Six Ways You Can Please God

Prov. 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Every man has certain ways or characteristics about him, and those "ways" either please or displease the Lord. The promise of the text above makes it worthwhile to see that our ways please Him, because if we do, our enemies will be at peace with us. We should be occupied to please God with our lives. We are to see that our ways and characteristics are those that please Him.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Every deed and every act of the Saviour's life was to please God the Father. Could any of us honestly say this about our own lives??? It is my desire to challenge you to live in such a way that we will "please Him!!!" Here are six things from the Word of God that exhorts us to "please God."

1. Preach the Gospel - whenever and however you and I engage ourselves in preaching the Gospel, we are pleasing God. 1 Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
2. Have faith in God - Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Though the negative is stated, the opposite is implied - with faith we can please God. Faith honors God and God honors faith!!!
3. Preach the cross - We know it pleases God for us to preach the Gospel, but we may also please God by preaching the sufferings of the cross!!! It pleases God for us to report the agony, suffering, and shame that Jesus Christ endured on the cross to die for our sins. Isa. 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
4. Live in the Spirit - Rom. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. We know that this negative statement is true, thus the positive side is also true. The flesh cannot please God, but a Christian who is yielded to the Holy Spirit in his life can certainly please God.
5. Believe on the name of Jesus Christ - 1 John 3:22-23 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. We are to keep on confessing Jesus publicly, having the name of Jesus constantly upon our lips. We are to tell the story of Jesus in every possible way.
6. Love one another - 1 John 3:22-23 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. It pleases God for His brethren to live together in peace and unity, controlled by the tie of love.

May it be our holy resolve to live so as to please God. Put aside from your life today anything or any attitude which clearly displeases God. Be able to say with Jesus, "I do always those things that please him."

Adapted from a sermon by Dr. Harold Sightler

Seven Fools Found in the Bible

1. The FOOL who says there is no God - Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2. The FOOL who believes not the preacher, the man of God - Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
3. The FOOL who mocks at sin - Prov. 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
4. The FOOL who builds his truth upon the wrong kind of foundation (sand) - Matt. 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
5. The FOOL who does not properly redeem the time during his daily walk through life - Eph. 5:15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
6. The FOOL who lays up temporal treasure for his own pleasure - Luke 12:19-21 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
7. The FOOL who does not run to the Lord when he is in trouble - 2 Sam. 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Friend, what about you??? Upon reading the above, do you find yourself as a FOOL??? If so, why not be honest with yourself and with God, and admit your unbelief in the past, placing your faith and complete trust in His Son Jesus Christ to make you wise unto SALVATION!!!!!

Live The Way You Pray

I knelt to pray when day was done

And prayed, "O God, bless everyone;

Lift from sorrowing hearts the pain,

And let the sick be well again."

And then I woke another day

And carelessly went on my way,

The whole day long I did not try

To wipe a tear from any eye.

I did not try to lift the load

From any brother on the road.

I did not even go to see

The sick man just next door to me.

And yet again, when day was done,

I prayed, "O God, bless everyone."

But as I prayed, into my ear

There came a voice which whispered clear,

"Pause, hypocrite, before you pray;

Whom have you tried to bless today?

Life's sweetest blessings always go

By hands which serve Me here below."

And then I hid my face and cried;

"Forgive me, God, for I have lied;

But let me live another day,

And I will live the way I pray."

By Whitney Montgomery

Success or Failure in the Christian Life???

Here are a few steps to evaluate one's success or failure in the Christian life; are you practicing these things, or are they neglected in your daily walk for the Lord???

1. Know that you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour - John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 1 John 5:12-13 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
2. Be a witness for Jesus Christ - Matt. 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
3. Maintain devotions from His Word and open prayer to God the Father - Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 1 Thes. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
4. Be a worker, not a shirker, showing your love for others - 1 John 3:14-18 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
5. Be unselfish and give to others - 2 Cor. 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
6. Keep on keeping on - Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 1 Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Php. 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The Church of the Dead Sea

(Here is another interesting article by Dave Daubenmire posted on the 7/25/07 News With Views mailing alert regarding an observation about the "christians" of today here in the United States. Click the link above in the title of this post to get the full article or past articles written by Mr. Daubenmire. After reading the article, ask yourself this question; "Are you a member in The Church of the Dead Sea, or are you dispensing the living water?")

