It Is Not In Vain

Good Morning,

When we are learning to drive, we are given all kinds of instructions to do or not to do.  Although all those instructions are not necessary to drive safely, each one is probably good for us to do.  We know that during a driving test, we might not drive exactly as we would regularly drive while on our own.  We know that while teaching our children to drive, we do not allow them to do things we might do.  Experience, age, or arrogance might cause us to violate our own rules.

Familiarity and complacency create a risk that increases the chance of something going wrong. I will return to this illustration at the end.


Deuteronomy 32 tells us the last instructions of Moses to the people as he turned the leadership of the nation over to Joshua.  Interestingly, after forty years of instruction, the children of Israel were still bent on doing things their own way – mankind simply described.  The people clearly saw the wages of sin revealed before them with poisonous serpents and the opening of the ground to swallow rebels.  They saw God provide water from a rock and manna from Heaven.  God provided military victory over two kingdoms and directed them into the land of promise, yet they still had trouble accepting the instructions of Moses. 


Deuteronomy 32:46 “... Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.”

vs. 47 “For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”


A few years ago, I had a conversation with a young person who was approaching marriage and struggled with the simple principles I have taught for decades; not dramatic thoughts that would ruin a life if not followed, just old-fashioned ideas about propriety and discretion.  The young person wrestled with the questions of “Why?” and “What difference would it really make?” (I tried to be gracious.) For that young person’s entire life, we had been close and I know they would never want to hurt me or attack my teaching, but to them, the principles just did not really make that much sense.  At age twenty-something, viewing life was clear through their own eyes.  I made a few comments and gave assurance that I was honored by the friendship we shared, the opportunity to conduct the wedding, and the privilege of having their family in our church.  I left the subject at that.  


 Deuteronomy 32:46 “... Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.”

vs. 47 “For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”


This was my unspoken response to that young person's outlook: “The principles I had taught for nearly two decades prior to your birth, are what made your life what it is today.  Sure, we all violate a truth now and then, but the principle or idea of trusting what our parents or leaders have taught us is what keeps us from ruin.  We must accept the wisdom of older people.  The principle of restraining our own ideas until we travel down the road for a few decades is what keeps us alive in a world bent on ruining our families.”


Moses said, “…it is not a vain thing.” That statement was the answer to the thought process many people have. Many people ask, “What difference does it make?”  Moses answered, “…it is not a vain thing…” 


Following simple ideas or rules of right and wrong that could never hurt anything will ultimately “not hurt anything.”  

I hear people fuss over the idea of tithing.  Perhaps some could intellectually argue around it, perhaps.  But really, would it hurt anything? If by chance the teachers of tithing were correct, it would be good to have honored that idea.  If the critics of tithing happened to be right, would any harm have been done by giving the tithe to the Lord?  I mean, would we get to Heaven and be scolded for giving God ten percent of our income?  Would it really hurt anything to honor the old-fashioned idea of playing table games, talking with family, or reading books rather than watching television every night of the week? 

When we consider convictions about separation from the world, would it hurt to avoid casinos and movie theaters?  Would wearing a little more clothing rather than revealing every possible piece of flesh we have harm society or even individuals?  Of course not.  Is it possible the opposite could be true?  Absolutely!

Moses said, “… it is not a vain thing…” it is your life.  Not just each lesson he taught or each principle he tried to teach, but the idea of doing right and grasping the teaching of the prior generation and saying, “I’ll trust your call.”  That is not vain,  that is your life.  For one day, one of those old-fashioned ideas just may save your life or the life of your child.  

Moses said, these principles are not vain; they are the difference between life and death, good and evil, happiness and grief, gladness and remorse.

Deuteronomy 30:15 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;”

vs. 16 “... and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”

vs. 18 “I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land…"

vs. 19 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

The folks who question our little do’s and don’ts are often the ones who fuss about vaccinations and pesticides.  They think our ideas of right and wrong are extreme; yet they feel plastic may contain deadly chemicals -therefore, they only use vitamins in glass and will not use microwaves or plastic coffee makers.  I do not mind their ideas; going overboard will not hurt.  Avoiding plastics or GMO’s will not hurt.  Buying organic foods does not harm anyone.  They are free to go overboard some, but why do they not want anyone to be spiritually overboard. At the mention of holiness, they feel we are “overboard,” and suddenly, they view us to be like Stalin.  

Now, this line of thinking is not new to this generation.  Moses wrote this four thousand years ago - it was almost as though Moses was saying, “Hey!  Listen, this is your life!  Dummy!”  

As driving a vehicle, you might do some things that are not recommended, yet will not cause an accident.  You might get away with some manners of driving for years, but that very habit may cause your child’s death when they start driving. We may not understand some of the suggestions, but they just may save your life or the life of your child one day.   The principles you have heard for decades are not vain... they could be your life.

Pastor 

Who Influences Us?

Good Morning,

Proverbs 13:20 works for all people.

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

We all believe young people can be badly influenced by their crowd, but we forget that adults can also be moved by their associations.  Let us remember Adam and Eve; Adam made a terrible choice because of the influence of Eve.  She was not a bad lady, but she had been listening to the wrong “YouTube teacher.” Suddenly her thinking was off track, and this led to leading her husband to wrong thinking as well.  


In 1 Kings 11:1-3, we read about Solomon being influenced to stray from God by the women he loved. 

As Moses led Israel in the wilderness, Korah, Dathan, and others led the people astray. 


Numbers 16:2 “And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:”

vs. 3 “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?”

Korah and others, who were men of “renown,” were misled, and as a result, they led 250 men to rebel against Moses.  Sometimes people of good reputation get off base, and if we do not pay attention, we will follow the wrong people.  

