February 2013 – Old Paths Journal

You Shouldn’t Be An “Independent” Baptist

YOU SHOULDN’T BE AN “INDEPENDENT” BAPTIST?
by: Rick Walter

Revelation 2:6, “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

Revelation 2:15, “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

I pastor an independent Baptist church. The sign in front of our building warns everyone before they come into the building. I am a Baptist by doctrine. I pastor an independent Baptist church because God hates anything that tries to control the church from the outside.

God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans were they who tried to conquer the laity of the church. They took control of the church rather than allowing the pastor to be the leader. God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans. He is against anything that would try to conquer the church. God wants the church to be a self-governing body without any outside control. I am happy that I get to pastor an independent Baptist church, but I have a fear that some of us have taken that philosophy and transferred it to our personal lives. Biblically, I should attend an independent Baptist church, but personally I am not supposed to be an independent Baptist.

John 15:1-5, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

The church is to be independent, but I am not supposed to be. I am to be dependent upon Christ. I fear that many of God’s children who attend independent Baptist churches have transferred that independence to their personal lives. They believe that they, like the church, are a self-governing body without any outside control. They believe that they are not accountable to anyone or anything. Just because God set the church up as an independent body does not mean our personal lives are to be that way. You are not a self-governing body and neither am I. John 15:5 says, “…without me ye can do nothing.”

1. I am to be dependent upon Christ.

Too many people have forgotten that. We live our lives as though we are the church. As a pastor, I guard the church against anything that might try to control it from the outside. Many of God’s people do the very same thing in their lives. They guard their lives against anything or anyone who might try to influence them from the outside, including God.

They decide what is best. They decide what is right and wrong. They decide what God’s will is for their lives. They never ask God for His advice because they are independent Baptists. I go to an independent Baptist church, but I am not supposed to be an independent Baptist.

2. Independence brings death.

The opposite is true of the church. Once a church becomes dependent upon the help of a denomination or other outside control it begins to die. Individually, a person begins to die when they become independent.

John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches…”

My very existence depends upon the vine. A branch cannot live on its own. The branch gets the nourishment it needs from the vine. The life is found in the vine, not in the branch. To make myself independent of the vine is to commit spiritual suicide. I go to an independent Baptist church, but my question is, are you an independent Baptist individually? Have you separated yourself from the One Who gives you life? Are you living outside of His control? Does He have any influence in your life? Do you do what you want to do or what He wants you to do?

3. Death comes slowly.

Go out into the woods in the summer and cut a branch off a tree. The branch has now been severed. It has been liberated from the vine. It is now independent. The branch is still green. It still has leaves on it. It still looks like it is alive, but after just a few days the truth becomes evident. The branch is dead.

Death did not come instantly. It took some time, but death began when the branch became independent of the vine. This is the state of many good people. They have liberated themselves from the Vine, and now death is preying on them. They have liberated themselves from the vine. They are independent Baptists. They are now free to do what they want. They will soon realize that they have sealed their fate. It is just a matter of time and the green branch will be dead. The beautiful leaves will wither and die. The fruit will no longer be produced. The branch has died because it has become independent of the vine. Jesus said that He is the vine and that we are the branches. Some seem to think that they are the vine and that He is the branch. Such is not the case.

4. Death is needless.

There is no need for the branch to die. As long as the vine is alive and transferring nutrients for the branch, the branch can live. The only reason for a branch to die is that it no longer receives the nutrition provided by the vine. As long as a child of God continues to receive the nutrients from the Lord, that person has no reason to spiritually die. The reason that they die is because they have become independent Baptists. They have severed themselves from the Life giver.

Are you dying from a lack of nutrition? Are you cold toward the ministry? Do the things of God pale in comparison to the things of the world? Have you drawn away from the vine? Have you dried up? Are you committing spiritual suicide? Are you not seeing any fruit? Are you seeing no results in soul winning? Have you lost your joy? The branch cannot produce fruit without the vine. We need independent Baptist churches that are full of dependent Baptists. We need the Vine. Without Him we can do nothing.

By the way, He needs us also. Have you ever seen a tree trunk produce fruit? No, the fruit is on the branches. We need Him because without Him we cannot live. He needs us because without the branches there can be no fruit. God has limited Himself to need us. He needs us to be dependent upon Him because He depends upon us to bear fruit. An apple tree without any branches will never produce an apple. A pile of branches on the ground will never produce any either. They need each other. I need Him, and He needs me. I am to be a dependent Baptist and so are you. Are you an independent Baptist? If so – you can change that!

Rick Walter
Pastor
Victory Baptist Church
Winthrop, ME

A Successful Finish

A SUCCESSFUL FINISH
by: Dr. Bob Gray Sr.

2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

God says that no leader should be double-hearted, double-tongued, or double-minded. The Apostle Paul said, “I finished my course.” God has a course for each of us especially those who lead us. The success in life is not how big a church his men pastor, or how famous his men are, or how much money his men acquire, or how much power his men have. The success or failure is determined by one thing, did God’s men finish the course set before them?

Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God planned my course for life as well as your course for your life. God also has a course set for every person who lives or has ever lived or ever will live. Success or failure will be determined by how you finish. If you live a normal life you will be seventy years of age someday, or probably older than that. You and I will face God one day sooner or later. How can we ensure that we will finish our course, be a success, and not a failure at the end?

