Luke 4:16-19  After the Lord was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Christ returned to the synagogues in Galilee, and this particular one in Nazareth ...where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Ya know, this same thing happens with us and our King James Bible.  We spend our time being tempted by the devil, but when we open the Book, a spiritual fight begins with devils each time!

Note how this community is also astonished at how we speak with authority, for we speak to them as those that have authority, and not like they do - in the "vanity of their mind" and with the "flattering" and "vain words" of man's "foolish wisdom."

As did Jesus was hassled from the devil because He was the light of the world and His words were truth, we also receive the same hassle from the spirit of antichrist because we present his words the light of the world and speak the truth - thy word is truth!

We have the very words of God that He has put into our mouth through this King James Bible, and as the devils were afraid of Jesus, the antichrist is afraid of this very book that we possess and carry about!

Caesar Rodney was born on the outskirts of Dover, Delaware, on October 7, 1728.  He was a busy man in his community - ended up being the Speaker of the Delaware State Assembly (later to be called Governor).

Rodney was doing work in Delaware when he was given notice that the Continental Congress was voting on independence from Britain.  Knowing that the other two representatives from his state were split in their opinion on the matter, Rodney embarked on a harrowing 80 mile horse ride, in the midst of the summer heat and a severe rainstorm, to reach Philadelphia.  To top things off, he suffered from asthma, making the lone journey that much more difficult. He arrived there during the last minutes of the debate, making it clear that his state would vote for independence - an independence that we see falling apart each and every day!

That very liberty that America is so famous for is crumbling day by day as more and more laws and restrictions are placed on Americans.  More laws means more bondage - more bondage means less liberty and independence!

We are seeing the same crumbling of the liberty from Christ as Bible Believing Christians get more and more confused with things today and as a result, they also put more and more restrictions and laws down - thus creating more bondage, exactly what Paul warned against. Galatians 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

There is no longer any common sense of right and wrong; there appears to be less and less independent discernment among Bible Believing Christians these days.

Luke 12:56,57  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

We have ALL been beguiled!  Yes, YOU and ME!  I am now like some of you ladies were after you heard Pastor Colson preach on women and how you all had been tricked in your early "liberation" years - I am  irritated to have been so duped!

I want that freedom and independence with God!  Are there any Caesar Rodney's here?  Anybody willing to ride that extra mile to fight for the independence of the Bible Believing Christian?

I can no longer have that independence anymore with America and our materialistic things on this earth - so I must set my affection on things above more than ever before!

It is the false application of what so many call the Great Commission that is coming out even in our own Bible Believing churches.  The only thing different from many of our own and the mainline denominations is that our side is using some of Paul's gospel to build a church while the others use Jesus Gospel to build a church - but both are wrong in these days - according to the Scriptures, anyway!  You could never convince them!

There is a wrong vision being preached more and more from our pulpits!  Preachers that I once knew appear to be no longer standing in God's counsel and causing the people to hear God's words - they are NOT turning people from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.  Jeremiah 23:22

I do know this:  my own personal faith continues to be transformed from sight to faith more and more each day - and I would only hope that some of the light shines into some of your darkness you continue to struggle over!  As I finally toss out more and more darkness, the light shines brighter and brighter - but I have noticed that often he waits for me to toss out some stuff!  See Acts 19:19,20

Linton Smith sent me a prophecy from A.W. Tozer from the 1960's... “If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.”

Then brother Linton said, "Don't you just hate to think about being the fulfillment of 'bad' prophecy?  I refuse!  I am determined to resist to the end.  I want to be the exception; a Philadelphia churchman in a Laodicean age!"

Have we forgotten the common "war department" verses of Ephesians 6:10-20  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

There is a lot of 'good stuff' from the brethren in this war - especially concerning the home war front.  Good stuff!  But it all still falls short of magnifying His word!  It uses it, but does it magnify it.  Does the Book prevail in the home, or just good teachings!

 As it was said to Jeremiah in chapter 18:18, ...Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

...or do we actually try to live for God, now that we can!  John 14:6; John 3:16; I Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;   We have the mediator, so what do we do concerning God now?

1.  From creation
    The world has taken out God - it is called evolution!
    Christians have taken out Christ - see Ephesians 3:9 in a new modern perversion!

2.  Eternal power of God
    Matthew 22:29: Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
    I Peter 1:5: Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
    II Timothy 1:8: Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
    II Corinthians 13:4: For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
    II Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
    I Corinthians 1:24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
    I Corinthians 2:5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
    I Corinthians 4:20: For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.    Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

3.  Godhead
    Father - - - - - - ????

    Holy Ghost - we know the works of the Holy Spirit, eh!

    Son - life, death, his walk, teachings, even from Paul and beyond...

without knowing God, do our children just 'need Jesus' out of obedience, etc.  Are they just taught to 'receive him' into their heart, etc.

Notice how they went to an image made like to corruptible man in verse 23!

God says NO to any images of Him!
Exodus 20:4-6
Image or likeness!!!

Deuteronomy 4:12-15  - ye saw no similitude (Likeness; resemblance; likeness in nature, qualities of appearance)

No idols!

Catholics - at the council of Nicea II (787 approx.). they not only justified, they required people to have icons (images) of Christ, Mother of god, all the saints!

Now we do it today!
    1941 - Warner Sallman's painting (from a vision, has hidden images, etc) - Church of God, 7th Day, Catholic!!!

Now the Bible Believers have done it!
    PSR and others!

We are to flee from idolaltry even in the NT!
Acts 17:29-30  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
I Corinthians 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
I John 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
II Corinthians 6:16-18  16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Deuteronomy 11:22  For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

Deuteronomy 13:4  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Deuteronomy 30:20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Joshua 22:5  But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Romans 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.