Standards for Christian Homes

It is now July and we are preaching meetings in New England.  In the month of June we had great Revival meetings in Vermont and also God blessed our Bible Conference in Vermont as well.  As we celebrate the 4^th of July celebrating our signing of the Declaration of Independence…I thought about what Independence means and how it relates to the local church and those Christians who claim to be Independent Baptist.

                The Declaration of Independence is our standard to govern us to live right and do right to fellow Americans…This is our Standard…When it comes to the local Church Standards it is a sensitive subject today even among Independent Baptist.  God has not changed nor lowered His Standards for His Children.  So I ask you to prayerful consider with me the teaching of God’s Word… 

STANDARDS FOR CHRISTIAN HOMES

Joshua 24:1-15

                It is so heartbreaking that many members of fundamental churches display an attitude that is far more like those in liberal churches.  We find professed Christians who are stubborn, rebellious against high moral standards and caught up in the prevalent cry against “legalism.”  Even when their Pastor preaches against the trend toward worldliness, they persist in “doing their own thing,” convinced that anything they do comes under the umbrella of “liberty.”

                One main reason for drop in moral standards in our churches is the deterioration of the spiritual condition of the home.  The world has been provided a pipeline into our homes, via the internet, television, video games, music, etc.  In too many cases, we have not worshipped God vigorously at home through family bible reading, prayer, discussing of Bible topics and singing of hymns.  We have failed to serve the Lord together as families or to bring Godly influences into our homes.

                What was once an immoral and godless behavior is now accepted as normal.  Spiritually deteriorating homes contribute in large measure to deteriorating churches.  WE MUST STOP THE TREND.

                It is time for Fathers to “Command their children and their household after them.” (Gen. 18:19). It is time to lay down the challenge: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” And accept that challenge: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15)  It is time to walk within our homes with perfect hearts. (v. 2)

                Too many homes are carnal and worldly, and it is reflected in our churches.  But, is there hope?  Thank God, yes!  Return to the principles of God’s Word – “We will serve the Lord” (v.15).

I.   DETERIORATION –A DOWNWARD SPIRAL:

                Local churches and Pastors of our day, influenced by the pressures put upon them from carnal families, have many times lowered instead of maintaining Godly standards.

2.   IS THERE NOT A CAUSE   (2Timothy 4:1-5)

                The moral standards of professing Christians have declined rapidly in recent years, leading to the same in many local churches.  In (1Samuel 17:29) David asked an interesting question of his older brother: “Is there not a cause?”  Today, as we view the present landscape of Christianity, must we not likewise ask, “IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?”

                60, 50 even 40 years ago, one could still hear powerful preaching against the adoption of the morals of the world in our homes and in our churches.  Now neo-fundamentalists seek to hide the fact that a new generation has lowered the standards of morality.

                But it was such preaching that challenged people to, in God’s strength and by His grace, clean up their lives and separate from the world (2Cor. 6:17-7:1).  Such preaching is very seldom heard today, and if it is, the negatives (preaching against sin) are mentioned briefly and almost with apology. Yet Paul told Timothy, his young friend and fellow laborer in the Gospel, “To preach the word.” (v.2). It is the Preacher’s duty to proclaim God’s word boldly and to apply it to the everyday lives of his hearers.

               Paul prophesied that the powerful preaching of God’s word would meet with a negative response, which we certainly see today.  Timothy’s message was to be “the word,” pure and simple.  He was to proclaim it as an official messenger – with formality, gravity and authority, and he was to publicly proclaim it both when it was convenient and not convenient.  He was to censure sin and entreat his hearers to obedience, even though they might reject him, turning from God’s truth to fables and false teachers (vv.3-4).  The remedy for “the cause” was, is and always will be: “Preach the Word!”

3.   STANDARDS FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS:  (1Timothy 3:1-13)

                Standards impose upon every area of life.  There are standards of value, standards of measure and standards of achievement…standard policies, standards of living and standards of excellence.  These standards fix criteria that separate people or objects into 2 groups: those who meet the standard, and those who do not.  Ask yourself the question – HAS THE STANDARD BEEN MET?

                God sets standards.  The deterioration of God’s holy standards in Christian homes and deterioration of faithful preaching of God’s word against sin have contributed to the deterioration in the enforcement of standards for Christian leaders.  The Bible stipulates the criteria for those who lead the local church and have been placed in positions of responsibility (vv. 1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 2Cor. 8:16-24), yet many “hackles” are raised when the issue of standards (rules or requirements) is brought to bear in determining qualification to lead or teach in Bible believing churches.  Indeed, those same “hackles” are raised when biblical standards of any kind for any of God’s children are brought into focus. Why?

                Yes, it is possible to abuse the matter—emphasizing the external and ignoring the internal, promoting standards in an ungracious manner or failing to be patient with new, immature Christians.  To focus on the external and neglect the need of inner holiness is hypocrisy, but we cannot stop there; a spirit filled Christian will care deeply about externals because the externals display the heart.  God set standards, high standards for Christians, especially so for leaders and teachers. 

May God bless you and your ministries is our prayer…

A Servant of the Lord;

Bro. Randy Davis

Righteousness in the Family

It is now June, we have had revival meetings in Vermont and also a 7 day Mission Conference in New York in May…God has really blessed our meetings as we have seen several folks trust Christ as Savior and others repent of sin and draw closer to Christ.  June 17^th my wife will be undergoing back surgery, please pray for Sandy on that day.

                This is the time of year we celebrate Father’s Day.  In thinking about the great responsibility that God has given us Fathers as Spiritual leaders of our home,  I thought about Righteousness in the Family… (Gen. 6:9)

RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE FAMILY:

                Do you walk in an intimate relationship with God as Noah did? (Gen. 7:1)  Is your family righteous in this generation? In the Old Testament, Righteousness was a chosen lifestyle of obedience and holiness in honor of God.  Those who were Righteous ordered their lives in every way to be aligned with His perfect Will.  Noah lived in such a way before the Lord that his family was sacred. They honored God and ordered their lives in all things according to His perfect Will…This is a clear mandate from God.  This Righteousness is now to be imparted to others out of our obedience to Christ. Here are some practical ways that your family can actively live out the Righteousness that is yours in Jesus Christ.

                First, a Righteous Family Teaches and Learns Righteousness from the Scriptures (2Tim. 3:16, 17).  Jesus Christ is the One and Only Standard for Righteous Living…The Bible is the training manual for teaching and learning Righteousness…If your family desires to impart [make known] Righteousness to others, you must spend a lot of time in the Word of God. Memorize it, mediate upon it and most of all obey it (James 1:22).

                Second, a Righteous Family Lives on Solid Food (Heb. 5:13, 14).  We are Righteous because of the sacrifice of Christ.  But if we sit back and don’t reveal Christ’s Righteousness to others, we will miss all of the benefits and blessings that He has intended for us.

                Just as our Children need to move from milk to solid food, they also need to move from hearing the word of God to doing the Word.  Many Christian Families neglect their spiritual diet in favor of fitting into the culture in which they live.  By doing this they are now sacrificing the blessings that come from sowing seeds of Righteousness to others.  This can only be done by feeding on the solid food of the Word of God daily and continually.  Righteous Families will change the world because those who live in darkness will see a difference.

