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  • You are here: Blogs Directory / Ministries / A Godly View of the World Welcome Guest
    A Godly View of the World
          Retiredrev's Personal Viewpoint

    Mon, Apr 30th - 12:06AM



    It’s Revival or Ruin - Let’s Get On With It

    Tis the season for revival to breakout all around the country. There have already been a number of "spring" revivals and "summer" revivals are just around the corner. Since it has become customary for most of our churches to conduct spring and summer revivals, its wise for us all to once again visit the subject.

    Through the years these seasons have energized church folk in most denominations. They have produced a large percentage of converts to the faith and renewal for scores of believers. Us old timers recall full houses of worship to hear evangelist shout out the good news that "Jesus saves". We’ve seen the altars full of weeping souls, seen the tears of repentance, and heard their cries for mercy.

    The passing of time seems to have cooled the idea that revivals are valid for our modern era. I’ve heard some pastors question the effort, not that they oppose them but wonder if it can be a productive part of the church outreach program. Seems our church folk are too busy to support even a weekend affair, too unconcerned to make an effort to get lost people in the services, or even spend time praying for real, true, soul-searching revival to visit the home church. The question rises, then, has revival lost its usefulness?

    Local churches are becoming seeker-sensitive. Programs and plans are developed around the feel-good mentality of the population. More and more activities are the enticement carrots waved in front of our young people. Attenders at church are too often in a hurry for the service to end so they can get on to more important things.

    It’s not that the revival is a shelved relic of the past. Something has happened in society which has dulled the spiritual senses to the value of its relevance for our day. The Bible has been skillfully challenged by arrogant sinners which has caused doubts to arise in the minds and hearts of the unlearned. Cry loud enough and long enough that the sky is falling and folk will start looking up! The liberal agenda is to develop an inclusive church, a church tolerating even conduct the Bible plainly condemns. Since scores of folk of tuning their ears to the false teachings of the unlearned, that spiritual breeze which once stoked the fire of revival is now almost deathly calm.

    Revival is for the church. To revive something is to renew a former expression of life. When Christians grow cold, they need the fires of revival to once again stir their hearts for godliness and the winning of lost people to faith in Christ. The cold and indifferent believer needs to renew their zeal for God’s Word, to return to a time of desiring the true, pure spiritual food that can only be found within its pages.

    Evangelism is for the lost world. In reality, evangelism is revival in action. It is the end result of true revival in a local church. The people of God gets their lives straight with Him and then unashamedly share their testimony of salvation with lost people.

    Can revival again be a tool to reach folk for Jesus and grow a local church? Can churches once again believe that its worth the effort? Can we press on even when the crowds aren’t what we would like? I believe the answer is yes. Sure we would love to see the church full of seeking sinners and saints alike. Revival doesn’t have to be pigeon holed into "spring" and or "summer". Revival should be conducted when revival is needed!

    Some churches are afraid they can’t afford the "big" crowd drawing preachers. If that is the case, don’t look to bring them in! If he is too expensive for a church to invite, then he wouldn’t do the church any good if he did come! Let’s put revival onto the praying grill and see what God will cook up for us!



    Comment (0)

    Sat, Apr 21st - 8:09PM



    A Lesson From Virginia Tech

    Most everyone reading this devotion, if not everyone, saw the face of evil staring through the television screen when Cho Seung-Hul’s videoed message of murder echoed his actions from Monday, April 16, 2007. His rampage stunned the Virginia Tech student body and captured the attention of the nation. In the end, he had senselessly murdered fellow students and teachers along with himself.

    People from every background and race have shed tears along with students, friends, and parents. Even those in far away, remote places, who never before met any of the individuals, were stunned as the news ran across T. V. screens and as reporters tried to get the latest information from the campus.

    Then came the face of Cho, looking into the camera straight at every person watching NBC. He made his statement and rambled on about injustice to himself, the evil of the rich, and a number of other things. He tried to camouflage his guilt by blaming other people. It was chilling to watch.

