March 2013 – Old Paths Journal

Guilty, By False Accusation

Genesis 39:19
“And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.”

We often hear in the news of someone who was found not guilty of a crime after spending several years in prison. Sadly, someone in the past didn’t do their homework on the investigation, and an innocent person paid for a crime they never committed. Every time I hear this, I am saddened for that person who had several years of their life taken away because of a poor investigation.

Joseph can certainly understand the feeling of being falsely accused. In the verse above, you see that Joseph was found guilty of something he never did. Potiphar believed that Joseph was guilty because his wife told him a lie. To some extent I can’t blame Potiphar for believing his wife, but he should have done an investigation before having a man thrown in prison. Imagine how Potiphar felt when several years later he saw that Joseph was promoted to second in command in Egypt. All this happened because Potiphar believed the report from someone he loved as truth without doing his homework to find out if it was true.

This story happens often in society. Parents believe a report from their children without doing any research to see if their children are telling the truth. A child comes home from school and tells their parents a false story of how they were treated by other children or even the teacher. Going off the story of their child, those parents go in and make fools of themselves because they didn’t hear the whole story.

Moreover, I have watched people believe false reports about others without doing their own research to see if the accusation is true. Someone they loved told them something, and because they have loved and trusted that person for many years, they take it as truth without doing their own research. Many people have fallen on the wrong side of a situation because they believed the report of someone close to them without doing their own research.

Let me give you a friendly warning to do your own research before you believe an accusation. Just because someone you love and trust tells you a story does not make it true. You must remember that there are always two sides to every story. If you don’t do your research, you could find yourself on the wrong side because of your lack of researching it yourself.

Furthermore, everyone is capable of lying. I know you may not want to believe someone whom you love would lie to you, but it wouldn’t be the first time. Most people have their own agenda. Often, when someone does something that will hurt their agenda, then they can quickly get in the flesh and falsely accuse someone to keep their agenda going.

Let me encourage you to do your own research when you hear accusations. Don’t believe someone is guilty just because a close friend or family member told you they are. You can find yourself charging someone as being guilty who is truly innocent if you don’t do your own research. Always move slowly on accusations, and do your own research before you make your guilty decision. This will keep you from much embarrassment and regret.

Dealing with Wayward Children

Genesis 28:6
“When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;”

Rarely, do I preach in a church without someone coming to me and asking me to pray for their wayward child. There is probably nothing that weighs heavier on a parent’s heart, other than a sick child, than to have a child who has gone wayward. I have talked to many broken-hearted parents who were seeking for answers concerning their wayward children.

Having a wayward child is not a modern-day problem, it has been a problem from the first two children born. Isaac and Rebekah experienced the pain of a wayward child in Esau. Certainly, there were some extreme circumstances that led to Esau’s rebellion, but that still didn’t take the pain away from Isaac and Rebekah. The Scriptures even show us that it broke their heart when it says in Genesis 26:34-35, “And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.” Well before the incident of Jacob stealing the blessing, Esau had been a wayward child. Let me give you some thoughts from the life of Isaac and Rebekah on dealing with wayward children.

First, you must ask yourself if you have done anything wrong. Please do not take this as a condemnation of your parenting skills; I am not trying to cast stones at you. However, when you look at Esau going wayward, you can see that his parent’s actions had a part in leading to his wayward heart. Whenever a child goes wayward, you must look and see if there is something that you’ve done that has led to this. I’m certain you will come up with many things, for none of us are perfect parents. But, I’m specifically talking about some action that is glaring that you can correct. Esau’s parents played favorites, and gave his blessing to Jacob. Though Esau should have trusted God, Isaac and Rebekah were partly at fault. If you are doing something that could lead to a wayward heart, then correct it.

Second, pray for your child. A day should never go by that you don’t bring your child to the LORD. The LORD can deal with your child’s wayward actions much better than you can. Too often, parents want to preach at their children instead of pray for their children. I promise you, praying for your child will do more to bring them back than preaching at them every time you get a chance. They expect you to preach at them, and that only makes their heart harder, but prayer gets God involved in bringing them back, and He can deal with them in a way that you can’t.

Third, love your child where they are. I’m not saying condone their actions, you should never do this. I am saying that your child still needs your love. They need to see that your love is unconditional. Part of loving your child is not compromising who you are to bring them back. When they see that you still love them unconditionally, that will bring great conviction on their heart.

Finally, don’t ever give up on them coming back. Esau eventually changed his life, but it was many years later. You may think your child will never come back, but I encourage you to keep praying and loving them. You never know what is going on in their heart. Just keep doing what you are supposed to do, trust God and never lose hope that they will come back to God.

Stay in Crete

STAY IN CRETE
by: Dr. Jack Hyles (1926–2001)

Titus 1:4-5
“To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.”

Titus 2:2-8
“That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

Paul is writing a letter to his young preacher boy, Titus. He was on an island called Crete, and he was discouraged. There are many preachers who understand a little about Titus. All of us have been there. Titus got discouraged. The offering was down. The Sunday school wasn’t going very well. The deacons were giving a little trouble. The people were complaining. The ladies were gossiping. The prayer meeting crowd was off. Folks were calling Titus a nut and a fool. It was a difficult situation. Titus had a desire to leave. These conditions caused Titus to write a letter to Paul and say, “Now, Brother Paul, I would like for you to find me another place.”

I have some preacher boys, and I get many letters from them saying, “I believe my ministry has ended here. I think God is through with me here. I have been here two months now, and I think I have about finished my work. I have preached up all my sermons. Would you recommend me somewhere else?” Usually such letters are written on Monday morning or late Sunday night!

I think Titus was like that. He was writing Paul and saying, “Dear Brother Paul: I appreciate your recommending me down here at Crete. This was a good situation. The salary was good, but I am having it a little rough now, and if you don’t mind, I wish you would recommend me somewhere else.”

So Paul is writing back to Titus to explain that he cannot recommend him somewhere else, that he ought to stay in Crete in spite of the fact that Crete is a difficult place, a hard place in which to stay. Paul is writing to tell him that he ought to stay there and fight the battle for God.

I was in the paratroopers in World War II. The very thought of ever getting up in a plane and jumping scares the daylights out of me. When I get up in a plane at 34,000 feet and look down, I say, “Man alive! How did I ever jump out of one of these things!” But I did – well, I was pushed out nineteen times! Do you know why I could jump? Because there were seventeen other fellows on the plane about to jump too. And if they were in the same shape I was in, it wasn’t too bad.

So, it is good to go aside and find fellows who have it rough too. I am sure that many, many of you are in rough situations. You are having it difficult. You have cried many tears lately. The burdens have been heavy; the problems, many.

That is the way it was with Titus. He was in Crete. He wanted to come back. So, Paul wrote Titus a letter. “Titus, I left you in Crete for this cause, ‘that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city.’”

