Dr. Paul

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Dr. Paul's new book, "Sky Falling: How to Overcome a Rogue Day," is now available through www.authorhouse.com. Simply enter the website, go to Book Store, and type "Sky Falling." This book is now available online.

Do you know someone who is in the grip of a "rogue" trial? Someone who is going through a heart-wrenching divorce? Or, someone who has been told they have cancer? Someone who has lost their job? Someone going through bankruptcy? Someone who is grieving over the death of a loved one? Then it may be that this book will be helpful. "Sky Falling" offers hope by encouraging the reader to manage life's rogue events through submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is the author's premise that submission to Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks the power to manage and overcome adversity.

Comments from Dr. Paul : "Can you imagine being in a boat on a calm sea. You are enjoying the perfect day. There is the gentle lapping of water against the hull. Pelicans sketched by an unseen hand glide across the blue horizon. A gentle breeze softly rocks your craft from stern to bow, just enough to generate a tranquility that makes the eyes heavy. Life is good. Then it happens. A 90-degree wall of water rising 112 feet high comes out of nowhere with blind vengeance. There is no time to run, even if you could. At 80-miles an hour, like a fast elevator, the rogue wave lifts your boat to the crest. In its grip of destruction you only have time to taste the salt spray and scream.

In my book "Sky Falling," I contrast the inherent trials of life to the experience of a rogue wave. At any given moment the adverse circumstances of life can rise suddenly, ferociously, and without mercy against our fragile lives. And what are you to do? Wisdom from God's Word will equip you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. To manage and endure a rogue day you must use the key of submission to unlock a joyful attitude, an understanding mind, a surrendered will, and a heart that wants to believe. You can manage life's rogue events if you use the right key."

Contents

Introduction...............................................................ix

1. Unlock a Joyful Attitude...........................................1

2. Unlock an Understanding Mind.................................21

3. Unlock a Surrendered Will.......................................39

4. Unlock a Heart That Wants to Believe.......................49

5. The Rogue Day Called Death...................................59

6. What Is Death Like?................................................77

7. Heaven: The Journey Home......................................81

Conclusion................................................................129

End Notes.................................................................131

A Sermon by Dr. Paul Montalvo

Declared on October 14, 2009

Snow Road First Baptist Church

The Two Most Important Decisions

You Will Ever Make

A Sunday school teacher asked her class if anyone could remember in scripture those who made wrong decisions. One said that Essau made a bad decision when he sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage. A second one said that Judas made a bad decision when he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. A third one replied that Ananias and Saphira made a bad decision when they sold their land then told Peter a falsehood. Then a fourth one said, "Jesus told us that he who makes a bad decision is the one who seeks to gain the whole world but loses his soul."

This morning I will speak to you from Matthew 24:42-51, on the subject: The Two Most Important Decisions You Will Ever Make. In this short-lived life there are only two decisions each of us must make before time runs out: First, there is the decision that concerns your relationship with God: Should I trust Jesus Christ for my soul’s salvation? And second, there is the decision that concerns your responsibility to God: What does God expect from me? Our text speaks to us of the coming of Jesus Christ and our readiness when that day finally comes; it is a readiness that compels us to decide for Christ or against Christ; we must decide for judgment, or for justification. Please consider the truth of Romans 5:1. Look at verses 30-31, and understand the day is coming when some will be left to suffer judgment and the elect delivered from the same.

Matthew 24:42-51, speaks of the coming of Christ. It also warns of “readiness” at his return; a readiness that compels us to decide either for the Lord Jesus or against him. There is either the judgment of God or justification by God at his appearing. Read again verses 30-31. Our Lord has warned us that he will return to the earth and that it will be a time of gathering: Those who decided against the Lord Jesus will be judged and those who decided for him will enter into the joy of the Lord. In verses 37-40, the days of Noah are mentioned. In his day the world made the great decision and said “no” to God; only Noah and his family were not swept away by the deluge. Look at verse 39. Wallowing in spiritual ignorance, enslaved to their own selfish desires, they were swept away by the world-wide flood. Judgment seems like a joke, but if our imaginations hold true──no one was laughing! Notice in verse 41, that two women are working and the one who decided for Christ was suddenly taken away to be with the Lord in Heaven. The other was left to suffer judgment.

Likewise believers must be watchful of that day and be found faithful. In the light of our Lord’s eminent return, the two most important decisions you will ever make in this life is: Will I be saved? And what does God expect from me?

