J.A. Matteson
"Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:78-79
Incomprehensible is the mercy of God, especially to those who revere his name. Once darkness blinded our eyes and silence closed our ears, ignorance defiled our faculties so we were by nature like untamed beasts, always straining and pulling against the way of righteousness in arrogant unbelief, boastful, hateful, stubborn. Darkness was our habitation, ignorance covered us as a blanket. Preferring the darkness to the light we scurried as roaches to the recesses of cover whenever a moment of shimmering light invaded our habitat. But the mercy of God never tires and the purposes of the Almighty are irrevocable. Not looking for mercy we obtained mercy. Not searching for light we obtained light by his seed deposited within us whereby that which was formerly odious was transformed into something sweeter than honey. Ignorance yielded to truth and stiff necked rebellion to belief. The state of the old nature, in the tinkling of an eye, was replaced by the new. The mercy of God loved it's object into willful obedience and faith. Such is the new birth through the agency of the Spirit in the light of the gospel. Where is boasting? It is obliterated. By what means is it obliterated? By the law of grace through faith. A blind man at midday is oblivious to the brilliance of the light of the sun. The mercy of God comes from outside of the blind man, opening his eyes to behold that which was clocked in darkness. To this miracle of sight and new life belong all praise, honor, and glory, to the king immortal who's mercy endures forever, and who's ways are beyond comprehension.
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isaiah 40:8
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
The Hallmark of Genuine Faith
J.A. Matteson
"You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that he might humble you, testing you, to know what as in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not." Deuteronomy 8:2
Have you erected an Ebenezer unto the Lord? Surely he has been your help, great satisfaction and comfort along your pilgrims pathway in this present wildness. A present crises is best navigated by remembering past victories. God's promises to his children are irrevocable, all of them are a resounding Yes in Christ Jesus. Do we know his plethora of promises experientially or are we tossed to and fro like driftwood upon the raging waves of life, familiar with them only intellectually? Are your circumstances difficult at the moment? Praise God in them for what he intends to accomplish in you through them. Are you doing quite well at the moment, feeling satisfied with the comforts of this world? Beware, lest you forget the Lord your God and mistakenly place your security and hope in things rather than in he who provided them. The greatest hindrance to our maturity is practical atheism where we through the study of God's word acquire intellectual truth about God and his promises in our heads, but remain doubters in our hearts, evidenced by our behavior. Such was Israel's folly. If we are to traverse the wilderness in hopes of crossing the Jordan into the promised land, enjoying the rest promised to us, we must live by faith, trusting God to deliver on his promises and not focusing on our adverse circumstances. Remember why the adversity has come, to humble you, to test you, to see whether you will live by faith or by sight. To be victorious as we pass through the wilderness we must bring to mind God's promises, reflect back upon our Ebenezer, and summons within our heart a steadfastness that trusts in the promises of God no matter what circumstances may tempt us to believe. That is the hallmark of genuine faith to which the writer to the Hebrew beautifully illustrates in chapter 11. Certainly the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Pray, therefore, that the Lord may strengthen you in the inner person to live as Jesus lived, always doing the Father's will in humble dependence upon him for life's necessary provisions. And as the promises of God to you are proved repeatedly you will find not one, but a multitude of Ebenezer's to fondly look upon, perceiving your present battle as an opportunity to erect still another marker all to the glory and praise of God the Father, through his Son, as empowered by his Spirit who dwells within you.
