March 2014 – Old Paths Journal

Poured from Vessel to Vessel

by: Dr. Bob Gray Sr.

Jeremiah 48:11, “Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.”

Zephaniah 1:12, “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

Moab was a small nation. Moab had been at ease from his youth, he settled on his lees or dregs. He had not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither had he gone into captivity; therefore his taste remained in him for his scent was not changed according to the Scriptures.

God is saying here that Moab the nation has not been poured from vessel to vessel, and because Moab has not been poured from vessel to vessel he settled on his dregs and he doesn’t taste any better. His taste has not improved! His scent or odor has not improved because he has not been poured from vessel to vessel.

This ancient people had lived a passive life. They lived undisturbed! No external enemy had attacked them. No great natural national disaster had befallen them, and for this reason they made no progress. They had become a contented and complacent people; therefore, they were not a blessing to anybody in the whole world.

THE EXAMPLE OF THE NATION ISRAEL

On the other hand the little nation Israel had been and would influence the entire world for good.

From Israel would come the Word of God.

From Israel would come the Son of God.

From Israel would come the New Testament Church.

Israel the nation was a blessing for Israel had a good taste and a sweet scent. Why? Because Israel had been poured form vessel to vessel.

God uses the example of making wine. When the grape ripened it is taken from the tree, put into a vat 8-foot square with little holes in the bottom. Below that vat is another vat 5 inches lower. The people would come and trample those grapes or tread those grapes. The juice would fall from the pulp and go down into the vat underneath. Then they would take the juice and pour it into a vessel. They would leave the vessel there for a short period of time. They would take the juice and pour it into another vessel. They would leave it there for a while more that way some of the dregs would be left. They would take and pour it into another vessel and keep on pouring this juice form one vessel to another vessel. Now every time they poured it, some of the dregs were taken off and it made the juice a little better. The scent was better!

God is saying Moab had not been poured from vessel to vessel, and because Moab has not been poured form vessel to vessel, she has not been a blessing to the world. However, the little nation of Israel had been poured from vessel to vessel.

The entire history of Israel is an alternation between prosperity and trouble. Under one king they enjoyed the blessing of peace. Under another king they endured the hardships of war. During one age they endured a revolution that divided them and in another age it brought the humiliation of exile. From vessel to vessel they were poured, and as a result they were a blessing.

However, Moab sat there on his lees: no disturbance, no heartaches, no problems, no burdens, and thus Moab was not a blessing.

THE EXAMPLE OF JACOB

Jacob was the man after which the nation Israel was named. His name was Jacob at first, then his name was changed to Israel, which means “prince.” This man went from out-bargaining Esau, deceiving his own father, out-smarting Laban, and he went on to become the prince of God. How does this man become the prince of God? He was poured from vessel to vessel with the disobedience of Simeon and Levi, the trouble between him and Hamor, and the death of his beloved Rachel, the mysterious disappearance of his son Joseph, the detention of Judah in Egypt, and the demand for Benjamin. All of these are God making him a prince by pouring him from vessel to vessel to vessel! God is saying, “I’m going to make Jacob a prince so I will have to disturb him with burdens, heartaches, problems, and heartbreaks.” God is saying, “I must pour him from vessel to vessel to vessel!”

No one has ever been used of God who has been allowed to stay like Moab! If God is to use His people mightily He will have to disturb them by pouring them from vessel to vessel.

THE EXAMPLE OF GREAT CHURCHES

Who are the churches that have blessed a nation the most? They are churches like Dr. J. Frank Norris’ church, Dr. G. B. Vick’s church, Dr. Lee Roberson’s church, Dr. Dallas Billington’s church and a Dr. Jack Hyles’ church.

Wait a minute! All of these churches have something in common for the hand of God has disturbed them. They have been poured from vessel to vessel to vessel. Are these churches that were satisfied with the status quo? NO! Are they churches that sat in their lees? NO! Are these churches that had arrived and not need to gain higher ground? NO! Are they churches that were comfortable and sat in their lees? NO!

The First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, under Dr. J. Frank Norris had been poured and poured and poured and poured! This church was the mother church of the independent Baptist church movement in the United States and was a blessing to a nation.

Hold it! When that same church no longer wanted to be poured from vessel to vessel, she went back into the Southern Baptist Convention and no longer was a blessing to a nation but she sits in her own dregs!

