Sun, Nov 8th - 10:30PM

The news of late, coming to us by way of various news media, has some alarming reports. World leaders, not dumb preachers, are more and more using terms like a common currency and a world government. It is really surprising how so many politicians, newscasters, blogs, and people in the general public are accepting this as good news. But is this good news or is it prophetic reality?

Secular world leaders, who lends support to the one-world concept, aren’t interested in Biblical doomsday predictions. They envision a world where a single governing system dictates human affairs and prevents troubling world conflicts, a world in which there are no monetary class distinctions, where government takes care of everything. In this kind of world, the little guy, you and me, does all the work while the big hogs eat the prime foods and live the life of Riley!

But isn’t this the future which has been preached a million times over by the church throughout the years? The message has been and is clear, there is coming an Antichrist, one who opposes the truth of God and His Word, who will lead the world into chaos. Government control of the affairs of the human race will shine bright for a season, but that season will end and the torments of an everlasting Hell will burn without end of days.

Let’s see what God’s Word has to say about this globe upon which we live. Because of the lack of space, I want to look only at what Peter has written in his second letter. He writes about some things the early church needed to hear. First, Peter wrote, ". . .that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?"(3:3-4). He then wrote, "For this they willfully forget; that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water"(v. 5). Did you get that? The heavens and the earth were created by the word of God!

Then Peter warned that ". . . the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men"(v. 7). The world we know today isn’t going to be controlled forever by ungodly people. The world is headed for the day of the judgement of God Almighty.

Peter issues another warning, so please pay attention to what he writes. In verse 9 we read, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

Even though the future for Christians living on the earth might not be the most promising, they could be living in the most exciting days of the world’s history. Peter reminds everyone that with God one day is as a thousand years and that a thousand years is as just a day. There is no past time for God nor is there a future time with God. He is always in the His present moment!

Although the scoffers mock at the preaching of a second coming, of a predicted one world government, one world currency, and a one world church, God’s promise of such, although delayed according to man’s calendar, will be just on time when these events appear. One of these day, perhaps soon, the Lord will return in the air and gather all believers, both dead and alive, unto Himself.

Don’t spend your time debating the non-believer, spend your time preparing for the coming of the upper-taker, Jesus Christ Himself. There is someone, somewhere in your life who can give you directions to the cross and therefore to the Pearly Gates of Heaven. Prophesy is being fulfilled before our eyes, don’t delay your preparation.

Mon, Nov 2nd - 12:19AM

When trying times face mature individuals, they somehow survive. When troubles come to the immature, they more often than not crash. It is true in the secular world and in spiritual lives as well. That is why the Holy Spirit had writers of the Bible include scripture verses encouraging all believers to grow toward spiritual maturity.

The writer to the Hebrews calls believers, who should be mature enough to teach, back to the crib. Here are his words: "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food"(5:11-12 NAS). Then in verse 14, the writer gives the reason why Christians must grow into spiritual maturity — "to discern good and evil".

If born again believers will just take God’s Word as His inspired message to people of faith and ingest that word into the soul, spiritual growth will occur. Those individuals who spend quality time in the Word of God on a daily basis will learn to face life’s problems victoriously. They will learn, through Bible study, how to live their lives according to a Biblical viewpoint rather than relying upon human viewpoint to guide their ethics.

Back-sliding and unfaithfulness begins when believers neglect the Word of God, along with prayer of course, in their lives. They become less sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s warning signs. They fail to become the witness for Jesus He desires from each one who has come to Him in faith.

The facts are before all of mankind. Troubling times comes to us all. Sickness, job loses, marriage difficulties, untimely death of loved ones, and the list could go on into infinity. Besides the troubles faced by us all, there are temptations which lure God’s people away from righteous living.

That is when all of those Bible study hours comes into power. Decisions will be made on the basis of what is learned through the scriptures. If Christians fail to learn the Word of God, then when decision making situations are faced, the immature Christian won’t know how he or she should react.

Not only is Bible study important for one’s own spiritual growth, the study of God’s Word touches others in need through us. As an illustration, I remember back in 1963 when I spent five weeks in the University Hospital in Jackson as the result of a malfunctioning thyroid. During those days of not knowing if my problem would be discovered or if I would ever get out of the hospital, individuals who had learned Christian sympathy and encouragement from the scriptures kept me hopeful with their words of encouragement and copied devotions which I received in the mail. Even so, you and I can learn that same tenderness toward others in need and share encouragement with them.

Hopefully, you the reader, have already discovered the importance of daily Bible study for your life. But if not, here is an encouragement for you to set aside quality quiet time with our Lord. Get into the Bible and tackle the difficult scriptures as well as walk through the cool waters of your salvation experience. But make sure you grow in spiritual maturity by staying in the scriptures.

Just as the book of Hebrews reminds us, "let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God"(6:1). In other words, don’t just study the things you already know, those first things learned as a young Christian, leave that behind and take on some "solid" spiritual food. That’s the challenge for all of us. So, let’s get on with by-passing spiritual milk and take in "solid food" for our spiritual souls.

Sun, Oct 25th - 10:29PM

The world-system’s increasing advice to the Christian community is "keep your religion to yourselves". I would classify that advice as "box them in religion". Preachers, this system says, should keep their preaching inside a church-house because those enslaved to a fallen world-view doesn’t want to hear it nor read about it. In reality, it makes them uncomfortable in their rejection of the Christian faith.

