Sun, Sep 23rd - 6:18PM

In a recent Wednesday night Bible study, our congregation took an honest look at Proverbs 11:11. The Amplified Bible translates it this way: "By the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favor [because of them] the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked." Its focus is upon a city and the results that both righteous citizens or wicked folk have upon that city. The words of this proverb describes an underlying reality which concerns today’s society.

Questions are raised as to what can be done about drugs, inconsiderate neighbors, living together without marriage, unconcerned law enforcement, laws which seem to protect the criminal and criminalize law abiding citizens, perverted sexual activity, and the list of complaints could go on and on! Short of taking up arms and rebelling or organizing public demonstrations and causing civil unrest, what can the citizens of a city, village, hamlet, community, or county do?

Proverbs 11:11 gives us some insight. The verse is addressed to the citizens. It reminds us that God blesses righteous people. Thus when the people of God live godly lives, those blessings bestowed upon them by God will flow over into the community. A community which has more people living according to the Word of God will be a better place in which to live.

That righteous living is not judged by personal opinion, but absolutely upon the bases of the Scriptures. People will say they believe the Bible is the Word of God. They affirm that they believe the righteous are blessed and the unrighteous are judged. Yet, many of those same folk think nothing about sexual immorality which the Bible condemns. They think nothing about abusing the Lord’s Day and utilizing it for their own purpose. They believe the Bible teaches us to love our neighbor condemn and backbit the very people who are members of the same church. This is sufficient enough for you to get the point.

Righteousness is both a right relationship with God and a correct walk for God in the world. It means we live by a certain standard . . . a standard which is given to us by the Bible. Far too many citizens in communities desiring better living conditions, less crime, and less drugs, but at the same time fail to support faithfully their local churches and follow the precepts in God’s Word.

In order for the blessings of God to flow into a community, His people must live faithful righteous lives. In that way, believers become conduits through which blessings can change the attitudes and lifestyles of the citizens. Or else the latter part of the Proverb will hold true. That part of the verse is, "but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked".

Here are some suggestions. First, live righteously each day. To do that, Bible principles to live by must be ingested into one’s spirit. The only way to accomplish that action is to be or become a student of the Bible.

A second suggestion is to spread God’s Word. Be enabled to step through doors of opportunity when God opens them. Utilize passing out tracts to those who will receive them and pray for those who won’t. Don’t be fearful of the mockers and rejecters. And never give up your right to speak in behalf of the Lord. After all, the world certainly isn’t concerned if you hear them take the Lord’s name in vain!

Another suggestion is for Christians to participate in the local political process. When you do, don’t leave your Christian faith in your home or down at the church house. It’s your precious possession, take it with you. Don’t allow the world to separate your faith from your civil duties.

Finally, express your Christian viewpoint in letters to the newspapers, write articles and submit them for consideration to be printed, and faithfully support your local church.

God desires to bless our communities, thus He has chosen to do so through believers. Take the challenge! Step up to the plate today and become a spiritual blessing conduit to your community.

Mon, Sep 17th - 8:52AM

A couple of Saturdays back, I met a friend from my youth at Walmart’s in McComb. I’ve seen him on a number of occasions since I retired but this was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to sit and talk for a spell. Both our wives were shopping and we got there about the same time. So, we talked for several minutes before they were finished.

He shared with me about a job experience he had a few years back. For five years he worked at a job in a very difficult situation in a nearby city. He was tested on more than one occasion. But he maintained his faith and walked as a believer in a difficult environment. A constant companion was his New Testament. Its truths strengthened him for this difficult ministry field in which he labored.

When my friend resigned from the job, the individual who hired him five years before told him that "when I hired you, I didn’t think you would make it." He feared that he would be injured or even killed. But, because of his walk with the Lord, his positive witness he gave to Jesus Christ, the boss wanted my friend to know that because of his witness, he and his family were faithfully attending church. In other words, my friend’s walk matched his quiet confession. His witness was powerful in the work place, even in a rough area where his job responsibilities were performed.

The word witness is an important message coming from most pulpits across America. Very few regular church folk are unfamiliar with what it means. Matter-of-fact, the word witness is familiar to the secular public. Perhaps you have been called into a court room as a witness to some crime. You are asked to simply relay to the court what you have seen.

Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 19:15 when He spoke about reconciliation to a fellow believer. Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established"(Mt. 18:15-16). A law is set when two or more witnesses agree.

Just before His ascension, Jesus told the disciples, ". . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"(Acts 1:8). The message to witness is directed to His disciples but has implications to all of us in 2007. Every believer is responsible for being a witness to Jesus Christ.

Just as Jesus said in Matthew, that before a witness can be law, it must be verified by two or more individuals. Just as my friend shared his witness to Jesus, so have millions of others around the world done the same thing. The witnesses are for more than just two or three individuals.

It is important for all believers reading this article to conduct your lives as living witnesses to Jesus Christ. Believe every word in the Bible. Understand the promises it lays out to believers who live faithfully.

The sad flip side of the coin comes from individuals who say they won’t go to church or consider the Christian life because of bad testimonies shown by unfaithful believers. I’ve personally talked with some good people who named names of church members who sang hymns on Sunday, taught Sunday school on Sunday, but lived ungodly during the week.

Please don’t be a bad example! Love the Lord with all your heart and surrender your lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Perhaps you will hear someone say that you made a difference in their lives because of your Christian lifestyle witness!

