FROM LUTHER’S INTRODUCTION, 1538
In my heart reigns this one article, faith in my dear Lord Christ, the beginning, middle and end of whatever spiritual and divine thoughts I may have, whether by day or by night.

CHAPTER I
Verse 1. Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead).

St. Paul wrote this epistle because, after his departure from the Galatian churches, Jewish-Christian fanatics moved in, who perverted Paul’s Gospel of man’s free justification by faith in Christ Jesus.

The world bears the Gospel a grudge because the Gospel condemns the religious wisdom of the world. Jealous for its own religious views, the world in turn charges the Gospel with being a subversive and licentious doctrine, offensive to God and man, a doctrine to be persecuted as the worst plague on earth.

As a result we have this paradoxical situation: The Gospel supplies the world with the salvation of Jesus Christ, peace of conscience, and every blessing. Just for that the world abhors the Gospel.

These Jewish-Christian fanatics who pushed themselves into the Galatian churches after Paul’s departure, boasted that they were the descendants of Abraham, true ministers of Christ, having been trained by the apostles themselves, that they were able to perform miracles. (Like so many preachers today??)

In every way they sought to undermine the authority of St. Paul. They said to the Galatians: “You have no right to think highly of Paul. He was the last to turn to Christ. But we have seen Christ. We heard Him preach. Paul came later and is beneath us. It is possible for us to be in error—we who have received the Holy Ghost? Paul stands alone. He has not seen Christ, nor has he had much contact with the other apostles. Indeed, he persecuted the Church of Christ for a long time.”

When men claiming such credentials come along, they deceive not only the naive, but also those who seemingly are well-established in the faith. This same argument is used by the papacy. “Do you suppose that God for the sake of a few Lutheran heretics would disown His entire Church? Or do you suppose that God would have left His Church floundering in error all these centuries?” The Galatians were taken in by such arguments with the result that Paul’s authority and doctrine were drawn in question.

Against these boasting, false apostles, Paul boldly defends his apostolic authority and ministry. Humble man that he was, he will not now take a back seat. He reminds them of the time when he opposed Peter to his face and reproved the chief of the apostles.

Paul devotes the first two chapters to a defense of his office and his Gospel, affirming that he received it, not from men, but from the Lord Jesus Christ by special revelation, and that if he or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than the one he had preached, he shall be accursed.
—Luther’s Commentary on Galatians

Things haven’t changed much today. Fast track Ministry Training here.

Attending church is not the final goal for Christians. It can be a helpful part of the journey — or it can become the very opposite.   Quote By Greg Albrecht (I am not affiliated to that particular online church.)

Jesus didn’t say, “Go to church” nor did He say that ministering in the church was the beginning and the end of Gods service opportunities. If fact he said the opposite: Jesus preached going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to every creature as His main line of service and then being faithful to continue spiritually feeding those who were committed to Him.

Now this may sound like church but it doesn’t include the million dollar church fund and the self-help messages and compromised messages being preached from the pulpit today to keep attendance and pay the bills. Jesus preached the true gospel and it was very unpopular amongst the well to do.

So, please don’t limit God or the spreading of His message by thinking everything has to be done with in the confines of the denominational church system. The Lord usually works contrary to the ways of man.

The True Church are the called out ones, (ecclesia) those who have excepted Jesus as their personal savior and have a personal relationship with Him are called out from the world and enjoined unto Him in Spirit and in Truth.

The early church fellowshipped in homes or anywhere they could meet. Somewhere along the line “Buildings” entered in and “self proclaimed leaders and denominations” have since tried to control Gods Spirit.

God’s true children have for the most part been persecuted by just such religious control down through the ages and in present day society are finding freedom in home churches and non-denomination surroundings.

Sure, you will find some good large churches from time to time but they will all be swept away by the soon coming Anti-Christ persecution. The temporal “physical” church will be forced to go underground at that time.

Why not stand out from the crowd now and grow into the stature of the man or woman He wants you to be and be prepared to help others then by nurturing the souls you win to the Lord now. (Really pray about who you would want to direct to a certain church and for what reason and why?)

