Category: Featured Articles

by: John Teichert

The Bible makes it clear that the Lord is ultimately and eternally trustworthy – 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Indeed, He desires that our faith would lead us into His caring arms, both for our temporal well-being and our eternal well-being. Do today’s Christian Americans rely upon the Lord like we should? Christians in early America certainly did so, and their faith was rewarded with protection and provision.

The authors of the Declaration of Independence staked their lives, their fortunes, and their reputations on the concepts contained in that formative and foundational document. They did so eagerly and willingly, knowing that they were following God’s will and confident in the Lord’s accompanying presence. The closing sentence of the Declaration of Independence vividly demonstrates this thorough trust in Him: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor remain as secure in the Lord’s hands today as they did during our nation’s birth. Do we instead rely upon ourselves to make an impact on our land instead of trusting in the Lord of the old paths? Even worse, have we given up on the Lord’s power to bring about a widespread revival in today’s America?

The solution for our nation’s problems, of which there are plenty, is plainly stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Yet, American Christians have failed to pray as we should. We have failed to live as we should. We have failed to put into practice the principles of this verse. On our watch, we have allowed our country to slip away from its founding Christian principles. As a result, our land now stands in desperate need of healing.

Nearly two years ago, as I was reading Esther 4, I was deeply burdened by the challenge from Mordecai to Esther when he said, “…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” This challenge was a call to action, not just an individual call, but a collective call. Is it possible that we have been placed in our positions in this nation at this time to wrestle America back to godliness through our faithful prayers and actions? If we fail to act, we may miss God’s purpose for our lives; the blessings of God’s plan may pass us by.

As a response to this burden, I began the PLUS Ministry – Prayer at Lunchtime for the United States (http://prayatlunch.us). It is a simple call for Christians to pray daily and fervently for our nation and its leaders to spur widespread revival. The goal is to change our national spirit so that the Lord can change our national direction and bring healing to this land. The PLUS website is a simple tool to encourage prayer, providing bi-weekly prayer helps that are thought-provoking and always Bible based. More importantly than these tools, though, is a desire to see American Christians put PLUS into action by praying faithfully for our nation.

Prayer is the least we should do for our nation, and the most that we can do. Anything we do in our own power is insufficient for the task of transforming our nation. 2 Corinthians 3:5 states, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” The founding fathers recognized that if they were going to be part of something as miraculous as the birth of a new nation like the United States of America, then they needed to firmly rely upon the Lord. In this spirit, they humbled themselves and cast all their care upon Him, recognizing themselves insufficient for the task at hand. The result was an exalted nation.

If today’s American Christians are going to be part of something as miraculous as the rebirth of our nation through widespread revival, then we too need to firmly rely upon the Lord. We must humble ourselves and cast all our care upon Him. The nation will never be exalted once again unless we do so.

If you are like me, you yearn to be part of something miraculous in this land; you desire to see it return to the old paths and be healed. Such a transformation won’t come from the magnificent works of our hands, but by the heavenly reliance of our hearts. No matter what position you hold, you cannot make more of an impact on our nation than you can by praying. Please do so!

John Teichert
http://prayatlunch.us

by: Jason Williams

This Tuesday is a big day for me. It is the day of our statewide elections. Several of my closest friends will go through a painstaking process where they learn if they were voted into office or not. For me, election night is HUGE!  It is huge because election night is HUGE for my friends. When they win, I feel like I win, when they lose, I feel like I lose. I feel for them, and the weight they will be carrying Tuesday. In fact, I have already been praying for them, that God will give them peace, wisdom, and strength next Tuesday night. This night will determine the rest of their lives and shape the future of Ohio, and thus America, and thus the World.

But what about you? Maybe you don’t know someone who is running for office. Maybe you are thinking, does the local election really matter? I mean it’s not a presidential election, right? Besides, you have barely even heard about the local elections because of all this talk about Ebola and workplace violence. So, if it doesn’t matter to the major networks, and it doesn’t really matter as much as picking a president, then why should it matter to you, right?

What if I told you local leadership mattered to God? 

In fact, God gave us a blueprint for local leadership in Exodus 18

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” (Exodus 18:13-18)

Moses was trying to run his followers from a single seat and God, through Jethro, instructed him that this was not the proper way to lead. Instead, he gave Moses a set of guidelines that involved breaking the people into small groups and letting leaders emerge from these groups to rule those they knew.

Read the rest of the chapter to see how this went

This marked one of the major changes for the children of Israel and shaped their culture, and thus, the culture of a nation built on the Judeo-Christian model. The impact of this one move has been felt for centuries, and today we enjoy the freedom from this decision.