Temple Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, under the leadership of Dr. G. B. Vick was poured from one vessel to another vessel to another vessel for years resulting in her being a blessing to a nation. However, one day she no longer wanted the stigma of old fashioned fundamentalism and now even the Baptist Bible Fellowship is ashamed of her Saturday night rock and roll shows. That same church is no longer being poured, and she has ceased to be a blessing to our nation for she sits in her dregs!

In every case, when the pastor that pastored those churches was poured from vessel to vessel to vessel the church was a blessing, but when those men of God died, or resigned, someone came in who refused to associate with old-fashioned fundamentalism. The result was the dregs began to collect, the taste was gone, the scent was gone, and a nation went unblessed!

THE EXAMPLE OF FAMILIES

Hey dad and mom? Do you want your family to be a blessing? Then you thank God for the burdens, heartaches, trials, heartbreak, tears and pain, and let God pour you from vessel to vessel to vessel. However, the minute you decide you don’t want to fight anymore for right or struggle anymore for right, you will ceased to be blessed. When you decide to let your little pin-headed son or daughter take you out of the battle and refuse to let God pour you from vessel to vessel you will end up sitting in your own dregs. Your family life will be filled with dregs, a bad taste, and a bad smell.

God said to Moab, “I cannot use you! You will not have a good taste or scent and I can’t use you! You have been sitting there complacent in your peace, no attacks, no battles and no outside enemies.” God is saying, “Moab, I cannot use you” but I will take little Israel and I’ll pour her in this vessel and then pour her over and over again into other vessels and she, not Moab, will give us the Saviour, the New Testament Church and the Scriptures!

My mama who went to Heaven on Christmas Day of 2010 at 98 was poured from vessel to vessel to vessel. She scrubbed floors in a nursing home to help support the family. She finished her GED for high-school diploma. She went on to college and became an administrator of several Nursing Homes. She was poured from vessel to vessel to vessel. She never sat down in her own dregs and as a result she was a blessing!

THE EXAMPLE OF PREACHERS

God comes looking to seek a preacher, and he does not want Mr. Personality, Mr. Orator, or Mr. Pretty Boy, for God is looking not for the obvious leader, but a boy born in poverty with a drunken dad while being reared by a single mom. It is the Jack Hyles’ for whom God is looking. These are the ones poured from vessel to vessel to vessel who are not sitting in their own dregs. These are the ones who are a blessing to a nation and not afraid to be the off scourging of the earth, for they have lived that way for a lifetime.

These were not born with a silver spoon in their mouth! Ignorant and unlearned much like Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” When some Reverend rails on you for being unlearned and ignorant, praise God for it!

Some of you reading this article have been poured from vessel to vessel to vessel, and I want you to thank God for it! You are sitting here reading this and asking yourself, “When will the hurt ever stop and end?” The truth is you are going to be mighty tasteful one day! You are going to have a sweet scent about you one of these days!

What preacher gave us “Pilgrims Progress?” It was John Bunyan who was poured from vessel to vessel. Check the biographies of great men and you will not find any who had it easy! The Moody’s, the Spurgeon’s, the Paul Radar’s, the B.R. Lakin’s, the Beauchamp Vick’s, the J. Frank Norris’, the Lester Roloff’s, the Lee Roberson’s and the Jack Hyles’ were all poured from vessel to vessel and were not found sitting in their own dregs.

The John Wesley’s were poured from vessel to vessel. The John R. Rice’s were poured from vessel to vessel. The Bill Rice’s were poured from vessel to vessel. The Billy Sunday’s were poured from vessel to vessel. These men were not found sitting in their own dregs. Too much pouring to have them sitting in dregs!

I must allow God to pour me from vessel to vessel so that I may be available to be a blessing! I do not say run toward suffering, but I do say if you do right and refuse to run with the compromisers you will suffer! When this happens, keep letting God pour you from vessel to vessel so you can avoid the dregs of life!

When God chooses to take a husband from your side, or a wife from your table, or a little child from your arms, or your health or the health of a loved one, never forget God is pouring you from vessel to vessel. He does this so you will taste good, so you will have a sweet scent, and you can be a blessing to the world around you!

Dr. Bob Gray Sr.
http://solvechurchproblems.com

Responding to Tragedy

Job 1:20
“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,”

Maybe one of the reasons God thought so highly of Job is because of his response to tragedy. Before the tragedy hit Job, God knew how he would respond. It was not a guess on God’s behalf of how Job would respond. When Satan came in from stalking God’s people throughout the Earth, God asked him if he considered Job, a man “that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Satan told God the only reason he was so good was because he had not faced tragedy. So, God gave him permission to touch his substance.

