Actions That Please God

Good Morning,

While reading the last Psalm, I found a simple outline of the deeds of evil men. 

Psalm 50:17 “Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.”

vs. 18 “When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.”

vs. 19 “Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.”

vs. 20 “Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.”

Considering the areas God points out in this life, I am reminded of sins that we should strive to avoid in our own lives and watch for in training our children: 

1. Hate of instruction

2. Ignoring the Bible

3. Theft

4. Moral wrong

5. Evil words

6. Deceitful words

7. Slander of family

Look back at the verses and notice how God simply points out offenses that really bother Him.  If we seek to find mercy and help from the Lord, we need to please Him to the best of our ability.   Notice the two major issues in number 1 and 2 on the list; each relates to receiving instruction.  Numbers 5, 6, and 7 have to do with our words.  In those five of seven ills, we observe two areas which are vital in our lives and the lives of our children — being teachable and having guarded speech.  James 3:8 says, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” 

God concludes the passage with qualities that please Him:

vs. 23 “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”

1. Praise

2. Ordered conversation

Simple deeds can be roadblocks to shame and open doors to honorable actions.  Consider the value of praise.  It is unlikely that you will be involved in criminal activity while singing praise to God.  Few opportunities for drugs or booze are presented to someone known for singing and praising God.  Ordering our conversation means to plan and control the subjects of our conversation.  If our words are pure, clean, and God-honoring, it is unlikely that we will enter into most of the wrong deeds mentioned in verses 18-20.   If we never talk inappropriately, we are unlikely to end up in moral impropriety. 

We see God clearly outlines proper and improper behavior.  May we labor to walk straight and speak in a manner that will please God. 

Pastor

Patience In Suffering

Good Morning,

All of us go through trials; in fact God says we are “subject to like passions.”  (James 5:17)  Paul wrote that we are all tempted in a common (similar) manner.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

We will all face trouble: our Lord made it clear that we will face tribulation due to the world in which we live.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

So what are we supposed to do?  We often spend our time trying to get out of trouble or avoiding trouble.  The Lord instructs us as to proper actions in trials.

Romans 12:12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”

Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

When trials come, we are to be patient, and to glory... not in the sorrow, but in our faith!  We have a God Who is sovereign, good, and faithful.  Glory in the fruit our lives will bring forth due to the difficulties with which we are dealing.

God is to be the One to Whom we go for strength in difficult times, not to the world, the drug companies, or the foolish counsels of the lost world.

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

Jeremiah spoke about dealing with sorrow in Lamentations.

Lamentations 3:24 “The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”

vs. 25 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”

vs. 26 “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

God is our portion and our hope -- the One upon Whom we wait.

Peter writes much about sorrow since the church faced much persecution in his day.  He urged us to stay faithful amidst suffering;

1 Peter 1:5 “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

vs. 6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”

vs. 7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Though in much heaviness knowing that our faith is being tried, tested, and proven by our continued faith and rest in God, we are to rejoice.  Think of words like longsuffering -- I guess that means we should suffer long, right? 

Peter sums it up simply;

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”

vs. 13 “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

The trial we face is not new, nor is it some terrible strange problem no one else has ever encountered. We can rejoice just as others have — by the grace of God.  If we will keep our eyes on Jesus, we can be glad with exceeding joy.

Pastor

Read the Bible

Good Morning,

I am afraid that many Christians have grown comfortable in their Christian lives. At some point, each Christian received Christ and grew in faith, mercy, and love, and God provided a stable life for them. Their jobs, homes, and marriages are stable, and no great fear drives them — they are safe and secure. The fear I have for them is the fact that they may easily drift from the Lord. Trouble and danger drive us to God; ease leads us to casual and complacent living. It is not uncommon for believers to go days or weeks without reading their Bibles. Like Catholics, they rely on the pastor to talk to God for them.

Isaiah 34:16 “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read…”

Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…”

The idea that we do not need God’s Word daily is a deadly assumption. I love the fact that I lived around people who knew they needed their Bible every day. My mom and dad would never go a day without reading their Bible. My children grew up knowing grandma and grandpa read the Bible, and the Scriptures were often in our conversation. My wife not only reads daily, but her idea of the perfect vacation is to spend several hours each morning reading and studying her Bible.

We must remember that we are not spiritual creatures; we are carnal. Unless our “old man” is kept yielded to God, we will be subject to the carnal wishes of the flesh. Being carnal is not what we do, but what we are. Spiritual is what we are inside, our walk with God and our yielding to His will. One who is spiritual daily seeks to know the Father’s will and yields his life to that divine plan for the day.

John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life…”

When God explained the circumstances of having a king, He made it clear that the king needed to spend time daily in his Bible. Reading the Bible daily will keep us from future foolishness.

Deuteronomy 17:19 “And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:”

We are to read, teach, talk, and walk the Bible!

Deuteronomy 6:6 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart…”

vs. 7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Psalm 119:97 “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

Do not be so foolish as to think we know enough Bible that we do not need to read it daily. Cultivating the spiritual man through the truths of God’s Word is the main goal; knowing the facts of the Bible is not the objective. Do not allow yourself to grow carnal and complacent to the point of not reading and studying the Bible daily. We need daily Bible reading just like we need water.

Thoughtlessly reading our Bibles will cause us to fail in the relationship to our Bible. If we simply look at words or glance over them like skimming a newspaper, we will soon treat the Bible with the same love and passion as the newspaper.

A mature believer should know how to study his Bible, and how to think, consider, grasp truth, and find lessons. The Bible is an eternal Book; we will never begin to grasp Its depths and riches.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

As you read the Bible daily, It should teach you and reveal faults in your life as a mirror; the Word of God should expose you to you!

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

While reading your Bible, truths ought to open up about your heart. While reading the Bible, you should suddenly find yourself ashamed of words or actions; you should find yourself exposed to the light of the Word, revealing your inner motives, plans, and dreams. Like a mirror that magnifies your face, faithfully studying your Bible will reveal details in your heart and life; sin will be exposed and selfishness will be revealed.

One might say, “Things in my life are good, and I am fine reading occasionally.” Two dangers exist with this mentality:

1. You slowly grow carnal and end up doing something terrible that you should not have done.

2. You slowly grow carnal and fail to do something very important that God intended you to do.

What can you do to help?

1. Find a set time and place to read daily.

2. Have a plan where in the Bible you will read daily: such as Proverbs for the day of the month, or two chapters in the New Testament each morning and two chapters in the Old Testament each evening, etc.

3. Write something down every day from your Bible reading. Read, think, crystallize an idea and put it on paper; and then read back over what you wrote the previous day.

4. Pray before you read and ask God to teach you something.

5. Confess your cold heart towards the Bible; call it sin and ask for forgiveness.

6. Use your Bible: teach a class, witness, or talk to your spouse about your Bible if possible.

“Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life, let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life…”

Pastor

For the Glory of God

Good Morning,

John 9:1 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.”

In this verse, we see troubles, serious troubles: a child was born blind and lived that way into adulthood. This child endured a lifetime of difficult and fearful situations with no bright future to come.  In Bible days, there was no special care for the blind; he was bound to a helpless life of begging and loneliness.  

