Needed: A Revival

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:53)

Those were the days of the judges in Israel, before they had a king. Moses, Israel’s long time leader, had died. His successor, Joshua, had also died. Israel had gone from one siege of evil to another during the days of the judges. With no king and with every man doing what was right in his own eyes, it might have worked but the Bible says “all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes.”  (Proverbs 16:2) God through Moses had given them a system of laws but they were primarily disregarded.

Not having an earthly king or set of laws to which to adhere can lead to anarchy, lawlessness and political disorder. One is reminded of the lawlessness of the Wild West and the open range laws of America when every man was a law to himself.

We must look to a higher law than ourselves and to a Greater King than some earthly potentate. To do only those things that are right in one’s own eyes will destroy nations, homes and individual lives. When Madelyn Murray O’Hare led the successful rebellion against the Bible a few years ago and with the Supreme Court agreeing with her, our nation has been on a downhill, rebellious slide away from God from then until now. May God have mercy on this nation and give us a spiritual awakening.

You Can’t Hide From God

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:7)

Never say children can’t grasp what is being said from the pulpit in “BIG CHURCH.” I recall a scene from my childhood. I was probably six or seven and our pastor was preaching from Psalm 139. When he came to our text for today I began to try to think of ways and places where one might hide from God, a place where there would be only enough space for me. I thought, “If one could somehow squeeze inside a stove-pipe, God would not be able to get in there too.” It was not that I wanted to hide from God, but my childish, immature mind was just wondering (and wandering).

How thankful I am that God is “ever-present,” and that this verse is a comfort to the child of God and not a challenge to God’s omni-presence. The child of God can trust Him to always be present in the bad times, the good times and all the time.

Pray for Jerusalem

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalm 122:6)

The above admonition was needed when David wrote this psalm. It continues to be a worthy admonition today. God had told Abraham that, “I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3) From that day to this and when Jerusalem became the city representing the nation of Israel, Israel has been under attack by the powers of the world.

The late, Dr. W.A. Criswell, for many years pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, said he went to the Holy Land and while there visited Jerusalem. When he returned home he and a Jewish friend were having lunch. In the middle of their meal his friend leaned forward toward Dr. Criswell and with tears in his eyes asked, “How is the old city? How is Jerusalem, our home?” The Jews revere Jerusalem.  The kingdoms of the world hate her and what she stands for. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

God has not written off Jerusalem or His people. There is a rich blessing coming for them in the future. Our nation and our leaders would be wise to remember the promises of God concerning Jerusalem. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep…

“He will not suffer (allow) thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:3-4)

Following World War Two some young people were listening to a lady who had survived Germany’s bombing attacks of London, England. Every night air raid sirens were sounding all over the city. There were exploding bombs, fires, buildings falling, thick dust and people crying. As the young people listened there came a lull in the conversation. A girl asked, “What did you do? Weren’t you awfully scared?” The lady responded, “No I wasn’t scared. I went to bed and went to sleep. I had read in the Bible where it says God never slumbers nor sleeps. I didn’t see any reason for both of us to stay awake.”

God is constantly watching over us, even when we are asleep and do not realize we might be in danger. Have faith in God.

What is Your Heart’s Desire?

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1)

What is your greatest desire, the burden of your heart?  Perhaps down in the depth of your heart you have a debt on you house you would like to get paid off. Maybe the burden of your heart is to have money available to send your kids to college. The Apostle Paul’s heart’s desire was that Israel, his kin folks, would be saved. He demonstrated that desire by pouring his very soul into the spread of the Gospel, even to the point of physical persecution and threat of death.

You and I as Christians need such a passion for the world of lost people around us. Paul had said in the preceding chapter that he could wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:3)

Let us ask God to give us a burning, yearning desire to see lost people come to know the Lord.

Christ Lifted Up

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death He should die.” (John 12: 32-33)

Jesus knew that He would die on the cross of Calvary. He also knew that His being lifted up and dying on the cross would draw all men to Him. Some would be drawn out of necessity, knowing that His cure is the only cure for sin. Others might be drawn out of cynicism, finding fault with the claim that His way was/is the only way. Still others perhaps are drawn from simple curiosity.