Here is the solution in that situation. 

Moses had a track record of having God’s blessing; from the ten plagues to the water from the rock, Moses had been established as a trustworthy man to follow.  (2 Timothy 3:14 gives similar instruction on who to listen to.) Korah and those men had nothing but complaints and slander toward Moses. They had “social media” and big mouths, but no track record worth believing.  Foolish people found themselves in trouble for listening to these “men of renown,” and resulted in their own ruin.


This same scenario plays out again at Kadish. The people of Israel waited for forty days as one chosen man from each tribe investigated the Promised Land.  

Numbers 13:2 “Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.”

vs. 3 “And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.”

Do you remember the children’s song, “Ten Were Bad and Two Were Good?” Although these men were men of esteem and respected among their peers, the majority of the men were not right. Moses, the time-tested leader, along with Joshua and Caleb, all agreed that the land was theirs as a gift from God.  Sadly, the poor choice of influence caused several million Israelites to turn back to the wilderness and stay there until all of the adults died.  God cared for them; God provided food, water, and clothing, but they never enjoyed the victory and blessings that were prepared for them. 


Listening to the wrong people is costly.  

Leaving Sinai, the mixed multitude complained.  This complaining group was made up of the Egyptian people who left with Israel believing that God was real.  

Numbers 11:4 “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?”

vs. 5 “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:”

The mixed multitude began to complain, and the complaining led to the Israelites joining the conversation of returning to Egypt.   Wrong associations moved them to foolish talk which cost many lives.  

After the Lord rose from the dead, Peter went back to fishing, and others joined him in returning to their former lives.  The friends and associates we have do make a difference, and today this influence certainly includes media.  To whom do we listen?  Who do we watch ?  Whose twitter feed do we follow?  The truth remains firm; we must be guarded about who influences us.  

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

Pastor

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Faith Baptist Church

Covetousness

Good Morning,

Exodus 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."

Deuteronomy 5:21 “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s."

When we begin to consider covetousness, we need not go far before seeing the desire of the eyes causing great suffering.  In the Garden of Eden, we see Eve looking, desiring, and partaking of that which God forbade.

Genesis 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

What brought the world into condemnation?  A covetous eye.  When Abraham had a chance to gain great wealth for his victorious battle he refused to accept anything; wealth is not as important as righteousness.

Genesis 14:23 “That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.” 

In an earlier lesson, Achan was addressed, and his confession revealed the evils of covetousness:

Joshua 7:21 “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”

What a tragic end to the life he faced – all due to covetousness!  

In a similar story, King Saul had been given very clear instruction regarding the battle before him, but instead of obeying God, he allowed everyone to enjoy the spoils – which was against the will of God.  Again, a tragic end followed because a carnal desire for material possessions rather than righteousness existed.

1 Samuel 15:19 “Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?”

God looks at covetousness as a competing deity.

Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

God says covetousness is idolatry.  Something precious that motivates our actions, gold or silver that causes us to rearrange our lives, or the prospect of earthly gain that moves our family, realigns our values, or modifies our choices is a competing god!  Many who would never bow to a statue of Mary or Buddha have made themselves prostrate before success, houses, or lands in subservient devotion.

The materialistic diversions of this world catch our eyes and draw us after their pleasures. Being led away from God’s plan is easy; so David prayed for help to avoid following covetousness.

Psalm 119:36  “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness."

Many a choice that would have been easy to make becomes more difficult when money is involved.  Many a relationship that was dear has been forsaken because earthly possessions entered the discussion.

I know a gracious Christian couple who got married after having each lost a spouse.  With meager earthly provisions, they were happy. Sometime later, one became heir to a rather large estate and their sweet relationship crumbled.   The love of money is surely the root of all kinds of evil deeds.  Countless family members have been separated over a contested will, and fighting begins over money – covetousness is a terrible vice! 

When a desire for material possessions overrules a love for people, suddenly people become merely merchandise to be used and abused, traded for earthly gain, or tossed away when they no longer carry value.  

2 Peter 2:3 “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you…"

May we understand, through Calvary, that humanity is worth loving and even dying for.  It is this understanding that has driven missionaries to leave their homes and die in poverty in hopes that some lost soul might hear the story of Christ's love.  This love of mankind above earthly possession causes many businessmen to give away millions of dollars to the cause of Christ rather than to consume material possessions in their own lusts.  Covetousness sends souls to hell, breaks up homes, ruins churches, and defiles friendships.  

Allowing covetousness to dwell in one’s heart is to forfeit countless opportunities to honor God and will cause failure in fulfilling life's purpose.  

Pastor

God Is Not Man

Good Morning, 

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” 

1 Samuel 15:29 “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.”

Many people struggle with the evil in the world, as well as with the national conquests that have taken place.  People try to logic actions in the mind of man, forgetting that it is God Who makes the decisions.  

In our current political circumstances, we can be so terribly frustrated by endless wrongs and corrupt behavior, but we must ask ourselves, “Is there a God?”  Does God have to act like man in order to be trusted?  Do we desire a man to rule over us? Someone who is frail, sinful, selfish, limited in understanding, and corrupt in nature?  

It is only logical that sinful men do not understand a perfect God; how could they? When we do not know for sure the events of tomorrow, can we begin to grasp the decisions of the Heavenly Father that touch centuries and even eternity? 

When Israel conquered Canaan, it was the right thing to do because God said it!  When Sodom was burnt to the ground, it was right and good because God did it!  Man might not have done it, but God is not man. Today, the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan might seem to be evil, but in the situation at hand, it was right; and most, who are honest, agree that fewer lives were lost in dropping the bombshell than if the war had continued.  Whatever men may think today, or at that time, God allowed it to happen, and God is good and right. 