Regarding this tragic situation, Jesus said, "but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (vs. 3)

This difficult situation was planned and designed to manifest the work of God, but years of hardship preceded that manifestation.  

Let me mention another story, and then return to my point this morning.

A beloved brother lay dying, leaving two heartbroken sisters behind (the story of Lazarus).

John 11:21 “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

In a few minutes, Mary had the same reaction.

John 11:32 "Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."  

These situations are heartbreaking, yet occur for the glory of God.  Yes, we know Lazarus raises from the dead, and the blind man gets his sight back, but the people involved did not know that! Much trouble and suffering occurred, but it all had a purpose.

John 11:4 “... This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

In one story, the blindness was to manifest the works of God. Now, we read that a lifetime of living blind was so God would be glorified. To say God does not think like we do is a vast understatement. Be careful how you respond to trials. Remember that God has plans, and we are vessels that are supposed to be "meet for the Master’s use." (2 Timothy 2:21)

This does not mean we do not hurt or weep, for there was much weeping during the story of Lazarus, even by the Lord; but the works of God are mighty, and we get to be a part of them.

We could continue to the story of Job; he lost all he had: ten children died, and he lost his health and wealth – all for the glory of God.   Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold as a slave, and suffered for thirteen years all for the good of others.

As believers, one of the hardest concepts for us to grasp is that this life is not about us.  Our military understands that their lives might be forfeit or crippled for the good of the nation, but the modern Christian is sure that life is all about personal joys and good times.  This issue may be unique to our society because we have received so many blessings from God and heard so much slop from media and psychologists.

Many verses in the Bible deal with this; although, some are difficult to understand or grasp such as verse 25:

John 12:25 “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

There may be some confusing theology in that verse, but one thing is sure: God wants us to get over "ourselves."

The Saviour asks us nothing that He did not do many times more dramatically. No matter how difficult the situation was, Jesus surrendered to the perfect will of the Father;  our Saviour was definitely "troubled" at times.

vs. 27 “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”

Notice that little phrase, "but for this cause."

There is a "cause" that supersedes our comfort and desires, a "cause" that ends with the glory of God.  There is a cause that brought me to this hour in my life.  Why not go on and trust the Almighty God?  

Pastor

Purity

Good Morning,

1 John 3:3 “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

If you share the longing, the "hope" of the Lord's soon return, it will cause you to purify your life. Purity is just as important as any other doctrine in the Bible.  I want to cast my vote for preaching on purity.  I have not heard of much preaching on purity lately, but purity is clearly a Bible doctrine.   Holiness and purity are both New Testament doctrines — Amen!

2 Corinthians 7:1“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Some promises should move us to be separate from the world.

This verse follows the wonderful truth that God desires to be our Father and to have us as sons and daughters; that we might walk with Him and He with us.  Those promises are so wonderful!  The next chapter begins with, "Having therefore these promises...."  The wonderful promise of a personal relationship with God is motivation for purity and holy living.

The book of Hebrews also casts the vote for holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Peter emphasizes the subject with a more detailed description: “without spot, and blameless.”

2 Peter 3:14 “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

"Without spot and blameless" means not to be living as much like the world as we are able, but to get as far away from the world as we can that we might strive for perfect holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

As our churches fashion themselves more and more after the world, we hear less and less about purity and holiness.  Yet, as these verses indicate, God clearly teaches us much about purity.

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

I chose to cast my vote for PURITY — a wonderful goal to strive toward in our daily lives.  Exalt, promote, and talk about PURITY!

Pastor

Now & Later

Good Morning,

There is a candy called Now and Later — a candy kids can enjoy now but lasts a long time and can be enjoyed until later.  To have that philosophy in life would be great, but the fact is, most of our decisions are based on now OR later.

Jeremiah 5:31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”

God is bothered by the choices people make that seem good at the time but are very bad in the end.  We all know that choosing now over later is destructive, yet we all often continue to make the choice for instant gratification.

One big difference between conservatives and liberals is the end we work toward.  The goal of liberalism is to make people choose what makes them happy now and disregard what happens later.  The conservative person in the political spectrum will forfeit the enjoyment of now in order to achieve good later.

We all understand this principle from fairy tales and super heroes.  We sacrifice the immediate safety and comfort now (sometimes putting our bodies or our friends in danger) in order to reach the goal of a wonderful later.  Our military epitomizes this principle; they are willing to leave home, family, and comfort, and risk their lives now to acquire a better later (though it may not be better for them) for those for whom they have sacrificed.  The average girl, who carries a child out of wedlock and does not want that child, conceived that child in a situation in which her now was more important than her later.  She chose to follow passion, lust, and feeling instead of living for the long-term end result.  Abortion always follows a “now” situation; the mother feels it is better to murder the child now than to forfeit her comfort in order to do right in the eyes of God and humanity and allow that child to have a life later.

Modern Christianity is also that way.  The conservative Christian who stands for a literal Bible and the old-fashioned values is one who will forfeit some popularity now in order to allow the next generation to enjoy seeing souls saved and baptized, young people called to preach and go to the mission field, and preachers provide for their needs.  The contemporary circle wants a church that is comfortable now, feels good now, is enjoyable now, but requires no sacrifice now, and they forget about the later.  The contemporary church is not sending young people out into the ministry.  The contemporary church is not providing missionaries for the foreign field to take the place of those coming home due to health or age.  The contemporary church members want music that makes them feel good now; they want to have a lifestyle of no separation or convictions so they can fit comfortably in the world, rather than live a separated life by forfeiting comforts of now to gain a more godly later.  

When a preacher starts a church with grit, conviction, self-sacrifice, and self-denial, his life of “later” motivation is touched by God and is blessed.  He reaps long-term results.  As his church faces trials and difficulties (which all churches do), their "later" thinking sustains them.  Sometimes, the preacher will blame his difficulties on his conservative values and philosophies and side-step the “later” motivation and replace it with a “now” motivation.  He thinks that it will be easier to build a church without opposing worldly music, mixed swimming, indiscreet clothing, drinking alcohol, going to the movies, and the basic worldly environment.  He may give in to this pressure while thinking that accepting all these things will make it easier “now.”  The former self-sacrificing preacher made all these choices to move into "NOW" mentality not realizing that in so doing, he loses the very values that moved him into the pulpit:  the Spirit that called him to preach, the desire that moved him to go to Bible college, and to work night and day. The eagerness that moved him to go soul winning, to exhibit personal holiness, and to have a family that brings honor and glory to God were all decisions that were based on “later.”  To change the course of his decision making to a “now” motivation is to forfeit everything that put him into the ministry.

Solomon reminds us that the end must be remembered.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Proverbs 20:21 “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.”

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

As we read at the beginning of this article, when "LATER" motivation changes to "NOW" reasoning, the result will baffle us and leave us with no recourse.

Jeremiah 5:31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”

Pastor

Obvious Still Irritates

Good Morning,

The more we insist on the Bible being our guide, the more trouble we get into with those who value public opinion and personal feelings above the teachings of the Bible.  

Consider the “gender” issues of our society.  The Bible speaks of hair being associated with gender:

Revelation 9:8  “And they had hair as the hair of women….”

