In Thy Paths

You Probably Just Didn't Know: Consistency Is The Key To Spiritual Strength

2009-11-09T09:02:00.004-06:00

Through the years I've known a number of minor league professional hockey players. Some of them were more skilled than others. Some were smarter than others. A few were even stars in minor league circles. But none of them made it to the National Hockey League, the major league of professional hockey.

What's the difference between minor league and major league? Each said the same thing, "Consistency." The guys who play at the major league level are able to play at very high levels every single day. The minor leaguers confess that they're able to play at major league levels only on occasion. They simply lack the ability to play at a high enough level every day. The result is they play for hundreds of dollars while their major league counterparts play for millions. They ride in buses while their major league counterparts fly in private or chartered jets. They get a few bucks to eat on each day while the major leaguers get hundreds. It's an enormous difference.

Did you know that the same thing is true in the church? Maybe you never stopped to consider the difference between being strong and devoted - to being weak and indifferent.

Generalizations are often incorrect, but allow me a few of them for the sake of provoking thoughtful consideration of living a more righteous life - a more consistently righteous life.

Not all weak Christians are weak all the time. They're just weak most of the time. They neglect to do what they should much of the time. Sometimes they're strong. Sometimes they're devoted. They simply are unable to make up their mind (yes, it's a choice they make - it is not God's fault, it's not the Church's fault) to be strong every single day. Spiritual strength is only momentary for them.

Certainly some weak Christians are weak all the time. They're barely hanging on to any connection to the Lord's Church. They attend worship only on Lord's Day mornings, and think nothing of forsaking that every now and then. We can only assume their private lives are just as inconsistent. Their devotion is lackluster. They never experience spiritual strength.

Unlike hockey, which relies on physical skills and a brain trained to play the game at a high level, living the Christian life is really about choice. Typically, weak Christians have simply not yet made up their mind that they'll live for the Lord every single day. Some days they will, but just not every day. They're like the minor league hockey players who just can't seem to perform at a high enough level consistently. Except, their failure is by choice!

Every accountable person can live faithfully for the Lord. There are no exceptions. That means, there is no excuse! It requires choice and determination. The Bible calls it repentance - changing your mind, and changing your life. Luke 13:3 gives us two distinct options: repent or perish. We get to decide which one it will be.

Examine any congregation of the Lord's Church and you'll see a core group who are determined to faithfully serve. They're present at every worship service. They do all the visiting. They conduct all the worship services. They take care of the things that are vital for the ongoing work of the local church. They serve week in, week out. They are dependable. The congregation could not function properly without them. In that 80/20 rule, they're the 20% providing the 80% of the work done.

What makes them special? Why are they the ones who do most of the work? Is there something special about them? Do they possess some superhuman qualities unavailable to the rest of us?

No. They are people who have made up their minds that righteousness is going to be the rule of their life. They are determined to put God first in everything. It's a choice every person can make. Every accountable person is capable of being a major league Christian, performing obedient service toward God consistently. Some simply choose to remain in the minor leagues, rising only occasionally to major league levels. For whatever reason they find it more conducive to live the way they want. Major league Christianity (is there really any other kind?) demands too much sacrifice for them. The price is too high in this life. Sadly, eternity demands an even higher price.

You Probably Just Didn't Know: YOU Need The Church More Than The Church Needs You

2009-10-12T09:22:00.005-05:00

Every congregation rightfully urges all the members to faithfully attend the services. We often talk of how needed people are at the services, and in the Lord's work. And that's right. But it's not the most urgent reason why people should attend all the services of the church, or be a working part of a local congregation.

The fact is, the Church will always do more for us than we can ever do for the Church. Did Noah do more for the ark, or did the ark do more for Noah? Well, without Noah the ark wouldn't have been built, right? Are you sure about that? Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Jehovah, but if not Noah somebody else may have obeyed and built the ark. God architected the ark. Noah was merely God's instrument. God rewarded Noah and his family for being His instruments.

And so it is with the Church. God engineered it. Christ died to establish it. You and I make it up. We're God's instruments in the Church. If we leave it, others will fill our place. The church will continue until God sends Christ to claim the faithful - who, like the passengers of the ark, will all be found faithfully serving INSIDE the Church. The truth is, there will be faithful people serving inside the Church whether we do or not.

Certainly, the Church could use the talents we all bring. Certainly, the body of Christ in your local congregation is made better if every member is properly in place and hard at work. However, the Church goes on, but spiritual lives cannot survive without the Church.

The fact is, YOU need the Church much more than the Church needs you. That's not to minimize the value or benefits we each provide the body of Christ. We are indeed many members yet we make up one body. And we certainly are more powerful together when we all stand in our place. But if we fail to take up our place, somebody else will fill the gap.

Sure, the workload on others may be increased because of our neglect, but the work must go on. Sure, the work may grow more discouraging because of our unreliability, but people will overcome that and press on. Sure, other men may have to fulfill multiple roles during the public service because of our failure to show up, but the worship will still go on. Week after week the Lord's work is getting done because of the faithful few who have made up their minds to join themselves to the work. Like all areas of human endeavor, the few seem to do the work of the many.

The hard fact is, the Church can move forward without us - perhaps not as efficiently, but it will move on. However, none of us can move toward Heaven without the Church. If we fail to join ourselves faithfully to a local congregation - a congregation where we can be counted on to attend the services, a congregation where we're held accountable, a congregation interested in us and concerned about us, a congregation where we're concerned with helping others - then we risk Heaven.

The scriptures don't teach us to be members-at-large, but too many Christians want to roam from congregation to congregation so they can avoid responsibility. They don't want to be accountable. They don't want to be part of the work. So they neglect it, and avoid it. The Church isn't improved by that, but worse yet - their lives aren't either. Sadly, they think that by "going to Church" somewhere - they're working for the Lord.

Brethren, it's not about numbers or any other man-made barometer of strength. It's about OUR NEED for what the Church provides - namely, salvation! The objective is ever before us, Heaven! The goal of every local congregation should be to do everything possible to help each member of that congregation reach Heaven. That work is made increasingly difficult when members neglect and avoid their individual responsibilities to the Church.*

*And I must point out here - our neglect is sometimes aimed at men. Somebody preaches something we don't like, somebody says something we disagree with, somebody doesn't speak to us, somebody does something that makes us angry and we begin to shrink back, but it's the Lord's Church - not those people - who suffer. It's our soul that suffers, not those people.

Maybe you didn't know how important the local congregation is to your future destiny. Maybe you didn't know the burden you put on others when you're not where you should be. Maybe you failed to realize that being in place, and doing your part, helps the Lord's Church be everything she should be. Maybe you neglected to consider how important you are to the Church, but maybe you failed even more to realize how important the Church is to YOU.

The Lord died for the Church. He "gave Himself" for the Church. It's fitting and proper that we give ourselves to the Church, too. In Christ is where all spiritual blessings are found. To be in Christ is to be in His Church. You cannot faithfully serve God unless you are faithfully serving Him inside a local congregation.

You Probably Just Didn't Know: By Words (How Mickey Mouse Teaches Our Kids To Cuss)

2009-09-14T13:24:00.007-05:00

This begins a series entitled, "You Probably Didn't Know." These will be short, concise snippets of things you may have not considered before - and things you may have not known before.

Many Christians ignorantly use by-words (slang words used in the place of the actual words) without understanding what they're saying. This was brought home to me recently when my daughter commented how she couldn't let her boys watch Mickey Mouse because Mickey uses LOTS of by words that she didn't want her boys to hear (and possibly mimic). I told her that we never allowed her to watch it when she was a child. Mickey has always been a potty mouth.

Gee

Origin: 1890–95, Americanism; euphemism for JESUS

Gosh

Origin: 1750–60; euphemistic alternative of GOD

Golly

Origin: 1840–50; euphemistic alternative of GOD

Darn
Origin: 1775-85; –verb (used with object)- to curse; damn

Doggone

Origin: 1850–55, Americanism; perh. from dog on it! euphemistic alternative of God damned

Jeez
Origin: 1920–25, Americanism; euphemistic shortening of Jesus

This isn't an exhaustive list, but it should suffice to get you to think about the words you use.

Christians should have speech that more pure than Mickey Mouse.

*All information is from dictionary.com, but the origins are without controversy. Most terms are equal to using the Lord's name in vain. Serious infractions against the Creator. Certainly something no Christian should ever do.

The Pangs of Guilt

2009-08-29T09:03:00.002-05:00

We don't use the word "pang" today. It's an old 15th century term that means "a brief piercing spasm of pain or a sharp attack of mental anguish."

2Cor. 7:10 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

Godly sorrow is the pain we feel when the Gospel convicts us, shows us our sin and compels us to decide to change. Without it, we'll never make it to heaven. Every person needs godly sorrow in their life. Every person needs correction sometimes.

Sadly, most sorrow isn't "godly." It's the sorrow of the world. It's regret that we've been found out. It's regret that the Gospel convicts us and condemns us. It's sadness that we can live like we want, be left alone and avoid God's Word. The result of that sorrow is death. That's eternal death.

Judas was such a man. He felt the pangs of guilt and killed himself, making matters worse.

We all feel pangs of guilt. The question is, "What are we going to do about them? How will we handle them?"

The sinner ignores them until they go away. In time, they disappear entirely.

1 Timothy and other places speak of seared consciences and hard hearts - hearts that are no longer touched by the pangs of guilt, or by the urges of the Gospel.

Ignore the pangs long enough and they go away. But that's not a place where you want to be IF you seek heaven. You want the Gospel to make you feel guilty...guilty enough to do something positive about it. Unlike Judas, the Gospel Truth should compel you to devote yourself more fully to God by finding the remedy for your sin in God's Word.

Measure the pangs of guilt in your life?

Has it been a long, long time since you felt the pangs of guilt? Then you need to take emergency action. You need to spend as much time with God's Word as possible. You need to pray often. I'd strongly encourage you to fast for a few days as you consider spiritual things. You need to repair your heart (your mind). God's Word can do that, but it's going to take work on your part.

What do you do with the pangs of guilt?

Many people get angry. They despise instruction, even from God's Word.

Prov. 13:18 "Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured."

The irony is that those guilty of a thing are the first offended. Which makes sense really. Their guilt is a pang - it's a sharp pain. Unfortunately, some people respond by making a decision to get mad. They avoid looking in the mirror of the Gospel to make the changes in their life that God seeks. They'd rather be mad than go to heaven.

Our best response is to heed the Truth of the Gospel, repent of our sinful behavior, confess it to God, be forgiven and work hard to improve.

James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Will you be blessed in your deed? Or will you be resentful in your anger?

How will you deal with your pangs of guilt?

NOTE: We've neglected this blog for too long. Lord willing, with our updated website design (coming soon), we'll incorporate a new blog that will be regularly updated. Forgive us for our neglect.

"Nobody's Gonna Tell Me How To Raise My Kids!"

2008-09-22T10:42:00.005-05:00

Fewer phrases are more defensive because fewer subjects generate such emotions. Raising or training children is something most of us learned by trial and error. Few of us really knew or fully understood what we were doing until after the fact. First time parents are all novices. But so are many two-time, or three-time or four-time parents.

The phrase is troublesome though because it depicts a rigid refusal to be taught. It comes from a person whose defenses are so set that no good advice will be given a chance to land on fertile ground. Like the parable of the sower, good scriptural advice on training children falls on stony ground where it cannot germinate. A heart that utters such a phrase is a sad commentary on the parents, but it's the children, the family and the congregation who suffer most.

Those of us with grown children know a thing or two. Those of us who have raised faithful Christian children, who are now having children of their own, know much more than a thing or two. God didn't impart some special measure of parenthood genius on us. We just happened to be people capable and willing to learn from His Word, and from the sound advice of others.

I'm not a prophet, but I'm now a grandfather with two adult Christian children with families of their own. I'm not able to foresee the future, but I do possess a modest amount of wisdom and knowledge. I can look at the picture and tell you that if that picture is typical of this home (and it may not be, I don't know) then the children are highly likely to have little clue about how to care for a home, or their own things. Many other issues could stem from being raised in such an environment as this. I could deduce many things that would likely be true. Not because I'm a prophet (I'm not), but because I've seen it before. The odds are not favorable for a good outcome.

The scriptures speak of blindness, deception and being misled. I'm reminded of this verse, Prov. 4:19 "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."

The subject is relevant for all Christian homes with children, or those homes that would have children. Our congregation is blessed. We're blessed with a number of young couples. We're blessed with a number of young children. That makes the subject even more important and urgent for us. But the advice is more universal.

I've written in the past about some things that Christian homes can do to help give their children good opportunities to be faithful to God. It's not a comprehensive list of suggestions, but it's a start. Sadly, some who need it most make the declaration, "Nobody's gonna tell me how to raise my kids!" And they mean it. And they include God Jehovah.

I want to mention a few things that every prospective parent and every parent should do in order to give their home and their children the best chance to be successful in following God.

1. Determine beforehand the standard by which you'll train your children.

Among the many reasons why we oppose Christians marrying unbelievers (see 2 Cor. 6:14) is because the kids that are born into such marriages are often torn between fidelity to God by one parent, and ungodly standards by the other. Sadly, ungodliness often wins in the hearts of all people, especially the young.

As a couple, parents must determine that the Word of God will be the basis of how they train their children. That means the Bible will be the standard of authority in their home. It also means they won't just say it, they'll live it. It means the parents must be committed to follow the authority of the scriptures in their own lives. If mom and dad don't follow it, then how can they expect junior to follow it? Let the Bible be your guide.

2. Realize that love for your child will come naturally. Discipline and training may not. However, your children need your discipline as much as they need your love. Their souls depend on it.

The scriptures talk of "natural affection." Parents have a natural affection for their children. But that love doesn't qualify them to know how to train their children. That love must be properly expressed and demonstrated.

Four verses in the KJV use the word "chasteneth."

Deut. 8:5 "Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee."

Prov. 13:24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

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?"

The correct notion is discipline and training, not merely punishment. Consider it punishment with a noble purpose. It's correction. It's the ability of a parent to know what will serve the child to correct his course so he can live the way God wants. That ability doesn't come as easily for some as others. For some, it doesn't come at all. The home and the children suffer the most.

Prov. 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Two distinct ideas are presented in this famous verse. One, the training of the child should be in the way he should go. Two more subtle ideas stem from this. First, the child should be raised by a standard (we've concluded that needs to be the Word of God). Second, the child should be raised considering how the child is bent. That means parents have to consider the demeanor and inclination of the child. For example, my two children were and are vastly different people. One was very vocal. The other wasn't. One was very cautious while the other was very impulsive. That meant my wife and I had to deal with them unique to their personalities. Our standards were not different, but our approaches were.

The second distinct idea from this verse is the general rule - which is what a proverb is - that the child who is properly trained won't stray far from that training. This is generally true. Sure, there are exceptions. Judas betrayed the Lord, but he was the exception among the apostles. If parents will train their children properly, the odds are favorable that those children will remain steadfast to that training.

Permit me a 3rd distinct idea from this verse, consistency and attentiveness. I see too many parents who are obliviots (oblivious idiots). They don't pay attention. They don't see what others see. They don't hear what others hear. They're not paying close enough attention to raise wise, faithful children. As a result, the children are training the parents. And with surprisingly good success! I see parents who have learned very well how to behave with their kids. The kids are doing a masterful job of making mom and dad do exactly what they want.

3. Seek and heed sound advice from faithful Christians who have succeeded in training children of their own.

Only the foolish refuse instruction. Read the book of Proverbs and you'll read lots and lots about instruction's value. You'll also read a lot about how fools refuse it.

Sadly the world is full of parents who refuse to listen to the wisdom of others. Some even refuse the wisdom from the Lord. They aren't better for it and their children suffer.

Be open-minded to the sound counsel from older, wiser Christians. The Gospel commands the older women to teach the younger women, and for older men to teach younger men. It's crucial that the wisdom of one generation not vanish. It must be passed on. Our children deserve it. So, mom and dad - lose the attitude. Don't be so quick to throw up walls of defensiveness. And don't be so foolish that you refuse to improve your ability to train your own children.

Let me conclude with a few specific, but important things that every parent should seriously consider and follow for training children to behave during the public worship services. The public assembly of the saints is where many people are able to judge the job being done at home by parents. If children are not held accountable for proper conduct in worship, then the rest of us assume (correctly, I might add) that they're not likely held accountable elsewhere.

So, mom and dad - give heed and take note. And understand that I'm not speaking of infants, but I am speaking of toddlers and small children (two years old or so and up).

a. Everybody takes care of their needs before the services start. This means there will be no getting up to go the restroom or to get a drink during the services.

Now before you go off half-cocked blaming me for suggesting that kids not be allowed to visit the restroom under any circumstances, listen. If your child is healthy and suffering no physical ailments, then going 90 minutes (the typical length of a Lord's Day morning service, at most) without going to the restroom isn't a challenge. They can stay out in the yard hopping around like rodeo horses for an entire afternoon. Surely, they can sit in place for an hour or so. Yes, they can! And they should. It's your job to make it happen. Make them get a drink or use the restroom before the services begin. They will learn, but only if you will teach.

b. Everybody has a seat and everybody remains in their seat until the services are dismissed.

For some, I know this is a novel idea, but it's important that every member of the family have a spot on the pew. Think about the seating arrangement before the services start. If little brother fights with little sister, then do not sit them beside each other. You're asking for trouble. Put one of them on one side of a parent. Put the other one on the other side. Now they can't fight. Do not permit musical chairs to be played during church services. Where you're sitting when services start is where you're sitting when services are dismissed.

c. Everybody looks forward.

Some weeks ago I went to a gospel meeting. A few pews ahead of me was a family with many children, most of whom were staring backward in my direction the entire time. The parents were obliviots. It was disgraceful behavior - the parent's behavior!

Do not permit your children to look at the folks behind you. They should train their eyes forward. Will they pay full attention to what's going on? No, of course not. But in time, as they grow older they will - IF you've trained them properly. Teach them to look all around, stare at the folks behind you, get up and walk around, visit the water fountain, visit the bathroom - and I promise you'll fail at training them to be faithful in worship. It's a bold claim I know. I hope you don't test it.

d. Don't make more noise than your children.

Some parents create a greater disturbance than their kids. The constant "ssshhhh" of a parent is among the most annoying disturbances in a public worship. And for good reason. One, it never works. Two, it creates its own distraction in addition to whatever the child is doing.

Children who don't understand the word "NO" are mostly subjected to this tactic. Telling a child to be quiet, however you do it, must be performed more quietly than the noise being made by the child. When the parent's noise is louder than the child, then there's a problem.

This includes playing with children, doing homework with children (sure, we've seen parents doing homework during Sunday morning services before), or other things that demonstrate your willingness to sacrifice your own attention. These are all horrible lessons to teach our children. Remember, we're not talking about infants who require significantly more attention.

Small children can look at picture books and learn to be quiet during the worship services. But they must be trained. That means the standard must be established and enforced. And enforcement must come from BOTH parents. If dad tries to impose it, but mom won't back it up - then both parents have failed. Yes, it fails if the order is reversed, too. Both mom and dad must see to it that the children behave as they should. So, mom and dad get on the same page and stay on the same page.

d. If you must take your child out because of disruptive behavior, then make it count. Don't make it a habit.

I'll clue you in. When I was taken out I knew it was not going to be a fun time. I only remember being taken out once. Once! How many times do you take your child out? I know parents who take their children out multiple times in a single service. Shameful.

Here's what you're teaching that child. "If you're restless and you'd like to go to the back, act up a little and we'll take a stroll back there." So they do.

The restless child should be made to behave quietly. The restless child should be taught (trained) to sit quietly and endure it. Life's hard. Get over it. If you think your child will be irreparably damaged, I've got a news flash for you. They won't. They'll be properly trained. And the congregation will see it.

If a child insists on disrupting the services, then by all means do not let them scream and holler during the services. Get them out of the building. Don't cart them to the back entry and scold them (or worse). We'll all hear it. You may as well do it in main part of the building.

Quietly (QUIETLY) take them outside. At our building there are windows along the sides of the building, but there is nothing in the front of our building. Where do you think might be the best place to take little junior who is pitching a wild-eyed fit? You got it - to the front, not along the side.

Now you've got him/her out there what do you do? Scold. Sternly. Spank if necessary. This experience must not be pleasant. This child must learn to associate being taken out with bad news. Make it quick. Settle them down with encouragement to stop their crying and explain that you're now going to go back to your seat and tell them they are going to behave by being quiet for the rest of the service. Tell them they're going to assume their seat when you get back in the building. They're not going to climb into the arms of mom or dad (the "good" parent). No, they're going to remain where they belong. And warn them that if they do this again, the next time it will be even more unpleasant. Trust me. They will get it. I've seen the stupidest of kids get suddenly quite smart.

e. Know that your job isn't done once the services are dismissed.

Too many parents think the final "amen" is like the announcement to start your engines at a NASCAR race. Wrong. This is a public gathering and your children need to learn proper behavior.

Do you want them to race outside unattended? Me neither. Don't permit it. Correct them if they try it. Do you want them to race in and out of people like they're on a slalom course? Then stop them. There are areas of the building where the kids can get together. There are outside areas where they can go, with a parent, and play.

The pulpit is not a stage upon which your children should play. Children love stairs and elevated places. I know I did. I also know I nearly lost my life before my 3rd birthday for just showing a longing look toward the pulpit. I was 11 when I was baptized. It was also the year when I was first allowed to stand on the holy ground that was the pulpit. I was asked to read a text for the speaker. No, it's not holy ground, but it is an area that should be off limits to the play of our children. Want to know why?