I am not defending war, although it has gone on since Cain declared war on Abel, but I am saying that when God makes a decision, it is correct – no matter what men think. Do not try to evaluate the actions of God through the eyes of men. We are temporal, while He is eternal.  Our view is limited while God views all time and eternity. 

European immigrants came to America, pushed the Indians west, and eventually created the nation we have today. We should stop trying to act as though God had no hand in it, and that we need to give all of the land back to them. That is as foolish as the suggestion of sending black folks back to the nations they were taken from. They are Americans! This is their home! How they arrived is not as important as the fact that they are here, and we ought to place God back into the picture.  

Injustice is everywhere, and in the stories of God’s plans being accomplished, it is obvious that sinful men did evil things.  We all know that.  The big picture (the entire circumstance) needs to be surrendered to the hand of the Almighty. 

We can go as far as we desire in noticing injustice and unfair circumstances.  How about Naaman’s handmaid? She was taken from home; she lost all; she was enslaved by foreign people, and no one but God knows all of the difficulties she endured.  Yet, this little gal kept God and His eternal perspective in mind as she pointed Naaman to the “Man of God.” 

What about four hundred years of suffering by the Hebrews in Egypt? How many mothers lost their babies to the Nile river? What about the man born blind and the struggles of his parents – all to achieve the works of God. (John 9:3) 

Trust God!  Believe God! Do not seek to understand God.  Do not try to evaluate the actions of God by the morals and perspective of weak humanity. 

God is not a man, and we should be very grateful for that.

Pastor

Persecution

Good Morning,

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 

As a young Christian, I memorized this verse and wondered if I was, “godly;” I did not feel as though I was suffering in a great persecution. As the years passed in my life, and I began to make an impact, I realized there was definitely a restrained enemy and that I was shielded by the mercy of God; but nonetheless, it was obvious that someone was pursuing me.

You may not see persecution like some generations did, with Christians burned at the stake or buried alive, but it is very likely that you are under the watchful eye of Satan today.  He will persecute the child of God, and as much as God allows, he will abuse every believer who is making a difference for God and for good.

Peter says as much about our suffering as does Paul. Our suffering may simply be the confusion with medical records or trying to get doctor appointments, or the harassment you may feel on the job; things that do not seem to be related to God, the Bible, or church. Do not be surprised if there is a satanic force working behind the scenes.

We certainly need to remember that there is a satanic war in the political realm. There is no doubt that Satan works to use the government to hinder the work of God. The wicked one is not pleased with your marriage, your family, your church, or any influence you may have for common decency. Certainly, Satan has no use for a government of decency. Any political leader seeking to shift our nation to right will find himself under attack from more places than he can imagine. The devil’s resources are broad and deeply rooted in society.

If Satan cannot persuade the believer to do wrong, he will begin to work on his spouse or children. From there, the demonic attacks can take place at the school, at a place of business, or, of course, in the church. You will not read far into the New Testament before you find corruption among believers. This is no attack or slander to the church; it is simply a statement that Satan attacks anything that is good or will accomplish the will of God. In the New Testament church, there are attacks on doctrine, morals, money, and simple division. These tactics are not new; the wicked one has used them for centuries.    

If you find yourself feeling beat up by life (unless you are stupid enough to have slipped into the snares of drugs, liquor, bitterness, vengeance, greed, and similar acts of the flesh), you are probably doing right, pleasing to God, and under the attack and persecution that comes to all who will live godly in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 

Pastor

I Do Not Believe

Good Morning,

I do not believe the justice department is just.

I do not believe the weather reports truly report weather.

I do not believe the WHO (World Care Organization) cares about health.

I do not believe the Department of Education cares about educating our youth.

I do not believe places of higher education exist to educate.

I do not believe the president is the Commander and Chief.

I do not believe the department of defense cares much about defending Americans.

I do not believe the FBI cares about honest investigation.

I do not believe most religions know a thing about biblical religion.

I do not believe most counselors help people.

I do not believe our representative government represents citizens.

I do not believe the news reporters care about news.

I do not believe we ought to allow the news to tell us when to stay home.

I do not believe the weather reports, not even a little bit!  

I do not believe masks or vaccinations helped with Covid.

I simply do not believe much we hear these days.


But, I do believe the Bible is the Word of God!

I do believe God is faithful.

I do believe salvation is free.

I do believe Heaven is real.

I do believe Hell is real.

I do believe the Bible-preaching church has more truth in it than all the social media sites put together.

I do believe you ought to go to church when it is rainy or cold.

As Paul said while he was on the deck of the ship that was about to wreck, "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." (Acts 27:25)

That is nearly the extent one ought to go when it comes to believing. Believing God will bring "good cheer."  

Pastor

Finances

Good Morning,

One matter that affects all of us on almost a continual basis is finances. Maybe a young couple is trying to find a way to buy a house, put their children in a Christian school, and provide transportation to and from work. Money really does constantly affect us.  When medical bills are added to the load, a hole in our money bag seems to appear. In actuality, this is a biblical principle:

Haggai 1:6 “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.”

Some aspects that affect our finances are within our control. Too often, we look at circumstances that are out of our control and allow them to cause us to be discouraged or not to even try. We should focus on the situations that are within our control regarding finances.  If we do what we can do, then we can go to God for the areas that are out of our control.  

Perhaps the most important principle is found in Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:” 

We should do our best to honor God with all that we have. (Firstfruits will be mentioned again in a moment.)  

Much money is squandered on pleasures or material possessions that do not honor God, such as the glaring issues of gambling, drinking liquor, or subtly spending money on extravagant or worldly possessions.  What kind of things honor or dishonor God is between you and the Lord, but if we hope to have God’s blessing on our finances, we need to do our best to honor Him with the things that He gives us.

