Spiritual Highs

Peter had a glorious mountain-top experience and like many of us, wanted to "park there," so to speak. It's understandable; who wants to leave such to go down into the valley of a demon possessed world that lieth entirely in wickedness? But every saint needs to learn, God is just not the God of the mountains, but of the valleys also. For every mountain, there is a valley.

Many saints of our day are addicted to "spiritual highs" to keep them going. They are constantly attending revivals, camp meetings, deeper-life conferences, etc. They're always searching for some new book that will be a "quick fix" in their hour of spiritual depression. To them, Christianity is fun and games. They love, says Matthew, to play in the market place.

Descriptive words that come to my mind if asked to characterize the Christian life: routine, daily duties, same old same old. Those stalwart saints of the past were pluggers-along; they needed no frills, chills, and thrills to keep them going. They had an artisian well within them, better known as the Holy Spirit!

Unforgettable Spiritual experiences are prayed down, not worked up. Paul and Silas incarcerated at the dark hour of midnight, with feet in stocks, and their backs beaten bloody, prayed and praised God. It was then God began to shake things up, if you please. And that is when it will happen for us also!    

Unlikely Possibilities

Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” There is a little saying when something difficult or beyond our human reasoning is presented us; we respond by saying, “It’s not likely.” When this happens, we have lost the possibilities of the unlikely.

It was not likely that a lad with five loaves and two fishes could feed five thousand. It was not likely a shepherd boy could kill a giant with one stone from his sling. It was not likely that an unlearned and ignorant fisherman could write two books of the New Testament, without any literary flaws whatsoever. But they did. Why? Because God can take the unlikely and make it a reality. Our Lord goes into the waste places and does the unlikely. “In the wilderness shall waters break out.”

He can see a saint in an unlikely, disregarded publican. He can see a diamond in the soot. He can see radiant glory in a rough, unpolished gem. God help us to have spiritual discernment to see the possibilities of the unlikely. May He help us to see a person’s possibilities in the blackness of their present shame—to see the future best in the present’s worst. Amen!

Take Your Medicine

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy often infirmities.” Some pertinent truths are missed in this text simply because of two factions trying to prove their position on wine.

First, Good and godly people, as Timothy, have sicknesses.

Second, we see that some infirmities are on-going.

Third, God uses means to temporarily relieve our discomforts.

Fourth, whatever the medication, it is to be used in moderation.

Fifth, he does not tell young Timothy to pray, be anointed, or to claim healing by faith, (all of which are legitimate), if God so leads. In this case he is simply to take his medicine. Doesn’t sound very spiritual, does it? But it seemed to have worked.

Sixth, we see progression of certain truths. Early in Paul’s Epistles he looked for the Lord’s return in his day. But later on his position seemed to have changed from an immediate coming, to an imminent one. So it was with healing. In his latter ministry, rather than using his apostolic gift, he left one brother sick at Miletum, and another, in prison with him, had been sick unto death. And, of course there was Timothy.

Seventh, for any super-saints reading this, who are tempted to look down on those who visit a physician in their sickness, it might be well to remember, Paul’s constant companion was Doctor Luke, the beloved physician. Also, the Great Physician Himself told us that sick people need a physician.

An addendum- I question seriously if the reference to wine was grape juice, if so, I doubt he would have cautioned him to use it moderately, “a little...often."

Someone Has To Do It

"But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab." When a young man, I asked my dear mother, who was soaked in character, why she cleaned toilets and scrubbed floors for others. This wise woman, with that eternal twinkle in her hazel-green eyes said, "Someone has to do it, Son." Malchiah was such a one, his job like my Mom's, was a humbling one, but it was his lot in life. Who of us would not like to be standing at the "east gate" when He returns? But we who are hid away need not fear. He knows where we are, and we can be sure He'll look us up. He knows where all his precious jewels are hid! They sparkle even from seclusion.

These ten gates of Jerusalem are an interesting study in themselves, for example. When you left the "old gate" on the west side, and continued downward (south), you came to the "valley gate." Then at the very bottom, before starting upward, was the "dung gate." The spiritual lesson is obvious to the enlightened mind, after you put the old behind you, you pass by the valley. Then comes the "dung gate," where all the filth, trash and refuse is carried out and burned. It is then, on your journey, you start upward, and the next gate you come to, after leaving all the garbage behind, is the "fountain gate," where one is refreshed and cleansed. Everything is downward until we leave the, shall I say, "dumpster gate."

Man's Chief End (part two)

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever," so it is written in the Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647. In a previous article we wrote on the glorifying of God in our lives; in todays writing I want to deal with the latter remark, enjoying God forever. There is no possibility of one experiencing this second blessing, of enjoying God, who has not fulfilled the previous act of glorifying God in their everyday life. It seems to me that many today have as their chief end, not the enjoyment of God, but rather their own lusts.

"Enjoying spiritual communion with God is a riddle and mystery to most people. Everyone who hangs about the court, does not speak with the king," so pens Thomas Watson. The enjoying of the pleasures of this world, without the enjoyment of God, is like drinking from a golden chalice with no wine ("that cheereth both the heart of man and God") within it. They have full coffers but empty lives. When the earlier and latter rains come from heaven, they are but dust (Deut. 28:24). 

How anyone can think or say he or she will enjoy God in heaven for eternity who do not enjoy Him in their daily lives now, is way above, as they say, my pay-grade in understanding. It is a great day indeed when we prodigals, who have spent our all on this world, return to our Father to enjoy Him, and Him alone. 