I was sitting in the balcony at church the other night. It really gives you a different view of the congregation. As is usually the case, the Word that came forth out of the pulpit was rich and uncompromising. That is why I like to go, to feast on the Word. It gives new meaning to the word buffet.

But being above the sheep sitting in the pew gives one a different perspective. As I listened to the sermon I allowed my eyes to cascade across the crowd. As is usually the case, I tend to see things a little differently. Rather than seeing hearts stirred by the Word of God and the exhortation of the pastor to more fully live-out one’s faith, I had another image flash through my mind.

“They’re grazing,” I said to myself. “Look at all the folks in the pew. They are like sheep just grazing on the Word.” Three times a week they show up to gorge on the “meat” of the Word. I don’t blame them. The food is good, it feeds the Spirit, it sustains us in tough times. But in a sense it is nothing more than spiritual-welfare.

As I surveyed the crowd I was struck with the realization that most Christians, even in good Bible-teaching churches, are over-stuffed. You know the feeling, the laziness that always follows a good meal and the desire to sit in an easy-chair and snooze. That is what is happening in our churches. Christians are sitting in the pew, occasionally raising a hand in agreement with the Word, crying out, "Amen" to the pastor much the way a sheep “baaa’s,” and slowly chewing on the meat that is being served. When the service is over, they go home, lie on the couch, chew on the cud, and bide their time for their next opportunity to go to church and eat.

They don’t understand that the purpose of the meal was to give them nourishment for the battle. The battle for souls is raging and most church-goers are too content to merely feast, oblivious to their role in advancing the Kingdom.

But just as the world is fighting the ‘battle of the bulge” from over-eating at the buffet, so too, is the church weighted down by spiritual fat. Although we often like to blame our weight-gain on a “gland” problem, or “trouble with our knees,” the truth is we get overweight because we eat more calories than we burn off. Being overweight makes us sedentary, lazy, and stagnant. I call it the “Dead Sea Effect.”

Have you ever read much about The Dead Sea? It is fascinating study. Let me save you some time and give you a quick over-view of what I have learned.
1. The Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on earth.
2. It is 1083 feet deep.
3. It is the world’s 2nd saltiest body of water.
4. The salt content is 30% ….nearly 9 times saltier than the oceans.
5. In Hebrew the Dead Sea is called the Yam ha-Melakh, meaning "sea of salt," or Yam ha-Mavet, "sea of death."
6. The sea is called "dead" because its high salinity means no macroscopic aquatic organisms such as fish or water plants can live in it.
7. Because of its unusually high concentration of salt, anyone can easily float in the Dead Sea.
8. The Dead Sea area has become a major center for health research.

All of that is fascinating, but the real reason that the Dead Sea is dead, at least in my opinion, is the same reason most churches and Christians are dead.

The Dead Sea is dead because although there is plenty of water flowing in, there is nothing flowing out. The Dead Sea can not sustain life because there is no outlet and that creates a stagnant body of water.

That’s what I saw as I looked over the crowd that night, stagnant Christians, living a stagnant Christianity, caused not by a lack of intake, but by a lack of outflow.

Think I’m nuts? What would happen to you if you went to a huge buffet and gorged yourself on all the fixins, only to have an onslaught of constipation hit you in the next couple of days? I promise you, your body would begin to stagnate. Life flows.

As I sat in the balcony over-looking the “Dead Sea Church” another irony hit me. The Dead Sea is full of salt. Jesus said WE were salt. The Dead Sea is useless because of stagnant salt. Has the salt, sitting in the church, become stagnant and “good for nothing?”

