Rev. Dr. Andrew W. G. Matthews

Peter 1 hour ago in reply to Michelle Smith on "Interview with Former Roman Catholic, Mark Gendron" on You Tube Jesus gives a simple definition of those who are “for you”—they are the ones who are “not against you.” An apology to the woke ideologues of our day, but Jesus sees the world through a blatantly binary lens. “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matt 12:30) and “The one who is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:50). Jesus frames the world as a battle between his kingdom and the kingdom of Satan. The battle lines are drawn, and you must choose a side. Since the entrance of sin into the world in Genesis 3, there has been enmity between the offspring of Satan and the righteous offspring of Eve. Christians will know their opponents because they will be fighting against them. Who is attacking Christians throughout the world? Militant Communism, Militant Hinduism, Militant Islam, Militant LGBTQ+, Militant Atheism. Nationalist Hinduism has expelled many Christian ministries out of India. Atheists and secularists are excluding Christianity from the public square, our schools, and our prison system. And the LGBTQ+ crowd is seeking to cancel Christians from all participation in society while shouting, “No room for bigots!” Though these groups maintain many antithetical beliefs, they seldom attack each other while they share a common enemy in Christianity. These strange bedfellows generally work together in opposition to Christians. Radical feminists issue warnings that the election of a Christian politician will end women’s rights in society, yet they are eerily quiet about the overt oppression of women under Sharia-law in Muslim-majority countries and communities— i.e. female circumcision, child-bride arrangements, unjust retribution, divorce, rape, and child-custody laws, employment, education, and driving restrictions, et cetera. The infamous atheist Richard Dawkins attacks the Bible and the God of Christianity, but he seldom challenges the Koran or the Allah of Islam. When Haneen Zreika, who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW), refused to wear a gay pride jersey due to her Islamic faith, her teammates (some of whom were lesbians) supported her, and media commentators defended her decision saying she showcased the league’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. In contrast, when Christians express their religious commitments they are deemed worthy of exclusion—witness the termination of Israel Folau by Rugby Australia or the Christian doctor Jereth Kok whose medical licence was suspended by the Medical Board of Australia. Why is there such solidarity among these seemingly contradictory groups? Jesus explained it simply, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matt 12:25-26). They are all on Satan’s side. These opponents are aligned with each other against Christians because they are all ultimately opposed to Christ. Identifying those who are not “with Christ” can be easy, especially if they do not identify as Christians or openly oppose the church, but there is a more insidious enemy— the enemies among us. There are people who carry the name of Christ, supposedly follow Christ, but are actually opposed to Christ. Let us not forget that one of those original twelve apostles, Judas, instead of casting out Satan became possessed by him. Time and time again, Satan infiltrates the church with wolves in sheep’s clothing and attacks the church from within. It is not enough that a person is a baptised member of a Christian church or a duly-ordained minister of the gospel, if they support the agenda of the world they“do not gather with me [Jesus] but scatter” (Matt 12:30). Like a soldier in the midst of a firefight who turns his weapon on his fellow soldiers, are Christians who side with their enemies and fire upon fellow Christians. When professing believers from within the Christian community no longer maintain the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and the biblical ethics of godly living, it is incumbent upon faithful Christian leaders to identify them and hold them to account. The apostle Paul said of living in this world, “Redeem the time, for the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). Indeed, the days ahead are looking very evil. The Christian communities in all the post-Christian countries need to prepare for the upcoming onslaught. We need to take note of those fighting on behalf of Christ, whether they be of the Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox strands of the Christian church, or within Protestantism—Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptist, or Pentecostal. We are entering a time when true Christian ecumenicalism is not about “birds of a feather flocking together,” but “bands of brothers fighting together.” Those who uphold the veracity of the Scriptures, the creation of male and female after God’s image, the person and work of Christ, biblical sexual identity and morality, the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit, the preeminence of the triune God in public worship, and the eternal hope of redemption will need to stand together. New battle lines are being drawn around these issues, and Christians who stand on the wrong side should no longer be seen as being “for Christ.” In the fires of adversity, we may be surprised by new friends from unexpected quarters and shocked by old friends who turn against us. As we stand together for Christ may our new alliances forge even sweeter bonds of Christian fellowship. REV. DR. ANDREW W.G. MATTHEWS

Who Were The Other People?

There were people here before Adam. God created them on the 6th day (Genesis 1: 26-31). He rested on the 7th day. (Genesis 2:2) There was not a man to till the ground (Genesis 2:5). These people were not farmers; they were not husbandmen; they ate what was there, already growing. So, on the 8th day, God created Adam (Genesis 2:7).

Plain and simple.

He didn't create the former people because they needed a Savior; but they did need Adam: a tiller of the ground.

Adam didn't need a Savior until he turned from God.

So, now he has to leave the garden of Eden; he goes out to the people and they learn from him.

The first Adam and the 'second Adam' were both teachers and saviors who came from paradise; both dealt with feeding the people; both dealt with thorns; showing again the story of Salvation in the first chapters of Genesis.

 Oh, you say, what happened to these other people? Anyone who didn't become part of Adam's family by the covenant of marriage, perished in the flood.

Again, the Jesus plot.

Always and for ever the Jesus plot.

All glory to our Risen Savior, King Jesus, and to God our Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

JUMANJI: Welcome To The Jungle!