God was not trying to start a culture war; He simply worded a description using terms everyone understands. We could describe a person by making statements such as: someone with olive skin, skinny as a rail, or hair like a woman.  Hair does tie in with gender.  In 1 Corinthians 11:14, Paul makes a divisive statement: “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

vs.15 “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

These statements are simple truths and observations.  God is the Creator, and as such, His opinion matters on all subjects.  God continues in 1 Corinthians 11 that we ought not get in a fight over the hair issue because nature teaches the obvious, but do not get too upset about it if someone differs. 

I Corinthians 11:16 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”

This era of long hair on guys, as it was in my high school days, is obviously not right, even nature shows us that simple truth, but do not hate anyone over the issue.

The same is true about how a lady looks. Solomon described a lady and said she was dressed like a harlot.  It was an obvious, simple description, and any normal man could have made the same observation.

Proverbs 7:10 “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot…” 

This verse simply states that some clothing makes a lady look like she is for sale. Our society panics over obvious, simple statements like that.  

God addresses this again in Deuteronomy as Moses sets up the rules for a civil society.  God had Moses write that men should not dress like women and women should not dress like men.  It is simple and obvious, but it brings emotional panic to many people in our world.  


Deuteronomy 22:5 “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment:” 


Whatever this confused culture wants to pretend is acceptable, some things are obvious to any clear-thinking person.  Some clothing “pertains” to men and other to women.  Why any parent would allow their children to attend a school where someone dresses up as something they are not, (worse yet, where they are not even sure what they are) I do not understand, but it is their call.  God says the fact is obvious, no matter what the world around us screams.  Men and woman should not dress like the opposite.  Some clothing is female and other is male.  

That leads us to the conclusion that some people are female and some are male.  (This is where we will lose a lot of readers, sorry, but it is obvious, even God treats it so.)  


As you determine if God’s Word takes precedence over culture and public opinion, it might be good to count the cost; for our society does not do well having their foolishness pointed out, even if we do not make a big deal about it.  “This little light of mine…” shines in a dark world, no matter how little that light might be. 


Pastor

God Avenges

Good Morning,


Here are a few thoughts of comfort for those who are being beat up in this evil world.  


When someone persecutes believers, they persecute Jesus.  

Acts 9:5 “And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest…”


When one causes grief to the people of God, he also persecutes Jesus – it is personal!    It is literal!  Do not think the corrupt anti-God governments of China, Russia, the Middle East, or our own national tyrants (who tried to close churches during Covid) will not be dealt with by a just God. Allow me to use a more personal illustration: when someone does their best to harm the people of God or the church of God, they individually and personally will be accountable before a holy God. 


Of the Apostle Paul, God said, “I will show him how great things he must suffer. ” Much of the suffering in Paul’s ministry was a byproduct of his abuse of God‘s people.  


Trouble will surely be on the way for one who offends a child of God. Government agencies, city laws, or rich and unloving people who do not care for the children of God are in for some harsh treatment from God.  


Matthew 18:5 “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

vs. 6 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”


The point of these passages is that God is not a silent, inactive observer.  God sees and God cares, and though He does not work according to our timetable, He will deal with those who hurt His people.

God cares much for His chosen nation and His preachers. 

1 Chronicles 16:22 “Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”

Psalm 105:15 “Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”

When David had the opportunity to take the life of king Saul, he did not choose to do so. He quoted the basic principle in these two verses: One who messes with another whom God has placed in the position of leadership will not be innocent.


1 Samuel 26:9 “And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?” 

Guilty! God says a person who fights against the one anointed of God is guilty. It is important to understand that we are not talking about a godly pure Bible preacher, this passage deals with a corrupt king over Israel. Although he was corrupt, he was placed there by God. David was sure that God would move him in his own time. David was not going to mess with it.

The city officials who do harm to the church are in deep trouble.


The promise that some will lose their rewards is real.

Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Some who enter Heaven will find they arrived “broke, flat busted,” and “ashamed.” (1 John 2:28; Luke 15:31)    

Some people will have faced their earthly trials, but because they did so in an unscriptural manner, they will not gain the crowns they might have received. 

2 Timothy 2:5 “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 

It has been said that Pontus Pilate, while in Hell, has been trying to wash blood off of his hands for over 2,000 years. We can also be sure that many people in Heaven will face the shame of their earthly behaviour, and it is their unchangeable lot.

1 Corinthians 3:14 “If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

vs. 15 “If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

The songs says, “Be faithful weary pilgrim.” By doing so, great is your reward in Heaven.  

Pastor

Do Not Allow sorrow to Move In

Good Morning,

Sorrow and mourning are a part of this world.  From the first sin, God said that in “pain” Eve would bring forth children; to Adam God said,


Genesis 3:17 “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”

vs. 18 “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;”

vs. 19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

A curse, sorrow, sweat, thistles, and death are the promise of God.  It would be wise to assume that each of us will have the visitor of sorrow throughout life. In the verses following this passage, God drove Adam and Eve from the garden.

Sorrow is not to encompass our lives. Adam and Eve brought sorrow on the human race through their sin, but God immediately began to build a wonderful life for these two.

At the end of the book of Genesis, we read about the death of Jacob. Genesis 50:10 tells of seven days of mourning, and then they went back to their homes and jobs and to the good life the Lord had given them. 

If you remember the death of Moses, you will notice that the people sorrowed at the loss of their great leader. God allowed that sorrow to endure for a short time, but then God said go on with life and take the land of Canaan. They were not to dwell in the world of sorrow (it was only a place they needed to visit).

Deuteronomy 34:8 “And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.” 

Joshua 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”

vs. 3 “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”

To visit grief and mourning is normal and assumed, but to remain there is against the plan of God.  The more we love, the more deeply will be our hurt; and as such, grief will be a more dominant guest, but God does not want sorrow to take up residency.  He Who is love wants to be the dominant resident in our hearts. 

Saul was the first king of Israel, a very precious and loved man by the old prophet and priest who anointed him, Samuel. Saul became sidetracked and grieved God in such a way that God “repented” for placing Saul in the office as King.  Samuel sorrowed deeply at the tragic situation.  

1 Samuel 15:11 “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.” 

vs. 35 “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

1 Samuel 16:1 “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.”

One of the great tragedies of our society is the intentional cultivation of grief, sorrow, guilt, and blame. We serve a God of forgiveness, mercy, love, and hope, but we can assume that everything Satan does is going to be the opposite of God. Whether through counselors or social media, hurting folks are encouraged to keep their grief alive and even to nurture it.

Countless Bible passages teach us that anyone can find grace to build a great and useful life through the power of the Lord

Christ brought life. 

Christ brought forgiveness.

Christ brought mercy.

Christ brought hope.

Christ brought courage.  

Christ brought comfort.

To wallow in guilt, to nurture pain and suffering, and to live in the sorrow of yesterday are surely destructive.  

Paul and Moses were murderers; the woman at the well was morally fallen; Peter exhibited cowardice and denied the Lord; Christ’s siblings said He was crazy; Joseph was sold as a slave, yet in each case, victory was given by God and the promise of a great new life was found.  

It is okay to grieve and to allow the visitor of sorrow to sit at your table for a short time, but through Christ, there is too much good in life to allow grief to be your roommate.  