Actually Paul is trying to explain why he wanted Titus left in Crete. I think the key phrase, the key sentence, in Titus is, “For this cause left I thee in Crete.” He goes on to explain what to do in Crete, what to preach to the old ladies and to the old men, and to the young ladies and young men. He explains why he should stay there.

Notice, Paul said, “Titus, you need Crete. Now I know the going gets rough.” We come to a meeting of preachers, and we laugh and play, but there are many heartaches and burdens; there are tears and broken hearts; there are nights of weeping and nights of loneliness. There are times when nobody understands. I mean there are going to be times (if there are not already times) when you are not right with God, but there are going to be other times when nobody understands.

Even your own best people won’t understand. They are for you, but they say to you, “Now, Preacher, we think you are fine, but why do you do like you do? We get out of one mess, then in another. Why do you do like you do?”

You go home and your wife says, “Honey, I don’t want to see folks against you. Can’t you preach the same thing and not be quite so tough?”

And your mother sometimes says, “Son, Mama loves you and she hates to see you unhappy. Mama hates to see you suffer. Son, isn’t there some way you could preach the same thing without making so many folks mad at you? I don’t want folks to get mad at you. You are not as mean as everybody says you are. Now, Son, couldn’t you just ease up a little bit?”

Your wife doesn’t understand; the kids can’t figure you out; the dog won’t wag his tail at you. There is nobody at all who approves, and you wonder if it is worth it. So you write Dr. Rice a letter and say, “Dr. Rice, I think my ministry here is over. Would you pray about recommending me somewhere else?” Dr. Rice writes back, “Now you behave yourself, and you stay in Crete.” Brother, you don’t think so, but you need to stay in Crete because it is the best thing for you. You need it.

I have noticed that all great men have had times of brokenness. In Dr. Rice’s biography we read where he had some critical times when it seemed like his ministry was gone. There were times of discouragement.

Dr. George W. Truett had a time when his heart was broken. On a hunting trip he shot one of his best friends accidentally. It almost broke his heart, but that was the thing that mellowed him and made his ministry, brought God’s breath upon him.

Charles Spurgeon left the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland. The group voted to censure him, and only seven folks voted for him. He had heartbreak. Not only that, but in Surrey Music Hall, packed with thousands, someone cried, “Fire!” and in the stampede seven folks were killed. That too broke Spurgeon’s heart. This matter of Crete, the difficult place, the hard place, the rough going, was one of the things God used to make Spurgeon what he was.

Charles G. Finney had his Crete. His pastor who ordained him was Dr. Gale. Later Dr. Gale said, “I am ashamed I laid my hands on Charles Finney, ashamed he is my son in the ministry.” It broke Finney’s heart. It was his Crete, but it was one of the best things that ever happened to him.

Jonathan Edwards was pastor of a thriving church. When he preached against dancing and unconverted church membership, the leaders in the church got together and voted him out. It broke his heart. It seemed as if his Crete was more than he could stand, yet it was one of the things that made Jonathan Edwards.

Now, dear friend, if John Rice and Charles Spurgeon and George Truett and Billy Sunday and Dwight Moody and Charles Finney and Jonathan Edwards needed their Cretes, I think Jack Hyles needs his. We ought to do as my mama used to say, “Son, quit your crying and open your mouth and take your Black Draught like a big boy.” Black Draught medicine, it was claimed, would cure everything – anything from falling hair to ingrown toenails to ptomaine poisoning to lumbago. It was all I ever took. It was the most awful-tasting stuff.

I would say, “Mama, I have a headache.”

“Okay, open your mouth, Son.”

“Mama, I don’t want to.”

“Stand up and take your medicine like a big boy.”

I sat there with my lips puckered and my eyes rolling with tears and opened my mouth. I learned to take my Black Draught like a big boy. Now we are going to have to do the same thing today.

Some of you preachers will go home and whine and complain and yelp and cry and moan and groan because the deacons are trying to chase you off. Now you just sit up and take your medicine like a big boy. Behave yourself. Stay in Crete. You need to stay there. It will do more for you than all the good times, all the happy times, all the big times. You will pray more, care more, cry more, grow more, get more and bless more in those times of sorrow, heartache, bereavement and seeming defeat than at any other time in your life. So if you are facing some tough times today, you stay in Crete.

Difficult times will make you if you will just stand up and fight. You need Crete. In my life the biggest things that ever happened to me, happened in times of sorrow.

One Saturday night, Mama and I waited for Daddy to come home, but he didn’t come. Finally about four o’clock in the morning we heard a noise down the street. Daddy hit a tree and ruined the car. He had a flat and didn’t even know it he was so drunk. Daddy came in, and Mama talked and cried. She tiptoed out in the backyard and got a bottle of whiskey out of the car; I saw her break it on a rock in the backyard so Daddy wouldn’t have any more.

I began to cry – a little kid of about ten or eleven, and I said, “Mama, why can’t Daddy go to Sunday school like other daddies?” My heart was crushed and broken. It seemed that Mama and I just didn’t know what in the world to do. But in a few hours God spoke to me about getting saved. Through that little experience I came to Christ.

One day when I was a teenager, Mother called me in the room and said, “Son, I have something to tell you.”

“What, Mother?”

“Daddy is leaving this morning.”

Daddy was sitting on the bed, and I said, “Daddy, you are not going to leave.”

“Yes, Son, it has got to be this way.”

It was Sunday. I went to church that night brokenhearted. In that time God spoke to my heart about being a preacher.

God uses those sorrowful times; God uses the tears; God uses the Crete experiences; God uses the difficult times to work on you and get you right.

I thought the world had ended when I buried my father. I thought the sun would never rise. I thought that life was over. I complained to God. Yet whatever little success God has given me in the ministry and whatever blessing in soul winning are because of what happened on the grave of my daddy.

Quit giving up. I get tired of preachers’ giving up every time they have it rough. I get sick of some old backslidden, skinflint of a deacon coming to the preacher and saying, “We are going to try to chase you off.” The preacher, too sweet for his own good, gets up and says, “Well, I guess I had better leave. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

What do you mean – you don’t want to cause any trouble? You cause him all the trouble you can. You chase that fellow so far they won’t ever know who he was. But you say, “Well, I don’t want to cause any trouble. My wife is having heart trouble, the kids are getting complications, and I am getting a little ulcer myself. I just believe it would be better if I moved on so the church could have peace.”

Yes, they will have peace. When the next preacher comes, that fellow will run it just like he ran it while you were there, and he will kill somebody else’s wife and somebody else’s kids and ruin somebody else’s family and ruin somebody else’s health. Don’t you leave that fellow to ruin some other good man. You stay there and fight the battle and don’t leave until the battle is won. I mean, stay in your Crete and fight and do the job for God when it is hard; stay when it is tough; stay when it is rough; stay when they try to chase you off. You need Crete. You need those experiences. You need it tough.