    In the aftermath of the 16th, millions of words have been written and or spoken by writers and news personnel. The shooting has been covered from every angle possible. Experts have been interviewed. Guesses as to why Cho went on his shooting spree have been offered by the rank and file in letters to the editors, interviews, blogs, and face to face encounters wherever folk gather.

    The big question is why? Did the mental health people miss something along the way? Why didn’t someone report the "obvious" signs? On and on go the so called "experts". Monday morning quarter backing is still being explored. Hindsight is proving once again to be a better judge of character than is foresight.

    I’ve listened and read the news just as you have done. There is no inside information for me to pass along to you. But I do have an observation to share. Several different answers have come forth in attempts to answer the "why?" question. I’ve heard only one secular commentator say what I was thinking. He said, "He is evil"! I’ve not heard that explored. Yet, looking into his eyes and hearing his often times hard to understand explanations caused me to sense an evil presence.

    Since I never knew him personally, never talked with him about his life, know nothing other than what I’ve heard on T. V. or read in newspapers and articles, I can’t make a conclusive determination. But there is an observation which needs to be explored.

    The Bible is clear in its teaching that "it is appointed for men to die once" (Heb. 9:27). But no where does it tell us when a person is going to die. Because He is the all knowing God of creation, He knows when you will die and how you will die. Often times death comes unexpectedly, at a time which isn’t convenient. One’s death might be early or later. No one knows when!

    God gives all of us opportunities to come to grips with eternity. We all hear about the love of God, we hear the gospel proclaimed — many are almost persuaded to believe and be saved. But, by the droves, they walk away, waiting for a more convenient time, for another day, to become better before coming forth, to fulfill some wild oats before giving in to the call to repentance. Then something happens!

    A Cho is encountered with a gun, a reckless automobile, a substance taken into the body, and life is ended. Perhaps the heart just stops. The cancer finally wins. Life is over — death has won.

    The single most important lesson won’t be to find someone at fault. Nor to discover new laws. There will be another Virginia Tech just as this incident is a continued trend in latter years. The single most important lesson to be learned is that we better be ready to meet God "at any given moment"!



    Comment (2)

    Sun, Apr 15th - 4:06PM



    PRAY THE ALMOST CROWD TO BECOME BELIEVERS

    On Monday, April 9th, the Trustmark Bank in Gloster was spared its second robbery in the past few months. Quick thinking and keen eyes saved them from this second attempt by the individual who has been active in the surrounding area. It seems that he is like a cat with nine lives. As one lawman said, "He seems to disappear into thin air".

    On each of the occasions in which he has attempted to rob a bank the law has just missed capturing him. The same was true in Gloster. He was identified, the law was notified, and a policeman was in place. They almost got him when he left the bank and drove off in his automobile.

    There are other reports where criminals just escaped being arrested. But, almost being caught or almost capturing a criminal isn’t the same as catching a crook.

    That thought prompted my mind to a place in the scripture where an "almost" wasn’t enough. Paul the apostle stood before King Agrippa. He gave the account of his conversion experience. Then he asked the king, "Do you believe the prophets? I know you believe." (Acts 26:27). Agrippa responded, "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?" I like the way it is translated by the King James Version of the Bible where it is recorded, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian".

    Beyond that passage there is no evidence to indicate the king ever changed his mind. He was "almost" caught by the Holy Spirit but slipped away on his road to a Devil’s Hell.

    Every week that passes by, there are multitudes of folk who enter churches all across the land, only to leave "almost" saved but still on the road to an eternal separation from God Himself and from everything godly. They hear gospel sermons, powerfully presented by men of God, yet they go away without Jesus — still empty. Just as the bank robber left Gloster with an empty bag, so men and women, along with boys and girls, leave our churches each week with an empty soul — void of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Sometimes the pastor recognizes an individual’s personal inward struggle. On other occasions, he doesn’t have any clue that someone heard the gospel and then almost accepted Jesus as personal Savior. But no pastor ever feels good about the "almost" Christian generation. Sometimes he is broken in his spirit as he seeks to find a way into their hearts.