                Third, The Righteous Family Is Good, and Passes That Goodness on to others (Luke 6:45) Good things are stored up in the hearts of God’s Righteous People.  There is no use of storing up something that will never be used.  Take time to focus on these Scriptures… (Romans 15:14; 2Peter 1:5-9). As a Family, be determined to do more than rest in the Knowledge that you have been saved through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Determine to Impart His Righteousness to others.  We first must be good before we can do good.

                Fourth, The Righteous are Pure in Heart (2Tim 2:22).   Pureness of heart is blessed by God (Matt 5:8).  Maybe the best way that your family can demonstrate purity in heart to others is by getting your thoughts focused on how Jesus would live, and be determined to live like Him. Here is a good passage to memorize and study together as a family (Phil 4:8, 9).               

                Fifth, The Righteous Family is Holy (Ephs. 4:24; Colossians 1:22; 3:12). Members of God’s Family are marked by their holy lifestyles. They have died to sin (Romans 6:2, 11). This does not mean that Righteous people do not sin. But they are freed from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:7). And have become slaves to Righteousness (Romans 6:1, 8). To be Holy means to be set apart for the Lord’s service, this means being separated from what is ordinary.  Christians today have settled for the ordinary. Can you live in such a way that others can see the Holiness of God in you? Will you live your life to reflect the Holiness of Jesus Christ? Spend time focusing on these verses and discuss how you can live them out in your daily lives… (2Tim 1:8-9; 1Peter 1:13-16). Determine together that you will live Holy Lives in the midst of an ungodly culture.

                Sixth, The Righteous Family is Forgiving (Colossians 3:13). Think about people who may have hurt you or caused you harm, the Lord has asked you to forgive them. The Righteousness of Christ is marked by a forgiving heart. Learn to forgive quickly by practicing forgiveness within your own family. Then be determined to forgive others just as the Lord forgave you. Forgiveness allows us to live our lives without bitterness and resentment.

                Seventh, The Righteous Family is Set Apart [Sanctified] To Do the Work of the Lord (Psalms 4:3). Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Lord has set your family apart for Himself? The Lord has a purpose and a plan to use you for His Glory! Write a Family Mission Statement and live by it.

                Here are some added ways Righteous Families are to live. Take some time and study through these as a Family and find some practical ways to live them out…

                1.  The Righteous Family rejoices in the Lord and gives Him Praise (Psalms 64:10; 68:3)

                2.  The Righteous Family lives according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4-6).

                3.  The Righteous Family is godly [devoted to the worship of God and service of God].

                4.  The Righteous Family will live by Faith (Heb. 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4).

                5.  The Righteous Family bears good fruit; they bring good things out of the good stored up in their hearts

                     (Luke 6:43-45).

                Men, as Spiritual leaders of our homes and families, we need to do better…Let us pray for and encourage one another this Fathers Day…

                 You are on my mind, in my heart and in my prayers.

Love and Prayers in Christ,

Bro. Randy Davis

Just for Ladies

It’s hard to believe that it is already May and Spring is in full bloom.  We had such great meetings in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada in April.  Canada as well as the United States is a Mission Field for us.  Anyway, I was thinking about my Mom, who is now in Heaven and my wife Sandy, who were and are both great Mother’s and also Pastor’s wives.  So Preachers the Lord has burdened me to write to your wives this month.  My wife and Mom were such great examples and because they were, I wanted to share my heart with you today.

JUST FOR LADIES:

“Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou FULFILL IT.” (Colossians 4:17)

 In the ways that your husband is unique and an individual, your ministry to him is as a help meet [or completer] is unique.  He is one of a kind.  There is no other man in the world that is just like him.  He has a unique background and upbringing, and the Lord has worked in his life differently than any other man you know.  His personality is unique.  He has different strengths and weaknesses in his life.  God’s purpose for him and leading is different than any other men that God is using in other ways.  Just as your husband is unique, his needs for a Completer or help meet might differ from other husbands.
 
So your ministry to him and the ways in which you help cannot be exactly the same as every other wife you know.  Isn’t that a relief?  But, I can’t play the piano like Mrs. so and so.  I don’t know how to type.  I’m not a very good ladies group leader like my friend is.  “GOD GAVE YOU TO YOUR HUSBAND” because he’s special.  God has made [and is making] you exactly suited for him.  You’re not supposed to be like Mrs. so and so.  Your husband probably doesn’t need all the same things in the exact same way that her husband needs and wants.  So forget all your prejudices about what a good Christian wife does or [good preacher’s wife does], and concentrate on what the Bible says and what your husband needs. (Titus 2:4-5)
 
While there are many passages in the Bible that deal with a wife’s ministry, I personally think these verses gives us a good representation of what the Bible teaches Ladies about their Marriage Responsibilities.  Be sober, or take your job seriously.  Be the best you can be for your husband.  Love Your Husband, that’s the biggest part of the job, and show him constantly that you love him, love him enough to try to be what he needs in every area of life.
 
Love your children.  God put the two of you together, as President and Vice President of this important institution called [Your Name] Home.  One of the most important jobs of your home is to raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and train them to love and serve the Lord with all their hearts.  There is a special place for my wife and she has a special place as Mom, to be the emotional support, the kisser of boo-boos, the watchful eye of everybody’s welfare, Spiritually and Physically.  She has to administer hugs and kisses, as well as an occasional spanking or good talking to.  These are some of the ways that she carries out her responsibilities to love our Children.
 
Be discreet and chaste.  Be pure and clean in your thoughts as well as in your actions in the presence of all other men.  Let it be known loud and clear that you belong only to your Husband, and you’re glad that you do.  Don’t allow yourself to become close friends with men, whether married or single.  Avoid dangerous situations being alone with other men.  Your love on every plane, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, is a special gift that God has allowed you to GIVE TO YOUR HUSBAND AND TO GUARD FOR YOUR HUSBAND. 
 
While you should be friendly and Christian in your relationship to all others, you should also be proper and clearly defined as “UNAVAILABLE.”  Everything about you ought to point out, I BELONG TO HIM.
 
God commanded WIVES TO BE KEEPERS At Home.  That means that the primary responsibility for the duties in the home belong to the wife.  Remember that the home is an Institution established by God.  One of the needs in the home is Financial Support.  Some married couples run a farm or family business to meet this need.  But, I think that the Bible is clear that the Financial responsibility and provisions belongs primarily to the husband. (1Timothy 5:8)
 
By the same token, “HOME KEEPING” or the responsibilities that center in the home are given primarily to the wife.  They come to mind very quickly, cooking, cleaning, laundry etc.  It is not wrong for a husband to help with the dishes or cleaning, especially in times of stress and illness.  Maybe he just wants to prove that he loves her, and he does a special job just to be a blessing and a help to lift her load.  But being the keeper of the home is assigned to the wife first of all, and in normal, everyday circumstances, she needs to accept that as her responsibility. 