I wonder sometimes what we think Christianity is. Let me picture it for you a minute. Go to the city of Ephesus in the first century to the big arena where the big athletic contests were held. See the great crowds and activity as fifty or sixty thousand or more people gather. See them as they get off their chariots and walk down toward the great stands of the great arena. See the men of the concession stands try to sell their refreshments. Great crowds are coming in.

See them as the mayor of the city and the city councilmen gather in the press box high above the stadium. Someone throws the javelin, and the great javelin contest gets under way.

There are a few races and a discus throw, but after a few preliminaries, you come to the main event. The crowd screams, “Bring on all the Christians! Bring on the Christians!”

Over in the corner is a little huddle of God’s people, redeemed by Calvary’s blood, saved by His marvelous grace, who love not their lives unto death. On the other end of the arena is a cage. In that cage there are several big, ravenous lions who have not had a bite of food for an entire week. The crowd begins to chant just like you would chant, “We want a touchdown!” or “Block that kick!” or “We want a home run!” But they are chanting, “Bring on the Christians! Bring on the Christians! Bring on the Christians!”

Among that little huddle of Christians is a tottering, gray-haired man, a dear grandmotherly saint, a young man, a young lady expecting a baby, a few little children – not very important looking people, not very well dressed, not very stately, not very influential, not very wealthy. They come into the arena, and as they look at the great crowd, they realize what is going to happen. Somebody pulls a rope, and the lions, who have been starved for seven days, are turned loose. The lions come toward the Christians and have their breakfast. In a little huddle the Christians begin to pray and sing something like:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace hath bro’t me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

Those Christians in Ephesus in the first century bowed together in a little circle on their knees in prayer as the lions came and as people roared with delight and joy, “Kill the Christians! Kill the Christians!” Death came as the lions ripped their bodies to pieces and broke their bones into powder. Those few Christians died for Jesus Christ.

That is where Christianity started, dear friends – it was a religion of martyrs. Yet, we groan today. We think the preacher has to be chaplain of the local Masonic lodge; he has to be the blesser of the civic clubs, the trigger-puller every time there is a turtle race in town. He is somewhat of a cross between Grandmother, Santa Claus and Old Mother Hubbard. He is a holy water blesser. He walks down the street with his sweet little smile all week long and blesses the people, and folks say, “There goes the reverend, boys and girls. Grow up and be like him. He is a sweet, kindly man who never says anything negative. He never raises his voice or lets his temper go.”

Yes, but he lets the whole world go to Hell. He doesn’t tell anybody about sin. He lets the nightclubs run rampant. He lets the boys and girls go into adultery. He lets the skid rowers go on their mad plunge toward Hell. He lets homes continue to break up, and broken lives and broken hearts and broken futures and broken dreams go down the cesspool of his own indifference and cowardly preaching. “Let them go to Hell,” he says. “I am saved.”

Somewhere between the first century and now we have definitely lost the thing that made Christianity what it was, and the thing that Jesus intended it to be. God help us to realize we have not been called to a Sunday school picnic, but to fight a battle for God. You need to stay in Crete and fight the battle.

You are not going to see any Red Seas parted until the Pharaohs get after you. Everybody wants to see the Red Sea parted, but nobody wants the Pharaoh chasing him.

Everybody wants to see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, but nobody wants to get stoned as Stephen was.

Everybody wants to go to the third Heaven, but nobody wants to get chased out of Lystra as Paul did.

Everybody wants to see Leo the Lion get lockjaw, but nobody wants to bow and pray with the windows open and go with Daniel into the lions’ den.

Everybody wants to see Jesus standing in the fiery furnace, but nobody wants to refuse to bow down and worship the golden image and get put in the fiery furnace.

Everybody wants to see God’s blessing and power. Everybody wants to see revival. “Lord, send a Pentecost revival.” If God did send a Pentecost revival, you would be put in jail as were Peter and John; they would stone you as they did Stephen; they would laugh at you as they did Peter. They would mock you and persecute you and haunt you. I am saying that there’s not a single person who does not need a good old tough, scrapping battle such as Crete to make a man out of you. You need Crete!

Dr. Jack Hyles
1926-2001
First Baptist Church
Hammond, IN

The Hypocrisy of Gun Control

THE HYPOCRISY OF GUN CONTROL
by: Jason Williams

The gun control issue is becoming more and more a controversial topic. As sides are drawn and verbal shots are fired back and forth, the nation suffers the consequences of the battle that is raging on Capitol Hill. On one side you have the liberal left who insists that guns are wicked, evil things that must be removed from society. They claim that our forefathers could not have possibly seen a rapid firing assault weapon and the destruction a psychotic killer could do with such a weapon (somehow they overlook the fact that inventors have been developing rapid firing weapons since the first time a weapon was put to use), but nonetheless they insist that they should be able to pick and choose who gets to keep what weapon and why.

Now many people think that this is an attack on guns, but I believe it is an attack on people. I believe the issue of gun control is not about guns but about control. You see, a gun is incapable of thinking, it’s simply a tool that does what it is told. The real issue is whether or not people are just tools who are no longer capable of making choices for themselves. The truth is that by saying we are not allowed to have certain guns, the liberals are in essence saying we are nothing but a machine who is incapable of choosing right or wrong, and therefore they must decide for us. They disagree with the Bible when it says that God created us in His image, and that He created us to be able to think and make choices for ourselves. Now liberals may claim that they believe that, but their stance of gun control says otherwise. The problem with gun control is that it flies in the face of everything that liberals believe. You see liberals hold two basic beliefs.

1. They believe that freedom of choice is the key to a happy society.

2. They believe that education is key to solving everything.

Lets look at the first belief, freedom of choice. Let’s start by seeing what Vice President Biden has to say about the matter.

“I believe all Americans are born with certain inalienable rights. As a child of God, I believe my rights are not derived from the constitution. My rights are not derived from any government. My rights are not denied by any majority. My rights are because I exist. They were given to me and each of my fellow citizens by our creator, and they represent the essence of human dignity.” ~ Joe Biden

In almost every other area liberals believe that people should be free to choose for themselves. Abortion? Freedom of choice. Sex? Freedom of choice. Gender? Freedom of choice? Marijuana? Freedom of choice. They say that these choices are okay because they don’t harm others, but nothing could be further from the truth. All of these key issues endanger others either mentally, emotionally, and even physically, yet no one seems to want to control any of them. How is it okay to control one but not the other? Think about it, your neighbor is free to choose whether or not they want to be a citizen of our country, they are free to choose whether or not they want to inhale something that potentially makes them a hazard to you and I, they are free to choose to raise their family in a unhealthy environment, they are free to choose not to work to support that family, but we are not free to choose which weapon is best to protect our family? Gun control is not about guns at all, it is all about people control.