    Some well meaning church member or friend might chide him a little by saying, "You did all you could do, the final decision is the individual’s". Well, that is certainly true, still it doesn’t sooth the really concerned pastor.

    How can the "almost" crowd be turned into an "all the way" people? Just maybe our prayer services can become a little more proactive. By that, I mean, perhaps we don’t need to pray about Aunt Susie’s sore toe as much as we to pray about lost people. There are times when names should be called out to a praying group. Just perhaps if we bombarded Heaven in quest of lost souls more lost souls would go from almost to altogether.

    Something else believers can do. They can live their life in such a way that lost people will admire them and desire to become just like them. They can be shown the way by demonstrating the Christian lifestyle each and every day. Let the words of your mouth be a testimony. Allow your actions to be lived in accord with the words of scripture. Show by where you go and by the priorities in your life that Jesus is more than just a name, He is your Savior.

    I wish I could report that the bank robber has been caught but I can’t. But perhaps we can report soon that many in the "almost" crowd has been caught by the Holy Spirit of God and been gloriously saved.



    Comment (0)

    Sun, Apr 8th - 10:18AM



    Observing A Law Breaker Isn’t Judging A Law Breaker

    This is a fictional scenario of a similar reality somewhere in the world at some point in time. An individual walks into a business establishment and witnesses a murder scene. A man is holding a gun to the body of the business owner. He says, "I’m going to kill you because you fired my wife". He pulls the trigger and the owner falls dead upon the floor.

    Police officers arrive and the man is taken into custody. They inquire as to what the witness saw and heard. Since he is the only one who saw the shooting, he is questioned as to his knowledge of the situation.

    The man who pulled the trigger declares his innocence. He says he isn’t guilty. Thus, the lone individual who saw and heard what happened is called to be a witness before the court.

    Can the witness decline the summons on the basis that he doesn’t believe a person can judge the actions of another individual? The answer is of course "no"! The witness isn’t called upon to make judgement, simply to recount what he has observed. He isn’t called into court to determine if murder is right or wrong. He is to testify that an individual has broken an established law already on the books which has already judged that action as wrong.

    Therefore, when the man in the courtroom points to the murderer, at the request of the prosecutor, he isn’t judging the man but is simply relating what he has observed.

    My recent article on the sin of homosexuality prompted some responses of disagreement. One email indicated that no one can decide who another should or could love, concluding that the writer of the email "didn’t judge anyone". I suppose the scripture, which says "Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged." (Mt. 7:1), is the individual’s point of defence.

    But just as the scenario illustrated above in the realm of human law, so in the realm of God’s eternal law, one doesn’t judge when observing the wilful disregard for those laws already established. Folk who see the plain revelation of God’s law aren’t homophobic, that is fearful of homosexuality, they simply observe that God’s law has been broken.

    One argument which is big in the defence of homosexuality is that Jesus never said anything about it. But He did stress obedience to God the Father and he stressed godliness. Jesus didn’t abolish the Old Testament law, He came to fulfil it. The law isn’t changed, the Ten Commandments are as true today as ever. Jesus came to break its condemnation and He did that by dying upon the cross. His invitation is to come to Him and find victory over the laws condemnation and live with Him in Heaven forever. His sacrifice upon the cross was to pay the sin debt owned to the law.

    Anyone using that as a defence for their perversion is discounting the remainder of the Word of God. That means they have a book of moral teaching in areas which satisfies themselves and when those morals contradicts their beliefs, they just cut them out and don’t apply them to their lives. This includes any and all sins against God’s law of conduct.

    The final judge of all mankind is the Lord of Creation. Isaiah is an Old Testament prophecy which speaks to the future. He shows Israel their sins and tells them about a future judgement. At the end of his book, the prophet points to the end of time and writes, "For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh" (66:16).