In one day Job lost about everything. I don’t know the timeline, but the servants of Job were plowing in the field when the Sabeans came and took the oxen and servants away. When the one servant who escaped came to tell Job what happened, another servant came in and told him that fire fell from Heaven and consumed his sheep. That servant had barely finished talking when another servant came in to tell him that the Chaldeans stole all of his camels. That servant barely finished talking when another servant came and told him that all of his children were killed in a freak storm.

As a man, I can see Job’s mind working as to how he would recover everything until he heard that his children were killed. We are not talking about one or two children dying in one day, but we are talking about ten children dying at the same time. There is no doubt that the hearts of he and his wife were devastated. They didn’t get to give one last kiss. They didn’t get to have one last hug. All they could do was go to the house where their children were and pull out their dead bodies. Oh the heartache that gripped the hearts of these parents.

Yet, how did Job respond when this tragedy struck his family? His first response was to fall on his face and worship God. Get this, he didn’t fall on his face and gripe to God, but he fell on his face and gave reverence to God. As he worshipped God he said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Wow, what a response! His response was to give homage to the One Who gave him life and thank Him for giving the short amount of time he had with his children.

What is your response when tragedy strikes you? Job’s response was not to look at what he had lost, but it was to look at what God had given him. This is what keeps a person from being depressed and suicidal. This is what keeps a person from going into their cocoon and hurting the rest of the relationships around them. When tragedy hits you must not look at what you have lost, instead you must look at what God gave you for the amount of time you had it.

Furthermore, the first person Job went to was God. His first response was to fall down and worship God. It was not to go to a spiritual friend and look for sympathy. His response was to go to the God Who is the source of all comfort and worship Him. That is the reason Job made it through such a tragic time.

Friend, if you will make your response to tragedy the same as Job’s, then you will find that you can make it through any tragedy. Everyone is going to face some sort of tragedy in their life, and the first response should always be to fall down and worship God. Don’t complain, but thank God for what He has given you and let His Holy Spirit comfort you through your tragedy. This is the only way to face tragedy and to keep tragedy from destroying you.

The Lord God Reigneth

Revelation 19:6
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

There is coming a day when the LORD God will reign, not only in Heaven, but in all the Earth. God reminds us of this time in Revelation 19. We see in the verse above that right before God sets up His kingdom, the angels of Heaven get excited and begin to proclaim the greatness of God. This is certainly going to be a great day.

Though the millennial reign of Christ has not yet been set up on this Earth, I do believe that we can let Him reign in our hearts and lives. A Christian will never be totally satisfied with their life until Christ ruleth and reigneth as Lord. I find in Revelation what happens when Christ rules this Earth can be the same things that happen in your life if you will let Him reign as LORD.

First, when Christ reigns as LORD in your life, you will see His power revealed through you. Notice it says, “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Being omnipotent means having unlimited power. I believe one of the reasons Christians don’t see the miracles of God in their life is because they don’t allow Him to rule as Lord God. When God has total access of your life is when you will begin to see the LORD unleash His power through you. When Christ is LORD of your life, you will see Him use His power through you to change lives, heal the broken hearted, lift the fallen, help the hurting and lead many to Jesus Christ for salvation. God’s power will never be revealed through your life until you allow Him to reign in you.

Second, praise will come from your lips when Christ reigns as LORD in your life. When Christ is ruling your life, complaining and griping will not come from your lips. One of the reasons Christians gripe and complain is because they have never allowed Christ to rule their life. They’re unhappy because they are allowing the world system to rule their life which cannot bring praise. Praise will become a common place for the Christian who allows Christ to reign in their life.

Third, verse 7 shows us that gladness fills the life of the Christian who allows Christ to reign in their life. You will never be pleased or delighted with your life until Christ reigns. Why are Christians unhappy with their lives? Because they have not let the Master make of their life what He wants it to be. Friend, God placed you on this Earth for a special task, and until you yield to Christ and let Him reign in your life, you will never be molded into the image of what Christ wants you to be.

Fourth, when Christ reigns in your life, you will rejoice over His goodness. One statement I often hear in churches is, “God is good, all the time.” I love hearing this statement because it is true. When Christ rules in your life, you will see the goodness of God in everything you go through. You will never see the goodness of God through heartache and trials until Christ rules in your life.