The book of Luke brings us two thoughts: firstly, we need to make money our friend; secondly, we should not allow money to rule us.  

Luke 16:9 “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”

vs. 13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

We are to honor God with whatever He gives us.  Tithing (or the phrase mentioned earlier, firstfruits) is first mentioned in the life of Abraham long before the Mosaic law existed. Do not allow someone to tell you that tithing is a matter of the Law. Others would say tithing is an Old Testament issue, but in the book of Matthew, Jesus spoke of tithing being important. He said, “… these ought ye to have done..."  (Matthew 23:23).

If someone truly wishes to model the giving of the New Testament Christians, he should know that they gave far beyond tithing. The New Testament speaks of sacrificial giving, of giving our all, and of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice. The casual, few-dollar offering in the offering plate is far from New-Testament Christianity.

Another principle we miss regarding finances is the second great commandment — living for others. Luke 6:38 says if we will give, it shall be given back to us.  This is a simple but clear principle that caring for the poor is vital when we consider what we are supposed to do with our time and our money.  When we care for the needy, God says He will show special attention toward us.  

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

The next matter that needs to be addressed if we hope to have God’s blessing on our finances is twofold: debt and unwise expenditures.

These two work hand-in-hand. We buy items we should not buy; consequently, our finances are limited. When important expenses arise, we find ourselves unable to afford necessities and are forced to finance these necessities, while throwing away countless dollars on interest.  It would do us all well to avoid debt except on the most important matters like a house or a car, and even then, we might think twice before tossing away thousands of dollars on interest.  

If we work on these little things, then we can turn to God seeking supernatural help with the situations beyond our control.

Pastor

Do Not Faint

Good Morning,

Psalm 27:13 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”

David wrote, “I had fainted,” when he was in a time of great distress,  yet he followed the statement with the reason he did not faint:

“… unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”


David believed that he would see the goodness of the Lord — not in Heaven, but in the land of the living.  Here, on earth, David believed that one day, he would see the goodness of God revealed.   Though at the time, he felt as if he would faint. David believed that he would see God in all His goodness.  

David was under such pressure;  so much weighed on him that he felt that he would faint, but not without hope for tomorrow.  David also wrote in the Psalms:

"... yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."  (Psalm 57:1)

There is comfort in the fact that God is good, that God is faithful, that God is near, and that God loves His Own.   


Some days (sometimes weeks or months), we need extra grace to rest in the Lord and His promises, but as we look into the perfect law of liberty, we can find assurance that we will see the “goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”  

God is good, and one day, we will see it; be patient.

Pastor 

On the Team

Good Morning,

Most of us have watched sporting events in which one person dominates the game. Superior athletes are real; it seems as if something different was placed inside them at birth. We have also seen the amazing running back helped by the unknown lineman; the great batter still needs a good team fielding the ball, otherwise they would lose every game; even the superior solo tennis player must have a coach.

We are not all equal, but we can all participate and help the team. There is no star who accomplishes much without a team beside him. The same philosophy is true in the ministry.

Matthew 10:40 “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”

vs. 41 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”

I do not need to be the prophet, but I can be important in the life of the prophet; and in so doing, I gain blessings and rewards from Heaven. In a church, there is usually only one preacher; he does the majority of the preaching and teaching; but nursery workers are also vital if the pastor is to have peace and keep the attention of the congregation. Janitors, PA men, ushers who collect the offering, and musicians who sing and play all have important roles in making the church a great place!

Paul writes to the Ephesian church about their usefulness and the fact that every member is a vital part of the whole.

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.”

Paul taught many of the same lessons to the Corinthian church, likening the ministry to a farmer who plants the seed and another waters it, but ultimately it is God Who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

vs. 7 “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

vs. 8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

vs. 9 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”

The fact that we are laborers together with God is a great thought. We need each other; we all have different talents and duties

1 Corinthians 12:4 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

vs. 5 “And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.”

vs. 6 “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”

vs. 7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

vs. 8 “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

We are all given different gifts by the Holy Spirit and yet, in the end, God is the one Who makes the ministry work!

In a team, a church, or a family, no inferior parts will be found. God blesses us for doing well that which He designed us to do. Faithfulness is what God desires, faithfulness to do and be what He designed us to be. Obviously, if a part is missing, the team suffers. We all matter far more than we realize.

Pastor

Daniel

Good Morning,

Most of us are familiar with the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. The story is found in Daniel chapter 6. Many wonderful lessons are found in this chapter, but I would like to point out just a few. You may want to read through chapter 6 as you look at these points regarding Daniel and his circumstances:

1. Daniel did right without question, yet men still tried to destroy him. Just because you are doing right does not mean everyone will like it. The story does not say Daniel was a bad boss. There are no instances of Daniel’s injustice in dealing with these men. The simple fact was that they did not like Daniel being the one in charge.

Daniel 6:4 “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

vs. 5 “Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

2. Daniel was in a position of authority. Others were placed under him, and as is human nature, people tend to want authority; and if need be, they will destroy their authorities to have the position themselves.

3. Leaders do not always make the right decisions. Leaders are sinful humans, and, at times, our leaders’ mistakes will hurt us. Remember, God is not dead. The flattering princes under the authority of Daniel came to the king and asked him to make a law that no one be able to pray to any God or man except to the king. Human arrogance and the love of attention brought the king to make a foolish choice. Daniel was going to be thrown into the lion’s den.

vs. 7 “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.”

4. Just because your leaders make a foolish decision does not mean they do not love you and that they do not regret the horrible choice they made. At times, the decision involves unwise spending, but at other times the situation may involve the use of liquor or drugs or a failure to care for some detail in life; but remember, we are all sinful. People who sincerely love can make decisions that say they do not love you. Keep believing in people.

vs. 18 “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.”

