Do You Know What You Believe?

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils...Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Paul, writing to his young protégé Timothy, warned him of “doctrines of devils.” Under the guise of spiritual leadership, authoritarian spirits would both “forbid” and “command.” The former having to do with marriage; the latter being related to meats. But the Bible teaches “Marriage is honourable in all,” and that meats are to be “received with thanksgiving.” Yet some had departed from the faith and had given heed to these “seducing spirits.”

Paul is addressing professing Believers in this instance. The safeguard, he tells them, from not going away from the truth is in both believing and knowing it. Not just in believing the truth, but knowing it. The fact that they were Believers tells us they believed the truth. The problem lay in the fact that they did not know the truth. Belief of the truth is not good enough; you must know it. Many of God’s children believe the Bible is true, yet their lives are in shambles.

“The devil loves Christians who pride themselves in saying they believe the Bible is Word of God, but who know nothing of its contents.”

(rds)

Dogs, Hogs, and Apostates

“But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

2 Peter 2:22

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Matt. 7:6

The best definition of an apostate I’ve heard was given by Dr. Bob Jones. Years ago, I heard him say, “An apostate is one who has heard the truth, embraced the truth, then rejected the truth.” It’s not that they got it and lost it; they never got it in the first place.

The book of Hebrews is all about this, people who had: “received the knowledge of the truth;” “tasted the good Word of God”; been “enlightened” and “illuminated”; but had “gone back;” and now, “consider the blood unholy;” they “despise the Spirit of grace;” and, “sold their birthright.”

Notice in Peter’s account of apostates the male is likened to a dog going back to his vomit and the female as a sow, who, onced washed, returned to wallowing in the filthy mire again. The key word is, “turned.” It’s willfully, consciously, decisively, and adamantly, going back to what you were.

In our second text, Jesus tells us not to give holy things to these “dogs” and “hogs.” Nor should we lay precious things (pearls) before them. Why? Because, says our Lord, they’ll only trample these holy, precious things, under their feet and turn against you again.

Harsh words? Yes, but I didn’t say them!

A Motherless Child

“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you” (Isa.66:13). Not as a precious, protective father does, but as a tender, affectionate, and compassionate mother. Someone has said, “A mother’s love for her infant child could possibly be the strongest of all natural loves.”

I remember going through a great trial in my early ministry. At the time, it seemed as though I would never preach again. I was so burdened that I got in my car and just drove around. After awhile, I found myself sitting in front of the house where my mother lived. When I went into the apartment where she lived alone, I sat next to her on the couch. It was then that I broke down and cried like a baby. Not knowing any of the circumstances, she simply put her arm around me, and as I laid my head on her bosom, she whispered gently, as she had done so many times when I was a boy, “Everything’s going to be alright, Son.” And so it was. I left there feeling I could conquer the world.

That blessed day was years ago. My ninety-four year old, sainted mother is now with Him whom she loved and adored. But this has not left me motherless, for I have One who still comforts me as a mother does her child. He puts His Divine arms around me, lays my head next to His heart, and I hear Him say in a still, small voice, “It’s alright, Son; everything is going to be alright.” And it always is.

The Fatherhood of God guarantees me that I’ll never be motherless.
(rds)

Two Questions on Prayer

After almost a lifetime of preaching, reading, and hearing sermons on God answering “big” prayers, I believe it boils down to just two simple questions. I mean simple to ask, most certainly not to answer. If the answer to both is in the positive, then there will be a tremendous cost to be paid on the petitioner’s part. A price more than most want to pay! This is why one needs to sit down first and count the cost.

My first inquiry is this, “Do you honestly, from your heart, hunger, thirst, and long to see God do great and mighty things on your behalf, for His glory and Kingdom?” Large prayers answered, akin to those of Bible saints? Those recorded answers to prayer that cause our hearts to leap and burn within us, as we read them? As one remembers they were written for us, for our learning and example.

The second query is not as easily answered. It is cause for much deep thought; it should not be responded to with an impulsive spirit. There is to be much soul searching before a “Yeah” falls form one’s lips. My question is, “HOW LONG ARE YOU WILLING TO WAIT?” It may be years of long, agonizing waiting. And during such times all you can do is cling to such promises as, “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

God’s Word tells us, “They shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” There were no blushing faces among the likes of such saints as Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Joshua and Caleb, along with a host of others who waited long periods of time before seeing the evidence of their faith fulfilled. Nor will you, my beloved, who have risked everything on God. He always comes through for those who are willing be last in line, waiting patiently!