DO NOT BE DOULE-MINDED

A double-minded person is unstable in all his ways according to God’s Word. To be single-minded means you have found your one great purpose in life. It also means that you are giving your all for that one great purpose of your life.

God is saying that wherever you are you are to give it your all. Enter the word “passion.” So it is not only the purpose, but also the passion within the place of service that will help keep you single-minded.

Since 1972 I have never been where I should not have been geographically. I have not always been what I should have been, but I have always been physically where I should have been. When I left General Motors, Fisher Body Division, to attend Bible college, and then left Bible college to pastor in Illinois, and finally left the pastorate in Illinois to pastor in East Texas, I have never physically been where I was not supposed to be.

When I walked onto the campus of the Bible college, that was the day I was supposed to be there. When I walked off that campus, that was the day I was supposed to leave. When I stepped onto the grounds of Faith Baptist Church in Bourbonnais, Illinois, it was the day I was supposed to be there. When I left Illinois to come to Longview, Texas, to pastor the Longview Baptist Temple, it was the very day I was supposed to go to Texas.

How can that be? I have been single-minded for all of those three decades of my life. God knows what is best for my life and your life. Every one of us ought to allow God to control us. Quit being double-minded by being single-minded.

Figure out what God wants and do it.
Do not change your mind about what God wants.
When a need arises on the journey fill it.
When trouble comes on the journey overcome it.
When evil comes on the journey overcome it with good.
When corrections come or chastisement on the journey, take it and keep heading for the finish line.
Keep you eye on the finish line.

Thirty-nine years later I am still on course. I have been single-minded when it comes to the King James Bible, soul winning, standards, being an independent Baptist, Holy Spirit fulness, bus ministry, local church, local church missions, the old-time religion, and a pastor led church.

I feel so sorry for some churches because every time the pastor goes to a conference and returns home he changes every thing with the poor people wondering who are we this week with security fleeing out the window. Decide what you believe and believe it. Never revisit your decision by being a single-minded leader.

Look at the pictures of our church summer camps of fifty years ago and compare it to today’s church summer camps. Someone has become double-minded. The Nazarenes, Pentecostals, Assembly of God, Methodist, and even the Catholics used to have standards. Someone changed!

The music has changed, fashions have changed, Bibles have been perverted, and doctrine has changed all because someone became double-minded. How can we be assured that we can successfully finish our course? Simple answer, by being single-minded! Find out what God wants and do it regardless.

DO NOT BE DOUBLE-HEARTED

Single-minded means doing what God wants you to do. Single-hearted simply means doing it like God wants you to do it. How can we successfully finish our course? Do not harbor secret loves. Have a fixed heart! Do not possess two loves. Single-minded people with a single-hearted love will be more assured of successfully finishing their course than the double-minded and the double-hearted will.

Find God’s purpose and do it. Quit exchanging his purpose every time you attend a conference. Then allow God’s purpose to be baptized with your entire devotion. For thirty-nine years I have been an ordained independent Baptist preacher. I have with single-mindedness done what God wanted me to do. I have with single-heartedness done what God wanted me to do with devotion. I have given God all of my energy, emotion, and devotion.

I have refused to allow any one to steal my heart, my emotions, and my devotion. The reason some leaders do not have any zip, any energy, any zeal, any excitement, or any thrill is because they are double-hearted. Something else has stolen their emotions, devotions, and heart. Basically, they are double-hearted. To finish your course successfully means you have done what God wanted you to do and you have done it like God wanted you to do it.

Give it all you have and do not let someone or something steal a part of your heart. God allowed Longview Baptist Temple to see over one million souls come to Christ in the Ark-La-Tex area in my three decades of ministry. That did not just happen! All that God has given to that church did not just happen! Please forgive me for saying this, but if I had been double-minded and double-hearted there would be no million souls saved.

DO NOT BE DOUBLE-TONGUED

What does that mean? It means while you are doing what God wanted you to do, like God wanted you to do it, then make sure you “say” what you are supposed to say. Do not be double-tongued. Check out my sermon tapes or CD’s of 35 years ago, 30 years ago, 25 years ago, and you will find I am still saying the same thing today. My message has stayed the same!

How can a leader successfully finish his course? Be single-minded and do what God wants you to do. Be single-hearted and do what God wants you to do like God wants you to do it. Be single-tongued and do what God wants you to do like God wants you to do it and tell every one what God wants you to do and how God wants you to do it. Then, my friend, you as a leader will successfully finish your course.

Dr. Bob Gray Sr.
Pastor Emeritus
Longview Baptist Temple
http://solvechurchproblems.com

Watch for the Lad

WATCH FOR THE LAD
by: Dr. Steve Heidenreich

John 6

As a young convert, I was at church on a Saturday night cleaning the auditorium for the services on Sunday. After mopping the floor and waiting for it to dry, I went to the altar and prayed for God to use me. I remember hearing the story of the little lad and the five loaves. I asked God to use me like the little lad to help get that breaded life to the multitudes around the world. I didn’t know that night that God would make that my life’s calling! It’s being a lad giving what He has so that the Bread of Life would be given to the multitudes of the world.

