Sun, Feb 22nd - 11:43PM

A traveler’s first visit to Jerusalem is most likely the central character in Psalm 122. His visit reflected the desire of every Jewish individual. The dream of every Jewish person was to journey up to Jerusalem, the center of Jewish government. In their travels they would also be privileged to enter the Holy Temple of God.

The song writer caught the excitement of this pilgrimage to the Holy Land by penning these words: "I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD" (v. 1). The writer’s song continues in verse 2 as the traveler is heard to say, "Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!"

That first verse jumps out at me! Having never had the joy of entering into the very Temple of God thrilled many a traveler like the one seen in this Psalm. It’s difficult to catch the utter joy a visitor must have experienced when he or she entered for the first time the worship center where God met with His people. The heart must have beat a little faster as each step toward its entrance was made and the pace of each step must have been a little quicker, until finally, they walked through the doorway.

This would be a different, more enjoyable world to live in if that was the burning desire of every church member across America. Yet, our troops, the army of the Lord, are scattered to and fro around communities. It seems that for many individuals and families there is no longer much value placed upon church attendance. Sunday sickness, company comes, other things distract from the main thing, and church attendance happens if and when there is nothing else to do.

Wouldn’t it be great if all church members, especially those who are truly born again, would jump out of bed this Sunday and let everyone in the house know that "I’m glad that today is Sunday so I can go and carry my family up to the House of God for worship". Who knows! If that were to happen, your pastor might preach his best sermon ever!

We find the value of worship when we come to the New Testament. Hebrews 10:24 and 25 is the key passage which helps believers learn about the importance of attending church services at the church house.

The writer of the Hebrews points out, as does the Old Testament Psalm sighted above, some important benefits which church attendance provides.

First, according to the traveler in Psalm 1, it is an experience. One can’t read verse 1 without sensing the extraordinary thrill in the heart of this stranger to Jerusalem. Upon leaving this hallowed place, it is doubtful he was talking about the politics of the day nor about other secular things. He most likely left out with a bounce in his steps and a prayer of thanksgiving for the experience. No, the afternoon ball game, the after service dinner, nor any other secular affairs controlled his thinking.

Church attendance can be just as thrilling today. The songs are about the eternal love of a forgiving Lord. The prayers are uplifting for the hungry and thirsty soul of the wayfaring stranger traveling through the world. The preached sermon is from the book which offers hope beyond the grave. It is an awesome experience!

Not only is church attendance an experience, it is also an act of obedience. The writer wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit when he penned these words in Hebrews 10:25: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together". Believers are being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s will when they attend church.

The third benefit of church attendance is for an external witness. The writer continued in verse 25 by reminding those who attend church that they are encouragers to others who attend. Then he added, "and so much the more as you see the Day approaching". That final day is nearer than when these words were penned. It is important that, especially for believers, regular church attendance is part of one’s lifestyle.

Faithful attendance to your local church will be an experience to remember, will be an act of obedience to the Holy Spirit of God, and will encourage other believers in the faith. Mark your steps toward God’s House this Sunday.

Sun, Feb 15th - 11:28PM

Church’s Mission Empowered By God Not Government

The ministry purpose of the local church must be revisited. The major emphasis of the her ministry is defined in the New Testament. Since the Bible is our sure guidebook, then we must turn to it for our understanding of the church’s mission on earth.

To a large degree her mission has been sidetracked in the past several years. Somewhere along the way, through the past fifty years, a host of individuals, preachers, and groups have emphasized social ministries to the exclusion of preparing lost people for Heaven.

While social ministries are important and are part of her local ministry, nevertheless, the major goal is to work through social ministries with the gospel of hope which can only be discovered in Jesus Christ.

Others have spent large amounts of time, energy, and money on getting and keeping America a Christian culture. Don’t get me wrong. I believe our nation was begun by Godly folk. They, for the most part, believed in the Ten Commandments and the New Testament church. I’m thrilled that they, along with men and women who followed in their footsteps, has produced a nation of Bible believing folk. I’m happy to have been born in a nation whose laws reflect so much of the Ten Commandments.

And as important as is the Christian culture to the people of a nation, simply producing Christian nations isn’t the major ministry of the local church. The best recipe for developing and keeping a nation as a Christian culture is for the local church to evangelize local people who are then sent as Christian leaders to offices of government where they act and vote according to Biblical principles. Without that happening, there isn’t a chance of keeping a nation free from unchristian precepts and laws.

In these latter days, much of which has been accomplished in the name of Jesus Christ is being placed under the microscope of human intelligence. Theologians and laymen alike bravely stand shoulder to shoulder in opposition to the inspiration of the scriptures, that is, that the Bible is without error. If we ever come to depend upon the error prone minds of human wisdom, then for sure the local church will fall short of the mission set forth in the inerrant Bible.