So, while it may not seem like a huge deal to those around us, we as Christians must act on the things that matter to God and go out and vote our faith, both in the local and the national elections.

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

by: Dr. Bruce Goddard

If there is one change among many that stands out in America, it is the lack of desire to work, to perform, to achieve. Other than in sports, evil leaders have sedated society so they are content with less work, less achievement, and are happy to take a handout rather than work to earn the spoils of labor and enterprise.

I was told New Mexico Christian schools have almost entirely changed over to a totally non-contact flag football. Schools nationwide are pushing games in which there are no winners and no losers. (By the way, in that game, all are losers.) Ask our employers how often they find a worker that wants to work, to produce and perform. When I was working at UPS, our evening four-hour shift moved more packages than the eight-hour day shift. Most of us were Bible college students who possessed drive and passion. Union-protected laziness had not yet seeped into our souls.

Children are lazy in school, and worse, are allowed to be so. Military folks can get a timeout, do less, and are being “protected” from mean leaders who would push them to their limits and excellence. Workers on jobs are allowed to be habitually late, casual on the job, and put in their time for a paycheck rather than be pushed to produce. Unions and labor laws protect the slothful and encourage the apathetic spirit in employes. Cigarette breaks are a legal right; a man has protected maternity leave to care for his wife around delivery time. (Do you panic at this? Why should your employer pay you to sit home doing nothing for the good of the company? Save up your vacation days and earn the time off. You did have nine months warning that this was going to happen.)

Folks who never tried in school or pushed to learn a skill, and then end up working at a fast-food restaurant are now getting national rights to exceptional wages (and it took only two days of training to learn the whole job). Doctors and engineers who take decades to learn and excel at their job are being told they deserve no more pay than the languid, uneducated people who have no more energy or passion than a convict wandering from cell to cafeteria.

Great judgment awaits the careless and listless, both as an individual and as a society.

Isaiah 47:8, “Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly…”

Ezekiel 39:6, “And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

Evil educators and lawmakers are doing their best to punish the inventor, condemn the prudent, and demean the producer. They are making a concerted effort to drain mankind of the dreamer, the innovative, the one whose desire is to “do exploits.”

Daniel 11:32, “…the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Too many young men have had the “dare” stolen from them, (and it happened in Bible college.) They will not take a risk; they fear failure; they doubt their abilities and shun attempting the hard task; consequently our mission fields are empty and our pulpits void of men. Starting a church and having to fight the battle against spiritual wickedness in high places is simply not on their “bucket list.” (God forgive us and give us men!)

We forget that God placed us on Earth to achieve as Daniel says. The closer we are to God, the more we are going to search, think and plan. As we draw near to God, we will find inspiration to create and develop. See how God blessed Abraham and Isaac. They dug wells to prosper their flocks; why didn’t others do this? No passion, no dream of excellence or desire to better their lot in life. Joseph did not find greatness dumped into his lap; he thought, planned and drew near to God. Heavenly wisdom engineered a solution to the things the nation was going to face.

God says it is a GLORY to search, dream and develop.

Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”

Leadership demands a soul that searches out solutions while others sit idly by.

Having no value to their lives and no goals for their days, far too many people want to retire, to squat worthlessly in some ineffective hole.

Zephaniah 2:15, “This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.”

That city which “dwelt carelessly,” ended up a mockery; people shall hiss and wag their heads, and if someone does not revive the fervor and spark the enthusiasm in America, we will be a silly memory, laughed at and pitifully situated among the failed societies of history.

When my pastor visited our church, we spoke of plans, talked about the future, and at over 80 years of age, he was almost drooling as he said, “If I were a little younger, I would come down here, and we would build something big for God.” He had not lost his passion nor desire to achieve.

Dr. Hyles was a man who never stopped pushing, dreaming or building, and he poured that passion into us as young men.

We must ask ourselves: What are we doing to determine whether our children and those we influence will be zealous or apathetic?

Dwelling carelessly or doing exploits?  Where are we going?

Dr. Bruce Goddard, Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA
http://thepreachersfriend.com

by: Pastor David Owens

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Years ago I heard Bro. Jack Hyles preach his sermon entitled, “Duty.” As this truth from God’s Word slowly sank into my heart, I came to realize that whatever motivates a Christian to serve God falls under “duty.” This truth of understanding duty can grow you into the faithful Christian you and I are supposed to be.

Recently someone gave me some excerpts claiming that serving God should come out of pure or sacred motives. The premise was that serving God on the sole basis of duty is cold and heartless. The idea was given that “duty” is somehow not as spiritual as some other sacred motive. The truth is, we don’t always love God as we ought, we are not always as excited as we once were and sometimes we don’t even know why we do what we do.

