Standing In The Gap

Synopsis of the Bible, the Word of God

2010-04-13T18:42:00.001-04:00

This Book contains the Word of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.

Its doctrines are holy. Its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions immutable.

Read it to be wise. Believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.

Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed.

Christ is the grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of judgment.

It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgments, and be remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Found on the fly-leaf of D. L. Moody’s Bible)

Statements Contrary to our Current Political Philosophy

2010-04-08T18:41:00.000-04:00

Hmmmmm........ the statements below make perfect sense to me, but I wonder what our "leaders" in Washington, D.C. would have to say about them......

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.

5. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

Are You Committed to Your Church???

2010-04-06T19:02:00.000-04:00

From God's Word, we know the following statements are TRUE!!!

Jesus Christ started the church.....
Jesus Christ is the head of the church.....
Jesus Christ gave Himself for the church.....
Jesus Christ shed His blood for the church.....
Jesus Christ loves the church.....
Jesus Christ nourishes the church.....
Jesus Christ cherishes the church.......

Therefore, the church is very important to Jesus Christ.

If it is that important to Him, then it ought to be important to us!!!!!

How committed are we to the local church?????

Are you an active and committed member of a local church, or do you find it easy to make excuses about not attending church and instead "worship" and "serve" God in your own personal way???

Now, you do not have to answer to me...... simply tell God about your own personal thinking and committment regarding the church which Jesus Christ Himself established during His days here on earth. Does your thinking line up with the clear instructions for believers outlined in the New Testament Scripture???

Whose Fool Are You???

2010-04-01T18:56:00.000-04:00

I Cor. 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

The Bible has much to say about the fool. When a man calls another man a fool, he may or may not be speaking the truth. However, when the Holy Scriptures refer to a man as a fool, we can be sure that the title he is issued is the truth about his identity!

The Scriptural warning in Matthew 5:22 applies to the constitution for the millennial reign of Christ. It is not a mandate for the Church Age. This truth can be easily proven by the fact that both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul called several people fools in the New Testament.

"Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" (Matthew 23:17)

"Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?" (Matthew 23:19)

"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die."
(I Corinthians 15:36)

There are several types of fools found in the Holy Scriptures.

I. The CORRUPT Fool

"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."
(Psalm 14:1)

Theology is how a man deals with the concept of God!

A. The Atheist is a Fool.
B. The Agnostic is a Fool.
C. The Evolutionist is a Fool.

II. The CARELESS Fool (Luke 12:16 - 21)

A. He Loved his Possessions. (v. 16 - 18)
B. He Lived for Pleasure. (v. 19)
C. He Lost his Prosperity! (v. 20 - 21)

"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?" (Luke 12:20)

III. The CONFUSED Fool (Matthew 23:17 - 19)

A. Hypocrites in their Actions

"All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."
(Matthew 23:3 - 4)

B. Hypocrites in their Appearance

"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."
(Matthew 23:5 - 7)

C. Hypocrites in their Attempts

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
(Matthew 23:13)

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."
(Matthew 23:15)

IV. The CHRISTIAN Fool "We are fools for Christ's sake..." (I Cor. 4:10)

A. Positive about Salvation

"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."
(I John 5:13)

B. Persuaded about Scripture

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
(II Timothy 3:16)

-The Scriptures are Inspired!
-The Scriptures are Inerrant!
-The Scriptures are Incorruptible!

C. Passionate about Souls

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
(II Corinthians 5:20)

Many of us were not ashamed to be fools for Satan when we were lost. May God help us not to be ashamed to be called fools for Christ's sake now that we are saved by His grace!

A Message by Evangelist Jeremiah Dixon

When We Don't Humble Ourselves, God Will Humble Us

2010-03-30T19:20:00.000-04:00

Deut. 8:2-3, 16 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

1. God does not take pleasure in embarrassing us but He is certainly willing to embarrass us.
2. God is jealous of His good name and will not allow us to disgrace His name. Ex. 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
3. God is no respector of persons. Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Rom. 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
4. God does not care what may be your title or position, whether President, Pastor, manager, layman, laborer, etc.
5. If we continually hide sin in our lives we can be sure that it will come out. God is not afraid to humiliate any one of us. Num. 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
6. God hates pride. Just as surely as Satan fell in his attempt to exalt himself so our pride will lead us to a fall. Prov. 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Are There Different Pews in Your Church???

2010-03-26T18:23:00.001-04:00

In most churches the pews look alike. But they are really very different.

THE CRITICAL PEW- This pew watches the pastor of the church with an eagle eye. The singing is too soft or too loud. The building is always too hot or too cold. The critical pew finds everything but the blessings of God.

THE IRREGULAR PEW- Sometimes this irregular pew is full; sometimes it is empty. The problem is that you never know what to expect from this pew.

THE CORDIAL PEW- This pew is always radiant like the sunshine. This pew greets other pews with genuine cordiality, extends a handshake to every visitor and listens with joy to the sermons.

THE PRAYERFUL PEW- This pew spends a moment or two with bowed head in silent prayer upon entering the church. This pew comes to worship and brings the spirit of worship with it into the church.

THE SLEEPY PEW- This is the pew usually occupied by those who watched the late show. There are many "nods" in this pew but there are seldom "nods" of approval.

THE BORED PEW- This pew is occupied by those who take no mental or spiritual preparations for the service. It seldom offers a prayer for the pastor or singers or that the message will be helpful. This pew is located very near the Critical pew, usually in the back of the church. Not much music comes from the bored pew and when the services ends, it complains that the spiritual meal was blah.

Which of these pews will you occupy when you come to worship in the Lord's house next Sunday?

NewsWithViews Excerpts Worth Reading

2010-03-19T21:36:00.000-04:00

Just catching up some of my email tonight, and I thought I would pass a thought or two (or three) your way from my reading of several articles from the NewsWithViews.com mailing list I received this week. Comments are welcome but I am sure the article authors would appreciate your feedback just as well.... and allow me to say I do not agree 100% with the entire views and language and theology of these authors, but most of the time, they do make me think!!!!!

"SOCIAL JUSTICE" IS NOT CHRISTIAN CHARITY by Paul Proctor
http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor204.htm

You will find the word “justice” in scripture, as you will the word “gospel” – but you won’t find the word “social” in front of either of them because “social justice,” like the “social gospel,” is the wily work of men, not the Will and Word of God. Jesus Christ did not suffer and die on a cross so we could repair, remodel and rehabilitate a wicked world for Him to rule over, but instead to redeem us from it for a “kingdom not of this world.”

If someone doesn’t speak up and point this out, the issue will be forever confusing, controversial and divisive and the Church will continue to be swayed off course by those with political ambitions.

Scriptures containing the words “justice,” “justly,” and “judgment” that progressives handily quote to try and validate “social justice” as a Christian concept and mandate for the Church are predominately from the Old Testament, which is ironic considering progressives by and large prefer to dismiss or discount much of the OT and its so called “legalism” because it inconveniently clashes with their no-absolutes and no-authority philosophies, theologies and lifestyles. Frankly, it is God’s justice and judgments throughout the Old Testament that confound and offend progressives the most about the Bible resulting in the sleazy greasy grace they preach and practice as “Christianity.”

DOUBLESPEAK: THE LANGUAGE OF DECEPTION PART 4 by Martha West
http://www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha189.htm

Christendom has its fair share of doublespeak within its ranks. Conservative Christian apologists and those involved in the counter cult and discernment ministries who dare to expose apostates are accused of being divisive. For example, if a conservative attempts to combat the spread of the social justice gospel that emphasizes good deeds without the power of the gospel, their liberal critics cry “Pharisee!” Implying that these critics are Pharisees is another way of saying that they are narrow-minded, mean-spirited and unloving -- and yes, even intolerant and bigoted.

Word Faith (false) teachers use “heresy hunter” to define the opposition. But in reality discernment ministries are “truth-seekers.”

Most mature Christians recognize heresy when it rears its ugly head. But when they speak out against prominent false teachers who are leading the Body of Christ astray, their bamboozled followers invariably play the Matthew 7:1 card:

“Judge not, lest you be judged.”

This is doublespeak for: Shut the heck up!

First of all, discernment demands that we make judgments. As my pastor, Stan Way, said in a recent sermon, faithful Christians live their lives in a new center of gravity — the biblical worldview. Serious Christians must stand up and speak the truth with conviction and courage. We must be willing to lose our life for Christ and the gospel. In other words, for truth! Further, we must be willing to be treated with contempt by the world. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

I don’t know about you, but I’m not ashamed and I will not be bullied into shutting up!

INTELLECTUAL BIGOTRY By Coach Dave Daubenmire
http://www.newswithviews.com/Daubenmire/dave187.htm

Bigotry—a stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

Am I the only one who is sick of it or are we just so conditioned to sit obediently in the pew that we have forgotten how to stand up and fight? How long are we going to allow ourselves to be treated as second-class citizens in the land for which our fathers fought and died?

My blood boils over the way Christians have permitted the elitists to have silenced us. I can think of no other people-group who has permitted their system of beliefs to be so totally disregarded as those of us who proudly espouse Faith in Jesus.

In America, the new caliphate are the scientists and the academicians. They are the one’s who determine what will and will not be permitted. Anyone who stands on the authority of the Word of God is automatically written off as “religious.” Holding firm to faith in Jesus is secular apostasy and requires censorship so that the public will not be influenced by such fables.

They are very subtle, these secular bigots. They know that they can not get away with attacking the Truth of Christianity, but they can get away with a “reclassification” of Christianity. In their particular form of bigotry it is not that Christianity is “wrong” but that it is “religious” and religious views are not to hold equal sway with “science”. Science is head-knowledge (facts) while Christianity is heart knowledge (faith).

If you even hint of bringing Christian beliefs into the discussion you automatically become the law breaker and deserving of rebuke. “Religious beliefs belong in church, not in public discussion.” The “tolerant” intellectual bigots are only protecting innocent minds from “religious indoctrination” while they preach their secular gospel free of opposition. Soon we will be able to demand a Christian-history month in our schools.

I'm a Poppa!!!

2010-03-17T17:21:00.000-04:00

We received a call from my oldest daughter early this past Saturday morning telling us it was now time!!!!! We have been waiting patiently for the past nine months plus almost one full week for the birth of our first grandchild!!! Well, after a quick trip down to GA in almost record time, we quickly became the proud grandparents of baby Clint!!!!!

If you are interested, please click on the link below to my daughter's blog which posts pictures of Clint's arrival plus his introduction to his new family. Of course, I believe he is just as handsome as his grandpoppa!!!!! : ) : ) : )

http://courtneyscontemplations.blogspot.com/2010/03/hospital-pics.html

How to Make Spiritual Progress

2010-03-09T19:54:00.001-05:00

The complacency of Christians is the scandal of Christianity.

Time is short, and eternity is long. The end of all things is at hand. Man has proved himself morally unfit to manage the world in which he has been placed by the kindness of the Almighty. He has jockeyed himself to the edge of the crater and cannot go back, and in terrible fear he is holding his breath against the awful moment when he will be plunged into the inferno.

In the meantime, a company of people exist on the earth who claim to have the answer to all life’s major questions. They claim to have found the way back to God, release from their sins, life everlasting and a sure guarantee of heaven in the world to come.

These are the Christians. They declare that Jesus Christ is very God of very God, made flesh to dwell among us. They insist that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. They testify that He is to them Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, and they steadfastly assert that He will be to them the Resurrection and the Life for eternity to come.

These Christians know, and when pressed will admit, that their finite hearts have explored but a pitifully small part of the infinite riches that are theirs in Christ Jesus. They read the lives of the great saints whose fervent desire after God carried them far up the mountain toward spiritual perfection; and for a brief moment they may yearn to be like these fiery souls whose light and fragrance still linger in the world where they once lived and labored. But the longing soon passes. The world is too much with them and the claims of their earthly lives are too insistent; so they settle back to live their ordinary lives, and accept the customary as normal. After a while they manage to achieve some kind of inner content and that is the last we hear of them.

This contentment with inadequate and imperfect progress in the life of holiness is, I repeat, a scandal in the Church of the First-born. The whole weight of Scripture is against such a thing. The Holy Spirit constantly seeks to arouse the complacent. "Let us go on" is the word of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul embodies this in his noble testimony as found in his Philippian epistle: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…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" (3:7-8, 10, 13-14).

If we accept this as the sincere expression of a normal Christian I do not see how we can justify our own indifference toward spiritual things. But should someone feel a desire to make definite progress in the life of Christ, what can he do to get on with it? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Strive to get beyond mere pensive longing. Set your face like a flint and begin to put your life in order. Every man is as holy as he really wants to be. But the want must be all-compelling.

Tie up the loose ends of your life. Begin to tithe; institute family prayer; pay up your debts as far as possible and make some kind of frank arrangement with every creditor you cannot pay immediately; make restitution as far as you can; set aside time to pray and search the Scriptures; surrender wholly to the will of God. You will be surprised and delighted with the results.

2. Put away every un-Christian habit from you. If other Christians practice it without compunction, God may be calling you to come nearer to Him than these other Christians care to come. Remember the words, "Others may, you cannot." Do not condemn or criticize, but seek a better way. God will honor you.

3. Get Christ Himself in the focus of your heart and keep Him there continually. Only in Christ will you find complete fulfillment. In Him you may be united to the Godhead in conscious, vital awareness. Remember that all of God is accessible to you through Christ. Cultivate His knowledge above everything else on earth.

4. Throw your heart open to the Holy Spirit and invite Him to fill you. He will do it. Let no one interpret the Scriptures for you in such a way as to rule out the Father’s gift of the Spirit. Every man is as full of the Spirit as he wants to be. Make your heart a vacuum and the Spirit will rush in to fill it.

Nowhere in the Scriptures nor in Christian biography was anyone ever filled with the Spirit who did not know that he had been, and nowhere was anyone filled who did not know when. And no one was ever filled gradually.

5. Be hard on yourself and easy on others. Carry your own cross but never lay one on the back of another. Begin to practice the presence of God. Cultivate the fellowship of the Triune God by prayer, humility, obedience and self-abnegation.

Let any Christian do these things and he will make rapid spiritual progress. There is every reason why we should all go forward in our Christian lives and no reason why we should not. Let us go on.

Taken from: A.W. Tozer's book Man: The Dwelling Place of God (What it really means to have Jesus Christ living in you).

Has Anyone Missed Me???

2010-03-08T19:56:00.000-05:00

I have been out of commission for several months now, mainly due to a "dead" computer, but at the same time, simply taking a rest from the blogosphere environment. At times, it can be so much work and a period of desparation searching for a quality posting; and that is not fun at all. Blogging is supposed to be a time of enjoyment....

I am waiting for a phone call from GA anytime now announcing that my daughter is headed to the hospital to give birth to her first child, thus allowing me to enter the new stage of life of being a grandparent!!!!! That means even more gray hair for this "young at heart" man still married to the prettiest and most Christ-like "help meet" in the whole world!!!!!

I hope you are off to a great start here in 2010 continuing to serve our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We have much to be thankful for even though the world around us continues to become darker and darker in these last days..... even more reason for us to share the light of Christ with all those we encounter each and every day. God is good.... ALL THE TIME!!!!!

Do It Now!!!

2009-10-20T18:42:00.000-04:00

The Lord is winding up His work,
And time is running out;
If there’s something you must do,
Do it now!
If there’s something you must give up,
Do it now!
If there’s something you must tell,
Do it now!
If there’s something you must repent of,
Do it now!
If there’s pardon to be asked,
Do it now!
If there’s something to restitute,
Do it now!
If there’s money you’ve to re-pay,
Do it now!
If there’s work to be done for Jesus,
Do it now!
There’s such an urgency in heaven,
For time is running out, so,
If there’s anything you must do,
Do it now!
Do it now!
Do it now!