- It fosters wild behavior inside the building. It always has.
- Our podium has electronic gear that children don't need to be bother. Little fingers love to noodle around. Most every podium has "things" that children don't need to mess with.
- It's close to the communion table. Those responsible for setting the table are also responsible for clearing it after services.
- It's not because it's "holy ground" and it's not because I wasn't allowed to play there. My childhood may have scarred me, but I'm not that crazy. My parents had wisdom in refusing to allow me to play there. You should be so wise.

Our goal is simple: raise children to be faithful servants of God so they can go to heaven. If we're unsuccessful at raising our children to obey us, then we've no hope to training them to obey God.

I know some folks like to tell everybody how to raise their kids. Often, those people haven't been so successful themselves. But the church is full of wise, successful parents who have grown faithful children as a living proof of their ability to parent wisely.

A congregation, every congregation, owes every family and every child the very best opportunities to make heaven. The failure of any family, or any child, is our collective failure. My children were blessed to experience the collective wisdom of attentive parents bent to discipline and bent to listen to the wise counsel of older, wiser Christians. I encourage every parent of children - especially small children - to refrain from being so arrogant and defensive that you do not permit yourself to become a wise parent.

Turn To Clear Vision

2008-09-02T16:31:00.006-05:00

"Turn" is a verb. "Clear" is also a verb. "Vision" is the noun.

Tourist spots around the country have these coin operated binoculars. The red knob located between the eyes enables the user to focus the image. Turn the knob and it clears up the vision.

It's nice to have a knob like that, one you can turn to clear the focus. Spiritually, we all need a knob like that. Thankfully, God gave us one when He gave us His Word. Unfortunately, too many people don't like the knob God gave and they prefer to ignore it so they can see things the way they'd prefer. Our vision, or view of things, is always determined by what we want. If we want to see things as God sees them, we have to turn to clear vision - using the knob that is God's Word. If we want to see things for ourselves, in ways that suit our preferences, then we have to ignore that knob and rely on our own wisdom or the wisdom of somebody else. But not God.

James 1:22-25 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Beholding and looking are vision issues. Spiritual vision.

We live in a large city. The DFW area is full of eye surgeons who blitz us with radio, TV and newspaper ads claiming to use the latest technology to help improve our vision. People are interested in having improved eye sight. Older folks want to avoid using reading glasses. There's a fix for that. Near sighted folks want to remedy that. There's a fix. Far sighted folks want a remedy. Again, they can find it at one of the many eye surgeons in our area. And if you don't want to endure surgery, that's okay. You can go with contacts or glasses. There's no excuse for suffering with poor sight if your vision can be fixed with one of the many solutions offered by modern technology.

Spiritually many people have poor vision, but no man-made solutions exist. Well, they exist, but they're snake oil. They don't work with heaven. They don't work for eternity. Only God's Word has the power to improve spiritual vision.

Still men sometimes try to answer spiritual problems with man-made solutions. They look for salvation in places other than God's Word. They think and feel they can serve God in ways that work for them, without considering seriously enough if they work for God - the object of their worship. But God really isn't the object of their worship at all. They are the object of their worship. So they embrace programs and practices that find favor with the community, perhaps members of their congregation and maybe with other religious people they admire. Sadly, God's favor takes a backseat.

At the heart of today's out-of-focus religious practices is the false notion that the scriptures, God's Word, don't serve as a pattern, but rather as a philosophy viewed with no greater authority than opinions. The worship and practices need not always be dictated by the scriptures, but they're subject to modifications based on current trends, technology and social needs.

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

The gospel that worked to establish the Church is the same gospel that will establish a faithful congregation today. The gospel that converted souls to become first century Christians will also convert souls to become 21st century Christians.

Popularity, entertainment value, fulfilling social needs, elevating emotions and generating a sense of inclusion have never been - nor will they ever be - the mission of the Lord's Church or the Word of God. Eternal salvation dwarfs all other goals. Salvation outshines all other objectives. The Church that Christ died for and the Gospel that He established by the authority given to Him by God the Father matter most. Together they provide the vehicle for eternal salvation.

If God's Word doesn't establish the authority for establishing a clear vision for how we ought to live, then what does?

If the Church that Christ established with His own blood doesn't provide salvation for us, then why did He die for it? What good did His shed blood do?

If the Word of God doesn't serve as a pattern for our lives - and if it doesn't direct our work and worship - then what purpose does it serve?

Rom. 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Men strive to fulfill seemingly worthy - but carnal, physical and quite temporary - goals. The Gospel of Jesus Christ serves our eternal needs. It sustains us and provides us with everything we need to reach heaven's shore.

Eph. 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

The vision many men want is earthly, carnal, fleshly and short-term. They craft churches and congregations designed to make men wealthier, happier, more connected with others, better educated, and give men a greater sense of acceptance. Salvation isn't the object. In fact, in many churches salvation isn't even discussed! Hell isn't discussed. Sin isn't discussed. Obedience is legalistic concept. Souls are being led into deception. Satan is having a field day while heaven is sorrowing.

The focus of our lives, the focus of our families and the focus of our congregations needs to be crystal clear. It needs some old-fashioned knob turning to bring things into clearer vision. It needs the knob of the Gospel to clarify how we ought to behave, how we ought to worship, how we ought to serve and how we ought to obey so we can go to heaven. Nothing else matters. Nothing.

The Number One Cause Behind Complaining

2008-07-19T21:03:00.004-05:00

Baseball is basically a no-contact sport. I can think of 2 exceptions. When players of the same team run into each other while chasing a fly ball. And when a runner is coming home only to be confronted by a catcher blocking home plate. But baseball is among the most whining, complaining, ill-tempered sports going. Every week you can see a player storm to the dug out and begin to take out his wrath on a water cooler and anything else within arm's (or bat's) reach. Complaining is part of the fabric of baseball.

Bitterness. Envy. Wrath. Complaining is as American as baseball, apple pie and mom. Sometimes the Lord's work - His Church - suffers because people behave poorly.

1Cor. 10:10 "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer."

The children of Israel were delivered by God from Egyptian slavery. God took care of them, but they were dissatisfied. They wanted the food back in Egypt - evidently preferring good food and slavery to freedom and the food God provided.

Not much has changed really. Today, some Christians - freed from the slavery of sin by the blood of Christ - are unhappy with the Church, the Gospel, their local congregation, the preacher, the elders and brethren. They don't like this. They complain of that. Like the Israelites of old they are full of murmuring.

Perhaps our democracy has ruined us to submit ourselves to each other as we really should. We want OUR way. We want everything done to suit OUR lifestyle. We want what WE want. We don't much care what others want. We're so focused on our desires that we grow angry sometimes when we don't get our way. We often complain - sometimes with venomous demeanor. We sometimes behave as poorly as the baseball player or manager who throws a tantrum.

People murmur against God. They murmur against His leaders, elders. They murmur against one another. It has been so for centuries. God was often the focal point of murmuring, but Moses and Aaron (and other leaders) were, too. Brethren murmured against each other.

What does it mean to murmur?

To grumble or complain.

John 6:43 "Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves."

That doesn't stop Christians from complaining and murmuring. Against each other. Against elders or leaders. Against teachers. Against preachers. Against God.

The Hebrew writer made this declaration about elders who faithfully serve in the Lord's Church.

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."

This passage implies one central issue behind all complaining and murmuring in the Church - a lack of respect.

When people have insufficient respect for God, they'll be tempted to complain against Him. When people have insufficient respect for God's Word, they'll be tempted to complain against it. When people have insufficient respect for faithful gospel preachers, they'll be tempted to murmur against them. When people have insufficient respect for faithful leaders, they'll be tempted to complain or murmur against them. When people have insufficient respect for each other, they'll complain or murmur against each other.

An interesting fact of murmuring and complaining is that there is no biblical evidence that it accomplishes anything other than death for the complainant. Death. That seems a severe penalty for what so many freely engage in, but Christians who devote themselves to the practice will find themselves weighed and found wanting at Judgment. God will not tolerate disrespect.

Exercise care to protect yourself against murmuring and complaining. Take care to show proper respect to God and those who faithfully conduct the Lord's business. Examine yourself. Walk in the Faith.

The Value of Predictability and Consistency

2008-04-25T11:25:00.007-05:00

Before the advent of McDonald's few companies embraced or even understood the power of systems that would deliver predictable and consistent service or products. Modern assembly lines were well established during the industrial revolution, but that was manufacturing. Few had considered using such approaches to deliver something to customers on the spot. That is, until McDonald's.

Forty years ago you could walk into any McDonald's and be served a burger or anything other item on the menu - and it would be exactly like all the others you had ever had from any other McDonald's. You could argue that it might not be the very best burger, but you got exactly what you expected. Predictable. Consistent. It has been the staple strategy that has served to make McDonald's among the world's leading fast food chains. They don't disappoint.

There is a value to that approach. McDonald's is living proof that you don't have to be the best. You just have to deliver with predictable and consistent performance.

Christians don't compare themselves with other Christians. Or worse yet, with those of the world. Christians are obligated to give God their best - not somebody else's best.

2 Cor. 10:12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

God has never expected more of us than we can deliver. He does, however, expect us to perform predictably and consistently. Examine the parable of the talents (Matthew 25 and Luke 19). The men were given different amounts to oversee. The man entrusted with the lowest amount was not expected to deliver beyond his ability. But he was expected to deliver what he could.

The master in the parable - analogous to God - expected the servants (that's Christians) to perform. He anticipated that each man would deliver a return. He expected each man to be fruitful based on his abilities to serve.

Two of the three servants delivered the expected return - something predictable and consistent with their ability, as the master saw it. Each man was given a responsibility to handle rightly an amount within his ability.

1 Cor. 10:13 "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."

"Above that ye are able" is a theme expressed throughout the scriptures. God has never expected men to do more than they can. He does, however, expect them to do ALL that they can.

God expects things of us. He expects devotion, obedience and predictable reliability. What are we giving Him? Are we as predictable to God as McDonald's is in giving customers burgers and fries? If not, how sad - that our lives may pale in comparison to a fast food chain. Sadder still, that we drive through any fast food chain - any chain - and we expect them to get our order correct, every single time. Too often, we don't expect that of our own lives when it comes to serving God though.

McDonald's serves billions of burgers. Christians serve God. Who is more consistent? Who is giving more predictable service?

Remain In Your Place

2008-03-31T11:20:00.003-06:00

If you're discontented and unhappy
And your place and purpose grow dim,
There is always a ship at Joppa
If you don't want to stay and win.

If you turn from the task of the present
To follow a beckoning star,
There is always a ship at Joppa
To take you from where you are.

But you'll miss the blessing He gives you
If you wander away from His place;
For there's a fare to be paid at Joppa
If you do not remain in your place.

by Gertrude G. Sanborn

How Can You Make A Difference Every Day?

2008-03-17T08:00:00.008-06:00

2Cor. 6:2 "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Two principle ideas are put forth in these passages. One, today is all we have. Now is the best time to decide to live for God. Two, we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Our lives are short and that brings urgency to today.

Millions of dollars are spent and earned to help people combat procrastination. Companies and individuals enroll in educational programs designed to help people overcome the traps of putting off things that should be done today. Personally, I have serious doubts about the return on investment of such programs, but it does speak to our collective recognition and need to fix a problem. You'd think if we all knew it was a problem that we'd get busy fixing it, but alas - we're too busy putting off the fix. People often choose to do what they want rather than what is needed.

Of the 1st century Christians Luke was inspired to write, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts 5:42)

Daily they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Let that soak in. Not a day passed without them doing these things.

Could it be that the success we often so admire of the 1st century Church resulted from that type of daily dedication? Could it partially explain our present day lack of success in spreading the gospel?

It also points to an answer to our posted question, "How can you make a difference every day?" The best way for a Christian to make a positive difference every single day is to mirror Christ by behaving like a redeemed person and by sharing the gospel of Christ.

Teaching is both active and passive. Active teaching happens when we sit down with somebody and review scriptures together. It happens when a public speaker addresses an audience and delivers teaching from the scriptures. Passive teaching happens when others see the choices and decisions we make. It happens when others witness our vocabulary, our restraint, and our conduct that is obviously unique. It happens when people daily see us behave kindly toward others. It happens when they see how we dress, how we talk, how we behave and when they see us refuse behaviors that are commonplace to others.

For a moment think of public teaching. The speaker delivers a sermon based on the Gospel. A week later he does the same thing. On the third week he speaks, but his speech is worldly and he is clearly not speaking according to the scriptures. When he speaks on the fourth week, what are you thinking?

Are you thinking of the first two Gospel-based sermons he delivered? Or, are you thinking how odd it was for him to use worldly language in that third sermon - and wondering why he's now given an opportunity to deliver a 4th sermon? You're thinking, "He shouldn't be allowed to preach!"

All of us would be thinking the latter. Why is this man still allowed to preach publicly? We don't care how excellent or scripture-based his first two sermons were. He's clearly not a man who lives by what he preaches. We've witnessed speech and behavior that don't mirror the Gospel that he preaches. We immediately recognize that inconsistency. The odd man out sermon is the one he delivered using worldly speech. It's the one that stands out in our minds. It's that sermon that determines our view of the speaker.

Why do you think it's different with passive teaching? Why do people think they can behave like Christians one day, but neglect it another day - and expect people to still see Christ in their life? It makes no sense, but too often it's how some Christians live.

Others will immediately spot the inconsistency in your life. It will jump out as clearly as the worldly worded sermon of our illustration.

The daily difference we're commanded to make requires our daily commitment to be Christ-like. It demands that we watch what we say, what we do, where we go, how we dress and how we behave. That's how you can make a difference every day in your life and in the life of everybody around you.

But Now Have Obtained Mercy

2008-02-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

1Pet. 2:9, 10 "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."

Thoughts of mercy rarely happen - except when we find ourselves needing it. Debates have long raged about justice and equality. People lament at the unfairness of a variety of things. Unfortunately, too few consider the real value of God's mercy. They're too busy searching for man's mercy.

The foundation of the Gospel of Christ is that God sent His only Son to the earth. Christ surrendered to every command of God. The scriptures say that even Christ pleased not Himself. And yet men still seek to please themselves. Doesn't make much sense.

Christ willingly allowed Himself to be crucified so the sins of mankind could be forgiven. On the night of His betrayal, Christ told Peter and the others that He could call legions of angels to come to His defense. He didn't make that call though. Instead, He suffered a humiliating trial and death. By His death we have the hope for heaven. By His death we have the opportunity to contact the mercy of God and be redeemed. By His death we can be God's people by being part of God's Kingdom, The Church.

Peter's inspired writing (quoted above) show us that today - as in ancient times - God has a nation. Once, it was physical Israel. Today, it's the Church. Once, the people of God were the Hebrews. Today, the people of God are Christians. No longer are God's blessings restricted by physical birth. Rather, His blessings are bestowed on those who have submitted to the spiritual birth. The one Nicodemas questioned, "How can I enter again into my mother's womb to be born again?" Nicodemas didn't understand the new birth - a birth of baptism for the remission of sins. The same birth recorded so often in The Acts of the Apostles.

Christians are a "peculiar" people. That just means we're a purchased people. We're bought with a price - the blood of Christ. We're not purchased with silver or gold. We do not belong to ourselves if we're Christians. We belong to the Lord.

Today, whether a person is a Jew or Gentile by birth has no bearing with God. All people - of every race, sex or geographical location - have access to become Christians. Every person has the right - the duty and obligation - to obey the Gospel. And when we do, we become God's people.

The mercy that we obtain by obeying the Gospel is the greatest blessing we can claim. Before obedience our sin was counted against us. Our slate was unclean. Our record tarnished. Our sins condemning us. Without Christ we're hopeless. People without any chance for mercy. In Christ, we have mercy that before wasn't extended to us.

Saints (Christians) need to be constantly reminded of the value of mercy. Sinners (those who have yet to obey the Gospel) need to be taught the value of obtaining mercy. It's the one thing we all have in common - our need for God's mercy.

Standing The Test

2008-01-19T09:56:00.000-06:00

The scriptures admonish us to prove ourselves - because life is a test.

2Cor. 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

Regarding the word "prove" Mr. Barnes comments: "This word, prove, refers to assaying or trying metals by the powerful action of heat; and the idea here is, that they should make the most thorough trial of their religion, to see whether it would stand the test."

Gal. 6:4 "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."

Every man must compare his life - his thoughts, actions and behaviors - with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each must seriously inquire, "Is my life in harmony and compliance with the Gospel?"

This is our barometer on whether we're passing or failing the test - that is, "Are we pleasing God?" Only obedience to the Gospel of Christ pleases God.

2Th. 1:8 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Life here isn't designed for any purpose other than our willingness to serve God and glorify Him. It's a testing ground, a proving ground. Most will not stand the test. Most will fail.

Matt. 7:13, 14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Each of us bear the responsibility to make sure we're standing the test. Duty demands that we surrender obedience to the Gospel so we can show God we're prepared for eternity. Only prepared people will enter heaven. It's up to us to insure we're standing the test, and ready to go.

Matt. 24:42 "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

Don't Devote Yourself to 2008

2007-12-18T13:46:00.000-06:00

Like all years 2007 was a year of many contrasts. Life and death. Action and slothfulness. Success and failure. Growth and retardation.

In a few days, Lord willing, we'll watch 2007 slip into the history books while 2008 is born. A fresh start. A new year. New calendars. New opportunities. New challenges. New distresses.

Will it be better? I can't predict that. I can predict that it will not be any different than 2007 unless we make up our minds to have it so - with God's help.

The passing of time isn't necessarily valuable. The hourly worker who has survived another year on the job looks for an increase in their wages. Perhaps they've added no new skills. Or taken on no new responsibilities. But the sheer fact that they're a survivor in the company means they think they deserve more money. Maybe. Maybe not.

So it is with some in the Lord's Kingdom, the Church. Another year passes so naturally they must be more knowledgeable, more wise. Another year passes so surely all those challenges of the old year will be gone this year. The calendar pages get turned and so too with our lives - we may think. Normally it's not so. The song usually remains the same.

Those who declared last January that they'd spend more time studying the Bible have no more knowledge now (a year later) unless they followed through with that vow. Those who declared they'd pray more in 2007 can now look back to see if they have prayed more. Pick any endeavor for the Lord. Unless behaviors changed - it's highly likely we're all sitting about where we were sitting last December. High hopes do not bring about positive changes in our life.

The passing of time does mean we've had more opportunities. It means we've been blessed to accomplish more. It means time has been on our side to remedy whatever spiritual ailments we might have. It means we've had more chances to talk with those we love. It means we've had more opportunities to impact the lives of others. Whether we've done that or not is entirely up to us. If we've not been taking advantage of the passing of time, then it's likely we won't start now. Sad, but true.

The scriptures tell us to spend the time of our sojourning here in fear if we consider God our Father. We do. And we should. Fear that we won't be ready spurs us to take actions to get ready. Fear that an opportunity will be lost causes us to take every advantage. Fear that we'll not be able to influence somebody for good compels us to influence them today. Fear that the night is coming urges us to use the light of day.

There is a truth that when things change, the change doesn't often last long. The person who gets the higher salary is likely to live exactly as they did before - once the newness of the higher pay wears off. If they felt like they needed $500 more a month to really be comfortable, within six months they'll likely feel like they still need only $500 more a month to be really comfortable. Life works that way with most of us. The water level just seems to remain the same. It often requires some monumental change to alter the course. And sometimes monumental change is exactly what's needed.

All of us are able to make the passing of time valuable. But only if we do those things necessary to please the Lord. Make the lasting changes so you can finally be the person you know God wants. Don't devote yourself to 2008. Devote yourself to eternity and the days, months and years will take care of themselves. Your passing of time will be best served by preparing for your voyage into eternity where time will not exist.

Reliability

2007-11-04T18:43:00.000-06:00

Dependable. Trustworthy. Consistent.

You begin your day with a trusty alarm clock - one that keeps accurate time and never fails to sound the alarm on time. Without it, you'd be late every day.

You turn on the light switch and immediately the room is illuminated.

You turn the faucet on to brush your teeth. The water flows - just as it always does.

The automatic coffee maker has kicked in - right on time. You grab a cup and head out the door, car keys in hand.

You open the car door, put the key in the ignition and turn it. The car starts.

These simple everyday habits are necessary. Each of them hinges on reliability - you depend on these things so you can get your day started. Your day is full of similar situations that you take for granted because reliability is something you assume will always be there - until it fails you.

If you get up and turn on the faucet and nothing comes out - you're frustrated. You need water. How can you get your day started without water? You say to yourself, "Not today!"

You depend on many things each day. Without dependability or reliability your life would be almost impossible. Simply try to list the things in your life upon which you depend - daily. It will be a very long list.

Yet - in the Lord's Church people often avoid reliability. Some people do not like to be dependable.

The simple act of public worship happens three times each week, but every congregation with which I've ever been associated suffers from some members who are unreliable. Some members enjoy showing up when they want, going elsewhere when they like, or simply staying home when it suits them. Can the congregation depend on you to always be there unless sickness or something beyond your control prevents it? If not, why not?

The work required to maintain the physical facilities of the church building rarely rely on more than a small number of people. There's usually one or two people who mow the yard. Others are content to let them do it. Most congregations try to get people to sign up to clean the building, but normally you can count on one hand those willing to tackle that thankless chore. Again, the number of reliable people is usually very small. It's always easier to let somebody else do it.