Duty is a pure motive. Duty is what makes God keep His Word. Duty is what made Christ go to the cross. Duty is what keeps a marriage together. Duty is what keeps Christians faithful. Duty is what makes children obey. Duty is what makes a faithful soul winner. Duty is what makes pastors keep on when discouraged. Obedience and faithfulness is nothing less than keeping your duty. Duty is godly! Christian, I pray you will allow the truth in this short article to help you to be faithful when you don’t feel like it.

What is wrong with a motive that says “to do my duty” or “to obey God”? One who fulfills his duty to God is at least willing to keep their duty to submit to Him. “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” (2 Corinthians 8:12) This, having a willing mind, sounds like a very sacred motive to me and not cold or heartless at all.

Why does God tell us to love Him? Because we do not have it in us to love apart from obeying His command to love Him. Loving God is done out of duty. Having a right heart only makes it easier to keep my duty, but I love because it is first my duty to love. Keeping my duty does glorify God, for it is my duty to glorify God. Bearing fruit is a duty, for I am commanded to bear fruit even if my heart is not broken over lost souls. It is my duty to do good works, praise God and give generously, for God commands all of these. Are you willing to keep your duty? Duty is the only motivation we need, for if we keep our duty we will love Him.

You see Christian, duty does come from the heart, for no one will keep their duty unless they determine to do so. Duty includes the outward and the inward, the outward works and the inward spirit. God commanded in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “…glorify God in your body, and in your spirit…”, and in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “…do all to the glory of God.” All of these are my duty. Good motives are not the foundation, duty is the foundation.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Man cannot of himself have pure sacred motives for man is a sinner and always falls short of the glory of God. Even a Christian cannot have pure motives, for we still have a carnal nature. It is a foolish parent who only requires obedience if the child wants to obey.

We read in Scripture that Israel and the Pharisees had outward works without the right heart. This only strengthens the premise that duty is more important than motives. If they had kept their duty to God by completely obeying Him, they would have allowed God to change their hearts also. They would have loved the LORD their God with all their heart.

Israel’s motives were not amiss, they failed to keep their whole duty. The Pharisees motives were not the problem, the problem was that they failed to keep their duty concerning their heart, they left part of their duty undone. Wanting to worship sounds like a sacred motive, but Saul was rejected because he failed to keep his whole duty.

The Christian who puts the emphasis on motives opens the door to thinking that one only needs to do their duty if they have the right motives. This leads to the idea that one must first understand before they must obey and that man is capable of right without God’s help. Everyone believes their own motives are sacred. Judges 17:6 says, “…every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” As humans we have the ability to go to the Bible and find a verse to justify our actions. Stressing motives leads to compromise in such areas as music, standards, separation, contemporary church services and even God’s Word itself. It doesn’t matter why Eve disobeyed God, the point is she disobeyed God. Actually, sinners get saved for a very selfish reason, they do not want to go to Hell. The next steps after salvation are to learn to keep my duty, baptism, church, love Him, soul winning, praise Him, glorify Him, listen to Him, pray, have virtuous thoughts, endure hardness, etc. Every command is a duty. Where do motives fit in? What is the scriptural word for motives? My heart? Well again, having a right heart is a duty. As a soldier, an ambassador or a child of God, duty is primary. Good motives only make my duties enjoyable.

Child of God, it is a weak anemic Christian who is looking for some warm touchy-feely reason to obey God and fulfill your duty. The only right motive is a motive to obey God, to fulfill my duties to my heavenly Father. Duty includes obeying God outwardly and inwardly. There is only one right motive, “thus saith the LORD.”

This is the conclusion of the whole matter concerning motives…

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Pastor David Owens
Westside Baptist Church
Pacifica, CA

by: Dr. Bruce Goddard

The Devil is constantly looking for ways to turn us from the truth and from a productive life for the honor and glory of God. He“walketh about,” around and around looking and attacking.  So, when one battle is passed and we do not fall, he will come at us from another direction trying to find a weak spot or a moment when we are not vigilant and therefore stumble.

If we do not fall in morals, he attacks our family. If no weakness is found there, he will try to get us to slip off into foolish doctrine. Anything to get us to turn aside will be fine: booze or morals, doctrine or marriage.

