S. Lee Homoki
Bible Teacher, Evangelist, Executive Director, Editor
Mr.
Homoki was raised in the home of missionary parents, "Nevada Steve" and
Esther, and lived in Pennsylvania, New York and in the heart of the
Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona. He began his preaching at the age
of 18 and for 21 years pastored churches in Arizona, California, Ohio
and Indiana before beginning the ministries of Bible Doctrines to Live
By, In in 1980. He brings with him a rich background of colorful
experience in the pastorate from those years spend on the Navajo Indian
Reservation. Over the last 20 years his evangelistic ministry,
Crossroads Crusades, has takes him into hundreds of churches with the
message of God's saving grace.
Picture Yourself
HEY COWBOYS and COWGIRLS! Picture yourself riding the "Wild" Bucking
Barrel
There is still room for both Guys and Gals at the Missouri Camp, July 27th - August 2nd and South Dakota Camp, August 10-16th Picture yourself...
Howdy Neighbor! Well, I'm saddled up and ready to ride into a new year! I tell you, I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for the future. The Lord's way of doing things have always been mysterious and wonderful. I give Him praise and glory!
I want to give a little bit of information to all former, present and future staff members who may want to come and help this summer. Our Cowboy Camp Ministry is shaping up for 2008 as follows: Remember, the following is mostly in the "vision" stage and not set in concrete yet. So, please pray earnestly with me that the Lord will direct and provide and please check out these events and dates!
The Book of Ephesians is one of three great doctrinal epistles written by the Apostle Paul. In Romans believers are taught that we are justified in Christ, seeing we have been crucified, buried and resurrected with Christ. In Ephesians believers are taught that we are sanctified in Christ, seeing we are now seated with Christ in the Heavenlies. And in 1 Thessalonians believers are taught that we are glorified, seeing that we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. All of the other Pauline Epistles, though they contain much doctrine, seem to have been written to remedy either doctrinal or practical failure.
As an aid to our study, it is helpful to recognize that the Book of Ephesians is divided into two parts. The first three chapters have to do with the believer’s prosperity as found in the grace of God, and the last three chapters have to do with the be-liever’s performance in the grace of God.
Since this series of studies will deal only with the first three chapters of the Book of Ephesians, we will need only to title the first three chapters:
1. “The Grace of God Planned” (Chapter one);
2. “The Grace of God Applied” (Chapter two);
3. “The Grace of God Revealed” (Chapter three).
The Book of Ephesians may be likened to a beautiful, snowcapped mountain range. As such, it is the highest mountain range found in the Bible, since it reaches into “the heavenlies.” In my opinion, the very highest peak of this beautiful mountain is Ephesians 2:8-10:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The word “house,” as used here in Scripture, is so general, but it has
many applications. For example: an ordinary dwelling, a temple, a place
of worship, a family, or the building of a gospel ministry such as
Bible Doctrines to Live By, Inc., can legitimately be represented as a
“house” - as I am doing in this article. Also, the injunction is
perfectly clear and conditional that, “except the Lord build it,” the
success, prosperity or blessing of this or any other enterprise is
“vain” - to no avail. No matter what our investment of time or talent
may be, all our work will not gain the approbation and blessing of God
unless it is done in the strength and power of the Lord. If anything is
worthwhile, lasting or praiseworthy and is ever accomplished, it will
be entirely based on our dependence on God.
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only,
but alsoin power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye
know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became
followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to
all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the
word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every
place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to
speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering
in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the
living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he
raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to
come. For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it
was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were
shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God
to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention” (1 Thess
1:5-2:2).
“First things first!” This is a tried and true
saying, meaning that it is generally best to place the most important
issues at the forefront of an agenda. The Book of First Thessalonians
is the earliest of the Pauline Epistles and, as such, is of significant
importance because of its chronological order. Paul’s inspired pen
immediately identifies and instructs the Thessalonians in those basic
doctrines that are of supreme importance in the establishment of new
believers in the truth. Dr. C. I. Scofield has noted that the Apostle
Paul, in the short thirty days of his sojourn in Thessalonica, had
“taught all the great doctrines of the Christian faith” (Pg. 1267
Scofield Reference Bible).
“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and
for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the
flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in
love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to
the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ; in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And
this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words” (Col.
2:1-4).
It is very difficult, at times, to say what
you want to say, what needs to be said and how to say it. I am reminded
of the story of the nervous young preacher who had been asked to preach
one Sunday morning. When the time came for him to take his place behind
the pulpit, a gust of wind came through an open window and grabbed his
notes. The notes floated around in the air, and landed almost hidden
and nearly out of reach, in a crack between the floorboards of the old
log cabin church. He didn’t know what to do! Exasperated, he said,
“Folks, I’ve got a sermon here if I can just get it out of the cracks.”
This is somewhat how I feel as I approach this study.
Thou Shalt Be Missed, because thy seat will be empty.
By S. Lee Homoki
Published: October 4, 2005
And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him:“for he loved him as he loved his own soul (1 Sam. 20:17).
Then Jonathan said to David: “To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty” (1 Sam. 20:18).
David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times; and they kissed one another, and wept with one another,
until David recovered himself. Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in
peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD,
saying, The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my
descendants and your descendants, for ever.” And he rose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city”(1 Sam 20:41-42).
Two of my closest and dearest friends have recently gone home to be with the Lord. Pastor Dennis Walters and Pastor Abraham Dubbeld. I
was working at home when the phone rang. A few moments later Darlene
came into the room crying and with a trembling, halting voice
announced, “Denny just passed away.” Immediately I thought of what
Jonathan had said to David when David, his friend, was leaving him, “Tomorrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.”
Dennis A. Walters was my friend. I never had a good friend quite like “Denny.” He came into my life while I was pastoring the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Tipp City, Ohio. Denny was a recent graduate of Tennessee Temple University and a successful itinerant evangelist. He was recommended to us for his dynamic Bible preaching.
Our
first engagement involved an 8 day revival meeting. Each evening we
held services at the church and each afternoon was an evangelistic
outreach. Denny being a weight lifter and a member of the Minnesota
Gophers college football team had a program that Denny called “Strength Feats with Spiritual Features.”
These were conducted in the city park and city schools. Denny was the
strongest man I ever met. His ministry had a great attraction and
resulted in a large harvest of souls. However, his greatest strength
was his love for the Lord and His Word. He truly was a giant man of God. Being so humble and gentle and so strong, he was rightly called a “Gentle Giant.”
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) (Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