Visiting the sick or elderly, studying the Scripture with people (members or non-members), helping those with problems and challenges - again, these tasks normally fall to the hands of only a few.

The Pareto principle - also known as the 80/20 rule - always seem accurate. Namely, it seems that 80% of the work is done by only 20% of the people. Or, only 20% of the people are really reliable - people you can always count on for whatever must be done.

What makes the difference? Why are some in the 20% and others in the 80%?

Desire.

That's it. Simply, desire. Some want to be dependable while others are unwilling to be responsible.

It isn't talent.
It isn't skill.
It isn't opportunity.

It just boils down to will and willingness. Those who are willing to be reliable and work to make it so, are. Those who don't want to be dependable, are not.

Accountability is often an issue. Some of us don't like to be held accountable. We rather enjoy showing up for services if we want - and staying home if want. And we don't much like folks checking up on us to find out where we were. We may want to be left alone. We'd like to tell others, "Listen, if I'm there - I'm there. If I'm not, then I'm not. It's none of your business." We're wrong, of course - but that's how people sometimes behave. We like our privacy. But rarely do such people comprehend the honest concern brethren have when they see others drifting, growing weak or losing interest in the Lord's Church.

The same attitude is manifested in all endeavors. "Work? Don't count on me. If I'm there, fine. But if I'm not, don't be shocked."

What if your alarm clock, or light switch, or faucet, or coffee-maker or car ignition worked that way? You'd fix or replace them - that's what. You wouldn't tolerate it because you understand that life cannot be managed like that. You need these things to work, all the time - every time.

Why shouldn't the Lord's work happen as reliably as your alarm clock? Or be as dependable as your light switch? Or faucet? Or coffee-maker? Or your car's ignition?

Isn't the work of the Church more urgent and important than those things? Then why do some members treat it with such contempt or apathy?

The amazing thing about reliability in the Lord's Kingdom, the Church, is that it's not a complicated issue to fix. It can be fixed fast! All that's required is a person's willingness to become reliable - then to follow through by doing the things dependable people do.

Show up 100% of the time - on time.
Do things for the Church.
Do things for others.
Always be accountable.
Let others know what's happening with you.
Find out what's happening with others.
Let others count on you.
Show your interest in the Church, the congregation and the brethren.

Making that decision may be the toughest part of being dependable. But the rewards are incredible. You'll find yourself doing things - and regretting that you weren't doing them sooner. You'll find people relying on you - and it will feel great. You'll find yourself and your family being more engaged in the work of the Church. The Church will become more precious to you, and your family will reap the rewards. Brethren will become more important to you. You'll grow closer to other members.

And the Lord's work will prosper because YOU are involved - dependable - reliable. The congregation will thrive. Your life will improve. Your family's spiritual welfare will improve. The benefits will far outweigh the small price you'll pay for being reliable!

And in time, you'll experience some frustration with those 80% who continue to be lackluster in their service and unreliable for the work of the Lord. But you may be able to help them make the decision you made - to number themselves among those who are trustworthy.

The Lord's work needs everybody. More importantly, everybody needs the Lord and the Church.

How To Benefit Once A Gospel Meeting Is Over

2007-10-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Sowing seed used to be much more personal than it is today. Farmers now use machinery. Rural America was once characterized by farm workers sowing seeds as this photograph depicts. One person casting the seeds onto prepared ground. True to the parable of the sower, not all seed lands on good ground, or soil capable of taking the seed. Men's hearts are the ground spoken of in the parable.

A gospel meeting is a sowing of the seed. Our fall meeting with Ronny Wade is now history. For the past 8 days Ronny sowed the seed of the gospel to all who came to worship. Like all sowers, Ronny was unaware of the full condition of all the soils that heard the Gospel. Some soil was likely ready, but other soil was clearly not. His job was to preach the Word - to sow. His part in this task is now completed - so far as our fall meeting is concerned. But the work is far from over.

It now rests with each member and each person who heard the Gospel to make a decision. What will be our response?

It may be that our heart - our soil - wasn't fully prepared to accept the sowing of the Truth. If so, then an opportunity for salvation may have been wasted. All people must prepare their hearts to accept the Truth. All people must continue to guard their hearts so they can continue to be touched by the Gospel.

But, if we failed to prepare our heart before our meeting - it's not too late. The seed of the gospel is long-lasting, but only if you will continue to consider the things we were taught by Ronny. Go back and listen to the sermons again. They're posted on our Events page under "Audio Sermons."

Prepare your heart. Go to work on your soil, making it ready to accept the Truth. The gospel only gives you two basic options: acceptance or rejection! Salvation accompanies acceptance. Damnation accompanies rejection. A seemingly easy choice, but unfortunately, during our meeting some were perhaps determined to remain in sin.

Are you determined to reach heaven?

Are there things in your life that distract you from being the Christian you know you should be?

Name something in your life that is more important that serving God. (If you can name a single thing, then you're not living as you should.)

What will you do - today? What choices will you make about how you live and where you decide to spend eternity?

The gospel of Christ was sown during our meeting. If you attended one or more of the services, then you were the recipient of that sowing. Will the seed take hold in your heart? Will you make positive changes in your life to serve God faithfully?

Listen to Ronny's sermons again. Listen to the Truth of what he taught. Listen to the personal appeals he made for every listener to accept the Gospel and be more devoted to the Lord. It was personal. It was directed to you - and me - and all who were present. Now, it's necessary for you to do your part and let it take hold and germinate in your heart.

Be Not Many Of You Teachers

2007-07-13T06:52:00.000-05:00

James 3:1 "Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment." (ASV)

There was, and still is, an evil that we're warned about. Namely, the prevailing desire of men to be public teachers even if they are not capable or qualified.

James properly points out that those who take on the responsibility of congregational (public) teaching expose themselves to more solemn judgment than those who do not.

For years, some have pointed to how a speaker who preaches false doctrine and leads others astray will suffer greater harm in eternity for that influence on others. They use this verse as their text proof. While that idea is absolutely sustained in the scriptures, that is not the point James makes here.

No false teacher should be permitted to address our congregations. All false teachers, public or private, are condemned by God. The condemnation James speaks of is something different than false doctrine. It speaks to qualifications and ability to perform the duties of a public teacher.

The admonition is for men to not clamor to be public teachers because it is a job with serious ramifications - for the teacher and the congregation. It requires abilities that not every man has, as evidenced in congregations all over our brotherhood. Those who will not study, those who are unskilled in the Word, those who are unable to articulate clear thoughts, those who are unable to speak so they can be heard or understood, and countless other roadblocks should prevent leaders and elders from giving this responsibility to some men!

Congregational teachers impact the worship of the entire congregation. While the teaching portion of the service isn't necessarily the most important part of the worship, it is as critical as any other part of the worship. Because preaching the Word demands a greater element of time (typically) than other items of worship - it has an enormous impact on the congregation's ability to worship. Incapable or unprepared men impede the worship of the congregation. That is, they get in the way of scriptural worship of the entire congregation. Consider how hard you've had to work to worship when an incapable teacher is in the pulpit. That's shameful.

Leaders and elders who willingly put men up who are unprepared or unskilled subject those men to greater condemnation. A man who is incapable of edifying, but teaches publicly merely because he wants to (and the congregation indulges him) - has been willfully put in a bad place by the leaders who allow it. Leaders, elders and teachers will give an account of the feeding of the flock. They'll also give account for the judgment facing the teachers they appoint.

It seems certain that in James' day, much like today, men clamored to be public teachers, often without giving proper thought to the consequences. There are skills and abilities that are required for the job.

Ignorance of the scriptures should prohibit some from teaching publicly until they are more skillful. We don't put young people behind the wheel of a car until they have demonstrated sufficient skill to operate a car. The pulpit deserves more protection.

Some seek the pulpit because they perceive it to be a position of "power." Like Simon, the magician, they want what they want without due consideration of the request. The pulpit is certainly a place of power - it's where God's Word is put forth. God's Word is the power, not the man preaching it. The quest for power or popularity is not sufficient motivation for becoming a public teacher. It's a dangerous thing to put a man up simply because he wants it.

Those who can't - shouldn't. Some men are unable to read scripture aloud without stammering. Such men should not subject the congregation to their inability. Nor should those who won't study, or those who cannot build up or edify the congregation. The pulpit is not a place deserving of every man who desires to occupy it. It must be earned, continually. The health of our congregations depend on it.

Public teaching is not the ONLY service rendered by the male segment of the congregation. It is not a right of male passage in the Lord's Church. It's a very serious matter that deserves our best efforts. It impacts the entire congregation. It impacts the strength of the local church.

Congregational teachers very well may have the greatest impact on every congregation. Local teachers can influence a congregation for good or bad. Few influences affect our congregations like the quality of local teaching. When it is as God dictates, our congregations are strengthened. When it's not, they're weakened.

In view of judgment and eternity we ought to give serious thought to the burden facing leaders and elders to subject some men to greater condemnation that might otherwise be avoided. The men suffer, the congregation suffers and those responsible for putting them in the pulpit suffer. Everybody loses. Those who would be teachers should also consider putting their emphasis on work for which they're better suited. There's a place for every man, woman, boy and girl in the Kingdom. There is work for us all to do. However, the pulpit is inappropriate for many.

The Great Time-Waster

2007-07-09T09:51:00.001-05:00

The Internet and email are among the most time-consuming passions of people today.

There are far too many survey results to cite that prove the point, but I don't think they're even necessary. Most of us can simply look at our own lives and realize we waste precious time surfing the net, reading/responding/creating email messages, communicating with instant messages, text messaging, playing online or computer games - and so much more, including mindless hours in front of the TV set.

Wasting time, or spending time is a challenge for all of us. Investing time wisely is very difficult for most of us. In part, because some of us give it too little thought. We go through life on auto-pilot with little regard sometimes for how we're spending or investing our time. We just do what we do.

The Lord's work, our home responsibilities, our relationships and all the things that matter most can suffer if we're not careful to examine our lives - and the time we spend doing unproductive things.

The Internet poses a great challenge in Christian homes because the element of time is often lost. We sit in front of a screen surfing from one site to the next - perhaps in pursuit of something quite noble or enlightening - only to find that hours have passed. A few feet away may sit a small child or a spouse who wasn't engaged in any meaningful way. Those we love the most are often suffering from a more full relationship with us because we're staring into a piece of electronics connected to people we may not even know. Ironic.

Email, forums and instant messaging are soaking up more time that might be better spent with those we love. Hours sitting in silence in front of TV sets hasn't enhanced any family relationships. Many of us are wasting far too much time disconnecting with the important people in our lives - while we're overly connected with people who have little or no meaning for us.

It seems strange when you put it in those terms, doesn't it? It should. Because it is strange, sad and too often true.

Curb your addiction to the Internet and other time wasters. Make yourself aware of how you're living. Consider those you love. Behave in ways that will enhance your meaning and value in their lives - and as result, make your own life more valuable to them.

Some suggestions:

1. Try checking your email twice a day. Most of us can't imagine that.
2. Try going 3 days without TV.
3. Try going a week without a newspaper.
4. Try avoiding instant messages and text messaging for 3 days.

Now, try this:

1. Read your Bible one hour a day. It doesn't have to be continuous.
2. Pray three times a day in addition to giving thanks for your meals.
3. Have as many meaningful conversations with your family as possible. Share.
4. Call and check on somebody who is suffering, or go see them.

Spend. Or invest. It's always our choice. Make your choices wisely.

Do You Send Thank You Notes? Maybe You Should.

2007-07-01T13:13:00.000-05:00

The most recent common complaint heard among many older members is the lack of gratitude displayed by recipients of a gift. Time and again I hear older members lament how a gift (perhaps a graduation, wedding or birthday present - most often money) is never recognized with a "thank you" note. It irks lots of people to give a gift that garners no extension of thanks. Perhaps it's a generational thing, but the good manners of saying "thank you" are often absent.

Recently, I've been the recipient of no less than three "thank you" notes - all from people who have stayed in our home. They were pleasant surprises - and made me think even more highly of those who sent them. I was duly impressed with all three people before getting their card, but the cards reinforced my belief that these were all people of the highest caliber. All three were Christians ranging in age from young (20) to middle aged.

Be gracious. If you've been given a present, or been extended some hospitality - send a "thank you" note. Express your gratitude. It's good manners. It's always appropriate to be thankful for kind treatment. Young and old alike will appreciate your thoughtfulness and think better of you.

Watchman, What Of The Night?

2007-05-29T07:49:00.000-05:00

The familiar passages of Isaiah 21 seem to ever ring true - "Watchman, what of the night?"

Watchmen were duty bound to take careful sight of approaching threats - and to make sure those within the camp were safe. It was always appropriate for the citizens to ask the watchman about the safety of the community. While others slept, the watchmen were still under commission to carefully examine threats from inside or outside the camp.

The watchmen were obligated to sound the warning if anything threatened the security of the community. The people valued their watchmen and trusted them. The watchmen no doubt found themselves constantly being asked, "Is everything alright? Is it safe?" The reason was simple, they were in the best position to see the threats. They had the best vantage point.

Today, watchmen are not valued so much. Rather, they are often jumped on by the naive and ignorant. Men often reprove the watchmen claiming, "There is no threat here. You're being too harsh and judgmental."

What of the night? What's coming tonight? What are the conditions, dear watchman?

Preachers who should know better often fail us in standing for and supporting the Truth. These, who should be watchmen, are often those asking, "What of the night?" Yet, when the answer is given they argue and debate, often choosing to believe a lie rather than the truth and the evidence supporting the Truth.

Some even claim that the dangers which lurk among us are not dangers at all. They're merely minor disagreements that must be overlooked because "love covers a multitude of sins." Brethren, our love for each other has no atoning power. To suggest that it does is a horrible rendering of the Gospel truth. We certainly must contain such love that helps us - indeed, compels us - to forgive others. If we overlook or ignore the sins that would take our brethren to a devil's hell then we don't demonstrate the proper love for them that the scriptures demand.

Sadly, there are threats. Nobody wishes it so, but to ignore the threats or to blame the watchmen for sounding the alarm is sinful. Neglect to warn and blood will be on our hands for those lost. Rebuff the warning and write letters castigating the watchmen for sounding the call, and blood will be on our hands.

The job of watchmen has never been easy, but there once was a time when they were valued for their contribution. Sadly, in too many circles the watchmen today are hated, vilified, campaigned against and rebuked. Men speak without knowing the facts fully - and often the watchmen know exactly what they've seen and what the threats are. Men write letters to the watchmen with broad distribution - telling them how disturbed they are by the warning sound. They assume, incorrectly, that they possess the voice of many others. Their arrogance and ignorance is shameful. Gentleness and meekness do not mask the disturbing truth that some do not think there is the need today for watchmen - that we're safe! Their hatred for the watchman's warning are apparent. We're not made better because of it.

"Watchman, what of the night?" What dangers lie ahead tonight, dear watchman? Is it safe? Please warn us. Many of us know that we're never safe as long as we're in this life. This life is an unsafe place full of threats. We need help to make it through the night.

Watchmen, some of us still value your presence and rely on your help so we can be safe - and saved! Please maintain your post. Please ignore those who would belittle you, or ridicule your work. Please sound the warning if you see anything that might rob us of our soul.

What Should We Do?

2007-04-17T09:50:00.000-05:00

This question is perhaps among the most asked questions of preachers, teachers and elders. Usually, there is some "fill-in-the-blank" after. What should we do about ___________?

Today, we want to offer a rather general approach to answer the question:

What should we do when another congregation becomes wayward?

The scriptures teach that the Lord's work, while universal, is accomplished only locally. There is no doubt about the truthfulness of the local congregations ability - and necessity - to behave as an autonomous body of Christ, all within the context of the church universal.

This simply means that each congregation stands on its own merits as a faithful congregation. If that congregation follows the scriptures in work and worship - that church is a sound church whether they're aware of others like them or not. It also means that if a congregation steps off the path of truth and digresses away from the Bible pattern, then that congregation's wayward behavior need not adversely affect other congregations. It's the wisdom of God that each congregation has the ability - the choice, if you will - to obey or rebel. And if a wayward spirit begins to run through one congregation, it need not affect other congregations unless they allow it.

One congregation has no authority over another. God's plan doesn't call for some man or group of men to be in charge of multiple congregations. One congregation's elders have no authority over another congregation. However, this doesn't mean that nothing can or should be done.

Steps must be taken to protect the flock when false doctrine is being taught at one congregation that may influence our congregation. Congregations should be fully informed of the facts of the wayward behavior of others so they can be duly warned. This might be done publicly or privately, or both.

Elders and teachers of the congregation are admonished to use the scriptures to warn and rebuke, to admonish and encourage. This need not - and should not - be done with any ill will or harsh judgments. It should be done in truth - fully representing the error of the other congregation - and with strong concern for the souls of all involved (both the faithful congregation and the wayward congregation). The flock must know of the dangers. They need to be informed of the error and warned to be on guard.

Next, the error must be refuted with scripture. The faithful congregation must have scriptural objection to the behavior and practices of congregations that veer from the Truth. Those objections should be publicly and privately taught so the members can be more fully informed of God's plan for the Church, and so each member can recognize their place in the Lord's Church.

The local congregation has the full authority - indeed, the responsibility - to police itself. It must do so. It must be fully informed of the dangers that lurk in the surrounding shadows. It must have leadership that will take charge to make sure the souls of the congregation are protected. It must also have leadership that will be bold to declare and defend the Truth.

Too many leaders fail to work for the congregation where they work and worship. Rather, they are busy listening to brotherhood wide talk, opinions and tactics. Seeking wise counsel is one thing. Seeking to tell or listen of some new thing is far different.

Sometimes a document circulates that is signed by preachers who vouch for a preacher, a congregation or a situation. Regardless of how we may feel about the names of those preachers listed, leaders of every congregation have an obligation to protect the flock where they live. The names of a few preachers at the bottom of a page never justifies unscriptural practices. Nor does it condemn practices that may be perfectly sound. The responsibility is on each congregation to have wise leadership capable of helping the members reach heaven.

Should a wayward congregation, or an unscriptural practice be exposed across our brotherhood? Yes. It must. The question really isn't whether it should be exposed, but how?

It should be done at the local level as we've described, but it may also be done in publications that are distributed throughout our brotherhood, or in websites (such as this one) - but why should that tactic be any different than the one imposed on the local church? It shouldn't.

A publication can easily expose the error by finding out exactly what happened - rarely have we've seen an unscriptural practice stay under wraps where you can't find out, with great certainty, what really happened. Usually, you can get brethren with direct involvement to readily admit the practice under question. So fact finding isn't often difficult.

Upon getting those facts, they can and should be reported so others can be aware and take caution. In some cases, preachers are involved. Congregations may have called upon a preacher to come speak for them, yet they may be unaware that he engaged in an unscriptural practice elsewhere. They need to know. They owe it to their members to protect their own flock from his unscriptural behavior or practices.

The sinful practice should be soundly and convincingly rebuked with scripture. We should - we must - tell our members why the practice is sinful and why it must be condemned. That way, members learn more of the Truth. Hopefully, they're able to stand on guard more vigilantly than before.

At all times, encouraging the wayward Christian to repent is the goal. This cannot happen if the Truth isn't used to shine light on their sin. By exposing the sinful practices of one unsound congregation we shine light on the sin - exposing it not only to others, but exposing it (Lord willing) to those who have practiced it.

What should we do about another congregation that engages in unscriptural practices?

1. Discover the facts. Easily done, usually.

2. Report those facts to the membership at our local congregation.

3. Rebuke the practice with scripture warning our local congregation of the dangers.

What can the brotherhood do?

The exact same things. We can report the facts, rebuke the practices with scriptures and warn others to be on guard for these errors.

Fending Off Weariness

2007-03-05T10:22:00.000-06:00

2007 began by presenting many with new challenges. Death has already visited some homes. Ill health continues to plague many. The lack of updates speaks to the busy-ness that has already set in during the first quarter of a brand new year. More reasons for us to remember that this world is not our home and these bodies are not permanent.

The upside of life's adversities is that they make us realize the importance of things that matter most - eternal things, spiritual things. Weariness besets all of us at some point or another. The challenge is to fend it off and not allow it to camp out in our life. Even Christ grew tired and weary, but He would refresh Himself - often by retreating alone to speak with the Father and contemplate His purpose.

We should do the same. The scriptures speak of entering our closet to pray - teaching us that we don't pray to be seen of men and also teaching us that quiet time alone with God is valuable to the saint.

When life isn't much fun and your challenges seem bigger than you can handle - retreat to a place of quiet where you can pour out your heart to God. Speak to Him of your fears, your problems and plead for His help. Open the Scriptures and read. Think. Think of all your blessings. Thank God for all you've got - most of which you'll realize is taken for granted. Give yourself time to recharge.

And as you leave your closet - whatever place of solitude that may be - have a renewed determination that Heaven is worth whatever price you may be paying. Resolve to keep God first in your life. Life's burdens may not be lifted, but they'll be lighter. What you can't overcome, you must endure. With God's help we can all succeed in fending off the weariness that would capture our soul and cause us to lose heart - and quit.

You can never quit on God because He will never quit on you.

A New Year, An Old Life, A New Life and A Worn Path

2007-01-02T09:22:00.000-06:00

We toss out the old 2006 calendars. We turn the page to a new month, a new year. Christians gathered privately and publicly to usher in a new year - together. Some of us welcomed in the new year by attending a gospel meeting where we opened the year with collective prayer. Some gathered in private homes to sing hymns and pray.