Notice Paul’s warning to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15-16 when he says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

“Study” is the exhortation, or we will get messed up in our thinking. But also there are things we should not even read or consider. Verse 16 says, “But shun profane and vain babblings…”

There are times when error will slip in front of us and we should simply push it away. We know it is not right, it is not what we were taught, we know it comes from a flawed source, so we are told to “shun” that thought. When little interesting thoughts catch us, we consider things, we may even enter into vain arguments. Why let someone who is doing nothing get us to join him in a verbal or written battle so we too can do nothing?  Not a good choice!

Walk with God, love people, teach your Sunday School class, go soul winning, run your bus route, work in the nursery and “shun profane and vain babblings…”

Paul dealt with this earlier in his writings to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:4 when he says, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

When things create questions rather than godly edifying, we ought to shun them. Understand the Devil can come robed either in the teacher’s garments or the prostitutes attire. Both can ruin us.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Be careful to whom you give your mind, and by all means, study your Bible.

Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA

by: Rick Walter

Acts 21:1-4

“And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.”

The Apostle Paul, on his third missionary trip, made his way to Jerusalem. We find him doing something that is out of character for him. Up to this point, Paul’s life had been characterized by obedience to God. Even as a lost Pharisee, he thought he was obeying God when he persecuted the disciples.  All of that was about to change.

Paul made a decision to be in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16 says, “…he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.” That was his desire. It was not a bad or sinful desire. It was not wrong for Paul to want to be in Jerusalem for such a special day, but his desire to be there caused some problems that lasted the rest of his life.

Acts 20:22 tells us that Paul went “bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there.” Paul made his way toward Jerusalem “bound in the spirit.” That is not the Holy Spirit, but his own spirit. In other words, Paul made up his mind that this was what he was going to do and nobody was going to talk him out of it. That sounds like a lot of people I know. In this statement, Paul admitted that he didn’t know what would happen when he arrived in Jerusalem.

In verse 23, Paul stated that he has been warned, and the “Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” The Holy Spirit warned him in “every city”  that if he went to Jerusalem he would be bound. Yet, Paul had his mind made up. He was “bound in the spirit.” His reply to the warning of the Holy Spirit is found in verse 24 where he says, “… none of these things move me.” In other words, Paul was saying that he did not care. What would make the great Apostle Paul so indifferent to the leading of the Holy Spirit?

Romans 10:1 shows us Paul’s heart. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Paul had a great burden for the Jews to be saved. That was his motivating factor. That desire became the driving force in his life, even to the point of disobeying the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 21, Paul was warned three times not to go to Jerusalem. In verse 4, he was warned “through the Spirit.” In verses 10-11, Paul was warned by the prophet Agabus from “the Holy Ghost.” He was warned again by those with him in verse 12. Paul’s response came very quickly. He said, “…I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” What devotion. What courage. No! What disobedience. God did not want Paul to go to Jerusalem, but he already had his mind made up, and not even the Holy Spirit could change his mind!  Paul was being hard-headed and stubborn. The people with him could only reply with, “… The will of the Lord be done.” Paul continued on his way to Jerusalem.

Paul was a great man, a great preacher, a great missionary, and a great Christian, but at this point in his life he was out of God’s will. He left God’s will because of stubbornness. God’s people said, “The will of the Lord be done.” How can it be done? Paul forfeited God’s will. Sure, God can and did use Paul after this, but this was not God’s plan for Paul’s life. Paul went where he should not have gone and ended up doing something he should not have done when he took a Jewish vow. This led to his arrest and later his death.

What was God’s will for Paul?

In Acts 9:15, when Paul got saved on the road to Damascus, God made that will very clear, “… for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” God saved Paul so that he could reach the Gentiles. God listed the Gentiles first because that was to be Paul’s focus. In Acts 16:9, Paul received what we call the “Macedonian call.” Macedonia was in Europe. It was a land of the Gentiles. God was using Paul to reach the Gentile world. In fact, when Paul reported back to James, in Acts 21:18-19, he told them of the great things God had done through his ministry to the Gentiles.

It was not God’s will for Paul to reach Jerusalem. We know that because God never told him to go to Jerusalem, and God warned him at least three times not to go. But Paul had a burden for the Jews. It is very important for us to understand that a burden does not constitute a call. I have a burden for an area of Ohio where many of my family members live. They need a good church. I have a burden to go there and start a church, but God has not called me there. He has called me to Maine. No matter how strong the burden may be I must do God’s will.

There are several lessons to be remembered about God’s will.

     1. There is safety in God’s will.

God protected Paul and cared for him through all of his journeys. When Paul was stoned to death, God raised him up. God delivered him numerous times from angry mobs. When Paul disobeyed and went to Jerusalem, there was no deliverance from the bonds and no deliverance from a martyr’s death. When we go against God’s will, we will suffer for it.

