Understanding the Will of God

The list below was compiled by a missionary in Panama, Bro. Jim Childress.... I thought it might be a blessing to those who are seeking the will of God in some matter this very day; or if not today, then sometime soon in the future!!!

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Steps to Knowing and Conforming to the Will of God

1. Reject sin
2. Have a desire to know God's will.
3. Have a desire to continue the learning process.
4. Be willing to wait on the Lord.
5. Trust completely ... Prov. 3
6. Be yoked with Christ. Matt 11:29
7. Study and memorize Scripture.
8. Analyze surrounding situations and conditions.
9. Form a support group of counselors.
10. Do a written study of the situation, solution and alternatives.
11. Establish a prayer support group
12. Pay attention to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks.
13. Practice self disciple with regards to I John 2:15-17
14. Seek the gift of discernment
15. Reject human secularism when dealing with spiritual values.
16. Pray for wisdom.
17. Respond in love that rejects fear. 1 John 4:18
18. Resist making excuses or disqualifying oneself as unqualified.
19. Share the Gospel while seeking answers.
20. Beware of falling into a passive mode.
21. Establish goals that honor God.
22. Increase faith ... no faith .. general faith ... little faith ... some faith ... great faith ... so great faith ... eternal faith.

The Purity of the Church, Not the Size

I do not understand that mentality in the Christian Church today which says that we must all come together and sink our differences; and that what we believe does not matter. It is a denial of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and of the story of the twelve ignorant, untutored and unlettered men who knew whom and what they believed, and who had the power of the Spirit upon them, and who 'turned the world upside-down'.

This is surely one of the central messages of the Bible. The great concern of the New Testament Epistles is not about the size of the Church, it is about the purity of the Church. The Apostles never said to the first Christians: " You are antagonizing people by emphasizing doctrine. Say more about the love of God and less about the wrath of God. They do not even like the Cross, and they cannot abide the story of the resurrection! Drop that talk about the wrath of God and Christ's ethical teaching!" Not so do the Apostles speak!

--Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "Heresies"

Characteristics of Non-Christians in the Last Days

1. Men shall be lovers of their own selves. 2 Tim. 3:2
2. Men shall be covetous. 2 Tim. 3:2
3. Men shall be boasters. 2 Tim. 3:2
4. Men shall be proud. 2 Tim. 3:2
5. Men shall be blasphemers. 2 Tim. 3:2
6. Men shall be disobedient to parents. 2 Tim. 3:2
7. Men shall be unthankful. 2 Tim. 3:2
8. Men shall be unholy. 2 Tim. 3:2
9. Men shall be without natural affection. 2 Tim. 3:3
10. Men shall be trucebreakers. 2 Tim. 3:3
11. Men shall be false accusers. 2 Tim. 3:3
12. Men shall be incontinent. 2 Tim. 3:3
13. Men shall be fierce. 2 Tim. 3:3
14. Men shall be despisers of those who do good. 2 Tim. 3:3
15. Men shall be traitors. 2 Tim. 3:4
16. Men shall be heady.2 Tim. 3:4
17. Men shall be highminded. 2 Tim. 3:4
18. Men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. 3:4
19. Men shall have a form of godliness, but they will deny the power thereof. 2 Tim. 3:5
20. There shall be men of the sort which creep into houses and lead captive silly, sinful women who are led away with divers lusts. 2 Tim. 3:6
21. They shall be always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim. 3:7
22. They shall resist the truth. 2 Tim. 3:8
23. They shall have corrupt minds. 2 Tim. 3:8
24. They shall be reprobate concerning the faith. 2 Tim. 3:8
25. They shall not progress, because their folly shall be manifested unto all men. 2 Tim. 3:9

2 Tim. 3:2-9 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Six Ways to Prove That I am Saved!!!

An email group member posted these sermon notes from a message she had heard during a recent revival service. I have heard similar lists of evidences of salvation in the past, but since this was recent and availabe, I thought I would post this on my blog. I would like to read about other evidences of salvation, so please feel free to post a comment with your thoughts.

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I took these notes last week on a message preached by Evangelist Hal Webb at our revival. It was an awesome message. It is the first time I've ever seen a check list, so-to-speak, of how to prove your own salvation. It is EXCELLENT. I am going to put it in my Bible so that I can share that with those who "think" they are saved but their lives don't show it. I hope it is a blessing to you!!!

Six Ways to Prove That I Am Saved:

1. I have no desire for habitual sinning in my life. If I smoke, my desire will be to quit and I WILL succeed with Christ's help. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

2. I have a personal belief in Jesus Christ. I truly believe He is God Who left Heaven to come to earth; in His virgin birth; His sinless life on earth; He is the Messiah of mankind Who shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for MY sins; He was buried and on the third day, He arose from the dead; He ascended into Heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father awaiting His return to reign on earth. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)

3. I live righteously. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1 John 2:29) I will have a different holy life. Do I try to please Christ every day? Do I find myself trying to please Him? Am I doing His will? Do I avoid evil? The greatest joy in life is the joy of serving Christ. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor. 5:17)

4. I will have a love for fellow Christians. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14) I can tell I'm saved by the crowd I CHOOSE to hang around with. Am I eager about Christian things? Do I desire to be around other Christians more than my worldly friends?