Don’t you desire these four things in your life? Only Christ ruling in your life will allow these things to be present. Stop yielding to the world and let Christ be the ruler of your life. I’m not talking about salvation, I’m talking about you taking your hands off the controls of your life and giving them to Christ. When He is ultimately the LORD God of your life is when you will see these four things all the time.

Halted Between Two Opinions

by: Jonathan Painter

1 Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” Everyone who reads this article falls into one of three circles. You might be one, who is standing with Elijah, willing to stand alone for God. It is possible that you are standing with Ahab, Jezebel, the prophets of Baal, and all their worldliness. If you do not fall into one of the already mentioned categories, then you are probably standing with the masses of Israel who were unable or unwilling to make a decision either way. How long halt ye between two opinions?

I read an article on the internet written by a young man who very obviously had stood with the crowd, unable to decide, and then decided to stand with this world and the prophets of Baal. He talked about how he used to be a fundamentalist, and how he grew up in a Christian home, but now he doesn’t even believe that God created the Earth. He considers himself a “free thinker,” but in reality he is bound by chains of ignorance inherited by the willful decision to join the prophets of Baal and work against the work of God. Christian young person, never feel you are above falling prey to the humanistic ideologies that Satan has to offer. You must continually walk in prayer, and in the Word of God.

In 1 Kings, we find that the children of Israel must decide who they would serve. At the point on Mount Carmel, they were very much reliving the charge Joshua had given them when they took the land on which they stood, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…” Joshua had challenged, and now Elijah stood before the people who once had served Jehovah God and asked, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” but the people declined to answer. The people were not ready to make a decision. This is the problem with our nation’s youth today. So many teenagers in our churches stand on that middle ground where the children of Israel stood, and they refuse to make a decision. They hear the Elijah’s get up and preach God’s Word with zeal and fire, but they sit in the pew and do not make a decision. They know they should not stand with the world, but they do not make a decision to stand for God.

Time is running out. America does not have time to waste while her Christian young people sit on the sidelines watching, not wanting to make a decision, lest anyone should feel bad. We don’t have time young person, for you to try to please your preacher and your worldly friends. If we want to see a revival once again, if we want to see God move in a mighty way, then it is going to take some young people who are willing to stand on the side of righteousness with Elijah and call down the fire of God through prayer. The question you have to answer is, “How long halt ye between two opinions?”

Jonathan Painter
Youth Pastor
Lincoln Baptist Church
Lincoln, NE

It Only Takes a Few

Revelation 3:4
“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”

The church of Sardis was one of seven churches that God addressed. The church was located in the metropolis of Lydia in Asia Minor. This church had apparently lost its zeal to reach the lost for Christ. God said in verse 1, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

We don’t know, but this church could have been a larger church because everyone thought they were a church that was alive, but God knew they were dying. The works this church used to produce were no longer producing. The standards this church used to have were gone because they had succumbed to the pressures of their society. God says concerning this in the verse above that there were a few who had “not defiled their garments.” That would mean there were many who had defiled their spiritual garments and started dressing and living like the world. Though this church was a seemingly large church that was influential in their community, they had lost the fire for doing right.

However, in this church there were still a few Christians who had not lost their fire. There were still a few Christians who were still going after the souls of men. There were still a few Christians who had kept their standards. These were the Christians whom God commended in the verse above. I don’t know, but I would imagine these few people were looked down upon by the rest of the church. I imagine that these few Christians were considered divisive by the rest of the church because of their stand. No doubt these few Christians were doing their best to keep the old-time religion alive in spite of the attacks of their fellow brethren. What’s encouraging is that their effort to keep the old-time religion alive did not go unnoticed by God, and it kept God from destroying a church.

It has always been a few who have turned things around in a society or church. It was the three hundred men with whom Gideon fought that saved their nation. It was Jonathan and his armour bearer who fought and defeated the Philistines while the rest of the troops were sitting in fear of what they were going to do. It was one young boy by the name of David who stood against the giant of his day and saved his nation. It was the Prophet Elijah who stood alone against the wicked king that brought God’s fire from Heaven. It was eleven disciples whom Jesus took and taught how to stand and reach a lost and dying world who influenced thousands to the point that they turned a world upside down for Christ.

Christian, you may feel that you are the only one who is standing against the world, but let me encourage you that it is always the few who turn the tide. You may think nobody notices your stand, and at times you can come to the point when you wonder, “What’s the use?” Let me encourage you that God notices. Let me encourage you that it is your stand that gives one more chance for the old-time religion. You must not become weary in doing right, for God notices what you are doing. Your works and stand can certainly be the spark that turns things around.