     2. God’s will is about a place as much as it is about a task.

God gave Abraham a place. God told Lot to go to a place when He was going to destroy Sodom. God told Lot that He could not do anything until Lot got to that place. Elijah was sent to a place. Abraham sent his servant to a certain place to find a bride for Isaac. Jesus Christ was born in a specific place. God’s will is just as much about the where, as it is about the what. God has a place for you to live. He has a place for you to work, to go to college, etc.

     3. God’s will is found through obedience. (Genesis 24:4, 9-10, 27)

Abraham’s servant obeyed his master and went where he was told to go and found the bride that God had planned for Isaac. We will never find God’s will until we learn to obey God and His Word.

     4. God’s will is found through prayer. (Genesis 24:12-15)

Abraham’s servant prayed, and as soon as he finished his prayer God had already answered. Don’t tell me that you are in God’s will or are doing God’s will if you have never taken the time to pray about it.

     5. God’s will is not to be doubted. (Genesis 24:21)

The servant prayed a specific prayer and God gave him the exact answer; yet, he still doubted. When you take the time to obey God and pray, do not be surprised when God reveals His will.

     6. God’s will is not to be challenged. (Genesis 24:50-51)

Rebecca’s family did not fight against what God was doing in her life. Do not challenge God’s will. This is for the parents and the family who are “left behind.”

     7. God’s will is urgent. (Genesis 24:56)

When the family asked the servant to tarry a while, he said, “No.” He was in a hurry to get the job finished. Do not procrastinate when you know what God wants you to do. Procrastination just means that God may have to take drastic measures to get your attention.

     8. God’s will brings comfort. (Genesis 24:67)

Isaac took Rebecca and was comforted after his mother’s death. There is comfort in knowing that I am where God wants me to be and that I am doing what God wants me to do.

     9. God’s will requires patience. (Hebrews 10:36)

Many of us are not patient enough to wait for God to reveal His will, so we try to “help” Him out.

     10. God’s will requires submission. (1 Peter 2:13-15)

We must submit our will to His will so that we can truly be in His will.

     11. God’s will takes precedence. (1 Peter 4:2)

There is nothing more important than doing God’s will. No matter what else we may want to do, God’s will takes precedence.

     12. God’s will can be known. (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18, 2 Timothy 1:1, 2 Corinthians 8:5)

Over and over again the Bible makes it clear that God wants us to know His will for our lives. Just like we know that we are saved, we should know God’s will for our lives.

     13. God’s will is something we do. (Ephesians 6:6, Colossians 4:12)

God’s will is more than just sitting in a church pew listening to the preacher. God’s will is about getting a job done.

     14. God’s will is about our way of thinking. (Romans 12:2)

God said that we need to renew our minds so that we may know what His will is. We cannot know His will if we are carnal.

     15. God’s will is about serving others. (Acts 13:36)

We are to serve our generation “by the will of God.” God’s will is about serving and helping others.

Remembering these things, it is impossible to say that Paul was in God’s will when he went to Jerusalem. The question is this, are you in God’s will or are you “bound in the spirit” like Paul?

Rick Walter
Pastor
Victory Baptist Church
Winthrop, ME

by: Dr. Bruce Goddard

When one of my children was little, I was cooking breakfast, and for some reason they got the idea that mixing something in a different way would be better. (You know the kind of thing, chocolate chips in the green beans or something like that.) It was a terrible idea, but it sounded good to the inexperienced cook. We went ahead and tried it the way my child imagined, and the product was far from palatable.

Just because something sounds good or just because you get an idea, does not mean it will work out. That is how the ministry is. It is not a question of the style of music in my church versus the style of music in another church. The question is, what kind of a product does it turn out? Just how does it taste when it is all done?

It is not a question of the style of youth activities or the style of the youth program; rather, the quality of young adults produced.

It is not a question of the style of preaching in one church or another; rather, the caliber of disciples trained through that preaching. Of course, God can use whatever He wants, and there are many things God does use, but if one “style” is consistently blessed and producing a great product while another “style” feeds our personal appetites but fails to produce a quality product, then that “style” probably needs to be dumped. Then, pick up the “style” that God uses.

Many a recipe has been tried only to be thoroughly appalling when it was tasted.

Let us be sure that style does not win over product. Let us model a successful product and let us not experiment with the eternal destiny of people. We would be wise to follow the OLD PATHS as no life is worth our experiment. How many will we loose trying new recipes? It is simply not worth it.

Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA
http://thepreachersfriend.com

by: Jason Williams

One of the major issues dividing America today is the issue of homosexuality. Unfortunately, on this issue the church is far too silent by allowing ourselves to be painted as hateful bigots when nothing is further from the truth.