Be good.  Sounds kind of oversimplified, doesn’t it?  But that’s what God said.  Good as opposed to bad, doing right instead of wrong.  Be good not only in what you do, but in what you are.  Become a genuine, sincere, and godly Christian  the kind of person that you are, the kind of personality that you exhibit, in the way you live, your life as a wife, as well as a believer.  God is good, and you are to become as much like Him as you can be, and to develop in your own lives the qualities of goodness that you can learn from Him and from His word.
 
Obedient unto my own husband? Surely God wasn’t talking to you ladies, was He?  YES, HE CERTAINLY WAS!  God also knew that husbands would be as far from perfect as women are when He issued this command.  One of my wife’s famous sayings has become, “It’s not always easy, but it’s always right”.  As her husband, I have been commanded to love my wife, to protect her, to provide for her and to lead her according to God’s Leading.  HER GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LOVE HER HUSBAND, TO FOLLOW HIS LEADERSHIP, TO SUPPORT HIM, ENCOURAGE HIM AND ASSIST HIM IN EVERYTHING THAT GOD CALLS HIM TO DO. [There is no conditional trap door].   You say, well if he’s doing his part then I’ll do mine.  I must do what God has commanded me to do, DO AS UNTO THE LORD, and pray about the Lord dealing with your husband in the areas where you might think that he falls short. GOD CAN HANDLE IT. He has proved that to my wife time and time again.  THAT THE WORD OF GOD BE NOT BLASPHEMED.  My wife says that still sound scary to her today as the first time that she read it.  To think that her actions and failures of also [Wives, Mothers and Home-makers] could actually have such an impact as to Blaspheme God’s Word!  It sounds serious, and it is.  But every time we see another broken home and the broken promises and broken hearts that go with it, she says, that she understands why God said that all over again. Marriage is serious business, its God’s business, and we need to give ourselves whole-heartedly to making it work, and seeing God’s blessing on our lives and relationships.
 
Now that’s not an exhaustive study of God’s Commands to wives in the marriage relationship, but I hope that we’ve touched on the most important points.  Sandy says, once she’s doing her best to be what God commands from a wife, then she needs to turn her eyes in the direction of what I as a Husband needs in his wife.
 
Ladies you see, it really isn’t all that hard.  He married you because he decided that he loved you and couldn’t live without you.  He doesn’t want you to be like Mrs. so and so, he wants you to keep being the girl that he fell in love with.  Since you already won first place in that contest you can begin, one thing at a time, to find out what he needs, what he desires, and try to incorporate those things into your marriage relationship.
 
First, meet his needs as a man, then as a preacher or teacher or whatever God has called him to be.  Now, I’m sure that many of you preachers wives had that in order in your brain, I’m sure that it has gotten out of order many times by your action as a wife.
 
I know there have been many times that you have been consumed in being a part of your husband’s ministry or career, that you came home completely exhausted or upset and stressed out, or maybe even too excited or preoccupied to be the kind of wife he needs and wanted to have when he got home. 
 
You need to remind yourself, that you are a wife first, and a preacher’s wife second [or career man].  His needs for companionship, support, and understanding, for a homey, restful atmosphere, for an affectionate and loving wife should come first, before the demands of his ministry [or career]. 
 
You can become the kind of wife that your husband needs.  Moreover, you are the only one in the world who can! You have an important ministry and a challenging opportunity in this wonderful thing called Marriage.
 
Ladies, that man that you married needs someone very much.  It’s not Super Wife or Wonder Woman.  It’s not a clone of Mrs. so and so, who keeps coming to your mind and discouraging you because you could never be like her.  Your husband needs the loving ministry of someone special that God made JUST FOR HIM…YOU. 
 
Wives you may not realize it but you are just as important to God and fit into His Divine Plan for the home and for the ministry.  Accept your responsibility in the home as a ministry to your husband and God will bless you abundantly.
 
Note for Husbands:  Be the kind of husband that your wife is so proud to walk by your side and appreciate her as God’s greatest gift to you.  Start ministering together in love….
 
I pray that this has been helpful and thank you so much Ladies for allowing me to share my heart with you today.

A Servant of the Lord;
 
Bro. Randy Davis

Kissing Those Nail-Scarred Hands

It is now April and with Spring in the air, that which is dead begins to come to life again, especially since we’ve had such a rough winter.  The last of January and February, I spent most of it in the Deep South and now I am back in Nova Scotia, Canada, one of my favorite places.  I am a country boy, so I mostly travel to the rural area of Nova Scotia and also New Brunswick, Canada.  Well enough small talk.

 (John 20:24, 25)  Today so many Christians and preachers alike take for granted their Salvation.   They have forgotten, the great price it cost the dear Son of God, even though our Salvation is free by Faith through Grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.  So this month as we celebrate His Death, Burial and Resurrection, let us remind ourselves of that great cost.

KISSING THOSE NAIL-SCARRED HANDS

 As we look at V. 25 again…We see that Thomas doesn’t want to just see those scars He received by crucifixion, but he wants to put his finger into the very nail hole where the nails had been.  When I read that I thought about how much we owe to those precious nail-scarred hands…To some those scars represent doubt and fear, but to those of us who are saved they are a beautiful reminder of how thankful and grateful we ought to be.

 Lord, I’d sure like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, because You didn’t leave me the way you found me.  (Mark 5:1-6)  When sin and addictions have enslaved folk’s lives they try to put society’s chains on them and try to control them.  Like the drunks and drug lords in the streets.  But verse 1 tells us that he had an unclean spirit and that no man could bind him.  (Jeremiah 17:9) tells us that the heart is desperately wicked, who can know it?  But then Verse 6 tells us, then he met Jesus and all of society’s chains could not tame him.  He was living among the tombs and among the dead.  Because he was spiritually dead, until one day he met Jesus Christ.  Christ was the answer to the unclean spirit. (Mark 5:8).

 Lord, I’d sure like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, because You gave me eternal life.  It was God’s unconditional love that saved us, not because we deserve it. (John 3:16).  It is also not man’s way to God but God’s way to man. (Acts 4:12).  Also there’s not a bunch of ways to get saved only one way (John 14:6).  And I became a New Creature in Christ. (2Corinthians 5:17).

 Lord, I’d sure like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, because You gave me a second chance…If you had a second chance to live life over today what changes would you make?  Who do you turn to when a crisis comes?  To have a few trusted friends that you can count on in times of need.  Paul had two such friends.  The Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:14) “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you,” and young Timothy was his friend as well.  If I had a second chance I’d give my friends a second chance, Paul did. (2Timothy 4:11).  If I had a second chance I would show more love to my family.  I’d spend more time with my kids.  I’d also spend more time with my wife.  If I had a second chance, I would not put things off, but do them without delay.  I’d also tell more folks about Jesus Christ.  God’s Message to the lost sinner is come, come before winter. Come before it’s too late…

 Lord, I’d sure like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, because You paid a debt that I could not pay. (Romans 5:8)  Sin had to be paid for.  We are sinners by choice and also by nature. (Romans 6:23).  So then we are bought with a price.  (Hebrews 9:22) “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin.”

