Clear Message

Good Morning,

While reading through the book of Ezekiel, I am reminded of how frankly the Lord speaks to us. God is strong, yet wants to bring comfort to His people.

Ezekiel 14:23 “And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.”

Not only does God want us comforted amidst our troubles, but He also wants sin to be pointed out; and He has no problem naming sin.

Ezekiel 16:30 “How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;”

vs. 31 “In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;”

vs. 32 “But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!”

vs. 33 “They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.”

vs. 34 “And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.”

vs. 35 “Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:”

That statement is rather pointed! God makes no excuse for moral impropriety! The words: harlot, adultery, and whorish are all words used to describe the pitiful way the people treated God. While the people of Israel had been formed by God, blessed by God, turned into a great nation by God, they now acted like whores enjoying the world and the things of the world. Could we say anything less about America today?

God calls sin terrible names; He makes no softening excuses for sin and demands that we, too, lay claim to the shame and vile nature of our sinful deeds.

1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

vs. 9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

vs. 10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

God wants us to label sin as BAD and to acknowledge that our actions are wrong and that our deeds are shameful and perverse.

We live in a world where preachers are afraid to call sin by name. (In fact, you will have trouble finding preachers who even like being called preachers. They often prefer to be called “teacher" or “pastor.” This is not wrong, but we have few prophets of God who stand for righteousness.) Few reverends today are willing to name sin. Men who stand before congregations want to please the audience in hopes of building a crowd and an offering. Our churches are gaining more worldliness, more casual Christianity, and more tolerance of sin. Now I know that our church is full of sinners, starting in the pulpit, but we call it sin, we do not act as if wrong actions are okay.

Just think with me: when is the last time you heard a pastor talk about loud women?

Proverbs 7:11 “(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:”

…or about flattery and forward women kissing a guy?

Proverbs 7:13 “So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,”

Proverbs 7:21 “With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.”

When have we heard a preacher address the evils of religious celibacy, or vegetarianism as a religious mandate? (That could refer to Catholics or Seventh Day Adventists, not to mention others as well.) A good minister is supposed to preach on those subjects.

1 Timothy 4:3 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth…"

vs. 6 “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ,”

So, yes, the gal who hops into bed with a guy she is not married to is a whorish woman —simple as that!

Ezekiel 16:30 “How weak is thine heart ... the work of an imperious whorish woman;”

Imperious: one who will not follow rules, submit to the authorities, or refuses to follow the rules. Hmmm… this is probably not used as a text mentioned by most preachers.

Ready for a real shocker? How about preaching on work? Paul sure hit it hard.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

vs. 11 “For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.”

Paul continues to say that men should work and EAT THEIR OWN BREAD:

vs. 12 “Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

vs. 13 “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

vs. 14 “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

People who do not work should be avoided. WOW! That is unpopular preaching. We, of course, are not referring to those who would take a job if it were available; many a good man found himself out of work for a short time. This passage speaks of those who are busybodies and avoid jobs.

The point is that churches need to identify right and wrong and help people see what God thinks about certain subjects.

The Bible is a frank Book; we ought to be loving, kind, giving, and merciful, but we need not act as if wrong is right or that someone's feelings are more important than right. God is blunt and clear about what is right and what is wrong. With a spirit of love, may we also be clear, and may we never side-step naming certain actions as right or wrong.

Pastor

Blame

Do not blame anyone but yourself.

Romans 14:12 “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

We hear much about why people do this or what drives someone to do that. The scenario is not uncommon; Adam said, “The woman thou gavest me…” It was either God or the woman who received the blame, but surely, Adam was not going to take the blame. We are all prone to blame others for our troubles or even our sin. Today, even our society responds with blame.

If a guy shoots a group of people, we study his background and ask if he was loved, if he was a loner, and if he faced difficulties in his life. Yet the bottom line is, he shot some people and he needs to be shot or hanged!


Society does not cause a man to kill others, nor is it America and her moral impropriety that brings about the hatred of radical Islamic groups (or even some political groups). Those involved with Islam choose to kill; they choose to hate; they choose to take life — that is no Christian doctrine; that is a satanic doctrine! Islam has been killing and beheading folks for thousands of years. President Jefferson had trouble with Islamic people and pirates in the North African area. The pornography or movie industry of our country did not cause the behavior of those people — the cause was the evil in their hearts. America was no super power in those days to bring about the ill treatment. Islam was simply a culture of hatred and lawlessness; one comprised of people who hated, stole, and pillaged.

We all blame others. One man in another church said, “I would be in the ministry had I not married my wife.” What a terrible thing to say! Why not do the will of God, be in the will of God, and honor the will of God today? Why not man up and say, “I married this gal I loved when I knew I should have stayed in college. We had babies, got busy with life, and I never got into the ministry.” It is not the lady's fault. Go on and serve God where you are right now instead of blaming the past for your lack of obedience today.

I knew a man long ago who was unfaithful to his wife. After hearing of this man’s actions, a good friend of mine said, “His wife drove him to it.” Now let us be honest, a wife can drive her husband away. A wife can be ugly to him and make him want to leave: but if he does wrong, he did it — not her. A wife who never communicates may leave her husband starving for conversation, but she does not make him break his vows; he does that all on his own. Unfair society does not make someone hate people. A poverty-stricken life does not force someone to steal or hurt others. Dr. Ben Carson showed us that someone can grow up as a black youth in poverty and still do right. Countless less-famous men and women likewise have proved these truths. My pastor, Dr. Jack Hyles, grew up in terrible poverty with a drunkard dad who beat him and his mother, and then left them. That poor, ghetto boy went through life without ever tasting liquor — anyone can do what they want to do.

We will give an account of our own actions to God, Who is the perfect Judge, and no newspaper will be at the judgement to try to transfer that blame to someone else.

1 Peter 4:5 “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”

Preachers will give an account for their actions, their teaching, and for what they allow to take place in their churches.

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

The pastor who said he did NOT BELIEVE the doctrine of sprinkling babies was in the Bible but sprinkled babies anyway because the people liked it will stand before God for his actions, and he will not be able to blame his people. He made the choice to compromise!!

God says we will give an account of our idle words:

Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

Whether it be a test in school or a bad performance in a ball game, do not allow your children to go through life pointing fingers at everyone else.

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Likewise, do not blame yourself for the actions of another. Yes, a little more kindness, a little more prayer and love might have changed the situation, but that individual chose their actions and did them on their own; you did not force them into their pitiful life. Whether it be your child or a friend, you cannot blame yourself for the corrupt choices of another. Jesus did not sit around blaming Himself for Judas’ betrayal. God did not walk around mourning and trying to rethink the decision about having the tree in the garden. Adam and Eve made a choice, and it was their own fault.

My attitude is my choice; if I allow your actions to give me a bad attitude, then I am letting you run my heart and mind. That is my choice. When someone says they get angry watching the political news, well, that is their own fault; they can shut off the news. Society wants to blame everyone for everything except the one who is guilty. Let us get this straight: God does not work that way and neither should we.

Jesus often spoke of our standing to be judged for our actions; no one is going to point a finger at another person, our own actions have been because of all our choice.