Our culture says to “let it go” or “move on.”  The Bible states it more eloquently:

Philippians 3:13 “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,”

vs. 14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”


Even after years of captivity and punishment, God made it clear that Israel would find great joy.

Isaiah 51:11 “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”

vs. 12 “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;”


Bring joy back into your world; welcome mercy, forgiveness, and the countless promises of God.  We are human, and love will have the unpleasant guest of hurt, but do not allow sorrow to stay long.  


Pastor

Spiritual Warfare

Good Morning,


We certainly live in days of spiritual warfare.  Our New Testament gives us phrases such as: “fight the good fight,” “we wrestle not against flesh and blood,”  and, “no man wareth entangled himself with the affairs of this life.”  Many such statements make it clear that the Christian life is a battle, and we have a very serious enemy.


Satan is working on churches, families, and obviously on our country more than ever.  Our schools, from elementary to the university level, are all under the incredible assault of the wicked one.  Common sense is being thrown to the wind as it is attacked by Satan.  This attack has been extreme; our very gender is under attack.


Let us begin with the first serious battle that Israel faced. From the east side of the Jordan river,  Joshua found himself looking across at Jericho.  It was there he met the captain of the Lord’s army (Jesus himself).  The very clear advice God gave to Joshua regarding the battles to come was found in chapter 1.


Joshua 1:7 "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” 

vs. 8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:”


Joshua was told to be strong enough to do what God said to do.  That’s it.  Joshua did not need a brilliant strategy; he did not need a larger army or a more skilled fighting force.  He needed to be strong enough to be obedient to God.  God gave him a promise in chapter one verse eight.

Josh 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Good success followed when Joshua kept the Word of God on his mind and on his lips; this enabled him to determine to obey God in every situation. Prosperity was the natural byproduct of biblical obedience.

Be strong… that you will obey. 

We need not be stronger than our enemies. We need to be strong enough to obey the Bible, and then God will care for the enemies.  


An endless stream of “believers” tell what they think God wants done, yet they rarely read their Bibles. They could not find one verse to defend their ideals. We are surrounded by religion based on emotion and public opinion rather than on the Word of God.  God said He would bless Joshua when he meditated on the Word and was strong enough to obey it. That would mean strong enough to obey the Bible when it did not agree with public opinion or the feelings of one’s own heart. This is where Joshua went wrong in regards to the battle at Ai and with the Gibeonites. Our own opinions matter nothing at all, not compared to the Bible!


Where is our nation today in regards to this simple truth?  Our national leaders, as well as our religious leaders are making void the commands of God in hopes of gaining success in economy, education, and world politics.  Our Bible colleges are teaching secular psychology.  Nearly every Bible college in America has thrown out the authority of the Bible and adopted ancient manuscript or thousands of ancient manuscripts, and the authority has been passed from the Word of God to Greek and Hebrew teachers.   Most of our churches have thrown out obedience to the great commission, as well as the countless commands to be separate from the world.  Rarely does anyone in a pulpit mention adultery, liquor, or worldly amusements; a preacher basically picks and chooses what he can preach in a way that will not hurt attendance or offerings.


The spiritual battle rages, and that battle can be won by the people who will talk about the Bible, meditate on the Bible, and be strong enough to obey the Bible.


Pastor

Light

Good Morning,

Do you remember the days when your mom told you not to write on yourself? Not long ago, certain things were considered primitive, and certain things were considered civilized.

I know I am stepping into the world of judging, but let us stop worrying about social trends and start worrying about simple honest thinking.

As a child, I remember looking at National Geographic magazines and seeing piercings, tattoos, stretched earlobes, and an excess of exposed flesh. Those were strange days in America, days when the term underwear meant it was under and it was not to be seen. Those were days when your poverty was seen through the holes in your pants or shoes — those holes were certainly not fashionable. The primitive folks in uncivilized lands needed Christ and the Bible to bring them into the light of decency and propriety. They did not need to become Americans but they could be taught to be more appropriate.

The primitive cultures of the world are subject to all kinds of demonic activities and influences. In primitive cultures, the basic element that sets them apart from civilization is what many would call the lack of light. Light — the opposite of the Dark Ages ( a time when no Scriptures were available to the hands of people), when people lived in darkness because of the lack of God's instruction.

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Ephesians 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

Light reproves the darkness!

2 Peter 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

The Word of God shines in the darkness and brings the spiritual and physical dawning into our world. The Word of God and the preaching of the Word of God brought men out of the Dark Ages, and with that, brought a civilized lifestyle, a lifestyle in which words like modesty, discretion, and virtue came with “the light.” Of course, there was always shame and wrong, but at least it was named as wrong. No one denied the wrong of drunkenness or adultery. No one tried to justify sodomy or primitive living. Tattoos and earrings on men were only appropriate when they were pirates — uncivilized, scoundrels, and reprobate men who were to be kept at arm's length.

Psalm 19:8 “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

Proverbs 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”

The light of God’s Word reproves us, enlightens us, and brings us out of darkness. Without the Bible, we will return quickly to the dark world of primitive thinking and living. The problem in America came when we stopped having a biblical influence on our homes, our church, and yes, our government. The Bible had a huge influence on the founders and framers. Nakedness was something they expected from the “savages,” certainly not something in which civilized people would partake. The Bible taught us about propriety.

Many will say that these styles are now acceptable in our nation; but understand this: that which is becoming acceptable in America is no more civilized than that which is acceptable in the native tribes of Africa, South America, or the South Pacific. Just because everyone runs around in a loin cloth does not make it right. Those people are primitive. They have not been taught the Bible, and therefore, they miss the most basic principles of biblical discretion and modesty.

I remember traveling to Disneyland with our family, and one of our children in the back of the van found some felt markers. If I remember correctly, by the time we got to Disneyland, that child had colored markings all over their hands and arms and the back of one of the seats. Today, one would have to pay quite a bit of money to have that done to their arms; my child paid in a different fashion for the artwork. Needless to say, that trip to Disneyland began very soberly and unhappily for one child; it was definitely not the “Happiest Place on Earth.” We are civilized people; we do not mark our bodies; we do not allow our body parts to hang out of our clothing, and we get married before we have intimate relationships — civilized. Civilized people have the “light.”

May we read a great deal more Bible and may God grant us wisdom to not live as those who have no “light.”

Pastor

Learn From the Past

Good Morning,

Finding my way into Jeremiah this morning, I was again moved by the warning of Jeremiah about carefully following the instruction of those who went before.

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Idiot modernists and compromisers have argued that we use a PA, and that is not old fashioned. They will say that we drive cars and not ox carts, yet the text talks about a "path" and in the next verse, "stumble in their WAYS from the ancient PATHS. We are not talking about a school bus or a horse-drawn wagon. We are talking about a way of doing things that the older men approved of, that method, that accepted course of travel.

Jeremiah 18:15 “Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up…"

Notice, this 150-year-old idea on a "way not cast up."

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary:

“ancient paths” — (Jeremiah 6:16) the paths which their pious ancestors trod. Not antiquity indiscriminately, but the example of the fathers who trod the right way, is here commended.

“not cast up” — not duly prepared… or not trodden. They had no precedent of former saints to induce them to devise for themselves a new worship.