Some were missing. In 2006 some saints passed this stage of life to enter another realm. Some saints were absent because their tired, old bodies wouldn't propel them forward to attend another meeting. They're wearing out. They're growing tired. Like John on the secluded isle, they're desirous to be present even though it's physically impossible. Some were publicly remembered. Few noticed the absent of others. Old saints fade, but the work continues. Old Christians eventually die, but their influence of their lives continue.

New saints joined the army of the Lord in 2006. It's fitting that as age takes a heavy toll on the elder among us, it serves to mold the younger in the faith. God's plan of transitioning the fight from generation to generation is made possible, in part, by the passing of time. He doesn't count time as man does, but He has given us time to serve His purposes. Time provides experience to the inexperienced. It provides wisdom to the novice.

Together, the saints of all nations, walk a path that is no different now than it was in the first century. Time may make the path a bit more worn, but it doesn't damage the path in any way. Roads travelled may become broken, cracked and full of holes, but not this road. The road toward heaven is as pristine as when God first gave it. Perhaps it's because so few travel this road, but it's really because God gave it. His plan of salvation is as bright and shiny new today as it ever was. What it could do for Peter's audience at Pentecost - it still does today. Namely, it saves! It always has, it always will.

So while we let go of some hands because they're folded in death, we latch onto new hands of those born in the faith. We walk in unison toward the goal set before us. We're not members of a denomination. We're not walking according to our own designs. We're not blazing some new trails. We're walking where Christ walked. We're walking where saints of all ages have walked. The walk to heaven is sure. It's safe. It's well worn.

May the Lord bless His Church. May we use this new year - 2007 - to better serve Him, not ourselves. May we study His Word so we may serve Him better. May we pray more and rely on God more. May we guard our hearts and the hearts of our children. And may the Lord of Heaven bless us to uphold His Truth so we might stay on course so we can one day reach home.

Nothing Fails Like Prayer?

2006-08-31T11:36:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I ran across a blog with the following subtitle: "Nothing Fails Like Prayer." I've read articles entitled the same thing. And I've read various writings through the years of people who mocked prayer and argued against its practice. It's easy to locate writings against any faith-based activity.

The phrase, "nothing fails like prayer" has become quite popular with the faithless. I imagine it's used because it's highly charged and garners strong emotions that result in debates often sought after by those seeking a forum to mock. For a people who pride themselves on living an evidence-based life it strikes me rather odd to give prayer such a lofty title as "most failed." Surely they can think of something else that fails as much as they think prayer might - perhaps even more. Drug rehab, government welfare, criminal rehabilitation, education and host of other things have a pretty solid failure rate. The faithless are often quiet about other things with high failure rates.

Another blog cited the following quotation, attributed to anonymous: "There are none more ignorant and useless, than they that seek answers on their knees, with their eyes closed."

Free speech affords all us the constitutional right (at least in America) to say what we want. Freedom of religion in America also thankfully affords us the right to practice our faith. Separation of "church" and "state" is a good thing, in spite of what some Christians think. We don't want the state teaching religion to our children. That's the job of every Christian home.

Perhaps some of the rhetoric of the faithless is spurred on by the evangelical movement, which has done harm to the Truth. What better enemy of the Truth of God's Word than something disguised as religious or faith-based? While some among the movement teach slivers of Truth, quite often it's done with such self-righteous indignation and piety that it does disservice to the Truth. Most in the movement teach no doctrine other than that of love, prosperity, feeling good about oneself, and other touchy feely concepts. As they go about as a traveling carnival filled with snake oil salesmen it's no wonder the faithless are often quick to attack religion. Certainly much of what is passed off as Christianity isn't. The plight of the faithless is to draw conclusions on the Gospel of Christ based on the error of human teaching disguised as the teaching of Christ.

To argue with the atheist is unprofitable most of the time. Christians are viewed as ignorant, stupid and gullible by most of them. We do things blindly and without any reasoning. Our beliefs, they will often argue, are not evidence-based. Never mind that they're wrong in that assumption and that the Gospel of Christ makes perfect sense.

Paul told the congregation at Rome that serving God was logical - it makes sense. 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."

It's logical because of the sins of man, which cannot be forgiven without the blood of a Savior - Jesus Christ. In order to reconcile ourselves back to God, God put the plan into place. It makes sense to do what we must to save ourselves in eternity - thanks to God's grace extended to us by giving His Son to become the supreme sacrifice or atonement for our transgressions. It makes no sense to ignore or despise that gift of God by refusing to obey the Gospel or by disbelieving it. It makes no sense to direct ourselves toward an eternal hell when God has put into place a means for us to avoid it and go live with Him forever instead.

The plight of the faithless is their firm conviction that they are right. They write and speak of prayer being a waste of time. They write how we can't alter God's plans. Of course, most atheists have a notion that all so-called Christians believe in miraculously answered prayer. It's a false assumption. They incorrectly think we all pray for God to miraculously heal a person diagnosed with a terminal "can't be cured" disease. No, some of us pray for God to help that person, and their family, endure that illness. In all things we pray that God's will be done, not our own. True Christians know that God is not our servant. We're his.

The faithless know they're right. They know we're foolishly devoting ourselves to a God they can neither see, feel or hear. They know there is no heaven or hell. They know this life is all there is. Their knowledge is based on far less than our faith. The evidence-based faith that we incorporate into our lives is greater evidence-based behavior. Faith based on the Gospel of Christ is evidence based!

True Christians are like the apostle Paul - we're persuaded. We're not conned. We're not gullible. Twice Paul used the phrase "am persuaded."

In Rom. 14:14 he was persuaded that eating anything was okay provided we gave proper thanks to God. He knew not all men of his time were persuaded of this though and he was mindful of his influence on those who may be weaker. "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

He was also persuaded that his life of physical pain and suffering was worthwhile. To Timothy he wrote in 2Tim. 1:12 "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

The faithless don't understand that. Few will be persuaded, but still we try. And still we attempt to be a light to this world. Not by barking back at those who use rhetoric that can frighten the most hardened among us - I mean, just reading the phrase, "nothing fails like prayer" is pretty dramatic, isn't it? A continuous faithful life devoted to the God we serve is still our best sermon. There are times where words won't suffice. And if our behavior or actions cause men to hate us or revile us - I suppose we ought to count ourselves blessed as disciples did in ancient days.

Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

We should be mindful of our actions and behavior. Perhaps by our godly actions the world will see the reasons for our hope and faith. Study your Bible. Worship God in truth and spirit. Behave righteously every day. Live your life as though it matters - because it does!

Can We Know The Truth?

2006-04-08T15:43:00.000-05:00

Yes, we can absolutely know the Truth. The Bible tells us so.

The often cited verse is John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Clear enough. Time and again Christ talked of telling the truth. He spoke about the way of God being truth.

Truth can be defined as that which is in accordance with fact or reality. Truth opposes myth or fiction or imaginations.

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

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

Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society or historical context and are not absolute. For example, some argue that the teaching of 1st Corinthians 11 on headship are not binding today because they are relative. The culture of that day must be considered to put that teaching into historical perspective, they claim.

It's easy to see the draw of such a doctrine. We can easily explain away any doctrine or command that puts restrictions on us. Such a doctrine has become the spiritual equivalent of diplomatic immunity. God's Law doesn't apply, or it really doesn't mean what it says.

Others embrace portions of relativism, but won't go so far as to declare there is no truth. For them, it's more comfortable to acknowledge some truth while rejecting other truth. It's the best of both worlds. It makes no more sense than relativism. In fact it's far less consistent than relativism, but equally destructive to God's commands.

Something may be truth for you, but not for me. And sometimes one thing is true, while at other times it's not. It certainly leads to contentions and needful debate. Yet, we read in 1 Cor. 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

Now how is that possible? If there is relative truth then there must necessarily be debate and contentions. People must discuss and argue about what is true and what isn't. And the object of that debate isn't what God has to say about it, but rather what men have to say about it. Times change. Cultures change. So the debate must be continual if we're to determine truth for us at any specific moment in time. Even then, it's not for sure because we can never really know what is true. This describes a high risk proposition - not what God has architected to save us!

And history can't really help because if we buy into this false doctrine - what was true yesterday may not be true for us today. Truth is ever changing as it's influenced by both mankind and time.

Nevermind that the Hebrew writer was inspired to write in Heb. 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." That's either true or false. If it's true then God's message given through Christ and inspiration of the Holy Spirit is still true - just as it's always been true. Or it's never been true and it never will be true. And if the later is so, then God is a liar.

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

God gave us Truth when He sent His Son to earth to be the sacrifice necessary so mankind could be saved. He gave us Truth when Christ preached what God gave Him. He gave us Truth when He sent the Holy Spirit to give His words to the men who wrote the Scriptures. God breathed it. And God did not breathe lies. He breathed Truth.

It can be known because the Scriptures teach edification, understanding and discernment. What God gave can be preached, understood and obeyed. That means the Truth can and must be known.

1Cor. 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

1Cor. 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

If the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe, then it is logical that men are able to understand that preaching.

2Tim. 4:17 "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

The Gentiles were able to know the Truth by Paul's preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, we can all know the Truth by the same preaching of the Gospel. We obey it by first knowing it or understanding it.

Consider the preaching at Pentecost. Peter preached the Gospel to the people who crucified the Lord. They understood what he preached. Many of them obeyed it and became disciples, Christians. From then to now - and until the end of time - that is how Christians are made. They're made by understanding and obeying the Gospel of Christ.

Rom. 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Faith isn't possible without the Word of God. We hear the Word of God when we listen to it preached or when we read it. We learn or know Truth when we hear the Gospel. That establishes our faith.

Faith isn't blind. Faith is reasonable, logical and makes complete sense once a person knows God's Word. God's Truth is His Word.

Rev. 20:12, 13 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."

Judged by our works means what? Who's going to determine if our works are worthy of eternal damnation or eternal bliss? By what standard is our behavior going to be judged?

Am I going to stand in judgment condemned for something that in my culture, society and time was wrong, but somebody else is justified because it was true (or righteous) in their culture, society and time? If so, God is a 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:" Of a truth, Peter? God isn't a respecter of persons? You mean God will judge us all by the same standard? That's exactly what the Scriptures teach.

To know God is to obey Him. To obey Him is to follow His Word. To obey Him is to love Him.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Knowing the Truth frees us from sin and the threat of the second death - a devil's hell.

Not only can we know the Truth - we must! Our souls depend on it. Our eternal destiny will be determined by our knowledge and obedience to the Truth.

To What Are You Resolved?

2006-01-21T10:12:00.000-06:00

Resolved. The verb form means to reach a decision or make a determination. The noun form means firmness of purpose or a determination or decision; a fixed purpose. Like the squirrel determined to hang onto the wire - people are resolved to do certain things, or to avoid doing things. That is, they've made up their minds about some things. At the moment, this squirrel appears to have made up his mind about remaining on this wire. But from the looks of things, I'm not sure if he's going to stay there. He seems to be considering his next move.

The Bible contains many stories of resolve and determination. Moses, under God's orders, negotiated with Pharaoh to let God's people leave Egypt. He was resolved that God's conditions of walking away would be met. Pharaoh made it hard, but Moses pressed on. God helped things along by bringing plagues on Egypt, but without the resolve of Moses to stand toe-to-toe with Pharaoh God's people would have remained enslaved.

Abraham resolved to obey God even though he didn't always know how God would see him through. He left home and family because God said, "Go." Throughout his life he followed God's commandments because he had his mind made up that serving God was the priority of his life. He trusted God.

David resolved to fight for God when he slew Goliath. Years later, as King, he sinned, but when confronted with what he had done - he resolved to repent. He couldn't avoid the consequences of his sin, but he made up his mind that serving God mattered most.

Peter apparently resolved that if all other disciples forsook the Lord, it would never happen to him. He was wrong. That's why we see him weeping after realizing that he had denied Christ three times. He resolved he'd live more carefully and more diligently from that moment forward.

Paul was resolved to punish Christians. He considered them a threat to his Jewish heritage and the Old Law. Blinded while enroute to Damascus he was forced by God to think about his behavior and his faith. When a man preached the gospel of Christ to him, he resolved to obey it. After his baptism he resolved to work as tirelessly for Christ as he ever had in working against Christ ignorantly.

Felix resolved to ignore the gospel message searching for a more convenient time to obey.

Agrippa resolved to almost consider what Paul preached.

The rich young ruler resolved to mourn because Christ commanded him to sell what he had and give to the poor, then follow Him. The Bible says, "He went away sorrowful, for he had many riches."

So many stories of resolve. Some good. Some bad. Some happy. Some sad.

Resolve speaks to God's own resolve that men make up their own minds. When God created us he gave us the ability to decide for ourselves. The entire gospel message is a message that appeals to the sensibilities of mankind. It's rational. It makes sense to obey it. God wants us to want to serve Him because we've made up our own minds to do so. He won't force anything on us.

Too frequently perhaps we're like the squirrel. Resolved only for one moment in time, but searching for our next leap. We jump from one thing to another, never fully decided about where we ought to perch in life. As a result we fail to grow.

Growth is impossible when you're not planted. Do a search on your Bible software for the words "grow" or "rooted." The Lord expects His people to be resolved to obey Him no matter what. He insists we be rooted and grounded in the Truth so we can grow, bear fruit and reach Heaven.

In 1896 James H. Fillmore, Sr. wrote the hymn "I Am Resolved."

I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.

I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.

I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.

I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heavenly way.

To what are you resolved?

Love Not The World

2005-11-25T10:09:00.000-06:00

Today is known as Black Friday in the retail business. Most retailers will earn their annual profits in the next 5 weeks. Many enter this weekend in the red, but after this weekend they'll enter the black.

News programs this morning are focused on shoppers who spent all night last night in line at major retail stores so they could take advantage of discounts that start today. At some stores the stampede was so fierce some shoppers were trampled when the doors opened at 5am. Reports of fist fights are rather common as shoppers protect their place in line. Theft is rampant at area malls as some prowl the parking lot for cars stuffed with holiday gift items. Everywhere you look there is the quest for stuff - stuff people want, but don't yet have.

There's nothing sinful about searching for a bargain. And it's not sinful to shop, provided it doesn't interfere with our service to God. Covetousness is sin. And there are other sins that tempt men during times like these. So, it seems fitting to spend just a few moments considering how God wants us to view this world and the stuff it offers.

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

John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. There is no contradiction between what we’re commanded to do in refraining to love the world and what God did when He loved the world. The world in John 3:16 are the people who inhabit the world. That’s what God loved. God’s interests were in seeing the people of the earth saved through obedience to Jesus Christ.

The world spoken of in 1 John 2 is the sphere of evil that men turn themselves over to. The love forbidden in 1 John 2 is a love of those things that serve self, those things that cause us to rebel against God.

Consider 3 verses in 1 John chapter 2.

In verses 12 – 14 the children, fathers and young men have been addressed. Each of these groups is commended for having good control in their respective circumstances. Even so, they are all in the world and subjected to the lures and temptations of Satan.

Now, the exhortation is to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. The “world” that we’re commanded to not love is the sphere of evil that exists in this life. There is a universal pursuit in this life that is opposing God. We have to neglect loving that world. But we’re forbidden to love even the things in the world.

The story is told of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. Here comes a young man to the Lord asking what he lacks in order to have eternal life. The Lord tells him to obey the commandments of the law. The young man responds by telling the Master that he’s does all that since he was a child.

Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

It would seem this young man was so sincere and dedicated that he’d have done whatever Jesus commanded, but this final admonition was too much. Here is what the scriptures say about his response to the Lord’s final admonition…

Matthew 19:22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

Jesus goes on to teach the disciples some more about the wealth of this world and the dangers associated with them.

Matthew 19:23, 24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

The young ruler would have surrendered to the Lord except for this one thing. He had something in this life that he cherished more than his obedience to God. This one thing was something of this world, not heaven. He put it before God.

We may lack “one thing.” It might not be money or wealth, but it might be love of pleasure. It might be love of ease. It might be obsession about our health (or our sickness). It might be the attraction of our house, or land or business. It might be a desire for fame or prominence or worldly honor. It might be career ambition. It might be family. There are many things of this world capable of drawing us away from God and the Truth of the Church.

Whatever stands between you and your pursuit of heaven is of this world. I’m reminded of people who make the claim that you can have it all. They’re liars. You cannot have it all. You cannot have everything this world affords and have heaven, too. I’ve known many people who have made sacrifices because they realized the truthfulness of that idea. Some have sacrificed athletic pursuits. Others have sacrificed academic pursuits, or career pursuits. A few have sacrificed family because they understood that it was NOT possible to please God and have something valuable in this world. Frequently we find ourselves forced to make a decision between something of this life and something spiritually pleasing to God.

Matthew 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.”

Each of us must decide what we’ll serve. We can only give allegiance to one master. So strong is the pull toward material or worldly possessions that the Lord talks about this in the very next verses in Matthew 6.

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

The Lord knew the pull that this world would have on us. The shame is that too few understand the sin of falling in love with this world or the things of this world.

“If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Loving the world and loving the Father are completely incompatible with one another. They can’t exist together in the same heart.

Romans 8:5-9 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

The phrase “do mind” means that these people deliberately focus their attention on things of the flesh. These people, perhaps us from time to time, devote themselves to those things that are solely devoted to THIS LIFE. Your career, your money, your hobbies, your family and even your health will not propel you into eternity with salvation in Jesus Christ. All these things may hold some importance in our lives, but they can hardly become our focus or concern to the exclusion of being what God wants us to be.

Carnally minded people are not necessarily evil, wicked people who do dastardly deeds. They might be Christians who have surrendered to the lusts found in this world. They might be people who have forgotten that they were purchased and purged from their sins. They might be people caught up in the game of advancing a career, building a portfolio of investments, or improving their physical health. They cannot please God by pursuing a life based in this world, according to Romans 8.

Another warning is found in the book of James.

James 4:4-8 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Spiritual adultery is what is talked about here. This adultery is one where a Christian is unfaithful to the Church. How does that happen? It happens everytime a saint falls in love with the world and denies the work needed by the bride of Christ, the CHURCH. In contrast to being unfaithful to the Lord we can submit to Him and resist the devil. Both require effort and work! I’m sure there’s a lesson there about our willingness to pay the price for faithfulness.

Another scripture points out the same lesson. 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

It’s difficult for young and old alike to be separate. It’s hard to come out from among them, meaning from among the people of the world – the people we are constantly surrounded by. The Old Law had things that were considered unclean. They were specific things. Today, under the Christian law there are many things that can be considered unclean – anything that takes us away from faithful service to God. In and of themselves, they might be okay, but when they get in the way of our Christian service – they’re unclean!

1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

God didn’t establish these things. The world created them and they are of this world. Three specific things are listed here: 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the eyes and 3) the pride of life.

The lust of the flesh is the desire that exists in the minds of men to do evil. The term “flesh” here is the darkest sense of the word. It means the animal nature of man, the source of evil appetites. The lusts of the flesh are made manifest in the works of the flesh. Over in Galatians chapter 5 we have a catalog of these:

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The lusts of the eyes provide the source for us to seek after things that distract us. We see what we long for. Living in a physical world that provides so many temptations, it’s easy to permit ourselves to focus on the things around us rather than on the spiritual things that can help us overcome temptation.

The pride of life encompasses the things that feed our selfish nature. Pride of life prevents men from serving anything or anyone other than their own desires and appetites.

People have long pointed out the temptation of Eve in the garden and the temptations of Jesus after the 40 day fast in the wilderness. It’s true that every temptation is encompassed in these three concepts. That makes it true that the temptations of Eve and our Savior contained these aspects.

Awareness is the first step toward improvement. It’s clear that God’s people have to get and maintain an awareness of these 3 aspects of temptation. If we don’t, we’ll surrender to them. But I fear there may be too many people who enjoy temptation. The lure of the temptation is strong and the resolve to avoid it too weak. For that reason, too many young people may put themselves into situations that cause temptation. For that reason, too many mature people may put themselves into situations that are tough to escape from.

Our failure to clearly understand these 3 aspects of temptation will cause us to be weaker than God wants us to be. We need a devotion to clear understanding. We need a devotion to draw nearer to God. We need a devotion to avoid EVERYTHING that would take us away from the Church.

1 John 2:17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

The reason to avoid temptation is clearly stated here. The world, which may entice us to love it, will pass away. The lust, that we may enjoy for a season, will also pass away.

Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

The ability to understand long-term versus short-term is a wonderful ability. It’s an ability that every Christian must possess. Moses had it. For that reason, he could make up his mind that he would not enjoy the pleasures of Egypt. Instead, he decided to be true to God and endure the hardships of the wilderness wanderings. Moses had respect for the eternal reward. He respected the reward that would come to faithfulness. Do we have that respect? Or do we respect the reward of this life and the things we can gain here?

Do we value the short-term pay offs in this life over the long-term eternal pay offs in the life to come?

He that “doeth” the will of the Father means the person who literally keeps on doing the will of the Father. It’s not enough to do the will of God one time. It’s not enough to obey the gospel, then slide back into sin. We have to devote ourselves to keeping the commandments of the gospel always.

In contrast to Moses we have another name revealed in the scripture, Demas.

2 Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”

We’re not certain what temptation snagged Demas, but suffice to say, the world snagged him. He loved the present world more than he loved the idea of reaching heaven. As a result, he forsook the apostle Paul and the work.

In contrast to not loving the world or the things in this world we’re commanded to love the Lord and one another.