The king spent the night in fasting with a broken heart for the wrong he had done and the harm he had caused Daniel because he cared for him. The king truly did care.

5. God was not absent. Those circumstances were dire, yet there was still a God in Heaven Who cared for Daniel. God knew Daniel’s situation was going to glorify His Name through the difficulties that Daniel was facing. God delivered Daniel from the lions.

6. The Bible says much about forgiveness and mercy, but it also says "vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord.” Daniel did not need to get even with those with men; God moved on the heart of the king, and the king took care of Daniel's enemies.

vs. 24 “And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.”

We, too, can trust God when evil men seek to hurt us and when foolish leaders fail to defend us.

Psalm 46:1 “...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…”

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

7. The sorrows and difficulties that the Old Testament saints dealt with are wonderful lessons and reminders to each one of us today. May we be reminded that our sorrows and difficulties are modern-day lessons from which others may watch and learn. We must trust in the Lord with all of our heart; may we continue to do right when situations go wrong, believing God will be glorified and other believers will be instructed.

Pastor

Repair The Breach

Repair the Breach

Good Morning,

We, as Americans, have had our heritage slowly and methodically taken away from us.  The great founders and framers have been maligned.  Our founding documents have been assaulted and ignored.  Our national sins have been magnified while our deeds of righteousness have been forgotten. This is a tragic and satanic process with cataclysmic effects.  It will be, to quote one vile President, the fundamental restructuring of our nation. 

Forgetting or failing to learn of who we are, where we came from, and why certain choices were made will cripple our abilities to plan and implement future decisions.

Isaiah 58:12 “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” 

In Isaiah’s day, he preached about a day to come when some would go back to the foundation of their nation, they would raise up the ideals of past generations and repair the breach or the broken place in the philosophical structure of their society.  

Preachers today, and I speak of Baptist men, have failed to learn their spiritual roots.  As they develop their ministry, they have failed to honor the old paths, the old men, and most have no idea why the word “fundamentalist” even came into being in the Christian world. (July 1, 1920, Curtis Lee Laws, Convention Side Lights Watchman-Examiner)

Young men, enamored by scholars and tempted by the casual church ambience, have drawn toward reformed theology, or worldly worship, knowing NOTHING of the roots of that philosophy or the reason Baptists were so harassed by reformers. Why was it that Baptists stood so firmly, countless times to their own death?  Without that knowledge, religion is adrift with no charts or destination.  

We need to know who we are, why we are what we are, why some things matter SO MUCH, and why there needs to be a gruff resistance to any other direction.  One simple young preacher said he wanted to redefine fundamentalism.  The poor guy was like a five-year-old trying to reinvent a car.  He knows there are tires and a motor, but he is tragically ignorant of countless elements that went into the development, safe production, and operation of the vehicle.  Yes, this self-appointed youth, set to redirect the course of Fundamentalism, knew about standards, soul winning, and a trust in the KJV (although his loyalty to any of these might be seriously questioned).  He failed to learn WHY, WHO, AND WHAT! 

Isaiah 58:12 “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”

In order to properly build what God desires and restore the paths, one must begin with the foundation of many past generations and find the “old waste places” so that he may, with God’s help, rebuild exactly what was there before. 

Isaiah saw the trouble, saw the nation going into captivity, and was comforted in the fact that one day, the nation would be restored, the throne would enjoy the seed of David ruling, the Covenant would be made intact again for the Jew, and the paths would be restored.

For the Bride, the New Testament Christian, we too have a foundation laid by the Apostles.  We too, can see the preachers admiring the altar of the heathen (Ahaz; 2 Kings 16:10)  and sending the plans to our current-day worship leaders to model.  We can see the people drift from humble devotion and holiness to a worldly style of life and religious activity.  We are watching churches change from being God-fearing and striving for holiness to casual in their Christian beliefs and complacent; captivity is approaching. 

We need to reach back to the old ways (the foundations of many generations) and repair the breach.  If we do not, compromise will come along with the temptress, Delilah, and with our fundamental hair, will lose our power and spiritual eyesight.  The Philistines will laugh at the foundations and the ways of our roots, while we miserably grind at the worldly wheel of contemporary worship.

Pastor

Mental Pressures

Good Morning,

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

vs. 9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

I was talking with a very good pastor friend, and he mentioned the mental struggle he faced.  I feel like we all face that, some more than others, but all, at least, to some extent. This good man with a good family, good kids, and apparently, a good marriage wondered about success, being useful to God and other things.

I was slow to respond, but offered him a few thoughts that helped me, and I thought perhaps they would benefit some of you too.

We must understand that we are in a spiritual battle, and most of it is in our thoughts.  Purposely controlling what we think about is a huge step in gaining victory.

1.  Count your blessings.

Look up for a roof over your head, look in the cupboards for food, and then slowly take stock.  Is there a car out front? Are you saved? Do you have a good church? Do you have a Bible? Are you free?  Do you have your hands and feet.  Cultivate gratitude.

2. Focus your attention on "doing" the will of God more than the results of your work.  Some of the greatest inventors and missionaries found little success until many years of faithful work had passed.  Success is doing the will of God, not achieving an earthly goal or attaining financial or spiritual success.  It may be that God planned on a family having no children or no spouse.   It may be that enduring a lifetime of health issues is the will of God.  None of us want that plan for our lives, but we all understand that this could be the case.   As long as the "do" is right, the results can be left in the hands of God.  

