Blemished Sacrifices

By Bishop Charles R. Grisham

Text: Romans 12:1-2 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Hebrews 13:15 - "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name."

In the times of the Old Testament, Jehovah required the best to be sacrificed -- nothing less would do. The best lamb, goat, heifer, bullock, turtledove, whatever -- it was necessary that it be the best they had. (Best, first, highest quality)

The New Testament requires a living sacrifice (us). The problem with living sacrifices is that they have this strange tendency to crawl off of the altar on a frequent basis. Some folks hang back because they are not ready to give their best. And even today, the only thing God tolerates by proxy is intercession. You can stand in for someone who is in need of salvation, deliverance, and/or healing -- by faith! This "standing in" does not save them, it's for the purpose of interceding that their "bonds/bands" will be broken/loosed. It seems that He smiles on this endeavor.

Let us compare our (New Testament) sacrifice to the Old Testament lamb...

PERFECT  -- --   SUB-STANDARD

flawless, spotless  -- --  blemished

whole  -- -- deficient

healthy -- -- diseased

clear-eyed -- --   rheumy w/cateracts

breathing clear -- -- mucus filled

sturdy -- -- lame

ears cleaned out -- -- deaf

clean -- -- filthy

blue ribbon best -- -- second string or less

first born -- -- runt 

What could be more important than coming to service to worship the King of kings?

Nothing!

OBJECTIONABLE SACRIFICES

Tardiness -- brings questions as to your commitment

Traffic -- traveling

Distractions

Disunity

Drowsiness (physical or spiritual)

In Malachi's day, God gave a scathing rebuke to the Jews who brought their lame and blind animals for their sacrifice. He saw it all -- -- what they brought AND what they left at home! (See Malachi 1:7-14.)

My Burden

A Poem by
Charles R. Grisham

Oh, how I wished to drop my load,

Out where love's sweet waters flowed;

I stopped to rest, and there I sighed,

That God would end my foolish pride.

But as I sat, an angel came,

With heavenly love all aflame;

He bade me to myself deny,

And on my Master to rely.

Look ahead, and see the light,

That shines beyond all sense and sight;

Where glories of an all-pervading mind,

A universal heaven, unconfined.

Then ending all my needless weeping,

I arose to walk in the Father's blessing;

To gladly bear my earthly load,

Toward heaven's mighty blessed abode.

December 28, 1951

Room to Grow?

By Bishop Charles R. Grisham

Scripture Base: Philippians 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 I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus."

Do you still have room to grow? One of the most dangerous things that can happen is to feel we have "already arrived." There are those in this world who continually measure themselves by foolish comparisons to others they think are far below their standard. Paul issued a strong warning concerning this; "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measure themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise." (II Corinthians 10:12)

Jesus warned repeatedly of the leaven of the Pharisees; (spiritual pride,) the attitude that is afflicted with the infectiousness of arrogance, the idea that "I have arrived." or that, "I am perfect." He said, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Once they obeyed all their own rules to their own satisfaction, they set out to impose themselves upon others. Jesus warned about three leavens. They were...

• the leaven of the Pharisees - spiritual pride
• the leaven of the Sadducees - power and control
• the leaven of Herod - the kingdom of self

These three Jewish political sects thought only of perpetuating their own power base. Jesus' warnings were well documented. (See Matthew 23.) Interestingly, these leavens became the apostasy of the New Testament church.

There are those who have obeyed a set of rules and now feel they have the right to "look down" on others they feel are less perfect. When a person begins to pride themselves with being the best, or the holiest of all, they have placed a lid on their potential to grow. After all, they think they are the best, greatest, and holiest in every way. It's like the old popular song that said, "Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way." They are blinded to reality...

• "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;" (Revelation 3:17)

When we think we have already arrived we cannot grow and progress. There seems to be a necessity of need in order to progress spiritually. The apostle Paul never stopped reaching... pressing... striving. He always kept a pace of trying to get nearer to God. He made it clear he didn't think he had arrived. He said he was still trying to grow.

• "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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

Do you think you have already arrived? Or, do you think there is still room to grow? It's a serious matter!

All Over the World!

By Bishop Charles R. Grisham

What's all this talk about the Holy Ghost?

"Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" This question was asked by the Apostle Paul in Acts 19:2, and it is the question we wish to ask you today... It could be the most important question of your life!