Now how about education? What does our President say about the importance of education?

“In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a prerequisite.” ~ Barack Obama

So, according to our President education is a prerequisite. Our current regime pushes the importance of education in every area, and education is important, vital even, to the future of America. But, consider this. What if we approached the idea of guns like we approach sex in America? In America we continually force sex education earlier and earlier, we tax everyone to pay for that education and even fine those who refuse to do so. Now imagine if you tried that same approach with guns, imagine if you suggest that instead of banning assault rifles we taught first graders how to properly fire them. Imagine if you asked congress to tax everyone to pay for this education. You would be laughed out of the building. Why? I thought education solved everything? The truth is that the gun education does help the problem, but the liberals in the White House will not allow you to say that. They are too busy trying to tell you that you are nothing more than a machine who is incapable of choosing right or wrong and what you are allowed to have, to listen to an educated discussion on freedom of choice. To some that may sound like hope and change. To me that just sounds like hypocrisy.

Jason Williams
Assistant Pastor
High Street Baptist Church
Columbus, OH
churchonhigh.wordpress.com

Trembling at the Word of God

TREMBLING AT THE WORD OF GOD
by: Dr. Bob Gray Sr.

Ezra 9:4, “Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.”

Ezra 10:3, “Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.”

Isaiah 66:2, “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite sprit, and trembleth at my word.”

Isaiah 66:5, “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”

All four of these Scriptures have something in common for they all deal with the trembling at the Word of God. The word “tremble” is often used in the Bible. Let me give you some synonyms for the word “tremble.”

Shaken
Terrified
Quake
Afraid
Frightened
Kindled
Startled

All of these are synonyms are for the word “tremble.” The Bible says twice in the book of Ezra they trembled at the words of God. In Isaiah chapter 66 it says twice that they trembled at the words of God. The word “tremble” comes from a word that means a “burning sensation.” In Luke 24:32 the Emmaus disciples said about being with Jesus, “Did not our hearts burn.” One may tremble with excitement, with anger, with fear, and with surprise all relating to a “burning sensation.”

Exodus 19:18 there was the quaking on Mount Sinai when Moses went to the mount and the word “quaking” is used and is akin to the word “tremble.” When Isaac heard that Jacob had deceived him, a root word for “tremble” in Genesis 27:33 is used.

Adonijah, David’s son, who thought he should be king, by the way David’s three boys had died, and he was the fourth oldest, thought by rights he should have been king. However, David chose Solomon to be king. When Adonijah and his guests discovered that Solomon would be king, the word that is used is akin to “tremble.”

An army that was in terror in Judges 8:12 the root word for “tremble” is used to describe them. Joseph’s brothers when they found out that Joseph was still alive when they went to Egypt, the same root word for “tremble” is used. When Israel went into captivity and God punished them and sent them into captivity, the response to that captivity was that they “trembled.”

Concerning the unprepared when Jesus comes again the word for “tremble” is used. When Daniel’s companions heard about a certain vision, the word for “tremble” is used once again. The Bible says at the downfall of Tyre the nations “trembled.” When Potiphar heard the accusations that Joseph had supposedly seduced his wife he was angry, and the root word used is the word “tremble.”

God’s feeling over Israel’s murmuring and complaining is described by this root word of “tremble” or a burning sensation if you please. God is upset! When the Bible came into the presence of a king their feeling was a feeling like this word “tremble.” When Eli heard that the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant, the word used to describe his feeling was “tremble.”

In Luke 24, this burning sensation of trembling is connected with the Word of God. Every verse we covered tells about somebody who trembled at the Word of God.

MAN SHOULD TREMBLE AT THE READING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

This is no way does not mean man is to be frightened about the Word of God, but there should be a burning sensation. In Jeremiah 20:9 Jeremiah decided to quit the ministry, and did quit the ministry, but the Bible says the Word of God was like a fire in his bones and that is the same burning the word “tremble” represents.

Dr. Tom Malone was asked about how long he would read the Scriptures, and he would always reply, “I read the Bible until my heart burns.” He would read it until God spoke to him. This certainly is convicting!

How long has it been seen the Word of God brought a burning sensation and God spoke to you?

How long has it been since Psalm 91:1 burned in your heart? “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.”
How long has it been since John chapter 14 spoke to you? “Let not your heart be trouble ye believe in God believe also in me. In my fathers house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again.”
How long has it been since Revelation 20:2 spoke to you? “And I John saw the holy city coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
How long has it been since Romans 8:28 spoke to you? “We know that all things work together for good for them that love God for them that are called according to his purpose.”
How long has it been since you have read Philippians 4:19 and your heart burned? “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ.”
How long has it been since your heart burned when you read Romans 8:37, “For we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
How long has it been since Isaiah 54:17 spoke to your heart when you read it? “No weapon that is formed against shall prosper.”

How long has it been since you were alone with the Bible and your heart burned on the inside as you read the Bible? We beg for revival, and yet are not excited about the very words of God! There will never be revival until God’s people tremble with a burning sensation, thrill, become excited, or the heart pounding with anticipation about God speaking through his words.

MAN SHOULD TREMBLE AT THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

This should not only occur at the reading of the Word of God, but also at the preaching of the Word of God. When the resurrected Christ walked on the road to Emmaus with the Emmaus disciples, they talked and Jesus asked them what was wrong? They said we trusted the Messiah and He has been crucified and now He is dead. Jesus began speaking and started at the prophets and preached to them and revealed Himself to them, and they said truly our hearts did burn within us.

I have always loved the preaching of the Word of God. I love to hear It and I love to do it! I have been preaching the Word of God for 38 years and I always ask God to speak to the hearts of the people to whom I am speaking. I desire for something to happen on the inside of the congregation as I preach. I want there to be an excitement, anticipation, and a burning because of the preaching of the Word of God or trembling if you will at the very words of God.

I preached at the Longview Baptist Temple, Longview, Texas, one Sunday night on “FOLLY IN ISRAEL” and I preached on the subject of vows. I preached about God’s people stealing God’s money. At the invitation time one of our members Jack Rickman walked the aisle with many others to the altar. He motioned for me and I went to him at the altar and he handed me $2,000 cash. He said this is God’s money and I was going to buy a car with it! I cannot go on without making this right. I have been stealing from God! He had that money in his pocket to go buy a car, but because of the preaching of the Word of God his heart began to burn!

MAN OUGHT TO TREMBLE AT THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE WORD OF GOD.

Man should look at Sodom and tremble because of sodomy! Man should look at the Word of God at how Sodom was destroyed and tremble. Man should look at the Word of God and see how God poured out fire and brimstone on the wicked city of Sodom because of their sin of sodomy. Man should look at it and fear.