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
"You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that he might humble you, testing you, to know what as in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not." Deuteronomy 8:2
Have you erected an Ebenezer unto the Lord? Surely he has been your help, great satisfaction and comfort along your pilgrims pathway in this present wildness. A present crises is best navigated by remembering past victories. God's promises to his children are irrevocable, all of them are a resounding Yes in Christ Jesus. Do we know his plethora of promises experientially or are we tossed to and fro like driftwood upon the raging waves of life, familiar with them only intellectually? Are your circumstances difficult at the moment? Praise God in them for what he intends to accomplish in you through them. Are you doing quite well at the moment, feeling satisfied with the comforts of this world? Beware, lest you forget the Lord your God and mistakenly place your security and hope in things rather than in he who provided them. The greatest hindrance to our maturity is practical atheism where we through the study of God's word acquire intellectual truth about God and his promises in our heads, but remain doubters in our hearts, evidenced by our behavior. Such was Israel's folly. If we are to traverse the wilderness in hopes of crossing the Jordan into the promised land, enjoying the rest promised to us, we must live by faith, trusting God to deliver on his promises and not focusing on our adverse circumstances. Remember why the adversity has come, to humble you, to test you, to see whether you will live by faith or by sight. To be victorious as we pass through the wilderness we must bring to mind God's promises, reflect back upon our Ebenezer, and summons within our heart a steadfastness that trusts in the promises of God no matter what circumstances may tempt us to believe. That is the hallmark of genuine faith to which the writer to the Hebrew beautifully illustrates in chapter 11. Certainly the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Pray, therefore, that the Lord may strengthen you in the inner person to live as Jesus lived, always doing the Father's will in humble dependence upon him for life's necessary provisions. And as the promises of God to you are proved repeatedly you will find not one, but a multitude of Ebenezer's to fondly look upon, perceiving your present battle as an opportunity to erect still another marker all to the glory and praise of God the Father, through his Son, as empowered by his Spirit who dwells within you.
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Thursday, March 3, 2016
God's Work Requires God's Power
J.A. Matteson
"I brought my son to you...so I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able" (Mk. 9:17-18).
What sort or manor of Christ does the church project to the world in which it is called to be salt and light? Note, that the authority of Christ over the supernatural realm was clearly conferred to the apostles and understood as much by the community at large. Presenting a situation to the apostles was synonymous with bringing it to Christ. Failure of the apostles to exercise the authority given them by Christ generated confusion to those seeking his redemptive intervention in their circumstances, causing them to question his ultimate authority and power. The Lord reveals the crux of their failure, a lack of prayer, which implies they were seeking to perform God's work in their own natural ability. God's work requires God's power, and God's power is only available through abiding in him. Unless we daily confess our inability to do anything for the Lord, earnestly seeking first his kingdom and righteousness in our own lives, we will fail as his witnesses before a watching world. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness unto salvation. Abraham continued to believe in the presence and power of God and was greatly used of God throughout his life. The world is watching the church, bringing its needy, to identify the power and authority of God it claims to possess. Whenever the redemptive aspect of Christ touches a situation, be it a marriage in distress or a teenager in rebellion, restoration results, manifesting the power of God to the world. Jesus promises that all things are possible to those who believe. But the caveat for his redemptive power to flow is earnest prayer by those entrusted with advancing his kingdom.
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
"I brought my son to you...so I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able" (Mk. 9:17-18).
What sort or manor of Christ does the church project to the world in which it is called to be salt and light? Note, that the authority of Christ over the supernatural realm was clearly conferred to the apostles and understood as much by the community at large. Presenting a situation to the apostles was synonymous with bringing it to Christ. Failure of the apostles to exercise the authority given them by Christ generated confusion to those seeking his redemptive intervention in their circumstances, causing them to question his ultimate authority and power. The Lord reveals the crux of their failure, a lack of prayer, which implies they were seeking to perform God's work in their own natural ability. God's work requires God's power, and God's power is only available through abiding in him. Unless we daily confess our inability to do anything for the Lord, earnestly seeking first his kingdom and righteousness in our own lives, we will fail as his witnesses before a watching world. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness unto salvation. Abraham continued to believe in the presence and power of God and was greatly used of God throughout his life. The world is watching the church, bringing its needy, to identify the power and authority of God it claims to possess. Whenever the redemptive aspect of Christ touches a situation, be it a marriage in distress or a teenager in rebellion, restoration results, manifesting the power of God to the world. Jesus promises that all things are possible to those who believe. But the caveat for his redemptive power to flow is earnest prayer by those entrusted with advancing his kingdom.