He has been lifted up on the cross. As He said to Nicodemus in that night-time visit long ago, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

Not only was He lifted up on the cross, He was lifted up from the grave in resurrection power. He has been lifted up to the Father’s right hand where He makes intercession for us. He is lifted up in the lives of dedicated believers. He is lifted up in the preaching and teaching of Jesus.

For men to be drawn to Jesus, He and He alone must be lifted up: not the churches or the church buildings, not the music, not the programs, not the fellowship, not the pastor nor staff, just Jesus. It has been said, “What we win people with is what we win them to.”

Whatever Happens, Trust God

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him…” (Job 13:15)

Very few of us have suffered as Job did. He lost his wealth, his children, followed by his health and all but lost his wife. He did not know the source of his afflictions. His three so-called friends said his afflictions resulted from a sinful deed on his part. Neither Job nor his friends knew that his trials were initiated by Satan.

Though Job did not know why he was enduring such afflictions, he continued to have strong faith in God.

When everything is falling apart around us and it seems there are no satisfactory answers giving us a reason, we can still trust God. An old song says, “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow.” We can say, and mean what we say, “whatever happens, I will continue to trust Him.”

Bear Fruit, Not Foliage

“And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” (Matthew 21:19)

I have a picture of my son when he was a little boy about six or seven years old. He is standing in our garden, between two rows of potatoes. The potato vines are up to his shoulders. With all that foliage I anticipated a bumper crop of potatoes. But, I was wrong. The potatoes were few, very small and hardly worth digging. It was the worst yield of potatoes I have ever seen. I was very disappointed.

The Bible says Jesus was hungry. He came to the fig tree and found no fruit, but leaves only. He was disappointed. The fig tree has long been a symbol of the nation of Israel. Jesus had observed the nation and its fruitlessness and used the cursing of the fig tree and its withering and dying as a lesson in what was soon to happen to that nation.  Israel continues to be fruitless to this day but after the Lord comes back that will change.

There is a lesson for Christians in this event. God wants us to bear fruit, not foliage. The church of Sardis, in Revelation 3:1-7, had a name that it was alive, but was dead. It was all foliage. The fruit of the Spirit living in us is, “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Foliage is no substitute for fruitfulness.

We Would See Jesus

“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: the same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21)

On some pulpits there are these five words, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” It is a gentle reminder to the man who is preaching that the congregation seated before him needs a word of hope. It is a reminder that the folks out there have problems, both large and small. There is no problem so small that Jesus is not concerned about it, nor too large for Jesus to fix. Whether or not those five words are posted on the pulpit, the truth is, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”

But, there are folks who, for some reason, will not be present in the house of God when the sermon is delivered. Our hurting, anxious, confused, sinful, cynical and depressed would needs Jesus. If you are a Christian the world must see Jesus in you, in the way you live, the way you speak, the movies you watch and the way you react to your problems.

At your desk, in the check-out line at the super market, while pumping gasoline into your vehicle, while stuck in rush hour traffic, remember these words, “Sir, or madam, we would see Jesus.”

Unworthy Comparisons

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (II Corinthians 10:12)

When witnessing to a lost man he assured me he was as good as any of those church members in the church next door. Frequently I have heard such statements from church members as they compared themselves to other members of their church. “Well, I’m as good as old so and so.” So, what’s that got to do with anything? You are simply comparing yourself to another sinner.

The Bible says these people involved in such comparisons with other folks are not wise. God nowhere in the Bible says, “Well, comparatively speaking, you’re a pretty good fellow. So when the time comes for you to die I will let you enter my heaven on your comparative goodness.”

The question is, “are you as good as God wants you to be? Are you sinless?” Of course not.  So when it comes our time to go only the blood of Jesus will suffice. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Let’s Go to the House of God

“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘ Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)

I have often wondered in my years of ministry and pastoring churches why there are some folks who get angry if you invite them to church and others are very happy someone invited them.

When asked why she came to church on a very cold, rainy, miserable Sunday evening, one elderly lady said she wanted everyone to know whose side she was on.  Maybe those folks who bristle when invited to church have never changed sides. Perhaps they are still part of the devil’s team. If that is true then it will take a miracle from the miracle working God to change them.