Matthew 18:33 “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?”

vs. 34 “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.”

vs. 35 “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

We do what we do because we choose to do it. We fail because we do not study enough. We do not have a decent job because we do not adequately prepare; or maybe because God is doing something unusual in our lives — any number of reasons are possible, but let us not blame others. This trial may become a wonderful blessing; why blame someone else? Do right; love God; and honor Him with the actions of today.

Are there bad schools? Yes. Are there bad referees? (Of course! The bad ones are the ones who referee our losing games!) But in those times, we turn to God trusting that He gave us the leaders we needed to improve our game and to challenge us to be better in spirit or actions. There is more to life than winning and making money. We need to better our character and trust that God is involved in those things, both with our children and our own lives.

Blame is a sorry response to a failed situation. Confession is a far better path to travel.

Pastor

Fancy Dress

FANCY DRESS

Good Morning,

For those who are not aware, these Morning Moments began as simple thoughts from my devotions that were sent to my staff. Though my deacons started getting them, then my church members, and now to readers on-line, these Morning Moments are still just thoughts from my daily Bible reading — nothing scholarly, just thoughts as I read my Bible. May these thoughts be a blessing to you.

My Bible reading chart places me in Isaiah for a while. I see so many similarities between Israel in Isaiah's time and our nation today. Notice the emphasis on the body and clothing:

Isaiah 3:18 “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,”

vs. 19 “The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,”

vs. 20 “The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,”

vs. 21 “The rings, and nose jewels,”

vs. 22 “The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,”

vs. 23 “The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.”

vs. 24 “And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.”

All of these strange terms apply to fancy styles in dress, jewelry, and hair styles.

God was a little tired of their fancy, worldly clothing; He was telling them of a day when they will have no rich and worldly ornaments with which to adorn themselves.

Remember, Peter spoke of this as well:

1 Peter 3:3 “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;”

The unknown prophet, Zephaniah, likewise speaks of this:

Zephaniah 1:8 “And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.”

The Lord finds something important about the way we look. It might be our pride over rich apparel, or it could be the reliance on the outward man rather than leaning on the real man inside us. For many, to fit in with the world, to draw the eye of the worldly people, and to gain the fleshly esteem of carnal men is the desire. Regardless of the reason, God takes notice of how much emphasis we place on our dress, especially when it is ornamented with jewelry and fancy, rich, worldly styles. God tells ladies to dress modestly: modest in style and modest in economics.

1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”

How this fashion-focused, Christian world today hates to hear about topics like this, but this issue is in the Scriptures far too often not to admit that it matters to God. Proverbs 7 talks about the woman and forbids the crossing over of dress styles. There is a man’s clothing and woman’s clothing, and the two should never trade places Deuteronomy 22 speaks of apparel being that of a man or that of a woman; God truly does notice and care about styles.

In our overall behavior and dress, Peter and Paul write about fashioning ourselves according to our former lusts and presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, not conforming to this world.

(1 Peter 1:14, Romans 12:1-2)

No, we should not allow our girls to gaze at fashion magazines; and malls should not set our fashion trends. Neither should commercials, movie stars, or famous singers be influencing our appearance. Not long ago, boys started allowing the gang fashion of flat billed ball caps worn down to the eyes to become trendy. No, a hat is not sinful, but allowing a gang member or rapper to guide ones fashion might be. When boys start wearing skinny tight clothing for who knows what reason, it brings about questions as to who is guiding their thoughts and actions.

Back to Isaiah:

Isaiah 3:18 “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,”

vs. 19 “The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,”

vs. 20 “The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,”

Put a ring on your toe or in your nose? Really? Who got you thinking that will make you beautiful? Instead let it be the hidden man of the heart who places value on a person.

1 Peter 3:4 “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

Pastor

Value of Ladies

Good Morning,

I happened to be reading the book of Genesis during the same week that we had our annual missions conference when I noticed similarities regarding the treatment of women in heathen cultures of today and the early years in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 34:2 “And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.”

vs. 3 “And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.”

 vs. 4 “And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.”

vs. 6 “And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.”

 vs. 7 “And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.”

vs. 8 “And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.”

The man raped Dinah, then wanted her for himself.  The young lady became a thing to be bargained; the relationship did not involve a man and woman in love.  

The entire situation was terrible to the sons of Jacob (her brothers).

vs. 31 “And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?”

The heathen tried to bargain for her and to negotiate a deal, a deal that treated the young lady (who had already been exploited once) as merchandise. The brothers negotiated the situation to allow them to kill all of the men in the city.  


One of our missionaries told of how their tribal customs treated women as no better than dogs — to be used, traded, and told where to go and with whom to sleep.  The idea of love and family values was totally non-existent in that culture.  In so many third-world nations, young ladies are often molested, and the respect or love that would seem normal in a Christian culture is not found.  

A missionary friend told me of a twelve-year-old girl who had been attending his church who came to tell him goodbye.  He asked the reason why. She explained that she was turning thirteen and was to be sold.  (Child prostitution and slavery are commonplace in Vietnam.)

As we read the Bible, we can see how God's Word brings great honor and protection to women.  In the story of Dinah, we find family protection and the refusal to make merchandise of the sister.  In the story of Abraham’s servant going to get a bride for Isaac, the final decision to go or stay was given to Rebekah.

Genesis 24:57 “And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.”

vs. 58 “And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.”

Jesus taught men to love their wives as Christ loved the church “and gave Himself for it…” (Ephesians 5).  Again, husbands were commanded to “love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” (Colossians 3:19)

Nothing has exalted women like Christianity.  Nothing has provided freedom and respect to ladies as much as the teaching of our Lord. Yet, women’s rights advocates fight to do away with any scriptural instruction or practice.   Do not interpret the mistreatment of women during the Dark Ages and the teaching of Catholicism to apply to Bible-reading Christians — the two sets of people are light years apart! The priests of Catholicism and the Protestant leaders of the Dark Ages knew little of Christianity and Bible-based values.

Observe the treatment of women in the Middle East. Women are not allowed to attend school, drive, or go outside without an escort; women are little more than slaves.  Note the manner in which godless men in America make merchandise of women through pornography or prostitution.  Godless, Bible deniers have pressured the general populace to put men in ladies restrooms; Christian values offer privacy, protection, and respect for ladies.   The cultures without a Bible-based foundation have placed women in harm’s way through the military; America, when she was under the rule of Bible-based conscience, never allowed such an atrocity to take place.  The reasoning was not to disrespect women, but to impart a total respect for them.  We have read of Molly Pitcher and others who risked their lives in times of necessity and served in military situations. Simply explained, men with Bible-based views did not want to risk their women being in such dangerous situations — for women were highly regarded and cherished. (Also, logically, a woman does not have the physical strength of a man.)  But the logic of sending men to war was more than a physical difference; the difference was that women were respected and protected.  Bible-based cultures taught boys to hold the door open for ladies and to allow a lady to walk first into a situation of safety but last into a dangerous circumstance.  Not only did I teach my boys to go down the escalator first in case mom or sister slipped, but I also taught them to allow the lady to go first when riding up the escalator in case she stumbled back.  How is it demeaning to a woman to always be placed first in the safest situation and to allow the man to take the risk?