We are told from various reports there are individuals and groups, both within and without politics, seeking to establish legal barriers to the free exercise of Christian expressions outside this "boxed in religion". They seek to remove "In God We Trust" from the nation’s currency as well as delete the words "under God" from the nation’s Pledge of Allegiance". They simply don’t want Jesus mentioned in public places nor for citizens to give thanks to God on public squares across the land. Their list of anti-god actions are continuing to be unveiled as time marches forward.

Sadly, many Christians will apply the world-view advice to their individual lives and then complain in secret. But thankfully, scores and scores of "Christ followers" will apply the Biblical-viewpoint. They will remember that the Bible, the Christian’s guidebook for living in this world, admonishes them to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . ."(Matt. 28:19). Matthew quoted Jesus when the Lord told His followers to "go into the highways and as many as you find, invite to the wedding"(22:9). This was no ordinary wedding. He was encouraging believers to seek lost people and invite them to become a part of His bride at the gathering home of all the saints at the end of the age.

The gospel writer Matthew quoted other things Jesus said to His followers. He said in 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

So, what are those within the Christian community going to do with this advice given by those promoting the world-view? Will they cower down to the negative rhetoric and comply? Will they give in to pressures which are applied through intimidation, threats, boycotts, distorted viewpoints, ridicule, or other attempts to destroy the credibility of a Christian individual, business, or organization? Some will, but many others won’t.

Since the beginning of mankind’s creation, Satan has sought to destroy the God-consciousness in the soul of people. He succeeded in the Paradise Garden when Adam followed Eve’s disobedience. From that time forward, the battleground has always been in the heart of mankind. War, murder, perversion, hatred, jealousy, wild-living, rebellion against good, and hundreds of other life destroying actions are breed in evil hearts.

The purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth is to give everyone the authority to overcome Satan, the evil one. The cross of Calvary is the bridge by which lost souls can cross over into the grace of God’s eternal love and find rest in the Kingdom of Heaven. That is the message He has left for His followers to share with the world.

And thus, the Christian community of believers must find their marching orders through the Holy Scriptures. These very scriptures reminds us, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith"(1 Jo 5:4). Then John warns the believer that ". . . we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one"(5:19).

So, what are believers to do in the face of these kinds of growing obstacles? I suggest that we seriously put our mind and soul to trying Him, to trusting Him, and to thanking Him for His blessings. When we try Him in our daily living, we’ll love Him, then we’ll trust Him with our lives, and we’ll learn to thank Him throughout every day we live. Encourage the brothers and sisters in the Lord and pray one for the other!

Sun, Sep 27th - 11:13PM

Living Without Religious Freedom A Possibility

Preachers, along with the Christian community, aren’t empty headed, ignorant alarmist when they speak of eroding religious freedoms in America. They are aware of proposed laws and ideas which if signed into law, would make living out one’s Christian faith in the public square very difficult.

Christians in our nation have enjoyed an unprecedented journey of freedom to live the Christian life-style without fear. Thus, it is difficult, in our minds, to reconcile the American Christian life with that of New Testament Christian living. Nor can American believers conceive in their minds persecutions which our brothers and sisters are now living under where anti-god governments reign.

There are various organizations working in the believer’s behalf throughout our nation to secure and preserve the freedom of religious activity which has been protected throughout the nation’s history. Yet, we must face the possibility that some, if not many, of those freedoms won’t always be protected by the government.

So, if our society erodes that far away from the founding father’s ideal, how will the new, restricted conditions be handled? We need look no further than the New Testament, and especially the book of Acts, to see how God guided His people through godless regimes and to understand how we should respond. When the pages are opened, when the actions of the people are observed, one finds faithfulness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as the watchword of the saints.

Peter and John, after the resurrection and the Pentecostal experience, went to the temple at the hour of prayer. There at the temple’s entrance was a poor, lame man, lame from birth. He was begging for money from the people as they went in to pray. Instead of giving him money, they gave health. The lame man was healed, got up and began to praise God.

This act of healing the lame man, caused jail time for Peter and John. They were threatened and told to cease what they were doing. Their response? ". . . we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard"(Acts 4:20). In other words, we shall not obey your words, but we will obey the Lord.

Later, gathered with fellow believers, in a prayer meeting, these men of God didn’t pray for the godless government. They didn’t pray for God to keep them from harm. Here is their prayer: "Now, Lord , look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness"(v 29-31).

The early believers suffered greatly at the hands of the religious leaders who were unwilling to accept the fact of the Savior’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. The oppressive Roman government gave in to the powerful Jewish leaders so that life for Christ-followers was never easy. The dictators of the government imprisoned and killed many believers.

If our government lifts religious protection and begins to tell the body of Christ to accept a perverted belief system about home and marriage, along with protecting homosexuality with minority status, will the churches message change? If the government ceases to permit non-profit contributions as a tax write off, will the body of Christ continue to follow the scripture’s teachings about tithing?

Since I’ve never been down that trial, never had to consider altering the message of God to fit a government mandate of any nature, I can’t sit here in my air-conditioned, comfortable study and tell you exactly how I would handle such a situation. I would hope that I could stand shoulder to shoulder with Peter and John and say, I can’t help but speak the Word of God in its truest form.

Our nation isn’t at that point yet. Thus, while we have the time, while this freedom exist, let’s work faithfully in His kingdom here so we won’t be embarrassed before Him later on. Keep the faith!

Mon, Sep 14th - 1:50AM