When people appreciate the invitation to go to the house of God, they never have to be cajoled, begged or shamed into worshipping the Lord or participating in the things of God.

Do a self analysis. Are you glad when someone says to you, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord,” or had you rather not be bothered?

I Am Not Ashamed

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

This is the third in a series of three “I am” statements of Paul in Romans 1:14-16. First, he said, “I am a debtor,” next he said, “I am ready,” and finally, in this last one he says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

Why would he be ashamed of the gospel? Well we ought to be ashamed of our sins, our disobedience, our prayerlessness and lust. But, we should never be ashamed of the gospel. In I Corinthians 15:1-4, he described the gospel as Christ dying for our sins, of being buried as proof of His death and that He arose again the third day.

In some circles Christians are accused of having a “slaughter house religion.” In their pseudo sophistication they have abandoned the blood of Christ for a religion of good works and of a salvation they can earn. But Paul was not ashamed of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. None of the world’s religions (Christianity is not a religion) can pay redemption’s price for salvation. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes.

Dare we today be embarrassed to mention the suffering Christ and belittle the precious blood of the Son of God? You and I will never be disappointed by the gospel or its power to save from hell. As the song says, “We’ve a story to tell to the nations.” Let us not be ashamed to tell it.

I Am Ready

“So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” (Romans 1:15)

“Readiness” is the watch-word of the people of God in both the Old and New Testaments and in this present time. When Israel had been defeated at Ai, recorded in Joshua chapter seven, they took care to get rid of the sin in their camp that had caused their defeat, regrouped and started again. Joshua, the commander of Israel, set his army of Israelites before and behind the city of Ai and commanded his army to “…be ye all ready.” (Joshua 8:4) They were to watch for Joshua’s signal.  Israel was victorious.

Jesus told His disciples in the Olivet discourse, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44) We must be ready for the Lord’s return at any time. Hezekiah, king of Judah, was told to“set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not live.” (II Kings 20:1) Paul tells us preachers and pastors to always be ready to preach. (II Timothy 4:2)

Paul was ready to go to Rome to preach and share the gospel. Readiness to share the gospel is the responsibility of every Christian.   Peter said, “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:15) Readiness requires that we be “prayed up,”  “confessed up,” and “studied up.”

I Am Debtor

“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” (Romans 1:14)

There is a large number of “I am” statements in the Bible attributed to Jesus, particularly in John’s gospel. He said, “I am the way,” I am “the door,” I am “the Good Shepherd,” I am “the resurrection and the life,” along with many others.

Paul had some “I am” statements about himself. There are three in Romans 1: 14, 15 and 16. In the first one he says, “I am debtor.” This is not a monetary debt, but a debt like every person trained and educated in medicine has to the sick, ill and diseased to do what he can to provide healing and comfort. It is the kind of debt a man on shore with a rope has to a drowning man out in the water. It is the kind of debt a firefighter has to the people in a burning house. It is a debt that Paul, a saved man, had to the unsaved people of the world.

We, to whom the Lord has given eternal life, are debtors to those who have never heard of the free gift of salvation, or to those who have heard but do not know how to receive the gift of eternal life without someone showing them. We pay the debt by telling others the good news, by sharing the gospel.

Read the End of the Book

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, not crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Dr. J. Vernon McGee said as a boy he would read cowboy westerns. When it looked like the villain had gotten the best of the hero he would skip over to the last chapter and see how it turned out. Then when he was reading and it looked like the crook was about to win, Dr. McGee said he would say to the villain, “I’ve done read the last chapter, bud, and you don’t have a chance.”

The devil has been as mean as the devil since Genesis chapter 3. He thought he had won when Eve yielded to his temptation. He thought he had won when Jesus was nailed to the cross. He thought he was winning when he propagated the beast and the false prophet in Revelation thirteen, when everyone on earth will have to wear the mark of the beast.

But, I’m here to tell you, I’ve read the last three chapters of the book, and after the devil is cast into the lake of fire in Revelation 20:10 he is no longer on the scene. If you know Jesus as your Savior you are on the winning side.