Sun, Sep 9th - 5:59PM

Ellery Schemp, an atheist who initiated the movement which eventually led the U. S. Supreme court to outlaw school sponsored prayer, was quoted in a recent E-J article that "I’m really dismayed that 50 years later, this is still a bit of an issue". He went on to boastfully proclaim "there’s enough problems in the world. Does anyone seriously think that more prayer and more Bible reading is the answer to global problems, to political problems, to wars in Iraq?"

Well, Mr. Schempp, my answer to your question is "Yes! Prayer and Bible reading could make a tremendous difference in all the concerns mentioned in the article." Since his defiant act against the mandatory Bible reading time and silent prayer in 1956, and the 1963 action of the Supreme court, there has been a societal breakdown in morals and ethics. Taking this most vital element of spiritual acknowledgment from the public school arena has aided the anti-god, atheistic elements in society to outlaw God in much of America’s public life. And we wonder why there is so much crime, broken homes, sexual abuse, fear, drugs, injustice, and rebellion!

Some would argue that these negatives are simply the result of "the times" in which we now live. Well, that being the case, why are our "times" are so bad? That brings us back to the point when God is removed, legally, from one’s society, there isn’t anyone to whom we can cry out for help.

One trip to Washington will or should convince any individual that Jehovah God was on the minds of our founding fathers. Scriptures and Bible references are chiseled into the walls of government buildings all over town. It would take a tremendously expensive work over to eliminate His presence in Washington.

When I see supposedly intelligent folk taking the anti-god stance, I wonder in my heart just how long will God allow such stuff to go forward; how long will God permit atheist to have such prominent platforms from which to damn souls to Hell. Then I’m reminded of John 3:16 how God has so loved the world of people that Jesus went to the cross in order for everyone to have hope for salvation and Heaven. He deeply loves the atheist, agnostic, humanist, and all other non-believing individuals. Then I’m reminded how much I’m to pray for these poor bewildered souls.

Jesus, in John’s gospel, told his disciples that He was going to go away. He further informed them they would not be able to come to where He was going, at least, not in their lifetime. Peter asked Him a question, "where are You going?"

They couldn’t follow Him then because the garden experience, His betrayal, and the cross were just ahead for Him. But in just a few sentences, Jesus said, "If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also." He then added, "You know the way where I am going."

Thomas responded, "we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?" To that response from Thomas Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me"(John 13:31-14:6). The apostle Peter later in Acts said to the religious leaders in Jerusalem, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved" (4:12).

I’m going to Heaven when I die, or perhaps when the Lord returns for His church at the Rapture. It won’t be because I’ve been baptized by immersion, nor because I’m a preacher of the Gospel, nor because I’m a Baptist. It will be because I wasn’t swayed by the folk who claim God is dead or never existed and because I repented of my sin and received Jesus Christ into my heart!

Sun, Sep 2nd - 11:26PM

Thousands of dollars are spent each day striving to sway you into going to certain places, purchasing particular items, investing in a multiplicity of schemes, as well as invitations to become party to some ungodly and unholy physical pleasure. These advertisements are read in newspapers, heard over the radio, and seen on the television. They are the source, upon which much of the budgets of these media outlets, depend for their survival.

I’ve noticed an increase in advertisements on Christian television programs seeking to get listeners to make purchases. I listened to one guy tell me about God’s desire to add money into my bank account. He said that God had the resources to just rain money down into my account out of Heaven. I just needed to discover the breakthrough which would put me ahead of the finance game. How could I find out the secret? Why of course, send him $39.00 and purchase his set of CDs which would tell me all I needed to know! Guess what! I didn’t make the order. I didn’t desire to aid God in raining down from Heaven (or my bank account) into his already full coffer.

Much of what these advertisements are selling are ways to find happiness. That’s a legitimate desire. We all want to be happy. But, can we really discover happiness in this evil filled world?

The answer is "yes"! But it won’t be found by seeking to fulfill every fleshly desire which might be advertised as needed, wonderful, enjoyable, satisfying, and on and on! Real happiness, springing out from a joyful heart, can be found only in Jesus Christ. When we have the "joy of the Lord" flooding the soul, real happiness can be achieved this side of Heaven’s glory. We can give the right answers to the questions about life after death to a waiting world.

Finding true happiness in Jesus Christ helps us properly evaluate life’s situations. One of our Presidents of the United States a few years ago is quoted as making an astounding statement. He said, "If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure". I would guess so! The believer who finds happiness in his or her relationship with Jesus knows that when one doesn’t succeed that is failure.

How can we achieve real happiness as Christians? Read Psalms 100 when you are finished here. Even if you know it by memory, pick it up and read it slowly. Therein is the source of happiness even when the world seems to be contentious around you.

First, "serve the LORD with gladness . . .". Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians wrote, "For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works . . .". Those works are the things done by believers in their service and witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe its your lifestyle while standing before boys and girls in a school class room. Perhaps its how you live your life at the work place or around the water cooler . . . or maybe on the golf course. Paul wrote in his Colossians letter, "Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord—you serve the Lord Christ" (3:23-24).

Second, "Acknowledge that the LORD is God". The world is full of non-believers. They seek to rob you of your happiness. But they are powerless to do so as long as you keep acknowledging the Lord.

Third, you need to walk into your place of worship on Sunday morning and night, and on Wednesdays, and every other opportunity you have, with "thanksgiving". If you never give the Lord thanks for all His blessings, how in the world can you expect to have happiness which overcomes sorry found in the world? Find your happiness in Him!