Things To Be Aware

Matt. 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Three Greek words are translated "beware" in our English Bible, all of which stress watchfulness and potential danger. In a world under the control of Satan, there are many of his devices which can deceive and undermine the faith and life of the unwary Christian.

The verse listed above cautions against false prophets who appear to be true prophets (or teachers, or pastors), but whose apparently spiritual teachings are subversive of Biblical truth. John warns that "many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1), and Jesus said they "shall deceive many" (Matt. 24:11). Jesus also warned that His followers should "beware of ..... the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matt. 16:12). These sects have their respective modern counterparts in the hypocrisy of legalists and the skepticism of liberals, both of which are destructive of true Biblical faith and life.

Very relevent to today's humanistic intellectualism is this warning:

Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

This is the Bible's only reference to philosophy, here equated evidently with "vain deceit."

Finally, the apostle Peter says: 2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. In context, Peter is referring to those Christian brethren who have distorted the Scriptures in order to seek an accommodation with the naturalistic worldview of establishment intellectuals. (2 Peter 3:3-6,17 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.) Thus, Peter, John, and Jesus Christ Himself would urge constant wariness on our part.

A devotional thought by Henry Morris

Results of Religious Compromise

II Chron. 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah who faithfully served the Lord, but he made the tragic mistake of forming an alliance with ungodly king Ahab of Israel in fighting against their common enemy Syria. After all, he reasoned, they were "brothers," both descended from Abraham, so they could join together in battling the Syrians.

As a result, although God continued to bless Jehoshaphat during his lifetime, this compromise eventually resulted in great tragedy in his family when his son and successor, Jehoram, married Ahab's wicked daughter Athaliah and then slew all his own brothers, and soon he himself died of a loathsome disease (II Chron. 21:4,6,19 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.)

The road of compromise eventually ends in a precipice, especially in matters regarding the integrity of God's Word and His saving gospel. The timeless principle for Christians today is given in II Cor. 6:14-15 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

This warning and command is at least as greatly needed today as it was in Paul's day. Spiritual, moral, and religious compromise seems to be endemic in the Christian realm today, in both doctrine and practice, and God would warn us that tragedy is imminent in the generation of our children if not before.

II Cor. 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The Ten Most Wanted Men

1. The man who puts God's business above any other business.
2. The man who brings his children to church rather than sending them.
3. The man who is willing to be the right example to every one he meets.
4. The man who thinks more of his Sunday school class than his Sunday sleep.
5. The man who measures his giving by what he has left as well as by the amount he gives.
6. The man who goes to church for Christ's sake rather than for himself or for someone else.
7. The man who has a willing mind and heart.
8. The man who has a passion to help rather than a passion to be helped.
9. The man who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others.
10. The man who is more concerned about winning others for Christ than he is about winning worldly honor.

What Is A Christian?

Definitions are important. They help us to communicate, and to speak intelligibly. Good teachers know the importance of definitions. Clear-thinking depends on proper definitions. People need to say what they mean, and mean what they say.

One of the characteristics of our times, however, is sloppy language and, consequently, sloppy thinking. Our society—which is quickly crumbling to dust—has a bent for changing definitions, or using familiar words but giving them new meanings.

Take, for example, the word “marriage.” When you go to a wedding, two people are married. What are their genders? Male and female.

However, “marriage” is now defined in a number of new and novel ways, including “a union of same-sex couples.” If you object that such a union is not a “marriage,” you are immediately labeled as a homophobe, bigot and narrow-minded zealot.

Unbelievably, a court in Europe is debating whether or not a chimpanzee can be considered a “person.” The situation involves a real person who wants to adopt a chimp. Maybe the relationship will morph into a “marriage.”

This fluidity of definitions has also affected the word “Christian.” What is a “Christian”? The definitions given are varied.

Senator Obama was recently interviewed by Chicago Sun-Times religion editor Cathleen Falsani. The Senator said: “I am rooted in the Christian tradition… I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.”

Any intellectually-honest discussion of a “tradition” must be based on original-source documents. If we want to know about “American tradition” we can’t base our discussion on late 20th-century documents. Former President Bill Clinton is certainly not a reliable guide to “American tradition.”

The “Christian tradition” can be found primarily in original-source documents. There are thousands of ancient manuscripts of the New Testament, some complete and some fragmentary, some of the papyrus fragments going back to AD 66.