Jesus’ church will always be His true children who love Him in spirit and in truth. Free of Denominations, Buildings, Religion and Bondage. Free to Love Him and His Children and free to help unite the Bide of Christ for His return.

Jesus said, “If you destroy this temple I will raise it up in three days” this spake he of His body. (Jesus is the temple.) He also said that He was the Resurrection and the Life and that He was the Light of the World.

When describing the New Heaven and Earth John says. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

Come unto Jesus ye who are weary and He shall receive you and give you rest. True Christian fellowship is one thing, but controlled false doctrinal teaching for money; membership and fame are a different story.

Keep it Biblical and keep it pure like Jesus and the Bible so others can place their trust in Him and have true faith in the Word of God to endure the difficult days ahead. Jesus is the Living Word and the Word is God and that is your only Rock Solid Foundation throughout Eternity.

Abide in Him,

Dr. Ken Kovach 

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

The Body of Christ “Church without Hands”

From 1 Corinthians 12

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (The Words that I speak unto you they Are Spirit and the Are Life.)

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Drinking of His Spirit, Hearing His Voice and walking in His Spirit makes us a healthy body fitly joined together in the unity of His Love.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (Each one of Gods children has a special place of service that only he can fill.)

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (God knows what each of us is best suited for.)

And if they were all one member, where [were] the body? (If we were all the same we couldn’t accomplish His Plans.) But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (We’re to helping to lift one another and not compete with each other, the difference of humility and pride.)

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. à1 Corinthians 13 is the next chapter……..Love is the excellent Way!

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

The Praise of God

I was sitting in the car today listing to some word and reading along and in St. John it said something like “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” And I just kind of broke out laughing even though I’ve heard that verse 100’s of times and I just thought “How Sick” “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God”.

Thank God we’ve been set free to “Love the Praise of God more than the praise of man”, man pleasing is a real bondage trip and a downward spiral. There are lots of good verses on man pleasing and I’m trying to compile some now. Man pleasing is in the negative thinking bag for sure.

And then I though, well, I like a nod of approval sometimes even though I know what I was doing was in the right spirit and the Lord is/was blessing it. And I starting seeing that as another flavor of man pleasing and asked the Lord for deliverance on that one. Then this verse came along, For not he (or whoever) that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

There’s real freedom in knowing we only need Gods pat on the back, wanting any more is looking to man. (We all need and appreciate encouragement but we shouldn’t seek it. And if we get it we should thank the Lord and pass any praise on to Him.) I mean, I already new this but it’s just nice to keep sweeping those little props out of the way (that try to creep in) and keep the upward connection strong. Strong is Praise and Glory to God!

A couple convicting verses on the subject:

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?……..For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God [is] witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor [yet] of others….Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Thank God for True freedom in Jesus!

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

Failure is not the End

The “lame take the prey” and the “bird whose pinion was once broken” will often fly higher than ever before, by the grace of God.

Failure is not the end; it is usually the beginning of a whole new ministry in which you will fly higher than ever before. “A just man falleth seven times and rises up again.”

We should never fear failure as it is often the means by which God has chosen to make us into more useful, wiser, humbler and stronger vessels for His Glory.

If you are passing through the valleys of failure and defeat don’t let the waters of discouragement overflow thee. There is only one way to go and that is up! Up to the victory of the cross in Christ Jesus!

Let those dead works fall behind while you emerge and new man in Christ Jesus where old things are passed away and all things are become new.

Jesus specializes in resurrecting the New Man. I press towards the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before. New beginnings are one of Gods compliments.

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

Overcoming Worry and Fear with Faith and the Word

We can overcome all of life’s worries and fears by learning to pray and live by faith. When we know that God is in control and we can trust Him for our life, then there is nothing left to worry about because we know that everything is in His keeping.

Fear and worry are a constant expression of doubt and an inability to trust the Lord. Besides being a total waste of time, fear and worry are also very contagious and can spread to others quickly. That is why it is so important for a Christian to speak faith even in the face of fear.