Let me encourage you not to succumb to the pressures of compromise. When everyone else chides you for your vocal stand, you just keep on standing. Yes, there will be critics, but it is always the few who make a difference. All it takes is for the few to stop standing and to stop letting their voice be heard for evil and compromise to win. You may feel like a dinosaur in your generation for what you believe, but you keep standing by the old King James Bible. Just like God gave the church of Sardis a chance to see His blessings again, it could be your stand that causes your generation to see God’s blessings again. When all seems to be hopeless, keep standing and don’t despair!

Bringing Down the Walls with Unfeigned Faith

by: Emily Carstens and Mitchell Haley

Wednesday came too fast for most people. It was a day to learn new things, but also a day to end the 2014 National Old Paths Conference. Split sessions were from nine until eleven. The ladies session once again was privileged to hear from Mrs. Buchanan. She taught miniature lessons during the question and answer session that took place during the first hour of the ladies split sessions. She backed up what the preachers during the week have been saying that advice is good to get, but the best advice is from the Bible. The teen ladies ensemble sang, “Jesus is coming soon.”

In the men’s session at nine, Bro. Buchanan taught on having a “Wartime Lifestyle.” There are three battles that a Christian will face. The first type of battle is for family. The second is battling for the church. Thirdly, Christians will battle for their heart. He gave five points to having the wartime lifestyle. First, one must be willing to sacrifice willingly. Second, when separation must happen, separate nobly. Thirdly, submit willingly. Next, one must surrender unconditionally. Last, one must unquestionably obey God.

Still in the men’s session, a college men’s quartet sang the song, “When God Dips His Love in my Heart.” Dr. Gray proceeded to teach pastors how to take advantage of the different outreaches each church could have. He did this by describing the different Saturday ministries the Longview Baptist Temple participates in each week.

At ten, in the ladies session, both Mrs. Domelle and Mrs. Gray taught a lesson. Mrs. Domelle spoke on her favorite Bible character, Hannah, the mother of Samuel. Mrs. Domelle gave pointers about having a better prayer life. First of all, pray specifically. Next, pray persistently. Next, one must pray believing that God will answer the prayer. Next, a person’s prayer life should never cease. Last of all, one should pray fervently. After Mrs. Domelle spoke, Mrs. Gray spoke about the subject, “Have you Prepared yourself for the Storms.” She emphasized that storms will come, but God is in control every step of the way.

At eleven everyone came back together into the auditorium for the final morning session of the conference. The Texas IBS chorale sang two songs, “Embrace the Cross” and “There Is.” After they sang, Bro. Domelle came up to teach a lesson on Developing the Personal Touch with people.” He gave eight points starting with walking slowly through a crowd and ending with always pointing people back to Jesus.

The evening service was full of excitement for the final night of preaching. The LBT choir opened the service with “Amazing Grace.” After the first congregational, Dr. Gray called all the men down for one final time of prayer to beg God to speak to them. Pastor Greg Clark and Pastor David Owens both were asked to pray for the meeting. It was very evident after the time of prayer that God was about to do something special.

Bro. Domelle preached first on “Bringing the Walls Down.” He gave six points to use to bring down the walls in each city as well as in each life of each person present. First of all, crossing over is a must. Second, one must be there. Third, walk around your city and go soul winning. Next, show your support for the preacher by shouting every one in a while. Do not give up. Lastly, God’s presence has to be with you if God is going to do something. He challenged the church and delegates to leave the conference and with God’s help bring down the walls of their city. After Bro. Domelle’s sermon an invitation was held and the altars were filled with Christians making a commitment to help bring down the walls of their city.

The Texas IBS chorale sang again. They sang “Psalm 139,” The Resurrection Morn,” and a special request of “There Is “ again. Dr. Gray came to the pulpit to use what voice he had left to preach the Word. His and Bro. Domelle’s sermon tied in together.

Dr. Gray preached on having “Unfeigned faith.” He explained that we can only have unfeigned faith if our faith is evident and not hidden. First of all, unfeigned faith has to start somewhere. Secondly, unfeigned faith must be grounded in the Scriptures. He emphasized having children read their Bible starting when they are young. Lastly, unfeigned faith will help someone overcome shortcomings. He stressed the importance of Christians being transparent in their Christian life and not to put on a show. Another altar call was held and people flooded the altar even before the altar call was given.