I’m sure many of you are offended by now. That is what so many of us do when challenged in our faith. We get bitter instead of better. We can’t figure out why our churches aren’t full of new fish. We haven’t yet come to the realization that nothing lives in the Dead Sea. And what is the Dead Sea? It is a reservoir full of salt, where much flows in but nothing flows out. Without a steady outflow any fish who do make it into the sea will eventually stagnate and die. Is your Christianity living?

So what is your spiritual outflow? Most Christians are so self-absorbed and so focused on being “fed” that they have ignored the outflow, “the GO,” if you will, of this experience we called Christianity. Let’s face facts. Jesus told us to “Come unto me” (inflow) and then Go Ye (outflow). If we merely “eat” of the Word without the “exercise” of its application, we are sure to become fat, stagnant and eventually dead.

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

Oh, that more of us would spend our lives dispensing fountains of “living water” rather than floating in the Dead Sea.

Ask yourself this about the church you attend: If a fire were to consume the building that you call your “church,” would the impact of the fire be felt in your community? With the exception of those who come there to “eat,” would anybody in the community suffer because the building was no longer there?

Are you a member in The Church of the Dead Sea, or are you dispensing the living water?

Discover Your Destiny

(Here are a few excerpts from the book "Discover Your Destiny - Making Right Choices in a World Full of Wrong" by Cary Schmidt from Striving Together Publications - www.strivingtogether.com. I quickly skimmed the entire book early this morning and found it to be a good resource for teens and young adults to make right decisions in their life. It also made me look back upon my years and wish I had known some things that I do know now much earlier in my life!!!)

I hope to burn into your heart a passion to settle for nothing less than God's best! Playing life by God's rules - simply put, there is no other life. There are substitutes. There are second-handed copies. But you have only one destiny designed by God and only one life with which to discover it. You can't rewind. You can't start over. You'll never pass "go." One chance is all you get. Who ever heard of a game where you only get one turn? Welcome to real life. These are God's rules. You go around one time, then you stand before Him to give an account. You cannot see the future; you cannot cheat. You cannot be really sure of anything but Him. You and only you will give account for you. You cannot blame anyone or anything else for mistakes or failures. You will be given full and unrestricted access to God, but only by faith. You cannot see Him or audibly hear Him. You will be given His Word and His promises. You will be subject to His laws, yet given the free will to rebel against a select number of them. In the end you will face eternity. You will answer only to God, and you will live somewhere forever. There are no time-outs, and you never know for sure when the game will end. As you are learning the game, it has already started, and it could end at any moment. You'll know the game is over when you are flat on your face before Jesus Christ. Your turn will be first, you are the only player in your "race," and it's always your turn. On your mark; get set; go!!!

Your destiny began in eternity. 2 Tim. 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

The fact of the matter is you have a destiny - a divine mission from God that He intends for you to fulfill. Now let me help you understand a few things about it.

1. Your destiny is unique to you.
2. Your destiny is awesome.
3. You will only be happy as you fulfill your destiny.
4. Your destiny will give you a true sense of divine security.
5. Your destiny represents true success.
6. Your destiny can be missed.
7. Your destiny is now.
8. Your destiny arrives from God by faith on a "need to know basis."
9. Finally, your destiny is a deliberate choice.

Your destiny in God's will must be pursued and must be selected carefully among all the options that the Devil will try to distract you with. You will be required to enter into the process very prayerfully and wisely. It will take serious consideration, study, prayer, and counsel. It will take complete and unconditional surrender. Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jer. 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Why The Bible Does Not Teach Evolution

(A missionary pastor in Ireland, Bro. Bob Zemeski, recently posted this on a mailing list which I thought I would pass along to you on my blog. It is short, but very concise and gives a clear defense on why the Bible and Evolution do not mix. One is completely false!!! Friend, do you have faith in God and His written word to mankind, the Bible, or are you trusting in the so-called scientific theory of man?????)