New forms of worship are far from walking in a way approved by "the ancients."

Each succeeding generation carries the responsibility to build UPON the former wisdom and proven paths. Just as one group of men who pick up building a wall where the last group left off; they do not redesign, realign, or redevelop; they continue to build upon that which was built before they arrived.

The wise person will heed the lessons learned by former successful men and women. The prudent person will study the wise as well as the foolish and carefully guard his choices so as to not repeat stupid thinking but to carefully replicate wise decisions.

Proverbs 23:22 “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

Proverbs 19:20 “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”

People who refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past are destined to repeat those same mistakes. But it can also be said, that those who learn from the wisdom of yesterday may likewise repeat those wise decisions.

Pastor Goddard

Moses Responds

Good morning,


When faced with a difficult situation the Christian leader’s first response would wisely be prayer – seeking the direction of God for our response. Only God knows the heart of the person with whom we are dealing, and that could be a two-year-old, a twenty-year-old, or a spouse.  


Notice the response of Moses to Israel when they got way off.  In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses tells of the events of the past, while reminding Israel of things their parents did and the way God acted.  In this passage, Moses told about his actions when he came down from Mount Sinai and found the people worshiping golden calves.


Deuteronomy 9:17-21

vs. 17 “And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.”


First we see shock and anger.  The tablets written by God might not have been something you would usually smash to the ground.  Moses was the most meek man that ever lived according to God, but Moses had been with God for forty days and was not prepared for a calm response to this breach of contract. 


vs. 18 “And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”


Next, Moses fasted, mourned, and was broken before God.  


vs. 19 “For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.”


The third thing the leader did in this story was fear, and that was probably his emotion all through the situation.  He knew something of the holiness of God; Moses had been with God, heard the law, and understood how dreadful it was to violate Divine laws.  Moses feared for those he loved. We certainly should fear for our nation and pray for mercy. 


vs. 20 "And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.”


All of these actions were followed by continued prayer, now specifically for the one who was in charge.  


vs. 21 “And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.”


The next action Moses took was to destroy the object of the sin.  


Steps to a good response:

Broken

Fast

Fear

Pray

Remove the evil.


Whatever we face, this might be a good start on our response to the wrong around us. 


In a world that rushes to anger, yelling, and unkind treatment of those we are probably supposed to care for, I hope these suggestions will add a spiritual tone to whatever needs to follow.  

Pastor

Equal But Not Necessarily Equal

Good Morning

Socialism and communism have always been promoted by evil men.  The lie Satan tries to sell to mankind is that we would all enjoy equal prosperity if we all had the same material possession and opportunity.

What idiot could hear that lie and possibly consider it to be true?

I challenge anyone to go to any schoolyard and see how much actual equality is present.  Get off of your pity-party, racist equality issues and face reality.

As a first grader, I was told to draw a picture of the front of my school. I drew a big box with boxes inside (rooms), and then drew a few smaller boxes inside those boxes (to represent doors). I drew a straight line in front of the large box (the flag pole), and I put another box on the flagpole with some stripes on it (the flag).  That was the extent of my artistic ability. (Sorry, but that was the best I could do in the first grade.)  I looked at my friend’s paper and saw that his school box was three-dimensional.  He drew a flagpole with his flag waving in the wind.  I looked at my flag and my box and determined that all men are not created equal.

Get over it!  I am not an artist!  Fast forward to junior high basketball.  I was taller than most and found that I had a measure of coordination at six feet tall in the eighth grade.  I was comfortably athletic.  I played against a guy in the eighth-grade who was six-foot five!  He was a little intimidating, until we realized the guy could not walk and chew gum. We are not equal.

Fast forward again to high school graduation.   I had fairly good athletic statistics, and I was asked to visit one of the eight elite universities to spend a week with people that possessed far superior athletic abilities than myself.  Within five minutes of being on the court, I understood that in high school I was a big fish in a small small pond.  When I played with a university ball team, I became a very small fish.

We’re not created equal! Get over it!

Once a man is introduced to Christ, he realizes that God has a unique purpose and plan for every human being.  If we ignore our Creator, we deserve a depraved self-image.  The One who made us and purchased us with his own blood is the One Who knows how to give us a self-image and establish self-esteem.  On that level, there is equality.

Perfect equality is found in Calvary’s blood, in the love of God, and in the assurance that God made me for a reason – for His glory!

There is no way you can possibly imagine creating equality on this earth without God.  I could not read The Hardy Boys book in the sixth grade or the eighth grade, but I could work high school algebra problems in the eighth grade.  We are just not the same.  God made us different.  Until you get introduced to Jesus Christ, you will spend your life feeling inadequate.  Satan will be sure you look around at people who are taller, prettier, more athletic, or possess nicer hair, a better complexion, and smaller ears. (Perhaps they can even draw a waving flag on a flagpole in the first grade.)

But in Christ, All men are  equally loved by God with an equally important purpose, and an equally eternal and wonderful Heaven as their home.  We do not have an equality problem in America, we have a Sunday school problem. We have a group of idiot parents trying to make their children out to be better than others because they can play a piano, sing, shoot a ball, or are simply more attractive.  Forgetting that it was not we who made ourselves, but God made us.

Without God, you have a world of inequality, insecurity, and hurt.  But in Christ, all are loved and of infinite value!

You do not need to get over that, you just get in on it!

Pastor

Fears & Faith

Good Morning,

What exciting days we live in!   Anarchy (no matter what the media calls it) is everywhere.  Over forty attacks on pro-life businesses without much comment, while Supreme court justices are threatened with little attention and moms at school board meetings are called terrorists.  If that is not anarchy led by the top of government, we are missing something.  Anarchy, or lawlessness, is being lived out by some powerful forces in our nation.  They panic because the Supreme Court has made some very spectacular decisions lately, sending the powers of tyranny into panic mode; these demagogues hate the idea of freedom. 

Consider the time in which our Lord was alive.  Jesus had just given sight to a man born blind.  Some people were excited and happy, yet others felt threatened.  When evil is threatened, it gets ugly.

John 9:16 “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.”


Powerful miracles divided the leaders. When Lazarus was raised from the dead, they did not rejoice but feared this powerful man who threatened their hold on the minds of the people.  They were so angry that they had no problem considering murder to try to suppress this great leader.  

John 12:10 “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;”

As we all have seen, the only response the evil world has to honorable actions and truth is violence and threats.  If you are a threat to the security of the evil powers that be, you can expect hate, wrath, and in some circles, violence.  

Do not fear when evil throws a fit; (although it is scary) good and right have the hand of the eternal God to guide the affairs of life, and God will see things through to the end.  We need not turn to the methods of the anarchists.  

Millions of Bible-believing martyrs in the Dark Ages and Reformation era lived with evil leaders in powerful places. Hundreds of years later, they are still enjoying the rewards set aside for those who stand for right.

John 16:1 “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.”

vs. 2 “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

vs. 3 “And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

We have many promises of a one-world government, one-world economy, and a universal military power that will be ruthless in their manners; it simply has to come.  The simple Bible believers will be a target, but never fear, our Lord knows the path ahead.  We are seeing the early signs of a global unification that has to rebel against order, freedom, and God.  We are getting close, and it will be wonderful!  