Man's Chief End (part one)

The Westminster Shorter Catechism was completed in 1647. The first question is, "What is man's chief end?" The answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever." It is these two most important aspects of life I will be commenting on in this article and the one that follows. I say boldly, it is better to have never lived than to have lived and not to have fulfilled and experienced these two Divine requirements and privileges. 

We are told in scripture to give God the glory due His name. I like the comment of one of our old Puritan brothers, "It's the yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven." Many, I'm afraid, go through life rent-free! Is it not a shame that everything God created naturally gives Him the glory, except mankind? The heavens, the beasts of the field, all creation glorifies their Maker, but the worm known as Man. This one creature wants all the glory for himself. 

God has given us, His saints, many things, but says, "My glory will I not give to another." Like king Pharaoh, after giving Joseph his ring and golden chain, and putting all things in his kingdom under him said, "Only in the throne will I be greater than thou." God has entrusted to us, His people, His Glory. We can go through life either gratifying our flesh or glorifying our God. Peter is a good example. He started out doing the former but finally and joyfully submitted to the latter, "To him be glory both now and for ever," were his last words.

Let each of us, from this day forward, be God-admirers! Let's make God look good. May we be so taken up with God, so awe struck by Him, the world will take notice. And let our testimony be that of Paul, "They glorified God in me." This should be a life-long commitment, even to death. This was true of both Peter and our Lord. Jesus told Peter before his death how he would glorify God in it. So the old faltering disciple glorified his God right up to the grave. And just before His death, Christ prayed to His Father, "I have glorified thee on earth."

God Makes the Difference

C.H. Spurgeon said, "The possession of a God, or the non-possession of a God, makes the greatest possible difference between man and man. Esau is a princely being, but he is “a profane person.” Jacob is a weak, fallible, frail creature, but he has a God. Have you not heard of “the mighty God of Jacob?" 

I have an old sermon entitled, "When God Gets in It." Whenever and wherever He enters the scene, things begin to change. Water turns to wine, a common scrub bush is set on fire, a timid farm boy is transformed into a mighty man of valour. God always makes the difference!

If you have the Lord God Jehovah as your God, then as one old sage said, our whole history is covered; past, present, and future. God, from eternity past, anticipated every possible situation and circumstance we would find ourselves in while we sojourn on earth. And He prepared for every emergency.

We need never fear the storms of life, no matter how great the tempest, even when it seems we're sinking, if Jesus is in the ship with us! 

U-Turns

One of the common denominators in the ministries of Jesus, the Twelve, Peter and Paul was that each emphasized the necessity of repentance. They taught repentance leads to restoration of God’s favor, and impenitence to ruin. Thinking that we need not do a complete u-turn from vices in our lives, to practicing Godly virtues, is a destructive delusion.

Repentance is acknowledging and admitting we are rebels at heart, who must lay down our arms. True repentance is the right view of sin, self, and the Saviour. Real repentance is more than eating crow, it’s agreeing with Gods estimate of your sin. It is taking God’s side against the person you hold dearest: You!

It is shameful how many of us are so shameless today. In Ezra’s prayer he said, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee…” I’m afraid we are more like the people of Jeremiah’s day, of whom it is said, “…they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush.” We need repenting that doesn’t need repenting of. There is far too much heartless repenting in each of us.

The old preachers used to preach there are three steps to Biblical repentance: First you get mad; then you get sad; but then you get glad.

God's Pathway To Citizenship

Our Lord often presented truths that had twofold meanings, both an earthly and heavenly. The following is my feeble attempt to emulate our Master . 

Although God's love is unconditional, His requirement for entering His Heavenly domain has stipulations. There are stringent rules prior to becoming a citizen of God's country.
Jesus said, "...that [whoever] entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." That is, those climbing over the wall and not entering the legitimate way, are law-breakers.

In the book of Ephesians chapter two, Paul gives a vivid picture of we Gentiles, who he refers to as, "aliens and strangers," having absolutely no hope of ever becoming citizens of Heaven, and there was a great enmity between those who were citizens and those who were not. But God made a gracious pathway to citizenship for us foreigners, if we would submit to His one and only way. 

And for all those who do adhere to God's rule, the Apostle tells us the glorious result: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." We become one people, one nation under God. And what divided us, is removed. Thus, doing things the lawful way, brings peace and tranquility for all concerned!  

Having the Spirit of Anti-Christ

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ [as] coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

The term “antichrist” is used exclusively by John, and is found in his first and second epistles. He uses the term both in the singular (a person), and in the plural (persons). There are to be many prototypes; they existed even in John’s day. But all of these will be concentrated into one original in the latter times. Just as there are "many false Christs," imitating the one true Christ, so there are many "antichrists" emulating the one to come.  

The prefix “anti” has a dual meaning. It can mean “against” or “instead of”. Taken together, it’s a counterfeit in opposition to the real thing, “The Lord’s Christ.” The spirit of antichrist then carries Christ’s label (Christian), while denying Christ’s ingredients (Deity). The spirit of antichrist is behind every false doctrine and every religion substituting itself for the reality of Christ.

The question to ask before, “Is the antichrist a real person?” is, “Do I have the spirit of antichrist?” That is, are you hostile toward Him, do you deny His claims of Lordship? If so, you may carry the name Christian, but in reality you’re antichrist. Anyone denying the true nature and character of Christ is antichrist! 