Everyone is already looking forward to the National 2015 Old Paths Conference. A special VIP registration was held after the service for people who wanted to register for next year’s conference. It was evident by those registering for next year and the spirit of the people after the conference that God moved in the hearts and many were looking forward to next year. Hope to see you there on March 23-25, 2015.

This is the Love of God

1 John 5:3
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

One of the biggest criticisms that I receive is that I need to preach more about the love of God than about the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the Scriptures. Those who are critical of me would say that my type of preaching is hateful and legalistic. Their criticism is that preaching that exposes sin will not reach those who are lost.

Yet, what is the love of God? If you were to ask the critics, they would say that the love of God is that God loves us no matter what we do, and they are right. They would say that the love of God is that Jesus came to Earth to die for man’s sins, and they are right. Certainly, God’s love is revealed in these acts.

However, who better to define the love of God than God Himself? In the verse above, God shows us the definition of His love. He says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments…” This is interesting, because most people would never say that this is the love of God. This means that someone must tell us His commandments so we can keep them. If the love of God is to keep His commandments, then we must know what they are so we can show His love to the world.

Let me explain why God’s commandments are the love of God. I would not be much of a parent if I didn’t tell my daughter what would hurt her in life. If all I do is to tell my daughter I love her, but don’t tell her what would damage her future or destroy her life, then my love would be suspect. Because I love my daughter, I have told her that drugs are bad, alcohol is a sin, lying is not permitted, cheating will bring punishment, etc. All of these things will bring hurtful results in her life. Because I love her, I tell her what is wrong to keep her from hurt. My commandments for my daughter show my love because they keep her from being hurt.

God is called our Father. If He is our Father, then He must teach us what we can and cannot do to keep us from hurting ourselves. In fact, verse 4 shows us that He gives us His commandments so that we can overcome the world. God, in His love, gave us His Word that is filled with commandments by which to live so that we can overcome the world. His love must reveal His commandments to keep us from hurting ourselves.

I contend that those who don’t teach and preach the commandments of God are those who truly don’t want you to know God’s love. God’s commandments are not grievous to those who obey them because we know what they have kept us from doing. Don’t criticize the preacher who is very precise about God’s commandments, for he is only revealing to you God’s love. The preacher with whom you should be upset is the preacher who does not teach you God’s commandments, for he is hiding God’s love from you.

Let me take this thought one step further. Not only is God’s love revealed in His commandments, but our love for God is revealed in what we think of His commandments and what we do with them. If God’s commandments are grievous to us, then our love for God is shallow. If I love God, then I will keep His commandments as John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Let me ask you, how much do you love God and His love for you? If you complain about people teaching you God’s commandments, then you don’t want God’s love. If you don’t live His commandments, then you don’t love God. God’s commandments reveal His love for you because He not only wants to save you from Hell, but He shows you how to live to save you from the world.

Reclaiming Old Paths for Another Generation

by: Emily Carstens and Mitchell Haley

Tuesday started off in a teaching mode. The nine o’clock session was opened with a lively congregational. Dr. Gray then came up to remind the congregation of what God spoke to hearts about the night before. He reminded the crowd of the importance of being “One of Them.” The Victory Trio sang, “Is Anything Too Hard For God?” posing the question as well as reinforcing the truth. After another congregational, Bro. Martinez sang an uplifting song, “He Ransomed Me.”

Dr. Gray then came up to teach a lesson on, “Developing a Morality Mindset.” He emphasized that the purity of heart will show as purity on the outside of a Christian. He went through seven steps to develop that mindset. First, one must realize his depravity. Next, he must insulate himself with morals. Next, he must realize the boundaries he keeps in relation to his struggles. Fourth, he must develop this mindset through the failures of others. Next, one must deal with the first thought so there will not be a second thought. A person must also learn to develop his morality mindset through associations and the right kind of activity. He closed out by saying that the more godly the activity is, the more moral a person will become.

Right after Dr. Gray, Bro. Domelle taught a lesson on “Developing Your Discernment Skills.” He gave five words that will help a person develop his discernment skills. First is terminology, or the words people use. Next, are the associations a person keeps. Third, is a Scriptural stance taken. Next is music. And last of all, are references or who people promote.

From ten until twelve, split sessions were held with the men remaining in the auditorium and the ladies meeting in the fellowship hall. The Longview Baptist Temple teen ladies ensemble sang, “Sweet Jesus” before Mrs. Buchanan spoke to the ladies on the subject, “Some Things I’ve Learned in Forty-Five Years in the Ministry.”