"Fear not little flock" Jesus said, He will care for you.  

Pastor

Faith of Children

Good Morning,



A few years ago, I sat and watched the graduates of Commonwealth Baptist College receive their diplomas.  As each graduate walked across the platform, a brief summary was stated about their lives and ministry involvement.  Of course, all of them were faithfully involved in the ministry of the church, but what stood out in my mind was the age of salvation for a large percentage of the graduates.  For most of the graduates, a comment was made about when or where they trusted Christ.  Some were won to Christ by a bus worker — THANK GOD FOR THE BUS MINISTRY!! — some were saved later in life.  Most of them were saved at the age of four or five years old.



We live in a day when Calvinism and other sour doctrines instruct folks not to witness to children.  Many people believe that children need to be older to make a REAL profession.  Some contemporary churches are accepting a works-based salvation which, likewise, demands more than child-like faith.  I differ incredibly!  My son, our youth pastor, trusted Christ at five years of age.  Once, I asked him if he had ever doubted his decision.  He said, “What is there to doubt, God said He would save me and He did.”  As I said, the platform was filled with dozens of Bible college graduates who had trusted Christ before they started school.  Those who were saved in early childhood were now faithful bus workers, soul winners, Sunday school teachers, and successful workers for Christ.  How terrible is this damnable heresy that has slipped into Bible-preaching churches!  Satan has always smuggled this wicked teaching into Protestant churches, but now, it is slipping into churches that once were aggressively winning souls and faithfully running buses.



Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”



All these doctrinal heretics cloak themselves in intellectualism and a deep understanding of the Scriptures; but truly, these ideas just veil the carnality and compromise in a lazy religion.



In Matthew 18:10 Christ teaches about children: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
 (vs. 11) “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”



Christ came to save the lost… children that is.  



In the book of Luke, Jesus changes the vocabulary.  He says in Luke 19:8, “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”


vs. 9 “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”


vs. 10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”



The difference is that in the book of Luke, Jesus is talking with an adult, Zacchaeus.  In the book of Matthew, Jesus speaks of children.  What is different?  One word… SEEK.  Children will get saved without much SEEKING.  Adults need someone to run after them, debate with them, and convince them. 

We are to go and seek to reach adults, but children will readily trust Christ with the most basic invitation. 


Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

We need to SEEK adults, but we “suffer” children.  Suffer means to allow them or to let them come freely to Christ.



Matthew 18:2 “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,”


vs. 3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”


vs. 4 “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”



Churches today are sending folks to Hell because they allow heresy into their homes through reformed theology and too much vain study of internet teachers.   Just recently, I heard of a soul winner getting scolded for witnessing to the child of a relative.  How sad that compromise and shame have crept into our churches to the point at which presenting the Gospel to a child is a scolding offense.  Jesus rebuked His disciples for that same action.


Luke 18:15 “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.”


vs. 16 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”


vs. 17 “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”


This passage talks about little children, called “infants” (which is a broad term), but the point remains that they RECEIVED the truth.  Adults are urged to receive the truth as these children did.  Adults need to become more childlike; children do not need to get more adult understanding.  If a child is old enough to wish to RECEIVE the truth, he can be saved. 



If a child is surrounded by good preaching and daily Bible, he will know where he stands with Christ.  Parents need not worry that their children do not understand.  If something is missing in their faith, they will “work out their own salvation.”  Many of my most faithful adults trusted Christ as children, and I have no intention of losing one soul to Hell because some hyper-intellectual says we should not witness to children.  The fact is that those who say this typically witness to few or not at all.  Their bus ministries are crumbling, their door-to-door soul winning is slipping away, and they are populating Hell with their theological shame. 



Teach your children of Christ!  Fill your home and bus ministry with Bible, love, and the truths of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  Make it clear and simple!  If a child wishes to be saved, the Lord will not refuse him.



Pastor

Environment Matters

Good Morning,

I have had the privilege of preaching several times at Pacific Baptist Bible College in Long Beach, with Pastor Steve Myers and the Esposito family. I noticed how many of their young people are burdened for Southeast Asia. Many of their young people are in Cambodia and other nearby countries. Many more of their young people are presently preparing to go to those countries as well.

From our church, we have missionaries in the Philippines, Japan, China, Thailand, and other countries; others are in Bible college planning to go to the mission field as well. It is no surprise that if one rears a child in a ghetto, that he is more likely to end up in gangs, moral depravity, or in trouble with the law. Many times, the end results are determined by the environment.

Where we place our children will have a major effect on their future.

1 Samuel 1:11 “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

Samuel’s mother prayed for a son. She promised him to the Lord if her prayers were answered. The story continues, a child is born, and she fulfills her promise a few verses later.

vs. 26 “And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.”

vs. 27 “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:”

vs. 28 “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”

The prophet was born and delivered to the Lord’s house. It is no wonder this young man, Samuel, turned out to be a spiritual giant for God. Samuel had a praying mother and was raised around church, preaching, and the ministry; it is only logical that his heart would be tender toward the things of God.

Acts 4:20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Proverbs 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

I am not surprised that all four of our children are working in the ministry. The ministry is the environment in which they were raised —a good home, school, and youth department and praying parents.

I encourage parents to consider a few suggestions. Of course, you will find great people whose upbringing was far from these suggestions, and you will also find sad stories of parents who tried to implement these suggestions yet all did not go well. God is sovereign, and the free will of the youth must be considered. I am saying that the chances of your child honoring God with his life are higher when more of these suggestions are implemented.

1. Never get involved in secular sports. Sports are a powerful god in today’s society, and they need to be held in check like a car or cell phone for a teen.

2. Never allow your children to have close friends who are not in your church and actively involved in the ministry. (This includes relatives; a holiday visit might be okay, but weekly time together is not.)

3. Place your children in the ministry as soon as possible. Our ministry allows our junior-age children to visit the rest homes. Once our children are in junior high, they go soul winning. As they enter high school, our young people start working on bus routes.

4. Do not raise your child in a youth department that has no one entering the ministry.

5. Do not place your children in a ministry in which the young people tend to go to secular colleges or liberal arts Christian colleges. When the majors at the college consist of business or nursing and a little Bible, it is unlikely your children will consider serving God.

6. Place your children in an environment which promotes preaching as the biggest thing in life. In our church, the laymen preach often. Our men preach in jails and rest homes, and dozens of our men preach in public services on big days. In our ministry, it is normal for a man to preach. If you are a man, we assume you can preach.

Did you know that many of the Apostles were related? How is it that so many from the same general family ended up in the “chosen twelve?” Could it be that their families had a special environment? Maybe a spiritual, praying mother and aunt had something to do with it. By looking at the Bible, we find it was not a mother who wanted her child to take dance classes or go to modeling school who said these words:

Matthew 20:21 “And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.”

This mother probably did not take her kids to dance class or modeling school. This mom had spiritual desires for her children and probably had great influence on the rest of the family; perhaps other parents had similar desires. The environment in which we bring up our children matters!

