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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 4th 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
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 17th 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
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
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
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