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Willing to Loose that You May Gain
J.A. Matteson
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34
Each day offers its own opportunities to hear and obey. God is working out his redemptive ends among the sons of men and has chosen to work through his people in order to bring those ends about. The concise words of the Lord Jesus in this passage summarize his many other statements relative to kingdom life and self denial, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.... "(Matt.6:33); "He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me" (Jn. 14:21); "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake" (Matt. 5:11). The picture that the Lord Jesus displays repeatedly is the exact relationship between faith and obedience. That is, genuine faith is known by its obedience and genuine obedience is known by faith. Faith and obedience are two sides of one coin; viz. salvation. One cannot exist apart from the other. We cannot have obedience apart from faith and we cannot have faith apart from obeying the command, "Repent and believe he gospel" (Mk. 1:15). God is working all around you today, seek therefore his activity in the people within your sphere of influence. Consider his provinces as opportunities to follow him in obedience. Notice within your thinking if you find yourself drawing back in order to take what you perceive to be a less risky route. That moment is your cross of obedience, follow Jesus. Be willing to loose in the eyes of the world in order that you may gain the praise of God, your abba Father. The intersection of loss in the eyes of the world is gain in the kingdom of God. Consider the cross of Christ, apart from which eternal atonement for sin would remain unsatisfied. Enduring the shame of the cross the Lord Jesus opened the way for sinners, permitting access into the most holy place, the very presence of Almighty God. Consider the risk someone took when they shared Christ with you? Were they not denying themselves and obeying Christ? It was their obedience that in part led to your salvation for, "our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction" (1 Thess. 1:5). So we too, as imperfect vessels, beloved by God, count it both a privilege and solemn responsibility to deny ourselves in our Lords service for the sake of the gospel. Consider how many souls may one day thank you in heaven!
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...and the word of our God stands forever." Is a. 40:8).
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34
Each day offers its own opportunities to hear and obey. God is working out his redemptive ends among the sons of men and has chosen to work through his people in order to bring those ends about. The concise words of the Lord Jesus in this passage summarize his many other statements relative to kingdom life and self denial, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.... "(Matt.6:33); "He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me" (Jn. 14:21); "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake" (Matt. 5:11). The picture that the Lord Jesus displays repeatedly is the exact relationship between faith and obedience. That is, genuine faith is known by its obedience and genuine obedience is known by faith. Faith and obedience are two sides of one coin; viz. salvation. One cannot exist apart from the other. We cannot have obedience apart from faith and we cannot have faith apart from obeying the command, "Repent and believe he gospel" (Mk. 1:15). God is working all around you today, seek therefore his activity in the people within your sphere of influence. Consider his provinces as opportunities to follow him in obedience. Notice within your thinking if you find yourself drawing back in order to take what you perceive to be a less risky route. That moment is your cross of obedience, follow Jesus. Be willing to loose in the eyes of the world in order that you may gain the praise of God, your abba Father. The intersection of loss in the eyes of the world is gain in the kingdom of God. Consider the cross of Christ, apart from which eternal atonement for sin would remain unsatisfied. Enduring the shame of the cross the Lord Jesus opened the way for sinners, permitting access into the most holy place, the very presence of Almighty God. Consider the risk someone took when they shared Christ with you? Were they not denying themselves and obeying Christ? It was their obedience that in part led to your salvation for, "our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction" (1 Thess. 1:5). So we too, as imperfect vessels, beloved by God, count it both a privilege and solemn responsibility to deny ourselves in our Lords service for the sake of the gospel. Consider how many souls may one day thank you in heaven!
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...and the word of our God stands forever." Is a. 40:8).