Rom. 5:12-21 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Vs. 12 - If Adam was not a real person we are not sinners.
2. Vs. 14 - If Adam was not a real person neither is Moses a real person.
3. Vs. 13 - If there is no Moses there are no 10 Commandments to break or condemn us.
4. Vs. 14 - If there is no Moses or Adam, there is no revelation as to why we die.
5. If Adam was not a real the entire argument of Rom. 5:12-21 is irrelevant if the Genesis record of creation and fall of Adam did not happen as recorded in Gen. 1-3.
6. If Adam didn't fall into sin bringing condemnation to mankind it would mean there is no reality in the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
7. Destroying or distorting the creation record undermines and eventually destroys the gospel of salvation.
8. Giving of the Law by Moses magnifies the sinfulness of sin and the greatness of grace.
9. Sin has many faces, but it is basically the rejection of God as Creator and Saviour by rejecting His Word.

a. Sin originated in the heavens when Satan rejected God's Word (Isa. 14:13; Ezek. 28:15).
b. Sin entered the earth when Adam did the same (Gen. 3:1, 4, 17; Rom. 5:12).
c. Sin in practice is thus basically disbelief of God's Word (Rom. 10:15-17; 14:23 - "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin"; Jn 16:8-9) and disobeying God's Law (Rom. 3:20; 5:20; 1 Jn. 3:4).
d. God's judgement on sinners will be based on the words of Moses (Jn 5:43-47), the words of Christ (Jn. 12:44-50), and the words of God's Book (Rev. 20:12-15; 22:18-19).

Leaders Have True Character

(This post is a continuation of the previous one from yesterday regarding leadership. I have taken excerpts from some printed notes I have in my file system, but unfortunately, I do not know who the author of the material is or remember exactly where I found this study.)

"Good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when the forget-me-nots placed on your grave are withered and dead. Carve your name on the hearts of others, and not on marble." - Charles Spurgeon

Examples of men with character from God's Word;

1. Uriah the Hittite - 2 Sam. 11:9-11 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
2. Daniel - Dan. 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
3. The three Hebrew children - Dan. 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

What is true character???

1. True character is lasting. Leaders will always face the spotlight of criticism, therefore, without true character, the leader will not last long at his post.
2. True character is transparent. Character is one of those intangible qualities found in a man that tells us who he really is. Credentials tells us what a man has done but character tells us what a man is made up of.
3. True character will beget character in others. True leadership will beget leadership. True leadership will inspire others to want to follow.
4. True character says with confidence, "Follow me!" It sets one apart from the crowd and attracts others to follow along with the crowd after you.
5. True character is a conscience choice of one's will and the fruit of their personal relationship with God. Character seeks principle over personal gain. It places people over possessions and pleasure. It is guided by convictions rather than convenience. It is motivated by truth and not by hearsay or fears.
6. True character causes others to want to be like them. Respect and reputation are dependent on the foundation of character.
7. True character is based on going the extra mile rather than just far enough. Character will cling to the highest of values, morals, and principles.
8. True character will not contradict itself. A man of character will live the same testimony no matter what day of the week it is or whatever crowd is gathered around him.

Tests of True Character in a Leader

1. How do they act when no one is looking?
2. What do they do when no one is looking?
3. How do they treat people of little importance when important people are around?
4. Are they approachable?
5. Do they look into the eyes of those sharing problems or concerns with them?
6. Do they allow themselves to be accountable?
7. Does their presence inspire you to do good or bad?
8. Does their presence inspire you to criticize or praise?
9. Are they willing without complaint to put the needs of others before their own?
10. Do they think of consequences to others before making decisions?
11. Are they willing to admit failure or fault?
12. How do they respond to criticism?
13. Do they have the respect of those closest to them (for instance, their family)?
14. What is their attitude at the first sign of crisis?

How Not To Choose A Leader

One of the most important tasks facing a church is the right choice of leadership. The right choices can reap unbelievable results for the glory of God. The wrong choices can result in unthinkable disaster. Why is it important to choose the right leaders? Dr. Lee Robertson was famous for this statement; "Because everything rises and falls on leadership." Let's read the story of Samuel anointing David the King of Israel.