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Luke 10:27 “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

Loving the Lord is more than lip service. It’s active, it’s determined and it’s intentional.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”

Our goal is to make heaven our home. That won’t happen if we view this world as our home. The word we constantly use is “pilgrim.” It fits. It’s a Bible term. I leave you with two verses.

Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

1 Peter 2:11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”

Helping Novices Grow To Maturity

2005-10-01T20:37:00.000-05:00

Titus 2:1-6 "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded."

Recently, I found myself in a conversation about "young peoples' meeting." The observation was made that these are a rather recent phenomenon having begun in earnest within the last 25 years or so. For those of us past the age of 40 we recall young speakers being given the night of New Year's Eve at the annual Oklahoma New Year's Meeting - a tradition Lynwood relished for years, one he knew firsthand from his days as a young aspiring preacher. Otherwise, young people and old alike frequented what we merely referred to as "gospel meetings." Young men were often called on to lead songs, but the young people were never put in positions of leadership. Congregations rarely placed the burden of leadership or authority on the shoulders of young people.

We have unwittingly placed a danger upon our young people - the danger of being in authority. We've sometimes put them in positions for which they're ill equipped. This certainly isn't a condemnation of so-called "young speakers' meetings" or "young peoples' meetings." It is, however, an expression of concern for putting young people in positions of leadership for which they aren't ready.

I applaud the older, wiser heads who protected us when my generation was growing up. They knew we were not mature enough, or knowledgeable enough to take on the mantle of leadership. Somewhere along the way, the older folks sat back and decided it was time to put that mantle on a generation lacking experience, wisdom and knowledge. It was unwise of the older generation to do that. It hasn't served to help the novices (which all of us were at one time) develop into mature Christians. Rather, it has served to harm their spiritual development and oftentimes, resulted in a rebellion against the standards of God's Word.

How do we help young people, or any novice in the faith, grow to maturity? Biblical principles show us the way.

Older people are given the responsibility to teach the younger. There are 2 obligations given: 1) to the older to teach and 2) to the younger to learn. If the older refuse to teach properly, then we can hardly place blame on the younger for failing to learn. It's time for the older folks to look in the mirror. Too often the older retire from leading, teaching and bearing the responsibility of helping the novices mature.

While it is entirely possible for an older person to hold on to the past and refuse to pass on the mantle (for whatever reason), it's necessary that the younger generation be taught responsible service to the Lord in the local congregation. Age catches up to all of us, if we live long enough. Our memory, our abilities and our physical strength sometimes hinder us from serving as we once did. That should help spur all of us to teach and mentor the young while we're able - and so they'll be prepared for service when our abilities wind down.

Young people need instruction. Older women are obligated by the scriptures to teach the younger women. Older men are obligated to instruct the younger men. Passing on the Truth of the Gospel to younger generations is the duty of every responsible adult Christian.

So, what can we do to improve?

One, the older generation has to be grounded in the Gospel. If we're not devoted to the Gospel, then we can hardly be successful at teaching our young people. If we're not living for the Lord in the way befitting age and wisdom, then we're unable to have the positive influence demanded of us.

Two, the older generation can seize every opportunity to help the younger people - in every way. Preparation for godly service is needed. We need to teach our young people how to study the Bible. We need to teach our young people what God demands of them. We need to ground our young people in the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. We need to instruct our young people in Christian behavior. We need to pray for our young people. We need to lead them by example.

Three, we need to give our young people opportunities to serve. Young women need to learn how to cook and take food to those in need in our congregations. They need to learn how to visit the sick with their mothers, grandmothers or older women of the congregation. They need to learn their role in their own future Christian home. They need to learn that their role in the Church is vital to the strength of the congregation.

Young men need to learn public service, if they've got that ability. If not, they need to learn what they can do. Church buildings need to be cleaned, lawns need to be mowed, sick need to be visited, those less fortunate need to be cared for, songs need to be led, sermons prepared and delivered...on and on it goes.

In both cases, young women or men need to be involved, but not relied upon for leadership. It's a mistake for a young person to be thrust into a position prematurely. I have seen too many young people overtaken with arrogance and conceit because a congregation thought too highly of them and their ability. While our brotherhood has many talented young people, we must avoid placing the mantle of leadership on them too soon. Maturity and sober-mindedness are required before a person can responsibly accept leadership.

It does take time. There is no substitute for the passage of time, but the mere passage of time doesn't necessarily result in maturity or sobriety. We have to make wise use of that time to teach our young people what it means to serve God responsibly. We have to make wise use of that time to show them the things others showed us. Yes, we ought to remind them that we were once young, and inexperienced, and uninformed. Somebody taught us and now we want to teach them.

Accountability is central to responsible growth. If we neglect to hold our young people accountable to us (as parents) and to God, then we will fail them completely. We should expect hard work and good effort from our young people. We should expect them to behave as Christians, no matter the situation or circumstance. We should correct them when they need it. We should encourage them to serve loyally in the local congregation. We need to teach them the importance of their own Christian influence. And brethren, we should watch for their souls by guarding them from poor associations, both in and out of the Church.

Young people are subject to pressures and temptations somewhat unique to youth. We need to be mindful of this and help them through the difficult years of growing up. Subjects like dating only in the Church, how to behave on dates, how to behave in the public worship, how to answer those who will criticize their dress, how to talk to their friends about the gospel and a host of other subjects should be easily discussed with young people. No, every older person won't be able to successfully affect every young person - but every young person needs one or more older persons who can and will openly discuss things that will help them grow in faithfulness to God.

We owe it to our children to save them. We'll never save them unless we instill the gospel into their hearts. They must establish their own faith based on the Word of God.

Deut. 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

Their time for leadership will come soon enough. Without the proper preparation our congregations and brotherhood will suffer. Without sufficient preparation they will not be rooted and grounded in the Truth. We owe them better preparation so their spiritual future can be bright for the Lord.

As they prove themselves responsible in small things we're able to pass on to them larger things. Step by step we help them reach their full potential and spiritual maturity. We guide them and work hard for their success - because their success becomes our success. They become objects of our pride, rightfully so.

May the Lord bless our young people with wisdom to always live for Him. May He bless the older people with the wisdom to teach the younger the ways of the Lord. And may God bless all of us to live until the very end of our lives in faithful service.

Take Therefore No Thought For The Morrow

2005-09-02T21:43:00.000-05:00

Dan. 2:20-22 "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him."

Recent events show us the fragility of mankind. We cannot control the weather, in spite of our ability to build computers capable of calculating millions of equations in a keystroke. We cannot always determine our circumstances, in spite of our ability to explore the outer limits of our universe.

The laws of nature, put into place by God, cannot be suspended. We're unable to defy gravity. We're unable to control the weather.

God is not to blame for the tragedy of the Gulf shores, including the loss of New Orleans. Nature created a storm that became a beast named Katrina. From hurricanes to illness, and death - they're part of the human condition. Yet another reason why we should never want to make this world our permanent home. We're pilgrims. Heaven is home.

Heb. 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

1Pet. 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"

Through it all, we're made to realize our need for God. Many problems are bigger than us. In short, we need God. He's in control.

Matt. 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Pride prevents some from leaning on God in obedience to His Word. Failure to recognize God's authority prohibits others. Most of us like to feel that we are in control, but there are many things in our lives beyond our control.

All men should make up their mind to serve God. God gives us the choice to serve Him or something else.

Matt. 6:24-34 "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. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

By serving God today - and every day - we successfully deal with life's problems. That doesn't mean they go away, or that they're fixed to our liking. It means God provides the strength needed to endure or overcome.

Each day brings us new problems and challenges. Each day presents us with enough problems to keep us occupied. There's no need to fret about the necessities of this life. We ought to be fretting over our obedience to God because He is in control.

Yes, we're commanded to provide for our families. Yes, we're to be wise stewards of the blessings in our life. And in all our earthly endeavors we're commanded to put God first.

Matt. 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

We must be thoughtful about our eternity. The worries of this life are real for us. But our greater concern must be to reach heaven - our home being built by the Lord.

John 14:2, 3 "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Picking A Spouse

2005-08-20T12:17:00.000-05:00

Recent conversations with people about dating and the prospects of marriage have made me give greater thought to the challenge facing God's young people. Some members of the Lord's Church in another state recently talked about their worries that so many young people in the Church seem to be dating non-Christians. A young man admitted his difficulties in finding a girl who shares his convictions based on the Gospel. A young woman talked of her desires to find a young man desirous of being a strong Christian.

Our future as God's people hinges on the ability of one generation to pass along to the younger generation the wisdom necessary to make one of life's most important decisions - the decision of who we will marry. Brother Gay wrote a wonderful series of articles back in the 1940's. We still refer young people to his words almost half a century later. Click here to read his articles on building a Christian home.

Young people may confuse the interest of older folks with interference. Often the conversation between older Christians turns toward a concern for the younger Christians. That's only appropriate given the responsibility of the older to pass along the heritage of godly service.

Few conversations stir more concern among older saints. Frustration is easy when talking to a young person about their choice of boyfriend or girlfriend, especially when the selection has been made for all the wrong reasons. Chemistry and good feeling too often overcome good sense and scriptural-based judgment. Although talking to kids about who they date and who they'll end up marrying may be like talking to a wall, parents and older Christians can't hesitate to issue a few warnings about what is really required to create a Bible-based family life.

Ephesians 6:1-4 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord."

All happily married Christian couples can attest to the change and growth necessary to build a strong Christian home. They can also verify the need to make the selection of a spouse carefully and prayerfully.

We urge young people to come up for air, free yourselves from one another's embrace and look beyond the physical attraction so you can more carefully examine your future.

First, pick a spouse who respects God's Word.

Even babes in Christ understand that God's ways and the ways of the world are always in conflict. God insists that we live by His principles of righteousness. Scriptures show us that the world lives by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We're to avoid those things and shun them.

1 John 2:15, 16 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

People who aren't devoted to God freely devote themselves to the pleasures of the world. God's people have a different devotion.

Many heartaches are caused when a Christian marries an unbeliever. Without a unified purpose for building a home and marriage, chaos often erupts. Moral issues arise because the unbeliever isn't bridled by the Word of God. But it goes deeper. The coupling of a Christian to an unbeliever disrupts God given roles in the home. The duties of each member of a home, if not sanctioned by God, often become unclear and worldly. For instance, what godly woman seeking to be the keeper at home God wants could make a happy home with an ungodly man who pressures her to leave the home and earn money?

Sadly, this problem isn't limited to unbelievers. Young people must be mindful that some of God's people lack the proper respect for God's Word. Dating another Christian isn't the only requirement for seeking a fitting spouse. Find a boy or girl who demonstrates the proper respect for God's Word by obeying it - not arguing against it.

Two, select a spouse who has spiritual values and goals.

You must first have spiritual values and goals. If your life lacks the spiritual focus it must have, first take care of yourself. You can hardly recognize what you need in a spouse if you are not what you should be. Are your goals focused on entertainment, fun and pleasure? Then fix your own life by getting focused on those things that are eternal.

Sadly, I see too many young people in the Church who are interested in nothing other than a good time. As they grow older they sometimes lament how difficult it is to find somebody to date who is spiritually compatible. Well, they've not put themselves in a position to attract the right boy or girl. They've been acting as though Church and serving God were less important than being popular, having fun and enjoying entertainment. You reap what you sow. Take care of business in your own life, then you may find it easier to seek out the person who will serve as a faithful spouse capable of helping you reach heaven.

Values must be directed by God. The goal must be heaven. If the person you date has different values and different goals - STOP! Don't continue to put yourself at risk.

You must not con yourself into thinking that good qualities will suffice. Righteous living is not merely being good morally. There are many good people who are not Christians. Date people who are devoted to the Lord and the Church. Being a good person isn't the same as being a righteous person.

Ask yourself, "Am I made a better Christian by this person? Will this person help me live closer to the Lord and the Church?"

Three, find someone willing to make corrections.

Nobody is perfect. We're all a work in progress. However, some problems are larger than others. It's foolish to think that after marriage problems will be fixed, if they're not fixed before marriage. Too often we've seen somebody, usually an unbelieving boy, attend church services faithfully while dating a Christian girl. After marriage, his attendance stops. Don't bank on changes happening after marriage. If his attendance was merely a front so you'd date him, then you should realize that your relationship is equally shallow.

Drinking, gambling, hanging out at all hours and countless other poor behaviors won't be fixed by marriage. Neither will hot tempers, unkindness, being argumentative, lying and other traits.

Search for a person of Christian character willing to fix those things that are wrong in their life. If they're unwilling to listen to God's Word (disrespect the Word of God) and put their life in compliance with what God wants - STOP!

Four, pick a spouse who is mature.

Marriage isn't for kids. That's one reason why more than half of all teenage marriages end in divorce. Maturity is a requirement for the establishment of a Christian home.

Age won't guarantee maturity. Maturity is something you can gain by working at it. Behave with maturity and you may become mature. Put away childish behaviors. Grow up. Don't just grow older. Be sober (that means, be serious).

Be mature yourself. Being irresponsible and selfish are not qualities fit for marriage. If you are self-centered and immature, then you've got some work to do in your own life. It's likely that your behavior fosters dating people who share your immaturity and self-centeredness. You have little hope of building a relationship that will lead to the establishment of a Christian home.

There is no single secret to having a successful marriage, but one indispensable ingredient is unselfishness. Behave selfishly during dating and you're not likely to behave any differently after marriage. Don't fool yourself thinking the selfish person you date will stop being selfish when you marry.

Again, look in the mirror. What are your displays of maturity? You can hardly expect to attract a mature person if you're not mature yourself.

Some signs that you're immature:

- You think mainly of what you want. You are self-centered.
- You have little awareness of how you affect others.
Sometimes you just don't care.
- Your life centers around having fun and being entertained.*
- You're not terribly comfortable being by yourself.
Partying and hanging with others consumes most of your time.
- You stay up late as often as possible.
- You sleep late as often as possible.
- You have little structure and discipline in your life.
And you really don't want any.
- Your life has little direction and little purpose.
- You don't regularly read or study the Bible.
- You don't regularly pray.
- You don't regularly consider spiritual things.
- You don't seek the wisdom of others.
It's easier to just follow your own desires.

*Just snoop around at the blogs of many young people in the Church and perhaps like me, you'll be surprised at how going to the movies is widespread among a generation that has never heard how the "old-timers" were warned of them based on the Gospel's demand for purity in our lives. It's difficult enough to guard your heart in today's world without purposefully subjecting yourself to temptations. And don't argue that you only go to PG or PG13 movies. I know better because I've read blog after blog of young people who regularly attend R rated movies. Besides, since when do God's people go by the standards of a Hollywood movie group who establish those ratings? Spiritual maturity has little chance with behavior that feeds on the world.

By the way, watching filth on your own TV at home (via tapes or DVD's) is no better. Both are sinful. Neither demonstrate a devotion to guarding your heart! Brethren, somewhere along the way we did a horrible disservice to our kids by failing to show them how important and powerful it is to guard the heart! We stopped preaching it. We stopped warning people. As a result, too many Christians have joined the world in thinking it's foolish to guard your heart.

"It doesn't affect me," they often say. That amounts to calling God a liar. Please consider that the next time you watch some profane filled thing or listen to some profanity laced song. By subjecting your heart to that type of entertainment you display disregard for God's Word. You show your spiritual immaturity - the belief that it will not harm you. Immature people can be fearless to the point of neglecting their own safety. It's true physically. It's equally true spiritually.

Attractive, isn't it? No, of course not. It's quite pathetic, but unfortunately it is the picture of so many lives. Young and old alike are plagued too often by self-centered behaviors that are anything, but mature. We see it at work, at school and at church.

Immaturity is rampant even though the Gospel demands that we live sober lives. Remember, it's a command - not a suggestion. As people grow up, they must become mature. That requires mature behavior. It's a choice. It requires young people begin to behave like adults. It requires responsible conduct. Consider some important verses found in Titus.

Titus 2:1-15 "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 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. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."

Be mature. Be sober. Look for a mate who is, too. Physically, emotionally and most of all spiritually.

Five, pick a spouse who can communicate.

Relationships are impossible where there is poor, little or no communication. Problems go unsolved if a couple cannot clearly communicate with one another. Thoughtful dialogue can help build a relationship. Monologues aren't profitable.

If you find yourself dating somebody who is unable to express themselves to you, STOP! You'll never build the relationship necessary to establish a Christian home. If you find yourself dating somebody with whom you're unable or unwilling to have serious dialogue, STOP!

Talking and listening are both necessary qualities for making a relationship grow. By the way, yelling and arguing are not quality forms of communication. If your communication consists of lots of arguing, STOP! Find somebody else to date.

Six, look beyond physical attraction or physical qualities.

People date specific people for lots of reasons - most of them physical. And I mean more than beauty or good looks. Personality, being fun, being popular and scores of other attributes are part of physical attraction. These are the most shallow attractions.

I've known young men who dated girls because they knew lots of other young men were attracted to them. After all, it's quite satisfying to be dating the girl who is the envy of all the other guys. Ridiculous? Sure, but it happens.

I've known young men who lamented at the dimwittedness of a good-looking girl they dated, but they wouldn't stop dating her because she was so attractive. I've known young men who dated a girl because she was always so much fun. Or because she enjoyed the same entertainment, the same music and so on. None of these things are sufficient foundations for a Christian marriage. In fact, they're not even suitable foundations for dating!

The object of dating is to build a mature relationship. While there is no denying that couples need to find one another attractive, it is hardly the stuff of which strong Christians home are built.

Proverbs 31:30 "Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised."

Seven, pick a spouse who will be a good friend, your best friend.

A man's best friend should be his wife. A wife's best friend should be her husband.

Too many young people are involved in relationships where they argue, fuss and fight. They're foolish enough to think the relationship might have a future. Well, they're right, but the future is going to be the ruination of them both if they don't stop and move on.

It's one thing to enjoy somebody's company. It's another to find them a person with whom you can share your innermost thoughts and cares.

It's one thing to find somebody attractive - even kissable. It's another to find them a person with whom you can improve your Christian life.

Life is routine. Do you find this person your best friend during the most routine times of your life? Make certain that the boy or girl you date are friends, good friends.

Friends help us become better. They benefit us and we benefit them. They seek our welfare in the Church. We seek their spiritual welfare, too. Friends work to strengthen one another.

Does that describe the relationship you are in? If not, it's time to move on.

Lastly, pick a spouse who believes marriage is for life.

What God joins together can't be put asunder by man. "Til death do us part," is not just a phrase uttered by couples madly in love. Those are vows made before God, ordained by His Will.

Problems will arise. You can't just walk away. That's what dating is for. That's why the advice to STOP is given to dating couples who find themselves battling issues that are harmful for them both. Once you are married, there is no stopping. You are in it for life.

The walking away needs to happen while you are dating. It's not an option in marriage.

Permit a brief comment about intimacy. STOP. Fornication is a sin. Intimacy outside of the marriage union is forbidden by God.

1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

Know the difference between sex and love. Society bombards all of us with images of sex. While intimacy can be an expression of love, it is restricted between a husband and his wife. TV and the media do us all a disservice by putting sex in front of us. You must take pride in your virtue. You must behave while you date.

Love is mandatory in marriage. Intimacy is not the only expression of love in marriage. Young people must guard their hearts by restricting their passions.

Ephesians 5:25-33 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; because we are members of his body. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband."

As a dating person, behave yourself with all the godly qualities befitting a potentially good spouse. Make sure you possess these positive qualities first. It will make attracting the right prospective spouse that much easier.

Devote yourself to:

- respecting God's Word
- having spiritual values and goals
- having a willingness to correct the poor behavior in your own life
- maturity and sober thinking in the Lord
- being a good listener and good communicator
- offering more than physical attraction to others
- being a good friend
- the firm conviction that marriage is one man with one woman for life

Doing that will provide you with a superior opportunity of attracting the right Christian person to become your mate.

Pray for wisdom. Pray for strength to overcome the temptations that come with being young. Read and study your Bible. Talk with your Christian parents about your problems and concerns. Lean on others in the Church. Guard your heart by protecting yourself from watching things, hearing things and experiencing things that would harm your soul.

Date only in the Lord. And when it comes to choosing a spouse, be picky - even in the Lord. Select a person who can and will help you reach heaven. Your entire future depends on the choice you will make!

Choking To Death

2005-08-15T21:21:00.000-05:00

Luke 8:14 "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

Most people agree that nausea is among the worst feelings in the world. It's one thing to be nauseated because we've got a bug of some sort, but it's quite another to be nauseated because a person has been partying and getting drunk. Listen to Dr. Luke.

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."

Surfeiting is a word describing the nausea felt after drinking alcohol. This is the only place in the New Testament where we find this word. We're warned to be careful so we don't allow our hearts to be overcharged with this behavior.

Some translations use the word "dissipation." That means intemperance, or indulging in sensual behavior, or wasteful consumption.

Have you ever seen video of fraternity initiations where new pledges are encouraged to consume enormous amounts of alcohol? In spite of vomiting, some of these kids die of alcohol poisoning. They've given into the sins of the flesh. Their sin has a high price.

We're warned to not allow our hearts to be overtaken, but we're equally warned by the term "overcharged" to not allow ourselves to let our hearts be deceived. Like the young fraternity pledge who thinks his self-indulgence will not kill him, we're all able to think the affects of the world will not kill our spiritual service to God. It's a horrible miscalculation when God's people fool themselves with worldliness.

We can choke to death. And that's the warning Jesus gives when he talks of the seed of the gospel falling among thorns and being choked by the world.

Even worst than nausea is the inability to catch your breath, choking!

Literal choking can happen in one of two ways: internal or external.