 Lord, I’d sure like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, because You changed my life (2Corithians 5:17).  I think about Daniel how he preserved his purity as a child of God, even though he spent all of those years in a heathen culture and environment.  Don’t blame culture and environment for sin…Daniel was not a run of the mill cookie cutter Christian, just like everybody else.  He purposed in his heart to live for God to honor God and to put God first in his life.  I want the world to see that I’m not like them and I’m not what I used to be…God gave an excellent spirit, by having a good attitude and a good outlook on life along with some wisdom and insight into some things.  So folks can feel confident that they can trust me.  If you can’t trust a Christian, who can you trust?  That’s why without Faith, it is impossible to please God (Romans 10:17).  Because it is when my spirit is regenerated that it not only begins with Salvation, but it is suppose to grow for the rest of my life.  After Salvation, we need a Christ-like Spirit, a Spirit that is in harmony with the Word of God.

 I also want a clean Testimony…Daniel was lifted up not because of what he was trying to be, but because of what he was.  He was just being a good Christian and had a right spirit toward God and man.  Then he didn’t want to do evil anymore.  How Christians today need to purpose in their hearts, not to do evil any more.  So to keep a good testimony I want to abstain from the appearance of evil (1Thessalonians 5:22).  How we as Christians need to guard ourselves not necessarily doing wrong but not to give the appearance that we are.  If you are always explaining yourself, then you need to avoid the appearance of evil…Your life will defend you not just what you do or don’t do but who you are.  That doesn’t make us sinless but it does make us innocent.   
 We also need to be Faithful that means to be consistent.  Not just do right when you feel like it, but do right because it’s right.  You and I need to work hard in being trusted, respected, having an excellent spirit, a clean testimony, knowing what the Bible says and believe it with conviction while serving God all the time.

 Lord, I’d sure like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, because You gave me a New Home in Heaven. (John 14:1-3).  Christ is in Heaven, in His Father’s House where there are many mansions and He’s gone to prepare a place for us so that He can be with us and we can be with Him…We’re only passing through this old world.  This old world is not our home, it’s only our appointment.
 
 Revelations says in Heaven there will be no more sin, sorrow, pain, suffering, growing old and no more tears…Lord, I’d like to kiss those nail-scarred hands, You gave me eternal life, You gave me a second chance, You paid a debt that I could not pay, then You changed my life and gave me a New Home in Heaven.

 Dear Christian and preachers have you forgotten what you have in Christ?  Are you thankful and grateful for your Salvation?  Then maybe you too, ought to kiss those nail-scarred hands and tell the Lord Jesus Christ how much you love Him.

 This is Resurrection Sunday and as we spend time with our family and friends, don’t get caught up in focusing on how the world celebrates Easter but how we Christians celebrate the greatest event in the history of the World.  Because He Died…We Live.

 May God continue to Bless your ministry is my prayer.  We have so much to be thankful for…Those Precious Nail-Scarred Hands.

Love & Prayers in Christ

Bro. Randy Davis

Do You Own Your Bible or Does Your Bible Own You?

Well, Christmas and New Year’s are over and now it is time to ask ourselves are we going to make any improvements and changes for the better in the New Year…I greatly enjoyed time at home for Christmas with my family and also spending time with our Pastor and Church family, what a blessing.

 But, now I have left New England behind for a few weeks as I am now in Maryland and Florida preaching Revival Meetings and Men’s Leadership Conferences.

 While I was holding meetings in Georgia, Florida, Ohio and Kentucky, I was able to have morning devotions with my wife Sandy on the phone [Free Call].  I can’t tell you how much that meant to us looking forward to our Family Devotion at 7:00am every morning; we could still read the Bible and pray together even though we were miles apart.  As I thought about our commitment to having our family devotion a question came to mind that I want to ask you…Do You Own Your Bible Or Does Your Bible Own You.

DO YOU OWN YOUR BIBLE OR DOES YOUR BIBLE OWN YOU? 

 Just because Sandy and I were separated by miles from one another, we didn’t use it as an excuse for not having our family devotion.  So I ask you the question again…Do You Own Your Bible Or Does Your Bible Own You?  So many Christians today do not read their Bible and Fellowship with God.  They own their Bible, but their Bible does not own them.

 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

 Does the Bible own your heart and mind?  When the Bible owns our heart it will be like (Romans 6:17) “But God be thanked, that ye were the Servants of sin, but ye have obey from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”  When the Bible owns our heart it will be an Obedient Heart toward God.  If the Bible owns your mind we will be like the early believers in Thessalonica.  (Acts 17:11) “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word [Bible] with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were true.”  When the Bible owns our heart and mind it makes us obedient Christians who are ready to receive the Word with readiness of mind and search the Scriptures for truth rather than go to man or trust our feelings about something.

 Does the Bible own your talk?  It’s amazing, I meet and talk with so many Christians from Fundamental Independent Baptist Churches all over the country, when I listen to their speech or talk if you will, so much of their talk is from what men have written about the Bible and it is so evident that they don’t know their Bible.  They know what everybody else thinks but they don’t know what God thinks.  As servants of the Lord and ministers of Christ, we are going to give an account to God for everything that we speak out of our mouth when giving advice or counseling people.  If our Bible owns us we will give them nothing but the counsel of God’s Word…”But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36).

  My next question is; Does the Bible own your walk?  So many Christians are walking in the flesh instead of the Spirit.  When the Bible owns you then you will Walk after the Spirit.  “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).  Does the Bible own your attitude when it changes your attitude?   “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8). 

 Does the Bible own your relationship with God and with others?  If we have a right relationship with God we will also have a right relationship with our spouses, our children and our friends and others…If your Bible owns you then you will desire to be God’s friend.  “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14).  God didn’t say, I am your friend in this text, but, Ye are my friends.  Every Christian should never be satisfied with being just a servant but should desire to be God’s friend.  When your Bible owns you, you become a friend of God, then you will walk in Truth and bring Joy to your heavenly Father and in doing that it will affect all of your relationships…

 Before I finish, the last question I would like to ask you is, Does your Bible own your Prayer life?  So many Christians spend so much time praying for themselves and also about physical needs.  Not that we shouldn’t pray for physical needs and ask God for hearing our own needs.  But, if you would take the time and study the prayer life of many of the disciples and apostles in the Bible you will find that most of their prayers for others were for their spiritual condition.  We are in a spiritual warfare and we need to pray for one another as we are all in this battle and the devil will get us to lose focus, making our physical needs more important than the spiritual.  So does the Bible own your Prayer Life, your Supplication, your Intercession and your Communion with your Heavenly Father?  (Revelation5:8) “And when He had taken the Book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”  The best thing that we can do for one another and the greatest need of the hour is to pray for one another.  The Prayers of the Saints…

 If our Bible owns us it will affect our Heart, Mind, Talk as well as our Walk along with our Attitude.  We will also have a right relationship with God and others, including our family, Church family and friends, then it will affect our Prayer Life…

 So many Christians and Preachers alike carry their Bibles and many times it lies unnoticed on the table until the next time we go to Church.  We are living in a generation where Christians and Preachers of the Gospel not only need to own a Bible but their Bible needs to own them as well.

 May God Bless you and your ministries as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ together is my Prayer.
  