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.” (II Corinthians 4:7)

In caves near the Northwestern shore of the Dead Sea in Palestine, clay pots were discovered which contained scrolls of all the books of the Old Testament, except Esther. They are the oldest known manuscripts of any books of the Bible. Most of the manuscripts were made of leather and papyrus and considered to be the greatest manuscript discovery of modern times. Common clay pots had protected these manuscripts since the time of Christ until their discovery in 1947.

God has placed the treasure of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the hearts of common, ordinary Christian people that we might be vessels to carry the light to a dark and sinful world. God uses earthen vessels, clay pots, some of us broken, marred and unattractive. 

I have seen Christmas gifts wrapped so fine that the gift inside was not worthy of the wrapping. But, God has chosen to place his light in us that the excellency of the power would be of God and not of us. If you will make yourself available God can use you just as He used those clay pots containing the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Christ Died For Us

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)

If someone were guilty of burning down your house, killing all your family in those horrible flames, then cursed you and called you every bad name imaginable at the trial for his murderous activities, it is not likely that you would give your life to rescue him from the wheels of a fast approaching freight train.

If on the other hand the man had rescued your family from a burning house you might give your life to rescue  him from that fast moving train mentioned above. But, then, you might not.

The Bible makes it clear over and over that Christ died for us while we were sinners. He did not wait until we got our lives cleaned up and we were worthy of His sacrificial death. We are told that “when we were yet without strength Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) He died for that murderer in the first paragraph. He died for you and me, ungodly sinners.  The transaction is complete when we repent and believe on Him.

The Preaching of the Cross

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18)

When someone commented on the preaching of Charles Hadden Spurgeon, they said he would read his text and make a bee-line to the cross. Spurgeon had the same view of the cross as did Paul the Apostle. Paul saw the cross as the central theme of Biblical truth. That should be your view of the cross.

Paul reminded the Corinthians that when he first went to Corinth he “…came not with excellency of speech or wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (I Corinthians 2:1-2)

When the Bible is speaking of the cross it is not some good luck charm or a beautiful piece of jewelry hanging from a gold chain around someone’s neck. The cross is in the same category as an executioner’s electric chair or the gallows on which a criminal is hung by the neck until he is dead. The cross was the Roman justice system’s method of capital punishment. It was through such a horrific way of death that our Savior, the Son of God, gave His life for us that we could be saved. Such an emblem and such a substitutionary death is foolishness to most of the people of the world who mistakenly feel they are alright before God without any such thing. To us who are saved it is the power of God.

Believe God and Be of Good Cheer

“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25)

It was in the midst of a storm at sea that Paul the Apostle spoke these words. He was on board a small ship sailing for Rome. Two hundred and seventy-six men, including Paul, were on board. All hope of being rescued was gone. An angel of God stood by Paul after about two weeks, telling him that he and everyone on board with him would be saved.  The ship did indeed wreck, but everyone made it to shore.

It was the Word of the Lord through the angel of God that prompted our text from Paul, “I believe God.”

One must believe God’s Word to be saved and have eternal life. In addition, faith in what God says about never leaving or forsaking us will see us through the storms of life. The old song says, “I’m standing on the promises of God.” Are you standing on His promises?

You and I will have storms in life as surely as Paul and those men with him had their storm. Someone said, “You have just passed through a storm, or you are in a storm right now or you are just about to go through a storm." You can be of good cheer, as Paul suggested, if you believe God.

Tragedy

“But evil men and imposters shall become worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (II Timothy 3:13)

Fourteen years ago today life for the American people would change forever. On that day the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York were attacked by mad-men at the controls of two large jet passenger planes followed by a similar attack on the Pentagon in Washington D. C. and then the sky-jacking of another plane in which a large number of passengers were killed when the plane crashed in a field. Upwards of 3,000 innocent people were killed that day including firemen, policemen, other emergency workers and first responders.

Pastors all over the country called their people together for an evening of prayer. Our church gathered that Tuesday evening and wept, prayed, shared our heartfelt frustration, confessed our sins and resolved that God was still on the throne and we would not be defeated by Satan or any of his crowd.

Other pastors and I have observed that as we have moved farther and farther away from that horrible day, with the exception of the immediate surviving family members of the victims, there has been a cooling off toward God and of national mourning. As time progressed after the tragedy of 9 – 11, the nation began to have a “ho-hum” attitude about turning to God, leading to a decline in the morality of the nation over the past fourteen years.