In addition to original-source documents we can add the writings of the Church Fathers, and leading spokesman for the Christian faith. Any understanding of “Christian tradition” therefore is based on some two thousand years of original-source documents plus documents showing interpretation and application of these original-source documents. Christian tradition does not support the contention that a person who believes “there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power” is in any way “rooted in “the Christian tradition.”

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6) which is at the very root of Christian tradition. The Holy Spirit revealed the same thing through Peter who said, “Neither is there salvation an any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). More data for helping us know what constitutes “Christian tradition.”

John is not silent on the issue either: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12).

James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, has made some comments regarding Senator Obama that has been causing quite a stir on our world of sloppy definitions. Methodist pastor Kibrbyjon Caldwell, of Houston—the man who performed the benediction at both of President Bush’s inaugurations-- has launched the website JamesDobsonDoesntSpeakForMe.com.

Caldwell has stated: “One of the beauties of the Christian faith is that we view the presence and power of God differently based on our experience, based on our revelation, based on our reason.”

More verbal fluidity. If anything, “Christian tradition”—two thousand years of teaching and writing based on Scripture and those who interpret and apply Scripture—reveals that Christians don’t primarily base their beliefs on “our experience…our revelation…our reason.”

Experience can be deceptive, and “our revelation” can be nothing more than eating too much before going to bed. Moreover, Christians everywhere—irrespective of their differences on peripheral points-- have a supreme distrust for human reason. It’s human reason that has produced everything from the theory of evolution to the ravings of the “Jesus Seminar.”

And it’s human reason that is directing much of the verbiage that we hear today about the Bible and the Christian faith.

Written by Larry Spargimino in the June 30 issue of The Eagle E-Letter

TODAY

Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Today does not have to be the same day every day.

Today is tomorrow when it has already become yesterday.

Today was yesterday's tomorrow.

Today holds yesterday's dream that you always seem to put off until tomorrow.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Today can be best the day of your life, unless you wait for it to become tomorrow.

There are too many tomorrows to wait for today to become the best day of your life.

2 Cor. 6:2b ... behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

What will you do with today?

Those So-Called "Respectable" Sins

1. Talebearing - Prov. 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
2. Mental adultery - Matt. 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
3. Faultfinding - Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Form of godliness - 2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
5. Unforgiving spirit - Matt. 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
6. Neglecting salvation - Heb. 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
7. Desecrating the Lord's Day - Ex. 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

By William Goulooze

WE ARE ONLY MEN

Acts 14:14-15 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Paul and Barnabas were preaching and ministering in Lystra when the Lord healed a man who had been crippled all of his life. Seeing what had been done, the people cried out, “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men” (Acts 14:11). They called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul they called Mercurius. Our text gives us the response of God’s servants to such improper behavior. They cried out saying, “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you.” Why is it that men have a tendency to want to deify mortal men? Thank God for faithful servants of the Lord, but they are not to be worshipped. Of course, the citizens of Lystra were an idolatrous and superstitious people. Our Scripture records that Paul had preached to them that they “should turn from these vanities unto the living God.” Paul had been trying to teach them to turn from their idols, but they wanted to call him a god when they saw the miracle performed in the crippled man. We should respect and honor godly, spiritual leaders, but we need to always remember that they are only men. Many Christians have stumbled seriously in their spiritual walk because they saw some pastor or leader make a mistake. We want our leaders to be sincere and godly, but perfect they will not be, because they are only men. We pray for them to give us good advice and counsel, but their advice is not infallible because they are only men. There is another important thing to notice in the great account of this healing and the response to it. Paul and Barnabas quickly and decisively refused to allow the people to think of them more highly than they should. There is something very wrong with men who will receive the worship of those who follow them. Again, it is proper for people to respect and honor their spiritual leaders, and to go to them for advice, but to allow them to give men the praise that is due to God is wrong. As leaders, our goal is not for people to rely completely on us, but to learn to rely upon the Lord.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

The Christian's Lifestyle: Our Wisdom

Eph. 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

The "wherefore" in the verse above is preceded by the command "walk as children of light" as found in Eph. 5:8 (For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:). This title, "children of light," is used only three other times in the New Testament;

1. Once by the Lord Jesus Christ to contrast worldly wisdom with the ineffectual use of godly wisdom in the least things - Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
2. Once again by the Lord Jesus Christ to direct us to believe in the light - John 12:35-36 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
3. And finally by Paul to encourage us to watch and be sober - 1 Thes. 5:5-6 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

A light-like life, which is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, is expressed in the character of;

1. Goodness - Rom. 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
2. Righteousness - Rom. 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
3. And Truth - Eph. 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

In fact, the transformation of our character by our conscious choice as shown in Rom. 12:1 (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.) enables us to live out the following verse in Rom. 12:2 (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.). An equation is clearly drawn between godly behaviour and godly wisdom.