Only the society without the teaching of Jesus pulls women down to the world of men.  Only a people who have thrown out the Bible turn women into sex objects and merchandise to be sold in pictures or reality.  Christ and the Bible do more to honor and respect ladies than any earthly culture.  Cling to the Word of God; for It alone can place society in balance and perspective.  

Every missionary is a friend to the girls and adult women when he brings Christ's story of love and forgiveness to the heathen.

Pastor

Feelings

Good Morning

God gave us feelings. We are flesh, and our flesh was given feelings by the Creator. Weariness, temperature, pain and comfort: all these are feelings that came from the manufacturer — there is nothing wrong with those feelings.

Likewise, God gave us feelings of emotion. We are emotional creatures who feel anger, pleasure, fear, love, and disappointment. These feelings are not wrong; but anyone with even the slightest bit of wisdom knows that we cannot live a decent life while pleasing and catering to these feelings, emotionally or physically. Most of our feelings need to be suppressed or even changed. How many young people would have married in pre-teen years, and how many moral wrongs would have been committed if we allowed feelings to run wild in youth or adulthood? Our prisons are full of people who did what their feelings told them to do. Abortion is usually a result of following unrestrained passion or following the feeling that you do not want a baby right now.

If we have a child that does not feel like going to school or doing his homework, a wise parent still makes the child fulfill his duty. No accomplished musician ever went through the many years of practice without fighting the feelings of not wanting to practice. Work is not a synonym with pleasure, ease, or comfort. Work is something that needs to be done because it is right, because it is a pathway to a desired goal, or because it is necessary for survival.


Why do we allow society to place such emphasis on feelings? We all know that feelings will ruin us, and that right must be our guide — not feelings. The Bible tells us that the feelings in our heart are untrustworthy.

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Jeremiah 16:12 “And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:”

Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Following feeling results in all sorts of negative outcomes:

I feel like I need a break — so I quit my job.

I feel like I want to punch someone — so I am in trouble with the law.

I feel like I need drugs — so I am an addict again.

I feel like I am going to panic — so I run from my responsibilities.

I feel like I am another gender — so I commit unrighteous acts.

The fact remains that we cannot respond to our feelings or allow feelings to run our lives. Our feelings are untrustworthy. I may feel depressed, but I still need to be good to people, I still need to go to work, I still need to conduct my behavior according to the laws of the land.

If I feel angry and want to lash out at my spouse, I must suppress that feeling. I must control my thoughts and create righteous feelings intentionally: “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

A successful military force must depend upon control of reactions to physical pain or weariness and emotional feelings that would hinder necessary action. The same is true with athletics; no winning team allows feelings to rule. Feelings of winners are controlled by logic, a coach, and the mind of the athlete.

As all unrighteous emotions need to be suppressed, so must wrong physical feelings be controlled.

A former drug user must say, “No!” to emotional or physical desires.

An alcoholic must say, “No!” to physical cravings for alcohol, else ruin will follow.

What a stupid idea to think that because I feel a certain way, I must act upon it. Every human experiences sinful feelings; it is what we do with those feelings that makes the difference.

Proverbs 28:26 “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

The Spirit brings life; following the flesh will bring death.

Jesus said the most basic trait required to be His disciple was to deny ourselves and not cater to our feelings.

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Some people are more prone to certain weaknesses or to strengths. Whether it be genetic or upbringing, some people lean more toward disorganization, or laziness, or athleticism, or intellect. We are not all naturally artistic, but we can at least be careful when writing so our written words are legible. Every child will not naturally do well in English and composition, but every child should learn to communicate. Some children will have more trouble with math than others, yet all must learn basic math functions. Feelings or natural tendencies are not to determine our actions.

Some girls are more masculine than others, some boys are softer or somewhat feminine, but that does not justify abominable behavior any more than my anger justifies killing someone. The fact I do not want a baby that was recently conceived has no bearing on the fact that the rights of the child demand I guard and protect its life. Allowing emotional feelings to develop toward a co-worker when one is married is simply the sin of allowing the feelings to develop; this does not justify moral impropriety.

Mark 7:21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,”

vs. 22 “Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:”

We must allow right (the Word of God) to control our choices.

If a spouse feels as if they do not love their spouse any more, but has vowed to “love and cherish ‘till death,” he must suppress those feelings and cultivate right feelings.

It is our foolishness that allows wrong feelings and wrong thoughts to take root in our minds and hearts causing us to be consumed with passion for something that God, and human logic, forbids.

James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

vs. 15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

One might think, “I hate my job and I want to quit.” To quit a job with no secure income is folly; thus one should act logically and seek other employment, get trained for another industry, or back to school in order to change careers — none of those decisions are wrong. To train up a culture of young people to feel they should enjoy their job or quit is nonsense. Most people do what they enjoy on days off work, then do their best to appreciate the benefits of their job and simply keep working — work is work, not play (character and integrity, not laziness).

If one feels anger, bitterness, jealousy, laziness, or any other wrong feeling, he must recognize those feelings as wrong and fill his mind and heart with right thoughts resulting in right feelings; and then right actions will follow.

To obey feelings will leave us useless, unproductive, and finally dead:

Ecclesiastes 9:3 “…yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live…”

We can spend our lives changing the location of our home, the job we hold, the church we attend, the spouse we have, or any number of other elements of our lives — yet, the changes only lead to a world of total instability. Following good counsel, logic, and the Bible will keep us on the successful path of those who walked the path before us.

Instead of allowing feelings to run my life, God instructs me to trust in His Word.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Pastor

God’s Plan for You

Good Morning,

When David was brought into the position of leadership early in life, he was called, among other things, a man of war.

1 Samuerl 16:18 “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.”

Throughout his life, the "man of war" character trait was obvious.

2 Samuel 17:8 “For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men... and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.”

David spent much of his life at war; yet, all the while, he was also considered a man after God's own heart.  God spends much of His time talking about soldiers of all kinds and of glories in their unusual exploits.

Obviously God has no problem with war, as He often referred to David as a favorite. (God made a point to acknowledge David to others.)

Although, when it came time to build the temple, David could not do the job because he was a man of war.

1 Chronicles 28:3 “But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.”

Here is the thought:  God has a job for each one of us to do, and each person is important in their field and should not feel inferior to others.  One man is chosen for a certain position; God does not allow some people to do the same job.  Many young people feel slighted because they wanted to do something that God simply did not allow them do.

2 Samuel 7:1 -13 tells of David sending Nathan the prophet to God regarding building a house; David longed to do this.  God complimented David, then said, “No!”

You may want a good thing, but that does not mean God intended it to be done by you.  Trust in the Lord.  Rest in His wisdom and love. Believe that the Lord has some special, unique plan for you, but understand David was one of God's best and "favorites," yet God said told him no and had other plans for him.

You may be sure, God does have plans for you!

Preacher

Things You Can Lose

Good Morning,

In this brief life, one faces many false hopes, disappointments, and empty dreams.  In the course of following these empty feelings, real things might be forfeited. 