Now after 40 years this lad has been able to take the Bread of Life to so many multitudes around the world. It began by getting involved in the bus ministry and then being taught how to go soul winning; from the little farmhouse to the city of about 35,000, on to city of Chicago, then to a different state, and finally across a America. God then so graciously allowed me to take the Bread of Life to the country of the Philippines. Now for His Glory I have been able to take the Bread of Life to so many countries around the world. Because of all of this, hundreds and thousands of people have heard the story of the Bread of Life which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and tens of thousands have been saved, thousands baptized and many churches have been started as the result.

I have written this not to think that I am anything, but that there are so many other young people out there who God wants to use. Please let me share a few lessons that I have learned from all of this.

First, there are the lads. So many times in the story we focus on the disciples, but you know who it began with? The lad! We must realize that if we’re ever going to reach a world, young people are going to have to be involved in doing so. I believe with all my heart there are many young people out there who after they are saved have a strong desire to be used to God. After I got saved there was such a strong desire to be used to God.

Second, there’s such a great need for us to prepare those young people to be able to be used by God. Here we have a lad with a lunch who has five barley loaves and two small fishes. Someone took the time to prepare this lad a lunch to follow Jesus. I believe that we are losing many of the young people because we have not taken time to prepare them to follow the Lord. Many Christian parents and Christian leaders spend more time wanting their young people to follow the trends of the world. It’s amazing to me how many Christian parents spend their time teaching their children to learn technology and involvement in sports than teaching their children how to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Third, we need to recognize that our young people have something they can give to the Lord. It is not the size or the value of what we have to give to Lord as much as the willingness to give to the Lord. Like Andrew, we leaders need to notice that our young people have something that could be used of the Lord. I remember being in a missions conference over 30 years ago when a 10-year-old boy surrendered to go to the mission field. He told people that God called him to go to Africa. Many people at the conference did not take him seriously, but God did. I watched a lad grow up and go through high school, and then go off to college with a burning desire to go to Africa. After graduating from college he was accepted by a mission board and went on deputation and then on to Kenya, Africa. After spending many years there and seeing people saved, baptized and starting churches, he was asked to be director of a mission board to help other people to do the same. We need to always watch what God is doing in our young people’s lives.

Fourth, we must never forget the main purpose in which God uses our young people. So many times when we tell the story, we focus on the lad, the five loaves and two small fishes, but that’s not the main purpose of the story. The key to this whole chapter is that Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven. That Bread of Life must be taken to the multitudes of the world.

As I am writing this article, I am in the country of Panama. I’m with a college group from Texas Baptist College out of Longview Baptist Temple. We have just spent the day out soul-winning and passing out over a thousand copies of John and Romans. There were over 100 people who trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. If you could just see the look on people’s faces as they received the Word of God and trusted His Son as their Saviour. Jesus spent most of John 6 making sure that disciples understood that He was the Bread of Life. If we really understood that He is the Bread of Life, we would do more to not only reach the multitudes, but also to watch for the lads of this world to give what they have to do the same.

Dr. Steve Heidenreich
http://missionsminutes.blogspot.com

Fallen Heroes

FALLEN HEROES
HOW TO DEAL WITH DISAPPOINTMENT FROM LEADERSHIP
by: Tim Trieber

As children, we all had role models, those whom we regarded as larger-than-life heroes. We watched their lives with wide-eyed wonder and emulated their mannerisms, eagerly waiting for the day when we could one day walk in their shoes. If you grew up in the late 80’s or early 90’s as I did, you may recall that nearly every boy had aspirations to “be like Mike.” For others, the true champions were parents, older siblings, pastors, teachers, coaches, politicians, and athletes, to name a few.

In reality, however, the pedestal can be a delusive place. When these “heroes” or other leaders fall from it, we are left at times with unanswered questions:

How could this have happened?
Why did they do that?
What do I do now?

How we respond to this disappointment is crucial. Though we might feel hurt and perhaps disillusioned for a time, we must not allow others’ missteps to hinder our own journey. Here are a few thoughts on how we may continue living the Christian life, even when it seems to have come to a standstill.

1. Remember people are only human, and humans make mistakes.

Someone once said, “The best of men are, at best, just men.” Let us avoid elevating others to a place where they may seem exempt from sin and temptations. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…” (James 5:17) “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you…” (Acts 14:15)

2. Our focus and example must be Jesus Christ.

The greatest Hero we should have in our lives is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May we say that He is our Example! He is the One Whom we strive to be like! His Word is our Supreme Authority! I thank God for people who have invested in my life, and I believe that they are worthy of honor; but only one Man died on a cross for me. Only one Man purchased my salvation. Christ’s image is what we should be striving to be conformed to.

3. Take heed to our own lives.

When people make mistakes, I am always challenged to examine my own heart and life. Far greater Christians have succumbed to the attacks of the wicked one. I realize that, if the best are capable of falling, then I may be more susceptible. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

4. Do not rejoice when another falls.

I feel absolutely no joy when a brother or sister in Christ has erred. My heart breaks when I hear of Christians who have fallen. We may not always agree with another’s position in certain areas, but we “are one body in Christ.” We ought not to delight in tragedies.