The real question is not what do you and I think about homosexuality, the real question is what does God think about sin?

What society has done is it made homosexuality a separate issue from other sin. The Bible makes it clear that Christ died for all sin, and that sin is not placed in separate compartments in God’s eyes.  This is what man has done, we have made homosexuality different than lust, envy, adultery or fornication. But all four of these sins are the Same. They are sexual perversions of what God intended to be a beautiful and wonderful gift for mankind. This isn’t a new problem because this goes all the way back to ancient times and places where man (not God) named their towns after their sins.

The truth is, the real issue is pride. The Bible makes it very clear in Proverbs 16:18 that “pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” In fact, on the list of things that the Bible says God hates, pride is number one.

This is where we all have to be very careful. It is just as wrong for me to be proud of the fact that I don’t struggle with something as it is for someone else to be proud of what they struggle with.

Therein lies the real problem today. Pride. When you name your events after a sin, you are shaking your fist at the One Who loves you, hand fashioned you, and died for you. The One Who stands waiting with arms wide open wanting to welcome you into His love and His mercy, but it’s pride that stands in the way. We take pride in our perversions and demand that they be accepted by God. This is no different than if we had a parade for liars and demanded that God accept our lies.

See Satan has tried to force on us that evil is good and good is evil.  He even wants to change our words like marriage.

Many words are changing, but I want to focus on one word, and that word is “Marriage.” Just last month the U.S. Supreme Court ignored the Constitution, overstepped the wishes of the people and decided that the word “marriage” can be changed. Herein lies the problem, our government did not create marriage, God did; therefore, they have no more authority to define marriage than you or I do. You see a word is only as powerful as what it describes, and marriage defines a union instituted by God Himself. In fact, the very first words uttered in history by man are spoken immediately following the creation of this union.

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:21-24 KJV)

God created marriage and we cannot change it. While our Supreme Court can ignore the wishes of the people, while our legislators can claim they are changing marriage, while our president can force his will on us in this “free society” and demand that we “evolve” our viewpoint on the word like he did, and while we can be punished for disagreeing with them, nothing changes. Marriage is from God, so marriage, like God, will not change regardless of what we say. Simply put, all our words together cannot undo what God in one word defined, and nobody or word is more powerful than that.

We believe that all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

We believe that while we (humanity) was in sin, Christ died for the world.

We believe that homosexuality is a sin just like lying is a sin.

We believe that the only thing that stands between a sinner and Saviour is pride.

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

by: Mike Johnson

If you are wondering what the purpose of the Nazarite vow was, it is found in the word used eight times in Numbers 6:1-8. The Nazarite vow was a vow of separation, and therein is the purpose for this article – to understand the reasons for, the guidelines for, and specifics of separation.

Separation is and always has been a “hot button” issue. Unfortunately, many preachers and churches in our independent, fundamental Baptist movement have left this doctrine out, redefined it, or marginalized it.

Separation began in Scripture when God separated light from darkness as the first step in creation and it continues as a part of God’s Word until the Revelation where God separates the saved from the lost with the saved in Heaven and the lost in Hell.

Consider the Nazarite vow and how it applies to separation in our day:

1) It was a choice. (Numbers 6:2)

The person who took the Nazarite vow chose “…to separate themselves unto the Lord.” That does not mean that God leaves it up to each Christian whether or not to lead a separated life. God commands us to live a separated life. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:15-16 & 2:5, 9: 2 Peter 3:11; Ephesians 1:4; 5:26; Titus 2:11-12)

The reason we should choose separation is because it pleases God and because of what we gain when we choose to live a separated life. For this California raised hippy boy of the 60’s, when I first heard about separation from the world in which I lived, I thought of what it would cost me. Then a statement made after the call of God in 2 Corinthians 6:17 to “…come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord…” caught my attention. The statement is found in verse 17, “…and I will receive you.” Then it dawned on me – it is not what I lose, but what I gain by separating myself. I gain a closer fellowship with God. Separation is not about my relationship with God. That comes through salvation. However, my fellowship with God is affected by whether or not I am willing to separate myself unto a holy God. Separation is about what I gain, not what I lose.

2) It was a vow. (Numbers 6:2)

The vow of a Nazarite was a covenant promise between the one choosing to be a Nazarite and God. That Nazarite vow usually lasted for a period of time. Sometimes the Nazarite vow was for a lifetime. We know of a few who were Nazarites from their mother’s womb: Samuel, Samson and John the Baptist.