Those who found the first one a bit ridiculous, will find the second one just what it says: outrageously fun! It has a story line, and an actual plot, the first one seemed to lack.

Without saying exactly how, I can tell you that the trials and tribulations of Jumanji bring out the best in these self-absorbed participants, who discover friendship and self-sacrifice; and that the qualities of faith and mercy are truly unstrained.

It is a wonderful story about courage and triumph in the face of dangerous, impossible, and deadly odds, draped with video game humor and shock appeal.

If you are looking for a family fantasy, rated PG, and an inconsequentially good time for all, with some valuable lessons on life in general, you will not want to miss Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle!

All this land belongs to Israel - ALL of it!

The southern border of Israel starts with the brook Zered at the southern tip of the Dead Sea, goes down around the Negeb bordering Edom and Arabah and follows the W. el-Arish river and from there it runs all the way up the Mediterranean coast, including Gaza and Tyre, all the way up to the Leontes river on the north and over to Mt Hermon on the east, including Ramoth-gilead and Aroer, down to the Arnon river where Moab borders the Dead Sea. All this land belongs to Israel - ALL of it!

SUPREMACY - BASED ON A TRUE STORY

No respectable Christian will watch this movie because it is filled with violence, filthy disgusting language and cursing from beginning to almost the very end. I, however, am not a respectable Christian. I rather stand with the Apostle Paul in his view of Christianity. “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.” 1Corinthians 4:10

I am therefore able to give you the run down on this amazing movie, described by Genre as a ‘Psychological Thriller’ on its facebook page.

The main character, played by Joe Anderson, is a very troubled and violent young man who gets out of prison and he is riding in a truck with his arm out the window, feeling the freedom of the wind with his hand. Looking around at the scenery, he makes a comment about the goodness of the world in a way that brings to mind God’s first impression of it as recorded in Genesis chapter 1.

Everything really takes a turn for the worse when he kills a policeman in a routine traffic stop and unleashes his inner beast. Fleeing from police pursuit, he ends up at a house where Mr. Walker, played by Danny Glover, lives and where the greatest exchange of the movie begins.

Mr. Walker, also an ex-convict, prides himself on his ability to win a battle with his intellect and with his mind. He continues to work on the violent, abusive, cursing young man by suggesting to him all the ways in which they are alike and have in common such as ‘no affection for cops’.

In one of their conversations, he discovers that the young man has been recruited by a white supremacy group that rules from the prison he was in, and that he considers the leader of that group to be the savior who has given him a purpose for his life, a purpose he says he will never be willing to give up.

That would seem to be the end of their unlikely relationship until the house is surrounded by police, and in their last conversation, with the young man’s gun to his face, Mr. Walker professing no fear, berates him thoroughly by making him face up to who he really is and that’s when something so unexpected happens that should cause anyone to agree that Jesus has walked into the room.

After the angry young man sticks his revolver into Mr. Walker’s mouth in a last ditch effort to strike fear into him he changes his mind and falls down on the floor across the room in a pathetic heap. Crying and sobbing, he places the revolver in his own mouth. You are never sure if he will pull the trigger or not right up until Mr. Walker timidly approaches him and pulls the gun out of his mouth at which time the young man with tears of repentance, receives possibly the only genuine hug he has ever had.

I’m not going to encourage you to watch this movie, but I’ll save the very end for those of you who will. May the grace, mercy and compassion of Christ be with you and guide you in all your ways. To God be the glory and honor and praise forever and ever and ever! Amen. Hallelujah!

Weather Warning!

Mr. President, here is your peace accord: "The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites." 1 Samuel 7:14
The 1st picture is Israel today; the 2nd picture is Israel as God intended.
Do you want peace? Obey God! Weather Warning! Do you want the earth to be at peace with you? Obey God!

Israel today. Picture below: Israel as designated by God.

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land. Joel 3:2

Every American Needs to See This Movie!

The Butler is a comprehensive collection and overview of the condition of our nation before, during and after the Civil Rights Movement. A young boy witnesses the murder of his father on a cotton plantation. Then he is taken in by the murderer's grandmother and learns how to become a house servant. She also gives him a book and he learns how to read. When he is a teenager, she tells him to leave the plantation and get away to save his life.

One night on his journey, he walks past a hotel pastry shop and out of hunger, he breaks the window. He is sitting in there eating a cake when the man in charge finds him, bandages his hand and ends up hiring him as a maître d'. He begins to be noticed and requested by important people until he reaches Washington DC and ultimately becomes part of the White House staff, where his character is played by Forest Whitaker.

He serves under 6 Presidents starting with Dwight D Eisenhower, and acquires a certain amount of knowledge regarding the White House and the people who come and go. He is content with and devoted to his job, so much so that his wife, played by Oprah, almost leaves him.

Most of the stress of the movie is a result of his son, played by David Oyelowo, who goes back down South to attend a University in Tennessee, where he becomes embroiled in the Civil Rights Movement, on several occasions, almost to the exclusion of his life.

While Forest Whitaker’s character struggles to deal with racial injustice at the White House, including but not limited to his paycheck; he hates that his son has gone back to where he started, to be at the mercy of foes such as the Ku Klux Klan.

The wonder of the movie occurs when Barack Obama becomes President and the father has an occasion to see the bigger picture and comes to the realization that his son’s heroics were not all in vain. 

This is a story of triumph, not only for African Americans, but for every American who still believes in “equality for all”.