to bear witness that he operated under the power of God’s Holy Spirit by both the miracles he performed and by God himself proclaiming that he was well pleased with Jesus.
When the time came for Jesus to be offered up, although many falsely accused him, no fault was found in him. Yet, he bore the punishment reserved for the most heinous crime of that day, (crucifixion). To be hanged, under the Jewish law, was to be cursed. Death was the curse proclaimed by God on mankind after the sin of Adam. Jesus bore the curse of death and the curse of being hanged on the cross. This sacrifice of Jesus lays the bridge for anyone who will cross it into the kingdom of God, by accepting this gospel of Jesus and keeping it as a faith for one’s life.
The power of this sacrifice is illustrated in the resurrection of Jesus in which God has placed all authority under his control in regards to mankind’s salvation and destination. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. It is impossible to get to God except through Jesus. He is mankind’s only hope.
You can receive this salvation if you repent of your sins and confess Jesus as the son of God and Lord of your life. Next, you should join other believers, be baptized in the name of Jesus, and seek God to be filled with his Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 10:34-48).
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Thoughts To Live By
Based on Psalms 23
3/4/2024
When we make the Lord our shepherd, (our provider and protector), he will provide us the food we need to eat and fresh water to drink. Even when our soul has become discomforted, since he is the creator, he alone knows how to restore it, and will give us the ability to live in peace.
He is righteous, and for the sake of his great name, he will lead us in a lifestyle of righteousness. Because the Lord supplies the necessities of life, there is no need that we should want for anything more.
Even though we walk in this valley where death is always lurking about. It is so close that it cast a shadow. It cannot over take us. Like a shepherd that uses his staff to ward off the ravenous wolves from slaughtering the sheep, the Lord is constantly with us. In this we find comfort and does not have to live in fear that some evil will over take us.
In the mist of enemies, those who are envious against us, the Lord will continue to bless us with our daily food, good health, and abundantly whatever else we are in need of. We can live confident that the Lord’s goodness and mercy will continue to be upon us as we continue to dwell in his presence and trust in his name.
L. Stewart
www.4dlord2.com
By Lonnell Stewart
2/27/2024
As Christians, we cannot allow our past to hold us bondage.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God.
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was
not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God
which was with me.
Paul saw himself as being the least of the apostle because he had consented to the death of Christians and was responsible for having many jailed. He was dramatically confronted for his actions by the same Jesus who had said that it would be better to have a millstone tied about your neck and be cast into the sea than to offend one of his little ones. So, being keenly aware of God’s grace towards him, Paul was motivated to employ all of his efforts for the work of the Lord.
All of us have a past that we are not proud of, but probably nothing to the degree of Paul. If God has shown his grace towards us, we can’t allow our past to hold us in bondage from which Christ has set us free.
New Creation in Christ
2 Cor 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the
earnest of the Spirit.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.
When the Lord saves us and fills us with his Holy Spirit, that represents as an earnest towards the resurrection and eternal life with him that he has promised. He makes us a new creation, having forgiven and washed away all of our past iniquities. In Jesus, we are able to live a new life style through faith as we wait for his call for us, either through death, or his earthly return.
All that the world can offer is worthless and nothing compared to what we inherit through Jesus Christ
Phl 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phl 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung,
that I may win Christ,
Phl 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Phl 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death;
Phl 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Phl 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I
may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Phl 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phl 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
What is the profit of gaining the whole world but losing your soul? Your soul is eternal; the world is temporary. Everything in this world will pass away. So what value is it if it does not endure eternity? Jesus offers eternal life of joy and peace to those who believe and trust in him. This is what motivated Paul, and should also be our motivation.
So often people in this life strive for positions of high worldly recognition. But it is good to also press for high recognition in the kingdom of God. The Lord is keeping a record of the good deeds his followers do in his name, and he will reward accordingly.
Let us serve the Lord in faith and with good works, because by his grace and mercy he has redeemed us unto himself.
Be blessed in Jesus name.
By Lonnell Stewart
02/15/2024
The power of the desire for money.
Through the years, money has been used as a bargaining tool to acquire the things one desires. These could be things of necessity, for pleasure, or to have solely because one can afford to have them. A popular phrase today in American society is: “It’s the economy, stupid,” coined by James Carville in 1992.
For some, it doesn’t matter how much money they have, they allow themselves to become convinced that they need more and more. In so doing, some allow themselves to become vulnerable to being manipulated by those who make deceptive promises that by doing what they say, they will be able to acquire more money. Because of this desire, some go as far as to make choices and do things they otherwise would not do.
According to the Bible, it is the love of money that is at the root of evil. At the root of much of the evil in the world today, it can be traced back to this desire and love for money. In a strange twist, some have allowed this desire to take such precedence over all other life values that it ends up destroying the most valuable things in life.
Contrary to the glorification of wealth and money in today’s society, we must remember that there is a God who values truth, righteousness, godliness, and justice more, and it is to him that we will all face and give account for the way we live.
Trust in Jesus as Lord, and be blessed.
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