The vow of a Nazarite was a promise made by the Nazarite to live by the guidelines and restrictions expected of them. No matter where they were or where they went, they adjusted their life and choices to honor their vow to God.

Living a separated life for us today calls us to honor God’s Word no matter where we are or where we go. There are no geographical limitations, no limitations of age, era or time. Simply put, I am to honor the principles of God’s Word in the area of separation throughout my entire life, no matter where I am or what I do. If we are true to God’s Word, we change what we are and do to honor God’s Word, not change what the Bible expects of us so we can do what we want. Change your life to live the Bible; do not change the Bible to live your life.

3) It was a distinction.

The Nazarite vow in verses 7-8 speaks of the Nazarite being “consecrated” and “holy” (vs. 8), both are expressions of the result of being separated. Too many think that being separated in my life means to keep my distance from the world and sin. The problem with a distance instead of a distinction is that the world – the ordered system that operates in this life whose god is Satan – is in a constant flux of change. 1 John 2:15-17 tells me to love not the world (vs. 15-16). Then in verse 17 it says, “And the world passeth away and the lust thereof…” The world is constantly changing what it believes, accepts, tolerates and does. If the child of God only keeps their distance, then the child of God will be what the world once was. A classic example is the contemporary Christian music of today. In the 1970’s, contemporary Christian music was Evie, Amy Grant (when she started), etc. Today, that same contemporary Christian music has any and every variety of music that is just like what is in the world. Sadly, some independent, fundamental Baptist churches have the music of the contemporary Christian music movement that we saw in the 70’s!

Separation is a distinction, not a distance. Again, 1 John 2:17, “…but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” A sound biblical position of separation will cause us to have and live a distinctive life that does not change.

It would be helpful here to define a conviction verses a preference. A conviction is a belief or practice based on God’s Word that never changes. A preference is a belief or practice that may or may not be based on the Bible and can and will change.

What are the areas of separation for us today? Numbers 6:3-8 gave the Nazarite three areas of their vow of separation that transfer well today.

1) Area of Extremes (vs. 3-4)

The Nazarite in these verses was not to drink wine (vs. 3). Notice how he was to avoid drinking wine (vs. 3-4). He would not drink vinegar (vs. 3), and then no “…liquor of grapes…”, basically grape juice, not fermented (vs. 3). Then no raisins (vs. 3) and then he was not to even touch the vine (vs. 4). Nevertheless, the vow of separation was not to drink wine. However, to avoid drinking wine, he was to not drink vinegar, grape juice, eat raisins nor touch the vine. By the way, there was nothing wrong with any of the other products of the grape and its vine. In order to keep the Nazarite from the wrong God wanted him to avoid, he needed to establish what seemed like an extreme boundary between him and the wrong he was to avoid.

Some areas of separation will seem extreme, yet the wise God of Heaven knows if we set our boundaries between us and sin we will have no buffer between wrong and us. Wise is the child of God who keeps a distinction between themselves and the sin and carnality of this world that provides a boundary of safety.

As a pastor, I would love to hear someone ask me, “What’s right about …?” For 35 years it has been, “What’s wrong with …?” We want to know how close to wrong we can be and still be right. Biblical separation sets some safe though at times seemingly extreme boundaries between us and sin.

2) The Area of Externals (vs. 5)

The Nazarite was not to cut their hair. Both men and women took the Nazarite vow. However, for a man in the Hebrew culture to have long hair was a very clear distinctive that indicated they had taken a Nazarite vow. The point was that the external look of the Nazarite indicated they had separated themselves unto God.

For the child of God today, how we look and appear has two guidelines in Scripture: Masculine/feminine and modesty.

God made men and women differently. “Male and female created he them…” Genesis 1:27. Those lines of distinction in our creation are to be kept as God intended them. Deuteronomy 22:5 is very clear that we are not to wear each other’s garments. Though the garments are not specifically mentioned, the principle of distinction applies. Look at Deuteronomy 22:5, consider the second half of the verse first, and answer for yourself what garment that a woman wears should a man not wear? Why does the bathroom door at the airport have it figured out and we do not? Yet, a million males in America wear a dress every day. If your pastor came to the pulpit in a dress, wouldn’t you think he had lost it? Then why is the first part of Deuteronomy 22:5 as it applies to women such a problem concerning a woman wearing pants? Let me give you the excuses I have heard concerning Deuteronomy 22:5 and applying it today. “It is Old Testament.” Yes, and it is the only chapter in the Bible condemning the rape of a woman. God did not write a Bible with Old and New Testaments. Man put those divisions there for the sake of better understanding the divisions of biblical eras.