The possibility of losing blessings is real; some are difficult or impossible to ever get back.

You can lose:

1. Your life - James speaks of a sin unto death.

2. Your joy - guilt, shame, and endless emotions can terrorize you for decades.

3. Your testimony - you can end up like Lot, such a fraud that no one takes you seriously, and may even cost you your children (as it did Lot).

4. Your ministry - oh the wonderful opportunities to serve God that can be lost by wrong doing.

5. Your eternal rewards - you can arrive in Heaven “ashamed” and empty-handed for eternity.

(More details on this subject can be found in a coming sermon at our church.)

Do not make the mistake of acting like this world is the end; it is only the stepping stone to your eternal world – do not ruin it.  As Bob Jones said, “Never sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the immediate.”

Oh yes, there is one thing you cannot lose – you will never lose your salvation.  

Pastor

Finished Work of Calvary

Good Morning,

I preached a sermon about the will of God and how we should not focus on the past or some utopian dream of "the perfect will of God." God is most concerned about our doing the will of God today, regardless of where we once were, what we have faced in the past, or even of what wrong has been done.

Is it not wonderful how our Lord used the woman at the well? (John 4) She previously had five husbands and was currently living with another man. Yet she trusted Christ sufficiently to go to town and tell everyone of the Saviour. She did not need to grovel in the mire of a failed, sinful past, but rather receive that "living water" that she might not thirst again. She gloried in the Man Who told her all things that she ever did. She was able to focus on doing the will of God right at the moment.

The trouble we face is our inability to understand God and His character.

1. God's love is far greater than anything we can imagine.

2. God's forgiveness is also erasure (a complete elimination of our wrong deeds). The term is justification.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

3. Christ's sacrifice is effectual — a complete, total payment for all our sins.

Our humanity wrestles with the idea of our sins being paid for, a principle which is clearly taught all through the Bible. Christ died for our sins; therefore, the payment for our sins has already been paid.

1 Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

vs. 15 “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

When we do accept the idea of full payment for our sins, we have a difficult time accepting that God no longer considers those sins, that He holds no grudges, and that He does not limit us from honorable service because of our sins. The Bible teaches that God, unlike men, forgives and forgets.

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

Hebrews 10:17 “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

If I were to pay for some items in the store, and then as I walked out the store, an employee asked for me to pay for the items again, I would not consider doing such a thing. The debt had been paid! I need not pay again. Yet when we receive Christ and His payment for our sin, we insist on punishing ourselves and often hold bitterness and anger against ourselves or others, failing to grasp the fact that God has long since forgiven and forgotten our shameful deeds.

What Jesus did was pay for all my sins.

What God's substitutionary atonement achieved was that those sins ARE NO LONGER MINE. THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE SAVIOR’S ACCOUNT.

SO WHY SHOULD I PUNISH MYSELF FOR SINS THAT ARE NOT MY OWN?

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

We read here that we were made righteous by our Lord. Hmmm. That sure sounds like we ought to live a life of joy and assurance rather than grief and sorrow.

Notice these truths from Isaiah 53:

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Christ was chastised for our peace... We ought to be enjoying peace purchased by our Lord, and certainly we should not live in anxiety.

vs. 6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

If the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all, why are we weighed down under the weight of our past sin?

vs. 11 “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied…"

If God was satisfied, literally recognizing what Christ did was sufficient and adequate to care for our sin debt, then perhaps we too ought to be satisfied?

Lastly, were we made righteous?

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Did the finished work of Calvary make us righteous? If it did, then it is wrong to wallow in our sinful past. It is wrong to allow guilt to cripple us and weigh us down to the point that we are incapable of serving God or the world around us.

The little children's song fits adults too:

Gone, gone, gone, gone,

Yes! my sins are gone.

Now my soul is free and in my heart's a song

Buried in the deepest sea,

Yes, that's good enough for me...

Is Christ's death enough for you? It is good enough for God.

Pastor

God Is Right

Good Morning,

In our soft culture, the emphasis is on "be nice" and "live and let live" (unless, of course, you are the media and are dealing with a terrible threat like Sara Palin; then you can be ugly without limits.)  These "we've gotta be nice to the world” believers have forgotten so much of what the Bible says.  Remember, we have a timeless Book.  Our Bible is good for all cultures, all ages, and all political landscapes.

In the book of 1 Timothy, notice the blunt and cold definitions of doctrinal error Timothy uses:

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

vs. 2 “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

vs. 3 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

Paul is warning Timothy that there would come a time (in the "later times”) when wrong would be taught by religious people as if it were correct.  Paul called them "seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” (I Timothy 4:1)

What horrid belief could this be?  Could it be human sacrifice or worse?  No.   An example of doctrine of devils is when a religion pushes celibacy or vegetarianism.   We all know that Catholic priests are not supposed to marry, and that Seventh Day Adventists and others do not believe in eating meat.  For some reason, we do not call these groups "seducing spirits" — but God does.  God is always right and should always be trusted.  Although we do not understand some of the things He says, we can believe Him and trust that the One Who created everything is worthy of our faith and trust.

John had no problem calling some religious leaders vipers.

Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

The important thought in this passage is that accepting everyone and giving everyone his little vote of approval is biblical nonsense.  In America, we certainly provide religious freedom, but Christians need not act as if the ideas of others are acceptable and correct.  We do not need to say silly things such as, "We can all be right,” or, "All faiths lead to Heaven.”  God makes it very clear that one doctrine is right and one is wrong.  The permissive, accepting world around us is more satanic than most of us actually believe.

If we adopt this mentality, we will start thinking that if two men want to get married, that is their business, or if a gal wants to abort her child, that is her right.  Yet, an expression of such an idea six weeks after the child is born would never be acceptable (at least society has not reached that point yet).  So why allow it six weeks before the child is born?  While I was in college, I met a guy who was of the Baha'i faith.  He assured me that his religion accepts all religious leaders and embrace all faiths.  Yet, he wanted everyone to join his church, worship in their building, etc.  If all of the other religions were okay, then why not leave us all alone?  Why try to convert us all?  He told me a picture of Jesus, as well as of many other great religious leaders, hung on the wall at his church.  I assured him that Jesus was either the only God and only One Who could save, or He was a lying lunatic unworthy of anyone following His teaching.

Acts 4:12  "...there is none other name under Heaven... whereby we must be saved.”

John 14:6  “…I am the way the truth and the life: no man come the into the Father, but by me.”

The Bible is clear of God's love for all mankind.  The Scripture is equally clear that there is only one God, there is only one way to Heaven, and that there is only one Saviour.  God offers no lateral movement.  God is narrow-minded; right typically is.  No doctor will say, "Sure, the choice is yours.  You may go to the witch doctor or visit the shaman; however, we will use CT scans and antibiotics.  Everyone is going to find health in their own way."  Could you see a mechanic telling someone, "Sure, I think you need new brake pads, but if you feel better without them, I'm sure your opinion is right."

