Are You Committed to Your Church???

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???

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

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.

How to Make Spiritual Progress

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).

Do It Now!!!

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

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

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 .......

(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.......

1. Fixed in their Salvation
2. Forgiven of all Sin
3. Fortified with the Scripture
4. Fervent in Supplication
5. Filled with the Spirit
6. Faithful in Service
7. Friendly in their Separation
8. Free in their Sharing
9. Following the Shepherd
10. Fruitful in Soulwinning

Or Would I?

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

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

THE RIGHT FRIENDS

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)

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.

1. When Elijah got under the juniper tree, the angel told him to "arise and eat." I Kings 19:5
2. When Paul was threatened with shipwreck, the Lord told him to "be of good cheer." Acts 27:25
3. When John was banished to the island of Patmos, the Lord revealed Himself to him. Rev. 1:11
4. 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
5. When Joshua was on his face through defeat, the LORD said unto him, "Get thee up." Josh. 7:10
6. When Samson was grinding in the prison, the LORD caused his hair "to grow again." Judges 16:22, 28
7. 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

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

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

(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

(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

© 2009 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved

TRUTH SANCTIFIES

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

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

Taking A Stand

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.

1. Am I taking the right stand? The right stand always lines up with the Word of God.
2. Am I standing in the right way? The right stand must be done in a way that pleases God.
3. 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.)

The Truth In Us

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:

Our Job As Ambassadors

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."

THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW

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