3. Focus on influencing one person, whether it be a baby in the nursery, a child in Sunday school, or visiting a lonely neighbor.   Helping one person can change the world. It was one mechanic who invited a few teenagers to his home after church because there was nothing going on for the youth in their church. He taught them to witness. One of those teens led me to Christ in the city park.  

4. Work hard at knowing God;  study your Bible, develop a prayer life, get prayer lists, and read good biographies of godly men and women so you learn the secretes of their spiritual lives.  If you need names of people to read, here are a few:

• William Carey - went to India and translated the Bible into many languages.

• David Livingstone - explored Africa.

• Amy Carmichael - rescued children from temple prostitution in India.

• Jim Elliot and Nate Saint

• Mary Slessor - reached into the interior of Calabar.  

• Adoniram and Ann Judson

• Hudson Taylor - built the great China Inland Missions

• John and Betty Stam - missionaries to China

• Gladys Aylward - missionary to China

• Jonathan and Roslind Goforth - missionaries to China

These are all missionaries, but their lives will help us all understand faith, suffering, purpose, and godliness.  

Pastor

View of God

Good morning,

Most religious people have a warped view of God.  The common religious person pictures a god that matches their own views, not the God of the Bible.  Often, I have heard someone say that a God of love could not send someone to Hell, or that a loving God could not burn up Sodom.  The people who make Jesus out to be a passive, tender man forget that He threw over the money changers’ tables and called religious leaders “snakes.” 

Religious men have twisted the image of God in many ways, but for the moment, allow me to simply address the topic of hatred. Let us see what the Bible says about God and His feelings toward certain things.

Psalm 53:5 “...thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.”

Well, that is certainly not the same God the world talks about, David writes that there are some whom God despises.

Lamentations 2:5  “The Lord was as an enemy…"

vs. 6 .”.. and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.”

It is necessary for us to have a better grasp on the holiness of God if we hope to understand how much God hates wrong.  Over thirty times, the Bible speaks of God and man properly hating wrong.  God is so holy that He cannot tolerate sin; consider how He treated His own Son when He became sin.

Psalms 119 gives us several clear instructions

vs. 104 “... I hate every false way.”

vs. 113  “I hate vain thoughts…"

vs. 163  “I hate and abhor lying…"

There is a serious emphasis on feelings toward those who hate God.  Even to the point of defining his feelings as "perfect hatred."

Psalm 139:21 “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?”

vs. 22 “I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”

God holds religious hypocrisy in special contempt, as is shown in the book of Isaiah.  

Isaiah 1:14 “Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.”

There are many areas in which we fail to have a biblical perspective of God.  Mankind is constantly trying to bring God down to man, trying to make Him more and more like man so that man will appear good.  In reality, when God became man, man hated Him and could not stand in His Divine presence.  

When God curses a nation, allows sinners to be forgiven, or mocks other religious ideas, may we not filter the Bible through human reason but rather use the Bible to create a filter on the foolish ideas of man.    

"Let God be true and every man a liar."

Pastor

It’s Not About Me

Good Morning,

When Paul wrote to the Philippian church, he made it clear that the things in his life were not all centered on his own personal pleasures.  Giving God glory was far more important to Paul than his feeling good or being treated well.

Philippians 1:14 “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

vs. 15 “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

vs. 16 “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:”

Paul was in jail, a situation that might have caused some bitterness or anger, but instead, he was glad that people throughout the prison had heard the Gospel message as a result of his being there.  Some preachers preached in hopes of hurting Paul or causing him some kind of anxiety or other sufferings.   Other preachers were emboldened and loved Paul.   

vs. 17 “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”

vs. 19 “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

As long as Christ was preached, Paul did not care if people liked him or not. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

vs. 23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

In the Garden of Gethsemane, even our Lord prayed that “this cup” might pass from Him; Jesus followed up that prayer with the surrender of his heart to do God’s will: “…not my will, but thine be done.”

Whatever glorifies God is best; whether what happens be comfortable or difficult, friendly or angry, God’s receiving the honor is our priority.  

If people tried to do Paul harm, but in the process, they preached Christ, Paul felt himself a tool of God used for good.  If people wished Paul evil, yet in some way ended up lifting up the name of Christ, Paul rejoiced.  Paul did not focus on being well-thought of, but rather on magnifying Jesus.

Paul concluded the thought a few verses later:

Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

Whether death or life, as long as Christ is magnified, Paul was pleased.  We would all be much happier if we would surrender our lives to injustice, suffering, and hardship, as long as God was glorified through our discomfort.  

Pastor 

Evil

Good Morning,

When we start reading the Scriptures in Genesis, in the second chapter, we already find the wicked one raising his head in a place of perfection.  

No matter how wonderful the environment, evil will seek to disrupt and to destroy. One of the mistakes often made is the attempt to analyze “why.” Why would someone do evil things? Why would someone act in an evil manner? There are courtroom psychologists who try to analyze the reasons why someone would act in a certain vile or corrupt way; we simply need to understand that from the very beginning, evil showed up because it is evil. We could research to the time before the Garden of Eden (Isaiah 14:12-14) and find Satan living in the presence of God.

Isaiah 14:12 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

vs. 13 “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”

vs. 14 “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Satan enjoyed a perfect environment and held a great position as the “anointed cherub that covereth.”

Ezekiel 28:14 “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”

Yet in that perfect place with a very incredible position, working for the perfect Creator of the universe, evil was still present.

Satan said, “I will be like the most high, I will exalt my throne…”

Sometimes, some Americans seem bothered when things are going well.  Liberal leaders of society still complain about storms and violence. Recently, we heard the President’s State of the Union Address. In his speech, he clearly explained that the unemployment rate of blacks and Latinos is the lowest in the history of recorded employment, and yet Latino and black leaders have no good thing to say. No matter how good the environment may be, evil will be present. No matter how good the people are, some evil will creep in.