Love and Prayers in Christ,
 
Bro. Randy Davis

Pastoring the Flock

As I write this newsletter to you my dear brethren, I am now preaching meetings in the Deep South in my home state of Georgia.  The cotton is ripe for picking and the pecans will soon follow…

 Forgive me I got carried away with my thoughts of being home for a while.  But back to our thought…and that is Pastoring the Flock…

 Whether it is driving through big cities, small towns or driving down winding country roads with cotton fields and Pecan Orchards on both sides of the road, from the Large Church to the Small Country Church we began to see a consistency among Pastors.

 I having been a Pastor and working, I realize that this is not an easy task, but it can be more rewarding and encouraging than the discouragement that I see among Pastors.  I feel their pain and see their discouragement, that reminds me of the cold, bitter icy, snowy winters in New England…And this is where I get the opportunity to love on them, encourage them, and minister to them.  I do not claim to know it all and neither do I have all the answers, but I do understand and over the past 44 years in the ministry God has taught me a few things which I would like to share with you and hope it will be a blessing to you.

The Pastor of the Church…[Ephs. 4:11]

 The term “Pastor” is the one most used in Scripture.  It designates the person who has the responsibility of feeding [and caring] for the flock.  I would like for us to focus on Caring For The Flock.

 Recently while here in Georgia I had the great honor and privilege of working with a Small and Struggling Church whose Pastor had recently left.  Also, within 50 miles there were 3 Churches without pastors.

 At one Church I along with one of the Deacons visited a dear lady who had had a stroke and was disabled.  With tears she told me how here previous pastor hadn’t visited her but once in one year…Another Church in Ohio is next to closing its doors for the same reason the only time they see their Pastor is at Church.

 As Pastors the first thing we must do is get the people’s heart and that doesn’t happen over night.  It takes time to win the folks confidence and trust.  Preaching is such a great calling and blessing of God but that is only 10 percent of our responsibility.  The other 90 percent is being involved with people’s lives.

 I am blessed every time I go to preach meetings at a Church with a dear pastor friend of mine in Florida.  About 4 years ago when they called him as pastor, they had only about 20 to 25 folks.  God used this dear man of God in taking this Church from 20 to 25 members to over 120 to 125 average today.  The Love and sensitivity of this dear man of God and his dear wife as they got involved in folks lives. They visited them every time they had a need, cried and wept over them when they had problems in their home with children or marriage.  He lived Christ before them by caring for them as Christ teaches us about the Shepherd and the sheep. We have too many pastors today and not enough Shepherds.  The Bible says…For He Careth for you…

 The pastor not only looks after their spiritual needs but also he watches, protects, guides and rules in self-sacrificing Love and Sympathy.
 The Greek word [pomen] indicates a pastor-shepherd.  As a pastor, he works with the same spirit of love that Christ demonstrates as our “Good Shepherd.”  Read (1Peter 5:2, 3; Acts 20:17, 28).
 
I for one realize how busy and challenging the ministry can be trying to balance our duties, our family and home life and taking time to get involved with people’s lives.  Listen, Jesus never just taught them but he also loved them and got involved in their lives.

 Pastors are beating themselves to death trying this program and that program.  Programs do not build Churches…People build Churches.  Get the folks trust and confidence, get their heart and then they will follow you.  But before they will follow you, you first must start following Christ.

 If we neglected our families like we do some of our members we wouldn’t have a family very long.  Let’s be honest with ourselves, are we too busy just preaching?  Then we need to ask God to help us balance that.  A pastor who doesn’t study can not help his flock.  What doesn’t flow in can’t flow out.  And a pastor who spends all of his time with his people may enjoy their fellowship but will miss their fellowship with God.  There must be a balance.  God gave us both because we can do both.  God doesn’t tear down one good thing to build up another good thing.  God wants harmony.

 We must all seek to be more like Christ and be a Shepherd to our flocks that God has entrusted us with under our care.  The pastor will be a true Shepherd, a lover of souls…He will feed and nourish his flock, instructing them in divine truth.  He will have sympathy for the needs of others, a burden for God’s People that will lead him to pray earnestly for them.  He will watch, protect, guide, rule in Spiritual things.  He will apply God’s Word in cases of Spiritual illness, need, error and sin…But also he will visit them, love them, cry with them and get involved in their lives.  In self-sacrifice he will freely give himself to his people.

 We are only going to turn the situation of the Church around when we get folks hearts and gain their trust and confidence so that the Pastor and the flock can enjoy God’s Blessings…

 Pray for one another and encourage one another that our service will bring Glory to God our Father.  Let’s start the New Year with a fresh vision and a new commitment to love and serve the Lord.

Requirements for God’s Blessings

 It is now November and I have just finished up in Georgia, my home state, with a month of meetings where God worked in so many hearts.  It is Thanksgiving and I am now in the Midwest, Ohio and Kentucky before I return to New England to spend Christmas with my family and also our Church Family.

 As I was praying about what God would have me write regarding Thanksgiving, I thought about all the things we should be thankful for.  But as I thought about it, most of the things that we are thankful for are material blessings.  Very few Christians are thankful for Spiritual blessings.  As I travel I see bumper stickers all the time that read…God Bless America…Churches praying for God’s Blessings.  But there is something that God requires before Blessing is given.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

 As you read 1Kings 18:21-38 we see an example of a Biblical Principle…God requires certain things of us before He gives us His blessing.  God’s Blessing is conditional.

 Before the rain would fall, the wayward Israelites had to accept the changes that God required of them.  Repentance is always essential whenever God’s people have been stiff-necked and self-willed.  Elijah exhorted the people to turn from their rebellious ways, to soften their hard hearts and to return to the strait and narrow path.  They had to repent before the Lord would bless.

 In addition to making a definite choice concerning who they would serve (V. 21), Israel also had to recognize that service to or worship of any god other than the Lord God was only fruitless and vain (V. 24).  So it is with the believer today.  He, too, must come to the place where he realizes that anything outside the Father’s will is vanity.  The believer who tries to serve God and his own selfish desires will never experience inner satisfaction.  Only Jesus Christ can meet our deepest needs.

 Elijah subsequently took steps to restore Israel’s proper worship and communion with the Lord.  He repaired the Altar, which speaks of renewed reliance upon prayer (V. 30).  He laid the prepared offering, piece by piece, upon the Altar, typifying the Saint’s total yieldedness to the Father’s will (V. 33).  He then poured water over all the wood and the offering to emphasize the removal of anything that could cause the Revival to appear counterfeit or pretended (V. 35).  Finally, Elijah prayed acknowledgeding Israel’s sin and God’s Power to turn their hearts back again (VV. 36-37). All of this was done in Obedience to God’s Word (V. 36b), another requirement.  As expected, the fire of God fell and Revival began (VV 38-40).

 We see in 1Kings 18:36-40 that Israel chose to return to the Lord.  Spiritual Fruit invariably follows genuine Repentance.  Dealing with sin God’s way, results in a sincere change of the heart and mind.  So when Israel chose to return to the Lord, He, in turn, “turned their hearts back again.” (V. 37).   John 1:9 also expresses this worthwhile truth.  As Christians, when we become defiled by sin, we too, can confess our sins to the Lord and be blessed, just as God restored Israel to the place of Blessing. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  The Lord also testified to Israel thought Hosea, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him.” (Hosea 14:4).  Restoration to the place of right relationship and renewed blessing is a Spirit-wrought work of Grace…Thank God for His Mercy!