5. Pray for one another.

The consequences of sin always hurt others. Homes are broken, relationships are severed, futures are destroyed, and tears are shed. The spiritual Christian seizes this opportunity to pray for those that have been affected by these situations. “…pray one for another…” (James 5:16)

Christians face real and constant opposition from the world, the flesh, and the Devil. We well know that these enemies are seeking to devour and destroy our lives. Therefore, it is vitally important that we “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The truth of the matter is that, at one point or another, all of us have been or will be affected by the poor choices of others. Do not lose the faith, but keep on for Jesus Christ. There is a world of nearly 7 billion people who are hurting, and most of them are lost and on their way to an eternity in Hell. We cannot quit because others have hurt us. We cannot lie down and live in discouragement the rest of our lives. If dreams have been shattered, hopes crushed, and tears shed, let me say that Jesus Christ can take whatever hurt you have and carry that burden with you.

Preacher, keep preaching.

Soul winner, keep soul winning.

Pastor, keep loving your people.

Youth pastor, keep investing in the next generation.

Parents, keep training your children.

Let us do all we can to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You may have been hurt or disappointed by the actions of an earthly “hero,” but we may rest in the promises and goodness of a heavenly One Who is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Tim Trieber
North Valley Baptist Church
Youth Pastor
Santa Clara, CA

Why Do We Have a Public Invitation

WHY DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC INVITATION
by: Keith Phemister

I was talking to a man in a church whom I pastored, and while we were talking he made a statement that took me aback. Basically, he said that in our Baptist Churches we do a lot of things that are not biblical. “For instance,” he said, “we have invitations and nowhere in the Bible does it say for a church to have an invitation.” If it isn’t biblical, then I will not move during the invitation.

Well, since we are on the subject, where in the Bible does it say we should have pews? Offertories? Organs? Pianos? How about Ushers? May I just say that because the Bible is silent on an issue does not mean it is wrong! In fact, just because the Bible does not address the issue of a public invitation does not mean that we are wrong in conducting an invitation. I would even go further and put that notion on the defensive. How about this – If it is not in the Bible, then why don’t you show me where it violates Biblical principles?

Charles G. Finney was held as the pioneer of the “public invitation.” For the first time in his preaching career at Evans Mill, New York, in 1825, Finney conducted an invitation and asked anyone who would like to give his heart to God to come forward and take the front seat. On his first attempt Finney was successful. Now Finney was not a Baptist. He was a Presbyterian. I say that because of the belief I have that what he did was biblical because it stood based on biblical principles.

The reason for conducting an invitation can rest in the need for recognizing the saved so that the next step can be easily pushed. How can we really know who to baptize as part of the “Great Commission” if there is not an identification of the saved? A person does not need to be saved in a church building. There are numerous instances of people in the Bible being saved in places other than the church.

If you look in Acts 2, Peter is preaching the very first sermon after our Lord’s Ascension. These Jews were pricked in their heart at the preaching of God’s Word, and demanded, “What must we do?” Folks who are under conviction should be told by the preacher what to do. An invitation is the answer to meet the need. The answer in this case was: Repent and be baptized! I have a simple question to ask all of us. How did they know who to baptize that day unless they identified themselves? The Bible says that about 3,000 were baptized. Before baptism, there was salvation. Identification was necessary. Therein lies a very good reason for an invitation. Whenever there is preaching, real Bible preaching – there rests a demand for a decision. I have always been taught that preaching is teaching with authority, persuading with the intent to make a decision. We have gotten away from Biblical preaching and become teachers exclusively with the intent to not “run off the crowd.”

The Biblical principle of an invitation is evident in the Old Testament as well as the New. In Exodus 32:19-29, Moses came back from the mount, only to find the people having made the golden calf. There was ungodly music and the people were found naked. Exodus 32:26 says, “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” Would that not be an invitation to the people of God? Absolutely!

Other Old Testament examples of invitations would be found in Deuteronomy 30:15-19, Joshua 24:15 and 1 Kings 18:17-21. There is ample biblical principle for an invitation.

The simple truth of the matter is that preaching demands a decision. There is a difference between preaching and teaching. In our church, I desire a balance amongst our people. I want them to get the fire and zeal that preaching gives, but I also want them to get the knowledge that teaching brings. We need to also be aware that biblical preaching will include teaching. When I think of preaching, I think of 2 Timothy 4:2 that says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Doctrine means teaching. Biblical preaching involves reproving, rebuking, and exhorting. What does that mean? Here it is broken down for us.

Reprove – to charge with a fault, to excite a sense of guilt
Rebuke – to restrain, to calm, to check
Exhort – to call for, to encourage to obey

So, in conclusion, we see a preacher is to identify sin, present the need to change, and finally urge one to make a decision. No wonder our Lord said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” We are to press them for a decision. One of the most critical points in presenting the Gospel is what is called, “Drawing the Net.” For the soul winner it is the invitation. It is the time after preaching where we invite the sinner to “receive the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour.”

We must not bow to the liberal’s way of doing things. The neo-evangelical crowd, emergent church philosophy or even the seeker sensitive agenda must never cloud our minds. Just stay with the old paths. We must stay the course and have an invitation. Confrontational soul winning is blasted by the liberals in the same way that invitations are blasted. All because we are pressing the appeal to make a decision! 2 Corinthians 6:2 “…now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

The same people who claim that the invitation is unbiblical are much of the same crowd who are consumed with pride. Pride will keep one from going to the altar to do business with God.