Man should look at Ananias and Sapphira and tremble those who steal God’s money. Look at Achan and tremble those who take what belongs to God. Look at Noah and tremble drunkards. Look at Absalom and tremble disloyal traitors. Look at Lot and tremble mercenaries. Look at Cain and tremble liberals. Look at Balaam and tremble new Evangelicals and pseudo-fundamentalist. Look at Esau and tremble carnal Christians. Look at Naomi and Elimelech and tremble you who leave the will of God and move your family for money.

Look at Jacob and tremble you who deceive. Look at Korah and tremble you who rebel. Look at the prodigal and tremble despisers of parents and disobeyers of parents. Look at Judas Iscariot and tremble you who are money hungry. Look at Demas and tremble you who are worldly. Look at Solomon and tremble womanizer. Look at David and tremble lustful men. Look at Bathsheba and tremble immodestly dressed women.

Look at King Saul and tremble proud people. Look at John Mark and tremble quitter. Look at Rehoboam and tremble you who fail to follow the advice of your elders and their experience. Look at Ephraim at tremble you who turn back in the day of battle.

The God of Sodom is still alive today, and then to keep on pushing sodomy, one of these days God will suddenly bring judgment. The God Who caused the flood to cover the Earth is still alive today. The God Who smote Ananias and Sapphira is still alive today. The God Who caused Korah and his family to be stoned to death is still alive today. The God of judgment is still alive today, then man ought to tremble. Look at Lot and tremble those involved in incest.

Look at Jezebel and tremble bossy wives. Look at Ahab and tremble hen-pecked husbands. Look at what God did to Ahab, that same God is alive today. Look at Jezebel and Ahab and look at their blood being shed because of their wicked sin. That same God of judgment is still alive today. The God Who reigned fire and brimstone down on Sodom is alive today. Hey take time and read the Word of God and tremble.

Look at Jehoshaphat you who are Ecumenical and tremble. Look at Pilate and tremble you who are compromisers. Look at Lot’s wife and tremble those of you who look back to the world. Look at Tyre, Sidon, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Gomorrah, Laodicea, and Thyatira and other cities that reject God. San Francisco should look at Sodom.

Look and tremble John MacArthur as you make light of the blood of Jesus Christ. Look and tremble Hugh Heffner as you face God with the moral blood of a nation on your hands. Look and tremble Kennedy family as you answer to God for the broken homes, bones, hearts, and lives caused by your families’ liquor empire. Look and tremble Arnold Swartznegger as you led men to admire your body while your movies destroy their souls.

Look at tremble Ted Turner as you make fun of Jesus Christ. Look and tremble Madonna as you ruin the morality of young people. Look and tremble Oprah as you call Jesus Christ an egomaniac. Look and tremble Donald Trump as you glorify gambling.

Look and tremble state legislature with your legalization of gambling, lotteries, and riverboat gambling. Look and tremble athletes and sports franchises that help destroy the Lord’s Day. Look and tremble Supreme Court for taking God out of the public schools. Look and tremble Bible publishers for changing, adding to, and subtracting from God’s Word for the almighty buck.

Look and tremble doctors for your vicious murdering and dismembering of innocent babies in the womb of mothers.

Man should tremble at the reading of the Word of God.
Man should tremble at the preaching of the Word of God.
Man should tremble at the commandments of the Word of God.

Man has just about put out of his mind that God is the God of judgment as well as love. America is without excuse, but God’s people are held accountable. 2 Chronicles 7:14 places the responsibility on God’s people when God said, “If God’s people…” not the world. If God’s people will tremble at the reading, preaching, and the commandments of God, then it would infuse a spirit of necessity to reach the world with the Gospel.

MAN SHOULD TEMBLE AT THE CHANGING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

When I realize that we have those who call themselves fundamentalists using only the King James Bible without believing that the King James Bible they use is inspired it infuriates me. However, more than that it scares me.

I burn, or tremble, on the inside when I read the Bible, hear the Bible preached, and read its commandments. However, I also burn at the changing of the words of God.

Do you pseudo-fundamentalists know that the Jehovah Witnesses’ Bible is exactly like the NIV, and that the RSV changes “behold a virgin shall conceive” to “behold a young woman shall conceive”? If, my friend, that does not burn you up you are not a sold out Christian!

Revised Standard Version takes Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood” and they leave out “through his blood” and that burns me up! Acts 8:37, “And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest” is left out of the RSV and that burns me up! Matthew 1:16, “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born.” Nowhere does it mention Joseph as being the father. In the footnotes of the New English Bible it says, “Joseph to whom Mary a virgin was betrothed was the father of Jesus” and that burns me up! My Bible says before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Every child of God ought to tremble and burn on the inside over the attempts to change the Word of God.

Luke 2:33 says, “Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him” while the NASV says, “His father and his mother.” Joseph is no more the father of Jesus than I, and the changing of the Word of God burns me up.

In Acts 16:31 the word “Christ” is left out of the NASV. The word “Christ” is left out of Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 9:1, and Ephesians 3:14. The words “through his blood” are left out of Colossians 1:14. It is so bad that the theologian who wrote the introduction to the NASV asked that his name be removed.

There are 50,000 changes from the King James Bible and New King James Bible. They claim to make reading easier for the reader and more understandable. In Daniel 3:12 they took the word “governor” and changed it to say, “traps.” Oh yes, that is easier for the reader! Ha! They took the word “figure” from 1 Peter 3:21 and changed it to “antitype.” Much easier? I don’t think so! The NKJB omits the word “Lord” 66 times, “God” 51 times, “heaven” 50 times, “Jehovah” is taken out, “new testament” is taken out, and the word “damnation” is taken out.

Matthew 17:21, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” is left out of the NIV. Matthew 18:11 says, “the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” is omitted. Mark 7:26 says, “But if you do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” is omitted. Mark 9:44 says, “Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched” is omitted. Mark 9:46 says, “But the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched” is omitted. Mark 15:28, “And the scripture was fulfilled, which sayeth he was numbered among the transgressions” is also omitted.

Luke 17:26, “Two men shall be in the field one shall be taken and the other left” is omitted. Romans 16:24 says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” is omitted, and 150 other scriptures with significant portions are missing, and that burns me up! 69 times the names of our Lord God are omitted from the New Testament alone.

The New International Version was copyrighted by Zondervan Publishers, which means only a limited number of verses can be duplicated or even memorized. In 1966 Rupert Murdock bought Zondervan. He is the owner of Fox and a pornography paper in England among other questionable things. Ladies and gentlemen it is all about money.

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

The Lord is My Portion

THE LORD IS MY PORTION
by: Dr. Steve Heidenreich

Psalms 16:5, “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.”