 In order to resume a proper fellowship with the Lord, the heart must be made right, and only God can accomplish this by the inner working of the Holy Spirit.  Israel’s changed heart revealed itself by a renewed reverence for the Lord (V. 39).  The backsliding saint is desensitized to God’s Presence, but the Spiritual believer is intensely aware of the nearness of his Lord and seeks to serve Him acceptably “with reverence and Godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28).

 Separation from defilement is essential if the child of God is to maintain a Christ-Honoring Walk. (V. 40).
 Once the believer gets right with the Lord, he no longer sees complicity with evil and evildoers as inconsequential.  Israel put away whatever was contrary to truth, including the false prophets.  May we experience Spirit-Wrought Renewal in our own Hearts Today…Our work comes out of our Blessings—not, our Blessings come out of our work.

 We love you and greatly appreciate your ministries.  Pray for us as we do for you.
  
May God Bless You one and all,
Love and Prayers in Christ,

Randy Davis

Satan Joins the Church

        In August my wife and I enjoyed a week vacation at a Christian Camp along with other preacher friends of ours and their families.  One night as it was getting late, the owner of the camp was making sure everyone was keeping the noise down.  Next to our cabin was a “so-called” Christian family.  I say that because the kids had long hair, dressed immodest and listened to “so-called” Christian rock music.  She said to them, I thought you folks were Christians.   Having experienced this attitude today, I thought about how all of us who are truly Fundamental, Independent Baptist seek to honor our dear Lord in every area of our lives.

 The Book of Jude predicts what will happen in the latter days of the Church age.  In fact, Jude seems to be writing about the very days in which we are living!  Jude’s purpose in prophesying is to encourage the Church to discern apostasy when it raises its divisive and destructive head so that it might earnestly contend for the faith. 

 It is clear that because Satan has not succeeded in destroying the Church from without through persecution, he is now at work to destroy it from within by means of apostasy in the pulpit and apathy in the pew.  Satan is Not Fighting The Church today – He is Joining It. 

 Jude is sounding the alarm for us, that in the latter day’s apostates will go the way of Cain, who perverted the mode of Worship, the way of Balaam, who perverted the motive of Worship, the way of Korah, who perverted the manner of Worship.  So we as believers of the Church of Jesus Christ cannot afford to ignore Jude’s Message.

 Jude prophesied that in the last day’s apostates would do two things.  First, they would pollute the witness of the Church.  They will do this in body by defiling the flesh, that is, by immorality.  They will do this in soul, by being insubordinate, that is, they will “reject authority.” They will do this in spirit by being irreverent, that is, they will speak evil of dignitaries.  Second, he says they will pervert the Worship of Christ in mode, motive, and manner…

APOSTATES WILL POLLUTE THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH

 Apostates pollute the witness of the Church with every fiber of their being.  Man is made up of 3 parts – body, soul and spirit.  Those elements make up his identity.  Although he lives in a body, the real man is that which lives as long as God lives – his spirit.  Apostates pollute the Church with body, soul and spirit.
 
       In (V 8) Jude tells us that Apostates are dreamers.  They live in an unreal dream world.  They bought into the lie Satan first used in the Garden, when he said to Eve, “Ye shall be like God” (Gen 2:5).  Jude speaks of Apostates, “But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts in these things they corrupt themselves. (V 10)

 Immoral actions that would have been openly rebuked in pulpits just a generation ago are today accepted in many of those same pulpits.  Dreamers are rocking to sleep their congregations while helping them to feel comfortable in their sin.  When preachers pollute their pulpits by discounting such crucial doctrines as the Infallibility and Inerrancy of the Word of God, it is not long before their moral code goes along with it – body, soul and spirit.

APOSTATES WILL BE IMMORAL

 After rejecting truth, apostates many times have a tendency to become involved in sensual sin.  And sooner or later, most false teachers are exposed on a moral level.  We all can recall some of them that come to our mind over the past 20 years.  Apostasy and defilement of the flesh are Siamese twins; they are linked together in Scripture. Read (2Peter 2:20-21).

 The new morality we hear about is nothing more than the old immorality.  People making light of marriage vows, living in open adultery, joining homosexual clubs and bath houses are not new concepts.  Jude prophesied more than 2000 years ago that these kinds of things would signal the age of Apostasy.

Here’s a word of caution…As we seek to heed Jude’s warnings against imposters, we must be careful not to judge others too quickly, because if one falls into sin that does not mean that person is an Apostate.  Before we look down our noses at anybody else, we need to remind ourselves of (1Cor. 10:12) “Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.”
 
APOSTATES WILL BE INSUBORDINATE

 In the well-known Great Commission passage Jesus tells us how All Authority had been given to Him both in Heaven and on Earth. (Matt 28:18)  The only authority He has is what we allow Him to have over our lives.  All Authority originates with God; whether it is the Authority of the Home, the Church, or the Government, it has its source in Him… He has chosen those Institutions to be guardians of His Authority, and to carry out His will.

 Rejecting the Authority that God has established is dangerous business indeed.  In spite of that, many folks today flat out reject God’s Authority.  Jude tells us that the apostate is Subordinate in his soul, but emotionally, by an act of the Will, he rejects God’s authority.

1.  Authority of the Home:

God instituted the authority of the Home.  Should we not be surprised that many leaders of the feminist movement do not pay heed to the teachings of the Bible on the home?  Even worse, liberal theologians who support the modern feminist movement
neglect and reject the teaching of Authority in the Home, found in (Eph 5).

2.  Authority of the Church:

The Bible is the sole Authority for rule and faith.  Should we be surprised that leaders of dying denominations and Churches do not hold to the inerrancy of Scripture? Today we see imposters in our Churches and Schools undermining the Bible – Our Infallible, Inerrant, and Authoritative rule of Faith.  They attack the Bible because it represents God’s Authority.

   3.  Authority of Government:

Apostasy in the Church has been on the rise since the turn of the century.  Since then we have seen a serious and orchestrated attempt to undo the authority of Government that our forefathers established.  It is interesting that many times the rejection of the authority of the Bible go hand in hand with a demand for a new social order.  Of course, we know that the underlying reason that Apostates reject authority is that they reject the Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and His rule over them.  Those who have fallen away from the Faith take the precious Bible Doctrine of the priesthood of the Believer and pervert it to make it a license to believing anything they wish.

APOSTATES WILL BE IRREVERENT

 If it is true that these folks who have fallen away from the Faith are immoral in body and insubordinate in soul, it is not surprising that Apostates are also Irreverent in Spirit (V 8).  The word that Jude uses here [dignitaries] it literally means “Glorious Ones.”  The Apostate is Irreverent toward the things of God.  When Apostates seek evil of dignitaries, they do so of God’s Appointed and Anointed Leadership.

 This Spirit of cynicism and accusation comes from Satan himself.  One of the titles that the Bible gives him is “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev 12:10).  Christians fall into Satan’s trap and do his work when they “speak evil” of each other and especially of those God has placed in a position of Authority.