In no way, shape or form do I believe one must go down an aisle to be saved. It is belief that saves, not walking an aisle. Sadly, there may be some who think that walking an aisle is what saves them. Confession does not save. Confession is for man. When we confess Christ, we show man our belief and God is glorified. Romans 10:10 states, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (God sees it) and with the mouth confession is made (man sees it) unto salvation.” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that confession is necessary for salvation. When Paul addressed the Jew in Romans 10, he said to them that confessing Christ was essential to note salvation from man’s point of view. To the Jew, confessing that Christ was Lord and not a man, would mean a loss of friends, respect, position and even life (witness Stephen and the Apostles). Even Paul himself persecuted those Jews who had confessed Christ (Acts 9:1).

Yes, according to biblical principles, a public invitation is desired and needed. We will continue to give an invitation as long as we continue to preach. May God give us strength and wisdom to continue to carry on what we have been taught and not waver.

Keith Phemister
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Nashua, NH

Meditation, A Matter of the Heart

MEDITATION, A MATTER OF THE HEART
by: Sandy Domelle

No, I’m not going middle-eastern religion on you. One of the first thoughts that comes to our mind when we hear the word “meditate” is seeing people sit with their legs crossed making weird noises. When someone talks of meditation we normally tune them out because we just aren’t interested in it.

In the Bible you will find that God often uses meditation with our words. Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” You can see that before the words are spoken, the heart meditated on whatever words were going to be said.

Again it says in Psalm 49:3, “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.” How often have you ever thought about something so much that you couldn’t wait to tell someone? That is what this verse is teaching. When you meditate, you will speak what meditation taught you.

The word “meditate” means: “to contemplate, think, consider, ponder or mull something over.” In other words, when a person meditates, they are actually thinking about the matters of their heart. You quietly sit there and mull over something you heard in the day, and before long you start repeating what you thought about. That is what God is talking about in Matthew 12:34 when He says, “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Whatever you think about (meditate on) eventually comes out in the form of words.

Ladies, this is why it is so important to have the right thoughts because we won’t say things unless we’ve thought on them and meditated on them, then it comes out. You hear gossip, then you think about it, and before long you start repeating what you heard. You hear something bad about someone, and you start to think about it. Before long your thoughts turn into destructive words as you tell someone else what you have been thinking. Do you think Christ would be thrilled with those words?

God gives us the things we should think about in Philippians 4:8 when He says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” You can imagine that if your thoughts were only on the things from this verse, then the words you say would only be words that would build and not destroy. Let me give you some suggestions about this thought.

1. Don’t allow yourself to think on things about others that you would not want them to think on about you.

As ladies we can hear things and not let them rest even in our minds. Men tend to forgive and quickly forget, but we know the saying that women forgive but they don’t forget is probably truer than we’d like it to be. We should always be quick to give someone else the benefit of the doubt. You would hope that others would do that for you, so do the same for them.

2. Control your conversations with others so that your conversations don’t become a time of gossip.

Again, as ladies we have a tendency to “share” our concern for others. Recently, I was talking with someone who asked where the fine line is in saying something you don’t mean as gossip and actually doing the gossiping. That is such a fine line because our concern can always lead to “sharing” more than needs to be shared. I just read a quote the other day that fits this so well. “A tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. Be careful with your words!” Gossip is something you don’t want others to meditate on about you, so don’t do it to them.

3. Be sure to read your Bible on a daily basis.

I talk often about the importance of your walk with God, reading your Bible and praying. Nothing will help you meditate on the things of the Lord more than meditating on His Word. I have a better chance of doing right and staying in God’s will the more I stay in His Word. His Word will guide you, convict you and keep you close to Him.

4. Take one verse each day and dwell on what it says.

So often I will claim a verse when I know I’m not really grasping the whole truth and meditate on it throughout the day. I find that the more I meditate on it throughout the day, and the more I allow the Holy Spirit to work on me about the verse, the more I feel I learn from it.

5. Ask God to control your thought life.

As humans we gravitate to the negative quicker than we do the positive. If I want to have right thoughts throughout the day, then I have to pray and ask God to help me to think on the good things in life.

6. Don’t allow yourself to say anything of which Philippians 4:8 would not approve.

7. Purposely find good in every person and situation, and dwell on that good.

I have to admit, there are some people in my life that aren’t my favorite people with which to spend time. I’ve learned that with some of those people I must find the good in them. I know, sometimes it’s very hard to find the good in someone, but there is good in everyone. I have known a certain lady for many years, and every time I see her the first thing she does is tell me about how horrible her life is going. There are times I can’t wait to get away from her because she’s so down on life. But, I can tell you that she’s a master at a few different things I don’t know how to do, and if I can eventually get her focused on those things I learn so much from her. There are going to be times in your life when you will go through very hard situations. I can tell you by experience that there is good in those times if you look hard enough. Decide you will dwell on the positive and not on the negative of others.

Let me encourage you to take that word “meditate” and really think on the words you say loudly or softly. You know there are times when we talk without saying words. Our actions can speak louder than our words. I want my words to be full of wisdom and the meditation of my heart to be understanding as Psalm 49:3 says, but to accomplish this I have to purpose in my heart to meditate on God’s Word.