“Both men and women wore robes at one time.” Yes, but they were distinctive in their length. Men wore shorter robes with britches to the knee under them and women longer ones with adornment of head coverings, jewelry, etc.

“I can’t do what I do and be modest in a dress.” Then either change what you do or change the Bible.

If you need New Testament for your help, consider 1 Timothy 2:9. The key is not so much the call for a woman to adorn herself in something modest, but it is in the word “apparel.” The word “apparel” is kata stole. A long or let down dress that is of modest length and covering is what is called for.

God intended that a man look like a man from all angles and appearances and a woman to be and do the same.

A man’s hair should be distinctive of a man. 1 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that is it a shame for a man to have long hair. How long is long? The key is in the statement “…doth not even nature itself teach you…” The natural way is that God has given every man a natural hairline. The hair length should not exceed the natural hairline. I believe that is in either direction. Do not get a haircut that looks like you were attacked by a weed whacker either! If God moves your hairline, go with what He gives you.

The second area of external distinctive for us today is the area of modesty.

It is possible to wear modest clothing that is of proper length and style. That is for both men and women.

The guideline for modesty is form and flesh.

If the clothing is so tight or form fitting that it reveals the body, then it is not modest. If the clothing reveals the private areas of the bosoms, thighs, etc., then it is not modest. Isaiah 47:1-3 says if we uncover the thigh, we are exposing our nakedness. Men and women need to be concerned with their external distinctive.

3) The Area of Entanglements (vs. 6-8)

The Nazarite was not to come near a dead body even if it were his own family while he was under the Nazarite vow.

The analogy here for our modern day understanding is concerning separation to not become yoked together with those who, according to Ephesians 2:1, are dead in trespasses and sins. Simply put, we are to keep ourselves separated from the influence of the unsaved. Of course, we love them, witness to them, and are kind and friendly to them. However, we do not create relationships whereby we do what they do and live as they live.

We need to have a separation distinctive in this area whereby we do not partake of the attitude of the lost, the approach to life of the lost, the actions of the lost or the affiliations with the lost as in friendships, business, partnerships, etc.

We are to be as Jesus said in His Lord’s prayer in John 17 – in this world, but not of it. We can be friendly with the unsaved and loving and kind, but we cannot become what they are.

Some believe that is how you reach the world – be like them, look like them, act like them, etc. That makes as much sense as breaking off a branch and jumping into quicksand to save someone.

The Nazarite vow is not for our day today, but a vow of separation certainly is and should be. The real question is not how far should I go, the real question is how close do I want to get to God? Is anything, anyone, any matter more important to me than my fellowship with God?

Mike Johnson
Pastor
Shasta Baptist Church
Redding, CA

by: Dr. Bruce Goddard

As I read Samuel Adams thoughts on peace and fighting I ponder our pulpits;

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”

Are preachers so consumed with peace and prosperity that we forge the chains of doctrinal and practical slavery.

Wesley was ran out of the church so he preached in the field where thousands came to hear him. Moody was not accepted in the normal circle of preachers, he wanted to bring in children, rag-a-muffin dirty kids, so his church asked him not to bring them or go elsewhere.  He rented a former bar, cleaned it up and shook America for God.

Charles Spurgeon was not well received among the preachers of his day; they would not ordain him to the ministry, so he went out on his own and built a work for God.

One of the men who God used to point me into the ministry was building a large dynamic church. He was passionate for souls, and lived a separated life. Years later, as I pastored I heard his name mentioned by a man who turned out to be his brother. Asking about his sibling whom God used in my life, I was informed that he had taken the most sedate, rich church imaginable. His logic was, the money, the comfort, and no pressure.

I turn back to Sam Adams, “Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.”

I feel like preachers today are studying, but not like most of us do. They are studying the givers, studying the numbers, studying the movements in America and trying to find that place of ease, prosperity and promotion.

When Dr. Hyles was told by Southern Baptist leaders he could not preach on sin in his pulpit, it was only an early warning for all of us who have to make up our minds Who we serve and Who called us. Let the crowd bind your hands or find liberty in Christ and preach the Book!

It was President Lincoln who said, “When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.” I guess he had not heard of the pastor/teacher.

“Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you” or stand up and determine to honor God. Every great preacher has people leave, and if you cut a corner to keep one, you’ll do it again and again and you’ll soon be cutting your throat.

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom…” Go on, find out what they want to hear and say it. Let members put the spiritual fence around your preaching. Let attendance and offerings be your north star to determine the music and preaching of your ministry. But remember, the church belongs to the one who makes the rules. Mine belongs to God.

2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA
http://thepreachersfriend.com/