And please believe me, God is intolerant when it comes to slighting His Son. You’re either for or against Him, there is no middle ground. As someone has said, "If He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all."

A Family Rule

"Two are better than one....For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” 

As an excerpt from a famous poem goes, “No man is an Island.” Elijah thought he was, not realizing God had reserved seven-thousand to Himself, like Elijah. As a result "the loner" experienced a time of deep depression. Those who think they can go it alone, are in for a rude awakening. We all need a helping hand from time to time, as well as being one ourselves. 

Jesus sent His disciples out, "two by two." You'll remember Peter and John, though completely different temperaments, were constant companions; "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple." 

And what of Paul? He seemed to always have a "sidekick" with him": Paul and Timothy, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Titus, Paul and Sosthenes." Maybe there should be an "and" after our names too. 

From the very beginning, God tells us, "It is not good that the man should be alone." It's a rule of the family, our Father would have us to take our brother or sister with us before we go out into the dark night of this world.

New Age, New Methods, Old Truth

"Then said H​e unto them​...​the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old."

The "New-Agers" greatest mistake is thinking because a new age brings new methods, it necessitates a new message. But the Bible teaches that although the age may change, and along with it the methods, the message stays forever the same. You'll notice when believers entered the New Testament era, with undoubtedly many changes taking place in all areas of life, the old, old gospel stayed the same. 

We have been sold the lie, by the progressives that if something is classified as "old," it is to be considered out-dated, antique, and has outlived its usefulness. But those of us who have experienced the life-giving, life-changing, power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, know better. It is as fresh and new to us who are believers as the day we first heard it, though that day may have been many, many years ago! Our theme song being-

"​I love to tell the story, 

for those who know it best 

seem hungering and thirsting 

to hear it like the rest. 

And when, in scenes of glory, 

I sing the new, new song, 

'twill be the old, old story 

that I have loved so long."

This blessed old gospel can be traced all the way back to Adam's substitutionary lamb in the garden; and also Abraham's day, when the gospel story was first preached to him on the mount, hundreds of years ago. Hence, each generation of God's elect will continue to sing, "It was good for our fathers, and it's good enough for me." I like that "Old-Time Religion!" Don't you? 

"That which is new in theology is not true; the gospel was​ of full stature at its very birth; no man can add to it or take away from it." (C.H. Spurgeon)

The One Cure-All

Anyone who has watched old-time westerns is familiar with the medicine man who came to town selling his (as he referred to it) "cure-all liniment." It was a guaranteed remedy, said he, for everything from baldness, to sciatica, to bunions, and all in between. And many a duped soul bought this cure-less solution only to be sadly let down and disappointed in the end.

There is a host today, many well-meaning I'm sure, who have a "quick fix" for all the world's many ills. Whether in the political, social, or religious realm, they claim they have the one antidote for whatever the ailment. This type of salesmanship can be very profitable for the seller, but unprofitable for the buyer. Putting band-aids on skin cancer only hides the problem temporarily; it doesn't treat the problem.

Throughout the New Testament, both writers and preachers, along with the common everyday saint, believed there was only one permanent scriptural curative for all earth's complexities, THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST back to this earth. Anything else they might have taught and preached was only a transitory restraint until THAT GREAT DAY OF THE LORD.

The Bible ends with an old disciple praying, "EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS." Is this our one main concern?             

Whose Side is God On?

"Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come."

Joshua found out something some of us die-hard's are still slow to comprehend and accept: God is on no one's side! Only in respect to our choosing God's side can it be said, "He is on our side." When David said, "The Lord is on my side," it was only because he picked that side. And when he wrote, God is for me, again, it was because he was for God. God did not side with, or was He for David in his sin.

God is not a Democrat or Republican; He is nether a

Fundamentalist or Evangelical; nor is He Conservative or 

Liberal, GOD IS GOD! The question is not, "Is God on our side," but rather, "Are we on God's side?" Moses put it very plainly, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The real question each of us must ask ourselves in this God-hating, God-defying, God-dishonoring world is, "Am I on God's side?"

If our answer to this question is in the negative, then we would be wise to heed Gamaliel's words to the council in Acts, "If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." To be on any side that opposes God is ultimately a losing battle. God always wins out in the end. Read the book of Revelation if you doubt me. No matter how it may look at any given time, victory is on the way.

I love the story of the little-leaguer, who was all hustle, in spite of his team being behind 23 to 0. Asked why he could be so upbeat he replied, "Shucks, Mister, we ain't even been up to bat yet!" THAT'S MY KIND OF KID!   

Stay Out of That Mess

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” No spiritually enlightened Christian would deny this world is in one tangled up mess. And, furthermore, it is no surprise to them. But, what is a shock is the fact that so many of God’s people are enmeshed in this miserable mix-up. Once these cares entwine a believer, their spiritual life will be choked out of them. So says our Lord.

What is the cure for not being caught in this web of the world’s cares? Simple; it’s found in pleasing Him who chose us. We are to be absorbed with Him. This, says Jesus, is the one thing that is needful. Then the Caretaker will take care of the cares.

All the things of this world are geared to divert our attention from Him. This is true both in the social, political, and many times, religious realms. Nothing in this life really counts if it is not directly associated with Christ. And those things that do are to be approached through Him, not apart from Him

Satan’s goal, like Pharaoh’s of old, is to get God’s elect entangled in the land.

Daniel and the Law of the Land

"Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

At this time in Daniel's life he was in his eighties. Even so, the old man was a threat to the crooked politicians of his day. He had a reputation for honesty; all knew him to be a man of integrity, even his enemies. We are told by the Holy Spirit, "He had an excellent spirit." And believe me, He knew! 