Standing Alone

STANDING ALONE
by: Bette Owens

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” Ephesians 6:13-17

My husband has often said, “God never uses anyone except they first learn to stand alone.” Now, he wasn’t saying anyone should stand apart from God, but stand alone in the world with God. We wanted our children to be used of God, and this would not happen unless we directed them to stand alone with God. But, how could we direct our children to do this unless we as parents could stand alone with God?

Everyone stands for something. The question is, for whom or what are you standing? There is a difference between standing for truth and standing for error. No human being is truth. God’s Word is the Truth on which we need to stand. We need to stand up for truth even if it means standing alone. Many times our family or a member of our family has had to stand alone. Was it easy? No! I can remember thinking, “Why us, why are we alone, why can’t anyone else take a stand?” I remember praying for my children and begging God to protect them and keep them from getting bitter, because standing alone means that sometimes you are different. I prayed for them to understand that we cannot compromise the truth of God’s Word. I remember sitting down with them and explaining that we have to follow God and His Word. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or says, it only matters what is right according to the Bible. We stressed that the Bible is our guide book, and that It is the only Truth we need to follow.

Now that the years have gone by, and the many times we have had to stand alone on the Truth are past, I am so glad for each time that we took a stand, even if it was lonely. As we look back, God was there guiding us every step of the way. We were never really alone, He was there with us. I can now see how good it was for my children, and that by watching their parents they learned to stand. When the situation looked and seemed impossible to us, it gave them strength and taught them some very valuable lessons. I can see how it has helped every one of my children to stand alone when necessary, now that they are grown. Perhaps they may not have been able to do this if they had not seen their dad and mom take a stand when they were growing up. They learned to stand alone, because as a family we at times had to stand apart even from those who on the surface seemed to be good Christians. Our loyalty lies in Jesus Christ, not in any man. We had to take a stand on the King James Bible, soul winning, separation, sin, our dating standards, child rearing, schooling and the list can go on. It wasn’t only a stand against the world, but sometimes it was in opposition to other Christians. We had to stand for what is right, no matter who thought we were wrong. God’s Word is always right.

I can now look back and say, “I Praise God for letting us take a stand for Him.” I know that it has strengthened our sons who are on the mission field. When they feel all alone, they know they aren’t, God is with them. My daughters that are pastor’s wives and serving in the church have to stand alone in many areas because they know what is right. As a child they saw and experienced that it is always best to stand for what is right, even if it means standing alone. It never hurt them one time, but instead it helped them.

We have been able to look back at others who did not stand for Truth and see how it has spiritually weakened or destroyed them and their families. All you need is the Word of God and a firm stand on It’s Truths. God’s Word is our only protection. There are many areas where we have had to teach our children to stand alone. At the time, it seemed to others that the areas weren’t that big of a deal. Others felt it wouldn’t hurt to work on Sunday once in awhile. They even made the comment that God would understand. We never let our children work on Sunday or Wednesdays. If we had special meetings during the week, they would have to take off work. People told us, “They will never be able to get a job, and if they did, they wouldn’t keep it.” My children never had a hard time getting a job or getting off for the things of God. When they worked, they worked hard and their employers had no problem giving them time off for church. They could see by their life that church wasn’t just an excuse to get off, but actually helped to make them better employees. There were times when our children had to take a stand and not go places with other Christians in the church, and sometimes it was the pastor’s children they couldn’t hang around. This was not because our children were better than them, but it was because the things they would be doing would not please God.

Was it always easy taking a stand? No, but it was always the right thing to do. We had to take a stand because we knew it was right and God always blessed. As we took a stand, the way became easier, and as time went on, God blessed us for taking a stand for Truth. It isn’t always easy to stand alone, but God uses those who stand alone with Him. The closer we get to Him and the more we follow His Word, the more strength He gives us to stand alone with Him. The blessings far outweigh the discomforts of standing alone. “…having done all, to stand. Stand…”

Mrs. Bette Owens
Pastor’s wife
Westside Baptist Church
Pacifica, CA

Put Away the Score Cards

PUT AWAY THE SCORE CARDS
by: Jennifer Petticoffer

You’re in the doctor’s office. The waiting room is packed. You quietly survey the room. You pick up a magazine – it’s a five-year-old Newsweek, well you forgot what happened that year anyway. You flip through the worn pages, look over the top and see…a number “7.” Yes, she would have been a number “10” if she had touched up the dark roots showing on her blond head – you feel better because you just had your hair done.

Oh, next to her is a number “5”, she must be at least twenty-five pounds overweight – you just lost two pounds and your Wii Fit tells you you’re doing great! Oh no, a number “9”, she has the purse you wanted to buy on QVC the other day! She even bought the matching shoes! She has definitely topped your Buxton bag.

Hey lady! (that includes me) Put away the score cards! Life is not a contest. As my mom would say every morning as I was leaving for school, “This is not a beauty contest! You’re going to school to learn something!” I wish I could take all of the primping hours I used in jr. high and high school and put it to doing something really constructive, like prayer, piano practice, or making a gum wrapper chain. How many “beauty contest winners” are there in life? Not many. There are only so many beauty pageants and even fewer winners. I heard of a Miss Turkey Leg pageant, now there’s one…

I have caught myself comparing myself to others in every area of my life, even the spiritual ones, like soul winning, Bible study, and serving the Lord. Hey! Why do we do this? We are basically selfish, I’m the queen of that. We take everything and put it in a self-centered perspective. How about the Lord’s perspective?