God has blessed my wife and I these many years as missionaries. In the thirty-eight years as missionaries, we have had to learn to depend on God for many of our provisions.

At my ordination service in 1982, Dr. Jack Hyles gave us the verse, Psalm 16:5 for our missionary service. Little did I know that verse would be our anchor for our lives.

As missionaries we learned that everyone couldn’t go with us to the field. People who have guided us and invested their lives will not be as available. There were times when technology and places of resources were not within reach of our place of service.

Some missionaries are blessed to have their parents strongly behind them. I praise the Lord for this because it is a great encouragement to the missionary. For a missionary to know that they have parents back in the states praying for them daily is a tremendous blessing. To have parents who are on 24-hour call to help meet a need when difficult circumstances arise is an added blessing. As parents of missionaries ourselves, we know what it is like to have children and grandchildren on the mission field. There are many times we would like to be used to help them, but we are not always able to meet the need when called upon. Thank God that He is able to be the portion that is needed for our children and grandchildren.

Other missionaries are blessed to have a church behind them as they serve on the mission field. Again, this can be a tremendous blessing to a missionary on the field. I thank God for every church that is behind their missionaries and doing all they can to encourage them. I wish we had thousands more of these churches to reach the great demand of getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.

When my wife and I first started out over 25 years ago, we did not have the access to all those who were mentioned above. We went to the Philippines and started a church way back in the mountains. At that time there was no access to electricity, and that made everything limited in communicating back home.

This is where Psalm 16:5 became a part of our lives. Let me share with you some of the areas where the Lord is our portion.

First, He was our portion in protection. At that time, the communist’s rebels were very active and very dangerous. The Lord led us to an area that was one of the top five hot spots. I knew that God wanted my family and I to start a church in this area. I was told by many that it would be a very difficult thing to do. I was very leery of taking my family back into the mountains to start the church. One night while praying in the back of my jeepney, at 3 am God showed me that He was my portion. When all others are unavailable, He would always be available to take care of us.

Secondly, He was our portion in times of financial need. I learned a long time ago that God has all the resources to supply our needs. If we’re not careful we will act like an unsaved world in trying to get resources. I am very grateful for all the churches and people who have invested in our lives and ministry. As missionaries we learned that God is our portion when all others are not available and do not have the resources we need. When I was in the Philippines many years ago, the Pepsi Company of the Philippines had a promotion of giving away 1 million pesos underneath one of their Pepsi caps on their bottles. Like everyone else, along with our church members, we dreamed of getting that bottle. At that time I was drinking more than enough Pepsi to have an opportunity to get that bottle, and we had a real need in trying to build a church. All of our church members were hoping that we would have the winning cap. But I was trying to teach our people to live by faith and let God build our church building. After a long period of time, would you know we got a cap with the 1 million pesos on the inside. After praying to know what to do with it God told me not to cash in the cap. God wanted people to know that He could provide the resources to build our church building. When I told our people that I wasn’t going to cash in the cap they thought I was crazy. I told them that I wasn’t going to let the Pepsi Company be known as the one that financed the church building. We didn’t cash in the cap for 1 million pesos. When we left the Philippines, God not only showed us that He was our portion, but he did more than what we could ever imagine as the property and buildings were worth over a few million pesos.

Thirdly, He was our portion during difficult times of life. God allowed us to go through some difficult times while living on the mission field. We must understand that living for Him is not always an easy task, but He always promises never to leave us or forsake us. Our first five years on the mission field would be what some people called very difficult. I think the Devil threw everything at us but the kitchen sink, and that probably went by and we didn’t see it. We entered the country when it was going through a difficult time of reelecting a president. Then we went through a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Within the next few years our family had several surgeries. While teaching at our Bible college, my son came to the compound to let me know that the Red Cross had been trying to reach me. They were to notify me that my dad had passed away nearly 2 weeks ago. Then within a few months my wife became very sick with typhoid fever and nearly died. Through all of this, the Lord reassured us that He was our portion. There will be times when you feel like you’re all alone and no one really knows where you are and they really don’t know what you’re going through, but He is always there because He is our portion.

These are just a few areas we learned as missionaries to trust God and thank Him for being our portion. As Christians, we need thank God for everyone whom He has placed in our life to help us, but we also must remember that He is our portion. I’m so thankful that no matter where I go and whatever I do for the Lord I can always count on Him as being my portion. Today, so many Christians are worried about the economy of the world. I have learned that, as a servant of the Lord, I don’t live off the economy of this world. I live off Heaven’s resources and I have a God who is my portion.

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

Bringing Down Your Contentment Level

BRINGING YOUR CONTENTMENT LEVEL DOWN
by: Sandy Domelle

The past several Sunday nights at our church we have seen short videos of missions trips that our church people and college students from Texas Baptist College took in January. They encouraged the college young people to go on one of four trips. They could choose between, Panama, Africa, Haiti and the Philippines. God blessed in great ways with each trip, and our church family has enjoyed watching the videos of what they were able to do and accomplish in each country. The exciting part is hearing the reports of the souls saved, the help that they were to the missionaries, and knowing that they will return to a few of the same places next year to continue helping these people.

When watching the videos I couldn’t help but think of my days on the mission field with my family. As a teenage girl, going to the Philippines left a lasting impression on my life. Let me say this, I’m so thankful that my parents took me to the mission field for the last couple of years of high school. Far too often I hear of people who won’t follow God’s calling in their life UNTIL their children are out of their high school years. Why is it that God takes a back seat when it comes to our children? Why is it that Uncle Sam can have higher priority than God? You say, Uncle Sam? Yes, many of our military continually uproot their families to go from country to country because that’s where they will serve next. Sometimes they have options, but they often don’t. Yet, most of them have developed a lifestyle of going where they are being sent with no questions asked. It bothers me that our Christian families are becoming so watered down that when God calls, we prefer to haggle with God about the where, when, and how. Where is your faith? Do you not know that maybe God is taking you to a place for the future of your children? It’s become such a burden of mine because I know I would not be what I am today without the experience of giving up a self-centered teenage life to go to a people who didn’t have the Gospel, some areas where we went never saw a white person, they didn’t have much, yet lived so content!

Most of the countries the college students went to were poverty stricken, yet the people are the happiest people, you see the biggest smiles, and you see contentment for what they have. I remember visiting our church people in the Philippines and how the poorest household would still welcome you in as if it was the greatest honor. They’d feed us what little they had, and their openness to the Gospel was almost insatiable.

How could I visit people who lived in a cemetery and they be so happy? How could I visit the leper colony and they too be so happy? We had people who lived among the garbage heaps outside of town, they too were happy! You know what I learned? Contentment comes with accepting what God has given us, not in what we do not have. Those people didn’t often know what they were missing because they weren’t out looking for the bigger or better. They were content with what they had.