Let me refer back to the folks at Pacific Baptist Church. Why are more of their young people headed to Southeast Asia and more of my young people the Philippines? I take our young people to the Philippines, while Brother Myers sends his youth to Southeast Asia for trips. The same reason most youth departments have no one serving God, it is the environment in which they grew up. It is only logical! Why is it that many of our young men are considering starting churches? The reason is because many of the boys from ten and twenty years ago are now pastoring, and we make heroes out of them.

I would no sooner place my child in a Sunday school where the teacher does not go soul winning than I would allow my child to play weekend sports with a pot smoker.

Incorporate a great deal of godly singing in your home and your child will enjoy singing. Watch sports constantly, and the children in your home will love sports. Go soul winning weekly and talk about the ministry, and your child will most likely learn to win souls. Bring your child to Nascar races and spend weekends working on cars, and you will bring up a different child than one who never misses Saturday soul winning and bus route visitation. We are to TRAIN our children. In fact, we are ALL TRAINING our children; the only difference is the matter of WHAT we are training them to be and do.

These are not facts but observations that have been tried by decades. (I have watched and dealt with families and young people for over forty years of ministry.) Exceptions abound, but the general rule is simple: the environment in which you raise your children will do much to determine their destiny.

The idea that God calls a man to Burma as a missionary from a home without training is possible, but it is rare.

Consider your free time, your weekends, your child’s youth department, and your activities. We will load up buses to go anywhere there is good preaching and create an activity. We join like-minded youth groups for singing, games, and preaching. Everything we do with teens is centered on ministry and preaching.

Consider who and what your child is around. Remember, one day, he will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive a reward for the deeds done in his life.

Romans 14:10 “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 “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.”

Pastor

Discretion

Good morning,

A few places in the Bible address personal issues of a man or a woman, yet the subjects are dealt with very discretely. The Bible talks about a woman adorning herself in modest apparel. We often read the words discrete and discretion, as well as other similar terms in the Bible.

Because of America’s biblical roots, a rule of life regarding discretion has always existed, both in the media and in private life. When the mini-skirt came out in the 60s, people were shocked! The two-piece swimming suit was, likewise, very shocking; it took decades to achieve our “acceptable” mindset in these areas. Television had very strict rules on what was and was not allowed to be shown. The common shows often had no bedroom or bathroom scenes ever shown; or, if on occasion a bedroom was shown, it was with twin beds and fully clothed people. Today, the most intimate parts of married life are commonly shown. We have simply lost our discretion.

Young ladies are far too comfortable talking about personal matters that should be private conversation. Intimate and personal subjects that would have never been referred to casually, have now become acceptable to discuss in a mixed crowd. We have lost the idea of discretion and propriety. My wife and I are so backward and old-fashioned (and probably emotionally unstable) that we even set some standards in our church for bridal showers where intimate gifts will be given. Only married ladies are invited, no single girls. Our young people do not need any more of “that” in their minds.

Proverbs 11:22 “As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”

Yes, the young lady should be a woman of discretion; but God exalts the character trait of discretion for both men and women.

Proverbs 2:11 “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:”

Proverbs 3:21 “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:”

Proverbs 5:2 “That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.”

Young couples should be very careful about their conversation. They should also be very careful about their texting. Much like children of the past generation who would write notes and, on occasion, said things in a note that they would never be so bold as to say face-to-face, so today, young people text comments, especially late at night, that they would never have the nerve to say eye-to-eye.

Moms should raise young ladies to talk very carefully about private things. Boys and girls should go to parents or perhaps a doctor when they are talking about personal matters. Discretion needs to be learned, but it cannot be taught if we are watching countless hours of television with the most beautiful and famous stars of Hollywood teaching our children that indiscretion is acceptable.

A father should treat his daughters with respect and dignity; he should treat them with all the honorable and gentlemanly manners of a respected man speaking to a respectable lady. Once my girls were over a couple of years old, I was never a part of giving them a bath or helping them dress. They were young ladies and deserved modesty and propriety from their father. I may be totally extreme and fanatical, but although I hugged my girls and kissed them often on the cheek, I never kissed one of my daughters on the lips.

The Bible talks about not looking on the nakedness of your family members, and I showed those verses to my boys because they were going to live in the same house with sisters, as well as with nieces and nephews. I wanted my boys to guard what they saw and to avoid situations in which they might see that which they should not see. I showed them the Scriptures and wanted them to know what God thought about modesty.

Leviticus 18:9 “The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.”

Leviticus 18:11 “The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.”

You may say what you want and do what you want; you are a free agent. As for me, I want no part of this indiscreet society in which nothing is private or modest, and worst of all, nothing is sacred. With four adult children, I can say I do not regret having a home where discretion was a part of our lives: in our personal lives, our television entertainment, and in relationships with others outside the home.

Pastor

Do You Know?

Good Morning,

John 13:3 “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;”

I am amazed at the foolish company so many Christians keep. We are going to be influenced by those around us, by what we read, by what we see, and by what we hear.

Acts 4:20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

1John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us…”

John said, that which was seen and heard was declared, and it brought about fellowship. That is not hard to accept! I am careful to judge my books and companions on the basis of what they believe compared to what I believe, where I came from, and where I am going. Someone recommended a great book on missions by a well-known Southern Baptist. I glanced at it, then chose instead, Don Sisk's book on missions. He lived a lifetime success story.

Back to the text in John 13: Jesus was able to wash the feet of the disciples and play the part of a servant because …

1. …knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,

2. …and that he came from God,

3. …and went to God.

When you know where you came from, where you are going, and what you are, it is much easier to make good choices and to have wisdom for the countless decisions of life. A pastor above all others must have this discernment because so many people pay attention to his words. Likewise, political leaders should have this insight, as the course of nations depends upon their perspective of life.

Over twenty years ago, a preacher came to me, a good man, a man who had more years of experience than I, yet trouble had come his way. In starting a new church, someone from the SBC had asked him if they might help. He came to my church bragging about the money they were going to give him, the help they had promised him, etc. I did my best to cut the conversation short, for I do not need that kind of talk. I was sitting in a tent, financially broke, and without help from anywhere (except God). I hoped he would do well and that everything would turn out well for him. Yet, I did not need to hear that conversation. I knew from where I came, I knew what I was, and I knew where I was going. I did not need to hear talk of how wonderful someone else was, even if they were! A year or so later, he stopped by to tell me about church pictorial directories he was selling. The church plant had not worked out and he said the SBC was “a bunch of liars…” I did not want to hear that either. I just wanted to keep my mind clear, straight, and certainly not critical. I just wanted to stay tight with those who believed like me and to keep my focus on who I was and where I was going.

I do not need anyone trying to turn me. If someone starts talking about how surprisingly good the contemporary church is, I will start avoiding them. Sure, you will find good people there, but I cannot be close to everyone; so I will stay close to my crowd.

I am amazed at men who were saved in Independent Baptist churches and trained in Independent Baptist churches who embrace the Southern Baptist movement. Besides its friendship with rock-and-roll, a total absence of standards, and soul winning being rare, they have been the biggest enemies of the old-time Gospel. Whether it was Lester Roloff, Jack Hyles, Lee Roberson, John R. Rice, or J. Frank Norris, the SBC has made our roots their enemy.