These one-hundred and twenty political assassins knew it was useless to attack his impeccable character, so instead, they went after his faith. They passed a law that went directly against his God-given scriptural convictions. They knew well that he would not do wrong, but they were also aware, he would always do right concerning his God. And it is this latter fact with which they hoped to bring him down. 

John Gill writes in his commentary, "If therefore they could get an act passed, and signed by the king, which would any ways affect his religion, or any branch of it, or prohibit the performance of it for any time, they hoped to get an advantage of him, knowing that he would not on any consideration forsake or neglect that; which being said by his enemies was greatly to his honour."

What is one to do when the law of the land conflicts with the Law of God? It is plain throughout the Bible. As the early Believers told the authorities of their day when they were ordered to submit to laws contrary to their faith, "We ought to obey God rather than men."  And this they did, even at the expense of bodily suffering. 

And so it was with Daniel. He continued doing what he had always done in spite of the unscriptural law of the land. It could be said of him, as David wrote of the righteous man in Psalm 37, "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide."  

 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Reformation or Revival, Which?

To put it simply, revival deals first and foremost with the internal, reformation with the external. The former begins in the heart and works its way out; the latter never gets past the first layer of skin. George MacDonald writes, “Nothing is so deadening to the divine as a habitual dealing with the outside of holy things.”

What today’s “religious moralist” wants is an outward religious and political change, not an inward conversion. Reformation is merely a demon leaving his house briefly, while a new coat of paint is being put on the exterior of things, only to return to it with seven of his worst kind of friends. Reformation has to do with respectability, revival with nobility. Dry-rot on the inside doesn’t concern the moralist.

I am not an authority on revival, but I did spend the biggest part of a fifty-plus year ministry as an evangelist and in revival work. I got in on the afterglow of the forties revival, which was simmering and went out in the fifties. God allowed me to see enough in my meetings to cause me to thirst after a real revival. I’ve seen people pass out and have to be carried to an altar. On numerous occasions there have been four hour invitations, which I did not give, where the people just wanted to repent and worship God. I’ve seen a Lutheran pastor tear his collar off and cry out for God to save him.  There was a youth camp where the youth would wake at three in the morning screaming for God to have mercy. In one large church, so many were getting right that they had to use the restrooms for inquiry rooms, because all the Sunday School rooms were filled  There were many, many more experiences like these, but I trust these will suffice to prove my point.

Yes, many good people long for revival and are praying for one, but on their conditions. And that is why revival will never come to them. Let’s face it; a Bible revival would scare the majority of today’s Christians half to death. It would reach far beyond their elitist group, and things would happen that their human reasoning could not explain. And may I add this note to many of you pastors; you can’t have revival without revival preaching. It seems to me when the evangelists were kicked out of the pulpits of America, revival went with them. May God have mercy! My Bible still says, “And He gave some…evangelists.”

Close Enough to Hear

The late Harry A. Ironside, pastor of Moody Church, tells the following story. It seems he needed a specific amount of money by the next day. He said the Lord had given confidence to claim and expect the exact amount for the succeeding day. And sure enough, it arrived by mail right on time. But, he thought, wouldn’t it have arrived anyway, had I not prayed? For the letter had been post marked three days previous. True, the Lord seemed to say, but isn’t it nice to be conscious of the fact you’re close enough to me to know what I’m about to do?

As Samuel of old, I believe God still speaks in the ear of His obedient ones, concerning things He already has in play (1 Sam. 9:15). I don’t want to be in hollering distance; I want to ever be within whispering distance (1 Kgs. 19:12). I long for my relationship with God to be up close and personal. I’d like for Him to say of me what He said of Abraham, “And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” You might remember, when the disciples wanted to know what was going on, they asked the one leaning on Jesus’ bosom, the one near to the heart of God!

Addendum: As most of our readers know, humanly speaking, we live on a very limited income. Yesterday, before leaving for church (an hour away) I checked my wallet to make sure I had gas and lunch money. I had $120. The Lord impressed on my heart to put all in the offering when it passed. The same burden was there at church. So I obeyed. I whispered to my wife what I had done. I told her to watch and see what the Lord was going to do in the next couple of days. Today, Monday, a dear friend wrote that he had come into some extra cash and wanted to share it with us. It was nearly three times the amount I had put into the offering. Is Luke 6:38 true or what!

God's Echo

“Abraham, Abraham”; “Isaac, Isaac”; “Jacob, Jacob”—were these men, along with others, so hard of hearing that God had to repeat their names when speaking to them? No, God has a purpose in everything He does, and there is a Divine lesson for us in this repetition.

Since the Bible is its own best interpreter, we’ll allow it to give us the answer. Joseph, speaking to Pharaoh about his dream, explained, “And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God...” Both in the Old and New Testament, we find there is to be at least two witnesses to the truth. No doubt, this is why A.W. Tozer said, “Truth has two wings.”

Jesus taught this when He made the statement, “It is written," then added, “It is written again.” Paul also followed this pattern. For example, in Romans he says, “It is written," then follows this up by saying, “And again he [God] saith...”

Today, if you need Heaven’s confirmation as to the right or wrong of a thing, or if there is a decision you have made and need that final stamp of God’s approval, then listen, or watch, for it. It will come. When it’s from God, it will always have an identical twin.

“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this...(Psl.62:11,a).