– Shiella

Righteousness Exalteth a Nation

2009-10-16T18:13:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Many Christians are asking, "What can I do for my Nation at this time?" Are there any answers that we can solve? Yes, the Bible always has an answer. Let us read Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." You and I can live and promote righteousness.

We need Christian people to do the following:

1. We need people to have character.
2. We need people to have courage.
3. We need people to have convictions.
4. We need people to have commitment.
5. We need people to have a combat attitude.
6. We need people to get out of their comfort zone.
7. We need people to have compassion.

Friends, does your life and actions exalt our nation??? Are you bringing honor and glory to God our Father??? Are you standing for truth and right in this selfish, wicked world???

OCCUPY TILL I COME

2009-10-06T18:30:00.000-04:00

Luke 19:12-13 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Jesus had been to Jerusalem a number of times, beginning when He was a child. But, this time was different. He would be mocked and rejected, then suffer and die for our sins, the Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world. Because some of His listeners thought the kingdom of God would soon appear, Jesus spoke this parable to them. The meaning is clear. He would soon be leaving for a "far country" and would one day "return." As He departed, He would disperse His resources to His "servants" with a simple command: "Occupy till I come."

Thank God for the incarnation, sinless life, vicarious death, and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is salvation in none other. Today our Lord is seated in Heaven, but one day He will return. The return of Jesus Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. Christians in the first century looked for the return of Christ. For two thousand years, believers have anticipated our Lord's return. Paul wrote to Timothy that there was a crown of righteousness laid up for those who "love his appearing" (II Timothy 4:8). Jesus is coming back. All indications show that He could come at any moment. We look forward to our being united with our Lord and loved ones who have gone before. We look forward to being free from this world of sin and our sinful flesh.

In the meantime, what should we be doing? The Lord's Word is clear; we are to occupy until He comes. To occupy means "to be busy, to busy ourselves with the responsibilities given to us." Until the Lord Jesus Christ returns, we are to continue to be busy about the business He entrusted to us. He has given each of us gifts and abilities to use for His work. We all do not have the same gifts or assignments, but all of us are equipped to serve Him. All are to be busy until He comes. There are many who talk, with apparent interest, in matters concerning the return of Christ; and yet they are not busy serving Him. There are others who served Him at one time, but have ceased to do so, for one reason or another. By the grace of God, we are to obey His command and occupy until He comes.

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

We Need Men Who Are .......

2009-09-29T18:59:00.000-04:00

(Here are some devotional notes from our men's Prayer Breakfast presented by Bro. Stinnett Ballew on August 22, 2009 at our church.)

We need men who are.......

Fixed in their Salvation
Forgiven of all Sin
Fortified with the Scripture
Fervent in Supplication
Filled with the Spirit
Faithful in Service
Friendly in their Separation
Free in their Sharing
Following the Shepherd
Fruitful in Soulwinning

Or Would I?

2009-09-24T19:25:00.000-04:00

If I had been Adam
When temptation was nigh
To disobey God’s command,
I would have obeyed, or would I?

If I had been Lot,
From wickedness I would shy,
I’d have never pitched my tent,
Toward Sodom, or would I?

If I had been Cain,
To God I would not lie,
I’d bring the proper sacrifice
To please God, or would I?

If I had been Jonah,
When sent to Nineveh to cry,
I would not have run away,
Or tarried, or would I?

If I had been Peter,
On me God could rely,
I would not have denied the Saviour,
Or forsook Him, or would I?

If I had been Demas,
Why, I’d rather die
Than to love this present world,
And forsake God’s work, or would I?

If I had been the rich young ruler,
There would be no reason why
I wouldn’t sell all to follow Christ,
I’d give Him my all, or would I?

Written by Harry Todd

If you don’t walk with God, you’re walking in the wrong direction!!!

ETERNAL INVESTMENTS

2009-09-21T19:09:00.000-04:00

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Are we living for this present world or for the world to come? Are we investing in things that are temporal, or in those that are eternal? Jesus tells us that we are either laying up "treasures upon earth" or "treasures in heaven." One day, we all will depart this life. Thank God, through our faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death for our sins, we are promised an eternal home in Heaven. What will be there in Heaven when we arrive? According to the Bible, we can make investments in Heaven while we are living here below. The Scripture encourages believers to live mindful of the world that awaits us. We are not to be like those in the world who live only for the temporal pleasures and rewards of this brief life. The Bible tells us that our lives are like a vapor that appears for a short time and then vanishes away. In fact, everything in this world will one day be destroyed.

One promise we have concerning eternal investments is the permanence of those treasures, compared to the fleeting life of earthly investments. Another benefit of investing in eternal things is the immediate return in our lives. Although investing in Heaven will bring rewards for eternity, we are also promised that having our treasures in Heaven makes our hearts more heavenly minded. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Most of us can relate to this principle, having found ourselves mindful of things in which we have personally invested our time or treasure. This matter of eternal investments is something that relates directly to our life of faith. We make daily decisions based on our priority of serving the present or future world.

How is it that we can make investments in Heaven? We do so by giving of our resources, our money and time, for the cause of the Gospel and the salvation of the lost. These investments will last forever. As we invest our treasures in eternal things, we are learning to live for that which will never pass away. In turn, we find our hearts will be there also.

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

Salvation or Religion: Which do you Have???

2009-09-18T18:47:00.000-04:00

Religion is not salvation!!! You may be religious and morally upright and still be a stranger to salvation. There are many people who build their salvation on religion. They think if they observe religious ordinances and do the best that they can, God will have to accept them. This will never give anyone eternal life or scriptural salvation.

You may belong to a church, be a church officer or a churchgoer, be an active church worker or trying your best, striving to do right; you may have been taught in God's Word, baptized in water and confirmed; you may have partaken of the Lord's Supper, taught Sunday School, preached, read the Bible - yes, and all the rest; but if you haven't been converted (Matt. 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.), you are still in your sin and are a stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

There is only one way you can be saved, and that is by trusting Jesus Christ as Saviour.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Perhaps you believe that Christ died on the cross for you and your sin, but you haven't trusted Him as your Saviour. Then you have not made use of what He has done for you.

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:

Perhaps you have been trying to do your best but still have a longing in your heart for true peace with God. This peace will be yours as soon as you trust Christ to save your soul.

Just now, friend, trust Jesus as your Saviour and let Him save your soul!!! Religion is not salvation; only Jesus can give you SALVATION!!!

A PREACHER’S BROKEN HEART FOR HIS COUNTRY

2009-09-17T18:02:00.000-04:00

(This was posted by a preacher earlier this week who has given me permission to share with others.... Pastor Danny Bezet of Baytown, TX)

We stand as free Americans today, though there is turmoil in our land
God help there to be a prayer on our lips, thanking Him for a land so grand

My heart still pounds as I see our flag, it’s beat quickens beneath my hand
I owe a great debt to so many, who for freedom took a stand

In anger I gaze upon those that would divide, self and power is all that they can see
It will take courage to stem the tide, but America’s still worth it, seems to me

It’s not skin color or a a party line, it’s a nation of free people and their desire to remain
While some fight, blame, accuse and whine, the brave and true will look to God again

It is sad that we have to protest and take to the streets or get on the TV
With our future at stake and our faith put to the test. Its time for good men to agree

We have dismissed our God and ignored His call and wonder why we are in such a mess.
His Word is rejected or not heard at all, such a people, such a nation, He will not bless.

It’s time to stop and take a long look, at where we once were and where we have come
To pick up the Bible, And lift our eyes to Heaven, where mercy and help is from

The enemy is not a leader that is a louse, nor is the enemy those that distort the news
The enemy is not the Godless in the White House, Its the blind that sit in our Church pews

While we wait to see what will be, let us do what we should have done before the race
Ask the God of Heaven for another opportunity to humble ourselves and seek His face

Let us plead for God to protect our birthright, and to give us courage that knows no gender
To walk in His Word and the power of His might and stand for right, and never surrender

Look past your stomach and pocket book, pray for God to smile on our nation again
Give God and your children a fresh look, and God's favor to regain

These are fearful days I must confess, and what will happen I cannot tell
I can only trust and in the Lord rest, and know that He does all things well

Our own will and way put us in this place, a place of deep sorrow and dreadful shame
I bow before my God and trust His grace and I suggest that you and yours do the same

THE RIGHT FRIENDS

2009-09-17T00:02:00.000-04:00

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

We are reminded in this Scripture that it is very important that we be selective about our friendships. Friends can be the source of great encouragement and positive influence, but they can be a negative factor as well. God clearly warns us of the effect that wrong associations can have on us: "a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Many have been deceived about the destructive influence of the wrong friends. This mistake is commonly made by young people, but adults should also recognize this warning. It would be wise for young people to respect and honor their parents' wisdom in respect of the choice of their companions. Sometimes others are able to see attributes or character flaws which we may not recognize. The Bible says, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (I Corinthians 15:33). Whether they are negative or positive, it is natural to learn the tendencies of our friends. The familiar adage is usually true, "you become like those with whom you associate."

Not only should we make certain that our choice of friends is pleasing to the Lord, but we should also strive to make every effort to contribute to meaningful friendships. In every relationship we have responsibilities. It would be very selfish to think that we could have a good relationship with others but not have to contribute to that cause. For instance, Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loveth at all times." A true friend will be there in good times and bad. We are to be faithful to our friends. If we want to have friends, we must be friendly toward others. "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly" (Proverbs 18:24).

True friendship also involves the willingness to give and receive reproof. "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:5, 6). We should want to have the kind of friends that will help us become all that God wants us to be. A godly friend will be concerned for our spiritual progress. Likewise, we should want to be able to help them in their spiritual pilgrimage, encouraging and supporting them. Of course, the best Friend we can ever have is our Savior. He is our constant Companion and Source of encouragement, counsel, and support.

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

Down in the Dumps (and Out of Them)

2009-09-11T18:22:00.000-04:00

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

When God's servants get into the dumps, we always find God points the way to deliverance.

When Elijah got under the juniper tree, the angel told him to "arise and eat." I Kings 19:5
When Paul was threatened with shipwreck, the Lord told him to "be of good cheer." Acts 27:25
When John was banished to the island of Patmos, the Lord revealed Himself to him. Rev. 1:11
When Jonah was in the belly of the whale, the Lord gave him deliverance as soon as he said, "Salvation is of the LORD." Jonah 2:9
When Joshua was on his face through defeat, the LORD said unto him, "Get thee up." Josh. 7:10
When Samson was grinding in the prison, the LORD caused his hair "to grow again." Judges 16:22, 28
When Israel was "groaning" in Egypt, Jehovah made them glad by bringing them out of it. Ex. 6:5

Christian friend, if you are currently "down in the dumps," look unto these examples above from God's Word and allow God to lift you up and begin serving Him again with a refreshed and renewed spirit!!!

EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE

2009-09-10T18:41:00.000-04:00

Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

One of the most devastating evidences of the spiritual decline in any culture can be seen in the home and family. A nation's homes will, in many ways, determine the condition of churches, communities, and ultimately entire societies. We have witnessed tremendous changes, mostly not for the better, in America's families. There are no more important human relationships than those formed and fostered in the family.

In looking for reasons for the decline in the average home, one needs only to seriously consider our Scripture. "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it." Without God, our families will never be what they were planned to be. As our society has rejected the authority of God and His Word, the effects have become obvious. It is not possible to experience God's best in our families without the help of God. This Bible passage gives us assurance that God is interested in our homes. "Except the LORD build the house" teaches us that God can build our families to be what He wants them to be. Whatever your family situation might be, God wants to work in that relationship.

To see Him work, we must be willing to follow His guidelines for the home, beginning with Scriptural order. God has clearly established that the husband or father is to lead the home. There is confusion in many families because of a lack of biblical direction. This does not mean that the husband is to be a dictator or a tyrant, but rather should provide loving protection and leadership. The wife is to be in submission to the husband, recognizing and respecting his God-given position; and the mother's priority should be the home. Children are to obey and honor their parents. This order has been greatly rejected in modern society.

Not only do we need order in our homes, but also we desperately need love in our families. Love that is kind, forgiving, patient, selfless, and attentive binds the hearts of our families together. Having a loving and caring home that is filled with peace and is a refuge in this troubled generation is still possible. But, it takes God to "build the house." If we are going to see true revival, it must begin in individual hearts and in our homes.

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

Out of Commission!!!

2009-09-07T15:10:00.000-04:00

I know that I have very few regular readers of my blog, but in case you have wondered where I might be...... well, it seems as if I have been hit by a computer breakdown; well, my HP is just over six years old, and it has seen many numerous uses during the days of raising six children and finding valuable coupons and "specials" for my darling wife. Now, I have back-upped some valuable files in the past, but that only works if you are able to retrieve the actual CD with the copied files.... now I know it is around here somewhere. Anyway, I have lost all my email addresses so I cannot contact anyone.... unless of course you send me your address by means of a comment. I will not post the comments publicly if they contain that kind of information. I'd love to hear from you if you get a chance. I will get my valuable files off the hard drive when I can afford it; I have many Bible studies and discussions and notes that I miss being able to access, but in time, I will get these things back.

Some things of interest since I have been gone.....

My beautiful daughter Courtney, married last October, is expecting..... yep, this young fellow who writes this blog is about to become a PaPa!!!!!
Stephen and Becky are continuing to enjoy their newly married lives and are staying active in our church.
Joshua has left home recently to attend a Bible college located in Iowa, praying for wisdom and direction for the Lord's will in his life.
Rachel and I are beginning our 20th year of homeschooling with our other three children, with Caleb in the 12th grade, Bethany 8th, and Anna 5th.
We enjoyed Bro. Stinnent Ballew preaching a Missions Conference at our church several weeks ago... our Faith Promise giving committment increased from just over $1200/week to just over $1800/week.
Things are picking up at the mine, especially our export business during the last few months and looking to hold steady here in September; I'm looking forward to returning to five day work weeks and full pay after being on four days since the middle of February. However, even at reduced salary, God has supplied our every need for my family, just as He promised He would..... we serve a Great and Good God!!!!!

I hope to be able to return to some regular postings soon..... I pray that all of you and your families are doing well.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by from time to time and read my blog!!!!!

SEEKING WISDOM

2009-08-10T13:52:00.000-04:00

I Kings 10:24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

Solomon, the heir to the throne after his father David, was known for his unprecedented wisdom. Soon after Solomon became king, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give thee" (I Kings 3:5). Solomon could have asked for riches, for long life, for the defeat of his enemies, or any number of other things. Instead, he asked for an understanding heart and discernment, or wisdom. God was so pleased with his request that He gave him the wisdom he desired and also promised Solomon great riches and honor. Solomon was renowned for his wisdom, writing "three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five" (I Kings 4:32). People traveled great distances to see the throne of Solomon and "to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart."

We all need God's wisdom, probably more than we realize sometimes. The Scripture tells us that Solomon's wisdom exceeded that of all the kings of the earth, and thankfully much of his wisdom is preserved for us in the Book of Proverbs. As people sought to hear the wisdom of Solomon, we should be seekers of God's wisdom. No one had more wisdom in his day than Solomon did, but "a greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:42). Jesus is unsurpassed in wisdom and riches. I Corinthians 1:24 tells us Christ is "the wisdom of God."

God wants to give us wisdom, but He expects us to be seekers of wisdom. The Lord has wisdom for our relationships, our finances, our hurtful pasts, and for every area of our lives. God's wisdom is different from the wisdom of this world. Just as the world sought to hear Solomon's wisdom, we are to seek God for wisdom. James tells us, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally" (James 1:5). God is generous with His wisdom. Many of the family problems, financial problems, and relationship problems that plague God's people could be resolved if they would seek and apply God's wisdom. We should ask the Lord regularly for wisdom. As we read the Scripture each day and listen to Bible lessons and sermons at church, we ought to be seekers of truth, learning the ways and principles of God, that help us walk in His wisdom.

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

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

2009-07-26T07:50:00.000-04:00

(Here is an article by Coach Dave Daubenmire published this week in NewsWithViews for your review....)