May God have mercy on the nation and bring a lasting spiritual renewal.

Talk With God in The Mornings

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, Oh, LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” (Psalm 5:3)

One’s mind is freshest in the early morning, before the clutter of the day with all its problems has strung its web, like a spider’s web, ready to trap the unwary soul. In the morning with its fresh dew from heaven, when the sun has not hidden behind the clouds of doom and gloom, is a good time to meet the Lord.

I love the relatively new song that says, “In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise; in the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.”

A beautiful poem entitled “The Secret,” says, “I met God in the morning, when my day was at its best; and His presence came like sunrise, like a glory in my breast. All day long His presence lingered, all day long He stayed with me and we sailed with perfect calmness o’er a very troubled sea…”

Try meeting God in the early morning as the Psalmist did and as Jesus did. You will enjoy your time with Him.

A Call for Spiritual Renewal

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach (disgrace) to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

It has been said that when French statesman, Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in the early 1800s he reported his assessment of America’s greatness. He said the secret of her greatness was not in the forests, the mines, the steel industry or her agricultural production. He said, “Not until I went to the churches and heard the pulpits aflame with righteousness that I knew the secret of her greatness.” He concluded with this statement: “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”

Today in America killing unborn human babies in their mother’s womb has been legalized and sixty million babies have been aborted. Body parts from aborted babies are being sold and nothing is done about it. Sodomy has been legalized with same-sex marriage not only legalized, it is being promoted. Beverage alcohol consumption is a blight on the nation. Hatred resulting in cold blooded murder is an epidemic. One could go on with a long list of America’s sins, a reproach and a disgrace.

Let us not think that the things God calls sin in the Bible are no longer sin.  We desperately need a spiritual awakening. It will not originate in Washington D.C. nor should we expect it to happen there. A spiritual awakening must begin in churches and in individuals who are hungry for renewal. I believe God is calling America back to Godliness and greatness. Please join me in praying for our nation.

Prayer Without Faith is like a Boat Without an Oar

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The Bible tells us that there are two primary truths involved in coming to God. This coming to God includes both coming to Him for salvation and coming to Him in prayer. First, one must believe that, “God is.” To deny His existence is to close the door of entrance into His presence. It is the fool who says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)

The second primary truth necessary for coming to God is that one must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. To think that it is useless to believe that God will reward us with answered prayer is to close all communication between Him and us.

The absence of either or both of these two elements is a declaration of one’s unbelief and God will not honor any plea that such a person  may make.  Such a lack of faith makes it impossible to please Him. Strong faith acknowledges His person, His promises and His power to deliver. Believe that God is real and that He can and will reward you when you call on Him.

Have Faith in God

“And He could there do mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.” (Mark 6:5-6)

Jesus marveled over the unbelief of the folks in Nazareth, His home town. But he marveled over the great faith the centurion in Capernaum had. (Matthew 8:10)

If Jesus were telling some folks about the depth of your faith, would He marvel over the greatness of it or would He marvel over the meagerness of it? Great faith pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to pleas God.” God honors faith, and faith honors God.

The chorus of the song, “Have Faith in God” says, “Have faith in God, He’s on His throne; Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own; He cannot fail, He must prevail; Have faith in God, have faith in God.”

Feed Your Faith and Starve Your Doubts

“So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”(Romans 10:17)

One of the requests of the Lord’s twelve apostles was, “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5) Then Jesus told them of the value of faith as a grain of mustard seed.  Several years ago my pastor asked in a sermon, “How much faith do you need?” Then he said, “If you have a thimble full of faith it takes that. If you have a five gallon bucket full of faith it takes all of it. If you have a truck load or a boxcar load of faith it takes all you have to become a Christian and then to live the Christian life.”

If you want or need more faith, read the Bible. As you read God’s Word and then put it into practice your faith grows. Some people doubt their own salvation. Others doubt God’s power to provide their needs. I suggest that if you will feed your faith your doubts will starve to death. Feed your faith. Read God’s Word.