    When individuals live a life in opposition to God’s laws, people aren’t passing judgement when they recognize them as law breakers. Passing judgement is when an individual determines another person guilty of "something" even without evidence to the contrary. Recognition of one breaking "the law" isn’t judging but observing.



    Comment (1)

    Sun, Apr 1st - 6:51PM



    The Weekend Which Gave Hope To Hopeless People

    The weekend was welcoming sleepy eyes and yawning boys and girls. Men and women were being awakened to a new day. Across Jerusalem and the countryside, Jewish folk were making preparations for the Passover meal. This was an annual affair which reminded the Jews of their Egyptian deliverance under the leadership of Moses.

    While the people slept, the Sanhedrin Counsel had been meeting and judging Jesus. He had been carried before Pilate and Herod who both sent Him back to the Jewish leaders. They were ready to carry Jesus to Calvary’s Cross to put Him to death.

    Thousands of Jews had gathered in and around Jerusalem so they could participate in the Passover. As they mingled in the morning hours, crowding the small streets, and visiting with friends, the Jewish leaders were preparing for the death march for our Lord. The weekend was off to a bad start for the followers of Jesus.

    His disciples had been with Him in the garden for a time of prayer. They were with Him when the soldiers came to take Him away. Peter cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant and Jesus had miraculously restored it.

    The disciples, seeing the danger which surrounded them, had gone in hiding. Peter has by now denied that he was one of them and had listened to the rooster crow in the background. His heart was broken and he wept over his denial as he repented of his sin.

    The morning sun was coming up over the city. The noise of marching troops was heard. A crowd followed, many of which shouted, "Crucify him". The soldiers pushed the people aside, seemingly angry that they were called upon for such a duty as ordered by their leaders.

    The procession made its way out to Golgotha where Jesus would be nailed to a cross. This wasn’t a pretty scene. Nailing a human body to a cross, then standing that cross in a hole, watching the flesh tear as its weight pulled against the nails, was hard to watch. But there our Lord hung, not because the enemy was stronger, but because the sin of mankind needed a perfect sacrifice. Jesus was that offering.

    His human physical agony was done. He cried out from the cross, "It is finished", signifying that sin’s debt had been satisfied.

    Satan, not understanding all that was happening, must have leaped for joy when Jesus bowed His head and breathed His last breath. He thought he had won.

    The silent Saturday followed. The Sabbath had begun on our Friday sundown and the Passover meal had been eaten. It was time to celebrate their rest.

    But then came Sunday. At sundown on our Saturday, the people began to busy themselves with a new week. Early in the morning hours, before the sun had come up, women went to the tomb of Jesus to complete the burial ritual. But they were alarmed! Jesus wasn’t there. And further more, they had been told He was risen from the dead.

    There is no doubt that their hearts were bewildered, confused, and encouraged all at the same time. In a few hours, all that Jesus had told them about this weekend was realized as fact. "He is not here for He is risen" was the message of hope the world had been waiting to hear.

    In our world of confusion, fear, turmoil, war, and danger that message is the only message that makes any sense. Politicians wrangle, world leaders are bewildered, and the man in the street lives in fear. There is no military hope, there is no political hope, no negotiation that can produce hope for this world. The only answer is the return of the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Glory, the King of Kings who is Jesus Christ. The hope for the hopeless in sin is the message of Easter — He is not here, for He is risen!



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    About Me

    Name: Odus Jackson
    ChristiansUnite ID: retiredrev
    Member Since: 2006-02-25
    Location: Gloster, Mississippi, United States
    Denomination: Southern Baptist
    About Me: I was born July 13th, 1936. Married to Peggy Ann Lewis of Gloster. Two children, a girl and a boy. Four grandchildren, 2 girls and 2 boys. Will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in 2007. Retired from active pastor of local churches in 1998 after... more

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