You are the one who chooses the shepherd under whom you sit. Explaining to our Lord that you followed the advice of some Christian CEO will not hold much sway in Heaven’s Hall’s of Justice. Although works are not necessary for salvation, the Apostle Paul makes it very clear that works are the fruits of salvation.

Do you have any fruit? You, I’m talking about. Not your church, not your pastor. You.

On the awesome moment when you stand before Him and cast your crown at His feet, will there be any jewels in your crown?

Listen folks, the arrival of Jesus Christ into the earth realm transformed the Faith of our Fathers from a religion to a personal relationship. No longer do you access The Christ through Rabbis, Priests, and Pastors, but through the Spirit of the Living God given on the Day of Pentecost. He lives in you. It is to Him that you will give account.

With that in mind, let me ask a question that is intended to pierce your conscience. Some my call it harsh, some will complain that I am too direct, but I pray that this question will serve as a floodlight into your heart.

What have YOU done?

Don’t tell me you have prayed. Praying is not doing. In the Garden Jesus prayed…but He got up and went.. Where would man be today if Jesus had not been spurred to action? What if he had never gotten off of His knees? What if he has counted on others to do the dirty work?

For God so loved the world that HE DID SOMETHING….what about you? I ask you again…what have you DONE?

About the slaughter of 50 million little baby boys and girls.
About the pornography gushing down the streets of our cities.
About the homosexual indoctrination of children in your government school.
About the laissez faire attitude towards divorce in the church.
About the spiritual abuse doled out by church leadership in some “churches.”

What have you done?

About the legal terrorism directed at those who publicly proclaim Christ.
About the promotion of “self-help” books over the Bible in your “church.”
About the transformation of the Constitution to nothing more than toilet paper.
About the lies of humanism superseding the Truth of the Scriptures.
About the perpetuation of war in the name of peace.
About the loss of liberty in the pursuit of comfort.

WHAT have you done? What HAVE you done? What have YOU done? What have you DONE?

The Scriptures teach us that one day we will all stand before the Lord and give an account for the deeds we have done in the flesh. That we will be responsible for things we have done, and things we have left undone. It is our ACTIONS that will be on trial; Not our thoughts, not our wishes, and not our intentions.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” When was the last time your church CEO told you that?

If I understand the concept correctly, the jewels in your crown represent the souls you brought to the Lord, the things you did for the sake of the Gospel.

What a shame to stand before the Lord with only a dime-store tiara to cast at His feet.

So tell me….what have you done?

THE RUSH TO RELEVANCE IS THE ROAD TO RUIN

2009-07-23T19:55:00.000-04:00

(Here is an article by Paul Proctor published in the NewsWithViews for your review....)

I’d love to know who sold Christians and clergy the bogus notion that the church somehow needs to be more “relevant” to the culture in order to win it for Christ. You can hardly escape the word in Christian circles today. It’s absolutely everywhere believers are, and is used incessantly alongside other trendy terms like “connect,” “passion,” “purpose,” “awesome” and “tolerance” – flying out the mouths of church leaders as if it were some sacred biblical principle that should be worn like a phylactery on our foreheads and proclaimed from the rooftops lest we forget and, Heaven forbid, be a contrast to the culture in which we live.

The word “relevant” is not even in the Bible – except in one so-called bible version and verse – if you can bear to call The Message a Bible. But, the amazing irony of its brief appearance there, is that it points out perfectly why Christians should avoid being relevant:

"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.” – Matthew 7:6

Does that not accurately describe the relevant church today: cute, flippant, silly and full of slogans and sacrilege? Sounds just like the seeker-sensitive, purpose driven and emerging church to me!

Throughout scripture, in both the Old and New Testament, God’s own are repeatedly referred to as a “peculiar people.” (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2, 26:18, Titus 2:14 & 1st Peter 2:9) I’ve written about this many times over the years.

That means we ought to be viewed by the world around us as distinctive. But how can Christians be both distinctive and relevant? And just how does one “connect” with a culture and not be “unequally yoked” to it?

Being distinctive is what being sanctified and set apart for God is all about. We’re not suppose to look and act like the rest of the world. We’re not called to blend in.

We’re called to “come out from among them” and stand out as a testimony to God’s power and presence in a corrupt kingdom! You see, if we don’t look or act any different from the world around us, then we’re probably not any different.

But the church isn’t teaching sanctification anymore because it’s an unfashionable, unpopular and outdated word that scares sinners and separates Christians from the culture of cool. No, today’s church has, instead, set its heart on being more relevant to the culture than righteous before God in a prideful and egregious effort to help Jesus get the numbers up.

“Go ye into all the world and be relevant?”

I don’t think so.

In my estimation, the word “relevant” was simply another devilishly dialectic term marketed to the church as a clever way to help Christians appeal to the flesh of the lost and buddy-up to the Beelzebub Club without appearing to compromise one’s Christian faith. But, that’s exactly what it does. And the more relevant one becomes to the enemies of Christ, the more irrelevant they become to God.

A preacher at a local megachurch my wife and I recently visited proudly told me a few days ago that he’s known as the pastor of the “coolest church in town” – using the word “cool” in various forms repeatedly in his email message, as if that would somehow impress me and make membership there more attractive. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that it would actually have the opposite effect. So, he was a little surprised and offended when I told him that “cool is not a fruit of the Spirit.”

If Christians have any relevance to this world, it is that we currently share it with unbelievers, who, like us, have a sinful nature. That’s all the relevance to this world Christians need in order to bear witness of the saving grace that came by Jesus Christ. It certainly isn’t necessary that we seek out more relevance than we already have.

Shall we now imitate more perfectly the hell-bound culture we were saved from as a means to win its favor, cooperation and participation? That’s not evangelism – that’s capitulation.

Being sanctified means we belong to Someone else now – Someone Who has forgiven our trespasses and sins and called us out of our old lives of depravity and rebellion to be “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.”

Suffice it to say, our time as Christians would be better spent swimming upstream against the currents of compromise and corruption than finding some fashionable flotilla with which to comfortably fit in and ride the rapids of relevancy over the falls to our spiritual demise.

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” – 1st Kings 18:21

TRUTH SANCTIFIES

2009-07-21T18:51:00.000-04:00

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

This passage is found in that glorious portion of the Scripture where Jesus prayed with and for His disciples just before His brutal and agonizing death on the cross. At this time, our Lord prayed about many things, including the disciples' relationship with the world. Immediately prior to our text, He said, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:15, 16). Jesus was concerned about His disciples and how they would be affected and influenced by the world. He did not pray that the Father would remove them from the world. God has a plan and a purpose for us. For now, it involves our being in this world. However, while we are in this world, Jesus wants to keep us separated from the evil influences of the world. We are to influence the world in a godly way, but Jesus does not want the world to have a huge influence on us.

We are to be in the world, but not of the world. Jesus prayed that we would not be worldly. The Bible describes Christians as "strangers and pilgrims" (I Peter 2:11). As the familiar hymn states, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through." It is clear that we are not to be like the world that we live in, but what is it that separates us from the world? The answer to that question is found in this sentence of Jesus' prayer: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." To sanctify means "to make holy, to purify, to consecrate, to set apart." Jesus wanted His disciples to be separated from the world, to be a holy people for God.

The thing that sets us apart from the world is the Word of God. God's Word is the truth. The truths about sin, love, marriage, and child training are found in the Bible. The truths about keeping ourselves honest and moral, about friendships, about our vocational lives, about keeping our words pure, and about proper appearance are in the Bible. If we will live according to the Word of God, we will live separate from the world. A person who does not respect the Bible, or desire to live according to it, will not understand Bible separation. However, a person who loves the Bible and wants to live by the precepts of the Scripture will be an answer to the prayer that Jesus prayed.

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

Paradoxical Commandments of Christian Leadership

2009-07-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered; Love
Them Anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior
motives; Do Good Anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and make true
enemies; Succeed Anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow; Do good
Anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable; Be Frank
Anyway.
6. The biggest man with the biggest ideas can be shot down by
people with the smallest minds; Think BIG Anyway.
7. Men favor underdogs but follow top dogs; Pull for a Couple
of Underdogs Anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight;
Build Anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you try to help
them; Help Them Anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in
in the teeth; Give the World the Best You Have Anyway.

By Howard Ferguson

Five Consequences for a Nation that Rejects God

2009-07-15T17:43:00.000-04:00

THE ROMAN ROAD TO WRATH

Ideas, and the actions they product, have consequences, and the Bible is very specific about what a nation will reap when it rejects God. Lawlessness and disorder have their roots in our continually snubbing the God of the Bible.

Chapter 1 of the book of Romans in the Bible delineates five specific national consequences for denying God. Paul's warnings written here in this passage as given to him by God are so explicit and frightening relevant to what is happening in America today.

The nation that continually rejects God becomes a nation of fools. Rom. 1:21-22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Men will go to all kinds of extremes in order to justify their sin and false beliefs about God. Situational ethics, moral relativism, and postmodernism are all methods used to justify rebellion against the character and nature of God.
The nation that continually rejects God accepts pagan spirituality. Rom. 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Pagan spirituality centers on the worship of nature and the planet Earth, yet its ultimate goal is to sidestep feeling guilt, for anything. Our world has moved from theism to atheism to pantheism.
The nation that continually rejects God accepts homosexuality as normal. Rom. 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle as "normal" is pushed as a priority during the past several years as evidenced in our nation's schools, television programs, movies, music, and even in some churches.
The nation that continually rejects God becomes debased and violent. Rom. 1:28-31 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
The nation that continually rejects God produces judicial, legislative and executive branches of government that approve of and encourage immorality and corruption. Rom. 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

My point is outlining these five indications of national moral failure is not that I want God to judge our nation. I fear His wrath too much for that. However, there is hope in knowing that a just judge is in charge and that He will not wink at sin. He holds everyone accountable which means that all have the potential to repent. We can pray God's judgment will cause people to turn from their sins and trust in Jesus Christ. We can also pray that His call to accountability will purify the church and ultimately take our country on a new road to God's glory and honor.

Excerpted from a longer article written by Brannon S. Howse and published in WorldViewTimes.

Taking A Stand

2009-07-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

Whatever the specific issue, vigilence is always the price of freedom. Here are three recommended questions a Christian should ask themselves if current conditions in their life require them to take a stand.

Am I taking the right stand? The right stand always lines up with the Word of God.
Am I standing in the right way? The right stand must be done in a way that pleases God.
Am I standing with a right spirit? The right stand must always be put forward with a Christ-like spirit that God can bless.

(These guidelines are detailed and recommended by the Christian Law Association.)

Twenty Cans of Success

2009-07-12T07:46:00.000-04:00

1. Why should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)?

2. Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)?

3. Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?

4. Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling, knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?

5. Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take actionbecause I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)?

6. Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

7. Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)?

8. Why should I lack wisdom when Christ became wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it (1Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)?

9. Why should I be depressed when I can recall to mind God's lovingkindness, compassion and faithfulness, and have hope (Lamentations 3:21-23)?

10. Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)?

11. Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17)?

12. Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ (Romans 8:1)?

13. Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)?

14. Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit (Galatians 3:13, 14)?

15. Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to be content in all my circumstances (Philippians 4:11)?

16. Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)?

17. Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can be against me when God is for me (Romans 8:31)?

18. Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through his indwelling Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:33;2:12)?

19. Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ (Romans 8:37)?

20. Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations (John 16:33)?

HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD

2009-07-08T17:03:00.000-04:00

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.

Paul's instruction to Titus regarding the ordination of pastors is timely for our day. They were to be men who were capable of "holding fast the faithful word." Pastors, also referred to in the New Testament as bishops or elders, must be grounded in the Word of God and able to resist temptations to compromise the principles and commands of the Scriptures. Paul refers to the words of the Scripture as the "faithful word." God's Word can be trusted. It has not changed, and it will not change. It is forever "settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).

We are witnessing rampant attacks upon the Word of God and blasphemous attempts to change the Holy Bible. The truth will remain because its preservation has been promised in the pages of Scripture. The words, "as he hath been taught," remind us of the importance of teaching and training as far as doctrine is concerned. We cannot hold fast the Word of God if we are not instructed and strongly convinced of its message.

Churches of the New Testament are identified as being pillars and grounds of the truth. The Lord's churches are to hold to the truth, teach and preach the truth, and spread the truth to our needy world. Unfortunately, there are so many places that claim the title of church where the Bible has little place or influence. This is a sad testimony of the state of religion in our society. People need to be taught the Word of God.

How can we stand against error unless we are equipped with the sound doctrines of the Bible? What does the Bible mean when it refers to our responsibility of "holding fast" to God's holy truth? We are exhorted to hold on to the words of Scripture because there will be forces determined to loosen the grip God's servants have on the Word of God. The devil wants to steal the Word of God from the hearts of listeners, as Jesus taught in the Gospels. The enemy is always attempting to erode our faith in God and undermine the authority of the Bible.

We must hold fast against the currents of compromise and the liberal tendencies that are so prevalent. We must tighten our grip on the pure doctrines of God's Word, and refuse to be swept away by deception and false doctrine, "holding fast the faithful Word."

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

The Truth

2009-07-06T12:05:00.000-04:00

1 Tim. 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Believers are encouraged to be in prayer "for all men," including "all that are in authority," that our own lives might be "quiet and peaceable," as well as for their personal salvation.

God, who abhors and promises to judge sinful individuals, does not desire to punish anyone. His desire is for "all men to be saved," and He has done all that is necessary to bring this about, by paying sin's awful penalty of death. While not all will prevail themselves of this opportunity, choosing instead to continue in their own sin, our prayers somehow are used by God to bring some "to the knowledge of the truth."

The truth necessary for salvation follows:

1 Tim. 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In order to be saved, we must embrace the fact that there is only "one God" who alone holds the key to eternity, and that there is only one way by which we can reach that God, "the man Christ Jesus." We, in our natural state, are at war with God, estranged from Him, and separated by the presence of sin in our lives. Christ Jesus, acting as our mediator, our peacemaker, our advocate, being both fully God ("one God") and fully man ("the man") bridges the gap between the Father and men.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

How has He bridged the gap? He "gave himself a ransom for all." The Bible teaches that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23) but that "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3). Since He willingly "gave Himself" as a punishment for our sins, we can stand before God the Father in Christ's sinlessness.

HE LOVETH OUR NATION

2009-07-05T07:49:00.000-04:00

Luke 7:4-5 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

A centurion had a servant who was sick and near the point of death. This centurion sent a group of Jewish elders to see if Jesus would come and heal his servant. When they came to the Lord, they presented their case, requesting that Jesus should help this captain saying, "That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue." This centurion, though he was a Gentile, had a reputation of devotion to the Jewish nation, which was Christ's nation as well as theirs. He evidenced his love for their nation by building them a synagogue, a place of worship.

When we think of our nation, we know she has many faults and stands in great need of repentance and revival. Nevertheless, we love our nation. We do not love the direction she has been going or the wickedness that is permitted and promoted; but still we love our country. We are thankful for our heritage and Christian influence. We are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy. Our nation has been the birthplace and home of some of the world's most influential preachers. Many faithful missionaries have left this country to evangelize other nations. Our nation has been responsible for publishing the Word of God and Gospel literature for the benefit of millions. We have gone to the defense of struggling nations and helped defend the oppressed on many occasions.

What could we do to express our appreciation for our country? The centurion built a synagogue for the Jewish nation, and one of the greatest things we can do for our country is to build churches. Our country is in a state of moral decline that will not easily be reversed. How can we help our beloved nation? We desperately need multitudes of sound, Bible-preaching, separated, New Testament churches. We need a voice for righteousness in every community and a faithful preacher of the Gospel in every town. If we love our country, let's support missionaries and get the Gospel out wherever and however we can. Let's dedicate our lives to reaching out to the lost, discipling the saved, and building churches wherever we can. Our love for our nation can be demonstrated in our commitment to the ministry.