5. I'm overcoming the world. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) There's always some Christian you know that "everything in their life is always going wrong"! Are they overcoming their circumstances? This is not to say things won't go wrong, but what is their attitude as they go through these circumstances? Are they overcoming or are they defeated? The world's opinion is not to be MY standard of living. My standard is the Word. I am not to please the world but I am to please the Lord, Jesus Christ. 1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

6. I will have a desire for purity. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1 John 5:18) I am to care for my soul and protect it from evil. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. (Amo 5:15) Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1Th 5:22) I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cle ave to me. (Psa 101:3) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:16) Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. (1Ti 5:22) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Phi 2:12)

Characteristics of Worldliness in a Christian's Life

There is a discussion on another blog that I frequent from time to time on worldliness; here is a summary list of characteristics of worldliness in a Christian's life. What are your thoughts about this matter??? Is the list complete??? Do you disagree with any of the items???

1. No desire to commune with Christ.
2. Lack of desire to be in God's Word.
3. No desire to fellowship with the people of God.
4. No real concern for the lost.
5. Obedience to God's Word is "optional."
6. God's absolutes are filtered through the opinions of man.
7. No real burden to "give" and be a steward of finances, talents, and time.
8. All the world's entertainment is "fine by me"; Lack of discernment about entertainment choices.

I pray that as Christians we are striving day by day to allow the Spirit of God which lives within us to guide our thoughts and actions based upon the daily feeding and studying of God's word!!!

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Eph. 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Rom. 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Narrow is the Way???

Found below is a post from a pastor missionary made last week on a fundamental Baptist Internet mailing list. Now I know there is no way to confirm the statistics that he has listed, but I thought they were interesting. I post them for your information..... any thoughts???

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I guess I am a little more cynical about the number of people who are saved, narrow is the way and all that. It’s not the jail-house religion that bothers me though, it’s the church-house religion. I think 70 or 80% of Fundamental Baptist brethren have missed it and only have religion, not salvation so of course I think 99% of the prison population have missed it. You probably disagree, but keep in mind I am standing on pretty solid ground when I say that. Most who have pastored don’t want to think that way, but Finney, Moody, Sunday, and many great evangelists and pastors all thought that way. Dr. William Russell Owen is accredited with the statement that of all the present day church members:

5% do not exist
10% cannot be found
20% never pray
25% never attend church services
30% never read the Bible
40% never give
50% never attend Sunday night services
60% never give to missions
75% never accept any responsible position
85% never go to prayer meeting
90% never practice family worship
95% never win a soul to Christ

I would say that would not be far off from the statistics in the IFB churches today. Matthew 7:21-22 Not every one [Baptist] that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; …. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached] in thy name? and in thy name … done many wonderful works [soul winning, giving, etc.]? Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [our righteousness is as filthy rags]. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Psalm 119 - The Word of God

A glimpse of God's commands concerning God's word found in Psalm 119;

1. I am to walk in it. Ps 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2. I am to keep it. Ps 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3. I am to respect it. Ps 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
4. I am to learn it. Ps 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
5. I am to take heed to it. Ps 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
6. I am not to wonder from it. Ps 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
7. I am to hide it in my heart. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
8. I am supposed to declare it. Ps 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
9. I am to rejoice in it. Ps 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
10. I am to meditate on the word of God. Ps 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
11. I am to delight in it. Ps 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
12. I am to long for it. Ps 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
13. I am to seek counsel from the word of God. Ps 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
14. I am to learn the word of God. Ps 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
15. I am to understand it. Ps 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
16. I am to choose the word of God. Ps 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
17. I am to stand with the word of God. Ps 119:31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
18. I am to run the way of the word of God. Ps 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
19. I am to observe with my whole heart the word of God. Ps 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
20. I am to go in the path of the word of God. Ps 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
21. I am to incline my heart toward the word of God. Ps 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
22. I am to trust in the word of God. Ps 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
23. I am to hope in the word of God. Ps 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
24. I am to speak the word of God. Ps 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
25. I am to lift up my hands to the word of God. Ps 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
26. I am to remember the word of God. Ps 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
27. I am to be quickened by the word of God. Ps 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
28. I am not to decline from the word of God. Ps 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
29. I am to sing the word of God. Ps 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
30. I am to think on the word of God. Ps 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
31. I am not to forget the word of God. Ps 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
32. I am to believe all the word of God. Ps 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
33. I am not to be ashamed of the word of God. Ps 119:80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

This is just a glimpse of the "nuggets of truth" found in this chapter of God's word. There are many, many more..... Take some time today to read through this chapter; but spend the rest of your life taking His word into your heart and making applications in your day by day walk with the Lord. Remember, people can't see your heart, but they do see your walk!!!