The thing you notice with most people is that they always want more! They want the bigger and better things of life because they see what every one else around them has. As parents we often try to teach our children to be happy with what they have, yet as adults we don’t follow the same advice. We constantly think we will be happier if we just had certain things. We try to justify the need of having something that we say we can use for the Lord, but it’s truly to gratify ourselves and what we want.

Many of us just need to bring our contentment level down. You are content when you have “things,” but when you have to give up something or it’s given away, you no longer have the joy and you gripe and complain that you want more. Is your contentment level to high to attain?

Have you noticed how much women will spend on themselves? I know ladies who feel they need to buy new clothes continually, have to go get manicures and pedicures, spend lots of money on their hair and facials, have to have brand name items, brand name purses and shoes, etc. All of those things are nice, and we all feel good about ourselves when we are looking nice. Are they sinful or wrong? Not in the right circumstance. But, if it comes down to it, it’s not worth having marital problems because you can’t quit spending. I’ve talked to many ladies whose marriage is on the rocks because their husband can’t work anymore hours than he does, but he has a wife who spends so much on herself that they are in major debt. We don’t have to constantly spend to look great for our husbands. Learn to live a simple life of contentment that doesn’t have to have things or that is always wishing and wanting more!

Recently we made a big move and intentionally downsized. God gave us a wonderful house and I love it! As we prepared to move, I knew I had to downsize, so I started getting rid of things. In getting rid of things, I got a little too happy in cleaning out stuff that I got rid of things that I now need. The first few weeks I was frustrated by not having a few specific things, and one was something that I often used in the kitchen. It is a relatively cheap item, but we decided we wouldn’t spend on extra things now as we recouped from the move. Do you know that I griped to God many times about that crazy thing. One morning I was having my devotions and I felt so guilty about how many things I learned to give up and found a way around in the Philippines, and yet I was unable to wrap my mind around that here. After getting my contentment back on track, I asked God if He would let me find this item on sale for a steal of a deal or at a yard sale. Do you know, when I quit complaining about what I did not have, God replaced that item. A lady at church who I really don’t know well yet said that she knew we just moved and wanted to get me a small house warming gift, and God laid it on her heart for that specific item! How many times does God hold back on blessings and things from our life because we refuse to be content?

Philippians 4:11 says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Being content “in whatsoever state” we are in means when the good times come, when the bad times come, when the financially stable times come and when the financially unstable times come. Contentment comes when you are willing to accept what you have, the situation you are in, and with that which God has chosen to give you. You may wish for more, you may want for more, but your contentment level is higher than what you need. How often do you want to buy one of your parents something for a birthday or holiday and they say they don’t need anything. You become a little frustrated because you want to show you love them and care for them. What they are telling us is they are content. When we are truly content, we aren’t always wanting more.

What’s New

WHAT’S NEW
by: Jennifer Petticoffer

Do you want to be “bedazzled,” “flabbergasted,” “bowled over” and “blown away” every time you read a new book, magazine article, blog, or devotional? Then you’re not alone. I love magazines, Christian publications, books, and online idea websites.

Sometimes we as Christian ladies can fall into the trap of “information overload or hoarding.” Out of a heart of thirsting for God, we become addicted to the process of obtaining volumes of information and ideas. We fall into the trap of admiring anyone of any religious background who says something “new” that causes us to gasp. I placed quotation marks around the “new” because there is really nothing “new” under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 says, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

I have tried to re-train my brain to screen each catchy book title or beautiful book jacket and look beyond to the truth and Scriptures presented. I want to glean ideas that are very helpful without “morphing” into the image of the author’s picture on the back flap of the book!

I love cookbooks, recipes, decorating magazines and picture books. I have THOUSANDS of recipes that I have never cooked, but when the publishers send me a FREE offer for a new cookbook, I can’t wait to send a reply and order! Sound familiar? Well, several years ago I made a decision – no more cookbooks for myself until I cook at least ONE recipe from each of the cookbooks I have on my shelf! That will be…NEVER! So sad, no more hoarding, I mean collecting…I now can avoid being nominated for reality TV.

God can use books, articles, and magazines to help us grow, but the greatest teacher we have is the Holy Spirit of God and our Holy Bible. This is where the great teachers and preachers go for the truths to pass along to us, so why don’t we just go to these sources too?

I’ve given myself this challenge. Instead of buying every book off the shelves or at Amazon.com that interests me, I look at the titles, the introductory pages, the chapter titles, etc., and get an idea of what I need in my Christian life, and then I get my own answers! Yes! Save your money, send it to the missionaries, put it in the offering, and then ask God for wisdom and answers especially for your world.

Why don’t we do the same thing with our Christian books? Let’s pass some along to new Christians, quit buying every “new” publication until we apply at least one truth to our lives from each book, magazine or newsletter, that we already own.

I’ve learned that if I will apply one truth from each sermon I hear my spiritual challenge “plate” is VERY full. I have become wary of reading new books unless I have a willing heart and mind to know what material I need and what material will go into the “information overload” file.

Let’s stop asking, “What’s new?”, and start asking, “What old thing am I not DOING that I can start DOING?”

Jennifer Petticoffer
Teacher
Texas Baptist College
Longview, TX

Coffee Mugs!

COFFEE MUGS!
by: Bette Owens

“….be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:21

I love big coffee mugs. I have several different ones. I have some that have our church name on them. I also have one with a cute teddy bear on it that my secret sister gave me. It is so cute! I have one from my son’s church in Bulgaria. I have mugs that match my dishes. Coffee mugs come in all sizes and designs. My coffee mug is the vessel I use to serve me my coffee. Your body is the vessel God uses to serve Him, to bring honour and glory to Him.

Maybe I’m just picky, but I do not like to drink out of a mug that is cracked or chipped. I also do not like to drink out of a dirty mug. I definitely like to drink from a full mug, full of good coffee.

What kind of vessel are you? Are you cracked or chipped? Do you feel like you have been tossed around and dropped one too many times? Is this old world hitting you hard? I do not like drinking from a chipped coffee mug. No matter how much I try to avoid it, the chip always seems to be right there by my lip as I am trying to get a sip of coffee.

Recently I got a new set of dishes with some really nice coffee mugs. The very next day my daughter chipped one of the mugs getting it out of the dishwasher. I tried drinking out of that mug several times, but it was not going to work. My husband saved the piece that chipped off and glued it back in place. Now you can still see where it was chipped, but the cup is more usable. You know, living in this old world can cause us to mess up many times and even cause us to get some chips, but God takes the glue of His Word, and as we yield to the Holy Spirit, He fixes and makes us usable again. We all have some damage, but God can fix us and continue to use us. Oh, the chip is still noticeable, but we don’t have to dwell on the chip or crack. We have to choose to allow God to use us despite the damage, and mold us into what He wants. We do not have to allow the flaws in our lives to slow us down or to make us think we are unusable. We need to go to the Lord and allow Him to fix us.