I’m not talking about being hypocritical, but you have that inner faith and trust from knowing that God has never failed you and you know that He is going to see you through. So you can speak with real faith and trust even in the midst of adversary.

We often worry about circumstances that are beyond our control or about things that we think are going to happen. And if we really start believing our worries and fears they will affect our faith and the whole manner in which we think, act and live.

The saying, “worry kills” is true because it kills our faith and trust in God which hinders our spiritual growth, judgment, discernment and just about every other area of our Christian lives and renders us spiritually immature when we could be flying on eagle’s wings of faith.        

The only antidote to fear is faith in Gods word. If you have a problem with worrying like most of us do, don’t be discouraged. Your faith will grow by hearing or reading the word of God. And as your confidence in Him grows, you will find yourself trusting God more, and worrying less. The more you look to His word the more faith will come of itself.

It just happens automatically when you start reading the Bible, your faith starts to growing, and your faith and trust in the promises of God start becoming a reality in your life. You start taking your worries and cares to God in prayer and leaving them there with Him and all of a sudden you start experiencing inner peace and faith like you have never known before.

The more you look to the Lord, read His word and commune with Him in prayer the more your faith will grow and you will find yourself being freed from the bondage of worry and fear and liberated into the glorious life of faith.

Freedom from fear and worry comes with a price tag. If you want to follow Jesus you have to be willing to follow Him all the way. He can give you complete deliverance and a personal relationship with Him that will eliminate your fears.

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

Nominal Christian or Real Christian

If you mention that in Japan and they won’t know what you are talking about because everything seems religious to them because they are looking at it from the outward appearance. But the Japanese are very smart and observe thing very clearly so maybe what they are seeing is a reflection of “Christians going through the motions” which in reality is just another religion.

So how do we change things here in Japan? Trying to be radical or have an outward show of the flesh that we are different. Or, does the solution lye much deeper in an inward Spiritual change where they can feel the difference and perceive the depth of spirit?

The Japanese like everyone else know what is “the real deal” and if you are going to be representing the Real Deal then it is a must to be filled with His Spirit and be reflecting His Humility and Love. They are shocked and stunned when they see the real thing because they just never saw it before.

So what are us Christians to do? Well, first off we should get desperate that they would not see us and only see Jesus in us. That we could really bury ourselves in Jesus and that His Light and Life would shine though in spite of ourselves. That takes extra prayer and time in the word which many aren’t quite willing to give at this particular time. But if not now when are you going to be willing to share the Lords true Spirit of Love?

Oh, you would rather just stay a “church member” instead of a member of the true body of Christ? Would you rather be a denominational Christian rather than a true “Bible Believing Christian”? Yes, why not follow afar off and pretend to know Him and expect your Pastor to do all the work after all you are giving finances to the church.

Well sorry to say, Jesus does not except such sacrifices and “fair shows of the flesh”. He requires your heart and a personal relationship with Him, None other will do, if you do not know Him and love Him and have personal contact with Him you may be one of those to whom He said depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you.

If you feel uncomfortable there is something you can do about it right know and that is to “Become acquainted with your Maker”. Receive Jesus into your heart right now and seek to Love and know Him and walk in newness of life that only He can give. He will change everything because he is the Life Changer.

If you want to learn more about Jesus and the Bible please visit the http://JapanBibleInstitute.com or Join us Wednesday Evening for a short online Bible Study. This will start out in English but will soon also be available in Japanese as well or should I say it will have a running translation.

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

There is Rest for the Weary

When Jesus was tired He often did three or four things in His Ministry when the Pressures and Overwhelming needs of the People and Multitudes pressed upon him or started to drain him of his strength.

He would often get away and rest, get alone and pray or trained his disciples to share more of the responsibility and help build relationships.

“And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth [unto him] whom he would: and they came unto him….And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:”

If we are to remain effective in our ministry with others we should follow His sample and these special words.