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

And the World Wept

2009-07-04T15:24:00.000-04:00

(Here is an article by Jeff Straub submitted in the newsletter "In the Nick of Time" published by Central Baptist Theological Seminary for your review and meditation.... )

I was about to board a plane for Budapest, Hungary, to teach for a week in Arad, Romania, when my eyes were drawn to the TV monitors across the JFK airport. Every monitor that was not giving passenger information was carrying the story—Michael Jackson was dead. From my accommodations here in Romania, the TV news (Romanian) carries the story as a lead feature, showing video clips from London, Paris, India, the Philippines, Japan, and finally, the National Stadium in Bucharest, Romania, where Jackson once performed. The flowers and candles are piling up, and the tears are flowing. There have even been reports of fans committing suicide. The world weeps at the loss of the “King of Pop.”

Jackson’s death will likely be a major story around the world for at least the next few weeks, and maybe longer. Perhaps some think that the death of one so detached from Christianity is of little consequence. After all, people die. I wondered how many others died in the world the day Michael Jackson died—Farrah Fawcett, at least, and hundreds more, no doubt. And why should the Christian even care?

It behooves believers to pause and reflect on this cultural phenomenon, especially in these days. I don’t know where Jackson is today. To my knowledge, he never professed faith in Christ, without which, no man can stand justified before a living God. But his death does remind us of several things that we would all do well to ponder. I pen these few words for believers to stop and consider, amidst the world’s fixation with the death of such an iconic figure.

For most unbelieving humanity, death is the inevitable and certain conclusion to life. The majority of the human race―now numbered at more than 6.25 billion―has little hope of bypassing this ultimate end, and many face their approaching demise with a great sense of foreboding. As of this writing, coroners have not determined the cause of Jackson’s death, so whether he had sense of death’s imminence, none can say. But when one so well known dies so young (he was 50), many of those still left living are filled with a greater sense of fear and uncertainty because they realize just how tenuous life really is. Death appears certain and all, it seems, will face it. For the world, this is a frightening reality. At this juncture, believers ought to hear the Word of God echo in their ears: “it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27) which, in turn, should remind us of Gen. 3:19, that we come from dust and to dust we will return. Death is the great certainty in this life, especially for those who live without divine grace. It is approaching, it cannot be avoided, and it is a thing to be feared.
Death is the great equalizer: rich and poor, famous and obscure, male or female. Death, when it hits, brings the same physical end to all of humanity. The brain quits, the heart stops, and life, as humans define it, is over. Not even one’s personal fortune or social status can bring relief of this destiny. Again the Word of God ought to echo in our ears: “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Since all of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23), all of us can expect to receive the due recompense—the cessation of life itself. No one lives forever . . . at least not in life as we know it now. The world intuitively knows this despite all protestations to the contrary.
Physical death is not the end of all things; it is only the beginning. For the believer, death is the beginning of life eternal, when we are ushered into the presence of God to enjoy Him forever. For the unbeliever, death is the beginning of unparalleled judgment and unending chastisement. Though a great debate rages today on the existence of future punishment, the Bible portrays the prospect for the lost as never ending torment, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:48). If the Bible is true, then the greatest tragedy is not physical death itself, but a failure to get ready for the inevitable and to die unprepared. How many of those in our acquaintance stand at the threshold of death, even now, unprepared? Life is short, and judgment is certain.
Finally, God is the measure of all things. Regardless of who dies or what the circumstances of one’s death are, the final assessment of one’s life rests not in the accolades we receive from those who survive us. It comes from the perfect and final judgment of One who knows the end from the beginning. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that judgment is coming, and Rev. 20:12 describes that judgment at which the unconverted, small and great, will stand. It will be a fearful day, for none may avoid it. Hades yields up its occupants, and even the sea cannot contain all whose remains were lost in its vastness.

We must remember and proclaim that death is certain, it equalizes, it brings judgment, and that God is the final arbiter of life. The world will weep in the days ahead because they have lost an icon. Believers should not merely sit by and gawk, or worse, turn away in apathy. We too should weep. We weep not because we lost someone dear to us. We weep for those Jackson left behind—for the world itself. Most of humanity is fixated on the wrong things. The great tragedy in all of this is not that Jackson is dead, though that is a sad fact, especially if he failed to prepare to meet the Lord. The great tragedy is that so many fail to see the hand of God in all of this; so many have failed to submit their lives to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Who, then, should be weeping?

What Might Have Been

2009-07-03T13:10:00.000-04:00

It's not the thing you do, dear,

It's the thing you leave undone

That gives you a bit of heartache

At the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten,

The letter you did not write,

The flowers you did not send, dear,

Are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted

Out of the brother's way;

The bit of heartsome counsel

You were hurried too much to say;

The loving touch of the hand, dear,

And the gentle winning tone

That you had no time or thought for,

With troubles enough of your own;

These little acts of kindness,

So easily out of mind,

Those chances to be angels

Which we poor mortals find-

They come in nighttime silence,

Each sad, reproachable wrath,

When hope is faint and flagging

And a chill has fallen on faith.

For life is all too short, dear,

And sorrow is all too great

To suffer our slow compassion

That tarries until too late.

And it isn't the thing you do, dear,

It's the thing you leave undone

That gives you a bit of heartache

At the setting of the sun.

Written by Homer A. Rodeheaver

The Truth In Us

2009-06-29T13:40:00.000-04:00

2 John 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

The word "truth" occurs more in the Gospel of John than any other book of the New Testament, and it occurs in the first epistle of John more than in any other book except John's Gospel. Then it occurs more in John's two, one-chapter epistles (2 and 3 John) than in any other New Testament book save John and 1 John. Surely one of the great themes in John's writings is truth!

God is, indeed, the God of truth, and His written word is "the scripture of truth" (Dan. 10:21).

Pslm. 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

The Lord Jesus Christ is, in fact, the very incarnation of truth. He asserted;

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Surely truth dwells forever in Christ, for He is Himself the Creator and is thereby the very definition of truth. But how can it be that truth dwells in us and shall be with us forever? This is certainly not the case with the natural man.

It can only be by the Holy Spirit, of course, and this is what Christ - who is the truth - has promised.

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

That being so, with the Holy Spirit of truth indwelling us forever, our words, and deeds, and our very lives, should be characterized by truth and complete consistency.

Eph. 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

GOD IS TRUTHFUL

2009-06-28T07:46:00.000-04:00

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.

God is truth. It is impossible for God to lie. His promises will never fail. God's veracity knows no equal. Many have asked, "What is truth?" Jesus told us what truth is. He proclaimed in John 14:6, "I am . . . the truth." Everything He says is true. "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). God is honest in every way. There is no deception, falsehood, or fiction in Him. God is real and not imaginary. His truth will never change, for "his truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100:5). God would have us to know that in every way and in every word, He can be trusted completely. His Word is the standard for truth. The Word of God is the supreme test for every doctrine and every opinion of man. When anyone or anything is in disagreement with the Scripture, we can be certain that the Bible is true. Romans 3:4 says, "let God be true, but every man a liar." God wants us to know the truth and be people of the truth.

From the beginning, Satan has attempted to cause men to doubt the Word of God. Jesus said of the enemy that he is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him. The devil's first words to Eve in Genesis 3:1 were "hath God said." The wiles of our adversary have not changed. He is vigilant in his attempts to cause men to question the trustworthiness of God's Word. Lies and deception bring men into bondage, but the truth is liberating. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Satan has brought many into bondage through falsehoods and empty promises. In order for us to endure the spiritual attacks of the enemy, we need to be saturated in the truth. The first part of the armor of God mentioned in the Scripture instructs us to have our loins girt about with truth. Multitudes have been led into error because they were not grounded in the truth.

Because God is truth, He hates lying. Lying takes many forms, such as hypocrisy, exaggerations, and deception. God desires "truth in the inward parts" (Psalm 51:6). One of the most important commitments we could ever make is a commitment to walk in the truth. We need to be truthful and honest with ourselves, with others, and with God. Because God is truth in its highest and holiest form, if we are to walk with Him, we must walk in sincerity and in the truth.

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

The Whole Law

2009-06-23T18:46:00.000-04:00

Lev. 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

The absolute holiness of God is emphasized throughout the book of Leviticus, and this is the standard for all those created in His image. This is made clear, beyond question, when the verse above is quoted in the New Testament:

Gal. 3:11-12 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

It is not enough that a man keep most of God's laws.

Gal. 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

It is obvious, therefore, that while "the law is holy, and the commandments holy, and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12), no man (except Jesus Christ, God appearing in flesh) has ever been able to keep God's perfect law, and all are therefore under God's condemnation.

Rom. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The widespread delusion that a person can be saved by good works is dangerous, and many are on the road to Hell smug in their supposed goodness. To keep the law, however, the Creator Himself had to become man, and He did fulfill the law as our representative before God. Then, when He died, Christ "redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." (Gal. 3:13).

Rom. 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Our Job As Ambassadors

2009-06-22T17:56:00.000-04:00

2 Cor. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Jesus Christ has made each of us His ambassadors here on Earth. He is no longer here in the flesh, so now He expects us to faithfully and effectively represent Him. As His ambassadors, He has given us two basic tasks to perform.

First of all, we are to spread the good news of salvation in such a way that unbelievers will be drawn to the light and out of their darkness.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

To do this, an ambassador must live a life of conformity to His life and teachings, adequately representing Him.

1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Secondly, we are to saturate ourselves totally with the knowledge of His will and His Word so that we will be enabled to encourage other Christians, strengthening them for their duties as ambassadors as well, applying our attention to His directives.

2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Tim. 3:16-17 All scripture 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.

It has rightly been said that the only two things which will last for eternity are people and the Word of God. These two things must occupy our attention if we are to be effective "ambassadors for Christ."

The Folly of Humanism

2009-06-20T18:40:00.000-04:00

Pslm. 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.

Despite all their pretense of scientific intellectualism, those who deny the existence of a personal Creator God are, in God's judgment, nothing but fools. Psalm 14, Psalm 53, Romans 3, etc. all describe the inner character of all such people - whether they call themselves atheists or humanists or pantheists or whatever. This repeated emphasis indicates how strongly God feels about those who dare to question His reality. It is bad enough to disobey His commandments and to spurn His love; it is utter folly to deny that He even exists!!!

The Bible describes the awful descent from true creationism into evolutionary pantheistic humanism.

Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Certain atheists/humanists claim to be moral people, though their criteria of morality are often quite different from those of the Bible. No matter how admirable their humane acts of "righteousness" may seem, however, they are guilty of the sin of unbelief, the greatest sin of all.

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.

With all the innumerable evidences of God's reality as seen in the creation and throughout history, and then especially in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, it is utter foolishness to plunge blindly into eternity to meet the God whom they deny.

Be Truly Converted

2009-06-19T18:34:00.000-04:00

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

To be "converted" can mean many things to men in today's world. Repent simply means to "turn" or "change directions." Christian conversion, however, refers to turning away from the whole world system and turning to God through Christ. Similarly, to "repent" means essentially to "think differently" and in a Christian context, to change one's whole thought process from worldly reasoning to spiritual, as centered in Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Genuine Christian repentence and conversion results in having one's "sins.... blotted out" and thus true "times of refreshing" from the Lord.

But without genuine repentence and conversion, there is no salvation.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Matt. 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

There are, sad to say, multitudes of men and women who think they are Christians, but are not. This is evidenced by the lack of real change in their thinking and living from the beliefs and practices of this world.

2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jesus Christ himself warned that:

Matt. 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Therefore, it behooves all who profess Christ to seriously review their personal belief and behaviours in terms of their conformity to the world of men or to the Word of God.

2 Cor. 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Friend, only you know deep down in your heart whether or not you possess Christ in your life, or are simply professing Christ in your life. Possess/Profess; two similar looking and sounding words, but they mean an extremely opposite destination for all eternity on the day of your pending death. Heaven or Hell??? Eternal life or eternal damnation??? The choice is your's..... don't blame God for your final destination. Hell wasn't made for man originally (created by God for the Devil and his angels)....... but because of man's sin, that is his final destination unless he personally accepts and confesses the blood of Christ to cover his trangressions. What will it be???

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

THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW

2009-06-18T18:32:00.000-04:00

I Kings 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

The work of building the magnificent temple in Solomon’s day was complete. The furniture was in place. The priests exited the holy place after placing the ark of the covenant in its proper position. At that moment, the “glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD” (I Kings 8:11). Solomon then prayed the lengthy prayer of dedication, and stood and blessed the people of Israel. As he was blessing them, he included in his words this great purpose that we have in our Scripture in I Kings 8:60, “That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.” Why do we need God’s power and presence with us? Why is it so important that we obey God and walk in submission to Him? One answer to those questions is found in our text: that all the earth may know about our God. What a profound purpose! What a mission statement! What a reason for living and serving: THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW. This gives meaning to our existence. How can we make our lives count? Life becomes very shallow when we interpret everything through the filter of “How will this help me?” God is certainly good to us, and He faithfully and daily loads us with benefits. But ultimately, it is not all about us. We are here to influence others. It matters how we live in this world.

* We tell others of our Savior because it is important THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

* We serve in our church and its ministries THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

* We are involved in outreach programs of our church in the community THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

* We give our money to God through the church and support the missions program of the church THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

* We pray for God’s work to go forward and His Word to prosper THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

* We teach and train our children to live for Christ THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

This verse reminds us of a very simple, and yet powerful reality. God wants all the earth to know. He cares about every person on the planet. Every creature needs to hear. Every kindred, nation, and tongue needs to know.

We serve, labor, pray, and give THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW.

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

SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU

2009-06-07T23:59:00.000-04:00

I Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Bible teaches the absolute necessity of the new birth. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" God is holy, and none of us are righteous within ourselves. Every person is in need of salvation. In our unregenerate and natural state, none will qualify for Heaven.

People are deceived about the seriousness of sin, the nature of salvation, and the requirement of rebirth and imputed righteousness. False teachers assure their listeners that good works or moral reform will gain an entrance into God's holy Heaven. This is not true. That is why the text says, "Be not deceived."

Thank God for salvation that brings forgiveness of sin and the new man of righteousness. God's gift of eternal life produces transformed lives in those who are redeemed. Only God can create a new person through the miracle of the new birth. We can identify with Paul's statement, "And such were some of you." We may not be all that we should be, but thank God we are not what we once were. God can change anyone. When we are born again, we become new creatures in Christ. Our past is exactly that; it is our past.

Sometimes new believers have a hard time putting their past behind them because of guilt over past sins. It is important that we take God at His Word concerning our former lives. Our sins are under the blood; we have been justified by His grace; and we have peace with God.

Because we remember what we once were, it should help us have compassion on the unsaved and a desire to reach them with the Gospel. Nothing could have changed us like the power of salvation. We should never look, with a critical, judgmental eye, at others still bound in sin. But for the grace of God, we would still be there. The next time we get irritated or frustrated with the behavior of lost sinners, remember this: "And such were some of you."

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

A Tale of Two Murders

2009-06-05T18:50:00.001-04:00

(Here is an article published June 5, 2009 in The Washington Flyer that is an interesting read; I had thought of the same thing earlier this week..... I wondered about the difference in response?!?!?!)

This past week Americans profiled two horrific acts of violence as Dr. George Tiller, known for his heinous acts against the unborn, was murdered in his church. A day later, America also witnessed a United States Army recruiter be murdered and another seriously injured, as they were fulfilling their duties in the great country they serve. Both acts of violence were horrific and unacceptable, yet the difference in response to both incidents is perhaps even more chilling. Within hours of the announcement of George Tiller’s murder, the President appropriately released a statement:

“I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.”

Attorney General Eric Holder also dispatched U.S. Marshals to protect “appropriate people and facilities around the nation,” in response to the murder of George Tiller. While authorities believe Tiller’s murderer acted alone, precautionary steps were taken.