1 Sam. 16:1-13 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Every leader should try to develop the qualities listed below in themselves, but the presence of these qualities alone do not guarantee that one is qualified to be a leader;

1. Not by appearence only - First appearences are often wrong. Leaders should be encouraged to look like leaders, but just because someone looks like a leader does not mean that they can or should be a leader.
2. Not by availability only - David's brothers were conveniently available to be anointed King while David willingly served as a shepherd.
3. Not by willingness only - David's brothers were more than ready to take the job. A lot of people desire a title, but few want the responsibility that goes with it!!!
4. Not by experience only - Former leaders may not always be the best choice. There is probably a reason why they are not current leaders.
5. Not by imitation only - We often look for a leader who acts or looks like some other leader we have known in the past.
6. Not by association or accreditation only - We must be careful of choosing a leader simply because of where he went to school or by who he knows. Titles and credentials do not make a man a leader.
7. Not by popularity only - Just because someone is well known does not necessarily make them a good leader.
8. Not because of necessity only - Sometimes we elect leaders because we need someone to fill a need now!!! People who are elected because of needs often allow the position to go to their head.
9. Not by default only - Good leaders are seldom drafted by chance.
10. Not by who we can afford only - There are times when we must hire help. When that time comes, we must guard against allowing money to make our choice for us.
11. Not by turn only - The selection of leaders should not be based upon whose turn it is.
12. Not necessarily by majority opinion only - The world chooses its leaders by majority rule; but the majority vote is no guarantee that the right choice is being made.

The Will of God

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.

The Will of God will never take you

Where the Grace of God cannot keep you,

Where the Arms of God cannot support you,

Where the Riches of God cannot supply your need,

Where the Power of God cannot endow you.

The Will of God will never take you

Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,

Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you,

Where the Army of God cannot protect you,

Where the Hands of God cannot mold you.

The Will of God will never take you

Where the Love of God cannot enfold you,

Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you,

Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears,

Where the Authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The Will of God will never take you

Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears,

Where the Word of God cannot feed you,

Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you,

Where the Omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Everything happens for a purpose,

We may not see the wisdom of it all,

Now but trust and believe in the Lord,

That everything is for the best!!!

Rom. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Thank God I Do Not Have.....

(Here is a humorous example of a preacher's use of alliteration in his message that was submitted several years ago on a mailing list which I kept in my notes; that must have been an interesting message to hear!!!)

THANK GOD I DO NOT HAVE.....

1. A MYTH for a Bible, but the inspired, perfect, inerrant Word of God!!!
2. A MISER for a God, but a God who freely gives us all things to enjoy!!!
3. A MUMMY for a savior, but a living resurrected Christ, the Saviour!!!
4. A MODERNIST for a pastor, but a Spirit-filled preacher of the Gospel!!!
5. A MORGUE for a church, but a place of preaching, praying, and praising the Lord!!!
6. A MOUSE for a father, but a man of conviction and leadership!!!
7. A MOUTH for a mother, but a woman of a meek and gentle spirit!!!

Is Sound Doctrine Important???

2 Tim. 4:2-5 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

The Bible teaches that we are to.....

1. Test all teachings - 1 John 4:1,6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
2. Expose those teachings that are false - Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
3. Confront and rebuke the false teachers - Titus 1:9,13 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
4. And then separate from those who persist in false teachings - Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
5. Lest in the end, we are disqualified for service - 2 Tim. 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
6. Or worst yet, we are identified with the false teachings and the false teachers themselves - 2 John 10-11 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Friend, is your doctrine sound??? From where do you get the TRUTH of your sound doctrine???

Is your trust and faith in a MAN, or in GOD, the one and only true God who sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world, if only one repents of their sin, upon the conviction by the Holy Spirit and His Word, and believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ???

The Word of God Will Provide Conviction to Sinners

The Bible, which is the Word of God.....

1. 1 Thess. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
2. That .... is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4:12
3. That .... is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
4. That .... are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalm 12:6-7

Will bring to people the CONVICTION of sin. Conviction.... to persuade or satisfy the mind by evidence; to subdue the opposition of the mind to TRUTH!!!