 Immorality, insubordination, and irreverence have their result.  As Jude puts it, Apostates “like brute beasts”, In these things they corrupt themselves. (V 10).  The spirit of apostasy pollutes the witness of the Church.  Looking around us today we wonder if the complete fulfillment of Judge’s prophecy is near.  Never before have we heard so many folks speaking evil of Dignitaries…Men who are True and Faithful to the Word of God.

APOSTATES WILL PERVERT THE WORSHIP OF CHRIST

 In this I mean by The Mode of Worship, The Motive of Worship and The Manner of Worship has been perverted.  Because of space I will only elaborate on all three in general. 

 Jude tells us Apostates go the way of Cain (Gen 4:1-7).  In today’s language, the way of Cain is always of good works.  Cain was the first Apostate.  One of the sure signs of an Apostate is his neglect of the emphasis on the vicarious death of our Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood and atonement for our sin.  The Apostates do not preach or teach about the Blood of Christ.

 And then the Motive of Worship…What should be our Motive for Worship?  It is to meet God and Glorify Him.  Yet, Jude tells us Apostates go the way of Balaam for profit. (V 11) and then read (numbers 22-24).

 The error of Balaam was using Spiritual Motives for material gain.  And his error wasn’t in just doing what he did but things he could get away with it.  Balaam was in religion for what he could get out of it.  He started out to please God but along the way he also decided to please man and himself at the same time.  Our Lord warns us about this, read (Matt 6:24)

Now is the Manner of Worship…Paul gives us the Manner of Worship in (Phil 2:3) and then read (Eph 5:21).  Paul tells us that we are to submit to one another.  Whereas Cain ignored the Word of God and Balaam opposed the Word of God, Korah rebelled against the Word of God.  The Apostate first ignores what the Bible says.  Then he moves on to opposing it by saying that the Bible is not the Word of God, once he reaches that point it is not long before he openly rebels against God’s Holy Word.

 In our Churches are men and women who refuse to be under the authority, who like Korah, gather groups about them to oppose God’s Anointed and Appointed.  Only God knows how many Churches have split because of the Spirit of Apostasy that caused folks to perish in the rebellion of Korah.

 Jude’s look reminds us of two questions we must ask ourselves…First, what about my witness:  Is it polluted or clean?  Second, what about my Worship?  Is it perverted or is it clear?  True believers who keep silent and compromise to avoid conflict will be held accountability for not contending for the Faith.

WHEN SATAN JOINED THE CHURCH THE SPIRIT OF GOD DIED

 According to God’s Word, the danger of Apostasy is to know the Will of God and not act upon it.  We all need to learn from the accounts of these three men in Jude 11.  Fearful Judgments await those who know the Truth and reject it.
 
Pray for us as we pray for you and may God Bless your ministries is our prayer.

Love and Prayers in Christ,

Bro. Randy Davis

The Promise of His Presence

It is now September, the kids are back in school, and vacations are behind us.  Gas prices continue to climb as we all adjust to its affect on our lives.  We have all experienced unpredictable weather this summer, from fires in California, devastating storms in the Midwest and the rain and thunderstorms here in New England.

 I was praying the other day, thinking of folks that I know who were affected by these terrible storms in someway.  I was reminded of the many storms that so many Pastors and Churches are facing.  I receive so many calls from pastors who are facing storms in their ministry.  It seems you no sooner get through one storm and you’re faced with another one.  THE STORMS JUST KEEP COMING…

 So when pastors call me about storms they are going through, I remind them that the storm will surely pass.  I share with them the words of Solomon upon the completion of the House Of The Lord, seeking simply to assure them of the promise of His presence…

(1 Kings 9:1-3)  THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE:

“And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord and the
King’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, That the Lord appeared to
Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon.  And the Lord said unto him,
I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hollowed this
house, which thou hast built, to put My Name there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart
shall be there perpetually.”
 
 History will affirm and all the ages attest that it is unwise, ill-advised, and inexpedient to build a House for God and not be certain that God Himself has decided to be its resident.  God’s House is His House.  If it is His House, and not our house, He alone must determine if this house is a suitable house in which He will dwell.

 Maybe you have not considered the options of God or the Preferences of God.  We say it is His House; we built it for Him to serve Him.  It is our offering and our sacrifice to Him, and then He must give us a sign and a signal that He will accept it as His sanctuary and designate it as a habitation for the Holy.  Just because we built the house does not give us the right to force it upon Him, press it upon Him, or require His residency within it.  We must give Him the Key; assign Him both deed and title.  We must divest ourselves of any options of ownership, abandon any claims we may think that we have, and let Him decide for Himself if indeed this House will be His House.  I am simply convinced today that it is unwise, ill-advised and inexpedient to build a House for God and not be certain that God has decided to be its resident.

A Church Is Not A Church If God Is Not There…

Men will pray, but there is no power if He is not here.
Gold-gilded organs may play, but there will be no sweetness in the notes if He is not here.
Robed choirs may sing, but the music will not saturate the soul, if He is not here.
Tithes and offerings may abound, but “the windows of Heaven” will not open up if He is not here.
Preachers may proclaim the Word, but souls will not be saved, sinners will not be converted, the lost will not be found, the blind will not see, the deaf will not hear, and the sick will not be healed if He is not here.
The Church is only the Church where the insecure and the uncertain are able to find,
in this place, a blessed assurance and a foretaste of Heaven. 
But I assure you that the Church is not the Church if He is not here.
The Presence Of God is so critical, important and crucial to the existence of the Church. 
And the Presence Of God is so vital and necessary to the power and permanence of the Church.

  If you have a moment, I want to turn back the pages of History…Now the record says that when Solomon had finished building the House of the Lord, the Lord appeared unto Solomon a second time.  When God has a work for you to do, He not only appears one time, but a second time.  If I might offer some advice, I wouldn’t move out to build a House for the Lord in the first place if the Lord has not revealed it to you.  I may as will be honest with you,  if the Lord doesn’t reveal Himself the first time, He will not be back for a second time.  When the Lord lays His hands on you, the Lord reveals His work for you: 

The first time He assigns you, but the second time He confirms you
The first time He gives you sight, but the second time He gives you insight
The first time He reveals His plan, but the second time He reveals His purpose

 And so, when He appeared to Solomon the second time, God said several things to him which had to do with The Promise Of His Presence.  At the outset God said, “Solomon I have heard your prayer and your supplication.”  I don’t care what you say, whenever God’s house is built, somebody has been praying.  You can’t build His House unless somebody knows the worth of prayer. 

 But that’s not all that God said, not only has He heard our prayer, but the revealed Word says, “I have hallowed this House which thou hast built.”  Now my dear brothers the Word tells us that there is only so much that we can do.  If He’s going to live in it, if it’s going to be His House, we can build it, but God has to bless it.

We can build it, but God has to put His benediction on it.
We can design it, but God has to dedicate it.
We can structure it, but God has to sanctify it.
We can plan it, but God has to purify it.
THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO…
The brick mason put it together with mortar, but God put it together with Mercy.
The quarry provided the stones, but God is the Chief-Cornerstone.
The Contractor worked by blueprints, but God has a divine design. 
The structure is welded steel, but the superstructure is the Plan of Salvation.
The draftsmen said build it on the rock foundation, but the great Architect of the
Universe said, Build it On The Word.