In response to the murder of a U.S. Army Private, William Long, on home soil, the President stated absolutely nothing. Attorney General Eric Holder also made no comment and no U.S. Marshalls were directed to other recruiting stations, despite authorities, including the FBI, unsure if the suspect, a newly converted Muslim, acted alone or as evidence may be suggesting had ties with other domestic terrorists.

It was not until three days after the attack and an outcry from conservative media links and American citizens alike, that the President released this statement:

“I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence against two brave young soldiers who were doing their part to strengthen our armed forces and keep our country safe. I would like to wish Quinton Ezeagwula a speedy recovery, and to offer my condolences and prayers to William Long’s family as they mourn the loss of their son.”

Understanding the busy schedule of the President, it is still difficult to believe a simple statement or condolences to the family were not a priority. In fact, the President was even given a superb opportunity to denounce the actions of the perpetrator and give his respects to the soldiers and their families not even 24 hours after the attack when he announced the new Secretary of the Army. Again, nothing was said or mentioned. Some critics believe the President did not make comments regarding the attack earlier, fearing its impact when he traveled to the Middle East later in the week to reach out to Muslims.

While the President may not have made his remarks as hastily as many would have hoped, others were perturbed even further by the choice of words the President used and his ignorance to denounce the reasons behind the attacks. Bloggers criticized his word usage in response to the attack on the recruiters claiming “senseless act of violence” was a ignorant view of the evidence that suggests the actions were not senseless but rather planned and operated with a goal in mind. The President’s comments of being personally “shocked and outraged” when learning of the death of an abortion doctor compared to his “deeply saddened” statement of the attack on the U.S. soldiers also seemed a bit out of touch with many Americans.

Benjamin Franklin once stated, “Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning.” While the President addressed both horrible incidents in words, his actions to remain silent for three days when a soldier was murdered by a terror suspect, compared to his rapid response to the murder of an abortion doctor have brought some questioning of his meanings.

The "Devices" of Satan

2009-06-01T12:58:00.000-04:00

2 Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Diversion - turning the mind from things great to small, the unseen and eternal to the visible and temporal - 2 Cor. 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.
Delusion - lies and wiles by denials, evasions, and misrepresentations - 2 Cor. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Doubt - inducing hesitation by a "gospel of negation" leading to uncertainty, mental and moral - 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.
Double-mindedness - compromise, trying to serve God and mammon - Matt. 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 2 Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Darkness - enveloping the soul in gloom, either of imaginary difficulty, alienation from God, or despair - Isa. 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Deadness - substituting "dead works" for living, form of godliness without its power, ritualism, etc. - Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Delay - procrastinating all that is good, leading men to put off the time of decision and action - Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

From Knowing the Scriptures by A.T. Pierson

This Is The Book!!!

2009-05-24T07:37:00.000-04:00

Since God wrote it, mark its truthfulness. If I had written it, there would be worms of critics who would at once swarm on it and would cover it with their evil spawn. Had I written it, there would be men who would pull it to pieces at once and would perhaps be quite right to. But this is the Word of God. Come, search, ye critics, and find a flaw; examine it from its Genesis to its Revelation and find error.

This is a vein of pure gold, unalloyed by quartz or any earthly substance. This is a star without a speck, a sun without a blot, a light without darkness, a moon without paleness, a glory without dimness.

O Bible! It cannot be said of any other book that it is perfect and pure, but of Thee we can declare that all wisdom is gathered up in Thee without a particle of folly. This is the Judge that ends the strife where wit and reason fail. This is the Book untainted by error but is pure, unalloyed, perfect truth. Why? Because God wrote it. Ah! Charge God with error if you please; tell Him that His Book is not what it ought to be.... Blessed Bible, Thou art all truth.

By Charles Spurgeon

Seven Sound Things

2009-05-21T19:21:00.000-04:00

A Sound Heart - Pslm. 119:80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

A Sound Mind - 2 Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A Sound Speech - Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

A Sound Doctrine - Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

A Sound Believer - Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Sound in the Faith - Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

A Sound Wisdom - Prov. 3:21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

From One Thousand Bible Readings by F.E. Marsh

Dealing With the Devil

2009-05-16T16:07:00.001-04:00

The best way for your family to deal with the Devil is not to make a deal with him.

You can win the victory through Christ as you:

"Resist the devil" in the power of the Holy Spirit - James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Do not give the Devil any room to operate in your family - Eph. 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Attack the Devil with the Word of God - Matt. 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The Devil is an accuser - he will accuse your family to God.

The Devil is a slanderer - he will slander your family.

The Devil is a destroyer - he will attempt to destroy your family.

The Devil is a liar - he will lie to your family.

The Devil is a deceiver - he will deceive your family.

Thank God, the Devil is a defeated enemy, and Jesus Christ will destroy his works. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

By Dr. Raymond Barber in Family Portraits

Someone, Just Anyone

2009-05-15T10:58:00.000-04:00

She sat alone in an old people's home,

Lonely and old and gray;

She wished that someone, just anyone,

Would call on her that day.

DID YOU???

He lay for days on his hospital bed;

The hours were long and hard.

He wished that someone, just anyone,

Would send him a cheery card.

DID YOU???

He was far from home on foreign soil,

Feeling homesick, lonely and blue;

He wished that someone, just anyone,

Would write him a letter too.

DID YOU???

Her loved one died a few weeks ago;

All sad and brokenhearted she sat.

She wished that someone, just anyone,

Would come to her house for a chat.

DID YOU???

He hoped he had recited his verse well,

That little fellow you know;

He wished that someone, just anyone,

Would smile and tell him so.

DID YOU???

The matter of Christian service -

We are living it day by day.

When we help someone, just anyone,

As we walk along life's way.

Back-Seat Problem

2009-05-14T12:18:00.000-04:00

"I wonder," said good Parson Jones,

With a little troubled frown,

"If there is any way to get

You folks seated farther down."

"You see I have to talk across

So many empty pews

Before my voice can reach the back;

I fear my point you lose."

"And then I feel so lonesome too,

Way up here - you clear back there;

It's hard to feel you're with me

When I come to God in prayer."

"I wonder if you folks are scared

Of what I'm going to preach,

That you hurry so to park yourselves

In the farthest seat?"

"Or do you fear the church someday

Will suddenly catch fire?

Or do you want to slip out quick

If of my theme you tire?"

"I wish you'd come up closer

So I wouldn't have to shout -

If you don't I'm going to have

Those back seats taken out!"

Church Membership Matters

2009-05-09T16:07:00.000-04:00

Why Every Christian Needs a Spiritual Family

By Tim Christoson, Lancaster Baptist Church Adult Ministries Director
Published in The Baptist Voice, December 2008

Occasionally, I am asked why a Christian should become a member of a local church. Some insist that membership is merely a technicality, not seeing much difference between attendance and membership. Some argue they can worship God on their own, disconnected from a church family. Others feel qualified to invent their own, new definition of the church in an attempt to release them from responsibility.

Simply put, church membership is about making a commitment. It is a commitment to a body of doctrine, to a body of people, and to the body of Christ. To become a member is to join arms with others of like faith and to join God in His redemptive work in this world.

Being a member of a local church....

Gives me an environment in which to grow spiritually - Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 14:22-23 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Heb. 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Identifies me with my fellow believers - Eph. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 1 Peter 2:9-12 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Allows for genuine friendships, edifying relationships, and voluntary accountability - Rom. 16:1-6 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Prov. 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Enables burdens to be shared and loads to be lightened - Gal. 6:1-5, 10 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Eccl. 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Builds a prayer network for mutual intercession - Rom. 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 1 Tim. 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1 Tim. 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Places me under the spiritual protection of godly leaders - 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. Acts 20:28-29 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Provides a means to honor God financially by supporting local and world evangelism - 1 Cor. 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Php. 4:14-18 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Serves as a place for me to bring others so they may hear the Gospel - Matt. 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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.

Creates an opportunity to discover and exercise my spiritual gifts - Rom. 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 1 Tim. 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Connects me to something eternal and more significant than myself - Rom. 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Col. 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

The one institution Jesus set out to build was the church. Matt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus loves the church. Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; The church belongs to Him, and our existence was made possible through His sacrifice. Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

May we avoid the gravitational tendency to lower our esteem for God's choice organization. May we recommit ourselves and redouble our efforts of worshipping, growing, and serving together as a local church.

Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Be Strong

2009-05-08T18:27:00.000-04:00

Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle - face it, 'tis God's gift.

Be strong!
Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?"
And fold the hands and acquiesce - oh shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.

Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not - fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

By Maltbie Davenport Babcock, 1858-1901

The Sheep Need a Shepherd, and We've Got One!!!

2009-05-05T19:17:00.000-04:00

The Bible refers to God's people (those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour) as "sheep." We could note many similarities between real sheep and Christian people, but I want to emphasize the "Shepherd." Sheep need a Shepherd, and we've got One!!!

Isa. 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

What an appropriate way to describe the Saviour!!! He is further called:

The Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The Good Shepherd - John 10:11, 14 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

The Great Shepherd - Heb. 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Then consider these things:

The Shepherd knows His sheep - John 10:14, 27 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

The Shepherd calls His sheep - John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

The Shepherd gathers His sheep - Isa. 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The Shepherd guides His sheep - Pslm. 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The Shepherd protects His sheep - Jer. 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

The Shepherd died for His sheep - Matt. 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. John 10:11, 15 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Now, what about you, my friend? Are you one of His "sheep?" That's the most important issue in the world!!! Why not receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and "Shepherd" today? You'll be glad you've become one of His "sheep!" He's a wonderful "Shepherd!"

Pslm. 95:7-8a For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, .......

-The Fundamentalist, Sept. 1979

The Fellow Living Beside

2009-05-04T08:37:00.000-04:00

Do you know the neighbor who lives in your block?

Do you ever take time for a bit of talk?

Do you know his troubles, his heartaches, his cares,

The battles he's fighting, the burdens he bears?

Do you greet him with joy or pass him right by

With a questioning look and a quizzical eye?

Do you bid him "Good morning" and "How do you do?"

Or shrug up as if he was nothing to you?

He may be a chap with a mighty big heart

And a welcome that grips, if you just do your part.

And I know you'll coax out his sunniest smile

If you'll stop with this neighbor and visit awhile.

We rush on so fast in these strenuous days;

We're apt to find fault when it's better to praise.

We judge a man's worth by the make of his car;

We're anxious to find what his politics are.

But somehow it seldom gets under the hide,

The fact that the fellow we're living beside

Is a fellow like us, with a hankering too

For a grip of the hand and a "How do you do?"

With a heart that responds in a welcome sincere

If you'll just stop to fling him a message of cheer.

And I know you'll coax out his sunniest smile,

If you'll stop with this neighbor and visit awhile.

By H. Howard Biggar

The Sins of Anxiety, Worry, and Fretting!!!

2009-05-03T07:42:00.000-04:00

Matt. 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

The waste of it! The uselessness of it! All the worry that ever got itself accomplished in this weary, worrying world; all the sleepless nights; all the burdened days; all the joyless, mirthless, peace destroying, health destroying, happiness destroying, love destroying hours that men and women have ever in all earth's centuries given to worry, have never wrought one good thing.

It was all evil and only evil. It shut out the face of God, the loveliness of nature, the joy of love and the compensations of life. It poisoned the peace of others and cast its hateful shadow over other lives.

The very point of the sin of worry, the very reason why it is the basest, most cowardly of sins, is that it darkens the lives we are most responsible to bless - and all for no good, but only to blight and wrong.

The amazing thing about it is that no one is convicted of this mean sin! Good people live in it and with no sense of the outrage which it involves against the love of a kind, heavenly Father and against the rights of others!

By C. I. Scofield

How Deep is Your Devotedness to God???

2009-05-02T15:22:00.000-04:00

Our devotedness to God should be:

With our spirits - 1 Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
With our bodies - 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.
With our members - Rom. 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
With our substance - Prov. 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Unreserved - Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Abounding - 1 Thes. 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Persevering - Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
In life and death - Rom. 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

LOVING RIGHT AND HATING WRONG

2009-04-28T19:05:00.000-04:00

Hebrews 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The writer of Hebrews, quoting from the Psalms, gloriously speaks of our Savior, the Messiah, the Anointed One. He was anointed with grace and power, and was clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit without measure. No one before or after ever qualified as Jesus did for the power of God resting upon him and working through him. In describing our Lord, Emmanuel, it is stated that He "loved righteousness, and hated iniquity." What a wonderful attribute in Jesus to be praised, and to desire in our own personal walk! He loved what was right and hated what was wrong. This is such a simple formula, but also a searching one. If we want more of God's blessing and anointing upon our lives, this is one area we must periodically examine. We should honestly ask ourselves: "Do I really hate iniquity?" and "How much do I love righteousness?" It is not just a matter of trying to do right, but of loving what is right. Similarly, it is not only avoiding evil, but also developing a hatred for evil. And of course, evil is not just the evil that is seen in others but also, and more importantly, the evil that is found in us. We must learn to hate our sin, including: pride, laziness, selfishness, gossip, jealousy, pro-crastination, lust, stubbornness, etc. The Bible says that Jesus had such a love for righteousness and a hatred for iniquity; "therefore", God anointed Him in an unusual way. He had unusual power from on high. We need God's power upon our lives and ministries. We need for God to work in us and through us. If we are going to be blessed with a significant measure of God's power, if the Holy Spirit is going to be comfortable filling our lives and using us as His instruments, we must live holy lives. We must develop and maintain a love for the things that are right and a hatred for sin. The Bible refers to this anointing as the "oil of gladness." There is joy that accompanies the Spirit's empowerment. The times that Christians are truly the happiest or have the most joy are when they are fully surrendered to Christ, loving what He loves, and hating what He hates.

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

WE WILL NOT FORSAKE GOD'S HOUSE

2009-04-26T07:37:00.000-04:00

Nehemiah 10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

God's people had spent many years in Babylonian captivity because of their disobedience, rebellion, and idolatry. Forsaking God's law, His worship, His day, and His house had cost them dearly. By the grace and power of God, they were returned to Jerusalem. The destroyed city was being restored, the temple rebuilt, and the battered walls of the city repaired. With their past captivity fresh in their minds, they offered this great resolution: a fresh commitment to faithfulness to God's house. The Bible records their vow of loyalty to the house of God, "we will not forsake the house of our God." Our generation of Christians would do well to make a similar commitment. It is not an exaggeration to say that the house of God is too often being forsaken. One example of this is the great neglect of the place of the New Testament church in the work of God. The extremely popular, yet false belief in a universal and invisible church has caused many professing Christians to forsake the true house of God, which is the local church. I Timothy 3:15 says, "the house of God, which is the church of the living God." The house of God is being forsaken because of the neglect of Bible doctrine concerning the church. Multitudes of those who claim membership in local congregations are also forsaking God's house. They are forsaking God's house by their lack of faithful attendance to the assembly of the saints. Church attendance by some is looked at as a suggestion rather than the command of God. Others are forsaking God's house by their lack of financial support through consistent tithes and offerings. God gave His churches the responsibility to carry out His work in the world, and that work should be financed through the generous and consistent giving of the members. The house of God is being forsaken through the failure of members to use their gifts and abilities to serve in the ministries of the local church. The laborers are few because of those who are forsaking God's house. For the sake of our Savior and His great work, "we will not forsake the house of God."

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

DYING TO SELF

2009-04-19T07:41:00.000-04:00

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Are you dead yet? In these last days, would the Spirit bring us to the cross.

Php. 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

See A Sermon

2009-04-12T08:03:00.000-04:00

I’d rather see a sermon,
Than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me
Than merely show the way.
The eye’s a better pupil
And more willing than the ear;
Fine counsel is confusing
But example’s always clear.
And the best of all the preachers
Are the ones who live their creed,
For to see good put in action
Is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it,
If you let me see it done.
I can watch your hands in action,
But your tongue too fast may run.
And the sermon you deliver
May be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lesson
By observing what you do,
For I might misunderstand you
And the high advice you give;
But there’s no misunderstanding
How you act and how you live.