1. Through the work of the Holy Spirit - John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:13a Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
2. Through the preaching of the Word of God - Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 1 Cor. 1:18, 21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 1 Tim. 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Walking Daily in the Word of God

1. STOP - Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Before you open God's Word, stop all other activities and remove distractions. Give the Lord your full attention. Be still, and consciously enter into the presence of the Saviour.
2. READ - 1 Tim. 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Read the Word of God thoughtfully and carefully. Plan to read the Scriptures with some sequence. Read a passage thoroughly. It is better to read a short passage well than to read a long portion with little comprehension.
3. MEDITATE - Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Think about what you just read. Meditate of God's Word. Notice key words and phrases, and seek to find God's emphasis.
4. WRITE - Hab. 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. As God by His Spirit speaks to you, take the time to write down the truths you are discovering in His Word. Perhaps you have found a promise to claim or a command to heed. Perhaps God has shown you a sin that needs to be confessed or a stumblingblock to avoid. In your own words, make a record of what God is saying. Expressing your thoughts in words will help you to remember what you have learned about God.
5. PRAY - Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; When you are abiding in the Lord and in His Word, you are ready to meet Him in prayer. Our Saviour not only longs to speak to us, but He also longs to hear us speak to Him. Pray specifically about the things He has revealed to you in His Word.
6. OBEY - Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. God's revelation to us demands a response. His Word is to be acted upon. The purpose of knowing the Scriptures is not to obtain knowledge, but to glorify God by living in obedience to His will. When the Lord speaks to you through His Word, obey His commands, and obey immediately.
7. SHARE - 2 Tim. 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. The Holy Spirit will continue to teach us His Word if we are willing to pass it along to others. Deliberately share with others the treasures you have found in the Scriptures. Be a living testimony of the power of the Word of God.

By Tim Tomlinson

Through the Eyes of a Bus Worker

My three sons left a little after 7:00 a.m. this morning to get to church to begin their bus route, bringing many children and some adults to our church services this morning. Courtney teaches Sunday School in the morning so she misses the morning route, but she helps on the bus after the morning services. Our church runs 5-6 buses each Sunday, bringing between 200-300 people to our services.

Why do churches have bus ministries??? It's very simple..... each of those bus riders have a soul, and each needs to be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Here is a poem dedicated to bus workers that was published in the June 29, 2007 issue of The Sword of the Lord.

THROUGH THE EYES OF A BUS WORKER

Some see a fight, a push and a shove,

I see a desparate cry for love.

Some see a brat, he acts so bad,

I see a boy who's never met his dad.

Some see the messes and the trouble they give,

I see the poverty in the place where they live.

Some see a teenager who won't dress right,

I see a girl who has to protect herself at night.

Some see a smart mouth, disrespectful and loud,

I see a kid made fun of by a crowd.

Some see a woman who comes just to use,

I see a lady by a drunken husband abused.

Some see a drug addict withered and worn,

I see a soul the Lord wants reborn.

Some see the dirt, the filth and the rot,

I see a kid who without Jesus doesn't have a shot.

Some see a crook whom you don't trust much,

I see a man who needs the Lord's touch.

Some see a bunch of heathen who holler and yell,

I see kids with parents in jail.

Some see a teenager who gives a lot of flack,

I see a boy whose whole family is on crack.

Broken homes, broken lives, those without hope,

They need compassion and God's grace to cope.

For every little girl who lies awake hungry at night,

Lord, help me to keep in the fight.

For every scared boy who sees his mommy get hit,

Lord, help me to be faithful and never to quit.

For every mommy who needs a new start,

Lord, help me to show her how to ask You into her heart.

For every man on whom sin has its hold,

Lord, help me to make sure the "old story" is told.

The Lord to me His mercy has shown,

Lord, help me to reach out so others may make Heaven their home.

May others judge gently when these folks they see -

If not for God's grace, that's where all of us would be.