The White House has announced a President’s Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The executive director is reported as being a former Pentecostal pastor by the name of Joshua DuBois. Hope springs eternal in the hearts of us all when there is a ray of hope that Jesus Christ might be invited into the affairs of our national government. But beware!

Pastor DuBois is reported to have made a statement which surely raises a red flag. In an article by Berit Kjos, in NewsWithViews, the following quote by DuBois is reported: "Our democracy demands that when people are religiously motivated you have to translate your concerns into universal rather than religion-specific values". The writer also quoted President Obama as stating, "If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against ... the people you hire on the basis of their religion".

Those who need the social ministry of the Lord’s church are also in a large measure in need of the hope which Jesus Christ gives in the pages of the Bible. Jesus told the disciples to go into all the world with the good news of salvation. That is the New Testament church’s mission. When government programs come along, seeking to help churches feed the poor, yet at the same time, forces them to refuse an opportunity to offer spiritual food from the Bible, that offer should be refused.

Social programs promoted by governments replaces the term Jesus Christ with the word religion. The church belongs to Jesus. It is His alone. It isn’t one of the man made religions of the world.

Peter stood before his accusers who had the authority to have him imprisoned or killed. Hear his words as recorded in Acts 4:12, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved"(HCSB). And then perhaps the marching orders for the this generation of churches: "Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard". They had seen Jesus and heard from the Holy Spirit.

Sun, Feb 1st - 10:53PM

People of Faith Holds The Key To Recovery in America

The story of Gideon in the Old Testament is an interesting study for today’s uncertain times. Our nation, as is our world, is in dire need of some supernatural help. Gideon, although not facing the same problems, faced a tremendous dilemma.

God’s angel was sent to him with a humanly impossible task. He was to be the one to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites.

The children of Israel had done evil in the eyes of God. He in turn sent the Midianites to enslave them for a seven year period. The people of Israel lived in caves, dins, and strongholds. They would plant their crops. When they were ready to be gathered, the Midianites would come and take what they wanted and destroy the rest. Their livestock would also be taken away.

In the midst of their troubles, the people began to cry out to God. And He heard their pleading. It was then that God set His sights upon Gideon to be their leader. He was given the responsibility of leading Israel out of the bondage of the enemy.

Our crisis in American, as it is in the whole world, is a financial dilemma. But can we cry out to God for help? I suppose it is possible. But we have some outspoken leaders in government today who are so fearful of hurting feelings, along with liberal religious leaders, that we’ve all but told God He can’t help us.

Before you throw down the paper hear me out. Celebrities and some top leaders in Washington have said Jesus is untruthful. Aren’t we being told that there are many ways to Heaven? Aren’t we hearing that it doesn’t matter what god you believe in just as long as you are sincere? Some would even mislead people into believing that everyone is going to Heaven after death, or at least moving into another dimension.

Jesus is either the only way to Heaven or He is a liar. John quoted the words of Jesus when he wrote, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (Jo 14:6). Oh, some would respond, but John got it wrong. Well, we now have a Bible that we can’t trusted. What we really have is a difficult time of getting God to hear the cries of hurting people. We can’t stand in the public place and pray. We can’t pray at school. We really think we can solve the problems by ourselves. Well, good luck!

Back to Gideon and his problem. He didn’t ask for this leadership role. Yet, it came his way. Note how he responds to the angel: "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house" (Judges 6:15). God was in fact going to touch the least expected individual in all of Israel to do His mission on earth.

What finally transpires in Gideon’s life is a walk of absolute faith. He didn’t have the leadership skills of a military leader. He didn’t have the ability of raising large amounts of money for weapons. He had no army. But in the end, His journey in faith produced victory and freedom for his people.

Our God desires for this nation, founded upon the principles of the Word of God, to return to Him for His strength and guidance. He desires for the Christians of our nation to repent of sin and call out to Him instead of hoping for and pleading for another giveaway package from Washington. When He comes upon the scene in His power, people’s minds will be energized and answers will seem to fall out of the sky.

Gideon ended strong because he trusted God. With an army of 300 men, 300 trumpets, and 300 earthen lanterns, the enemy of Israel was defeated.

Our nation will see its crisis end when spiritual men and women once again trust in God. To answer the question of former President Kennedy who asked, "Ask not what my country can do for me, but what can I do for my country?", I answer, we can pray, pray, and pray some more. But you say we need action! Yes, and when our nation comes to God in prayer, He will lead into the right action.