Author Unknown

Our Testimony

2009-04-11T15:42:00.001-04:00

Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongues
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible
The careless world will read,
We are the sinner’s gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if our ‘type’ is crooked?
What if our ‘print’ is blurred?

What if our hands are busy
With other work than His?
What if our feet are walking
Where’s sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
And others to Him turn?

Written by Annie Flint

Three Crosses

2009-04-10T10:41:00.000-04:00

Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

THE CROSS OF REJECTION

One man died in sin. He was a dying sinner. He died with sin in him.

This is the cross of many living today. They sneer at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.... "Save thyself and us" ... just as this thief cried. He like many today wanted to be saved but not by the Christ of the center cross. To his many sins he added the greatest of all: UNBELIEF. Of such the Lord Jesus said; "... if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)

THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION

One man died for sin. He was a dying Saviour. He died with sin upon him.

This cross is the wonder of all time. The sins upon the Lord Jesus Christ were your sins and my sins. We marvel at God's love for us, in that He would punish His own Son for the sins of the whole world. Christ suffered the agonies of hell so that His followers would be delivered from guilt, punishment, and eternal damnation.

THE CROSS OF RECEPTION

One man died to sin. He was a dying saint. He died with sin taken from him.

This cross brought about a last minute conversion. His sins were cancelled in a moment. No time for good works or sacraments; only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ of the center cross. What a change: morning in sin, noon in grace, night in glory. His home in paradise will be shared by all who repent toward God and believe.

THIS IS THE HISTORY OF THE WHOLE WORLD AND THE DESTINY OF EVERY MAN!!!

What the center cross means to you is determined by whether you are on the cross of RECEPTION or on the cross of REJECTION. If you want to be like the thief on the cross of RECEPTION then you need to repent in your heart of your sins and trust the Lord Jesus Christ to save you. Rom. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Accept the message of the cross of REDEMPTION today and be saved.

The Fear of the Lord

2009-04-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

There have been about a dozen mass-shootings in the United States in recent months, and secular experts are still trying to piece together the profiles and common denominators of these murderers. However, every one of them had one thing in common. They all lacked a fear of God. If someone fears God they won't lie to you, steal from you, or commit adultery with your spouse. They won't even lust after them. They won't hate you, harbor anger or be bitter towards you, and they certainly won't kill you.

Prov. 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

One of the major reasons this nation lacks the fear of God is that it's rarely preached from the modern pulpit. Think of what Nathan did with David. He put the fear of God in him by saying "Thou art the man. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight?" (see 2 Sam. 12:7-9). Without such a reproof David would have simply remained an unrepentant man who made an unfortunate choice in life. But the reproof revealed that he was a criminal who had despised the moral Law, and that God's wrath hovered over him for his terrible transgression.

We need to be Nathans to this nation and faithfully preach the Word, in season and out of season. We must "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." and the well-spring of our words must be love for sinners. We cannot let fear stop us from showing them that they have despised the Law, and that they have personally sinned against God, as Paul did in Romans 2:20-24.

Rom. 2:20-24 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

An excerpt from Ray Comfort's Living Waters weekly newsletter

COMPLAINING

2009-04-05T07:44:00.000-04:00

Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

The children of Israel were guilty, on numerous occasions, of displeasing the Lord. In this example, "when the people complained, it displeased the LORD." Their complaining angered God. They complained about the general difficulty of the journey, the presence of giants in Canaan, the lack of food or water, the absence of Moses when he was away seeking God, etc. Complaining sometimes brought God's chastening hand against His people. Most people would not consider complaining to be a serious sin, but when "the LORD heard it; . . . his anger was kindled." We all have, at some time or another, been guilty of complaining. Why would complaining so displease the Lord? For one thing, those who are complaining have usually been blinded to the wonderful things that God has done or is doing. God had delivered these people from their Egyptian slavery and given them hope and promise for the future, but those realities were momentarily forgotten. Having forgotten God's great blessings, they focused on their present lack, and the result was complaining. Complaining also indicates a lack of contentment with God and His will. From a prison where Paul was rejoicing, he wrote that we are to be content with the basic necessities of life. Not only is complaining an expression of personal discontent, it also helps to spread discontentment. Complaining discourages others and affects their attitudes and spiritual growth. Just as a grateful spirit can be contagious, a grumbling spirit can be infectious. Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God. God is trustworthy and He wants us to trust Him. He consistently met the needs of these Israelites by providing them with manna and water out of the rock, and by destroying their enemies. To complain is to forget all the ways God has guided and provided in the past and to assume that He has somehow become incapable of supplying now. Complaining is a serious sin and must be taken seriously. It displeased the Lord then, and we can be sure that it displeases Him now. Let us purpose to develop and maintain a positive attitude, free from complaining.

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

Take Heed

2009-03-22T07:57:00.000-04:00

Acts 20:28-31 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

"Take heed" with your possessions - Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
"Take heed" with your indulgent lifestyle - Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
"Take heed" that you practice forgiveness - Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
"Take heed" how you go about building your Christian life - 1 Cor. 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
"Take heed" in your exercise of Christian liberty - 1 Cor. 8:9-13 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 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; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
"Take heed" lest you be overcome in temptation - 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
"Take heed" lest you drift into carnality and fail spiritually - Heb. 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Sound Doctrine vs. False Teachings

2009-03-20T19:15:00.000-04:00

The Bible teaches that we are to test all teachings (I John 4:1,6), expose those teachings that are false (Eph. 5:11), confront and rebuke the false teachers (Titus 1:9-13), and then separate from those who persist in false teaching (Rom. 16:17, Titus 3:10), lest in the end, we are disqualified for service (2 Tim. 2:20-21), or worse yet, we are identified with the false teachings and the false teachers themselves (2 John 10-11).

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.

Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

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. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

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.

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

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.

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.

2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

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

For Whom Did Christ Die??? He Died......

2009-03-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

For all - 1 Tim. 2:4-6 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Isa. 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
For every man - Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For the world - John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
For the sins of the whole world - 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
For the ungodly - Rom. 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For false teachers - 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
For many - Matt. 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
For Israel - John 11:50-51 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
For the Church - Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
For ME - Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Some Things I Have Learned in Life

2009-03-17T19:19:00.000-04:00

Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Here are some things which should be preached at every man's funeral as a warning to those left behind.....

Be sure your sins will find you out. All our actions have consequences and just because we don't see them today does not mean they will not effect us tomorrow.
The fruit of sin will not only affect us but will also affect those around us.
The wages of sin always brings death, sorrow, and separation.
Sin enslaves.
To much of life is spent worrying about things that don't really matter and in effort to gain things that will never last.
The true value of real friends, family, and a good church.
Life at best is short.
The value of preparation.
Death does not have to be our enemy.

Why Preach???

2009-03-13T19:05:00.000-04:00

Because of the example of Jesus: Matt. 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mark 1:38-39 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Because we are commanded to: Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 2 Tim. 4:2-4 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.
Because it is God's method of reaching the lost: 1 Cor. 1:17-21 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 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.

One Day as a Thousand Years

2009-03-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

It is very sad in today's time period that many Christians are so eager to appear intellectual that they are willing to compromise God's clear revelation found in His Word in order to do so. God has made it very clear in very plain words:

Ex. 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Yet because evolutionary "science" has alleged that the earth is billions of years old, multitudes of evangelicals have fallen in line, rejecting God's plain statement of fact and then trying to find some interpretive loophole to hide behind.

The verse listed above at the beginning of the article is perhaps the key verse of the so-called "progressive creationists" who try to correlate the days of creation in Genesis with the supposed 4.6 billion year system of evolutionary geological ages, by citing Peter as agreeing that "one day is a thousand years."

No, Peter is saying that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years!" In other words, God can do in one day what might by natural processes take a thousand years. In context, the apostle is condemning the last day uniformitarians (those who teach that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation") as "willingly ignorant" of the tremendous significance of the historical facts of Creation and the Flood (see 2 Peter 3:3-6). Real written records only go back a few thousand years, and to attempt to calculate any date before that requires use of a premise which, in context, the Scriptures have just condemned!!! God says the uniformitarians are willingly ignorant and then urges those who believe His Word to "be not ignorant." The only way we can know the date and duration of creation is for God to tell us, and He says He made all of Heaven and Earth in six days, and not so long ago!!!

2 Peter 3:3-6 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:

WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY

2009-03-10T19:43:00.000-04:00

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.

The word circumspect means "to be cautious or careful." Looking at the two parts of the word helps us understand its definition. The last part of the word, spect has to do with sight, as spectacles or inspect. The first part of the word, circum refers to a circle, as a circumference. Thus, the word implies closely looking around us, inspecting our surroundings, and exercising caution. To "walk circumspectly" is to walk in wisdom. We can all remember walking through areas where we thought we might be in some danger, and carefully looking all around us to see any signs of concern. The Bible warns us to "walk circumspectly," being careful and alert. As God's children, we are to be watchful and aware of the circumstances around us. We need to be careful about temptations. The enemy is extremely effective in presenting temptations at those times when we are least prepared. We are warned in the Scripture that he walks about as a roaring lion seeking for those whom he may devour. We need to exercise caution concerning our attitudes and behavior. If we are not careful, we can develop a bad spirit and not realize it. Attitudes such as pride, bitterness, or a critical spirit can hinder our spiritual progress. If we do not defeat them, they can defeat us. We should also be diligent about our words. It is easy to become careless in the use of our words. If we are not watching, we can find ourselves using words that are hurtful or inconsistent with our profession as believers. We must be circumspect about our conduct, so that our actions are not questionable or offensive. We are to be careful about our associations, knowing that our friends can have either a positive effect or a negative effect on our spiritual lives and our testimony before others. We should be alert to the condition of others. Those we know and care for may be in spiritual danger; and if we are not observing in Christian love, we may not be aware of it. It is easy in this busy life to become so preoccupied or distracted that we do not "walk circumspectly." The Bible continues by saying, "not as fools, but as wise." It is foolish to go through life without being aware of what is going on around us. When we cease to be alert, we are the most vulnerable to danger. As pilgrims surrounded by potential problems, we are to "walk circumspectly."

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

Ten Little Missionaries

2009-03-09T20:08:00.000-04:00

Ten Future Missionaries heard God’s call Divine;
Mom steered her child away from it, enough there are with nine.

Nine future missionaries, to reach a world of hate;
Dad wanted his son an athlete, and cared not that God had but eight.

Eight future missionaries, to point the way to heaven;
Children make mistakes shrugged one, God must only need seven.

Seven future missionaries, when one begin to mix;
With peers all backslidden, then the count turned six

Six future missionaries, to preach Christ is alive;
One’s goal became the dollar, and that left only five.

Five future missionaries, to open salvation’s door;
One claimed, I lost my burden, and left the world with four.

Four future missionaries, from sin to set men free;
To one, sin became a pleasure, and then the willing numbered three.

Three future missionaries, had glorious plans in view;
But after sifting trials, the faithful numbered two.

Two future missionaries, when at first ten had begun;
One chose a wife who would not go, and that left God with one.

One little missionary, who heard God’s call divine;
Who left all to serve His Savior, unlike the other nine.

Author Unknown

Reverse Phariseeism

2009-03-08T07:40:00.000-04:00

This article has been submitted by Harold Vaughn written in November 2007:

Reverse racism was a term used to denote minorities who were prejudiced against the majority. There are two sides to every coin. Those who overreact to “Phariseeism” are in the ditch as well; albeit their ditch is on the other side of the road!

You may be guilty of Reverse Phariseeism if:

You think anyone with higher standards than you is a “legalist.”
You have stretched the “narrow gate” that leads to salvation to the point it is no longer “narrow.”
You believe those who hold non-negotiable convictions are all Pharisees.
You have more question marks than exclamation points when it comes to the authority of God’s Word.
You believe what’s “right for you” is true for you and . . .What’s “right for me” is true for me.
There is hardly anything so theologically or ethically bizarre that it would offend your sensibilities.
Foundational truths are debatable.
You understand how people could feel that referring to God as “Father” expresses a bent toward sexism.
You discount the Genesis account of creation because it is inconsistent with science.
You believe the criterion of “Truth” is sincerity instead of the revealed Word of God.
You believe there are many roads which lead to eternal life.
You view “grace” as a license to sin instead of the power to overcome it.
You believe God’s command to separate from error must be repudiated if we are to be effective in the modern world.
You have the identical disgust for the Pharisee that he has for you!
You think those who hold to non-negotiable principles are the main problem.
You think the way to reach the world for Christ is to imitate it.
You see no significant doctrinal differences between the Apostle Paul and the Pope.
You can wink at all manner of compromise as long as it is slanting to the left.
Your have zero tolerance for “excess” toward the right side of the religious spectrum.
You have an extremely generous conscience and great sympathy when it comes to “extravagance” among the leftleaning brethren.
You believe that all the other attributes of God are eclipsed by His love.
You esteem feminine virtues, but become uneasy when masculine traits are exalted.
You would be offended if someone said you were just as prejudiced as the Pharisee!

Overreaction is never corrective. In fact, overreaction is always destructive because it always creates its own set of problems.

Jesus was full of grace and truth and He warned us to be wary of the leaven of both the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Someone said, “Compassion without conviction equals compromise. Conviction without compassion causes contention. But compassion plus conviction equals communication.” Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we find godly balance and overflow with grace and truth.

TRUTH WILL BE TESTED

2009-03-01T07:35:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.

The writer of Hebrews was communicating to a people that were very familiar with reproaches and afflictions. In doing so, he urged them to recall the days when, "after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions." The word illuminated means "to shine light on or be made to see." After they were illuminated, they were faced with great afflictions. Have you ever experienced something similar? After you experienced some work of illuminating grace in your life - seeing something you had not seen before or seeing it in a different light - you were immediately met by a trial of some sort. This seems to be one of those principles, though perhaps not universal, but nonetheless very common. After you were "illuminated" or enlightened, after you saw the truth, you found yourself in "a great fight of afflictions." When God shows us something or gives us light, and we respond by obeying or walking in that light, we should not be surprised if that step of obedience is tested in some way. This often happens when a person is saved. He finds himself facing trials or temptations that he never experienced previously. Because he does not expect this, he may become discouraged or wonder if God is really there for him. The same thing can be true when a believer makes a new commitment to obey some truth that God has revealed or takes back some ground previously surrendered. Almost immediately, it seems that his commitment is being put to the test. TRUTH WILL BE TESTED. There are numerous examples of this in the Scripture. When Moses announced that the Israelites would be leaving Egypt, things immediately got much worse. After Jesus was baptized, He was led into forty days of intense temptation. Soon after Joseph announced his dream, he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. You see, it is a very common occurrence. We should remember that Satan will try to discourage us when we are seeking to step out by faith and obey God. Let's not allow the affliction to hinder us. Actually, God may be allowing us to be tested to demonstrate that our faith is genuine. When the truths and principles of Scripture are tested and proven in our lives, our faith is strengthened and Christ is glorified in us.

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

My Purpose to Preach

2009-02-27T18:20:00.001-05:00

The Bible gives me my purpose in preaching.

The lost give me urgency in my purpose for preaching.

The backslidden give me reasoning in my purpose for preaching.

The spiritual give me encouragement my purpose for preaching.

The children give me innocence in my purpose for preaching.

The seniors at the end of their life give me wisdom in my purpose for preaching.

The mentally challenged give me appreciation in my purpose for preaching.

The physically handicapped give me "I can" in my purpose for preaching.

The promises of my Heavenly Father give me comfort in my purpose for preaching.

The Holy Ghost gives me unction in my purpose for preaching.

The LORD JESUS my Saviour gives me love in my purpose for preaching.