Through jokes and serious illustrations, she taught the ladies many different lessons that she has learned during her time in the ministry, such as being thankful for trials and learning to do right no matter what others are doing.

In the men’s session, Bro. Domelle spoke first on the subject, “Not being the One.” Taken from Luke 9:62, Bro. Domelle emphasized that being wrong minded will cause one to go the wrong direction and to have the wrong kind of preparation. He relayed seven kinds of problems that can cause someone to turn back: marriage problems, moral problems, ministry problems, money problems, methodology problems, motive problems, and mental problems. He taught to avoid being that kind of person one must know what he believes. He must know his weaknesses. He must be honest with his spouse. Lastly, he must find someone from whom he can get help.

After singing, “Without the Blood,” Bro. Martinez then spoke about “The Benefits of Godly Music.” He explained first that godly music promotes holy living. Next, godly music will set someone’s spirit right. Thirdly, godly music will remind us of Heavenly music. Godly music will convict someone. Last of all, godly music will heal the weary.

Bro. Buchanan spoke last during the men’s split sessions on, “The Emerging Church.” His message was to warn the pastors of the growing group of people who believe in the kingdom of God, in a universal church, and in a one-world government. He described their message that they do not believe that Jesus is coming to judge the wicked, that Hell was invented by the Pharisee, and that there is no need for the blood of Jesus. Bro. Buchanan also described the citizens of this emerging church. They believe most people are already part of it, that one can opt out of Heaven, that all races and religions encompass it, and that everybody can be a winner.

Tuesday night was opened up by the LBT choir singing and inspiring song, “To Rescue a Sinner Like Me” reminding the congregation that no matter how good one thinks himself to be, Jesus still came to die for every sinner. The men once again came down to pray for God’s power on the service with Bro. Scott Thomas, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Kilgore, Texas, starting off the prayer and Dr. Bob Gray Sr. finishing it up.

The Joy Trio then came up and sang two songs, “Only the Redeemed” and the “We Shall See Him Medley.” After a congregational, Bro. Martinez sang, “I Sing Because” and “Faces” eliciting “Amen’s” across the auditorium.

Bro. Buchanan then preached his second and final evening message for this conference entitled, “Reproducing Reproducers.” He emphasized in the sermon that God meant for every creature to reproduce after its kind to fill the earth. In the same way, Christians need to reproduce by going soul winning so that way the world can be replenished with soul winning Christians. An altar call was held, and many people responded by going to the altar and yielding to the Holy Spirit conviction.

Fellowship — Pastor Gray II having a time of fellowship with delegate

Bro. Martinez came up again to sing, “At Calvary” and “Five Rows Back.” He urged the congregation to never lose the wonder of their salvation. Bro. Domelle then came up and preached, “Another Generation.” He expressed his concern about America raising a generation that does not know God because the current generation is starting to back up on their standards and easing up. He gave six points illustrating his message. First, he said that there is nothing wrong with the old paths. Next, he reminded that the old paths made us who we are. Third of all, the old paths are not a technology but rather a faith, doctrine, and practice. Next, Christians should stop copying and start seeking. Fifth, Christians need to separate themselves from those who criticize and minimize the old paths. Lastly, Christians need to work the old paths. He ended his sermon with two questions that need to be asked: what are you doing with the old paths and why?

People started to move to the altar before the prayer was even started. It was evident that God spoke to many people about sticking to the old paths so that the next generation will know what God has done and stick to the old paths themselves. After reminders about the Wednesday morning sessions and a little change from this morning’s sessions, Bro. Martinez came up to sing one more song entitled, “I’m Still not Over That I’m Under the Blood,” ending the night with many “Amen’s.”

Pleasant Places

Psalm 16:6
“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”

In my lifetime I have had the privilege of going to some very exotic places. My wife and I have had the privilege of going to Hawaii, a place that we both extremely enjoyed and hope to go back to someday. We have enjoyed going to the Caribbean and seeing some of the beautiful sights there. We have been in the majestic mountains of the United States and enjoyed their grandeur. All of these places I reminisce as pleasant places.

In this psalm, David did not bemoan the fact of who he was and from whence he came. He called the heritage of God a pleasant place and “goodly.” In other words, he looked at his heritage as a place to which he enjoyed going. He looked at his heritage as something of considerable size. It was something of which he was proud.