Therefore, it follows that children of light "should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," taking the responsibility to reprove them and recognizing the "shame even to speak of those things."

Eph. 5:11-12 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

The light of God's Word displays that which is reproved, enabling us to "walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." (Eph. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.) That wisdom is not the foolish wisdom of this world (I Cor. 1:20), but the wisdom of God (I Cor. 2:7) "that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God," understanding what the will of the Lord is.

1 Cor. 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1 Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1 Cor. 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The Disarming Of The Church

(Here is an article written 10 years ago, so you can imagine even more the emphasis is upon spiritual discernment in today's church; this was posted on another email list, so I am not sure of the source or anything about the author.)

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed;as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe." – Noah Webster of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1787.

"[W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually." — George Mason of Virginia, 1788.

As history has shown, it is a common tactic for the oppressing force to gain control of a nation by seizing the means by which individuals might defend themselves. Once the citizenry are disarmed, it is a relatively easy matter to exert complete tyrannical control. It seems to me that the same principal holds true in the spiritual realm.

The New Testament is replete with warnings of false teachers and teachings, of lying signs and wonders, and of corrupt men who would seek to draw followers after themselves. God has not left His people defenseless. He has indwelt us with His Spirit of Truth, provided us with the example of Christ, His teachings, the teachings of the apostles, and all the other writings found in the Bible. There is a gift of the discerning of spirits given to some, but more importantly, there the ability to test all things and to be discerning, which is the responsibility of all believers. If the believer is to be armed against the deceptions of the enemy, and to remain free from his oppressive regime, then he must exercise discernment with continual vigilance. If this defensive weapon is seized and taken from you, then you are easy prey for any who would desire to take you captive.

Because of these things, it is very disturbing to me to observe a trend in the Body of Christ today. This trend is to scorn and belittle those who would exercise their God-given self-defense weapon of discernment. Those who would obey scripture and "test all things"are mocked and ridiculed and labeled 'Pharisees.' It seems that the Church has fallen prey to the pluralistic, non-judgmental mindset of our present age. The one unpardonable sin is to question someone's belief, or dare to say that it might be wrong. These new leaders demand you climb on the bandwagon, and if you cannot agree, then you must remain silent at all costs. They call for us to experience now, and evaluate later. Adam and Evehad no experiential knowledge of good and evil. The Serpent called their attention to the attractiveness and desirability of the fruit, and enticed them to experience for themselves. In their later evaluation, they knew that they had been wrong to ignore what God had said on the matter, but by then the damage had been done.

Those who would remove the defensive weapon of discernment are binding the hands of the Church. They are preparing God's people for the slaughter. Why are they doing this? Why would they want to expose millions to the myriad deceptions of the enemy with no protection? Why do they take away what the Father has given? The Church is becoming a slaughterhouse slick with the spilled blood of saints who have been seduced by false teachers. The faithful plod forward to the killing floor, their trusting eyes fixed on their leaders. Error and deception runs rampant. Charlatans rule the bestseller list. Pseudo-knowledge is dispersed around the world, speeding through electrical synapses. Make no mistake. It is a battle, and much is at stake.