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Overcomers/Overcome

Did you know that God’s overcomers can be overcome? But, did you also know that God’s overcomers will overcome at the last? In the book of Genesis, speaking of Gad, it says, “A troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.”

In Revelation, we’re told of two overcoming witnesses who are overcome by their adversary. We see here God’s promise to Gad in the first book of the Bible stood true throughout to the last book. These two also overcame at the last. And the promise still stands firm.

To any who may be overcome by the enemy, or have loved ones who are, let me give a word of encouragement. Samson was an overcomer who was overcome by his foe. He was a slave to sin for a season, but was triumphant at the last, showing up in God’s “Hall of Faith."

Losing a battle or two doesn’t mean you have lost the war!

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Victory in Jesus

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”

Notice the correlation between our two texts. As to eternal life: it is a gift and only obtained through Jesus Christ. Referring to victory, in the saint’s life: again we find it is a gift and only can be found in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is “in Christ” we find our righteousness, peace, joy, patience, etc. One does not pray for something God has already given them. They appropriate (take as their own) it, then thank God. Come and dine, the meal has been already prepared.

You do not pray, agonize, fast, and beg for victory. You already have it. But only faith can make it a reality to us. This is why the old-time saints said, “When you fall, SHOUT the victory.” As with eternal life, so it is with victory. My doubting doesn’t mean I don’t have it, only that I’m not enjoying it. Like Joshua and Israel of old, God had already given them the land. What was needed was to enter in by faith and take (appropriate) what was theirs by right of Divine inheritance.

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Four Favorites-2

Always Triumphant

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”

Triumphant! not sometimes, but all the time. No matter the circumstances: poverty, persecution, distress, want, heartache, burdens, and whatever else you want to throw into this defeatist mix, we always come out triumphant. It may look like things have gotten the best of His elect, but “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

No matter how hot the battle rages, how insurmountable the odds against us, how doomed the future may appear, we are always destined to come out the winner. It is the story of every saint's life, who is in His will. Though it be the last half of the ninth inning with two outs, and us behind one-hundred to nothing, we always emerge triumphant!

This truth is not something to be felt, it is a fact to be taken by faith. It’s true whether one believes it or not, but only enjoyed when believed. I have a little saying God gave me years ago that illustrates this, “Act as though it were and you’ll experience it as it is,” (John 4:46-53). Remember, all our successes in life are to be traced back to Christ!   

“Be strong and of a good courage,

Though foes thy soul assail.

No weapon formed against thee

Hath power to prevail;

For thou shalt share the triumph

Of Christ thy conquering King,

Who purposes a blessing

Through all thy buffeting.”

(A.B. Christiansen)  

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The Conquering Conquerors  

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

In dealing with God’s people over the years, I’ve found most, if not all, have a particular scripture or scriptures they favor. They apply these to their lives whenever difficult situations arise. For some years now, I’ve had four individual texts that the Holy Spirit uses to lift my drooping head and allow me to stand head and shoulders above the fracas of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Romans eight-thirty-seven is one of them.

There have been some great conquerors in history: Attila the Hun; Alexander the Great; and Genghis Khan, to name a few. But they were only conquerors; we are, “More than conquerors.” Whether things present or things to come, we’re promised to come through them as mighty conquerors. No condition! Only a simple act of faith in claiming it. That is, appropriating what God has already provided.

And just how and why is it that we common, feeble, peasant folk can, as it were, ride in from any and all skirmishes, great or small, as super-conquerors? It’s by the virtue of our Leader, Jesus Christ, and His Cross, time and eternity’s greatest conqueror. He conquered death, hell, and the grave! And no creature in heaven or hell can separate us from His unfathomable love and unfailing promise. AMEN and AMEN!

This is bedrock security!  

Don't Get Ahead of Yourself

Not only is our Sovereign the God of eternity, but He is the Lord of time. He controls every aspect of it. He can make it stand still, go backward, or run it ahead. But He is distinctively the God of the present. And why is this? I think C.S. Lewis put it best when he said, “Where, except in the present, can the Eternal be met.” Therefore, as they say, “There is no time like the present.”