That is, we can ingest something that prevents us from being able to breath. Maybe we take in so much of something that we're unable to breath. Or maybe something "goes down the wrong way" as we say and we start choking.

Or, we can be crushed by something around our throat or our chest so that we're prevented from breathing. We're strangled or crushed by something that prohibits us from breathing properly.

In the parable Jesus refers to external choking because He's talking about how a seed will sprout, but the thorns will literally choke the seedling and prevent its growth. External choking.

But in Luke 21:34 the choking can be internal, too. And after all, choking is choking. If it's not remedied, it results in death; spiritual death, in the case of these verses.

At first glance, we might conclude that when Jesus talks about that which fell among thorns we're to believe that these external circumstances - the thorns - are beyond a person's control. Jesus tells us that the soil is the heart of a man. Men can control their heart, their soil.

Luke 8:11-15 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

So are we to believe that we have no control over our own heart?

Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 12:35 "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."

Those who crucified Christ had the ability to change their heart. Earlier they cried for His blood. Now they're crying out to discover what they must do to be saved.

Acts 2:37 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

We have the ability to control our heart. That means we can control our desires, passions and priorities. We control the choices we make.

While circumstances affect all of us, our response to those circumstances is completely up to us. Consider Job's reaction to his challenges. Consider Abraham's obedience to God's demand that he give up his only son. Consider Christ's response to God's desire that He sacrifice Himself. In every case, choices were made. In every case, desires were determined by the heart. Every man controls his own choices.

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Galatians 6:5 "For every man shall bear his own burden."

James 1:14 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."

Accountability equals being answerable. It means being responsible to someone, or being responsible for doing something. Spiritually, it means answering to God for our behavior toward Him.

The first part of Romans 10:10 declares, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness..."

Romans 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

We can't blame anybody else or anything else for our refusal to obey the gospel or our inability to bear fruit for the Lord. We can't hide behind our circumstances or others when it comes to our Christian duty. We have to behave like God's people or suffer the consequences.

There are countless obstacles, but I'd like to focus on the thorns of worldliness because they may present one of the greatest enemies to Christians.

When we think of worldliness we might think of drinking, being immoral and partying. We might think of gambling, dancing and all kinds of things, but God's Word has a different definition.

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

The world here isn't God's creation. Nor is it the world that God so loved that He sent Jesus as a sacrifice. "World" here are the thorns of the world - the lusts, passions and activities of people who want to do what they want to do. There's no sacrifice happening here. There is only indulgence. There is no discipline, only a child-like quest to satisfy our own desires. There's little long-term consideration, but mainly there is the quest to fulfill desires right now.

We're told of the three sins that exist:
1. lust of the flesh or sensuality
2. lust of the eyes or materialism and
3. pride of life or pomposity (showing off, if you will).

All sins fit into one or more of these categories. These represent the thorns of worldliness capable of choking the Word and making us unfruitful.

The lust of the flesh involves a fleshly way of thinking and acting. "Flesh" involves more than the elements that make up the human body. It is a way of thinking and living that is contrary to the way of God. It is contrasted with spiritual living in Romans 8 and Galatians 5. These chapters suggest that the word "flesh" includes the mind of the person and his reasoning abilities.

The word "lust" (desire) can be for things good or bad. God has given to man certain desires and these are all good within themselves. We have the desire for food, for drink, for sleep, for sex. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these desires. But they can be directed in the wrong channels and become sinful. While the desire for food is natural and good, gluttony is sinful. While the desire to quench thirst is proper, drunkenness is a sin. Sleep is a normal need, but "a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -and your poverty will come in like a vagabond" (Prov. 6:10-11). Laziness is a sin. The fulfillment of sexual desires within marriage is of God and is, therefore, holy. But sex taken outside the bounds of a husband and wife is fornication and is sinful. When we have desires for what is forbidden, we are headed toward "love of the world."

The lust of the eyes has to do with pleasures that gratify the sight and the mind in such a way to lead one away from God. It's found in people who want everything they see. It is the attitude that believes that happiness can be found in things which money can buy, of what the life can experience and what the eye can see. We must remember that the things which are seen are temporal (2 Cor. 4:18). This is what worldliness is: emphasis on that which is temporal.

The boastful pride of life is the spirit that attempts to show people how important we are. This is why we buy houses, cars, clothing, appliances, and other luxuries which we cannot afford. We want to impress people. We want to boast about our own greatness. The "buy now, pay later" advertising gets millions of people to buy things beyond their means. Why? To impress people with our material possessions. That is worldliness.

We're capable of choking on the very thing we feed on. That's a problem in the lives of too many Christians. They feed on the pleasures of the world and ultimately, they choke on them.

We're capable of allowing things to crush out the Word and strangle us. We wrap ourselves too tightly with things that distract us from the Christian walk. They sometimes choke us.

Some people busy themselves with entertainment, pleasure, fun and excitement. They commit treason against their own heart. That is, they betray their heart's allegiance to God by devoting too much of themselves to things that are worldly. Brethren, worldliness doesn't have to be immoral. Acts of worldliness might be things innocent enough if kept in balance - if put in proper perspective with service to God.

Luke's account gives us 3 things that make up this worldliness: cares, riches and pleasures.

The cares or worries of this life deal with our anxieties over material things such as our food, clothing, or shelter. They can also deal with our cares about life's experiences - what fun are we going to have, what entertaining things are we going to do? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus, with His masterful word pictures, teaches us not to worry about our physical life.

Matthew 6:31-33 "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Anxiety about these physical needs or desires are indicative of little faith according to Matthew 6:30 "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

Instead of worry, our lives must be characterized by prayer (Phil. 4:6) and action (Matt. 6:33 - "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness"). Anxiety about these things can choke out the word and that is worldliness.

The riches of this life are another source of worldliness.

1 Timothy 6:9-12 "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

Two metaphors are used by Paul. One of a trapped animal unable to free himself and one of a drowning swimmer. That's how the quest for riches affect us. The condemnation isn't for unlawful gain - the condemnation is the desire to be rich in what this world has to offer. It's a foregone conclusion that gaining wealth dishonestly is sinful. We can desire wealth through completely honest means and still be worldly because we're permitted that desire to overwhelm our commitment to the Lord through the Church.

At the conclusion of the story of the rich man who decided he needed bigger barns for all his worldly goods, Christ pointed out that his soul would be required of him. "Then whose shall these thing fall to," was the question Christ asked. Who will get it when you die? Then He concludes in Luke 12:21 "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

The pleasures of this life also constitute worldliness. These would be any pleasures that would draw us away from the godly life dictated by the Word.

Worldliness falls into 2 categories. There are things that are wrong within themselves because God has declared them to be wrong. Anything that falls within the description of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 is sinful because God declares that it is. This includes sexual sins, sins of the disposition, sins of action. Peter speaks of this kind of worldliness when he talks about "a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries" (1 Pet. 4:3). Paul is emphatic in ordering us to "flee fornication" (1 Cor. 6:18). Anything that falls into this category is sinful - it is of this world.

Many movies are sinful because of these passages. Parents, do you exercise control over what your children see? We've got too many kids in the Lord's Church going to movies and feeding themselves on the filth of the world. The Internet and television are too often unchecked in the homes of God's people. These worldly temptations aren't conducive to a godly, spiritual life. They constitute worldliness and they'll choke the Word. Parents, I encourage you to get the televisions and computers out of your kid's rooms. Become educated on what your kids are watching and what they're doing. Don't be naive. Don't let worldliness grab your children. Be the example before them that you ought to be. Live what you preach. Be responsible for the soil of your children's hearts. Guard their hearts, as you must guard your own. Teach them to guard their own hearts.

There is a worldliness that is very destructive to Christians. It has to do with things that are not wrong within themselves, but constitute worldliness by their use. Paul said that Demas loved this present world. I rather doubt that Demas got involved in immorality or drunkenness. My guess is that Demas was probably afraid that he would die if he stayed with Paul in Rome. He loved this present world and was not ready to leave it. We all have to be very careful so we don't become worldly in this way - where we love this life more than serving God.

These are the people who have so many interests in life that the things of God are choked out. People become too busy to pray, too busy to study, too busy to visit the sick, too busy to be involved in responsibilities at home and too busy to come to all the services. That's worldliness!

Some people charge God with not giving them enough time to do His Will. "I don't have enough time" is something we hear quite often. God gives us all the same number of hours in a day. He gives us time to do everything to please Him. It's amazing that people still have time for sports, for TV, for entertainment, for higher education or for anything else they want to do. The truth is that we find time to do what we want to do.

When we get so involved in the desire to make money that we have no time for Jesus, that's worldliness! When we're so involved in entertaining ourselves that we neglect our Christian obligations, that's worldliness! When we're busy jumping from one exciting thing to another while the Church takes a back seat, that's worldliness! These are childish behaviors. These are behaviors that lack the discipline necessary to live successfully for God.

Moral worldliness. That's what happens when we allow other things - things not sinful within themselves - to choke out our spiritual life. These things become the most important things in our life. Here's the truth of the matter. You can get by without sports, entertainment, movies, and a host of other things that consume people. You can't get by without the Lord and the Church that He died for.

Colossians 3:1, 2 "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."

Jesus tells us that worldliness will "weight us down" and "choke" us. These processes seldom take place immediately. Usually they gradually and slowly grow in our lives. Thorns begin to grow as the seed grows. The thorns grow a little each day.

Worldliness creeps up on us, ultimately choking us.

The Christian gradually accepts and then adopts the ways of the world. Matthew 24:38, 39 "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

The people of Noah's day were going on with their regular lives totally oblivious to the fact that the flood was coming. People come to feel comfortable in their worldly way of life. They come to look upon even sinful activities as being the normal way of life. We accept our "respectable worldliness" as the way that most decent people live. We fail to see the choking effect of this kind of worldliness. Worldliness is deceptive.

It's important that we understand worldliness will destroy us! Choking will kill us.
James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

The Lord is emphatic. Worldliness places us in hostility to God. It is destructive. We have already seen John's statement that "if any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). Our love of the world will result in our being destroyed along with the world.

Paul shows that those who are guilty of the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Philippians 3:18, 19 "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

These are worldly people because they set their minds on earthly things. Their end is definite: it is destruction! Worldliness will lead a person to Hell. People who are traveling the pathway of worldliness are traveling toward eternal destruction.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

God's people have no business making alliances with non-Christians. That would include marriage to a non-Christian, but Christians should take care so as not to marry a nominal Christian who might lead them toward worldliness. Our closest friends can’t be those of the world. Our closest friends ought to be God's people - people who have heaven as their goal.

Our dreams and behaviors ought to be so distinctly different from the world that we find ourselves not having enough in common with them to run closely with them. As temples of God we have nothing in common with pagans. At least we shouldn't unless we've become so worldly that we find ourselves having more in common with unbelievers than believers. And that's a terrible place for a Christian.

Christians need an uneasiness in being around people of the world. We should be uncomfortable with their behavior, their language, their aspirations, their desires and their lifestyle. Unfortunately, it's not always so. We see Christians who are sometimes MORE comfortable around unbelievers. That tells us they're worldly and attracted to the world more than they're attracted to God. They're not guarding their hearts. Rather, they're allowing their hearts to envy the lifestyle of the world - of sinners. Their secret (and sometimes not so secret) desire is to be like the world.

Proverbs 23:17 "Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long."

The Gospel is the seed. It's the same for all people. Our heart is the soil. Its condition is dependent on how well we've prepared it, how well we tend to it, and how well we protect it.

If you were going to plant seed of any type, you'd first prepare the soil. Imagine tossing seed in the middle of a briar patch full of thorns and weeds. What hope would we give it? How senseless would that be? We often do that with our own soul. We take God's Word and attempt to mix it in with all the stuff of this world that we so dearly love. We want our life to center around pleasure, fun, entertainment and getting ahead - but we want to kinda, sorta live the Christian life, too. We want our worldliness and we want our Christianity, too. IMPOSSIBLE. We can't expect that to succeed any more than we can expect seedlings in a literal garden to flourish with weeds and thorns that would choke it.

There are 2 contrasting ideas or questions:
a) What will the world do to the Word?
b) What will the Word do to your cares of the world?

In caring for the soil of our heart we have to deal with both questions. We must decide.

We know the answer to the first question is found in the theme of our lesson - the world will CHOKE the Word. It will cause the Word to be unfruitful. It will cause the Word to die in our heart where we serve it no more.

What will the Word do to our cares of the world? The Word will cause us to put the world in a position of lesser importance. It will cause us to see the world as temporary. It will prevent us from serving the world and our own desires. It will inspire us to seek heaven and God's Will. Knowledge of the gospel coupled with a commitment to live by it is crucial.

What are you sacrificing for heaven? What worldly pursuits, though moral or decent, are you giving up so you can be a stronger Christian? What is the priority of your life?

Those temporal things that consume you represent the thorns in your life. In a literal garden we pull up the thorns and weeds that might choke the seed we've planted because we know those things have NO VALUE. The seed we've planted is far more valuable than the briars that try to grow up around it. So, rightfully (and wisely) we get rid of the things that have no value. Spiritually, it's no different.

It's interesting that the valuable seed requires diligence. That's why our Christian walk is described as work. Paul talked to the Thessalonians about their work of faith. It is a work to maintain faithfulness to the gospel. Thorns require no work. They just grow.

Peter tells us 1 Peter chapter 1 to give diligence to make our calling and election sure by adding things to our life. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity are the things we all have to work to add into our lives. These are opposite of indulgence and doing what we want. Why do some Christians fall? Because they refuse the admonition of 1 Peter 1:5-11. It's not surprising because Peter warns us that those who don't add these things are blind, can't see long-term and have forgotten they were purged from their sins.

Crave a clear, clean spot where the seed can flourish. Work to prepare the soil of your heart. How much more attractive and sensible is it to have an area where we've turned over the soil, pulled out all the weeds and briars, and prepared the soil as best we can? Think of your life in the same way. Clear away the things that get in your way of improved spiritual service.

Brethren, we see worldliness creep into our lives whenever we devote ourselves MORE to the pursuits of our own desires than we do to serving the Lord. Sometimes we're fostering things of NO VALUE instead of fostering the seed of the Gospel.

Today, if pleasure, entertainment, money, houses, cars, toys or other pursuits dominate your thoughts, time and energy then you're deceived by the cares, pleasures and riches of the world. They're choking the Word in your life. You're serving things of no value and giving up your soul in the process.

Matthew 16:26 "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

If we refuse to make time to clear away the clutter in our spiritual life then we'll never be the person God wants us to be. The constant going back and forth in service to self, then to God will not result in a fruitful life. We'll be giving up our soul in exchange for something far less valuable.

For some, it's the need to grow up and become more mature in Christ, in their faith. It's time to become more sober minded in walking with Christ. Some don't take their Christian life seriously enough.

Ephesians 4:14-16 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Paul points out two kinds of people who behave as children. There are those who are taken with whatever is right before their eyes, the most recent novelty. Take any small child through the toy aisle of Wal-Mart and you'll soon find out they want every toy they see. Some Christians behave the same way. They follow whatever is right in front of their eyes. Long-term is never a consideration. Right now is all they know. They're like children who can't behave seriously.

The other category of childish people is those who are deceived. They allow other people to influence them away from the Truth. They're not dedicated enough to the Truth to withstand the deception of others. Predators of children know exactly how to entice kids. They deceive them with all sorts of tricks. Kids often are unaware of the real dangers. Spiritually, we have to be mature enough to avoid deceptions that would cause us to abandon the Faith.

Our growth hinges on our stedfastness to the Truth of the Gospel. It hinges on our willingness to clear out those things that would get in our way. It hinges on putting first things first. It hinges on our willingness to sacrifice things in this life so we can have heaven someday.

Choke or grow. The seed of the gospel will do one of these two things in our life. Don't work at being a Christian and choke. Or work at being a Christian and grow.

Tend the garden of your heart. Be careful what you permit to enter your life. Be careful of the things that might overtake your spiritual life. Don't allow thorns to ruin your hope of heaven.

adapted from a sermon delivered at Fossil Creek Church of Christ

Watch Out For Yourself

2005-07-21T21:29:00.000-05:00

Rom. 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

2Cor. 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Everyone has the responsibility to behave obediently toward God. We'll all be held accountable for our own behavior. Others might influence us for good or bad, but ultimately - at Judgment - we'll stand before Christ to give an account for our own life.

There is another aspect of individual responsibility that I'd like to point out - the obligation to take care of oneself. We have a duty to put our own spiritual welfare first.

In a monotone voice the flight attendant utters these words: "In the case of a loss of cabin pressure oxygen masks will drop from the overhead compartment. Those traveling with small children should put on their own mask first, then place a mask on the child." Some of us have heard that announcement so many times we're numb to hearing it. The point is clear though - take care of yourself first so you can help the child traveling with you.

A lesson about hypocrisy also teaches us that if we would be helpful to others spiritually, then we'd better take care of our own spiritual situation.

Matt. 7:3-5 "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye."

I often see people who get involved in helping somebody else when they need more help themselves - a person who works to find a job for somebody else, when they have no job; a person who has debt problems trying to help somebody else escape debt; or a person with their own weight problem helping somebody else lose weight. In short, it's seen in the countless times people neglect their own needs as they focus on the needs of others.

I'm not talking about failing to help others. I'm not talking about ignoring the needs of others. I am talking about successfully focusing on our own spiritual needs so we can be of good service to others.

Watch out for yourself spiritually. Obey the gospel in your own life. Be responsible for your own life. Protect your own steadfastness.

2Pet. 3:17 "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."

Choices: The Difference In Serving God or Serving Ourselves

2005-06-23T22:38:00.000-05:00

Josh. 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

The bold choice made by Joshua serves as a template for making the wisest choice of all - the choice to serve God no matter what. Spiritually, every person has only two choices: serve God or serve self (do what you want to do no matter what). Choices are rarely presented quite so clearly. That's because Satan is hard at work creating all that grey area, making it difficult for people to discern between foolishness and wisdom.

Consider how we choose to spend our time. A person might choose to work hard at their career, neglecting service to the Church. People may rationalize that they're providing for their family, they're not behaving immorally and it's just how things are. Perhaps they say, "After I (get my career established, or get that bigger house, or pay off some debt, or earn a little bit more toward retirement or "fill in the blank") I'll devote more time to the Church." They're living in that grey area where poor choices are often made.

In reality, they're serving themselves. They're doing what they want to do instead of doing what God wants them to do. They think little of it because they convince themselves that God really doesn't mind. Maybe they think God will wait for them to complete their choices before they get around to fulfilling His choices for them. So, in addition to serving themselves, they've elevated themselves to God's level by deciding what God will accept. Satan is crafty. It works well.

The sentiments of Joshua speak volumes about how we should choose. We ought to focus on what God wants and what we're able to do about it. With no regard to what others were doing, Joshua made up his mind how he and his family would behave - the choice they would make. "We will serve the Lord," he said. Simple. Concise. Wise.

Our ability to look at our life in light of the scripture is necessary. Do we measure up? If not, what are we going to do about it?

James 1:22-25 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

God's word tells us what manner of person we are, as God sees things. It also tells us what manner of person we ought to be. The Bible tells us what choices we should make so God will be pleased with us.

Knowing God's word is critical to the process of choosing wisely. How many people attempt to make choices without even knowing what manner of person they should be? How can we possibly make wise choices when we don't even know what God would like us to do?

An employee may decide to take some action he thinks will please the boss, even though he has no idea what the boss wants. His decision might be counter to the company policy or philosophy. He thinks the boss will like it, but his lack of knowledge about what the boss wants can lead to his being fired if his choices continue to displease the management.

The wise employee learns what his boss wants and does his best to deliver. It's no different in God's kingdom. We give him what we want to give Him hoping He'll be pleased - or we behave wisely by making choices we know will please Him. It's not hit or miss. We are able to know God's will by knowing His word - the Bible.

Study the scripture. Examine the lives of Bible characters. Look at the decisions they made. Learn from them. Samson, David, Lot and others show us how we can make better decisions in our own lives. We can learn from their foolish choices. Moses, Paul, Abraham and Christ show us how to make wiser choices in our own lives.

Be sober. Take your Christian life seriously. Study God's word. Decide to obey God, no matter what. Watch out for Satan's attempts to get you into the grey areas where compromise happens.

1Pet. 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Questions About Entertainment & Worldliness

2005-05-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

1John 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."

Questions are best answered by searching the scriptures. These questions deal with the influence of entertainment on Christians. Get out your Bible and soberly consider these questions. And permit yourself to ask others that come to mind, too.

1. How focused is your life on entertainment? (How important is it to you?)

2. Are you more likely to read about the latest movie release or musical release than to read the Bible?

3. Do you devote more time and money to entertainment than you do to Christian living?

4. Does your devotion to entertainment (however strong it may be) draw you closer to God or closer to the world? (be honest with yourself)

5. Is the entertainment in your life wholesome and pure?

6. How well do you think you protect or guard your heart (your mind)?

7. How long has it been since you were shocked by sinful behavior? (a song lyric, a scene from a TV show or DVD or movie, a passage from a book)

8. Do you ever get embarrassed or feel ashamed (of what you hear, what you see, what you read, what you participate in, etc.)?

9. Could you more easily live without your Bible than your entertainment? (your CD collection, your DVD collection, your sport, your recreation, your "fill in the blank")

10. Describe your sense of sacrifice when it comes to entertainment.

11. Are you aware that your devotion to entertainment can be a form of worldliness (your devotion and love of things of this world)?