Written by Pastor C. M. Carruthers

A FAMINE OF HEARING GOD'S WORD

2009-02-23T19:57:00.000-05:00

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Amos was a prophet to the nation of Israel. He proclaimed to the rebellious nation that they would be taken into captivity and led out of their homeland. Of course, the reason these people would be taken captive was their refusal to hear and heed the messages God was sending them. Amos announced that a day would come when there would be a famine in the land "of hearing the words of the LORD." God was letting them know that the day was coming when God's Word would be absent from their lives. A famine is a horrible thing. To be without food and starving to death or to be without water and dying of thirst; these are dreadful conditions. For God to be silent or for there to be no faithful proclamation and explanation of Scripture would also be a horrible experience. These, who had rejected the Word of God, would one day be without the message of truth. This presents a sobering reality, in addition to the historical message to Israel. For those who resist hearing God's Word and find His Truth an unwelcome intruder, there will come a time when they will no longer have to be bothered by the Bible's message. Like Israel, who after continuing to rebel against the commands of Scripture and ignoring the warnings of the prophets, eventually found themselves in a world without the "words of the LORD." Others will one day find that God has silenced His call for them to repent. Many will one day long for a Bible sermon or an opportunity to turn from sin and selfishness, but in hell there will be a famine "of hearing the words of the LORD." We also know of nations where the Bible was once preached soundly and believed. However, revival has since departed and churches have accepted formality and ritual instead of preaching. To find a clear presentation of the Gospel or a call for repentance and trusting in the blood of Calvary alone for salvation is a scarcity in those lands. What about America? Is it not true that the preaching of the pure Word of God is becoming harder and harder to find? Why has old-fashioned Bible preaching been replaced with musical presentations, seminars, drama, and other forms of entertainment? Could it be that we are already headed for such a famine?

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

Ten Ways to Know That You are LOST

2009-02-22T07:57:00.000-05:00

Born-again Believers know in Whom they have believed, and know that they are Saved!!! The unsaved can also know some important things......

How To Know You Are Lost:

You have no hunger for the Word of God - evidence found in: Matt. 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
You can sin and get away with it - evidence found in: Heb. 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
You love the world more than you love God - evidence found in: 1 John 2:15 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.
You cannot understand God's Word - evidence found in: 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.
You do not look forward to Jesus Christ's return - evidence found in: 1 Thes. 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
You practice the same sin or sins again and again - evidence found in: 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
You do not like to be around God's people - evidence found in: 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Your prayers are not answered - evidence found in: 1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
God's Spirit does not bear witness in you - evidence found in: Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
There has been no change in your lifestyle - evidence found in: 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

By Evangelist Jack Parchman and Pastor Lee Spencer

TAKING PREACHING SERIOUSLY

2009-02-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

Jonah 3:4-5 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Jonah was, to say the least, a very reluctant preacher. He was not in favor of taking the Gospel to Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrians. In the belly of the whale, Jonah changed his mind about the will of God and then took God's message to the great city. After hearing the preaching of Jonah, the people of Nineveh "believed God, and proclaimed a fast." They took seriously the message from the man of God. What a testimony of the power of the Word of God! The preacher, although he finally agreed to go to Nineveh, still disagreed with God about showing mercy to the people of Nineveh. These people were enemies to God's people, and Jonah certainly did not want to see them blessed. However, despite the struggles the prophet was going through, God's Word was powerful to the hearts of the hearers. We should never underestimate the life-changing power of the Word of God. There is also something to be said about the way the people responded to the preaching of God's Word. These pagan people of Nineveh believed God and repented. They had no Christian background or training and were accustomed to worshiping a plurality of gods, rather than the true and living God. In spite of this, they did not question nor debate about the message; they received the truth and responded properly to it. How different this is from the way we sometimes see the Word of God treated. Even professing believers spend great energy trying to disprove some portion of Scripture rather than simply believing what the Bible says. If we are going to see God's power at work in genuine revival, we must get serious about obeying the Word of God. Jonah's experience reminds us of the vital role of preaching in God's design to bring about change in the hearts of individuals, and even to influence cities. It is through the preaching of truth that God communicates with those He is reaching out to. May we always hold in high regard the preaching of the Word of God. And when the truth is presented to us from the pages of Scripture, like the citizens of Nineveh, let us believe God.

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

THE REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH

2009-02-07T16:29:00.000-05:00

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

This passage is a part of a larger context which includes a number of promises to God's people, specifically associated with their sincere repentance with prayer and fasting. A careful reading of the passage reveals promises having do with our children, and their influence on future generations. Of special interest is the phrase, "thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach." A breach is "a break or a gap in a fence, hedge, or wall." Walls or fences were constructed for protection and preservation. Boundaries were hedged to preserve property lines, and towns were walled to protect from enemies. When these walls were broken, eroded, or allowed to deteriorate, it caused breaches or gaps, and a break down of protection. Someone would have to repair the breaches or the occupants would be in great jeopardy. In every generation, "repairers of the breach" have been greatly needed, and they are certainly needed today. Walls of protection and separation have suffered great damage. Compromise and disobedience have eroded the hedges that ought to protect. We have witnessed an all out assault on the protective walls of our homes, our churches, and our nation. Moral walls have been greatly damaged. Attacks on traditional marriage, opposition to public references to God, and legalized abortion are examples. The hedges around the Lord's churches have been weakened by worldliness, ecumenism, and rejection of Biblical truth. The safe haven of families have been breached through similar matters of compromise and disobedience. The spiritual protection of individual lives can be removed by willful sin and giving ground to the enemy. To restore the protection, the breaches must be repaired. How can we rebuild the walls around our lives and ministries? Through repentance, obedience, and intercession, we can see these hedges rebuilt. The number of those who are determined to see the old landmarks removed continues to grow. We must be just as committed to the cause of following the old paths of obedience and godliness. And as such, we too can be called "repairers of the breach."

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

CONSIDER YOUR WAYS

2009-01-18T07:56:00.000-05:00

Haggai 1:5, 7 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

God used His prophet to challenge the people about their priorities and their activity. They were twice told to "Consider your ways." Haggai prophesied during the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity. His message was to a people who were guilty of procrastinating about the building of the Lord's house. They felt there was ample time to improve and enjoy their own homes, but there was no urgency about God's house.

What does it mean to consider one's ways? The word consider means "to think about or set your heart upon." They were to honestly evaluate their way of life. This is such good advice for us all. Is it right for us, the way we live? Is it right to neglect God's house or God's work? Is it right for those who claim a relationship with God to have time for personal interests or hobbies, but no time for God's work? How about neglecting our Bible reading or prayer time? Isn't it interesting how we have time for things that we want to do, but very often do not have time for things God wants us to do? We need to think about, or consider our ways.

When God's house and God's work are being neglected, we should not expect to see His approval and blessing. It is so easy for us to get our lives and priorities out of balance. That is why it is good, from time to time, to consider our ways. Are we neglecting our families? Are we neglecting our Christian service? Do our job or hobbies demand too much of our time? We need to seriously evaluate our schedules and see where our time is being spent. What important activities are being sacrificed because we are investing too much of our lives to less important things? Once we have done an honest assessment of our ways, we need to make adjustments that reflect our new intentions.

It is important to think about what we need to be doing, but it is another thing to change our ways. What should I be doing that I am not doing? What am I doing that I should not be doing, or at least not doing so much of? Do I have time in my schedule for visitation or soul winning? Am I doing my part as far as helping with ministries or projects at the church? Do I plan time in my schedule for family? Just as God used Haggai to challenge the priorities of His people, may His words speak to us as well.

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

10 Sure-fire Ways to Avoid Becoming a Missionary

2009-01-11T09:04:00.000-05:00

(This was posted by a pastor on a mailing list earlier this week..... food for thought!!!)

1. Ignore Jesus' request in John 4:35 that we take a long hard look at the fields. Seeing the needs of people can be depressing and very unsettling. It could lead to genuine missionary concern.

2. Focus your energies on socially legitimate targets. Go after a bigger salary. Focus on getting a job promotion, a bigger home, a more luxurious car, or future financial security. Along the way, run up some big credit card debts.

3. Get married to somebody who thinks the Great Commission is what your employer gives you after you make a big sale. After marriage, embrace the socially accepted norms of settling down, establishing a respectable career trajectory and raising a picture-perfect family.

4. Stay away from missionaries. Their testimonies can be disturbing. The situations they describe will distract you from embracing whole-heartedly the materialistic lifestyle of your home country.

5. If you happen to think about missions, restrict your attention to countries where it's impossible to openly do missionary work. Think only about North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and other closed countries. Forget the vast areas of our globe open to missionaries.

6. Think how bad a missionary you would be based on your own past failures. It is unreasonable to expect you will ever be any better. Don't even think about Moses, David, Jonah, Peter or Mark, all of whom overcame failures.

7. Always imagine missionaries as talented, super-spiritual people who stand on lofty pedestals. Maintaining this image of missionaries will heighten your own sense of inadequacy. Convincing yourself that God does not use ordinary people as missionaries will smother any guilt you may feel about refusing to even listen for a call from God.

8. Agree with the people who tell you that you are indispensable where you are. Listen when they tell you that your local church or home country can't do without you.
9. Worry incessantly about money.
10. If you still feel you must go, go out right away without any preparation or training. You'll soon be home again and no one can ever blame you for not trying!

Inspired by Stewart Dinnen's list in How are You Doing? (Bromley: STL Books, 1984)

Stand For Your Life

2008-12-31T17:18:00.000-05:00

Esther 8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

We live in a very passive society today. It is very disturbing to see people so passive about issues that could destroy our nation and our Fundamental movement as we know it.

In the days this story was written, it seemed the Jews were very passive about everything that was going on in the kingdom. Many things probably contributed to this attitude. Their defeat and the captivity in which they were currently living was certainly one of the causes. The hate for the nation in which they lived was probably another cause. But maybe the biggest cause was the mentality that whatever they did would not affect anything in anyway. Whatever the reason, now their lives were at stake.

A law had been given to destroy all the Jews and Mordecai sent a post to all the Jews and begged them to "stand for their life." He begged them because their future was at stake, and if there were ever a time to stand, this was that time. Because they would not stand for any other reason, Mordecai told them to at least stand for their life's sake.

There are many reasons for which people should stand up and fight. I believe the reason for which we should stand is for right and against wrong. But to be quite honest with you, it seems we live in a society that seems to be very passive about the change that is going on in our nation and in Fundamentalism. As people are passive about the issues going on today, the crowd who wants to destroy us is certainly getting their agenda done. Their agenda is to change our nation and Fundamentalism as we know it.

I come to you today and say it is time we stand for our life. If we are not willing to stand for any other reason, we need to stand for the sake of our life, our future. Standing means we will do what it takes to get our agenda done even if it means we will lose friends and influence over our stance. It takes character to do this! Yet, we need people today to stand for their life. You may not have a public pulpit where many can hear you, but it takes everybody doing right to change what is going on.

I come to the Christian and say, stand for your life. When you see the main movement in Fundamentalism changing the Word of God and what we believe about it, stand up and say you will not be a part of it. When you see Christianity becoming more like the world, don't you change to be like everyone else. Stand up for your life! When you see the country in which you live continually move to the left, stand for right even if it seems as if your stance will not change anything. We cannot and must not be passive about the changes we see going on in our nation and in the movement of Fundamentalism. We must stand for our life's sake.

I ask you, are you standing for right when you see changes going on or are you the one who sits quietly because you don't want to upset the apple cart? It is those who quietly sit there and don't say anything when they see things going on which shouldn't be happening who are the cause of compromise and societal changes. I beg of you today, stand for your life, for not only is your future at stake, but the future of your children is at stake as well.

A devotional thought by Evangelist Allen Domelle from Old Paths Journal

MAKING ROOM FOR THE SAVIOR

2008-12-28T07:29:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Joseph and Mary had made the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where they were obliged to report. While they were in Bethlehem, the Christ child was born that the prophecy of the Scripture be fulfilled. Because all the lodging places were occupied, the Savior of the world was not born in a clean comfortable room, but in a manger, a crib where cattle were fed. There is something so majestic in this scene. Our Lord came to this earth to love and liberate hurting people. He did not come to magnify Himself or impress us with His glory and grandeur. His persona was always of humility and meekness. Jesus identified more with the common people than the elite. Simplicity marked His ministry. He wrote in the sand, rode a borrowed donkey, and slept under the stars. His birth epitomized His mission. He laid aside that which He was entitled to as the Almighty God. He is the Creator of the worlds and commands angels, and yet He condescended to live in our world that He might redeem us from our sin. Jesus was not intrusive or demanding, but rather content and unassuming. This character of our King moves us to love Him and worship Him, not because He came to this earth demanding it, but because in every way, He deserves it. Jesus does not force Himself into our lives. There was no room in the inn for Joseph, Mary, and the soon to be born King. In a very similar way, there is little room for Jesus in many lives today. Schedules are too full to find time to honor Him, seek Him, or serve Him. Jobs, as well as recreation and leisure, take precedence over the house of God. Hearts are too crowded with other affections to love and worship the King of Glory. Budgets are so full there is no thought of giving to Him. Minds are so distracted that they have no time to meditate on His wonder. There is just no room for Jesus in the experience of so many. However, for those of us who know and love Him, we want to make room for Him. If we do nothing else, we want to adore and worship Him. He is to have first place in our hearts and our schedules. Our Lord is looking for those who will make room in their lives for Him. May the Shepherd of our souls always know we genuinely welcome Him.

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

HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS

2008-12-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

At this time of the year, many are busy celebrating the miraculous birth of Christ, but too few remember why He came. What does it mean? Why did He come? It is not important whether He was born in December. The important thing is that He was born. God became a man. Deity was robed in humanity. The eternal Creator died for sinners. Our text reminds us that he “came into the world to save sinners.” This is the Gospel or good news. When Mary was informed of God’s plan for her to give birth to Christ, she was instructed in this way, “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Her Son would be the Savior. Her baby would be the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world. He came to save sinners. When the angels announced His birth to the shepherds, they said, “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The Christ child is the Savior. He came to save us from our sin. He came to pay our sin debt that we might be forgiven, reconciled to God, and born again. We must personalize the Gospel. Jesus did not come to die for sinners in general, but to die for individuals. Paul says in our Scripture, “of whom I am chief.” Of all the sinners that Jesus came to save, Paul felt that he was the chief of them. He considered himself the foremost of all sinners. Who did Jesus die for? He died for you. He died for me. Undeserving does not begin to describe the desperate condition of our souls. We were without hope and without God in the world. We were lost and undone, turned to our own way, on the broad road of destruction, with an eternity in hell awaiting us. He came to save us. He came to this earth on a mission. His love for you and me and all mankind motivated His supreme sacrifice. He came to redeem us from our sin and bondage. He came to pay our sin debt. He came to ransom us. He took our sins on His own body on Golgotha’s cross. He died in our place and then rose triumphantly from the grave offering eternal salvation to all who will receive Him. What a Savior! What a Friend of sinners! We could never love Him as He deserves.

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

That's My Saviour!!! Have You Seen Him??? Are You Telling Others???

2008-12-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:1-21 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The Night Before Jesus Came

2008-12-24T08:25:00.000-05:00

‘Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house
Not a person was praying, not one In the house.
The Bibles were left an the shelf without care,
For no one thought that Jesus would come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom In her rocker with baby in her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the east there rose such a clatter,
I Sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and lifted the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
The light of His face made me cover my head-
It was Jesus returning, just as He said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but It was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, If only I’d known that this was the night.
In the words of this poem the meaning Is clear;
The coming of Jesus is now drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all.

-- Written by Margie Knight

Ten Commandments of Christmas

2008-12-23T08:57:00.001-05:00

I. Thou shalt not leave “Christ” out of Christmas, making it “Xmas.” It may be true that the “X” is the Greek letter that stands for “CHRIST’ but to most, “X” is the unknown.
II. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgotten and the souls of others are ignored.
III. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality. The merchants have commercialized this season until giving is forgotten and getting is foremost.
IV. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mailman, and the merchant with complaints and demands. A Christian Testimony is required from us everyday as well as Sunday.
V. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift. This will increase its value a hundred fold, and he who receiveth it shall treasure it forever The preciousness of personal commitment is worth more than any treasure.
VI. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold.
VII. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold unless thou art generous. We all have more than we deserve.
VIII. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season. And, the joy of fellowship is untold by words.
IX. Thou shalt be as a little child. Not until thou hast become in spirit as a little one art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
X. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list His gift to us is paramount in our favor.