But we must be cautious that we do not mistake a seemingly right situation for the right time. Take Simon Peter’s case for example. The Lord had told him how he would die (John 21:18-19). And in Acts 12:3-6 the circumstances would lead one to think this was the time his Lord had spoken to him about. But though the situation was right, the timing was wrong, for this memorable event could not come to pass until, as Jesus had said, “…when thou shalt be old.”

It is not the circumstances, but timing, that counts. Let us keep our eyes on God’s clock and not on the conditions. If we do, we, like Peter, will sleep better.

Timing is Everything!

The Unsavoury God

“...thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.”

Job tells us something unsavory is tasteless. Have you ever wondered why some among us no longer have a taste for God? Men, women, and young people who once hungered for Him? The reason is they no longer possess their spiritual taste-buds. He is like the white of an egg to them. He has become bland (flavorless) in their lives.

Darling David challenges us, “O taste and see that the LORD is good.” Sample taste, if you please. But this is not so with those who have gone back and are now feeding upon the world's “leeks and garlic.” They could taste all day and never savor the sweetness of God. When God’s people of old were right with Him, the manna tasted like honey; but as oil to those of the mixed multitude.

Beloved, do you still hunger for God, and even more so, than you did in years past? When Jesus said, “He that cometh to me shall never hunger,” it only means after a different kind. A.W. Tozer sold peanuts on a train when a young man. He said he would start out giving away a few free ones to each passenger. Later as he went through the cars selling them, he said he’d sell out. They wanted more of the same sort.

Maybe the reason many professing Christians hunger after another kind is because they are members of the “mixed multitude,” who were never part of God’s elect. They always had the taste of Egypt in their mouths.

Asking Too Much

“Such as I have give I thee.” Would to God some of today’s Christians could get hold of this great truth. Peter may have lacked in some things, but common sense was not one of them. A person cannot give what they do not have. If they do, there is reason to suspect it was ill gotten. You can’t get a quart of milk out of a pint bottle.

I’ve been guilty in the past of saying, “God wants 110% of our lives.” Such little clichés may be inspirational, but they are not scriptural. Each of us can give 100%, but even with this statement it must be qualified. It needs to be realized, when I give my best, it may not be as good as another who excels me in capacity. But God accepts both as the same. It has been, and always will be, in His sight, “…according to our ability.”

Don’t let Satan or anyone else push you beyond your God given limitations. Let us not be guilty of asking, or expecting, of a person more than they have. Even the Lord doesn’t do that! As A.W. Tozer says, “God is easy to live with.” And so should we be.

Remember, along with our God given abilities, there is God given limitations.

They're Not Just For Kids

Children’s stories in the Bible are for every child of God. To lightly pass over them is to take the Bible lightly. Some of the deepest and most profound truths are to be found in stories that have erroneously been designated, for the most part, to children only.

For example, in the account of David and Goliath, I personally have gleaned at least fifteen rare nuggets from that rich vein of truth. One of which was when David put off Saul’s armour. He had no use for artificial armour. Rather than be a little man in giant’s armour, he chose rather to be a giant of a man in God’s armour. It’s embarrassing to be clothed in an extra, extra large, when you are a regular. The thing I like most about walking in my own shoes is that they are so comfortable.

I think it would be a good idea for those who are constantly tripping over the supper-sized garments they wear, to become quick-change artists. You will be surprised at how nice fitting things are that come from your own closet. You will also discover that people will like you so much better in your own duds!

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. 

Dr. Seuss

Love for "ALL" the Brethren

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.”

Years ago an old preacher friend of mine who came into a large inheritance, held a Bible conference in the Ohio- Kentucky area. He rented out a large number of rooms at a motel, along with their conference hall. The purpose was to get Independent Baptists to love one another. A worthy cause.

If you’re familiar with your New Testament you know this was the constant theme of its writers. But their emphasis was not on one small segment in the Body of Christ; it was all-encompassing. It included those who did not cross their t’s and dot their i’s the way they did. Their love ran over.