12. What are you prepared to sacrifice in order to gain heaven?

Asking the questions is easy.
Answering the questions is difficult.

Rom. 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Click here and take the time to read an excellent article by Rick Martin entitled, "The People Rose Up To Play"

Resisting The Truth

2005-05-25T14:29:00.000-05:00

Learning is something that comes naturally. You can't stop a child from learning. Sadly, as we grow older we can resist the very thing that came so naturally to us earlier in life. Lifelong learning is worthwhile - something we should all seek.

Fear is often associated with learning. Suppose we want to learn to play the piano. We've never played the piano before, but we have some ideas of what learning to play will be like. We enjoy hearing the piano played. We are thrilled at being able to play like our favorite piano player. We're scheduled to begin our lessons.

At our first lesson, fear takes over. The piano teacher is a middle-aged lady. The lesson is boring. We don't like her. We don't like the lesson. It's not at all what we thought it would be.

Resistance takes over. That's why so few kids who begin piano lessons stay with it. They want the end result, but they resist the process necessary to get there. Instant expertism isn't part of the learning process. It takes time. It takes practice. But we had an idea of what it would be like. And this isn't at all the way we thought it would be. So we resist. The resistance helps us deal with our fears.

Resistance is powerful. Millions resist the Truth of the Gospel every year. They have an idea of what serving God is supposed to be. If they read the Bible or hear the Gospel preached, they realize that's not what they had in mind.

It's even possible for the person who was converted to the Truth to reach a place where they develop an expectation of what God's Truth is. Rather than growing closer to God by obeying the Gospel, they resist when they discover a Truth that is something other than what they expected.

Resisting the Truth hinges on us - on our mind being determined to do what we want, as opposed to being open to do what God wants us to do. God permits us to resist. He also permits us to obey. The choice is ours.

Don't attempt to get out of change, where change is necessary. Don't allow fear to stop you from learning the Truth (or more of the Truth). Growing closer to God requires learning, improving and changing. The Hebrew writer admonishes us to "draw near with a pure heart."

Comparing ourselves with others hurts us in learning. We can always find others who know less, or are less able. We can also find others who know more, or are more capable. Resistance is the easy solution for this dilemma. Why should I learn the piano from a middle-aged woman? She's not Billy Joel and I surely can't learn much from her. But, it might be possible that my piano teacher is a professional piano player in a band. Maybe we think he's an incredible player and we're intimidated by him. You'll never be as good as he is. Both notions can cause us to resist learning to play the piano.

2Cor. 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

To learn the Truth of God's Word we have to avoid comparing ourselves to others. It will get in our way of serving God.

Lastly, good intentions can derail our success and cause resistance. How often have we seen people who embraced the Gospel, only to fall away in short order?

The parable of the sower addresses this sad truth. Some hear the word, but they don't have root. When any adversity strikes, they abandon the Truth of the Gospel. It takes more than good intentions to accomplish serving God. It takes more than good intentions to learn the piano, too.

We begin our piano lessons with the good intentions of learning to play. We imagine being able to play. Unfortunately, it's not quite what we expected. And pretty soon, our disappointment in not being able to rattle off a Billy Joel tune with ease by the end of our first week causes us to give up.

We can't begin our Christian life with the intentions of being full-grown. Christian maturity takes time. That doesn't mean learning can't happen daily. It must. We can't let good intentions cool and cause us to resist the Gospel Truth. Rather, we have to embrace the process of Christian growth.

Mark 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

We can grow. We can mature in Christ. We can change and improve our lives. The scriptures teach us to resist the devil. Let's work hard to avoid resisting the Truth.

How To Help People Through Difficult Times

2005-04-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's a struggle to deal with tough situations - that's what makes them tough! We get word of a tragedy in someone's life. We go see them and don't know what to say. We want to express concern for a sick person, but stumble around with stories we've heard of others who had the same sickness. Often we're awkward and unconsoling, but that's rarely the goal. We may not know how to best help people going through tough times. It takes some thoughtful preparing, praying and thinking of what is best for them - not us.

Curiosity is always present. Naturally, most of us are curious to hear how somebody is doing, how they're dealing with whatever stresses are in their life. So, it's likely that many people approach others going through tough times with a focus on themselves, rather than the person who needs our help. We want to learn more. We want our curiosity satisfied. That doesn't make us bad people - but it does often make us inconsiderate people.

First things first, measure your words and questions carefully whenever you are attempting to help somebody else. Perhaps it's wise to ask yourself, " Will this comment or question help this person or will it help me?" If it won't help the person in trouble, rethink it. Your Christian obligation is to help others, not yourself. Let others lean on you as they want or as they need. Don't force it. Don't meddle. Don't be nosy. Make yourself of service and if they decide to fill in details for you, fine. If they don't, accept it and keep working to help them.

Comforting words are almost always the goal, even if they often fail us. We've all been in those conversations where we just don't know what to say - and more often than not, we say the wrong thing. Prepare what you'd like to say. Better yet, say little and listen often.

James 1:19 says, "So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."

Nobody cares about your stories of defeat. I recall some years ago being in a hospital room visiting a person who had been diagnosed with an ailment. While there other visitors entered and began telling a horrid story of somebody they knew with the same illness. I looked at them and realized they had absolutely no idea the impact of their visit on this sick person. They were more interested in the story they had to tell than in helping the person they were visiting. I'm certain that wasn't their intent. They just came totally unprepared to help this person through their difficult time. We can't be so careless in our work to help others.

It's not about YOU. It's about the person we serve. It's about leaving them better off than when we found them. One of the best questions to ask yourself is, "Will this person be better off when I enter the room or when I leave the room?" If the answer is when you leave, then maybe you should stay home until you can figure out how to make your visit profitable for them.

The purpose of our visit has to be more than duty or sense of obligation. The heart of each visit must be to help this person who is having a tough time. The purpose can't be to meddle, get all the gory details, or quiz them down about everything that's curious to us. The purpose must be to leave them spiritually uplifted and to do our best to tend to their physical, emotional and mental needs. We want to leave them better than when we found them. If we fail to do that, then our visit was in vain, even hurtful.

Sometimes others need to know we're there should they require our help. They may not want to see us. They may not feel like talking to us. We shouldn't be offended (again, remember - it's not about us).

Sometimes they may need us to do something useful for them. They may need their lawn mowed, house cleaned, errands run. It may not be company they need, but work done. Offer to help without engaging them in conversation.

Sometimes they may just need to know we're praying for them and thinking of them. That's easily done with a short note mailed to them. It may be done in a quietly spoken sentence, "I'm thinking and praying for you."

Sometimes, perhaps all the time, they need encouragement. I say "sometimes" because there are times when people just don't feel like interaction of any kind. They just want to be left alone. Respect that and don't read more into it than you should. You don't know their state of mind. You don't know their worries. Give them space and respect that today may not be a good day to engage them. You can still let them know you're thinking of them and available to help them whenever they are ready.

Don't make the adversity of their life the focus of their life. Whether it's an illness, a financial burden, a relationship difficulty or something else - life is more than the problem. People do not want their challenge becoming the focal point of their own life, muchless of your life. Imagine being a person with a health issue and every time you encounter others they make your health the focus of the conversation. How would that make YOU feel? Well, it makes them feel exactly the same way - awful. So stop it. And remember how many people are probably dealing with them in that fashion - almost everybody! What a beating that must be. Don't contribute to the beating. Be the person who talks to them about normal stuff - things other than their problem. They'll know you're there for them if they decide to lean on you about their problem.

"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." We've all heard that phrase before. Well, it's appropriate to remember whenever you're visiting the sick. Don't play doctor. People lose all their sensibilities when dealing with folks who are sick. They offer medical advice, books to read, diets to follow and a host of other things that serve to intrude, not help. Sick members have doctors, dieticians and other professionals who are helping them. That's not our role. Imagine everybody coming up to you offering medical advice. How would you enjoy it? Stop doing it to others. I'll reiterate that these behaviors stem, in my opinion, from people who can't get the focus off of themselves long enough to serve others. They're often more interested in the advice they've got to offer than they are in the impact it may negatively have on the person who is the object of their advice. Our best course is to always be thinking of the person who is the object of our service.

I'm sure more could be said (and probably should be said), but hopefully these few paragraphs of ramblings help you serve others through difficult times. Measure your behaviors and words carefully. Take the focus off yourself and put it on the object of your service - the person going through tough times. Make sure everything you do is helpful. Pray for them. Pray for wisdom to know how to best help them.

Life deals each of us hard body blows from time to time. We can overcome the adversities of life with the help of the Lord and each other. Even so, we need wisdom to know how to help others. We know how the story will end for all of us if we're faithful to the end, so during the span of our lives we're working hard to help other remain true to the end. Nothing else really matters.

With so many among us who need our visits and our help, it's always useful to step back, review our behaviors, review our words and conversations and make sure we're doing the most profitable things we can to help others endure difficult times.

Rev. 2:10, "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (NKJV)

"The Wrong Road"

2005-04-10T18:19:00.000-05:00

The final service of the meeting was held at 2pm, Sunday, April 10th. Ronny's text reading was 1 Samuel 27:10.

David had fled Saul. For awhile he lived in the land of the Philistines. He would report to the king his comings and goings. The king would inquire of him, "Where have you been today? What have you been doing today?" Implied is the question, "Where are you headed?"

Too many people aren't thinking of their eternal destiny. Some people are traveling the wrong road. Some roads don't take you anywhere. They are worthless roads.

Job 6:18 tells us about roads that go nowhere. Those aren't roads we want to travel.

1. Idleness is a road to nowhere.

Matthew 20:1-6 is the story of a man who goes to hire laborers. All throughout the day he goes to hire people. Late in the day he comes across people who have been sitting idle all day long. "Why stand ye here all day idle?"

Time is the most valuable element of life. You can't store time. You can't relive time. When time is gone, it's gone forever. Use of time is final and unchangeable.

Have we wasted our time? Colossians 4:5 instructs us to carefully improve what remains of our time and wisely use what we have now!

2. Prejudice is a road to nowhere.

Matthew 13:15 Prejudice in religion caused the death of Stephen.

Racial prejudice should never be named among God's people. In Galatians 2:11 Peter was confronted by Paul for displaying prejudicial behavior. James talks of not showing partiality or being a respector of persons.

3. Confusion is a road that goes nowhere.

For instance, atheism is a confusing road. Job 8:13, 14 "so are the paths of all that forget God." A spider's web is tough to trace from the beginning to where it ends. That's how confusion is.

2 Timothy 3:8 describes a man who is reprobate or perverted morally. It's a man whose mind is clouded with his own speculations.

Hypocrisy is also confusing. It's always confusing when people say one thing and do another.

Denominationalism is confusing. 1 Cor. 1:10-12

Some in the Church desire to be like the denominations.

There are destructive roads we should avoid, too.

a) Worldliness is such a road. We can't love the world.
b) An uncontrolled temper is such a road. Proverbs 14:17, Proverbs 14:29 and Proverbs 29:22. Many sins are commited in anger. Gen. 49:6 and 1 Sam. 15 are but two examples where people lost their temper and destroyed themselves.

Think about the road you are traveling. Make sure you're on a profitable road that will take you to heaven.

And so our 2005 Spring meeting came to an end. It was a wonderful meeting, made so by the profitable preaching of one our best. Ronny has served our brotherhood in so many ways that only history will be able to recall them all. All week long he was willing to give of his time to all who called (and many did). The burdens of others is never far from him as countless people seek his counsel. We pray for him in the Lord's Work. We pray for the brotherhood and all faithful congregations who fight the good fight.

"What Causes People To Get Into Trouble?"

2005-04-10T17:40:00.000-05:00

Psalms 106:6-15 served as Ronny's text for the Lord's Day morning sermon.

God cared for Israel in bringing them out of slavery. While they may have been well fed physically, they were experiencing leanness spiritually.

Certain choices bring about trouble. Generally speaking, people ask for trouble by the decisions they make.

1. Sinful lives result in trouble.

Jonah was sent by God to preach. He didn't want to obey so he made a poor decision to run away from God. After experiencing a storm on board a ship he was cast overboard. He then spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a fish God had prepared to swallow him. When he was vomited up on shore he found himself confronted with the exact same commandment of God. God had not moved. God's command had not changed. The only thing different was Jonah had experienced some unnecessary trouble because of his unwise choice.

The second time God told him to go, he went. Most of our difficulties are our own doing.

2. When we pitch our tent toward Sodom we get into trouble.

Genesis 13 tells us the story of Lot moving toward the sinful city. Genesis 14:12 tells us "Lot dwelt in Sodom." Perhaps he never envisioned being inside the city, but that's where he ended up. It's not surprising because where we head is often where we end up. He headed toward Sodom, so it's quite natural to find him ending up inside Sodom.

Sodom was a wicked place. The term "wicked" as used to describe Sodom means literally "to break in pieces, destroy and afflict." That's exactly what the citizens of Sodom had done with God's law and his natural order of things - they had broken it in pieces. They had destroyed God's natural order.

If you're isolated from God's people and from God, you're in trouble. James said that friendship with the world is enmity with God.

The TV and media expose us to filth every day. It has an impact on our lives. There are things going on that we have no business knowing about, seeing or discussing. We certainly have no business indulging in these things.

Lot's wife longed for Sodom and paid the price. Lot's daughters got him drunk and had incest with him. All terrible things that resulted from his decision to move toward Sodom.

3. When we try to hide our sins we're asking for trouble.

Genesis 3:8 tells us that Adam and Eve tried to hide from God due to their sin. You can't hide from God though. We read a story of sin being in the camp of God's people. Their sin found them out. King David tried to hide his adultery, but he just dug a deeper hole.

1 John 1:9 tells us to confess our sins. We need to come clean with God. He knows what we've done anyway.

It's unprofitable to beat about the bush. We need to just fess up to whatever sin we've commited so we can remedy it with forgiveness from God.

4. When we stretch the limitations of God's word we're asking for trouble.

God doesn't want us to expand the limits of his commands. Adam and Eve in the garden, Noah and the ark and Moses and the temple all illustrate the limits God puts on mankind - and how serious they are.

In Numbers 20:13-16 we read the story of Moses sin in striking the rock. This sin resulted in God refusing him entrance into the land of promise. Jer. 26:2 tells us "do not diminish a word." We can't stretch the limitations of God's word.

1 Peter 4:11 talks to us of speaking as the oracles of God. We can't take liberties with the Word of God.

5. When children fail to obey their parents they're asking for trouble.

Ephesians 6:1 Proverbs 4:1 Proverbs 13:1

Godly parents seek the best for their children. They seek your spiritual welfare most of all.

6. When we leave the Father's house we're asking for trouble.

2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 1:3 talk of spiritual blessings found in Christ. "Every" spiritual blessing is found in Christ. Other scriptures cited: Acts 2:47 and 1 Timothy 2:5. When people leave the Church they're asking for trouble.

Luke 15 is the story of the prodigal son. Eventually, he "came to himself." There's a certain insanity about sin. You loose your bearings and sensibilities.

If you are out of the Church you need to come home.

It was a heart felt appeal to encourage anybody present to obey the Gospel. Only hearts of stone could refuse.

"The Lessons We Learn Too Late"

2005-04-10T16:50:00.000-05:00

On Saturday afternoon, April 9th, Ronny read 1 Kings 13:1-3 as his text.

Often times we are too soon old, too late wise. We all make mistakes. We've all made unwise choices that we later regret. In the text reading we're introduced to an unnamed man who is a courageous man serving God. However, he ends up doing the wrong thing and it costs him his life.

This man was fearless in crying out against the false gods. But, Satan never gives up easily. While this man condemned the idolatry of the day, he's enticed by an old prophet's invitation. The Lord had told him not to go home with any man. His disobedience resulted in his death by an lion attack. Certainly, he'd have done things differently if given the chance to do it all over.

Like a jewel cutter, concerned with proper planning to make sure the cut is made exact - we should exercise great care in our lives. We can be forgiven. We can be reformed. But we can't go back.

1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us the things written aforetime were written for our learning.

God doesn't indulge in self-contradiction. God had told the man what He wanted. God had talked to him directly the first time. Yet he's now listening to a complete stranger who tells him of a new revelation from angels. Why would he follow such a man? Why would he do just the opposite of what God had told him directly?

People do the same thing today. They speculate on all sorts of things that go beyond what is written. For example, we often hear people claim that love is the most important thing. But John 14:15 teaches us that loving God is found in keeping His commandments. The Bible never said love conquers all, but that's what we often hear.

For instance, the Church matters even though people claim it doesn't. Ephesians 5:23 and Ephesians 4:4 teach us that Christ is the head of the body, the Church. He's the Savior of the body. And we're told there is only one body.

The lesson of our text also teaches us that you can't always believe what religious leaders tell you. The devil doesn't always attack you head on. Sometimes he sneaks around the back door. The younger prophet was gullible. He believed the lies of the old prophet.

Acts 17:11 talks of being noble by searching the scriptures daily to see whether things are true. 2 Corinthians 4:2 talks of renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty and handling God's word deceitfully. The old prophet lied to him.

John 16:13 talks of being guided into "all truth." 2 Peter 1:3 speaks of "all things that pertain to life and godliness."

The old prophet claimed to have seen an angel. The younger prophet believed him.

Hebrews 1:1 teaches us that God used to speak through the prophets, but now He speaks to us through His Son, Christ.

Galatians 1 talks of the Truth being contradicted by even an angel of heaven - "let him be accursed."

Sincerity didn't matter. We don't doubt the sincerity of the younger prophet. He died anyway.

Matthew 15 talks of the blind leading the blind so that they both fall into the ditch. Matthew 7:21 exclaims that "not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Yesterday's obedience will never atone for today's disobedience. It's important we remain stedfast and faithful unto death. 1 Cor. 15:58 and Rev. 2:10

The first part of his mission was successful, but he had a second part of the mission. He had to return home fully obedient to God's commands. He failed.

Galatians 1:6 demonstrates Paul shock that these brethren were so soon removed from the Gospel he had taught them. In Gal. 5:7 he asks, "Ye did run well. Who did hinder you?"

Paul asks them, "You were running so well. What happened?" The word "hinder" in the original language means to "break up a road." Armies would destroy roads so the enemy's progress would be impeded. Paul's question is, "Who tore up the road in front of you?"

Their progress was hindered by false prophets. Unfortunately, too many will learn this lesson too late. At judgment they're realize their progress was hindered because they followed someone or something other than the Truth.

"Who interfered with your spiritual progress?" Today, who hinders your progress?

The fact is, there are some lessons that we can learn too late.

1. Division is wrong and it will never pay. But that may be a lesson learned too late.

We need to come to grips with the problem of division - which is nothing more than a work of the flesh. 1 Corinthians 1:5, "That there be no divisions among you."

Too often brethren divide over pettiness. Very seldom do brethren divide over doctrinal issues. Division never blesses. It never builds up the body of Christ.

We need to learn to get along. We need to value working with others.

Ephesians 4:3 talks of keeping the unity in the bond of peace. That means we ought to try hard.

2. The high cost of putting the Church second may be a lesson learned too late.

Some give the Church very little thought when they select a spouse, a career, a place to live or anything else. The price is very high whenever we put the Church on a back burner to other things.

3. We are here to serve - not to be served. But that may be a lesson learned too late.

The rich man of Luke 16 learned too late that what he failed to do is what condemned him. In Matthew 25 those who were separated to the left hand were condemned for what they did not do.

Ronny then read to us a story of a cabby who picked up an elderly woman who was moving to a hospice. It was a moving story of service. The cabby was thankful he had gotten the old woman so he could be of service to her. It made him realize that it may have been one of the most important feats of his entire life.

"Walking With God"

2005-04-09T00:14:00.000-05:00

Friday night, April 9th, Ronny used Genesis 5:21-24 as the text for his sermon.

The phrase "walking with God" was another way of saying somebody was consistent with following God. Every day we ought to live as though we've gotten bad news causing us to grow closer to God.

Hebrews 11:5,6 talks of Enoch, who walked with God and never saw death. God took him. The scriptures say he walked with God.

1. Walking with God always involves walking by faith.

2 Corinthians 5 tells us our earthly house or tabernacle is our body. But while the physical body is visible, the soul is invisible. Faith isn't based on sight. It's based on faith in God's Word. We choose to live according to God's rule when we we decide to walk by faith.

2. Walking with God is walking in the light.

1 John 1 teaches that sinful people can't have fellowship with God. The implication is that only perfect people can have fellowship with God. Only forgiven people have fellowship with God.

- We realize we're cleansed by the blood of Christ and we know we're walking in the light.
- We have the intercession of Christ and we know we're walkikng in the light.
- Atonement of Christ breaks down the barrier preventing our fellowship with God.

Ephesians 5:8 and Ephesians 4:1 tell us about being the children of light and walking worthy of our calling.

We can't walk with God if we're not obedient to God where the blood of Christ can continue to cleanse us from our sin. God forgives Christians of sins that we repent of and that we confess to Him. Walking in the light involves our sincere effort to avoid sin. Psalms 119:105 and 2 Corinthians 4:4

3. Walking with God is walking by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:13, 16 contrasts walking in the Spirit with walking in the lust of the flesh.

Liberty in Christ never permits sinful living.

We're able to walk in the Spirit because God's Word tells us what God wants. The apostles and prophets were guided by the Holy Spirit in order to reveal God's Word. John 16:13 and John 14:23

When we reproduce the works of the Spirit, we're walking with God. The works of the Spirit eliminate hatred or poor behavior toward our brethren.