Do not be surprised when evil influence makes its way into the lives of your children; it does not matter what school they attend, whether it be a public school, homeschool, or a Christian school.

Do not be surprised when evil shows up in your Christian home (the place where you live a very guarded life) through one of your family members or through an outsider who gains influence on your family. One family, who was extremely guarded about the media influences they allowed in their home (they did not even have a television), experienced the influence of evil when a new router was installed. The technician who came out to install the device arrived when no one was home except the younger teenager.  The parents gave the okay to install it.   Once the router was installed and working, the tech showed the teenager where the password was on the bottom of the device. Without any parental knowledge, a young person then had unfettered access to the trash on the internet.

We need to understand that we are in the presence of evil. We can put up all the boundaries we want (and we should); we can create fences and borders; we can create rules and policies, but we must understand and accept the reality that evil is among us.  Our Lord did everything right: His actions were perfect in every situation; He responded in a godly manner to every circumstance, yet Judas’ story took place.

John 6:70  “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

At your place of employment (whether it be in the area of finances, the bookkeeping, or the management), when some evil takes place do not be angry.  Do not be too hard on the church when some negative or evil act arises. The church is full of people, and certainly, the evil one will sow tares among the wheat.

Matthew 13:25 “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

The most important recourse for the child of God is to walk with the King. When Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and unjustly imprisoned by Potiphar, he “lost”13 years of his life (17 to 20 years in a world of total injustice),  yet through it all, God was still in Heaven.  In the last chapter of Genesis, when Joseph’s brothers sought his help and mercy, Joseph made a simple statement: “Am I in the place of God?”

We should labor to do right.  We should plan and organize our lives to guard against evil. In the end, there is no way we are going to control all of the evil and wrong in this world, but we have a God Who can, and we can trust Him. Infidelity in marriage, thoughtless crime,  political shame, or violence in gangs — none can supersede the mighty hand of God. May our faith rest in His power. May our dreams and goals rest in His lovingkindness. When evil seems to rear its head and appears to be victorious, let us rest in the One Who knows the end of the story and “who doeth all things well."

Mark 7:37 “...He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”

Pastor

It Is Okay to Be the Only One

Good Morning,

When Jesus left Heaven, He left a perfect place to go to an imperfect place.   Jesus walked through life as a perfect man, dwelling among imperfect men.  He dealt fairly and honestly with all, while their dealings were far from proper or just.

As I read this passage, I considered these thoughts:

Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”

vs. 7 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

vs. 8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Although Christ deserved the very best, He made Himself of no reputation. He gained no earthly accolades; all the praise of men could not adequately glorify Him as He deserved.  


My line of thought this morning centers on this reasoning: He did right while others did not do right; he loved, while others did not love; he forgave while others did not forgive, and he was kind and thoughtful while others were the extreme opposite.  

I consider these thoughts and remind myself that it is okay to be the only one in a relationship doing right.

We often do right until someone fails to realize our sacrifice, and then we do wrong.  We will be clean and orderly until someone with whom we live ignores the cleanliness and allows their sloppy ways to be dominant, and then we become angry and yield to our own selfish ways.  We each tend to love our spouse, as long as love is shown in return; if love is not reciprocated, the relationship is strained. Perhaps we react differently, but we tend to retaliate easily with unloving action if we do not receive a little back of what we give.  

For the college student, it is okay to be the only one in the dorm reading his Bible daily, or keeping the rules faithfully, or honoring the spirit of the school appropriately.  

It is okay to be the one in marriage who cleans up while others do not.  If you have children, be sure to train them to do right in this matter; your spouse or other adult guests may not grasp the spirit of order, cleanliness, and usefulness.  It is okay to keep doing right while others have no clue, for that is the Christlike life.  

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Christ humbled Himself; He tolerated the sinfulness of men and the shame of this godless world, and yet, He did right. Without a doubt, Jesus corrected the actions of those nearest Him: to Peter, one of his closest friends, He said, “Get thee behind me Satan.” Jesus also corrected the disciples when they feared the terrible storm:

Luke 8:25 “And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”

When people watched to see if He would heal on the sabbath, Jesus chose a few words of correction: “with anger…”

Mark 3:5 ”And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”


Many a missionary has given up because he felt there was no lasting fruit from his labors.  Many a pastor or parent has turned to a casual lifestyle and stopped fighting for right when they saw no real change in those they attempted to help.  

The most important thought is that we must not give up on doing right simply because we are alone in doing so.  Right is right, whether we are in a crowd or alone.  Godliness is the proper reaction even though we are alone in our behavior.  

Some of our biggest failures come when we begin to think we are the only one who cares or the only one who is standing for right.  If we entertain those thoughts, we must be reminded that God is in agreement with the right choice; we are not alone, and we are truly in the very best of company.  

Pastor

Forgiveness

Good morning,

It seems that one of the problems humanity struggles with is forgiveness.  Forgiveness is referenced in books, movies, and often in Scripture; the decision to forgive remains difficult, but it is of utmost importance.  We read about it on wall hangings; but honesty, we know what is right, yet it remains difficult.  

Colossians 3:13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

vs. 22 “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

To fully grasp the importance of this doctrine you need to read the verses following verse 22.  It is imperative we forgive!

The example is right before us in the Bible, and forgiveness is an element of the most difficult circumstances.  Betrayed, falsely tried, unjustly punished, mocked and ridiculed, yet Jesus sought their forgiveness. 

Luke 23:43 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” 

There are many ideas about these passages and their warnings, but for the moment, let us agree that God clearly says, FORGIVE! Whatever wrong one has endured, it cannot be as severe as the cross and all that went along with it.  FORGIVNESS is as clear a part of Christian living as prayer and Bible reading. 