You do not have to agree with a person to love him or her. Insecure saints are fearful to show love toward those with whom they differ, afraid some might think they’re in agreement with them. This sort suffer from the fear of man. They are led by the flesh, certainly not by His Spirit.

We’re commanded to love our brethren, as well as God. A command has to do with the will. You “will” to love it doesn’t have anything to do with your feelings, that’s a by-product; they may or may not be involved. Reading the little book of 1 John, occasionally, would help us along these lines.

John Newton, in the book, “Letters of John Newton,” puts what I have been trying to get across better than anyone I have ever read, “In a little while you will meet in heaven; he will then be dearer to you than the nearest friend you have upon earth is to you now.”  

High on God's List

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus.” Where would all the evangelists, pastors, and missionaries, be without Godly couples such as these to help us on in our ministries? Every preacher knows the value of an Aquila and Priscilla—or should know.

Such people score high on God’s list of the laity. They labored together as husband and wife as tent makers, opened their home for church services, instructed ministerial students in the deeper things of God, and were willing to lay down their lives for God’s man. This humble couple was known and respected among all the churches. They were part of Paul’s team. They weren’t stars, just players.

I thank God for all the “Aquila’s and Priscilla’s” who have given their hands, hearts, and homes to help this unworthy servant along the way. It is such people, I’m sure, the writer of Hebrews addresses when he writes, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

“Who they were, nobody knows; what they did, everybody knows.”

(inscription on tomb of unknown Confederate soldier)

Coming Out of Nowhere

After spending a number of years among a small group of preachers and churches, I was then introduced to a large number of pastors from across the country. After preaching to this particular fellowship of men, one of their wives asked me, “Where did you come from? When I explained, she said, “You seemed to have come out of nowhere.”

The truth is, no one comes from nowhere, everyone comes from somewhere. And while how you arrived there may be a providential mystery, you still need to be content wherever that “somewhere” is. For it is from “there” God will call you to that one all-important task for which He created you. John the Baptist’s wilderness experience is a good illustration.

The famous basketball coach, John Wooden used to say to his players, “No time spent in preparation is wasted.” Being is much more important than doing! For the former determines the quality of the latter. The Man Christ Jesus, spent the first thirty-years of His life in obscurity, in preparation for His final three.

Such eternal plans have no time limit. In some cases it is longer compared to others. But in many if not most lives, it’s just the opposite; “A flash in the pan,” as they say. You go off the scene as quickly as you came on. The Bible is full of such examples. But all these “passing shadows” had one magnificent characteristic, they did God’s bidding.

A little unnamed Jewish maiden, taken captive by the Syrians, never to see loved ones or land again, became a servant girl to a military man, a mighty man of valour, Naaman by name. But he was a leper. She was instrumental in his cleansing and new life. We never hear of her again. But she is recorded in God’s eternal record Book. She only did one great spiritual thing in her life, as far as we know, but it was for the Glory of God!  

Mechanical Christians

There is a marked difference between having good spiritual habits and allowing them to become mechanical. One of the definitions of the first word is: an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. As to the latter, its meaning is: acting or performing without

spontaneity, spirit, or individuality; that is, automated.

Things such as daily Bible reading, prayer, witnessing, etc., are good habits until they become mechanical; then routine turns to rot. When what we do is “same-o, same-o,” it ends up being boring, and so do we. Variety is the mark of a healthy Christian. Doing the same thing everyday doesn’t have to mean doing it the same way. Break out of your mold!

“I think sometimes robots have more versatility to them than many Christians.”  

(rds)   

Sitting Before the Lord

“And David the king came and sat (in his house) before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God?”

In one of his magnificent sermons on prayer, C.H. Spurgeon mentions the beauty of one sitting in an easy chair, with head bowed, lifting his or her heart to the Lord in prayer. I can attest to this fact. I cannot count the times, over these many years, I have walked in on my wife while she was communing with her God, head bowed, the Bible open in her lap, hands clasped, sitting in her favorite rocker, praying to her Sovereign God and Lover of her soul. With the glow of the Glory of God on her face.

Years ago, I listened on the radio regularly to a godly black pastor. I especially liked one particular term he used frequently. “Bow the knees of your heart,” he would say. Your physical posture is of no consequence if the heart is not humbled before Him. A bowed head and a bowed knee count for nothing if the heart is not bowed in reverence. We see darling David’s heart in the first words that came out of his mouth. The greatest king on earth, over the most powerful kingdom, says to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,  “Who am I, O LORD God?”