God loves all of His children equally, he doesn’t love us any less than others. Isn’t that great? He doesn’t love us any more than others either! God doesn’t judge by comparison. He judges on our response to the truth he gives to us and our own progress and potential. That’s great!

I have a photo of my sister with a group of Chinese ladies she works with at the English school. If you saw the picture you’d say, “What beautiful ladies!” or “Each one is different and has their own charming qualities!” I believe they would say the same thing about you!

When we meet another person, no matter what their age, looks, or background, why don’t we think, “There’s a perfect creation of God. They are precious to God, and they need to be precious to me.” Meekness is meeting every human on level ground. Humility is knowing our level ground is nothing compared to God’s holiness.

Let’s put the scorecards away and just love people and give ourselves a break from this “dog-eat-dog” world philosophy of grading the outward appearance.

2 Corinthians 10:12-18

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

Those Evil Guns

THOSE EVIL GUNS
by: Allen Domelle

The killing of the innocent children at the Sandy Hook Elementary was one of the most tragic events that has happened in my lifetime. Of course, it is always difficult to say that one senseless killing is more tragic than another. The fact is, every killing is tragic. People lose loved ones because of selfish people who want to take their vendetta out on innocent people.

In the wake of this tragic event, there has been a call from the left to have tighter gun control laws. Every time something like this happens, they always start going after the freedoms of Americans. Every time something like this happens they try to blame the gun for the evil that happened. Why is it that they think guns are so evil?

On the same day of the tragic killings in Connecticut, a 36-year-old Chinese man attacked 22 children with a knife in China. Where was the call to have tighter knife laws? Certainly, if guns are evil because several innocent people were killed by one gun, then knives are just as evil. Or, maybe airplanes are evil and we need to have tighter airplane laws because 3 airplanes were used as weapons to kill over 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.

No, the problem is not the guns, knives or airplanes. The problem are the evil gunmen, knifemen and terrorists. Yes, these people are evil! What the press fails to report is that people are the cause of these horrible events. They don’t arrest the car that kills someone because of the drunk driver, they arrest the drunk driver. It is always people who are at fault and they will use whatever is at hand to hurt people.

So, why would the liberals want to outlaw guns knowing that the guns are not evil. The Scripture plainly shows us what happens when people don’t have weapons. 1 Samuel 13:19-22 says, “Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.”

You can see very plainly in this verse that the Israelites had no swords in the land. The Philistines knew that if they took the swords out of the hands of the Israelites, then they would have no way in which to defend themselves. That is why Saul purposed to get swords into the hands of the Israelites, because he wanted them to have a way to defend themselves from the enemy.

The sword in the Scriptures would be equivalent to our guns. Guns are the weapons we use to defend ourselves. Our American forefathers knew that when they wrote in the Constitution that every American had the right to bear arms, that these weapons were the very things that would keep this nation free. This right is not just an American right, but this right is a God-given right.

The only reason a liberal would want to take the guns out of the hands of citizens is so that citizens would not have any way to defend themselves if liberals so chose to take this country in a different direction. Though I am not for anarchy, I am for the right of the people to be able to defend themselves. If they take the guns out of the hands of citizens, then the citizen will have no way in which to defend themselves from evil people.

Having tighter gun laws may sound compassionate, but what is more compassionate is giving people the right to bear arms so they can defend themselves. Guns are not evil; people are evil. The only way to stop these senseless killings is to change the hearts of evil people. The hearts of evil people will only be changed with the Word of God. If liberals will put the Scriptures back into the public schools and public arena, then the Scriptures will be able to change the hearts of evil men. Don’t be fooled by the liberal agenda of making you think that guns are evil. Always remind them that it is evil people whom we need to change, and the only way they will be changed is with the Word of God.

Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.

Avoiding Marital Problems

AVOIDING MARITAL PROBLEMS
SIGNS YOUR MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE
by: Allen Domelle

The greatest relationship one can have other than a relationship with Jesus Christ is a marriage relationship. In your relationship with Jesus Christ, the only problems you will ever encounter will come from your side. However, you cannot avoid marital problems because a marital relationship involves two sinful humans. When you get two sinful human beings involved in a relationship, you are bound to have problems. There are many signs that problems are on the horizon, and if you can identify those signs, then you have a better chance of avoiding marital problems.

The amazing thing about marital problems is that stature means nothing. Marital problems happen to all people of every position. There are many preachers throughout history who could have avoided embarrassment if they would have acknowledged their marital problems. I have observed young couples having marital problems as well as couples who have been married for many years. I have watched young Christians have marital problems as well as church leaders and preachers of great stature. If we are honest with ourselves and our spouse, we all face situations in our marriages that need work. I always say that a good marriage is always a work in progress. Avoiding marital problems takes work, honesty and awareness. Let me show you some signs and give you some helps to avoiding marital problems.

1. Have someone on whom you can “unload.”

Everyone needs someone whom they can talk to when they have marital problems. One of the biggest mistakes I have seen is that people can’t swallow their pride long enough to get help. I have always said, you can either be embarrassed privately now through counseling, or be publicly embarrassed through divorce. Married couples who will never get help because of their “stature” are in a dangerous area. You are never too big to have someone on whom you can unload. There are times when you need to unload on someone and still keep your dignity. James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” You know when you are having problems that you need to get help, so not to get help is nothing less than sin. Be careful about being the loner couple who never gets help. Have someone from whom you can get help when you are having problems.