We Fallible Fathers

Every godly father longs for and desires a happy household. But, for one reason or another, this is not always the case. Sometimes the reason is apparent; at other times, it’s a mystery. How could God’s first two children disgrace their heavenly Father? And years after, God says of Israel, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” You certainly couldn’t blame the Father in these cases.

In 2 Samuel, chapter twenty-three, we have, “...the last words of David.” We are told how God anointed and raised him up on high, and that he was the “...sweet Psalmist.” David was a good and godly man; yet he had his share, along with many other greats, of family trouble. For example, his wife, Michal, became a snare to him, and one of his sons, Absalom, caused him humiliating embarrassment. Certainly, all of this must have been heart-breaking to this melancholy man of God.

Yet, in spite of his family troubles, he looks past the veil of tears and remembers God’s eternal promise. In verse five he says,

“Although my house be not so with God; yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant.” Its been said, "When we suffer in time, we can find solace in eternity."

The blessings of God the Father are upon godly fathers!

A Most Devastating Truth

"Jesus said unto [Peter]...thou shalt deny me...Peter said unto Him...I will not deny thee..."

I personally believe the most devastating fact we as saints will ever have to face and admit to is, as my dear mentor, Dr. Joe Henry Hankins would say, "We are never as spiritual as we think we are." We are not who people say we are; we are not who we think we are; we are who God knows we are. We say, "If I know my own heart," but the problem is, none of us do! There is a deceiver within it. Only a self-righteous fool will trust his or her own carnal heart. 

Peter's problem is ours. He thought himself incapable of committing the ugly things of which others were. Like the Pharisee in the Temple, he thought he was a notch above the low man on the totem pole. In my long experience in dealing with God's people, I find few Believers have come to the realization that they are capable of anything and everything Bible saints were. The one sure proof is when you hear them say, "How could they do that? I could never do such a thing."

Any time we get outside God's hedge of Divine protection, we are open to the serpent's deadly bite. "...whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."      

An Old Man's Advice

If I could give advice to any preacher, teacher, writer, or witness; along with Christians in general, it would be, “Make much of Jesus.” Make much of Him in all your sermons, songs, testimonies, and praying, as well as your writings (books or letters). I have had to ask God time and again to forgive me for failing to do so.

 As a young believer, I went through Paul’s epistles marking in red all references to Christ. Afterward, I had to buy a new Bible, for the pages I had marked looked as if someone had sprinkled them with fresh blood. Again, read Revelation. No matter how it’s interpreted, there is one thing all will agree upon; Jesus Christ is central. God, angels, beasts, and saints, all without exception, make over Him as none other creature has ever been lauded.

 We write, preach, and discuss such things as the Anti-Christ , the  King James Bible (not King Jesus), election, politics, the deeper life, soul winning, the Church, and a host of others things. But these are not to have the prominent place. Have we not yet learned it is not our “pet doctrines” that impress God? IT IS HIS AND HEAVEN’S “PET” that is to get all the attention. Everyone and everything, no matter how precious or important, is to always line up behind Jesus! The universe, and all that is in it, is to play “second fiddle,” to Jesus Christ.

 “Lord Jesus, Glorify thyself, and do it at my expense. Send me the bill, I’ll pay the price.”  (A.W. Tozer’s prayer)

Throwing in the Towel

“Throwing in the towel” is a term derived from the sport of boxing. The towel was used to wipe sweat from the fighter’s face between rounds. And when it was thought he could no longer fight, it was literally thrown into the ring to concede defeat. Far too many of God’s people are forfeiting their fight by throwing the towel into the ring.

The little “bantam-weight” Paul said at the end of his life-long scrap with the world, the flesh, and the devil: “I have fought a good fight.” Therefore he had every right to admonish his young protégé Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith.”

You may be beaten, bruised, and bleeding, but God and the heavenly host are cheering you on to “stick-in-there.” Keep getting up! Stay down for the count of nine if you must, but make sure you’re back on your feet when the ref says, “ten!” You can wear an enemy down by endurance (Mt.4:11).

Don’t spend your life shadow boxing; don’t beat the air. Get in the ring and fight for something. And don’t you even think of throwing in the towel!

A Captive of Christ

“Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ…” What a statement! Not, a prisoner of Rome or Nero, but Jesus Christ. Paul’s relationship to everything is always expressed in terms of Christ. Every item in his life is tagged, “Christ.” He is “the apostle of Christ,” “the servant of Christ,” “the minister of Christ,” etc. To him Christ was all and in all. He ate, slept, and breathed Christ. He was his life, He was his everything.

Who, in his or her right mind would not want to be His prisoner? The prison garb is the righteousness of God; the daily ration is the sweet Word of God; the bars on the window, and the locked door, are to protect us, not confine us; we are bound to Him with the chain of love; and we are at liberty to do any and all things within the walls of His Will. I have spent most of my adult life as His prisoner, and I can truthfully say, His prison is a palace!

A Rooster's Reminder

Adjacent to our mobile home park is a closed-down airport. A few small businesses now occupy the deserted hangers, one of which is a feed store which sells live poultry and other farming needs. On my early morning walks down the once used runway, invariably I'll hear the crow of an old rooster. Each time I hear it, I'm reminded of my childhood visits to my grandparents' home in Kentucky.

I believe Peter had a similar experience each time he heard the crow of a rooster, but without the sweet memories I cherish, his being bitter rather than delightful. That is, except for the fact of his heartfelt repentance and his Lord's merciful forgiveness, which gave him the victory. But still, his glorious restoration did not do away with that awful reminder that popped up from time to time.