If you struggle with forgiveness, here are a few suggestions that might help:

• Memorize passages dealing with forgiveness.

• Read Bible stories, such as the story of Joseph or of Jesus and how they suffered and forgave.

• Read Bible lessons on forgiveness as these mentioned above.  

• Read missionary stories of those who suffered and continued to love and serve like Through the Gates of Splendor, about Jim Elliot;  How I Know God Hears and Answers Prayer, by Rosalind Goforth; To the Golden Shore, by Adoniram Judson.  

Stop reading or listening to those who help you justify your bitter heart.

These stories and their suffering dwarfs anything that we might have suffered, yet they forgave, served, and deeply loved those who hurt them. 

Do not settle for a second-rate relationship to the Lord because of a heart of unforgiveness; go on the offensive and beat that sinful thinking.  

There is more Bible on forgiveness than on liquor, yet many who would never take a drink of alcohol harbor bitterness and unforgiveness in their hearts.  Get it right!

Pastor

Entropy

Good morning,

Can you imagine anything more absurd than evolution? Look at your cars; the fact that your car is not as good as it once was proves entropy. Things wear down, break, rust, and fall apart.  These evolutionists act as though everything is getting better and better; but mankind is certainly not getting better, we just keep killing each other with more advanced techniques.

Look in the mirror. Have the years made you better and better? You ladies might put on some make up and you guys might go to the gym work out, but you are not going up and down stairs like you used to and you know it.   You and I are on our way to be worm food and there is no way around it.

Time makes nothing better. Chromosomes are no more advanced and genes are no better in a human being than those made by Levi Strauss – they all wear out.

The only reason anyone believes in evolution is because they hate the alternative. Humanity hates the idea that there is a God to Whom they are accountable. 

Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”

Mankind, especially the real educated ones, love to act as if man is the center of all the universe, that man is the highest life form, and that we are accountable to no one.

Paul wrote about this:

Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

The only way to make something better is work the outside energy source into the equation. You can replace parts on the car to make it faster or perhaps to give it a better stereo system. That car will not get any better unless someone puts something extra into it. With the human body or an animal body, you might put in extra vitamins and minerals, exercise, and put it in a better environment, but even all that effort, the body will end in death.

That is why there is a need for the new birth!

John 3:3 “…Ye must be born again…”

When God gives birth to a new creature, He makes something better, but even your new birth will degenerate if you do not add Bible, prayer, and Christian service. Those are the things that will help you grow as a Christian. If you do not work on developing your spiritual life, you will die spiritually, and then eventually die physically, and you will go to heaven flat busted. Yes, you are still saved, but your Christian life will not mature and develop, without growth in grace. 

You need to ADD:  

2 Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Consider American government; is it getting better? Consider the morals of the nation; are they getting better?  How about our education; check out the test scores and quality of what is being taught in our schools, and you will find that it is not getting better.  Everything gets worse with time.  

My grandmother was a simple, poor, farm girl from Central Iowa, but she was taught Latin in school, and she could write cursive beautifully. Try that in public schools today.  She could also work, keep her money in order, keep her morals, and love her husband. 

Entropy means things mankind does will grow worse and worse, but with the Lord, things will improve wonderfully – wow, what a difference!  Put your time and money on the Lord!  

Pastor

Time Conflicts

Good Morning,

One of the most common and well-understood concepts in life is that there is not enough time to do all that we believe needs to be done.


In college, I remember hearing from “‘Chapel Quotes’, by Bob Jones Sr.: ‘Duties never conflict.’” Yet, in life, I feel that the battle to decide which duty is a priority is constant. What I believe needs to be done is rarely NOT in conflict with something else I feel MUST be done.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

The word purpose means it is intentional and that God is happy with it. God has a purpose for everything that happens. When we feel we cannot get every job done, we must remember that a purpose exists for our not getting everything done. When there is not enough rain, animals die. When there are floods, everything gets messed up.

There is a time to die, but most of us do not think it is our or our parents’ TIME. There is a time to war, but again, many people would never feel there is a time to fight. Observe nature: suffering, death, loneliness, forest fires, drought, pestilence, earthquakes, and floods. No one plans these discomforts, yet these discomforts happen every day. Yes, human discomforts are a product of the flood, but God still has a purpose, and He is not dead!

Ecclesiastes 3:14 “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”

We should FEAR some things. We should fear God. We should tremble before Him, but to fall apart because everything is not ideal is foolish.

Ecclesiastes 3:3 “A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;”

We may not like the timing God has in His design, but we can trust the God Who controls the timing.

There is a time to lose:

Ecclesiastes 3:6 “A time to get, and a time to lose…”

A time will come when we will “seem” to fail, but failure is not always understood. When we get to Heaven, we will have a far better perspective on life. Did Paul understand being hungry? Probably not, but he did say, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:12)

Paul made clear that the plans of God were not always “seen” or understood. We do not need to panic.

Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”


We want to have a clear view of each step, a reason for each situation (of course the OCD folks want everything done on schedule and in an orderly manner, Ha! Ha!). Try being a parent, a pastor, a businessman, or even a missionary; you will see how little is in your control.

Dr. Wendell Evans, our Bible college president, posted the quote, “DO YOUR BEST AND HANG THE REST” on the wall during finals. His intent was to remind us that we are not going to get everything done, nor will we accomplish everything in a timely manner. We should try, and we should prayerfully plan and execute; but when we do not get everything accomplished, we must rest in the Lord. If you could get it all together, you would not need to rest in God; you would rest in YOU— a big difference.

The cross of Calvary is all about failed people in a failed world — and abounding love. Do not stray from that simple truth.

Pastor