Anyone keeping these commandments is sure to have a blessed and meaningful Christmas.

Not on the First Christmas

2008-12-22T08:36:00.000-05:00

Many people’s impression of the first Christmas, when Jesus was born, is not from the Bible. People get what they believe happened at Christ’s birth from television shows, movies, artists’ renderings, or an inaccurate story told to them. Much of what they see or are taught is not according to the Scriptures. So what do the Scriptures say?

The wise men were not there when Jesus was born. According to Luke 2, the shepherds were there. After Christ’s birth, more of His young life is revealed in Matthew 2. There it mentions that the babe was in the “house” (Matthew 2:11) when the wise men arrived, not in the manger.

It is possible that Jesus was up to two years old at the time the wisemen arrived. Herod, the king, heard that the “King of the Jews” was born, and to eliminate someone that could usurp his position on the throne, he had all the children two years old and younger killed. If Jesus had just been born, Herod would not have picked that age range to assure Jesus would be killed.

Also, to get the scene biblically correct, the Bible never mentions that there were three wise men. They did bring three different kinds of gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Bible never mentions that there were exactly three packages as many pictures portray. There could have been a multitude of packages of the three different kinds of gifts. The cash value of these items may have provided the finances Joseph and his family needed to escape the genocide of all the children Herod sought to murder. Thus, the wisemen may have paid the way to keep the young Saviour from being killed.

There was no special star shining at His birth. According to the Matthew account, the guiding star was used to lead the wise men to where Jesus was; so since they came when He was in His house, there was no star at Christ’s birth.

Although Christ’s birth is celebrated on the 25th of December, it probably did not occur then. His birth was most likely at the end of September. At Christ’s birth, the shepherds were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock.” Since the winters today are much like they were 2,000 years ago, it was too cold for grass to grow. The flocks usually grazed in the fields from April to October.

Also, Joseph and Mary went to pay their taxes (not partaking in a “census” or “registering” as many of the modern Bible perversions retell it). The taxes were probably collected at the end of the harvest, not when the average temperature was too cold to travel (average temperature was about 29 degrees in December). The tax turnout would not be full if it were too cold to travel.

A Christmas tree was not part of His birth. Nowhere in the birth of Christ is a Christmas tree indicated. The only decorated tree mentioned in the Word of God is found in Jeremiah 10:3-4, and it was part of a heathen custom.

The birth of the Saviour, over 2,000 years ago, was the most important birth of all time. That birth brought into this world God’s only son; who over 33 years later would die on a cross to pay for the sins of all that accepted His payment. Although the ideas of many concerning Christmas may be unbiblical, it is wonderful that many still stop their busy lives to remember His birth, at least once a year. Misconceptions of any Bible information should teach us that the only way we will ever know the truth is to read God’s Word for ourselves, and not to rely on other sources that may not be accurate.

An article written by Bill Brinkworth found in The Bible View published 12/18/08.

DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS

2008-12-21T07:35:00.000-05:00

I Thessalonians 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.

The word “prophesyings” would apply to both the prophecies of the Scripture, as well as the proclamation of the Word of God. For instance, the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, His person and work, and the many prophecies that have been fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, are not to be despised. Equally, the prophecies concerning future events such as the return of Christ, the Judgment Seat of Christ, His future earthly reign, and other such revelations should not be neglected. Just as importantly, the preaching, or setting forth of Biblical truth, is also prophesying and should not be disesteemed. There was a tendency in the early churches to exalt temporary gifts such as speaking in tongues (other languages), but then despise the faithful proclamation of sound doctrine. The inspired Word of God commanded them, and instructs us as well, not to undervalue the importance of Bible preaching. The stating of Bible truth in language simple enough to be understood is of inestimable value. Whereas certain temporary gifts were given to the apostles to confirm the messengers and messages of God’s Word, the gift and calling of setting forth the truth is a permanent office in the churches. The Biblical means by which the lost are to be convinced and believers are to be edified is preaching. Men are to preach the truth as it is, to men as they are. The despising of Bible preaching was not something peculiar to the New Testament era. It has become increasingly scorned in our generation. For many, it is considered outdated and offensive. Those who occupy the pulpits in many places of our land have been convinced that other methods are more effective and more palatable to the carnal mind. These trends are in direct violation to the clear teaching of the Word of God. Because the general population of our society has no appetite for Bible preaching does not give us the liberty to adjust God’s program or revise His plan. Bible preaching should be, and should always remain, the central activity of the Lord’s people and His churches. That being the case, we should all develop and maintain a hunger for the proclamation of God’s Word. Not only should we personally learn to love and appreciate Bible preaching, we should also lead our children to “Despise not prophesyings.”

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

Merry (insert your own)mas

2008-12-20T17:46:00.000-05:00

(Here is an article written by Marvin McElvany found in The Eagle Newsletter for all of us to ponder.....)

This time next week Christmas ’08 will be a fond memory. The trashcan will be full of wrapping paper and odd shaped boxes, everyone will be in their own little world exploring their new gifts. So…what was it all about? The gifts? The family? The food? A four day weekend?

For some of us, it will mean we paused for a moment and enjoyed the beautiful carols about the birth and wonderful story of our Saviour. We tried to put Christ back in Christmas as they say. How important is that these days? Apparently, not very.

According to an article in USAToday, December 19, 2008, most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior. Of the 65% of people who held this open view of heaven's gates, 80% named at least one non-Christian group — Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, or people with no religion at all — who may also be saved, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Christian believers who named at least one non-Christian faith that could lead to salvation included 34% of white evangelicals, even though evangelical doctrine stresses that salvation is possible only through Jesus. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, calls the findings "a theological crisis for American evangelicals. They represent at best a misunderstanding of the Gospel and at worst a repudiation of the Gospel." "We are in an age when we want to tell everyone they are doing just fine. It's extremely uncomfortable to turn to someone and say, 'You will go to hell unless you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus,' " Mohler says.

We read about the boy in Mississippi who was given an “F” for writing about Jesus when asked to tell, “What Christmas Means To Me”, or how about the students who are denied to speak about their faith at their graduation ceremonies, or how South Carolina ordered a stop to making license plates that feature a cross and the words “I Believe.” It must be this “tolerance” I hear so much about. What about the state of our nation? Wall Street melt down; lay-offs; foreclosures; bankruptcies! Can we turn our backs on God and then expect Him to bless us?

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Pretty plain and simple. If you can still go to heaven, as some Christians claim, and not come to a “saving knowledge of Jesus”, then what did He come and die for? What do we need a Saviour for? How can we stand in front of the Maker of the Universe and plead our case without the imputed righteousness of Jesus?

Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “…for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” Obviously we’ve jumped and we’re picking up speed. It’s one thing to get caught up in the gifts, food, and family. We should at least get our theology straight.

FALSE PROPHETS

2008-12-14T07:43:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 23:16-17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

It is not just the absence of preaching that causes it to be difficult to reach people. Helping someone who has never been exposed to truth can often be rather simple and effective. However, the thing that makes it more of a challenge is the presence and popularity of FALSE PROPHETS and distortions of the truth. This is not only true regarding the message of salvation, but also the message of church loyalty, separation, etc. Jeremiah’s message was, “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you.” We are not to listen to false teachers or preachers. Their message is not from God, but rather “a vision of their own heart.” Why would people so readily believe the message of false teachers? There are probably many reasons, but at least one is found in our text. The untruths of these prophets can be more appealing than truth in the ears of the unsaved or unspiritual. Notice Jeremiah’s words as he speaks for God, “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” These false preachers were telling those that despised God that they would have peace, and to those that walked after the desires of their own heart, “No evil shall come upon you.” In essence, they were saying, “God does not care what you do. Do as you please. There will be no consequences for your sinful or sensual decisions.” This is in great contrast to a true man of God who says, “Thus saith the Lord.” We have a similar situation today. Many are claiming God’s authority and preaching contrary to His Word. God’s Word is still the final authority. Without His Word, we have no message. Preaching against sin and calling Christians to holy living is becoming a thing of the past. Those today that preach freedom to compromise and rebel, without consequences, are preaching lies.

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

GREATEST NEEDS IN THE CHURCH TODAY

2008-12-12T18:58:00.000-05:00

(The following list was submitted by Pastor Mike Walls of Freedom Baptist Church, Smithfield, NC and shared on an email list earlier this month.)

On Monday, February 28, 2000, I hosted a pastor's fellowship at our church. There were eighteen preachers in attendance. When the letters announcing the fellowship was sent to the preachers, they were asked to think along these lines: "What do you think the two greatest needs are for our churches today?" The information that precedes this is a summary of their responses at that meeting.

1. More doctrinal preaching
2. Preachers having more love for their people
3. Church members more committed to Christ and their church
4. Practical Bible living
5. Develop a desire for a Bible based revival
6. Getting people excited with the things of God especially prayer
7. Not being as quick to condemn others without first looking at ourselves
8. People getting busy for the Lord
9. Letting the Lord develop people's convictions
10. Try to get people committed to the ministry who are not already committed
11. Teach people to set priorities
12. Get people grounded in the basics of the Bible
13. Get a passionate love for the Lord Jesus
14. Train people to be able to take the place of the older men in the ministry
15. More personal soul winning
16. More personal holiness
17. Taking heed to ourselves first and then to doctrine
18. Getting a proper balance in the ministry
19. More pastoring than preaching
20. Develop discipleship
21. More emphasis on prayer
22. Make ourselves available to the blessings of God
23. Become better leaders
24. Develop better standards in our lives
25. Greater intensity to the study of God's Word
26. Maintain our love affair with the Lord Jesus like we had when we were first saved.
27. Teach our people the capabilities of God
28. A Spirit-filled life
29. Provide enough avenues of service for our people
30. Develop more faith to live by the Word of God
31. Have a greater burden and vision for the lost
32. Reach our youth for Jesus Christ
33. Have a greater relationship with Christ
34. Teach the basics of what and why we believe in the Bible so they will know what and why they believe
35. Ask God for proper humility
36. Remember the importance of the ministry

I compiled this list because of what Proverbs 13:20a says: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise". May we glean from these words of wisdom!

Newsweek and President Bush: "Both are Bible Morons!"

2008-12-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

(Here is an excerpt from an editorial piece that I read today; click on the title link above to read the article in its entirety. Earlier this week, I had hoped to post an article about the recent news stories this week in which this article addresses, but alas, I have been busy at work and home, so this will have to suffice..... I do believe America is full of several generations of Bible illiterates; the lack of knowledge of professed Christians of God's Word is truly sad!!!)

In a season supposed to be filled with glad tidings of God echoing throughout the land, we have the president of the United States questioning the Bible's literal content and a major newsmagazine suggesting the Good Book has no problem with same-sex marriage.

In case you missed it, President George W. Bush was asked this week if the Bible is literally true.

"You know. Probably not," Bush told ABC's Cynthia McFadden. "No, I'm not a literalist, but I think you can learn a lot from it, but I do think that the New Testament for example is ... has got ... You know, the important lesson is 'God sent a son."'

He also said he thinks God's creation of the Earth could have taken place along with human evolution.

"I don't think it's incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution," he said.

And then there are the morons at Newsweek.

Next week's cover story titled "Our Mutual Joy" actually suggests the Bible argues in favor of homosexual marriage.

Huh? What Bible are these doofuses reading?

I don't know about you, but I am absolutely fed up with idiocy like this.

First, regarding Bush's statements, I don't know why he has such a problem with believing the literal truth of Scripture. If he agrees a supernatural event took place when God the Father sent His Son to Earth by miraculously impregnating a young woman who never had sex, then why is it so hard to believe the rest? If God can create the planet, then why can't He scoop up some dirt, shape it in the image of Himself and then breathe the breath of life into the first man?

Is it impossible? For us, yes. But obviously, not for the eternal Creator. Why believe one miracle, and not any other? Are we supposed to just pick and choose which fantastic miracle to believe?

On Newsweek's ludicrous claim, here's the real truth. The Bible never mentions any case of same-sex marriage, but it soundly condemns homosexuality. I know some people hear conflicting messages these days and rarely crack open their Bibles, so here's a quick lesson.

Lev. 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Lev. 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Newsweek's Lisa Miller calls such verses "throwaway lines in a peculiar text given over to codes for living in the ancient Jewish world ... ." What kind of psychobabble is that?

Even the ancient city of Sodom was known for its sexual perversion, and was firebombed by God shortly after the homosexuals there demanded to have sex with two of God's angels who were appearing in the form of men: Gen. 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

If you've ever been to or heard of a "gay"-pride parade in recent times, keep in mind that flaunting perversion is not necessarily new.

Isa 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

The New Testament brings up Sodom quite often, with examples such as:

Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Rom. 1:22-32 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am fed up with people lying about the Bible. I'm fed up with people twisting the words of Holy Scripture to fit some depraved, politically correct, anti-God agenda. I'm fed up with fables and misconceptions about the Bible that have endured for centuries. I'm fed up with people saying the Bible doesn't mean what it says. It means exactly what it says and it says what it means.

God is coming back to put an end to this nonsense.

This is the Book!!!

2008-12-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

Since God wrote it, mark its truthfulness. If I had written it, there would be worms of critics who would at once swarm on it and would cover it with their own evil spawn. Had I written it, there would be men who would pull it to pieces at once and would perhaps be quite right to. But this is the Word of God. Come, search, ye critics, and find a flaw; examine it from its Genesis to its Revelation and find error.

O Bible! It cannot be said of any other book that it is perfect and pure, but of Thee we can declare that all wisdom is gathered up in Thee without a particle of folly. This is the Judge that ends the strife where wit and reason fail. This is the book untainted by error but is pure, unalloyed, perfect truth. Why? Because God wrote it. Ah! Charge God with error if you please; tell Him that His Book is not what it ought to be.... Blessed Bible, Thou art all truth.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Unfortunately, especially in these last few generations, men must be wiser and much more knowledgable than those whom lived in Spurgeon's day, since they are able to detect error within God's Book and by letting Him know it isn't what it should be; thus, these Bible scholars have presented us with a vast array of new "bibles" in order for us to know in today's "modern society" the very words of God..... I think not!!!!!

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD 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.

What to Ask Myself Before I Teach (or Preach) the Bible

2008-12-06T07:16:00.000-05:00

(This article was posted on an email list I subscribe to yesterday afternoon and was written by Jim Elliff. I appreciate his seriousness about the Word of God and staying true to the text at hand.)

The results of our teaching are entirely God's business. But it is our business to be as prepared as possible. This not only means that we must know our subject, but that we must be spiritually-minded and intentional. The following are questions to ask yourself before you teach others:

Have I prayed?
Do I consciously and desperately need the Spirit?
Do I believe that my hearers must hear what I have to say?
Am I attempting to live by the truths I am presenting?
Will my demeanor and words reflect the beauty and significance of the passage?
Do I believe God will change my listeners through what I will say?
In what principal way do I believe my hearers will be different because of this teaching?
How would this truth affect _____________, ___________, ____________ (put in names).
Am I saying what the passage says, or am I using the passage to justify saying what I want to say?
Will the most mature Christian be challenged and the least mature understand?
In what ways am I remembering all who may be present (i.e., children, singles, retired, those without Christian spouses, etc.)
Am I using vivid word pictures and helpful illustrations to make my teaching memorable and clear?
Is there anything I am planning to say that I should not say?
Am I passionate about this truth, and will my passion be evident to my listeners?
In what ways will I make Christ known (even from the Old Testament)?

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Also, remember that true believers are not interested in your cleverness, but rather your faithfulness. You will do them immense good if you will simply teach what the Bible says, as accurately and as clearly as possible. Do not try to steal the attention away from God.