Let us examine the logic (or lack of it) behind what some of these leaders are saying:

1. "You have to experience it yourself before you judge it." This is pure nonsense. You don't have to experience suicide to know that it is bad for you. Christians are never commanded to authenticate a questionable spiritual experience by submitting themselves to it.
2. "If you don't jump in the River, then you may miss out on the move of God." If you don't exercise your duty to test everything and hold on to what is good, then you may be deceived. God is not in a hurry. If you are walking with Him, seeking to please Him, then He will guide you into all He desires for you. Just because someone proclaims something is a move of God, doesn't make it so. Beware of the salesman who pushes you to make a decision on the spot. He may have something to hide.
3. "God offends the mind to reveal the heart." I don't know what this is, but it is not Scripture. It is true that God's ways may be offensive to human wisdom. Often though, this quote is used to say that if you are offended by something going on in the Church, then your heart isn't right. The real issue is, are you offended because what is going on is unscriptural? If so, then stand fast.
4. "Don't oppose what is going on, in case it turns out to be a move of God." This is the argument used by Gamaliel in Acts chapter 5. Although this argument worked in favor of the apostles, it must be pointed out that Gamaliel was a Pharisee making a pragmatic argument. His was not a directive from the Lord on how believers should conduct their discernment. If something is not from God, ultimately, it is true that it will not succeed. In the time that it takes for a false movement to runs its course however, many lives will be damaged, and many souls deceived and damned. We have seen this damage occur from various cults who have been revealed in due time. Things which occur within Christianity should receive no less scrutiny. Consider the works of Satan. We know that he will not succeed, but we certainly do not sit back and allow him to do his work unhindered. When souls are at stake, we cannot afford to sit back and do nothing.
5. "Don't you want more of God in your life?" This is a sneaky one. Of course, any sincere Christian realizes that they need to grow closer to God, and they desire to do so. This should not lead us to embrace everything that comes down the pike however. Part of growing closer to God includes obeying His commands to test and be discerning. The desperation of some Christians reminds me of King Saul turning to the witch of Endor. He wanted an answer at any price. The price he ended up paying was his own destruction.

Look for yourself. See how many times the New Testament references false teachers, false teaching. Using your concordance, look up the commands to discern and test, to not be deceived. Shake off the chains of those who would seek to bind you. Exercise your "Right to bear arms" as a believer.

"The healthy soul, like the healthy blood system, has its proper proportion of white and red blood cells. The red corpuscles are like faith: they carry the life giving oxygen to every part of the body. The white cells are like discernment: they pounce upon dead and toxic matter and carry it out to the drain. In the healthy heart there must be provision for keeping dead and poisonous matter out of the life stream." - A.W. Tozer.

This article was written by John Green in 1998

Playing The Fool

1 Sam. 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Playing the Fool (as seen in the New Testament)

1. A man plays the fool when he builds his life on the wrong foundations - Matt. 7:26-27 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.
2. A man plays the fool when he lives only for things - Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 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.
3. A man plays the fool when he rejects the preaching of the cross - 1 Cor. 1:18-25 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 it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 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. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
4. A man plays the fool when he is slow to believe the Word of God - Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
5. A man plays the fool when he has no spiritual discernment - 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
6. A man plays the fool when he tries to keep himself saved by his own works - Gal. 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
7. A man plays the fool when he does not live circumspectly in this world - Eph. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
8. A man plays the fool when his supreme goal of life is to be rich - 1 Tim. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
9. A man plays the fool when he promotes strife - 2 Tim. 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
10. A man plays the fool when he gives himself to a worldly lifestyle - Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Part 3 of an article by Dr. Shelton Smith

Playing The Fool

1 Sam. 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Playing the Fool (as seen in the Proverbs)

1. A man plays the fool when he despises godly instruction - Prov. 1:7,22 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
2. A man plays the fool when he listens to himself instead of listening to God - Prov. 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
3. A man plays the fool when he doesn't control his anger - Prov. 12:16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
4. A man plays the fool when he runs with the wrong crowd - Prov. 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
5. A man plays the fool when he makes light of sin - Prov. 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
6. A man plays the fool when he disregards his parents - Prov. 15:5,20 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
7. A man plays the fool when he meddles in things not his own - Prov. 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
8. A man plays the fool when he spends resources wastefully - Prov. 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
9. A man plays the fool when he doesn't learn from his mistakes - Prov. 26:11-12 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
10. A man plays the fool when he is a blabbermouth - Prov. 29:11,20 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Part 2 of an article by Dr. Shelton Smith

Playing The Fool

1 Sam. 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Playing The Fool (as seen in the Psalms)

1. A man plays the fool when he does evil things - Ps. 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
2. A man plays the fool when he denies the existence of God - Ps. 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.
3. A man plays the fool when he builds his whole life around money - Ps. 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
4. A man plays the fool when he is enamored with the prosperity of the wicked - Ps. 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
5. A man plays the fool when he does not give respect to God in his life - Ps 74:18,22 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
6. A man plays the fool when he trifles with the things of God - Ps. 92:5-7 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:
7. A man plays the fool when he does not understand the consequence of sin - Ps. 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Part 1 of an article by Dr. Shelton Smith

Father's Family Name

You got it from your father
It was all he had to give
So, it's yours to use and cherish
For as long as you may live.