2. Listen for hints.

Many marital problems could be avoided if you would listen to the hints your spouse drops from time to time. I was talking to an individual years ago who told me their spouse never did anything around the house. They said if others didn’t come and do work at their house that nothing would be done. That was a hint their spouse should have heard. Sadly, they said this to their spouse, but their spouse never listened to the hint and today they are divorced.

A spouse will drop hints that there are problems. Sadly, most people are not listening enough to hear these hints. When you talk to your spouse and they have a stoic face, you have problems. When your spouse starts talking about how alone they feel, then you have problems. Your spouse tells you more than what you realize. If you truly listen to your spouse, you will hear hints about the problems on which you need to work.

3. Don’t get to the point where your spouse feels they can’t talk to you.

Your spouse should always feel that they can talk to you about ANYTHING. One of the most important elements of a successful marriage is communication. When your spouse feels that they can’t talk to you about issues in your marriage, then you have problems. I recall another situation of a person who told me they couldn’t talk to their spouse about their problems. What bothered me was that they could tell me, but they couldn’t tell their spouse.

The father said to the son in Proverbs 23:26, “…give me thine heart…” Giving of ones heart involves communication. When you lose communication in any relationship, you lose the heart. You should never portray to your spouse that you don’t care about what they have to say. Always be interested and willing to work on areas where your spouse feels there is a problem. Don’t ever let your spouse get to the point where they feel they can’t talk to you about a problem.

4. Ask your spouse to be open and honest with you.

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 says, “Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” Honesty in a marriage is essential to its success. Not only do you need to be honest with your spouse, but you also need to be honest with yourself. A problem in a marriage will never be solved if you are not honest with each other. If all you do is lie about everything being fine when it is not, you are hurting your marriage. If, while talking to your spouse about your marriage, they say you are not doing something, then you need to listen. Often a person will think they are doing what their spouse says they are not, but apparently they are not because their spouse wouldn’t have brought it up if they were doing a good job. When your spouse tells you that you are not doing something even though you feel that you are, then you need to be honest with yourself and realize that you apparently are not doing a good enough job for them to recognize it. Be honest enough with your spouse that if they blame you of something, that you realize you have somehow failed in that area.

5. Make sure your spouse knows that they are more important than anything.

When you encounter marital problems, you need to show your spouse that they are more important than anything else. Many marital problems could be solved if both realize they are more important than status, money or titles. You should fight for your marriage more than holding on to what you have. It is better to lose everything else than to lose your marriage. Song of Solomon 1:6 says, “Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.” The sad statement about the marriage in this verse is that the spouse fought more for other vineyards than his own. Don’t let that be the case with your marriage. If you must lose your status, titles and reputation among the brethren to keep your marriage, then lose them so that you can keep your marriage. When your spouse sees that you are willing to lose everything for them, you will be surprised how far that will take you in solving your marital disputes because that action alone will instill security in your spouse.

6. Family first, ministry second!

Don’t sacrifice your family for success in the ministry. I have grown up in the ministry, and one of the problems I have seen is that many preachers put their ministry ahead of their marriage and family. This is a grave mistake! Always remember that God instituted the home before the church. If your home is not solid, then your ministry will not be solid. You don’t have to sacrifice your marriage and family for God to bless your ministry. Men, your wife should feel that she is more important than your church, Sunday school class, bus route, etc. Ladies, your husband shouldn’t take second-step to the ministry in which you are involved. Your husband should feel that he always comes before your ministry. My wife has always made it a policy not to participate in a ministry that would pull her away from her first ministry, which is myself because I’m her husband. When your spouse starts giving hints that the ministry is more important than them, then you need to listen to this sign and re-arrange some priorities.

7. Get help when you’re having problems.

Don’t ever become too proud to get help for your marriage. When you are having difficulties that cannot be solved, then you need to humble yourself and get help. In Matthew 7, you have the parable of the wise and foolish who each built a house. One built their house upon a rock and the other on sand. The one on sand was the one who knew they had problems, but they refused to get help. They heard the Word of God, but refused to listen to its advice. A marriage that won’t get help when they are having problems is a marriage that is built on sand. It will soon fall! Ignoring problems that keep coming up will only cause the problems to become bigger. Don’t think you can work your problems out by yourself. Get help from someone who can see the problems from an unselfish viewpoint.

8. The key: TIME

Time is the key to any relationship. It really doesn’t matter how much money you spend on your marriage, money is not a substitute for time. It doesn’t matter what your stature is in society, your stature is no substitute for time. The only thing that will make your marriage successful is for you to invest your time in it.

Your spouse needs time with you. When you are home, be home. Don’t bring your work home, instead, leave it at work. When you come home, your spouse needs to know they have all of you. Though you may have to sporadically work at home, it must not be a constant thing. Your spouse will grow to hate your line of work if they don’t have you when you are home. If you don’t give your spouse time, then they will get someone’s time. Don’t fall for the trap that quality is more important than quantity. Quality only happens inside of the quantity. There is no substitute for time.

Marriage is the best relationship one can have with another human being. If you will see the signs of marital problems, then you can avoid the problems those signs bring. Your marriage is a work in progress, so make sure that you work on improving the areas where there is a weakness.