People in government agencies think they have the right to say what is acceptable or not.  The  members of the EPA think they have the right to determine what is dangerous or not.  The FDA workers have no problem telling us one medicine is safe while another is not; yet they all have been proven wrong over and over.  When God wrote the Bible, He wrote it as Lord of all, King of Kings, Sovereign of the universe, Creator, and one day destroyer of all planets and even atmosphere.  God is right, all the time, in every situation, in every culture, and in every form of human government.  God and the Bible are right, all the time.  God is right and the Bible is right — when it is popular or when it is banned as hate literature.  When the Lord returns in the end, He will make no apologies for what He said, for Who He is, nor for what He did.  He is God.

We are to be kind to all, but we need not act as though all beliefs are acceptable, nor are we required to act as if politically correct actions are truly correct.  We are accountable to one Book, to One God, and to One Saviour.  The opinions of others really do not matter.

Pastor

Mercy & Truth

Good Morning,

I found myself thinking about mercy and truth. These attributes are often found together in the Bible and teach us much. 

Psalm 85:10 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

Psalm 98:3 “He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Proverbs 16:6 “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”

Many lessons involve mercy and truth, but for today, I would like to focus on the response of Samuel when the people of Israel demanded their first king. 

First of all, we notice how wrong the children of Israel were to ask for a king.

1 Samuel 12:13 “Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.”

vs. 17  “…that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.”

vs. 20 “...ye have done all this wickedness…"

Twice, Samuel calls the request for a king wickedness.  Yet, because the children of Israel fussed at the Lord, God let them have their way.  As demonstration of the severity of their wicked choice, God sent rain in their harvest.  Perhaps, a symbol of the power of the prophet of God (which their king could not have), or a severe warning that God can change anything in a moment.  (Wet grain could not be harvested because it would mold.  Their plans needed to change; the grain could not be harvested that day.)

Now to the point concerning mercy and truth:

Although it was wrong, and though it was an act of rejection toward God, God still chose to have mercy on the children of Israel.

1 Samuel 8:7 “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”

Although their action made a clear statement that they would rather have a frail man lead them than God, and though they spoke outright that they would like to be like the world around them, God showed mercy on them in granting their request.

1 Samuel 8:5 “And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

vs. 20 “That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”

Although Samuel, the man of God, severely warned the children of Israel about their evil choice, God still allowed them to have their way.  Then God added His comments:

vs. 14 “If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:”

vs. 15 “But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.”

If these people would do right, stay close to the Lord, and obey His Word, they could go on and be a blessed people.  The desire for a king was wrong, but God was merciful.  The issue:  doing right is not easy for mankind under ideal circumstances, and every time we do something stupid, such as changing our lives to fit in with the world, it makes it harder to do right. 

The choice was so bad that the people feared God would kill them all.

vs. 19 “And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.”

No doubt, the fact that the people wanted something that was wrong was clear.  God was not going to fight with them, but rather allow them to have their own way, even though it was a dangerous path and much more likely to lead them away from God.  The mercy God gave them in agreeing to their request was followed by the truth of the consequences — fields being rained upon and the dread of possible death. 

vs. 20 “And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;”

vs. 21 “And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.”

Over and over God has warned us not to turn aside or seek vain things.

Through this story, we see that people can openly rebel against the Lord in their desire to be like the world around them, yet in mercy, God may still bless them.  In these situations, God gives serious warnings of the danger and that extra care must be exercised to do right; for the choice  may move one much closer to a sinful path.

To say that God is happy with the choice is stupid! The bad choice was called wickedness twice; God showed His anger by an untimely thunderstorm on their crops.  Their choice was not acceptable, and the path was not a safe one.  The people would have been much better off if they had listened to the old preacher.  Adjusting our lives to adapt to the world around us is never a good idea.

Mercy and truth:  mercy, in that God tolerates our foolishness and tries to find a way to bless us in our rebellion; truth, in that wrong is clearly wrong and dangerous, and we are asking for trouble.

To be sure, you will encounter people who do things that your pastor has shown you from the Bible to be clearly wrong.  Yes, many of those people are blessed but are also much nearer to danger.

Yes, some churches choose to be "like the world,” and yes, I believe it angers God, but in mercy, God tolerates their wrong, blesses them, and warns them to do right. He warns them that they are much nearer to ruin than if they were to walk according to the Bible and not try to be "like the nations" around them.  Finally, though the adults in those situations may survive, their children are the ones who are most likely to veer off the path and fall. 

Since we cannot see the road ahead, it is always best to follow our Divine GPS and let the Lord guide us on the safest path possible.

Nothing is as safe as doing right.

Pastor

Who Has the Authority?

Good Morning,

Jesus told Pilate that he had no power at all.

John 19:11 “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”

A truth most of us believe, yet is so very hard to keep in our hearts, is the idea that God is the giver of all authority.  Notice how Paul worded this same truth.

Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

There is NO POWER, but of God.  God holds all the power or authority in the universe, and no one gets a share of that power or authority without the Lord having His hand in the process.  

As the persecuted disciples met together for prayer, they acknowledged that the power men used to crucify their Lord or to beat these men all came from God and was a part of the determinate counsel of God.  

Acts 4:28  “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

Though all of us have moments of fear, we must have enough Bible in our hearts to draw us back to faith and hope and to rest in the Almighty.  Governments and rulers of all kinds have to face the Lord in judgment one day, and what these leaders do with their power will clearly be revealed in the future.  Until then, may we rest in the many passages that assure us we are not alone and that the powers of darkness are all in submission to God.

When talking about being hated and sold, Joseph put it this way:

Genesis 45:7 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

vs. 8 “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

God makes it clear that even the powerful animals are under His rule.

Jeremiah 27:5 “I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.”

When David Livingstone was attacked by a lion, he did not grow bitter at God, for God knew and ordered the universe. God had a plan, and David Livingstone was willing to trust in that plan, although it left him crippled for the remainder of his life.  

Could we trust the Lord today, at least in our head?  Sure, we worry and fear, yet we should not; actually, we should confess it.  To keep believing that He rules the universe is honoring to the Lord, for He most certainly does.

Pastor

Self-Imposed Hell

Good Morning,

The statement, “Self-Imposed Hell,” was in a book I was recently reading and it struck me how true it was.  People do things that cause their own "Hell on earth."  

Greed eats up the soul, it will devour the life from the inside.  The same is true of lust.  When a man or woman turns their heart and soul to desire that which is unholy, it always forms a cancer within.  This philosophy applies to a new owner, new schools, new marriage partners, new jobs, or new cities.  


Bitterness over any matter, small or large, will result in the same internal "Hell" that will go wherever the owner moves.   When forgiveness can be only moments away (the forgiveness that brings peace and rest), far too many people embrace the oozing sore of anger or bitterness and prevent the healing balm of Gilead from cleansing their soul.  

Folks will have their feelings hurt and walk out of their church, often without the slightest attempt to fix the trouble.  At times, this behavior is the result of an unplanned event: one that could not be changed and was simply a one-in-a-thousand event.  Faith in those around us is often very shallow.  