By Crystal Buchanan

Shining Light Baptist Church

Morganton, NC

Discussion With An Internet Friend

Today I thought I would share one of the blessings a person receives when they enter into the Blog World; they get a chance to meet and become friends with others in the world of the Internet. Comments to posts on your blog page can bring all types of people, some who are like-minded, some searching for the truth, and of course, some which are hateful and agressively attacking the thoughts conveyed in that one particular post. I get amused at those who scold you for filling their heads with ideas from God - especially since they are the ones who took the time to come to my blog and read the post. A blog post isn't the same as sending an email to someone's mailbox; they must intentionally come to your blog site and actually take the time to read the content of the posted articles. Of course, for you fellow bloggers, you understand the need to moderate the contents of the comments made to your posts, since some contain filthy and hateful speech - usually all they can communicate since they logically can't discuss the idea generated in the post from their perspective. When one stands against the truth of God's word, there is very little one can stand on to combat that truth!!!

Back to my original statement though, from time to time your blog will allow you to meet some people who eventually become one of your Internet friends. These friends come from all parts of the world, from all classes of people, and from all types of various backgrounds. Christian friends can come from different denominations and different stages of their walk with Christ. Whatever the case may be, it is a blessing to meet others in this manner whom you would probably unlikely meet in your routine day to day activities or travels.

The following is an example of the communication that can take place in the world of a blogger; here is an email message I received from a friend who lives in another area of the US.

Rank the following in importance of important to grow in your walk; reading the bible, prayer, going to church, titheing, worship. I want to see if I am thinking right and I need as many people to rank this because I want to make a couple of points and see where I and you stand.

Here is my response that I sent him earlier this morning to answer his request;

First off, they are all important in your walk with God.... the first step of course is salvation, along with the assurance of your salvation.... then you left off one event.... it is only a one-time step, but believer's baptism is the first step of obedience. It is hard for the Lord to use you if you don't follow His first command to be baptized. Worship is an overall attitude and should be exhibited in all phases of your Christian walk.... it is included in Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and giving, among other steps including serving others. Well, I'm done with my introduction, although you probably didn't have that in mind.... simply rank the items on your list. Here I go with my ranking...

1. Bible reading - we must allow God to speak to us to show us what to do... therefore we must read His inspired, inerrant Word. Folks can get in trouble when they get caught up in reading counterfeit version's of so-called God's word, such as the Book of Mormon, NWT, etc.
2. Prayer - we must speak to God for wisdom, help, adoration and worship, specific requests.
3. Church attendance - we are accountable to other like-minded believer's as we grow in the knowledge of His word, edify other brethren, and serve hand in hand with others. Jesus in the cornerstone of the church and the overall authority of the church, and the church is the Bride of Christ - how can we ignore the importance of the church by saying we don't need to go to church???
4. Giving - our giving should be through the church primarily, although it is OK to give to others also after the His church is taken care of.... we are also to give of ourselves through the local church primarily as we reach out to a lost and dying world, but of course, we give to others of our time, love, compassion, etc. on an individual basis as we serve the Lord in the world on a daily basis.

Finally, you left off the significance of obedience.... if we aren't obedient to do what we have learned, then there is no sense in the Lord showing us other things to help us grow. We grow one step at a time, and we don't skip steps simply because we want to hold on to some things in our life.

Hope this helps....

I hope things are well with you and you have found another job....

What about others who have blogs??? Have you found this to be true??? I am truly thankful for all those that I have met through my blog!!!

How Do You Grow In The Lord???

1. You grow in what you do - this includes starting some things (i.e. daily Bible reading, prayer, etc.) and stopping some things (i.e. forsaking church, talking about others, etc).
2. You grow in how you do it - a proper Christian attitude utilizing the fruits of the Holy Spirit which you have given control of your life. Eccl. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Matt. 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
3. You grow in why you do it - 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. a) It is good to do it because you are excited about it. b) It is good to do it because you enjoy it. c) It is good to do it because it is your duty to do it. d) It is good to do because you love others. e) It is best to do it because you love the Lord and want to glorify the Lord.