I can tell you that we have the Promise of His Presence.  It’s not a conditional Promise and it’s not a provisional Promise.  I’ve put My Name there. 

He will be here…If we stay on the Word and under the Cross, He will be here.
Through the storm and through the rain, He will be here.
In the good times and in the bad, He will be here.
When the hosts of hell assail, He will be here.
When the winds blow and beat upon the House, He will be here.
When the death angel comes and bear some home, He will be here.
When we walk though the valley and the shadow of death, He will be here.
When high mountains get in our way, He will be here.
When deep valleys make us stumble and fall, He will be here.
When men won’t do right, He will be here.
When the Heavens weep, the seas and rivers fill, He will be here.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain, that build:
except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

 Well now my brothers as I come to a close I need to tell you that anything that belongs to you, if it’s really and truly yours, you put your name on it.  He also told Solomon not to worry because I will come because I put My Name on it.  You can hang up a sign and call it what you want…but I have put My Name there…THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE…Let all of us make sure that we seek God in prayer, build His House on His Word and that He has put His Name there…

 We love you and appreciate your ministries so much.  Remember when you are in a storm that Jesus said, “Peace Be Still” just as He calmed the sea He will also calm not only the storm you’re in, but He will also calm you as you face the storm.

How to Silence A Preacher, Our Shut Your Mouth

It is now August and the heat has been a real challenge.  In fact we have been creative in order to find ways to cool off.  During hot August summer days; I am reminded of my childhood of great Revival Meetings and Camp Meetings under the big tent.  Folks came from all over to hear some of the greatest men of God, who are now in Heaven with our dear Lord.  The Preaching was just as hot as the August Nights…Men who preached with power and conviction…Over the last 51 years I have seen preachers be silenced from preaching.

HOW TO SILENCE A PREACHER, OR SHUT YOUR MOUTH
(Judges 18:3, 4)

Preaching used to have a place of importance which it no longer enjoys.  John the Baptist came preaching and teaching in the wilderness of Judea.  Mark says that when the Christian movement began, “Jesus came…Preaching” (Mark 1:14).  Peter preached with such Power, that 3,000 souls joined the Church at one time.  Paul established his theology of doctrine of Salvation on the principle of Preaching. (Romans 10:14-15).  God thought Preaching was important.  Did not Paul say, “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1Corinthinans 1:21).   In fact, God thought Preaching was so important, that He made His only Son a Preacher.
 
I don’t mind telling you that I am disturbed and distressed, for it appears that something has happened to preachers.  It disturbs me that we don’t have any Elijahs who have opened a school for godly preachers.  It is a source of my continued agony that the voices that used to be heard are now hushed on the other side of eternity and there seems so few to take their places.  It unsettles me to know that when men ask Zedekiah’s question, “Is there any word from the Lord?” (Jeremiah 37:17), all we hear is the insulting sound of silence.  And so I want to know Who Silenced The Preachers?  Who told the preachers to hush?  Evidently somewhere, somehow, sometime, somebody said, “Preacher, shut your mouth. “  Quite honestly, I find it hard to handle this “shut your mouth business.”  But as I think about it, there are several elements at work engaged in the business of silencing the preacher.
 
The first thing that seeks to silence the preacher is the social, political and economic climate of America.  The record of history will reveal that the driving force in the achievement of racial justice and social advancement has been the preacher.  We need to understand that preachers have brought about more change in America than all the courts could adjudicate and all the congressmen could legislate.  
 
The reason our society at large wants to silence the preacher may well be because the preacher is under orders to speak a word about morality, to preach on the issues of institutional iniquity, governmental greed, personal perversion and social sins.  Nobody wants to hear the Preacher say, “Righteousness exalteth a Nation:  but sin is a reproach to any people.” Nobody wants to hear the Preacher say, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life.”  The Culture wants a Preacher that it can Control.  They want a preacher who is unconvicting due to his own compromises.  They want a willy-nilly, foot-pattin, head-scratchin, chicken-eatin Preacher whose ethics will always be in conflict with his appetite, just so they can tell him, “Preacher, shut your mouth.”
 
There is a second reason why they want to silence the Preacher or for him to shut his mouth. I do not mean to be offensive but necessity has laid upon me to tell you that whenever a preacher’s moral life is called into question, he has just lost his voice.  The Church’s position on deviant behavior in general and homosexuality in particular has never been popular.  Biblically and morally the Church has always seen such behavior as abhorrent and unacceptable.  Homosexuality is the only sin that God gave up on. (Romans 1:24, 26-27).
 
And there is a third reason why society wants the preacher to shut his mouth…When it comes to the issue of Women Preachers, the Bible makes it very clear that God ordained men to be leaders in the home and in the Church including the Pastor.  The Women’s Liberation movement goes against scripture and against God.  Women are very important and they have a wonderful and proper role in the home and in the Church as well, but it is not to take a leadership role.
 
The fourth reason why the Preacher is silenced, is because we are not training young men to be used of God.  We have not encouraged, we have not trained, and we have not taught our young men to make themselves available to be used by God.  We are quick to encourage our young people to be lawyers and doctors, but somewhere along the way we have forgotten to tell the about the highest of all callings, which is service to God.  How we need to mentor young men for the ministry today.
 
And last of all the groups that wants to silence the preacher, the ones who really want him to shut up are those who sit in the pews.  They do not come right out and say it to you because they have too much class, too much training and upbringing.  They use subtle ways of saying it to you, What they say is, “Now Pastor we don’t want you to worry about the Church and don’t worry about the money and don’t give a thought about the trustees, you just preach on Sunday and leave the Church to us,” and when you hear that…it means shut your mouth.  It is indisputably true; however, that God put only one person in charge of the Church.  The Bible says, “And I will give you pastors…not board, not committees, but Pastors.”   Not nosy sisters who try to run everything [from the bedroom to the boardroom] in the Church…”And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).  
 
That same Church group has another not so subtle way of silencing the pastor, when they put a clock on him.  “Now, Brother Pastor you’re a fine man and I just love you so much, but one thing, you just preach so long.”  Church folks will stay out all night long and never look at their watches, but just wait until 12:00pm on Sunday!  The Preacher had better get it straight right early that quantity is not synonymous with quality.  But neither is brevity synonymous with Salvation.  When I preach most folks know that I’m through when I’m through.  You might also know that if they can shut your mouth, that means they intend to open theirs.
 
I cannot in good conscience finish without telling you there is yet another manner Church folks have of silencing the preacher.  If they can’t shut your mouth theologically or socially or ethically, they’ll shut it economically.  Folks get mad at the preacher and they won’t put any money into the Church.  Now, that’ll make you hush in a hurry.  Don’t you know it’s not the preacher’s money?  It’s God’s money.  You can try to hold back the preacher’s cash if you want to, but you’re messin with your blessing! (Malachi 3:10)
 
The Bible says, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:15).  Dear Preacher don’t let anybody tell you to shut your mouth.  The world has never wanted a preacher who didn’t mind preaching.  Preachers we ought to obey God rather than man!  We love you and appreciate your ministries so much, now let’s GO PREACH as we are charged to do.