Maybe you are not cracked or chipped, but you just aren’t clean. Have you ever gotten your coffee mug out of the dishwasher and it was not clean? I cannot stand to run the dishwasher and then pull out a dirty dish. That makes me very upset. The dishes are supposed to be clean. No one likes to drink out of a dirty coffee mug. What about us as Christians? We are supposed to be clean. We aren’t supposed to have any slime or the crusty stuff of the world on us. We are supposed to be living close to the Lord, living holy and clean lives. The only way we can live holy and clean lives is to daily yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him through His Word to clean us up. It is not unusual to have several loads of dishes to wash each day, but sometimes one load has to be ran over again because the dishes did not get clean the first time. The same thing is true in our Christian lives. There are days we have to continually run to God and be rewashed. Washing is a daily thing we must do. Run to God’s Word and let Him clean you up.

I like my coffee mug full. Now some people may like pouring only a half cup of coffee at a time, but not me, I want a full cup. As Christians, we need to be filled up by Christ. In the Christian life, being half-full doesn’t work. We have to go to God’s Word constantly to be full. We have to pray and communicate with God. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and keep us filled.

The song, “Fill My Cup Lord” keeps running through my mind right now. The chorus goes like this:

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.

Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

I know coffee mugs come in all sizes and shapes, all with different decorations. Some cups are so pretty, but sometimes those decorative or funny mugs aren’t too practical. Maybe the cup is too small and won’t hold enough. Sometimes they have funny little handles that are hard to grasp and hold. Sometimes the paint on them will just rub off as they are being used. What about us as Christians, are we practical or are we just a decoration? Will we hold up with use or are we just pretty to look at? How strong is our faith? Is our faith strong or does it just look good, and when the pressure of life comes, we just fall apart? Many of these decorative mugs are seasonal, such as holiday mugs We get them out at Christmas or Thanksgiving, then we pack them away until next year.

What about us, are we seasonal or everyday Christians? Do we just go to church every week, do a few good works, and say all the right things on the outside but really don’t want to be used anymore than that? We are supposed to “….be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” I am not talking about the people who go to church just on Christmas and Easter. We can attend church each week and still be a “seasonal” Christian, only serving the Lord when we see fit, when we feel like it, or when there’s an activity going on that we happen to like. We shouldn’t just be weekly Christians, but we should be everyday Christians. We should be like the mugs sitting in the front row of the cupboard, ready to be taken down and used. The next time you drink a cup of coffee think of yourself. Are you ready to be filled and used as a faithful, clean and available vessel for our Lord Jesus Christ?

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

Go To Now

GO TO NOW
by: Steve Hobbins

A few years ago, when my oldest daughter Jaclyn was a high school sophomore, I asked her to name the kind of guy that she would like to marry one day. She named about four different guys that we both knew. They all had come from our youth group, or one like it, and they all seemed like excellent choices. But then I asked her if she realized that all the guys that she named were adults or had at least already graduated from high school. I understand that she was not saying that she wanted to marry those particular guys, but just wanted to marry someone like them. While I was pleased with her choices, I wanted her to realize that those kind of guys are interested in girls (usually girls close to their own age) that had been preparing themselves from the time they were her age for the day when they would need to be ready to handle a romantic relationship. In other words, I wanted her to realize at least two things. First, she needed to know that she did not name guys her age, because, just like her, the guys her age were still in the process of building themselves to become the kind of person to whom a godly young adult would be attracted. Second, I wanted her to realize that she needed to start purposely making choices that would lead her to become the kind of woman whom she needed to be several years later when she was ready to begin a romantic relationship.

This is the exact same principle that James addressed in James 4:13-14. He gives the command, “Go to now…” In other words, James was telling us that we needed to give attention to where we are in life right now. Let me explain.

When you look at your heroes, don’t try to be what they are. Try to be what they were when they were your age. “Go to now.” Certainly, we may have heroes that were not the kind of person as a teenager that you should model, but when that is the case, you should try to be what they wish they were or should have been when they were your age.

In another conversation with Jaclyn, when she was in Jr. High, she said to me, “Dad, I love how you treat mom. I want my husband to treat me that way when I get married.” Humbled by such a comment, I told her, “I have not always treated mom like I should. It has taken me several years to learn to treat mom the right way. Just remember not to compare your future marriage of 2 or 3 years to the marriage that mom and I have after 15 years. Don’t look at the cars we drive now or the house or furniture that we have now; look at us when we started.” Jaclyn looked at me with all the admiration and profound maturity of a Jr. Higher and said, “Dad, that is really good advice.” I couldn’t help but smile. Essentially I, like James, was telling her, “Go to now.”

I would tell you the same thing about your heroes. Where should you start? Well, first of all…

1. Do what they did.

Ask yourself the obvious question, “What did they do when they were my age?” By answering this question, this will give you the answer to what you should do first. Many young people want to become like their hero. They want the results that their hero has, but they have forgotten the principle of paying the price first. In order to pay the price, you have to “go to now.” You need to be the kind of teenager you ought to be, and in so doing you are laying the foundation for becoming the kind of young adult you need to be. You are not setting out to be the adult that you need to be; rather, becoming the adult you need to be is merely a byproduct of following the path that began as a teenager of walking with God and serving the Lord.

If your hero has a great marriage, then right now, even though you cannot have a great marriage as a teenager, you should still be in the process of becoming the kind of person who can one day have a great marriage. If your hero is a great parent, then right now you should be putting into your life the traits that can one day make you a great parent. We could say the same about countless other scenarios.

Not only should you be doing what they did, but also you should …

2. Follow whom they followed.

The people that are your heroes became the great men and women they are by following the right people. In fact, since your heroes are probably a bit older than you, the people that they followed may no longer be alive. Though you may not be able to follow the exact same people that they followed, you can still follow the exact same kind of people that they followed. Again, that is something that you can do right now.

3. Learn from the mistakes that they made when they were the age that you are right now.

You will never have a hero who did not make mistakes and who did not learn from those mistakes. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:…” While it is wise to learn from your mistakes, it is even wiser to learn from the mistakes of others. Obviously you should not duplicate the mistakes that your heroes made. Learn from them.

I’m sure that there are many other ways to “go to now” and work on becoming like your heroes, but I hope these three thoughts have been a help.

For a complete study on how to learn from your heroes, I highly recommend Dr. Jack Hyles’ book, “Fundamentalism In My Lifetime,” particularly Chapter 2 “How I learned from the great men.”

Steve Hobbins
Pastor
Lewis Ave. Baptist Church
Temperance, MI
http://pastorhobbins.wordpress.com