God expects you be saved from your sins and begin now building a decisive relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind? It is a decision that must not be ignored. Nothing is more important that our relationship with God; not to make a decision is in itself a decision. On this one thing no man can be neutral, indecision is a choice. You must choose wisely because God will personally hold you accountable for denying Christ. You say, “Why is this relationship so important?” And “Why should I be saved from my sins?” Because Christ has something you desperately need, something you cannot obtain for yourself. And what is that great need? The great need is righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are reminded: “For God hath made him to be sin who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) You cannot make it on your own. You need this great Savior because you need his perfect righteousness, his perfect holiness, his perfect love and mercy. You have none of these things that God requires. Whatever it cost you must have this relationship with the Son of God because he cautions us, “For if you believe not that I am you shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24) There are at least three reasons why a great many will not be ready when Christ returns and why they will feel no urgency to be prepared:

First, prior to our Lord’s return there will be a voluntary ignorance of the Bible, particularly knowledge of his coming. Notice if you will in v.43, that our Lord likened his return to a thief. A thief does not send a letter or make a phone call announcing he is coming to burglarize your home. No, his coming will be unexpected, a secret, and a complete surprise. So we are admonished to be on constant vigilance: “Be ye also ready...” (v.42) Around our house Cynthia is the keeper of the gate. The last activity at night without fail is making sure the doors are locked. Last week we went to Lowes where she made me buy four door jams. I used to think she was obsessed with locking doors because I would step outside for a moment and have to ring the door bell to get back inside my own house. But she was only doing what Jesus said, “Watch therefore...Be ye also ready...”

Look what the Lord Jesus said: “...if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come...” The key word is known, v.43. The reason the world and many believers will not be ready when Jesus comes is, regrettably, that they did not study their Bibles. They just did not know what the Bible taught about the coming of Christ. Ignorance will be no excuse; after all, a fitting acrostic for Bible is, “Biblical Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” So, essentially, what they have done is impose on themselves a voluntary ignorance of the scriptures. They are comfortable not knowing the truth and contented to be poorly religious without knowing the riches of God’s Word. I don’t know about you, but my faith has a slow leak and needs God’s Word to pump it up. In the Gospel of John we are told: “But these things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name, 20:31.” The Bible has a purpose: To help us believe!

When our Lord chastised the religious leaders, he said: “Ye do err not knowing the scriptures or the power of God, Matthew 22:39.” When the Emmaus couple unknowingly met the risen Jesus, they told the stranger who suddenly appeared and was walking to their side: “But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel...” (Luke 24:21) And the Lord chastised them for not knowing the scriptures: “O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered...and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” When this couple finally understood the scriptures we are told: “...their eyes were opened...and their hearts burned...while he opened the scriptures, verses 31-32.” Bless God! When our eyes are opened and hearts burn with the knowledge of God’s truth then we will cherish the Word, walk in the Word, grow in the Word, and be wise in the Word. When Jesus comes back to the earth as "a thief in the night," those who know the Word will be watching and ready! Those who voluntarily chose to ignore the Word will be left in a world without God.

Next, many will not be ready because they have convinced themselves that they have plenty of time to be prepared. Again, notice if you will in v.43, that Jesus said: “If the Goodman...had watched...” To “watch” means to be anticipating and expecting something to happen and be on guard when Jesus finally returns. In v.44, the Lord warned: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.”(24:42 & 25:13) Also in Matthew 24:27, Jesus said, “For as the lightening cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” We need to know the scriptures and watch the eastern sky because Jesus is coming secretly as a thief in the night. In 1Thessalonians 5:2, Paul wrote: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they say shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction comes...” Then in 2Peter 3:10, Peter warned: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night...wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the earth...shall be burned up.” In 2Peter 3:10, Peter warned: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night...wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the earth shall be burned up.” To the church in Sardis, Jesus cautioned: “If you shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief and thou shall not know what hour I will come...” (Revelation 3:3) In Revelation 16:15, as the wrath of God is poured upon the unrepentant earth the cry goes out: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

In the last days 2Peter 3:4, lets us know that many will be convinced they have plenty of time to get ready. They will be saying, “Where is the promise of his coming. All things continue and we have plenty of time.” The problem is that not one of us has plenty of time to doubt God. He cautions us about being vigilant of the coming of Christ. The Bible makes it clear that, “It is appointed once to die and then the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) Life fragile as it is, you do not know when your appointment will come. Then What? We want to be found faithful when the Lord returns and hear him say: “Well done thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your lord.” Be prepared!