Friday, February 26, 2016
Eyes of Faith
J.A. Matteson
"And he went with him." Mark 5:24
In response to our faith God goes with us. Let the one who doubts not presume God will go with him. We first come to the Lord in faith acknowledging his ability to intervene in our circumstance. Our coming is a display of humility. Our coming is a display of faith. Our coming is a display of confidence in the supernatural ability of God to alter natural outcomes, to intervene in, to suspend, override, or otherwise alter the course of things as left to their own patterns. With eyes of faith Jairus saw a future for his daughter of health and life, when circumstances indicated sickness and death. With unwavering confidence in Jesus' ability to heal he comes face-to-face in the presence of the resurrection and the life, vulnerable, desperate, and confident. What father would not give his own life to save that of his child? Not fearing the Jews this ruler of a synagogue prostrates himself in public humiliation before the Lord in a desperate plea for mercy, and mercy he receives. "Now faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). In response to faith God went with the patriarchs, with Moses, Joshua and Caleb, David and Solomon, Daniel, Nehemiah and the prophets, the apostles and the saints of history. And when invited, with eyes of faith, he goes with us today, "and lo I am with you always, even to the end if the age" (Matt. 28:20).
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
"And he went with him." Mark 5:24
In response to our faith God goes with us. Let the one who doubts not presume God will go with him. We first come to the Lord in faith acknowledging his ability to intervene in our circumstance. Our coming is a display of humility. Our coming is a display of faith. Our coming is a display of confidence in the supernatural ability of God to alter natural outcomes, to intervene in, to suspend, override, or otherwise alter the course of things as left to their own patterns. With eyes of faith Jairus saw a future for his daughter of health and life, when circumstances indicated sickness and death. With unwavering confidence in Jesus' ability to heal he comes face-to-face in the presence of the resurrection and the life, vulnerable, desperate, and confident. What father would not give his own life to save that of his child? Not fearing the Jews this ruler of a synagogue prostrates himself in public humiliation before the Lord in a desperate plea for mercy, and mercy he receives. "Now faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). In response to faith God went with the patriarchs, with Moses, Joshua and Caleb, David and Solomon, Daniel, Nehemiah and the prophets, the apostles and the saints of history. And when invited, with eyes of faith, he goes with us today, "and lo I am with you always, even to the end if the age" (Matt. 28:20).
Copyright (c) 2016 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Sunday, June 14, 2015
We Ask You Not Force Us to Choose Between the State and the Laws of God
The following represents an open letter from pastors of various influential churches in the United States to the Supreme Court of the United States regarding its upcoming decision on the definition of marriage. Immutable Word Ministries shares in the spirit of the letter, J.A. Matteson also signed the pledge.
We the undersigned have joined together to present our unified message and plea to the Justices of the United States Supreme Court regarding the matter of marriage.
We are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christian pastors, clergy, lay leaders and Jewish leaders, who collectively represent millions of people in our specific churches, parishes, denominations, synagogues and media ministry outreaches. Marriage transcends our various theological differences and unites us together in one voice.
We affirm that any judicial opinion which purports to redefine marriage will constitute an unjust law, as Martin Luther King Jr. described such laws in his letter from the Birmingham Jail.
We are Christians who love America and who respect the legitimate rule of law. However, we will not honor any decision by the Supreme Court which will force us to violate a clear biblical understanding of marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman.
We affirm that Marriage, as existing solely between one man and one woman, precedes civil government. Though affirmed, fulfilled, and elevated by faith, the truth that marriage can exist only between one man and one woman is not based solely on religion but on the Natural Law, written on the human heart.
We implore this Court to not step outside of its legitimate authority and unleash religious persecution and discrimination against people of faith. We will be forced to choose between the state and our conscience, which is informed by clear biblical and church doctrine and the natural created order. On this choice, we must pledge obedience to our Creator. While there are many things we can endure, any attempt to redefine marriage is a line we cannot and will not cross.
The complete Marriage Pledge can be read in its entirety at http://www.defendmarriage.org. It offers a more detailed defense of marriage and further expresses our unified resolve. Tens of thousands of very concerned Americans have signed the Marriage Pledge to date.
We the undersigned have joined together to present our unified message and plea to the Justices of the United States Supreme Court regarding the matter of marriage.
We are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christian pastors, clergy, lay leaders and Jewish leaders, who collectively represent millions of people in our specific churches, parishes, denominations, synagogues and media ministry outreaches. Marriage transcends our various theological differences and unites us together in one voice.