Words of Comfort

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:18)

One of the memories of my childhood was the night the evangelist in our revival preached on the second coming of Jesus. I recall children and some adults going out into the church yard after the service to see if the stars had begun to fall. Frankly, the man’s sermon had put the fear of God in many folks that night. There are those who have a right to be afraid at the thought of the Lord’s return.

But, there is a side to the subject of the second coming of Jesus that brings comfort to troubled souls. Beginning in verse thirteen of this fourth chapter of First Thessalonians, the words are meant to bring comfort to those saved people whose saved loved ones have died. What a comfort to know that when the Lord Jesus returns all the saved ones whose bodies are out in a cemetery will be raised from their graves in the resurrection. Immediately afterward all the saved people who are still alive will be “changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye…” ( I Corinthians 15:51-52) and will be "caught up" to meet the Lord.  

If you are saved the second coming of Christ will be a comfort to you. If you are a lost person, certainly there is no comfort, but only fear and dread as you think of the coming again of Christ. That’s why Jesus said, “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)

That Settles It

“And God said…” (Genesis 1:3)

The above is a phrase that is found ten times in the first chapter in the Bible.  That, or a similar phrase, is found numerous additional times in all sixty-six books of the Bible.  It is found in relation to moral issues, doctrinal issues, questions of salvation and eternal life and questions on the second coming of Christ and the hereafter.

Someone said, “God said it, I believe it and that settles it.” That is only partially correct. The accurate statement is, “God said it and that settles it.” One does not change the Bible by unbelief or popular opinions. The psalmist said, “Forever, Oh Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89) The councils of men cannot change it. If God said it, that settles it.

The Cross Was No Accident

“…He hath poured out His soul unto death.” (Isaiah 53:12)

When the word “spill” or” spilled” is used it usually indicates some sort of accident. We hear the word used in our speech. “It’s too late to cry over spilled milk.” Or a secret was accidentally disclosed. “He spilled the beans.” We spill water. A semi overturned on the highway and spilled hundreds of bushels of corn.

Our text from the “suffering servant” chapter tells us that Christ “…poured out His soul…” It was no accident that Jesus gave His life for us. His life, His blood were not “spilled.” They were “poured out.”

He poured out His blood as a libation, an offering to God for the souls of men that we would be redeemed and rescued from eternal hell. Someone asked, “Does Jesus love me?” Look at the cross to find the answer.

Walk By Faith

“For we walk by faith, not by sight…” (II Corinthians 5:7)

Fifty-three years ago today a group of ordained pastors and deacons from several churches formed a council at South Campbellsville Baptist Church in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The purpose of their meeting in front of a church house full of Christians was to examine the beliefs, doctrines, morals and qualifications of a twenty-three year old young man who felt the call of God on his life for the gospel ministry.

I was that young man ordained to the gospel ministry that day. I have never felt the call of God on my life more strongly than I do today. It has been a walk of faith and it continues to be, perhaps more so now than it was fifty-three years ago. I still believe today that the call of God is on my life.

My wife, as Abraham’s wife, Sarah, has had strong faith to stand by her man and go into the unknown, assured only by God’s Word, “Lo, I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:20)  She continues to be a very wonderful team-mate.

I share this with you today that you may know the faithfulness of God when you turn loose of the world and step out on His promises. I highly recommend my Lord to you. Walk by faith.

What a Difference The Lord Jesus Christ Makes

“Caiaphas the high priest…prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” (John 11:49-52)

Twenty-two days ago we began our devotion in John chapter eleven with the announced sickness and subsequent death of a man named Lazarus, the brother of two sisters named Martha and Mary. We saw their grief, their sending for Jesus, their frustration in the delayed arrival of Jesus and their feeling of helplessness.

We saw the Jews who came to comfort, weep and mourn with the sisters, unable to do anything except to “weep with those that weep.” Then, there were the unnamed people who could not raise the dead but could take away the stone. The truth is, only Jesus could do what needed to be done.  They needed a miracle. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, something all the rest together could not do.

Jesus made the difference then and continues to make the difference today.  He makes the difference in lives that are out of tune and headed for destruction.  He can make the difference in homes that are on the brink of break-up and divorce. He can make a difference in America, a country which is on moral skids headed for tragedy. Let us yield our lives to Him to make the needed difference.