Joel, the Old Testament prophet foretold, "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and the handmaids in those days will I pour out of My Spirit." (Joel 2:28)

In the New Testament, John the baptist, speaking of Jesus, said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; ...but He who cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Matthew 3:11)

Further, we see that Jesus commanded His disciples, "...not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, Ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:4-5)

This faithful band of believers obeyed the command of Jesus and they received the promise. Thus the church was born. We can read the powerful story... "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)

Jesus had told them it would happen. Prophecy had been fulfilled. Jesus had sent back His own Spirit to fill the hearts and lives of true believers!

This immediately caused a stir among many devout men who were dwelling at Jerusalem. They were amazed and inquired, "What meaneth this?"

Peter replied, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel."

As Peter preached, "they were pricked in their hearts and said, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Peter's answer contains the plain, simple, positive plan of salvation for our dispensation...

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39)

In Romans, Paul declares, "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11)

The Holy Ghost is actually "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27). Jesus said, "Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3). The Holy Ghost is that spiritual birth.

Jesus could come today! We need to examine our experience to make sure we are ready. We must have the Holy Ghost if we are to be caught up to meet Him in the air.

Repent... Be baptized in Jesus' Name... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!

Plowing and Planting in Hope

By Charles R. Grisham

Text: I Corinthians 9:10 - "...For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope."

Between sowing and harvest a tremendous amount of work has to be done. Even when the land is idle (during the winter) there is an absolute need for the repairing of tools and machinery.

There's only so much strength in the soil. Different soils are good for different crops. For instance, Georgia's soil grows great peanuts, while North Dakota's soil produces bumper crops of wheat. Too often, the government pays farmers not to grow crops - to let the land be idle. Then, our land lies idle while China (or some other country,) sells us wheat (or whatever). They call this "land management."

What we each have is; time, talent, and treasure. No two people have the same amount of talent and/or treasure. But we all have the same amount of time. We are always planting something. The question is; What are we planting?

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." (Proverbs 20:4) Note: See also Proverbs 6:9, 13:4, 15:19, 19:24, 21:25, 26:16.)

PAY ATTENTION!

If you think about it, we take time (actually "make" time,)

for whatever it is that we really want to do.

The LAW of SOWING and REAPING

Remember - whatever it is that you're planting, (sowing,) that's what you're going to reap. Corn comes from corn seed, apples from apple seeds, pumpkins from pumpkin seeds, etc.

• Pray for rain in its' due season.
• The farmer plants in hopes of the harvest.
• Make sure your seed is "certified" seed.
• Study, examine the soil before you begin... break it up... fertilize it.
• If I plant more "me" than I plant "Jesus" - I will reap more "me."
• Within the seed is the pattern (DNA) for the life that is to be.
• Be patient and you will see the fruit of your labors in generations to come (Galatians 6:8)
• God is looking for folks who won't give up in the heat, or drought, or flood, or cold, or whatever. (I Corinthians 3:6)
• Weeding is a hot, dirty, tedious, seemingly thankless task; but we need to be good with the hoe!
• Remember that the soil only has so much energy. If its energy is used up in weeds, there's less energy for the good seed to grow.
• Without a regenerated heart, you cannot recognize the weed or the weed planter. And like crabgrass, once allowed to grow, it will take over and choke out the good stuff.
• A regenerated heart recognizes the good!.

 REMEMBER!

The increase is the project of God. The Lord's work cannot be done in our own strength. Building for eternity requires the cooperation of both partners.

"And you shall reap just what you sow,

For the things you plant - are the things that grow;

God's Word shall stand for evermore,

And you will reap just what you sow!"

I Have Kept the Faith!

By Charles R. Grisham

Text: II Timothy 4:3-7
Key Verse: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (II Timothy 4:7)

“Faith,” in this reference, is the truth, testimony, (body of truth). “Kept” means, attended to all these things very carefully. Think of what had been given to Paul – he had served his generation and faithfully passed it on to the next.

Part of “keeping the faith,” is maintaining a Biblical view of salvation. We need to maintain a clear understanding of what's right. We can outsmart the devil by not doing things that will bring us to defeat. Don't shoot yourself in the foot! The human heart is desperately wicked. Because of this, we need to oft reiterate what His grace and blood did for us.

We “follow on to know the Lord.” (Hosea 6:3) Because we are “in Christ,” and are “a new creature,” ...”all things become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17) We take up our cross daily; but, in order to do this, our flesh needs to be kept under subjection. Paul said, “None of these things move me...” (Acts 20:24) and, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)

To do this, we must maintain the soundness of doctrine. The early church went through severe tests, largely from false teachers and false teaching. When the enemy comes sniffing around your children, you can pray a hedge around those you have consecrated to God. To maintain your equilibrium, you must...