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest….Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls…For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

Positive Attitude and Faith makes All the Difference!

          In life there are many things that you can’t control, no matter what! Nevertheless, you should never let those things, regardless of how bad they are, defeat you. “There are many things about tomorrow I may not understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.” Remember that, no matter how bad the situation gets, you have to see the Lords hand in it and you’re the one who decides how to react to it and how much it can or will affect you.

          It is essential to always look to the Lord and pray to always see the positive aspects of any occurrence. In other words, try identifying the good parts in everything. Even though it might sound extremely hard at the beginning, seeking the Lord for the Mind of God about the situation and looking for the good aspects in the worst situations of all will help you exercise your way of thinking and, in time, you’ll find yourself viewing situations in an incredibly constructive and positive manner.

The Lord will help you to start seeing everything in a good light, when things can’t get worse than they already are. The answer is to detach yourself from the facts and ask the Lord to help you see things through His eyes. Remember that most things in this life are temporary and you have to move on, no matter what. Also, if you train yourself to smile a lot and be polite to the people around you, you might discover that, in fact, this actually represents an efficient “habit cultivating medicine” against bad thoughts and a healthy attitude towards life can play a crucial role in becoming a more positive person.

   But always remember to seek out the lesson you should learning from the situation. Have an open attitude towards whatever happened and try to be in a “learning mode” which will only make you wiser, stronger and more positive and full of faith for the future.

When there is an extremely difficult problem to solve and no solution seems to fit in, remember to change the perspective from which you’re looking at things. Getting awfully scared and not being able to think clearly, will definitely not lead you to resolving the issue. On the other hand, if you pray and really seek the Lord for his answers for the situation you may form another perspective as to how the Lord sees things, and develop a more positive attitude identifying difficult situations in a more positive manner and become a true problem solver.

You have to have a winner’s attitude in order to defeat problems. Consequently, if you’re nervous, afraid you might fail, unconvinced with your actions, etc. people around you will perceive you exactly as you perceive yourself. Our spirits are contagious and often are a reflection of our attitudes and thoughts. That is why it is so important to have the Mind of the Lord, peace in our hearts and His views on the matter.

The good thing about attitudes is that we can change or educate ourselves to view things more through the eyes of faith and with a positive outlook. And it has been proven that a good attitude toward everything around us is more efficient and effective than projecting worry and fear. Jesus is in the business of changing hearts and lives and a positive outlook can only produce good results, so have an “open attitude” and look at things through the eyes of faith!

Dr. Ken Kovach

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please leave the credits intact.

Enemies from Within! Pt.1

One of the Enemies Favorite tactics is disunity, he likes to divide and conquer. And then when he gets you so busy fighting amongst yourselves that you no longer have the vision to work together to reach souls for Jesus then you are leaving the playing field to him.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 ¹⁰Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. ¹²Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” ¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Is Christ divided? Was Paul, your Pastor, your denomination, your fellowship or pet doctrine crucified for you? No, sorry they weren’t. And just so we as Christians need to look beyond these petty differences and dwell on the things we do have in common and unite together to win the world to Jesus.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

We are called on to pray for, encourage, edify, and strengthen the body of Christ, Not to criticize. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we stand before the Lord on that day (I may be wrong) but I don’t think He is going to be asking us what denomination we are from, who our Pastor was or did we faithfully attend church?

I think He’ll loving ask us, “what did we do with Jesus?” did we honor, love, receive and live for Him? Did we love His children? And what did we do with the gifts He gave us to use for His Glory?

Preconceived ideas of Gods righteousness will all be swept away in that day and we shall see Him as He is and be clothed in His righteousness alone. We’ll truly learn what His righteousness, love and mercy are all about. And we’ll be melted together is His love in true Unity of the Spirit.

And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

Dr. Ken

Articles can be found at http://PastorsRant.com A Free Bible Course at: http://JapanBibleInstitute.com Ministry Tools & Christian/Self-Help: http://AllChristianServices.com Articles may be given away freely but please the credits intact.