I am always a little taken back when decades of investment, countless hours of fellowship, and endless shared joys and tears are thrown out without a word.  Even a secular job deserves some notice and a conversation with the boss. What about the relationships that were cherished for decades? Are those relationships of so little value that an attempt to reconcile the situation would not be worth a try?  Not even a hand shake or "I wish you well? Bitterness is unquenchable, and the self-imposed hell becomes a lifelong companion.  

Why was Peter broken and weeping when he returned to his Lord with peace, while Judas repented and then hanged himself?  The answer is simple; one allowed the “Self-Imposed Hell" to rule in his heart.  The other found faith, rest, forgiveness, and hope in Christ.  

Too many people will refuse to accept the rest that is offered by the Lord.

Isaiah 28:12 “To whom he said, this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

May we refuse to allow the hurt of yesterday to erase the wonders of the Christian life and the countless blessings of God and man.  

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Remember that the Lord will care for the hurt while He blesses the just.  

Psalm 94:13 “That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.”

Pastor

The Spirit

Good Morning,

Trends today tend to belittle and lessen the value of great men, whether referring to the writers of our Constitution or preachers who built amazing churches. Small minds try to build themselves by diminishing the wonder of great men of the past. This practice is more prevalent in our colleges and universities, therefore making it prevalent in our political world. Small men try to make themselves big.

It is interesting that God speaks of lifting up great men, and of each one humbling himself. Today we humble others while making ourselves out to be more than we are. You can see this scenario unfold, especially as writers dig up ancient facts to smear the names of great men. Of course, there is no one to challenge the allegations and defend the dead. The exception is David Barton who wrote The Jefferson Lies and defended the greatness of the writer of our declaration.

God views men differently; God calls men; God blesses men. God anoints men with spiritual powers and sets them above others. God does not lift up the weakness of men but sidesteps it knowing that all have sinned, and He promotes men who love and honor Him.

Zechariah 3:8 “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at…"

“…men…. wondered at. Hmm. It surely seems as though these men were special. How about Samuel? Folks asked if he came to town peaceably.

1 Samuel 16:4 “And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?”

vs. 5 “And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.”

Many of those who diminish the touch of God on a man’s life will say, "That was a special prophet, not one of us common men today." Paul told the church in Thessalonica to honor those men of God who preach to them.

1 Thessalonians 5:13 “And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.”

“…esteem them very highly…” Wow! Sounds like it is okay to honor godly men and to lift them up. I am so glad I grew up in an era of Bible college students and young preachers who loved and esteemed men highly for their works’ sake.

None would doubt the unusual touch of God on the lives of the apostles:

2 Corinthians 1:21 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

To deny that God calls men to preach and empowers them to do mighty works for God is childish, like a little league player criticizing a major league player for striking out. Some people would wish that no one have God's power, for fear they are revealed to be charlatans.

I, for one, am glad that I have seen the great men who knew God in a unique way. Lester Roloff was unusual, to say the least, but he was marvelously anointed. Jack Hyles, much different from Brother Roloff, was anointed with the oil of gladness as God promised in an obvious manner. These men and countless others who preached with “unction," as John writes, were as different as day and night, yet all possessed something others did not have, a touch of God, an anointing of the Holy Spirit.

John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

vs. 39 “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

The Old Testament prophets spoke of this anointing:

Isaiah 55:1 “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”

vs. 29 “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”

When I came to town to start our church, I came as a man called of God. Nothing by myself, but as my calling and election were clear, I came on a divine mission. I dressed differently because I was someone important, not that I was myself, but my calling was different. I came believing in the anointing of God. I was the preacher. I was in this little town of 1,000 people because God sent me, ordained me, and anointed me. I was a man of God. That very statement today will rattle the mental cages of "Bible teachers" who love their ability to teach but shun the idea that spiritual power can be obtained or an unusual anointing of God can be received.

Young men, be careful that you do not value your followers on Twitter more than your anointing of God. Be sure your prayer closet gains more of your attention than your Facebook page.

It was our Lord Who told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power. It was not just the twelve who stayed the many days in the upper room, finally fasting ten days until Pentecost. It was one hundred twenty who left that room to proclaim the wonderful works of God and were heard in the native tongue of sixteen different nations. How sad it is that I never hear young preachers even mention the power of God or the anointing of the Holy Spirit. (Although, I do know everyone's favorite ball team.)

1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

Over and over, our Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit, evil spirits, unclean spirits, and being filled with the Spirit. I will not let men promote themselves while acting as though there is no spiritual world: no power of God with which to do good or satanic powers whereby evil deeds are done.

I will urge young men seeking to be in the ministry to thirst and plead for the Spirit's fullness.

John 7:37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”

There are men, men who are unusually anointed, or men at which others wonder. I am thankful for those in my life upon whom I saw spiritual power.

Zechariah 3:8 “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at…"

Let us "wonder at” men of God, and pray for them. May we pray for God to call and anoint more men that our nation might be turned from sin to seek after God.

Pastor

Trust Him

Trust Him

Good Morning,

This morning, as I read, I could not help but stop and mention verses I have addressed before.  These are the words of Joseph after his father’s death, and in response to the brothers fearing the wrath of the brother they sold into slavery. 

Genesis 50:19 “…. am I in the place of God?”

vs. 20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

First of all, Joseph felt it was not his job to “get even,” for he was not in the place of God.  We can trust God to take care of evil; we do not need to exercise vengeance.  

Secondly, God has a plan when evil men hurt us. Yes, it was difficult for Joseph, and there is no way of knowing all of the emotional hurt he dealt with being sold and resold.  But God was not dead, and God had a great and wonderful plan. 

Third, we see that the suffering of Joseph was going to be used to save others, and most assuredly, he saved entire nations.

vs. 20 “… to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Paul wrote something similar: 

Philippians 1:12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel…"

Paul suffered much, but God had a plan and used the suffering of Paul greatly to save the lost.

I wish all of us could focus on the lost getting saved more than our own comfort and well being.  We are choking on self-help, yoga, meditation, natural remedies, gyms, spas, and diet plans while the world is dying and going to hell.  I believe God would rather a fat man, who is unhealthy and living on junk food, go to the world soul winning than a healthy person sit in a detox program cleansing their inward parts while the world goes to hell. 

What is it you have faced?  How will God use that hurt to open doors to share the Gospel.  If you have faced cancer, then cancer patients will listen to you more readily than to me.  If you were orphaned,  then the poor and forgotten child will listen to your message of Christ more easily than to someone like me who had a loving home.  

Do not think God cannot use our hurt.  Commit the difficult trials to His divine will and rest in the goodness of God that He has a plan – a wonderful plan.  Living by faith will remove bitterness and much anxiety. Trust Him; rest in Him; believe Him.

Pastor

Strength & Manliness

Good Morning,

Think with me about some the preachers God saw fit to record.

Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

John the Baptist

Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Jesus

Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Matthew 23:33 “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

Stephen

Acts 7:51 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

Elijah

My favorite one, Elijah, publicly mocked the god of the prophets.