Some of us are also reminded periodically of shameful things we have done against our dear Lord in the past. But although, like Peter, we cannot rid ourselves of the reality of those things which remind us, we can deny them the right of recognition. Or as my granny would say, "You can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from roosting in your hair."       

A Call to Preach

Fifty-Six years ago tomorrow (Sunday), I was in attendance at the Grace Baptist Church, Middletown, Ohio. It was the church’s anniversary and there were some eight-hundred in attendance. Roy Kemp, from Texas, was the guest speaker. I was standing in the last row of pews singing the invitational song. About the third stanza into the song I whispered to a godly friend standing next to me,  "I think God’s calling me to preach, but I can’t speak before people.” Promptly, he put down his hymnal, and without saying a word, took his Bible and pointed to Exodus 4:10-12, "And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."

I went forward that day, took my pastor’s hand,  looked him in the eye, and said, “God has called me to preach the Gospel.”

Thank you Lord! It's been, to say the least, quite a journey. But no matter the circumstances, Thou hast been with me every step of the way.  

Note to pastors, evangelists, and missionaries: Preach tomorrow as though it were your last sermon!

The Key to Our National Problems

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Contrary to many preachers, as well as laymen, the solution to our national problems is not Political, but Spiritual! The former never fixed anything permanently; it’s the same-old, same-old; promises, promises, all we get is promises. I speak from experience; I have lived through thirteen presidencies.

If you read the story of Balaam and his donkey, it is apparent that God locked him in so that he had only one way out of his predicament. This is true also with the Lord’s people today; He puts us in a position where there is no escape except the one of His choosing. We often say in dire times of testing, “All we can do now is pray.” The truth is, that’s all we could ever do. Maybe if we prayed before the crisis like we do after the crisis, we would not have as many crises.

The little plaque says, “Prayer changes things.” But the way many Christians handle national emergencies, they wasted their time putting it up on their wall. Their philosophy seems to be, when all else fails, try prayer. They go from a standing position to a kneeling one; Daniel went from a kneeling one, to that of standing. And believe me; this praying prophet knew what a national crisis was like.

Whether it is Israel or any other nation in history, God blesses them for the sake of His people. Whenever He causes it to rain on the just and their crops, the unjust get in on it. You see, the latter are simply beneficiaries. Therefore, the Spiritual state of the Church is the key of His blessings upon our nation. I would remind each reader of this article of the old, old, gospel song, “It’s not my brother, nor my sister, but me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”

Everyday should be a National Day of Prayer.

The Tables Have Turned

"Elijah mocked them…” We can understand why this loner was referred to as the “troubler.” You’re not to make light of other religions, whether then or now. It matters not that it is false. The world has always expected the Christian to respect wrong, even when it’s evil. And, sad to say, this pitiful philosophy has been swallowed by many believers for fear lest they be branded bigots.

In our inspired narrative, four-hundred religious clowns had been dancing on, or around, the altar from morning till evening. Exhausted from their long prayers, and weak from loss of blood, these pitiful prophets now must endure the taunting of the “troubler.” Elijah utters sixty-three words, and the fire falls. The whole issue of Mt. Carmel was about the God who could answer prayer.

Today, the tables are turned; this lost, religious world is scoffing at God’s people for their lack of getting prayers answered. Modern day Christians have made a pygmy of God, and, as a result of having a miniature God, have become spiritual midgets.

“Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” Elisha wanted Elijah’s God. Do we?

After You've Done All You Can

“…having done all to stand, Stand…” The warrior’s wardrobe consists of seven different items. Paul tells us, after we have put these on, there is no more attire to adorn ourselves with, lest we over dress.

Certainly, there is a great practical truth in this for us all. And that is, when we have done all we know to do, there is no more we should do, lest we overdo it. How many times have I said, in frustration, “I’ve done all I can; I don’t know what more I can do.”

Jesus is always a good example for us. What did He do before facing that difficult time that lay before Him? That time St. John of the Cross calls, “the dark night of the soul”? First, you find Him tying up, as it were, all the loose ends. Then came His prayer of submission to the will of God, and He capped this off by committing all into God’s hands. After these, there was no more said or done. From here on, it would be the providential workings of God.

Dear saint, you can be assured this very day that if you have done all you know to do, then God will do what you cannot. When Israel came to the Red Sea, having done all they knew to do, and unable to do more, Moses’ command was, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."

Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand

“The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” The following article is one that my wife came across in one of her college classes, some years ago. I believe we Christians can learn something from it. I know I did.

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open area between the rocks. The students laughed.

He again asked the students if the jar was full, and they again agreed that, yes, it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things—your faith, your family, your health, your friends—anything that is so important to you that if it were lost you would be utterly destroyed.”

“The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale, like your job, your house, your car, etc. The sand is everything else—the small stuff. If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly more important.

The Morning Hour

The Bible has much to say about the morning hour. For example, David's testimony was: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up"; it is also recorded in Psalms by God's darling, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning...I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning...[I will]shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning." David, like his Lord, and many of the saints in scriptures seems to have been a "morning person."

But in this article I want to call our attention to a text shown me by the Lord years ago. I have never read it that it did not rend my heart and bring tears to my eyes. It concerns the prophet Ezekiel. He tells us, "...at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded." What a principle this dear man of God left each of us to follow! No matter the personal hurts, tragedies, or fears of the previous day, in the morning, "DO THE NEXT THING!" That is, take the next step.