When we think of what God has done for us, it should be like the pleasant places you go to in your mind; places of enjoyment. I’m afraid there are many who look at the heritage of the LORD as unpleasant places. I find in our day there are many who want to run away from the pleasant places of God’s heritage when we should be running to our heritage and understand that God’s heritage is what has given us many of the blessings we enjoy today. In this psalm we can see many of the things God’s heritage does for us.

First, God’s heritage instructs us. Verse 7 says, “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” If you will not despise the heritage of the LORD, you will find all the counsel you need. Christians don’t need to be running to the unproven methods of modern preachers, instead they need to go to their heritage and let the lessons of the old-time Christians counsel them on what they should do. God’s heritage is the greatest counselor for your life if you will learn to run to it and learn from it.

Second, God’s heritage protects and establishes you. Verse 8 says, “because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” You will find when you live in the heritage God has given you that He will protect you from heartache. Far too many Christians run from God’s lifestyle only to find themselves in heartache and ruin. If you will live in God’s prescribed lifestyle, you will find that He will protect you as you get established in life.

Third, God’s heritage gives you hope for the future. Verse 9 talks about the hope God’s heritage gives. Why does it give hope? Because in verse 11 it shows us the path to take in life. I have found that if I will stay in God’s heritage, God guides me even when I’m not asking for His guidance. I’m amazed how God has protected me from much heartache all because I have lived in the pleasant place of God’s heritage. Because of this, it gives me hope that my future is bright. You can have that same hope for your future if you will let God’s heritage guide your life.

Friend, the heritage of God is found in the pages of the Word of God. Study God’s Word and live how it tells you to live. Study the old-time Christians, and instead of criticizing them for how strict they are, embrace them for they are a part of your heritage. When you look at what God’s heritage can do for you, you can’t help but agree with David that His heritage is a pleasant place to live.

Opening Night: 2014 National Old Paths Conference

Buchanan Speaking — Bro. B.G. Buchanan preaching

by: Emily Carstens

The 2014 National Old Paths Conference kicked off at the Longview Baptist Temple last night. This year’s theme for the Conference is “Christianity 365” emphasizing the need for Christians to be true Christians every day of the year, not just at church. Many pastors from around the country as close as Jefferson, Texas, and as far as Anchorage, Alaska were in attendance. A few missionaries were also in attendance representing the countries of Cameroon, the republic of Georgia and India.

The service was started off with the Longview Baptist Temple choir singing, “His Grace is Still Amazing.” After the first congregational, Dr. Bob Gray, II, pastor of the Longview Baptist Temple, called on the men in the congregation to kneel at the altar and pray for God’s power on the service. Dr. Gray emphasized that the men need to hear from God to ultimately impact the homes. After another congregational, Bro. Alvin Martinez, from North Valley Baptist Church in California, sang two songs. His first song, “I Know a Man Who Can,” reminded Christians that we may not be able to perform miracles, but Jesus is the Man Who can. His second song, “I Take Him Back,” encouraged the crowd to take the Devil back to the day of their salvation when he tries to discourage them from serving the Lord.

Pastor Gray Speaking — Pastor Gray II Speaking

Next Dr. Gray preached the first sermon of the night. He preached on the subject “America Needs Preachers.” He emphasized that fact that America does not need more politicians or more Starbucks stores, but more preachers to preach Jesus. He gave three points to his message. First, if you are a preacher, do not quit, resign, or give up. Secondly, if you have a preacher, support him by saying, “Amen” and smiling. Thirdly, your city is very blessed if it has a preacher preaching the Gospel. He ended out his sermon by stating that a person will never get down the old paths without a preacher.

After Dr. Gray finished preaching, Bro. Martinez returned to the platform to bless the congregation with two more songs, “Just One More Soul” and “We Believe.” Bro. B. G. Buchanan, pastor of the Central Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, preached a great sermon entitled, “I’m One of Them.” His sermon was taken from the story of Peter’s denial of Christ. Bro. Buchanan admonished Christians to be known as Christians by their testimony. Dr. Gray led the invitation and asked the men to identify themselves as dedicating themselves or being dedicated to being “one of those” Christians. The men filled the altars to identify as being “One of Them” who will walk the old paths. The service ended out with the Duckett family singing “His Life for Mine.” Announcements were given then everyone was then asked to return for the morning session at nine for more old fashioned preaching.

It was a great start to the 2014 National Old Paths Conference. God met with the delegates, and the anticipation of the LORD working through the rest of the week was very evident after the service. After a time of fellowship, the delegates left later in the evening anticipating Tuesday’s sessions.