Posts made in June, 2015


Encouragement To The Church Family!

Encouragement To The Church Family!


Posted By on Jun 28, 2015

America’s laws are changing so rapidly, drastically, and have become so diametrically opposed to God’s holiness, that the time has come for Christians to increase their commitment to the church and family.  Coincidentally, I was listening to a popular “Reformed” evangelical program, when a professing Christian “Sunday school teacher” asked; “How do we help our children as our culture rapidly and morally decays?”  I was stunned by his question.  Patiently, the host provided encouragement to this man, by suggesting that he teach the basic tenants of Christianity laid out in God’s word, but ended his answer by stating; “Children ought to be sitting in pews alongside their parents, listening to sound preaching and teaching and not dropped off at Sunday school and ought to be homeschooled where they can learn God’s truth unhindered”.  Great answer, I thought.  But, I was troubled, as to why any qualified “man of God” would call a show and ask such a fundamental question, as this man did, when we should be able to trust the leaders of our evangelical churches.  Yet it was a dark glimpse of our current culture.   As a “family” of believers we must do all that we can to encourage the children in our churches.  We are a universal “family” of brothers and sisters, and God commands us to love one another.  Therefore if we see any younger people in our churches we need to mentor and guide them, and give our full support to their parents.  As parents, God has entrusted our children to us, to instruct them with great wisdom and do everything possible to saturate children’s minds with the word of God (Duet. 6:5-9).  One way this can be achieved is by eliminating the life-robbing, mind-numbing, highly destructive entertainment, that we know pollutes the innocence of their minds, destroys their ability to “think”, and corrupts their hearts away from God.  Statistics prove the current “techy” generation has scored significantly lower in every area of academics.  So in the place of “entertainment” we ought to provide daily opportunities for our youth to hear and read the sanctifying Scriptures; they need to know that they are part of God’s family.  Part of this encompasses being seated in pews alongside their parents, listening to sermons, hearing the rich theology of hymns and participating each Lord’s Day with the family of God.  Furthermore, church leadership as well as parents ought to encourage instilling of family devotionals as part of their regular diet, and each child should have his or her personal Bible, with daily time alloted for reading alone and with family.  Additionally, it would be tremendously helpful for children to witness their parents behaving as paradigms of godly living...

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I think we would all agree that the word “persecution” brings to mind a variety of thoughts. There are many kinds of persecution. I can remember in the early years of desegregation how often the word “discrimination” was used in the media. Like the word persecution the word discrimination brings to mind various kinds of discrimination. However the Word of God is interested in one main category of persecution and discrimination. It is the oppression and torment associated with standing for the Word of God over and against false gospels.   We often get criticized for our stance against the false hopes of the Roman Catholic religion. We do not believe in the dual errors of ‘go along to get along’ and ‘Christianity is a big tent with many kinds of gospels’. Either of these two ideas will ruin the gospel.   Sometimes the denigration of our outlook brings out some severe chastisement. Here is an excerpt from a recent e-mail sent to me from a Roman Catholic:   “Over the years I have studied the Christian faith and the arguments utilized by proponents and opponents of Roman Catholicism, and among the individuals who possess the lowest caliber of intelligence and ability to think critically would be yourself as well as a few other such Protestant apologists.”   This is a pretty typical response from those who are upset with this ministry. This of course stings a little bit but it hardly qualifies for the persecution and discrimination that some of our brothers and sisters are experiencing all over the world. We take this in stride and try to give a level headed response. We understand that the gospel has a cutting edge to it that makes it the focal point of anger for those who reject it. We also take encouragement from Scripture that promises those who are persecuted and slandered for the sake of the gospel are blessed.   But straight forward antagonism and insult form only one small piece of the persecution pie. We as Christians need to take into account the cost of being Christian. We lose family members and friends who simply do not understand or want to understand the gospel. We live in a world within a world whereby Christian values and ethics can raise the ire of the general worldview of an anti-Christian society. We find ourselves swimming against the current of modern affairs. We are constantly being pushed to the edge of marginalization by the vanity fair of the worldly wise.   Our Lord reminds us to rejoice and be glad for great is our reward in heaven for in the...

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The “Lamb’s Book Of Life”!


Posted By on Jun 5, 2015

“And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life” Rev. 20:12b   Imagine if mankind were to become so technologically advanced, they were able to eliminate all printed books. If Christians allowed this to happen, it would be a futile mistake in the eyes of God.  Scripture specifically indicates that at the end of the age God will reference a “book” (perhaps a scroll); those who are His children are written in the “Book of Life.” (Phil. 4:3, Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 15, 21:27, 22:19). Because the Apostle John preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he was arrested by Roman authorities, and banished to the brutal imprisonment of the island of Patmos. While on Patmos and (1) in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, John received a series of visions from God, which prophesied future things. He was commanded by Jesus Christ in a loud voice; “Write in a book what you see…”! Superintended by the Holy Spirit the Apostle wrote everything down. After which he was to send what he documented, to seven specific churches, the precise judgment by our Lord Jesus, according to their deeds. (Rev. 1:11). Incidentally, John wrote the entire book of Revelation while seeing these visions. The main theme of the book of Revelation is the exaltation of Jesus Christ–His blazing glory; Lordship over the church; His second coming, judgment of mankind, defeat of Satan, and the new eternal state. Because we have these facts written in the Bible, our children and our children’s children should possess knowledge of the Bible in book form.  We must encourage them to study the entire Bible, prayerfully and daily.  This current generation is the first of “evangelicals” who are astoundingly  bereft of basic biblical comprehension.  As indicated before, at the end of the age, God will reference a literal book. Furthermore, I believe there is a unique and unexplainable, divine power that operates through the words of God written in a literal book. Personally, when I study my Bible in printed form, I feel a strong sense of awe and wonder regarding the things of God. Historically Christians have studied their Bibles from Old Testament through the New Testament, guided each Lord’s Day by their prospective pastor’s via expository preaching.  It’s the appropriate way to read and study the holy Bible and God’s intended way of reading His word. The Holy Spirit dwells within believers (John 14:17), therefore, as we read the Bible, He illuminates our minds to the truths of Christ and reveals them to our understanding (James 4:5, 1 John 3:24, 4:13, John 16:13, 1 Cor. 2:10, 20, 1 Tim. 3;16-17). Pastor John MacArthur stated; (2)“The Holy Spirit’s ministry in you, His...

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