The disciples spent a fruitless night, on the restless sea, but John records, "But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore." "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted," know of a surety, at first light, when thy eyelids open from a restless night of sleep, Jesus will be standing close by. A whole new day awaits you, and a miracle might just be thrown in to boot. 

1. 1. When morning gilds the skies,
      My heart awaking cries:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      Alike at work and prayer,
      To Jesus I repair;
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
   2. Does sadness fill my mind?
      A solace here I find,
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      Or fades my earthly bliss?
      My comfort still is this,
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
   3. When sleep her balm denies,
      My silent spirit sighs,
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      When evil thoughts molest,
      With this I shield my breast:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
   4. The night becomes as day
      When from the heart we say:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      The pow’rs of darkness fear
      When this sweet chant they hear:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
   5. In heav’n’s eternal bliss
      The loveliest strain is this,
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      Let earth, and sea, and sky
      From depth to height reply,
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
   6. Be this, while life is mine,
      My song of love divine:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      Sing this eternal song
      Through all the ages long:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
2. 
   

He Calls Me His Friend

"I have called you friends."

Three times in scripture Abraham is called God's friend. In 2 Chronicles 20:7, it is recorded, "Abraham 'thy' friend"; James 2:23 tells us, "He was called 'the' friend of God"; but my favorite is in Isaiah 41:7, where God speaks directly of the bond between them, "Abraham 'my' friend." I remember well as a young believer how I longed for and coveted that same intimate relationship, but felt the likes of a worm as myself could never attain unto such a high and privileged position.

But one day I was struck by the fact that in spite of all their shortcomings and failings, He called His disciples His friends. Then realizing too, Abraham, our father and example, came far short of deserving to be called "A friend of God." All of a sudden, at this same time, it dawned upon my dull mind, friendship is based on much deeper things than one's flaws and personal deficiencies. In fact, many of the times, if not most, it is these very faults that cements two souls together. The one seeing the need in the other's life for such a camaraderie .  

And so it was in each of our situations, the Lord knew how desperately we needed a true friend who understood our frailties. I know in my own case, when everyone else was going out, He came in! The song, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is more than just words to me, it's a living reality. He has proven His friendship to me time and again over these many years. "A friend loveth at all times," means so much to me, especially when I fall into the world's mud hole and have to come before Him all dirty and defiled. 

How I love the line in the children's song, "Jesus loves me when I'm bad, Though it makes Him very sad." There is nothing you or I can do that will ever turn this friend's love from us. 

HALLELUJAH!, He calls us His friends.  

United Prayer

“Ye also helping together by prayer for us.” Paul was no stranger to the throne of grace. Yet he solicited the aid of his brethren in prayer. Time and again in his Epistles the great Apostle pleads for others to assist him in this ministry. Yes, “My help cometh from the LORD...,” but, more often than not, it comes by the way of the sympathetic petitions of prayer partners.

Many today neglect the cooperation of their brethren in prayer to their own detriment. Usually, it’s because of one of three reasons. First, they have not learned the power of united prayer; secondly, pride keeps them from requesting help from other frail believers; and lastly, because a few are tale-bearers of their intimate needs, they choose to tell no one. How we need to learn once we hear of another’s need, it’s to only be from our mouths to God’s ear.

When we humbly solicit the prayerful help of others, we lose our independence in the Body of Christ. And that’s good.

Mercy is Not Merit

Everywhere one turns there seems to be a cry for justice, on the plaintiff’s part. That is, getting what they imagine they deserve. But, if we really got our just “ deserts,” as the old camp meeting preacher said, “We’d all be in hell with our backs’ broke!”

We all like to think we have earned something with God, but there are no merit badges in Heaven. We are saints, not scouts. We can’t impress God with the sweaty, meritorious acts we dig up. Ask Cain. No matter how many “souls” one has notched into his or her Bible, our acceptance is still only “…in the beloved.” After all, what can you give someone who has everything?

At Christmas, we speak of giving gifts, but, as my beloved pastor says, it’s actually trading gifts. And, to be sure, God doesn’t trade off His gift of mercy. People who try to merit God’s mercy are always miserable. Simply try asking for it, and don’t sweat it. No person in the Scriptures ever called upon God for His free gift of mercy, who didn’t receive it. If you want verification of this, just inquire of the publican.

The People's Choice

Note to our readers: Barack Obama took office as the nation's 44th president on Jan. 20, 2009. I wrote and posted the following article on Jan. 19, 2009. "Then Samuel said unto Saul...I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night."

Someone has said about prayer, “Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.” It is possible to get what you want, but lose what you have (Psl.106:15). Nowhere is this truth seen clearer than in Israel’s desire for a King. The story is found in 1 Samuel chapter eight, and on. Samuel was old and passing off the scene; a new generation was emerging with new leaders and ideas. God was no longer the nation’s life. He had become only a small part of it. The old prophet felt they had not only rejected God, but himself also. His heart was broken.

Saul was the people’s choice; he was, in a sense, the first of his kind. He was tall, dark, and handsome. When a nation’s religion is built on externals, their political decisions will soon follow suite. Their new leader was like cotton candy, mostly air with no real substance. He had a show of humility, but this proved to be arrogance in disguise. God’s man warned the people the kind of leader they were getting. He was going to tax them, take their property, and line his pockets, as well as those of his friends, with revenues that he would take from the masses. He’d also take their young men and women and draft them into his services (both military and personal). The key word that characterizes this pseudo-leader is “take.”