1 Kings 18:27 “And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”

Recently, I was at a meeting of a preacher who never once stopped smiling.  I mean he had this sick smile; and I do not think he ever raised his voice, named a sin, or pushed anyone to do anything. Somehow, I felt the sermon void of Paul's instruction about preaching as he instructed Timothy to:

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Here is my unpopular, politically-incorrect, MASCULINE, narrow-minded opinion:  we have allowed television, politicians, and Hallmark to tell us what kind of spirit a preacher needs to have, rather than God and the Bible.  I believe men of God have become feminine, nice, and afraid of offending anyone.  We are raising boys who could not defend themselves in a fight, protect their family from trouble, and are afraid of speaking the truth for fear someone will not like them.  We have determined that the spirit of a preacher needs to be kind, friendly, and, in fact, FEMININE rather than passionate and truthful.

Folks, that is simply not Bible!  Bible preaching offended people; it made people angry, and preachers were often beaten, jailed, and killed for their preaching.  Read your Bible and look for the smiling face of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and Noah (who was the first one to ever be called a preacher of righteousness).

Remember the old saying, "sugar and spice and everything nice" is what girls are made of?  What were boys made of? "Snips and snails and puppy dog tails."

We have pulled gender and true diversity from babies to adults, and it has soiled the pulpits. The quiet Hallmark man with his perfect three-day beard who listens with feeling to his gal and shares his own deep feelings and fears is as far from reality and manhood as can be found. We watch on television as two men share their fears and baggage from the past, while in sixty-five years of being a man, I have NEVER seen or heard of this happening except on a feminine movie.

The feminization of man is written of much, but my concern is how much ladies influence the preachers we hear.  Online and in person, we are looking for nice, kind, and gracious preachers, and we have tossed out the reckless, bold, confident, and thundering of righteousness. The preacher you gals sneer at because he is rough is probably just what America needs.  Go to a ladies’ conference if you want soft and nice!  Stop criticizing men of God who preach like Ezekiel, who was told, "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!"  Just what would the softer side of Christian folks think of Micah who said, "Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls."  

Men had better get back to enjoying masculine things in play, work, and church and believing ladies need to urge their men and boys to toughness and strength, in public and private.  

Happy New Year!

Pastor

Care For Enemies

Good Morning,

Our Lord taught His listeners much about the proper treatment of enemies.  This basic Christian doctrine goes against our natural flesh, as well as against our own system of justice, but it is the clear teaching of God.

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

Luke 6:27 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,”

In the Law, Moses taught this principle often from Mount Sinai.  Here is just one illustration:

Exodus 23:4 “If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.”

As unpopular and difficult as it may be, the Christian life asks believers to treat people differently than the world treats people.

Luke 6:27 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,"

vs. 28 “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

The Baptist martyr, Dirk Williams, was imprisoned in Holland in 1569.  His crimes were holding church services in his home, getting baptized as an adult, and teaching that infant baptism was unscriptural.

Soon to be burned at the stake, he escaped and fled but was pursued by a soldier.  Taking a grave risk, he ran across a frozen river which, when his pursuer attempted, the ice gave way and while struggling not to drown, cried for help.   At that point, Dirk had a decision to make: love his enemy or let him die.  Turning back, Dirk rescued his enemy only to end up being caught, returned to jail, and soon burned at the stake.  

Like so many other godly martyrs, these people took their faith seriously enough to die for it.  They loved their enemies at all cost. 

This spirit is manifested at the cross when Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him.

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..."

Stephen also showed this spirit of love and care when he, too, prayed for those who were killing him.

Acts 7:60 “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Some people might say that the verses in Matthew and Luke associated with loving our enemies are for special circumstances, exclusive to the Sermon on the Mount; but we see these same thoughts about love for enemies echoed by Paul to all believers in all times. 

Romans 12:14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

Adding to his admonition towards those who hurt them, Paul instructed Christians to not just guard their actions but also guard their hearts.  They were not to allow any bitterness or anger to find a home in their hearts.

Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”

vs. 32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 5:1 “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”

vs. 2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us…"

"Walk in love" is the summary of the exhortation.  The second great commandment clearly includes loving our enemies.   Obviously, loving enemies is no easy path to follow, but this path is clearly outlined in Scripture.  May we love those who do not love us.  May we draw near to the Lord and find grace to pray for those who misuse us.

Be good to people, all people.  It is the way of the Saviour.

Pastor 

Busy Body

Good Morning,

Peter makes an interesting statement in 1 Peter 4:15:  “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”

Peter warns that, as the people of God, we may suffer for a multitude of reasons.  In his generation, people were fed to lions and imprisoned.  Peter said he wanted to make one thing very clear; Christians should never suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer.  Those make sense to us.  If we are going to be called the children of God or claim the name of Christ, certainly, we should not be accused of murder, theft, or evil deeds; but there is a fourth item mentioned in that passage -- “…a busybody in other men's matters.”  

Our inability to put a busybody in the same category as a murderer, thief, or an evil person shows our poor perception of right and wrong.  God puts a busybody in the category of grievous sins.  A busybody is someone who gets involved in business that is not his own. Specifically, in the text, somebody who tries to take authority over a matter that belongs to someone else; such as me writing a speeding ticket for someone who is driving too fast. I have no authority or right to punish people who speed; only police have that job.  It is not MY job.  

Our granddaughter lives in our home, but she has a mother and a father; I am not her parent, and I have not been given the divine or earthly authority to rule in that little girl's life.  If I were to meddle in the training of that little girl, I would be a busybody.  I would be getting involved in something that is another man's matter.  

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, it says that we should study to be quiet and to do our own business.  

Obviously, in our culture, everyone feels it is his business to get involved in everyone else’s lives.  God does not feel that way.  It is none of my business what you do, unless the thing you do harms another of whom I have been given charge.  

The church in Thessalonica had its share of difficulties, and several times, Paul rebuked certain behaviors.  This matter of minding our own business was brought up again in 2 Thessalonians 3:11 when he said some were walking disorderly and were busybodies.  Again, we see the importance that God places on our staying out of other people's affairs.  

When it comes to electing people, as we did recently, certainly, those we elect are going to influence all of our lives.  As citizens and voters, we have some responsibility and privilege to get involved in elections, but that which my neighbor does or something a church friend does, in his own life, is none of my business.  

Paul also reminded Timothy to teach and to preach on the subject of meddling in other men's affairs.  In 1 Timothy 5:13, Paul talked about people being busybodies and speaking about subjects which they ought not.  The amount of hurt done by thoughtless or uninformed words is almost endless.  The scars and troubles that careless comments have caused are painful beyond description.  Friends have been separated.  Church members have lost their churches, their ministries, and their spiritual relationships.  Relatives have parted company not to speak again, and that is only the beginning of the list that could be compiled when we consider how wrong it is to get involved in matters that are none of our business. Meddling in affairs that are not our own and talking about matters about which we are poorly informed hurts countless people.  

On occasion, some people are decent enough Christians to go to the person they spoke of and confess their own wrong.  The problem is, you can never undo the damage that was incurred to a name or reputation.  Apologies can be offered, accepted, and forgiven, and everyone can go on their way; but the ill-spoken words of people meddling in things that are not their affair, will never be erased.  Neither can someone find the path of all the repeated comments that have been made.

