Saturday, February 25, 2006

The Faithful Man

(An outline from The Baptist Vision, Vol. 12, Issue 2)

1. He finds his strength in the Lord.
".... be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." II Tim. 2:1

2. He is able to teach others also.
"... commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
II Tim. 2:2

3. He stands firm during hardships.
"... endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." II Tim. 2:3

4. He refuses to be entangled with this world.
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life..."
II Tim. 2:4

5. He seeks to please Christ in all things.
"... please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Tim. 2:4

6. He strives lawfully obeying God's commands.
"yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." II Tim. 2:5

7. He continues laboring for the Lord and reaps the fruit of his labor.
"... the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits."
II Tim. 2:6

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The "faithful man" is faithful to God in his personal walk, in his home, and in his church.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Beware of Altering God's Word

Beware Of Altering God’s Word By C. H. Spurgeon

Every motive that could move men to alter the Word of God has been fully stated in various portions of the Bible. It shows that God was aware from the first of the reception that would be given to His truth; and it is as instructive to the humble believer as it is humiliating to the modern man who critically cuts away portions of God’s Word.

The desire to alter the Word of God is dangerous. In the wilderness God Himself pointed this out: "Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it" (Deut. 4:2). The nations they were advancing to conquer had long cast aside their allegiance to their Maker, and the least tendency to question or alter God’s Word might result in the same downfall for Israel. Deuteronomy 12:32 distinctly refers to this danger, and reasserts the warning: "What thing soever I command you…thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."

The act of altering the Word of God is sinful. "Every word of God is pure…Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Prov. 30:5-6). He who essays to improve upon it imputes error to the all-wise One. Only unholy minds could attempt it.

The desire to alter the Word of God is weakness. Jeremiah’s was a terrible message, and he might yield to feelings of pity for his race. God saw this, and in words that could not be misunderstood, He said to the prophet: "Diminish not a word" (Jer. 26:2). If God’s message is diminished, its power is lessened, and its results are consequently less certain. The authority, the power, the meaning, the terror of God’s truth must be preserved in all their fullness if God’s purposes are to be carried out.

The ambition to alter the Word of God is Pharisaic. To break the perfection of the law and teach our own alterations or additions as if they were of God is vile indeed. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:19-20).

Our Lord reproved this spirit in scathing and unmistakable language. Why is it His Words are forgotten? "Ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition... teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:6-9). The Pharisaic spirit thus renders impossible obedience to God as the supreme teacher.

The craving to alter the Word of God is accursed. Revelation 22:18-19 should be read with fear and trembling: "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Thus all down the ages God has warned men against this crime. He is a jealous God, and has determined to visit with the direct punishment all who dare to alter His complete and full revelation. This is a crime of the present day: the Lord preserve us from it!

Saturday, February 04, 2006

The Soul Winner's Compensation

During our weekly outreach program at our church, a brief devotional is given by one of the members of the church staff using a one-page newsletter entitled "Go Ye." It is a brief study tool to encourage and help the soul winner. I thought I would share with you one of the "Go Ye" newsletters.

The Soul Winner's Compensation

I. A Cause for this life
A. It was Jesus' cause
1. John 18:37 ".... that I should bear witness unto the truth."
2. Luke 19:10 "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
B. It should be every Christian's cause
1. Our Saviour died for the cause
2. Our Saviour rose for the cause
3. Our Saviour commanded us to make it our cause. John 20:31
C. It gives us a reason to act like Christians
1. Go to church
2. Give tithes and offerings
3. Live holy lives
4. Pray
5. Read the Bible
II. Completeness in this life
A. It sustains life. John 15:2
B. It purifies us. John 15:2
C. It is the result of abiding in Christ. John 15:5
D. It gets prayers answered. John 15:7, 16
E. It makes us wise. Proverbs 11:30
III. Contentment in this life.
A. John 15:11 ".... that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
B. Psalm 126:5-6 " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. ....."
IV. A Crown in the next life
A. I Thess. 2:19 "..... crown of rejoicing"
B. I Cor. 9:23-25 "And this I do for the gospel's sake..... receiveth the prize...."