The people were in for a real surprise. Their supposed deliverer would soon blame them for his inherent weaknesses and lack of manliness! This emotional instability follows him throughout his disastrous reign. Since he was predominately a secularist, and not Spiritual, it is no surprise that his moral decisions were influenced by the former philosophy. It is an impossibility to be Spiritual without being a scripturally moral person. Spiritual people love what God loves, and condemn what God does. But the nations around them, who they wanted to emulate, were not concerned with what God liked or disliked, and so neither would they be.

It is a sad day when a nation chooses such a leader; there are dire consequences that go with such a choice. But, of course, God’s man had told them this. I guess they figured the old man didn’t know what he was talking about. He had warned, in essence, they’d have to “pay the piper.”

“And they sought to lay hold on him…for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them.” 

(Mk.12:12)

God's Treasure Chest

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old." 

God's treasure chest, like the young bride's hope chest, contains both the new and the old. Jesus said we are to use both. To some, anything new is to be rejected because, they say, it's untried; not thinking through the fact their old ways were all new at one time. The others argue, from their standpoint, anything and everything old is out-dated and moldy, worn out and useless. It is difficult to bring these two extremes together.

Both the stubborn traditionalist and contemporary, because of their apparent insecurities and inbred pride, refuse to rub shoulders in glorifying God. The result of this is that the old loses its sweet mellowness, and the new, its secure foundation. The ancient and modern should compliment each other, not be at conflict. These two opposites will do well to consider that in Heaven we sing a “new song,” but, also, along with that, the “song of Moses.”

It is good to see old truths dressed in new clothes. God evidently enjoys it. That’s, undoubtedly, the purpose of the New Testament. It adorns and beautifies the Old.

You Pray For Me and I'll Pray For You

There is a gospel song, I believe, that has the words of this article's title in it. To me, this is just one of the many mysteries of prayer. God hearing everyone at once, as if each were the only individual praying, is beyond my finite comprehension. But when we come to these baffling things concerning prayer, it is good to remember, as Moses said, "The secret things belong to the Lord." One of the great hindrances to answered prayer today in this scientific age, I believe, is taking our prayers into the laboratory instead of the closet. Dissecting your prayers will only leave you with a mess and none the wiser. As the old camp meeting preacher said about salvation, "It's better felt than telt." And so it is with prayer, it is better experienced than explained.

Paul told the Colossians in the first chapter of his letter that he prayed always for them, and in the last chapter he requested they pray for him. And this to many who had not seen his face, or he theirs. Likewise, in his epistle to the newly converted Thessalonian believers, right off the bat, he states that he makes mention of them in his prayers. And again, before closing his correspondence he writes, "Brethren, pray for us." Some might think that this is the greater asking the lesser for their help in prayer. But Paul had no such superior attitude. As far as he was concerned, he was "just one of the boys." In fact, "less than the least of them." I learned a long time ago to ask prayer support from any and all of God's people. Somebody might just get through I chose to leave out! 

James tells those scattered saints of his day, "pray one for another." I like to call it, "The Golden Rule of Prayer." That is, you pray for me like you'd have me pray for you. You know the principle, like Ezekiel said, "I sat where they sat." 

They Just Can't Get It

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned."

The latter part of I Corinthians chapter two is all about the “Natural Man”. Paul teaches us that no matter how learned, scholarly, brilliant, practical, intelligent, religious, or well-meaning the unregenerate, they cannot understand the things of God. True, he or she may have knowledge by reading the “letter,” but they will never, ever, get the “spirit” of what God is saying.

You could study me in minute detail, interview family and friends, read all my correspondence through the years, yet never know the real me. The apostle tells us the only way one man can completely know another is by having that man’s spirit. And so it is with God. Without His Spirit indwelling you, neither can your eye see, your ear hear, nor can it enter into your heart, the things God has prepared for us, His Elect.

It’s embarrassing how totally ignorant of Spiritual things this pseudo-intellectual world is. Once I ordered a desk plaque with the words “HE CARETH” engraved on it. When I went to pick it up, the manger was furious. After a few choice curse words about the engraver, he apologized to me. “Mr. Careth, I’m so sorry, we’ll have this re-done for you. They forgot to put a period between your initials.” And they laugh at us!

Revelation Twenty Two Twenty

“Surely I come quickly…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Here we have the last living apostle, writing in the last book of the Bible. In the last chapter and next to the last verse he records for us the last promise and last prayer in the Holy Writ. The promise comes from the lips of our Lord, and the prayer proceeds from the mouth of John the Beloved.

The Second Advent of our Lord is at the very heart of the Christian faith. Apart from His return, His redemptive work remains forever incomplete. His coming again is the only hope for the future of the world. Of all the coming events prophesied, His return will be the most remarkable. Is it any wonder all creation is groaning for this culminating event?

The expectation of the early Church was not death, nor even the hope of Heaven, but rather in His parting words, “I will come again” and, “I will see you again.” This is what filled their hearts and minds! They believed he would come again, literally, personally, physically, and visibly.

Two millenniums ago, on the Isle of Patmos, this is what Jesus promised and old John prayed for. When was the last time you or I prayed for His coming? It goes without saying, if one is not longing and looking for His coming, it’s certain he or she is not praying for it. And if one is not praying for it, be assured, either their theology is wrong, their heart, or both!

The Second Coming of Christ is the medicine our condition needs. 

(C.S. Lewis)