• Know the truth
  
• Keep it faithfully
  
• Key in on righteousness
  
• Keep a consistent, daily walk
  
• Keep fighting!
  
• Keep the faith!
  

Pressure is exerted from all sides. The “equalizer” is the Holy Ghost. When the outer pressure is the greatest, we have His promise that, “...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

Pressure is also on the church. Remember! The church is in the world, but it is not of the world!

What you feed on will eventually come bubbling out, one way or another. We are most careful about the things we treasure; they reveal where our heart is.

Shifting your mentality toward worldliness is never a wise thing. If you don't maintain your walk and your integrity, you will suffer. It's like going fishing and getting caught! The enemy is always trying to cloud the issue... to keep us moving in a fog.

Jesus wills it that you will finish the race in victory! “I have kept the faith!”

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” (II Timothy 6:8)

Life

By Charles R. Grisham

Life to many is a cruel thing,
In their hearts no joy bells ring,
No smile, no love for fellow men,
All alone, as though in a den.

The birds, the flowers are unnoticed by they,
All of creation is right in their way,
To offer assistance to these saddened souls
Often is worthless and makes them your foe.

But there are others who wear a big smile,
A beaming face and a happy profile,
Enjoying life and all that surrounds,
The secret to joy they surely have found.

In order to get the best from your life,
Give it your all and live for the right,
Keep on smiling from ear to ear,
And joy and love will ever be near.

[Written 1/20/1952 - crg]

Thanksgiving Prayer

A Poem by Charles R. Grisham

Thank Thee God, for everything,

Praise to You we ever sing,

For food, shelter and happy life,

In our great nation, free from strife.

 

Bless each one as here we gather,

That we might dwell with You for ever,

Abide with us, we humbly pray,

Till we behold Your face some day.

 

Mold our lives in peace and love,

Direct our eyes to things above,

Forgive the sins that we've committed,

That each mistake might be remitted.

 

Protect us, Lord, throughout the year,

Daily draw us ever nearer,

Hold our lives within Your hand,

Until we meet in Heaven's land.

 

 



Onward Christians

By Charles R. Grisham

 

Let we Christians take our stand,

As we journey to that land.

Let us labor, watch, and pray,

For there will be a brighter day.

 

Let our lives be as a light,

To show the way that leads to right,

Telling sinners the old, old story,

How they too, may live in glory.

 

Our life on earth is but a span,

To His great, almighty hand,

Let our deeds be acceptable to Christ,

That we might have eternal life.

 

When all is ended here below,

Will our lives be white as snow?

If we haven't earned a frown,

We may wear a shining crown.

 

 



Tribute to Abe Lincoln

 By Charles R. Grisham

Old Abe Lincoln was an honest man,

He proudly took his freedom stand;
A true American he tried to be,
In keeping our Democracy.

His standards were so very high,

And for the cause he'd gladly die;
The slaves were freed at his command,
That they might join our freedom band.

All for one, and one for all,
For God has answered freedom's call;
With His help he will unite,
Everyone who lives for right.

Now old Abe is dead and gone,

To a peaceful, restful home;
Let us fight to keep our land,
And over there we'll shake his hand.

Revival Prayer

Revival Prayer

By Charles R. Grisham

Oh cleansing fire burn in me,

Purge my soul and set me free,

Remove each stain of sinfulness,

That I may in Thy presence rest.

Cast far away my vain desires,

Refresh my soul in revival fires,

Come again, Thy wonders reveal,

Oh bless me now is my appeal.

Prepare each heart to look above,

A world that's lost and void of love,

Give us a burden, a vision too,

Oh how we long to be with You!

What joy awaits the faithful ones,

The Master's smile, the words, "Well done,"

A crown of life, a race complete,

What bliss awaits at His dear feet.



My Test

By Charles R. Grisham

Through fountains of tears my soul doth reach for Thee,

O'er mountains of fears my heart cries out to Thee;

The cool valleys of rest that long have evaded me,

Oh hasten this test to triumphnat victory.

Long nights of remorse, of years that were wasted,

Now free from sin's curse, Heaven's joys I have tasted;

Life's song, verse by berse, I'll sing until daybreak,

Quenching doubt as I thirst to win for His Name's sake.

I've been tried in the fire, I can say He is faithful,

I was sug from the mire, indeed, I am grateful;

Glad morning of rapture, deliverance is nearing,

Bright dawning of grandeur, His glory endearing.

Each trial has its measure of intended glory,

We seek Heaven's treasure at the end of life's story;

I'm pressing, I'm striving, by faith it's my best,

Lord, grant through my trying, I'll pass this, my test.