I cannot hate my brother and walk with God at the same time. I cannot be harsh with my brother and walk with God. I can't divide the Church and walk with God.

We should all be concerned with our behavior toward one another.

4. We walk in newness of life when we walk with God.

Romans 6 In the act of baptism we die to sin, then arise to walk in newness of life. The old man is the unconverted sinner. His life was unrighteous because he was not yet obedient to the commands of the Gospel.

Ephesians 2:1-3 and Ephesians 4:22 contrast walking according to the course of this world and walking with God.

We put off behaviors common to the old man once we obey the Gospel. Col. 3:5, Rom. 6:6, 12

Before obedience, sin reigned in our lives. But in obedience we put away a devotion to self and sin. We put off the behavior of the old man and put on the behavior of the new man. Eph. 4:22 and Col. 3:12

In Eph. 4:25 the apostle Paul contrasts the behavior of the old man versus the behavior of the new man. When we are "crucified with Christ" it brings about a new man.

Ronny spoke of burying the hatchet, but leaving the handle sticking out so we can conveniently grab it whenever we want. Sometimes we allow the old man to creep back into our behavior when we deal with our brethren in spiteful ways.

5. We walk circumspectly when we walk with God.

Ephesians 5:15, 16

This means "to look around on all sides" or "to walk accurately or exactly." Ronny told us the original language signifies walking so carefully as to be like a tight rope walker who measures every step carefully. We should approach our Christian walk with the same precision and concern.

Redeeming the time is also part of walking circumspectly. We can't actually buy up time, but rather we can take advantage of our opportunities. Redeeming the time means we pay the necessary price (sacrifice) to use our time wisely. The word "time" (as used in "redeeming the time because the days are evil") doesn't refer to chronological time, but rather a season of opportunity. In our lifetime of opportunities we have to seize every advantage because the days are evil.

Clearly, the sermon exhorted us all to walk with God. We want to see heaven and only those who walk with God will achieve that.

"A Famine In The Land"

2005-04-08T23:29:00.000-05:00

On Thursday evening, April 7th, Ronny's text reading was Amos 8:11, 12.

Running out of food was a fear among ancient people. Famine was a dreaded catastrophe. However, the text speaks of a different type of famine - a spiritual famine. In the days of Amos men were without spiritual guidance. Today, we have a self-imposed spiritual famine. Men choose not to listen to God.

2 Kings 22 tells us about the days when the rennovation of the temple ocurred. After a 57 year absence, the book of the law was discovered. We don't know how the law was lost, but during this 57 year period people had forgotten God's word. They were in a spiritual famine.

What are the evidences of today's self-imposed spiritual famine?

1. People have no delight in God's Word (Jer. 6:10).

Denominationalism has become the norm, and even crept into the Lord's Church. People concern themselves more with what they want to do to serve God. They're far less interested in what God's Word declares.

Psalms 1 tells us to meditate on God's Word day and night.

2. There is a failure to recognize error when it's preached or practiced.

Jeremiah 6 shows us how a time existed when God's people were destroyed for a lack of knowledge. It was a time when men cried peace when there was no peace. People saw good in things rather than seeing if a thing was spiritually "right" in the eyes of God.

Too often the standard for people is whether or not they deem something "good." Abraham Lincoln made a statement on September 7, 1864 that "but for it (God's Word) we wouldn't know right from wrong." He was correct. Yet, too frequently people don't lean on the word of God to determine if a thing is right or not.

Too often error goes unchallenged. If religious error it taught - we must oppose it. We need to stand up for what's right based on God's standard.

3. There is a lack of spiritual consecration.

1 John 4:4 We ought to display our differences to the world. As God's children we should be willing to set ourselves apart from the world through righteous living.

4. There is a lack of shame.

Jer. 6:15 speaks of a time when people were unable to blush - that is, they could no longer feel shame. What causes people to lose their shame?

a) They become too familiar with sinful behavior. It becomes too routine.
b) They accept that sinful behavior they've continually been exposed to.
c) They begin to practice the sin they first tolerated, then accepted.

Hebrews 3:13 Ephesians 5:11, 12

Sin is deceitful. Sometimes we're overcome by false impressions.

How can we reclaim our shame?

- Reformation is the only way. We have to reform ourselves by compliance with the will of God.
- We must distance ourselves from sin and those who are devoted to sin.

5. There is a lack of respect in the church.

There is a lack of respect for God and His Word. Exodus 20:7 Isaiah 17:7

There is a lack of respect in dealings with others. Romans 14:1 Romans 12:10 Ephesians 6:1,2

Every child should be taught proper respect.

1 Timothy 5:2 instructs us not to rebuke an older man - not to treat him harshly. We need more respect among brethren.

Self-imposed spiritual famine has only one remedy - obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"What Will Be Left Standing?"

2005-04-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

Matthew 24:1, 2 served as Ronny's text on Wednesday night. "Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

In AD70 Jerusalem fell and this prophecy of Christ came to pass. The temple was completely and utterly destroyed within 40 years of this prophecy. In the destruction of Jerusalem history doesn't record the death of a single Christian. They fled. However, it's doubtful any of them could have imagined the temple falling. It was a magnificient structure held in the highest regard by the Jews. What Christ foretold would happen was unfathomable...but it happened exactly as Jesus said it would. Some of the gold within the temple melted as a result of the fire set to burn the temple. It ran between the stones, according to history, resulting in the conquering soldiers turning over every stone in order to recover it. Indeed, not a single stone was left standing on another stone.

The tragic events of September 11th prove that few things are permanent. People have confidence in things that appear invincible (as the Twin Towers, or the temple of Jerusalem), but they're able to fall.

What will remain standing once this world is no more?

1. The kingdom of Christ will remain.

Empires and kingdoms come and go. The Roman Empire was powerful, but it doesn't exist today. The USSR was a powerful force for decades, but it's power has been greatly diminished. The Church is God's eternal kingdom (Matt. 16:18). It cannot be shaken according to Hebrews 12:28.

The organizations of men won't last. Only one organization, established by God through Jesus Christ, will remain - the Church you read about in the Bible.

2. The Word of God will be left standing.

John 8:32 proves two things: a) there is truth and b) we can know what it is. Some men claim that we cannot know truth. Others claim there is no truth. However, this verse proves otherwise. God's Word is Truth.

According to Matthew 24:35 God's Word shall never pass away. If our entire country were destroyed and left desolate for 100 years, then people stepped onto our shores and found a old Bible - the Word would be as powerful then as it is now. Men's words will fade and fail, but not God's.

We'll be judged according to the Bible so we'd better devote ourselves to becoming well acquainted with it. (John 12:48 and Rev. 20:12).

3. The assurance of pardon will remain after this world is gone.

Romans 8:2 and 2 Timothy 1:12. Are you saved? How do you know? Do you rely on a feeling?

Suppose a convicted felon in prison summoned you to his cell and told you to go notify the warden that he needed to be freed because he felt he had been pardoned - would he be released? It's equally silly to rely on our feelings for eternal salvation.

Romans 8:16 talks about The Spirit bearing witness with Our Spirit. What does that mean?

It means our life can be held up to the standards of God's Word and we can easily see if we're in compliance with God's command - and therefore know if we're pardoned.

The Word of God tells us that we must believe and have faith. That's the Spirit telling us what is required by God. So, we're able to look at our life and know if we believe. If we can say, "Yes" then our Spirit is in agreement (through obedience) with the Spirit.

The Word of God tells us that we must repent or perish (Luke 13:3). If we've turned away from sin and made up our mind to serve God, then we can say, "Yes" to that, too. Again, our Spirit and the Holy Spirit agree.

The Gospel tells us that we must confess Christ before men. If we deny Him before men, He'll deny us before God in Heaven. Acts 8:37 demonstrates the confession required, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Have we done that? If we say "Yes" then we're living in agreement with the Gospel.

The Bible commands us to be baptized for the remission of our sins. If we've complied with the demands of the Gospel by being baptized for the remission of our sins in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost then we can say, "Yes."

So when we examine what God demans and realize we've done what He demands, then we know we have pardon. If we know we've failed to do what He demands, then we know we're not yet pardoned.

God's plan of pardon and the assurance we can have in our own pardon will be left standing.

4. The love of God will be left standing.

Romans 8 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Things can separate our love for God, but God stays true. Our love is affected by all sorts of things. The love of men can change. That's not true with God's love. His love will remain.

5. A heavenly home will remain once this world is gone.

2 Cor. 5:1, 2 The home Christ has gone to prepare will remain even though this world and all that's in it will be burned up.

6. Only the obedient will be left standing.

1 John 2:15 tells us that the people who do the will of God will abide forever. Today, some may scoff at obedience, but God's Word has always revealed how God views obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22, 23 teaches us that obedience is better than sacrifice. God cares about obedience. He wants us to obey Him. He rewards that obedience with eternal salvation. According to Matthew 25:32-41 only the rigthteous obedient will be saved.

Every person should be diligent to make sure they're investing in things that will remain.

"Remembering The Words of Jesus"

2005-04-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

We are rapidly approaching the midway point of our gospel meeting with Ronny Wade. The preaching has been excellent. Our crowds have been good. Lord willing, the meeting is resulting in elevated energy toward righteous living among all our members and those who have joined us.

Tonight, Ronny used Acts 20:28-36 as his text. "Remembering The Words of Jesus" was the topic of his sermon.

Many people don't remember, respect or even care about what Jesus said about anything. The words of Jesus are the final authority because God has given all power and authority to Christ.

Memory is a wonderful gift from God. Without memory there would be no history, no relationships, no ability to recognize our own kids or family, and no ability to conduct business. The gift of memory allows us to have the quality of life we often take for granted.

God deals with us on a mental, moral and spiritual level. He reaches us by appealing to these faculties.

John 16:4 begins a discussion about the role of the Holy Spirit in teaching us the words of Jesus. The apostles had infalliable recollection because of the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit. They were able to perfectly recall the things that Jesus said and taught. Additionally, they were guided by the Spirit in the things that Jesus didn't teach them while He walked among them.

According to Mark 13:11 inspiration was the measure of the Holy Spirit given to the apostles. Today, we are to rely on the words given by the Holy Spirit as recorded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here are some areas where we need to be remembering the words of Jesus.

1. The words of Christ on the subject of creation can settle a great debate among people.

Theistic evolution is merely a scheme of men to help religious people accept the theory of evolution. However, according to Genesis chapter 1 God created the world.

Genesis 1:26, 27 speaks of God creating "in the beginning." That removes room for evolution. Men who claim that God created the world through evolution haven't remembered these words. God created a full grown world without evolution.

Matthew 19:4 speaks of God's law on marriage, but one phrase is important: "at the beginning." God created man and woman at the beginning. Mankind didn't come from some stem cell that evolved. Mankind was created as male and female full grown. And God created them "from the beginning."

2. We need to remember the words of Christ on the mission of the Church.

John 17:1-11 dispell the notion of "the postponement theory of the kingdom." Some men believe Christ will return and reign on the earth for 1000 years. However, they fail to remember the words of Jesus here in John 17. Christ said He had finished His work. Whatever His work was, He had finished it. Christ said He would be no more in this world. Similar words are recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:17. It will be impossible for us to remember the words of Jesus and falsely believe that Christ will return to reign on the earth. And besides, the kingdom has already been established - the Church.

3. We need to remember the words of Christ on marriage, divorce and remarriage.

Divorce is out of control in America.
50% of all first time marriages end in divorce.
63% of all second time marriages end in divorce.
80% of all third time marriages end in divorce.

People aren't listening to the Word of God. If they would remember the words of Christ in Matthew 19 they would understand that God intends for one man to marry one woman - and remain so for the rest of their lives. God intends for a man to leave his mother and father to be joined to his wife. God intends for men to marry women and for women to marry men. Same sex marriages may very well become commonplace in America or the entire world. However, God still condemns it. Mankind only needs to read what the Lord had to say for the issue to be settled.

Sexual immorality is the only reason Heaven gives for breaking the marriage bond. Unfortunately, people are too busy listening to the world when it comes to the subject of marriage.

4. We need to remember the words of Christ on Heaven.

While there are many things we'd love to know about Heaven, we do know that the location is wherever Christ lives (John 14:1-4). Heaven will be a place where there is no sickness or death. It will be a place of light and life. It will be a homecoming for all faithful Christians. Our citizenship is in Heaven - so for us, we'll be going home.

Please make plans to attend the remainder of this gospel meeting as often as you can. The meeting ends on Sunday, April 10th. We want you to hear God's Word taught by one of the most capable preachers. We hope you'll join us.

"Prayer"

2005-04-05T01:45:00.000-05:00

On Monday night Ronny's text was taken from 1 Thess. 5:17. His subject was prayer.

He began his sermon talking about the times when prayer isn't appropriate.

1. When the person who has never obeyed the gospel prays for salvation. Salvation isn't gained through prayer, in spite of the false claims by many preachers that the "sinner's prayer" will save. Ronny cited the example of Saul of Tarsus who was found praying when God sent Annanias to preach to him. Prayer wasn't saving Saul. Preaching the gospel (done at the hand of Annanias) is what saved Saul. Likewise, the story of Cornelius in Acts 10 proves that prayer doesn't save. The scriptures say that he prayed always. Yet, he was unsaved until he was baptized.

Ronny explained that "calling on the name of the Lord" in Romans 10 means "obeying the gospel." We're able to conclude that because we don't find anybody being saved by prayer, but we do find people being saved through baptism.

2. It's not appropriate to pray for the Kingdom to come. The Kingdom, the Church, has already come. For us to recite what is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer" is wrong today. When Christ was using that model prayer to instruct the disciples it was appropriate because the Church had not yet been established. However, it's not appropriate for any of us who live after the establishment of the Church.

3. Persistent sinners should quit praying. Those who refuse the gospel and neglect obedience have no business praying. God will not hear their prayers. Sinners need forgiveness. Obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ is where forgiveness is found.

4. People who fail to forgive others should stop praying. If the offender of Matthew 5 and the offended of Matthew 18 would do exactly as the Bible directs, Ronny points out they'd meet half way in gaining resolution of their problems. Unfortunately, too often men refuse the Bible plan for resolving conflict. God's forgiveness will be extended to us in like measure as we give it to others. A sobering thought for every Christian.

5. The hypocritical church member should stop praying. That doesn't mean they shouldn't pray for forgiveness, but they need to straighten up their behavior and stop being hypocritics. Ronny cited those described in Matthew 6 who wanted to be seen and heard of men. He also pointed out the folly of long-winded prayers, along with prayers full of vain repetitions.

He concluded by talking about acceptable prayer.

a. Pray in faith. We need to believe God will hear and answer our prayers.
b. Pray God's will be done. We don't want our will to be done because God knows best.
c. Pray through Jesus Christ, our mediator.
d. Pray for rulers to allow us to live quiet, peaceable lives in all righteousness.
e. Pray for brethren.
f. Pray for the lost.
g. Pray for the sick. Ronny discussed how to pray for those who are terminally ill. First, pray that God's will be done. Second, pray that whatever is best for them and their family be done. It's not wise to pray that God spare them because that may not be what is best. Turn it over to the Lord and pray that He'll do whatever is most fitting for them and those who love them.
h. Pray for physical needs.
i. Pray for your enemies.
j. Pray for forgiveness.

He closed by asking the question important to every person: "Is God your Father?" He took that question from the prayer Jesus modeled for the disciples when He began it with the phrase, "Our Father, which art in heaven."

Unless God is our Father, we can't pray to Him. Obedience to the gospel is fundamental for every person. He encouraged all who were not saved to obey the gospel by repenting, confessing their faith in Christ and being baptized for the remission of their sins.

The meeting continues each night this week. We urge you to come listen to God's Word plainly taught.

You won't be asked to contribute any money. You won't be embarrassed. You won't be made to feel uncomfortable.
We'll gladly answer any questions you may have. We promise your time will be well spent considering eternal things.

Join us each night this week at 7:30pm.

"If Only We Had Known" and "Brethren, There Is Danger Ahead"

2005-04-03T22:45:00.000-05:00

The Morning Service

Today was the first Lord's Day of our gospel meeting with Ronny Wade. This morning Ronny used 1st Corinthians 2:7,8 as his text reading. He introduced his sermon with a recollection of how the Jews of Jesus day didn't recognize Christ as the Messiah or His gospel as the Truth of God's Word. They failed to understand and perceive things as they really were.

He entitled the morning sermon, "If We Had Only Known." We all must realize there can be times when we fail to understand things as they really are - and quite often the prices we pay are very high.

First, if we only knew the consequences of sin we would certainly live more righteously. The wages of sin is death. Those wages will be paid, but we often fail to fully comprehend that.

Ronny spoke of the high cost of immorality. He cited Numbers 32:23, which speaks of our being sure our sins will find us out. Ronny answered the question, "How will our sin find us out?"

a) Sin finds us out in our conscience. Our conscience should understand the difference between right and wrong. When we commit sin our conscience uncovers our sin.

b) Sin finds us out in our cowardice. Adam and Eve hid themselves from God after they sinned. People seek to commit sin in the shadows where they won't be discovered.

c) Sin finds us out in our defeats. Moses wasn't allowed to enter into the Promised Land due to the sin he committed. Defeat uncovered his sin - and it will uncovers our sins, too.

d) Sin finds us out in the conduct of our children. David's sin resulted in his being tormented by the dreadful behavior of his children.

Second, if we only knew or properly understood the misuse of our tongue we'd behave better. He spoke to us of the value of keeping our mouths shut more and in choosing our words more carefully. He then recited to us a prayer he came across - a prayer for our tongue. I'll try to get a copy of it and post it later. It was quite good.

Third, if we only knew how brief out lives would be we'd devote more of ourselves to God's service. He cited the rich man of Luke 16 who clearly had failed to realize the importance of living a righteous life while he was on earth. We must all understand that another day of life is not promised. It's up to us to make wise use of our time in preparation for eternity.

The Evening Service

Acts 20:28-32 was the text reading tonight. These verses contain the apostle Paul's address to the Ephesian elders. Paul warns them of the coming troubles that will plague the Church. Ronny entitled the sermon, "Brethren, There Is Danger Ahead."

Some of the dangers we face today are: 1) uninformed membership, 2) misinterpretating the mission of the Church, 3) decreasing emphasis on a "thus saith the Lord" along with a lack of reliance on God's Word and 4) the increasing tendancy for congregations to divide.

Ignorance of the scriptures makes us vulnerable to Satan's devices and false doctrine. It's important that we spend quality time studying our Bibles.

The purpose of the Church is summarized in Ephesians 4:12. The sum and substance is clearly stated: perfecting of the saints, working of the ministry and edifying the body.

Our reverance for God should be displayed in our reverance for His Word. His Word takes on His characteristics. Proper respect of God's Word should lead us to deal carefully with the Gospel and incorporate it fully into our lives.

Unity is the opposite of division. Unity isn't found in the opinions of men, but is only found in a reliance on the gospel. Unity will exist when people are dedicated to follow the gospel. Problems should be calmly addressed and resolved. Brethren should not divide as a solution to conflict.

It was a good day of worship. Ronny certainly did his part by edifying us in the Truth.

Remember, the meeting continues each night this week at 7:30pm. Please make plans to attend. We think you'll find it rewarding.

"Halting Between Two Opinions"

2005-04-02T22:38:00.000-06:00

Our meeting with Ronny Wade began Saturday night, April 2nd. Ronny spoke on an idea presented in 1 Kings 18:20, 21 about "halting between two opinions." It's important for all people to make up their mind to serve God. In the battle between God's prophet and the prophets of Baal - it was clearly Jehovah God who won, proving Himself to be the True God. Ronny spoke to us of three gods capable of taking us away from righteous living: a) the god of self, b) the god of money and c) the god of the flesh.

As usual Ronny's message was full of scripture with good application to the problems facing us today. He admonished us to make up our mind to serve God Jehovah by making sure other gods don't consume our time, our money and our passion.

We're looking forward to a wonderful week of gospel preaching. Please make plans to join us!

Gospel Meeting Starts Saturday - April 2nd

2005-04-01T12:33:00.000-06:00

Our gospel meeting with evangelist Ronny F. Wade, from Springfield, Missouri, begins Saturday (April 2nd) evening at 6pm. We hope you'll attend.

Ronny is a talented student of the Bible who has been preaching for over 5 decades. He has traveled all over the country preaching the gospel and contending for the faith.

Coming back to Ft. Worth is a bit of a homecoming for Ronny. He grew up in Cleburne and completed his undergraduate degree at TCU. He and his wife have lived in Springfield for many years where Ronny was an elementary school principal.

A few years ago Ronny retired from secular work and began to devote himself to full-time evangelistic work, as he had in his younger days. Even during his educational work Ronny continued to conduct many gospel meetings throughout the country.

In addition, he serves as an editor of The Old Paths Advocate - a journal serving our brotherhood.

The meeting will continue through Sunday, April 10th.

We welcome everybody to come hear plain, easy-to-understand, gospel preaching.

Welcome!

2005-03-25T19:00:00.000-06:00

The title of our blog is taken from Psalms 17:5, "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."

The Fossil Creek Church of Christ is devoted to walking in the paths of the Lord. All men should be concerned enough for their soul to make sure they're walking (behaving) in ways pleasing to God. And because it's always possible for our steps to slip we have to exercise great care in making sure our conduct matches what God has outlined in His Word.

The apostle Paul was aware of this possibility when he wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

We invite you to check back often. Our goal is to post useful information about God's Word and our congregation. We also invite you to email us with your feedback.