I would encourage every Christian to regularly go through Proverbs and mark the verses that have to do with the tongue.  The book of James is another good place to focus attention.  James tells us that the tongue is an unruly evil and is full of deadly poison set on fires of hell. Whether it be gossip, slander, or being a busybody in other men's affairs, this tongue of ours can surely hurt many people.  

Let us be careful who we talk about and whose life we are meddling in.  A busybody is a dangerous person.  

Not only should we study the use of our tongues, but it would also be prudent to pray that God will help us to be careful with our tongues.  Silence may not be the most enjoyable, but it is better than saying words that cannot ever be taken back or erased from the mind and heart of the listener.  

Pastor

Purpose

Good Morning,


Fulfillment and meaning in life have been the subject of countless books and lectures throughout time.  One of the distinctions that set mankind apart from animals is the desire to have meaning for life.  


Our purpose is to glorify God.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” 


Other passages amplify this in varied vocabulary, but the essence is the same – we are here for God and our goal is to make Him look good. 


The last part of that verse clarifies that truth: “...and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  If it pleases God that I face trouble, then it is my job to face that trouble and bring glory to God through my behavior as I face the trial of my faith (James 1).

1 Peter 1:7 “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:”


We live in a culture that seeks fulfillment everywhere except in God.  Mankind wants a cause that makes them look good, whether it be charitable, environmental, or social.  We see people finding a cause in saving an animal or helping the planet by what they drive or what kind of bag they use for groceries.  We see others who find a purpose in the promotion of healthy eating, or non-toxic gardening – none of these things are sinful unless they take us away from glorifying God, for that is why we were created.  The "cause" is really unimportant, glorifying God is the priority.


Parents are seeking fulfillment by doing what others have not done, like living in a bus and driving the nation while homeschooling their children.  Again, there is no sin in that “purpose” unless it keeps you from church and service of others – and it usually does. 


The home remodelers are popular today; and there is nothing wrong with that, except for the great imbalance in expenditures on the house and our giving to the church, both of time and money.  We can remodel our entire home but cannot get out soul winning once a week, and that is wrong.  We can travel the nation to show our children the world, yet we cannot show one poor sinner the Gospel and teach our children about Sunday school and training others to grow in grace. 


1 Corinthians 10:13 “Whether Ye therefore eat or drink, or whatsoever Ye do, do all to the glory of God.”


The same principle applies to sports.  We give countless hours to training our child in some athletic skill, yet we fail to train them to love the poor or to serve their church and community.  Dare we even consider video games and social media in our purpose?  How far do these activities cause us to stray from our purpose? 


The greatest fulfillment comes from investing in eternity, a spiritual walk, and in actions that glorify God.  For this reason, we have always had a service-oriented ministry.  We want folks to sing, pass out tracts, teach the Bible, preach in public, run buses to pick up the poor, and be involved in any outreach that will affect lives for eternity.  We desire folks to walk daily with God, and to worship Him, to praise Him, to talk to Him, and to read His Word.

Somewhere it seems we have all heard about the two great commandments – to love God and to love our neighbor.  What kind of grocery bag you carry has absolutely nothing to do with either of those GREAT COMMANDMENTS.  Driving an electric car might help your gas mileage and commute time, but it is far from the great commandments or our purpose on earth. 


A large portion of what we eat in our home is organic, but I seriously doubt God is looking down from Heaven saying, “Look at those kids of mine, eating organic food.  Wow!  That is what I created them for.” Our purpose is not to be vegan, or to homeschool, or to save a fairy shrimp, or even to protect our children from the world.  Our job is to send our children into the world to preach the Gospel, to get folks saved, and to love God! 


Purpose.  I feel sorry for the pro-athlete whose life is engulfed in a ball or a sport, and they are so consumed that they do not even attend church.  I feel sorry for the writer of books who is skilled with words, yet never uses those words to teach the Bible to the unlearned.  How pitiful is the singer or actor who never opens his mouth to speak the eternal Words of the living God!  


Cooking shows or investment strategies, standing against immunization, or for non-GMO foods: those causes do not contain a real purpose; they are a distraction from the REAL PURPOSE for our lives.  We are to serve God and honor Him.  We are to spread the Gospel to the world and love the Word of God, and when we live for those things, we will find true fulfillment.


Pastor

Command to Love

Good Morning,

Have you ever wondered about all those verses telling us to love one another?  Really, did you not wonder why the Lord talked so often about us loving each other?

Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

vs. 13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Those are serious and pointed commands. 

Jesus made some very clear statements about loving each other; I do not mean regarding loving the unsaved guy who hates us, I mean loving each other as Christians.

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

vs. 35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

This was among the disciples! 

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

vs. 17 “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

I could immediately write twenty verses like these without any searching. Everywhere, we find the Lord urging us to love each other: I mean the twelve Apostles, Christian couples, friends who go to church together, Christians who serve in ministries together –  God says to love one another!

Now, why would He say that so often?  Because we are sinners, and we offend each other, hurt each other, do wrong, misunderstand the actions of others, fail to live up to the expectations of others, and many other reasons.  

Do you understand that the Apostles spent three years working side-by-side and sacrificing their personal lives for the Saviour? Then one of their own betrayed Christ.  It might have been easy to get bitter, hateful, or proud.  Over and over, Jesus urged them to love, to forgive, and to be merciful.  

Not long after the Lord ascended to Heaven, the believers fought over who was getting more financial support (Acts 6:1). Before long, moral trouble showed up in the church (1 Corinthians 5:1).   Our Lord did not write repeatedly to love one another because we are so good, but because humanity is so bad.  

Paul publicly rebuked Peter (Galatians 2) and division showed up in the church (Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 1:10 & 3:3).  These situations can cause believers to develop bitterness and anger towards one another, but the body is of Christ, and it is precious in His sight, so He asks us to love one another.

As I heard a preacher say in a recent sermon, "Do not be surprised when a Christian does wrong; be surprised when they do right." 

Our Lord commands us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER and to NOT FORGET IT.  He repeats this over and over to try to imprint this in our minds: LOVE, FORGIVE, BE MERCIFUL. 

Pastor

Healing The Land

Good Morning,

Israel had been in captivity for seventy years. As the story is told in Ezra, they began to return, rebuild, and repopulate (as is told in Nehemiah).  

While trying to turn the people toward right, Nehemiah lead the people into a covenant with God; a covenant for those who would separate from the people of the land;

Nehemiah 10:28 “...all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God…"

They pledged to keep their children separate from the people of the land.

vs. 30 .”..And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons…"

For the next nine verses, they also committed to the financial support of the ministry and the preachers.

Lastly, they promised not to forsake the house of God, or in our terms, the church.  

vs. 39 "...and we will not forsake the house of our God."


Countless people are passionate about electing Trump who are casual about their church.  That is not the answer – that is the trouble.

Two things were set forth for the healing of the nation: Separation and financial support of the church, these were summarized in the statement, "...and we will not forsake the house of our God." vs. 39

Our New Testament reminds us of a similar truth:  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:25)

As the New Year gets under way, may we do the things that might bring the hand of mercy on our nation.  Let us live holy and not forsake the house of our God.

Pastor