If you want to lose that little extra something you have with the Lord that can’t be explained, then you just forget the dung-hill He dug you from. Every saint should read from time to time the story in Luke chapter eighteen of the Pharisee and Publican praying. Also of Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel chapter two. Especially dwell on her admonition, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth.”  Evidently the Pharisee had never read this; if he did, it wasn’t heeded.

“From the hole of the pit to heavenly places. Let us not forget either.”

(rds)

Christ Our Example in Temptation

(Please read Matt.4:1-11)

From early days, theologians have argued the point whether Christ could have sinned or not. Since I’ve never been in their league, I’ll let them burn the night oil debating the issue. Personally, I am 100% sold on the fact, He was there as a man. His own words attest to this, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” He was our representative.

My answer to this may sound overly simplistic but I use the illustration of the railroad engineer. After building an expanded trestle over a two-thousand foot  precipice and laying the tracks, he, and his young son, rode across. When the reporters on the other side exclaimed, “You sure proved it couldn’t fall,” his reply was, “No, I proved it wouldn’t fall.”

It was Christ’s manhood that was solicited to sin. God cannot be tempted to do evil.  Notice His arch-enemy waylaid the Man Christ Jesus, as he does us, when He was at His weakest. He was tempted in body, “Command that these stones be made bread,” food. In soul, “Cast thyself down,” foolishness. And in spirit, “Worship me,” foulness. In “all points” as we are.

And what tool did our Lord use against the tantalizer? The same that is available to us, The Written Word of God, Three times He unsheathes His glittering sword with victorious results, each time with, “It is written,” It was His triumphant battle cry! Jesus submitted Himself to God and resisted the devil. And what the results?, “And the devil leaveth Him.”

It worked for Him! And Peter and James tells us it will work for us also. Give it a try the next time Satan slithers your way.

The Blessings of Good Books

It used to be that people with any intelligence at all would ask friends, “Have you read any good books lately?” It seems that, since the inception of TV, avid readers of good literature, both young and old, are becoming extinct. True, there’s a lot of books around today, but there is a vast difference between “trashy books,” that leave you empty and ignorant, and those that inform, and make you think. You can see what the world wants by looking at what the throng of people purchase in commercial and Christian bookstores; and by observing the small numbers in your local library.

It’s an interesting fact that one of the first things a dictator does when taking power is to destroy all good literature. Do we not realize that when you find readers of good literature, with a variety of different viewpoints, you will find individuals who think for themselves. People who will not be led around by the nose, so to speak.    

Paul loved to read, in spite of his poor eyesight. He told Timothy when he was to visit him in prison to “...bring...the books.” He also encouraged the young man to “give attendance to reading..” He went on to tell him to give himself wholly to it, for it would both profit him and those he spoke with. Good reading, Paul tells us, can keep one from the wrong doctrines that seduce the soul. That is, it can keep one’s spiritual head screwed on right.

A Christian is certainly permitted to have a wide selection of books on his or her shelves—poetry, histories, mysteries, biographies, novels, etc.—may be in one’s library. But make sure you do not neglect those that nourish and strengthen the soul. The secular may inform, stimulate, and enlighten the mind, but they will never reach the inner, Spiritual man. Above all, let us never neglect the Book of books, the Bible.

Territorial Animals

“I said, Not so Lord.” This is the wrong mix. These two ingredients will never blend together. It is either a “Not so,” or “Lord”; but not both. The little cliché is right that says, “If He’s not Lord of all, then He’s not Lord at all.”

Someone said to me once, about their pet, that he was very “territorial.” I looked up the definition. It means, “An assigned area, under the jurisdiction of a ruler.” God has a lot of children who are “territorial.” They like to say to the Lord about areas in their lives, what He said to the sea: “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further.”  I might add, we are also guilty of saying such to loved ones and friends.

When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, then God doesn’t own it. Like the loaves, Christ only blesses what is placed into His hands. Jesus did this with His Father all His earthly life. Even unto death, when He uttered with His last breath, “Into thy hands I commit…” From my hand to Thy hand, that’s the only safe deposit!