If you lost the watch he gave you

It can always be replaced,
But a black mark on your name
Can never be erased.

It was clean the day you took it
And a worthy name to bear
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonor there.

So make sure you guard it wisely
After all is said and done
You'll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your son.

Author Unknown

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

A Little Fellow’s Dad

I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street.
I may never be as wealthy as some other men I meet;
I may never have the glory some other men have had;
But I’ve got to be successful as a little fellow’s dad.

There are certain dreams I cherish that I like to see come true,
There are things I would accomplish ere my working time is through,
But the task my heart is set upon is to guide a little lad.
And make myself successful as the little fellow’s dad.

It’s that one job I dream of, it’s task I think of most,
If I’d fail that growing youngster; I’d nothing else to boast.
For though wealth and fame I’d gather all my future would be sad,
If I failed to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.

I may never get earth’s glory, I may never gather earth’s gold.
Men may count me as a failure, When my business life is told.
But if he who follows after is a Christian, I’ll be glad--
For I’ll know I’ve been successful as a little fellow’s dad.

-unknown

I Sought For A Man

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God has always been looking for men He could use; men He could place His hand of blessing upon as they serve Him with their lives.

1. Holy men -right with God, saved and separated - 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 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.

2. Helpful men - serving, cooperative men - 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. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

3. Honest men - faithful, trustworthy, tithing - 1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

4. Home loving men - 1 Tim. 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

5. Handy men - not afraid to work - 1 Tim. 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Prov. 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

6. Happy men - Neh. 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Php. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

7. Hopeful men - men of faith - Heb. 11:1-3 (and remaining chapter) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

I John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Here is the essential to walking with the Lord: we must “walk in the light.” Before conversion, we had no hope of a personal relationship with God, but the moment we were saved, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. Now we are His children and are, for the first time, able to walk with Him. This is one of the primary realities and benefits of salvation, that we might have fellowship with God. Nothing can change our eternal relationship with our heavenly Father, but our fellowship can definitely be affected. If we are going to walk with Him, we must “walk in the light.” This is God’s requirement. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” God is pure and holy. He is without sin. He is truth with no mixture of error. In order for us to walk in fellowship with God, we must “walk in the light.” We cannot walk in disobedience and enjoy fellowship with God. We cannot walk in the flesh and have fellowship with God. We cannot “walk in darkness” and enjoy the kind of fellowship with God that we otherwise would. God wants us to understand the importance of a holy walk if we hope to walk with Him. We all have heard people who were living in sin speak as though they were walking in step with our holy Creator. They act as if God is their best Friend, yet they give no evidence of obedience to His holy commands. They forsake the assembly of the saints and have more in common with the world than they do with the saints of God. They use language that describes a person who is living in close harmony with the Lord, but our text tells us that they are liars. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” How much clearer could this be? There is no fellowship between Holy God and disobedient man. To have closeness with our Savior, we must be willing to confess and forsake our sin and walk in the light of His truth, obeying the light of His commands.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

20 Reasons I Don't Take Potshots at Fundamentalists

Here is an interesting article posted earlier this week on a mailing list which I thought I would share with my blog readers. One member of the mailing list responsed to the post as follows: "Hey Fundamentalists, see there, those that aren't know what we are supposed to be."