Because President Obama had no clue about our Bible-based roots (or at least no love for it), he had no problem treating Israel like trash and Castro as a friend. (Any patriotic American over the age of fifty knows Castro as a murdering tyrant — he no one to befriend, to say the least.) The idea of entertaining those who said the Holocaust was fabricated brings shock and disgust to true historians; yet, it has been said in the news in the last decade.

Do not try to tell me about the good someone else does; good can be found everywhere. There are not enough days or hours to be influenced by everyone, so I will stay with my crowd. Too many men are wanting to experiment with a group that has already exposed itself as wrong in many areas. Yes, you will find some wonderful folks at Calvary Chapel or at the Methodist church, but they are not my crowd. Some community churches are doing a good job in their towns, and I would assume that missionaries from Mormon churches have helped some folks in some way, but —

I know who I am; I know where I came from, and I know where I am going.

Men, you must study your roots. If you have not, you are still not sure what you are. You certainly do not know where you are going and have no clear destination. You have no set course. You are drifting like a “leaf driven with the wind.” Dozens of members of our church, who were saved and baptized here, are more clear on their spiritual identity than many Bible college graduates who have heard an “uncertain sound” too often. Stop listening to the “good” about the world you did not come from. It will cause you to be unsteady in life decisions.

You may be surprised to know that God gave a pastor to you so that you will not be blown around by every new doctrine or preacher.

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave … pastors …”

vs. 14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Because men do not have clear roots, and they have yet to solidly identify who they are, they are driven around by every cute “tweet,” catchy “website,” or well-spoken “ideologue.”

But… I know who I am, I know where I came from, and I know where I am going.

Our Lord was able to do what He did because He knew some things. Today, we sit with preachers who try to decide if they are even supposed to be a preacher, pastor, man of God, teacher, reverend, prophet, or Southern Baptist — or whether or not any of it even matters. Yes, by all means, it matters.

You better figure out who you are, what you believe, where you came from, and where you are going. Lock down what you believe, and whenever you are nudged to change, simply toss that influence out. I do not read good things about other denominations. I do not stand in fellowship with Presbyterian folks that happen to believe the Gospel. (We will do that in Heaven -- when we are all Baptists.) My roots and clear identity guide me in every book I read, every sermon I hear, every text and tweet I read, and every person I serve. I recommend you do the same.

Pastor

Age

Good Morning,

I received a letter from a dear friend. He is seventy-five years-old and has spent all of his life in the ministry. He had a wonderful church and served there for many decades. Due to tempestuous weather, his church flooded. His home had two feet of water inside, his church auditorium had four feet of water, and their gymnasium had five feet of water. Everything was a complete loss. At age seventy-five, with a lifetime of service behind him, one cannot help but wonder, "Why?"

Thinking through other friends of mine, who are ten to twenty years older than myself, I see some of the more severe burdens of life weighing on these godly couples as well. My own dear Pastor, Dr. Jack Hyles, faced the most difficult battles of life in his 60s and early 70s.

I am reminded of the story of Abraham; we read of the continued testing of this great man of faith long after his one-hundredth birthday.

Genesis 22:1 “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.”

Abraham was over one hundred years of age, and God was still working on him, testing him, and proving him. I would love to say that as we age, the battles diminish and the peace increases, but from observation, I simply do not believe that to be the case. Another close friend of mine (in his mid-60s) had spent his entire lifetime serving God as a pastor, and he suddenly lost three key staff members, people who carried the load and had been well-trained in that ministry. It is extremely difficult to hire staff, and to lose multiple staff members at the same time, obviously multiplies the difficulty. I have watched godly, retired pastors face battles that separated them from their adult children, whom they had been very near to all of their lives. Of course, all of us have seen godly widows say goodbye to their lifetime partners. Suddenly their worlds are empty, and very often, financially pressured beyond words. Another dear friend in the ministry had his wife turn on him and the church when he was in his 60s. Where does a pastor go when his wife denies the church, the pastor, and the faith?

In many cases, a veteran pastor has built a church, labored financially to leave a debt-free congregation, and as the weakness of the body increases and the pressures of life escalate, many dear men see their ministry through more clear eyes and understand that perhaps it will not continue to be that which it had been. The direction of society, leadership in the church, and trends among members weigh heavy on the pastor's heart. When the older pastor views all these things, he sees the warning that perhaps the fruit of his lifetime of service and ministry will not continue after his departure.

How many godly, faithful, older men watched their lifetime ministry crumble into liberalism or shame or even close down within a few years of his retirement. What a grief to the heart of the pastor! My home pastor retired from a successful ministry with a church averaging 2,000 or more, and within a few years, he saw the buildings rented out and attendance dropping to 100. Again, age brings trials no one ever anticipates.

I remember enjoying a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Howard Jewell. This godly man had been in the spotlight of countless revivals and stood with the greatest of America’s evangelists, and yet in the last years of his life, he cared for his stroke-victimized wife. He sang and testified where he could, but the glamor and glory of former days were certainly a memory of the past. As he sang in our fledgling church (which was meeting in a tent), he was such a blessing; I was helped and so were our people. This dear saint of God was being tested more severely than ever in his ministry. Today, it is difficult to even find his name online anywhere; but in Heaven, his name was recorded, and I am sure he was richly rewarded.

Paul wrote to Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:15 “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”

2 Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”

vs. 16 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.”

Can you see the aged Paul being jailed, having suffered countless injustices, having stood for the truth all these years, and having none to stand by his side?

These words are a reflection of David’s heartache when he wrote:

Psalm 31:11 “I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.”

vs. 12 “I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.”

vs. 13 “For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.”

We are familiar with the prophetic words of our Lord:

Psalm 41:9 “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

And of Job:

Job 19:14 “My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.”

As we age, our popularity can fade and our strength can erode, or the health of a spouse may crumble leaving our security in this life more shaky than our palsied hands. I watched Dr. Wendell Evans lead the college alma mater at the end of the 2017 college year. He had “served his own generation by the will of God.” His voice was a little weak, his steps unsure, and his memory, though still brilliant, showed signs of failing. With health issues, he is not used as often as he once had been, yet I remind myself that his retirement party is awaiting him in Glory. His reward and full retirement package is being lovingly prepared by the Saviour Whom he has faithfully served.

In our own church, we have watched dear godly friends become frail, palsied, and forgetful. Over time, we find ourselves less important, less useful, and perhaps feeling that we are in the way. 

We might be wise to remember a few things about age:

1. We will all travel the path of aging, so be merciful and kind to those who are already on it.

2. We should exercise extra patience with those who are needy due to years.

3. We should remember that this world is not our home; we are just passing through.

4. We must remember that God is the hope of the world and the sustenance of our children - not ourselves or our wives. I can become frail of mind or body or even go on to Heaven, and God will take care of this world; He has been doing it for a long time.

5. We should not think too highly of ourselves or our work. We are to raise our families and work to honor and please God. What happens after our health fails is God’s business, not our own. We are to do it for Him, not for us.

6. Even though age is no reward, we are still here for a purpose. We are members of the body of Christ, and we each supply something that no one else can provide.

Ephesians 4:16 “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

God knows where I am, what I know, and what I am able to do. It is He Whom I am to please and honor with my life. I can rest in that fact!

Pastor Goddard