We affirm that any judicial opinion which purports to redefine marriage will constitute an unjust law, as Martin Luther King Jr. described such laws in his letter from the Birmingham Jail.
We are Christians who love America and who respect the legitimate rule of law. However, we will not honor any decision by the Supreme Court which will force us to violate a clear biblical understanding of marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman.
We affirm that Marriage, as existing solely between one man and one woman, precedes civil government. Though affirmed, fulfilled, and elevated by faith, the truth that marriage can exist only between one man and one woman is not based solely on religion but on the Natural Law, written on the human heart.
We implore this Court to not step outside of its legitimate authority and unleash religious persecution and discrimination against people of faith. We will be forced to choose between the state and our conscience, which is informed by clear biblical and church doctrine and the natural created order. On this choice, we must pledge obedience to our Creator. While there are many things we can endure, any attempt to redefine marriage is a line we cannot and will not cross.
The complete Marriage Pledge can be read in its entirety at http://www.defendmarriage.org. It offers a more detailed defense of marriage and further expresses our unified resolve. Tens of thousands of very concerned Americans have signed the Marriage Pledge to date.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Denying Christ by Omission
J.A. Matteson
Too often we consider denial of Christ to be exclusively an act of commission. We think of Peter who, three times, willingly denied that he knew Jesus Christ. Yet, more common, by omission we may also deny our Lord. "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also him before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:33). Christian, silence in the face of unrighteousness is denial of Christ by omission. To remain silent while ungodliness abounds is tacit approval. On Sunday it's easy to join together singing songs of praise to Jesus Christ, declaring his power and lordship. We confidently declare, "Jesus is LORD!" It's easy to preach to the choir. There is no threat proclaiming Christ among those who also profess him. That's what Peter did in the upper room. How easy it was in a safe friendly setting to boldly state allegiance to Christ. But what happened in the garden when the enemies of Christ arrived?
Christian, if fear of persecution is silencing your voice from speaking out against unrighteousness, you are denying Christ by omission. The sin of omission is to not do that which we know we should do. The word of God condemns murder; are you condemning publically the brutality of abortion or has fear of reprisal tempted you into silence? The word of God condemns sexual immorality; are you condemning publically fornication, adultery, and homosexuality or has the fear of reprisal tempted you into silence? Denial of Christ through omission of speaking the truth of the kingdom of God is a plague upon the church in our day. Christian, fear the Lord, not men. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ whom you serve and to whom you will give an account. Be bold, courageous, stand fast in the power of his might, and the grace of God will be upon you to the praise of Jesus Christ.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 40:8
Too often we consider denial of Christ to be exclusively an act of commission. We think of Peter who, three times, willingly denied that he knew Jesus Christ. Yet, more common, by omission we may also deny our Lord. "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also him before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:33). Christian, silence in the face of unrighteousness is denial of Christ by omission. To remain silent while ungodliness abounds is tacit approval. On Sunday it's easy to join together singing songs of praise to Jesus Christ, declaring his power and lordship. We confidently declare, "Jesus is LORD!" It's easy to preach to the choir. There is no threat proclaiming Christ among those who also profess him. That's what Peter did in the upper room. How easy it was in a safe friendly setting to boldly state allegiance to Christ. But what happened in the garden when the enemies of Christ arrived?
Christian, if fear of persecution is silencing your voice from speaking out against unrighteousness, you are denying Christ by omission. The sin of omission is to not do that which we know we should do. The word of God condemns murder; are you condemning publically the brutality of abortion or has fear of reprisal tempted you into silence? The word of God condemns sexual immorality; are you condemning publically fornication, adultery, and homosexuality or has the fear of reprisal tempted you into silence? Denial of Christ through omission of speaking the truth of the kingdom of God is a plague upon the church in our day. Christian, fear the Lord, not men. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ whom you serve and to whom you will give an account. Be bold, courageous, stand fast in the power of his might, and the grace of God will be upon you to the praise of Jesus Christ.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 40:8
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