20 Reasons I Don't Take Potshots at Fundamentalists
June 2, 2008

By: John Piper

Category: Commentary

1. They are humble and respectful and courteous and even funny (the ones I've met).
2. They believe in truth.
3. They believe that truth really matters.
4. They believe that the Bible is true, all of it.
5. They know that the Bible calls for some kind of separation from the world.
6. They have backbone and are not prone to compromise principle.
7. They put obedience to Jesus above the approval of man (even though they fall short, like others).
8. They believe in hell and are loving enough to warn people about it.
9. They believe in heaven and sing about how good it will be to go there.
10. Their "social action" is helping the person next door (like Jesus), which doesn't usually get written up in the newspaper.
11. They tend to raise law-abiding, chaste children, in spite of the fact that Barna says evangelical kids in general don't have any better track record than non-Christians.
12. They resist trendiness.
13. They don’t think too much is gained by sounding hip.
14. They may not be hip, but they don’t go so far as to drive buggies or insist on typewriters.
15. They still sing hymns.
16. They are not breathless about being accepted in the scholarly guild.
17. They give some contemporary plausibility to New Testament claim that the church is the “pillar and bulwark of the truth.”
18. They are good for the rest of evangelicals because of all this.
19. My dad was one.
20. Everybody to my left thinks I am one. And there are a lot of people to my left.

Upon reading this list, I wondered, "If that is a description of a fundamentalist, what Christian wouldn't desire to have that attached label???"

Unfortunately, with the passing of each generation, this group of fundamentalists grow smaller and smaller in number.

False Prophets and True

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

In the apostolic period, two main gifts of the Spirit were those of the apostle and prophet. In fact, the church itself was "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20). One functon of these was to recieve and transmit God's revelation to His people; first verbally, then eventually written in permanent form in the New Testament. Eph. 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The apostle Paul revealed also that such prophecies would cease once they were no longer needed. 1 Cor. 13:9-10 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Clearly in the context, this refers to the complete revelation of God. When the last book of the Bible was transmitted to the Church by the Holy Spirit through the last living Apostle, John, the Lord Jesus Christ warned us neither to "add unto" nor to "take away from the words of the book of this prophecy" (Rev. 22:18-19).

But many false prophets have indeed "gone out into the world" (I John 4:1), just as Jesus warned, and they have "deceived many." One of them, a self-asserted seventh century "prophet" from Arabia, received certain "revelations" from a "god" that were vastly different from those of the God of the Bible, and his followers now number over a billion.

There have been others, before and since, and the Lord Jesus Christ warned us always to "beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15). The basic criterion by which to test any alleged prophecy, ancient or modern, is whether or not it fully conforms to the written Word of God, the Bible. 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.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

2 Cor. 4:4-6 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. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Everlasting Contempt

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Some claim that the Old Testament knows nothing of a resurrection, but this promise of God clearly refutes such a notion. Not only will some be raised to everlasting life, but some to everlasting shame and contempt!!!

What a bitter end this will be for those who now look with contempt upon the Bible. The Hebrew word translated "contempt" is used only one other time in Scripture, in the very last verse of Isaiah, but is there translated "abhorring."

Isaiah 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

There is probably no doctrine of the Bible more hated by unbelievers than the doctrine of everlasting punishment. It was this teaching (not the imaginary evidence for evolution) that turned Charles Darwin away from God according to historians. Nevertheless, it was verified by Christ Himself.

Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

In the future, the Lord Jesus Christ will say to the "goats" on His left hand;

Matthew 25:41, 46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The Apostle Paul, the human instrument the Holy Spirit of God used to pen many books of the New Testament, also warned those who "obey not the gospel."

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Everlasting contempt, everlasting fire, everlasting punishment, everlasting destruction - these await all who reject God and His saving word through Jesus Christ. How much better after death and for all eternity to "awake to everlasting life!!!"

Let God Be True

Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Many Christians are so intimidated by the arrogant unbelief of the supposed intellectuals of the world that they either reject or compromise or ignore the teachings of Scripture. This is a grievous mistake, for all of God's "sayings" are "justified" and He will surely "overcome" all those who presume to "judge" Him and His Word.

For example, the only reason one believes in evolution is the fact that most intellectuals believe it. There is no real evidence, either in the Bible or in science, for evolution or any other form of unbelief, yet many professed believers in Christ seem to have "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). Therefore, they assume that God does not really mean what He says in His Word, thereby making faith in His Word "without effect."

God's truth in not determined by taking a vote, or by the opinions of skeptics, or by metaphysical speculation. It is determined by God Himself, and none other, "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth." (Psalm 33:4).

Therefore, as the opening verse commands: "Let God be true, but every man a liar." The very criterion of truth is the Word of God. It is good to explain God's Word to those who are open to its truth, but never to explain it away by some compromising accommodation to current scientism.

Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

The Lord Jesus Christ confessed unreservedly, "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17), and so should we!!!!!