But lastly, many will not be ready because they have contented themselves with “church-going” to the exclusion of serving the Lord with their spiritual gifts. You should not claim to love God when the evidence reveals a life unchanged by God’s love. In verses 45-51, Jesus told the story of two servants: One was faithful and wise and the other faithless and evil. Both were in the Master’s house and both expected not only to be in the house, but serving the house. Look at v.45, for the intended faithfulness of the servant. And notice in v.49, that while the lord of the house was gone, one of the servants ceased to serve and troubled his fellow servant. We see here where belief is linked to behavior. If the evil servant had believed in his Master’s coming, he would have behaved differently. Look At v.v.50-51. He lost his reward.

I might propose here that since belief effects behavior that we reintroduce The Bible back into the school house, the court house, the jail house, and yes, The White House. Main Street, dear friends, needs to put The Bible back in their homes and hearts. But wait! We are so much smarter than God. We think we can fix people. After all, there is good in everyone so we just need to bring out the good and everything will be just fine. But the Bible tells us: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Unfortunately, the good we would do is never going to be good enough to please God. Your sinful behavior can only be changed as you trust Christ for the salvation of your soul. Then you can please God. Then you can understand The Bible and how important it is in our society and culture. In so many wonderful ways we are defined as Americans because of The Bible. The American way of life is really the Christian way of life and spiritual ignorance is not a good thing to impose on ourselves. It brings our nation spiritual loss.

We are “saved to serve,” not saved to rule over others or become professional church-goers. While the Master is away believers must stay busy doing the Lord’s work because one day he is coming back and then we will have to render an account of how we served Christ in the body. Paul warned: “So then everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God.” This account will take place at what is called the Judgment Seat of Christ where every believer will be examined for either good works or bad: “For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Corinthians 5:10) In 1Corinthians 3:13, we are told: “Every man’s works shall be manifest for the day shall declare it...Some will receive a reward; others shall suffer lost: But the one who suffers lost will be saved yet so as by fire.” (Verses 14-15) We must not be content with professional church-going. We must be found faithful and busy serving our Lord. So, the most important choice in life is the decision to be saved. But beware! As the Lord approaches many will not be prepared, they think that there is plenty of time left to get ready. They will be practicing church-goers who never really served the Lord.

The next most important decision is your life is this: What does God expect once you have committed your life and soul into His care? The author of Ecclesiastes 12:13, tells us: “...to fear God and keep his commandments for this the whole duty of man.” Micah 6:8 says it this way: “...and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Lord.” And what did Jesus say? He said this: “You shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy soul. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shall love thy neighbor as thy self.” And then he said: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Think about the above expectation. Does it appear to you to be a burdensome thing to love God and others? Does it seem impossible to you that you should fear God, walk with God, and do the right things in life that please God and bring happiness into your life? It does not seem that difficult to me. He could demand that I “blow” myself up, sacrifice my children as martyrs for the faith, or live a delusional life of killing innocent people for the cause of self aggrandizement. No, he only asks me to love Him! I can do that...can you? Do you know why I can meet God’s expectation? Simply this: If there is not a God in heaven to love me and who can deliver me from an unrighteous life of sin then my life is an enigma wrapped up in a puzzle that offers no meaning for my existence. There is no answer to the question: Why am I born? Or, why am I? But The Bible gives us this great hope: In Hebrews 1:1-3, we are told that, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manner spake in past time unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, who he has appointed heir of all things, by whom he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.” (Hebrews 1:1-3) Bluntly, there is no other way to meet the expectations of God without acceptance of Jesus Christ as you personal Lord and Savior. God give you grace to have the faith to say: “Lord Jesus I am a sinner, you are a great Savior, save me from my sins, Lord Jesus.” When you make the decision to put Christ first, then you should have no trouble with the second decision of meeting God’s expectations: To fear God, keep His commandments, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God, love God, and love others.

Blaise Paschal, a master of calculus in the 17^th century, was asked why he believed in eternal salvation. He replied: “Let’s assume that I am wrong and that there is no life hereafter...then I have lived a good life and have lost nothing. On the other hand, let’s assume that I am right and there is life hereafter...then I have still lived a good life and have gained everything.”

The two most important decisions in life: Will I be saved? And what does God expect of me? Before this life is finished──you must decide!