The Christian's Checklist - Part II

(I found this list from Pastor Steve Sturgeon of Dillon, Montana over five years ago and have kept it for review from time to time in my life; use this list to determine if your actions or walk is what it should be as a Christian. This is the second part of the list; please see the previous post on July 3 to see the first part of the list.)

1. Am I searching for an excuse to justify what I want to do? - Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
2. Do I have to hide it from anyone? - 2 Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3. Did I handle the word of God deceitfully? - 2 Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
4. Will this in anyway defile God's body? - 1 Cor. 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
5. Can I sincerely thank God for it? - 1 Thess. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
6. Can I do this in Jesus' name? - Col. 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.
7. Can I go all the way with it? - Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Eccl. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
8. Have I prayed about it? - Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Php. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
9. Will it increase or hinder my prayer life? - 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
10. Am I breaking one commandment in order to keep another? - Jer. 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
11. What does my Pastor think of it? - Heb. 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Heb. 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
12. What does my church brethren think of it? - Prov. 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Prov. 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
13. Would I like to be doing this when Jesus Christ returns? - 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
14. How will it appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ? - Rom. 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 1 Cor. 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The Christian's Checklist - Part I

(I found this list from Pastor Steve Sturgeon of Dillon, Montana over five years ago and have kept it for review from time to time in my life; use this list to determine if your actions or walk is what it should be as a Christian. This is Part 1, and I'll try to post Part 2 sometime tomorrow.)

1. Is it right? - 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
2. Will this bring me near some temptation? - Rom. 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
3. Does this give place to the devil? - Eph. 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
4. Is there anything in Scripture contrary to it? - Isa. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
5. Am I trusting God or depending in my own strength? - Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
6. Is it doubtful? - Rom. 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
7. Will it cause someone to stumble? - Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
8. Does it appear evil to anyone? - 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
9. Would the Lord Jesus Christ do this? - 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
10. Will it please God? - John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
11. Am I trying to impress others with my spirituality? - Acts 5:1-11 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12. Do I hope somebody notices me? - Gal. 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
13. Does it edify? - 1 Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
14. Am I being selfish? - Php. 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
15. Am I denying the flesh? - Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
16. Am I putting Christ first? - Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
17. Is it expedient? - 1 Cor. 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
18. Will it bring glory to God? - 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
19. Am I deceiving myself or being deceived? - 1 Cor. 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
20. Do I know better? - 1 Cor. 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

Why Every Christian Ought To Win Souls!!!

1. Because Satan seeks to destroy men - 2 Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Rev. 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. Satan is called "Abaddon" and "Apollyon," which means destruction and destroyer respectively. Satan's motive is to get even with God. Satan tried to overthrow God but failed in his attempt. God cast him out of Heaven and because man is made in the image of God, Satan wants to get revenge against God by destroying men.
2. Because Hell is real - The Bible says that "the wages of sin is death" and that "God will judge men for their sin." The end result for every sinner who does not repent of his sin will be the Lake of Fire. 2 Cor. 5:11a Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; Oh dear friend, what about our loved ones??? What about our next door neighbors??? Have you tried to tell them that Hell is real and is a terrible place of punishment???
3. Because God saved us - The Lord Jesus Christ bought us with His own blood and therefore we, out of debt, should do all we can to show others what Christ can do for them. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. The Lord has commanded us; Matt. 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
4. Because the time is short - If there was ever a time that the "last days" were evident, it is now!!! Literally dozens of prophecies have been fulfilled within the last sixty years to show us that the end time is near.
5. Because we need to be in fellowship with God - 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: The way for any Christian to be in real fellowship and happiness with God is to witness to the lost around him day by day. There are many Christians who are miserable and out of fellowship with God because they make all kinds of excuses for not witnessing. God saved us not only from Hell, but that we might have peace and happiness in our lives in telling others about Christ.
6. Because Jesus Christ was our example - The Lord Jesus Christ had compassion and wept over Jerusalem. Matt. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! We as Christians will never win people to Christ until we have compassion for the "multitudes" of lost sinners around us.

Disturb Me Lord!!!

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrive safely

Because we sail too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst for the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And our efforts to build a new earth.

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show Your mastery;

Where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.