The King, and a Mute

November 12, 2007 / Tim A. / 2 Comments

The King Meets the Need of a Speechless Man

“As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” Matthew 9:32-34 (KJV).

The blind men who have received their sight do the obvious thing. They go and bring a demon possessed, mute man to the Lord. They had gone and told this mute of a man who could heal him, and brought him to Jesus. We are told to go and tell, but we won’t. Have we forgotten, or did we ever know the greatness of our Lord and Savior and King?

When Jesus cast out the demon the man was able to speak. It seems probable that the man was deaf and mute caused by demonic possession. Very often deaf people – especially those born deaf – are unable to speak. They have no means to learn to speak if they cannot hear. When Jesus casts out the demon the man now can speak, so if we assume that this man was deaf as well as mute he is now completely healed, no more oppressed by the demon; he can now hear and he can speak.

There is a man in this scene who is even worse off than the demon possessed. The man is controlled, not by a single demon or a number of demons, but controlled by hatred, fear, and the holding of tradition of his religion over truth. He attributes the works of Jesus to the works of satan. He is blind to the truth of who Jesus is, and those who condemn Jesus, thus condemn themselves. They are sentenced to the same destiny as the devil and his demons. To blaspheme the name of Jesus puts one in great peril, but to equate the work of Christ to the devil is to blaspheme the Spirit of Christ, and there is no repentance for that.

Arkansas Baptist Convention – Update

November 10, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

The following is from Ben Stratton of the Landmark Southern Baptist Group list:

“Several of us have been eagerly following the annual meeting of the Arkansas State Baptist Convention that was held earlier this week in Van Buren, Arkansas. Messengers were to vote on the proposed amendment to delete the phrase “The Baptist Faith and Message shall not be interpreted as to permit open communion and/or alien immersion” from the ASBC Articles of Incorporation. The amendment needed a 2/3 majority vote (67%) to pass. After discussion on Tuesday, November 6, the vote was taken on Wednesday, November 7. There were 608 total ballets cast with 383 voting for the amendment (63%) and 225 voting against the amendment (37%). By failing to get a 2/3 majority vote, the phrase “The Baptist Faith and Message shall not be interpreted as to permit open communion and/or alien immersion” will remain in the ASBC Articles of Incorporation.”

“While I am thrilled that the Articles of Incorporation were not changed, conservatives in Arkansas must be ever diligent. Those wanting to delete the phrase can bring the issue back up in two years and probably will. They came within 24 votes of getting the Articles of Incorporation changed. We must be stronger in teaching doctrine to our churches members and encouraging fellow Baptist pastors to stand for doctrinal truth. We will speak more about this important issue in the weeks to come on the LSB.”

Should things like this come about Baptists would quickly begin losing the things which set us apart and identify us as Bible believing Baptists Christians. The Bible would be the thing which will come into question, yet again.

The King and Blind Men

November 9, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

The King Meets the Need of Sightless Men

“And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.” Matthew 9:27-31 (KJV).

There are two not so blind blind men who have follwed Jesus from a distance. The reason I say, “Not so blind blind men” is that they had clearer vision of the identity of Jesus than that of those who professed to seeing. The Pharisees had physical eyesight, but no spiritual eyesight; these two who were blind, had no physical eyesight, but they had 20/20 spiritual vision. They who had eyes to see, see not. The blind men recognized Jesus. They must have heard and known the prophecies of the “Son of David”.

They believed Him even though they were blind. Others were believing because of His powers, and instead of the Scriptures. As soon as He is gone they are practically unbelieving. Many of the crowd who later cried out for His crucifixion, and the release of Barrabus were those who had followed Him only because of the signs. Those who follow Him because of His Word are faithful without the signs.

Jesus gave these men their physical sight. Now, they had vision for this world and the world of new life in Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave these men a “Charge” to tell no one about this event. I wonder how they could remain silent. They did, however, disobey the Lord, though I really doubt that it will be held against them. The following is commentary from the Gill Commentary on this topic —

“and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, see that no man know it. This was a very strict charge, and according to the signification of the word here used, it was given with great austerity of countenance, and severity of expression, in a very rough and threatening manner; which Christ might be the rather induced to, because he had given such like orders already, and they had not been observed: the reasons for concealing the miracle are not very obvious; it seems likely, that with the same view he took no notice of these blind men in the street, but went into an house, and cured them; which seems to be, to shun all appearance of vain glory, or seeking popular applause, that he gave these orders; or it may be, he did not choose to be made more known by this miracle, or at this time, or by these men; he might foresee that it would be attended with ill consequences; either the more to irritate the resentments of some persons against him; or to put others on doing things which were disagreeable to him; as setting him up for a temporal prince among them, being David’s son.“

It could be that these are not being commanded to be quiet about the miracle of their healing. Their healing would be obvious for all to see. They might have been told, rather, to be quiet of His identity as “The Son of David”. At least that is a thought to consider. To have gone and boldly proclaimed His divinity as the Son of David would have caused Him greater discomfort, larger crowds, distraction from what His main reason for coming was. Remember His purpose for coming in the likeness of sinful man, yet without sin, was to die on the cross to put away sin, and reconcile God and mankind. These were actually some of the things the devil would have used to sidetrack Him from His task.

Doing good things, and giving good words and acts can often be distractions to doing the will of God. That is something we all need to be aware of. Is it possible that doing good things are not always the godly way?

Baptists and Beverage Alcohol

November 8, 2007 / Tim A. / 47 Comments

There is an age old controversy in Christianity waging over the issue of beverage alcohol. Is it proper or allowable for Christians to drink socially, as long as they do not get drunk? Does Scripture say anything against the drinking of beverage alcohol? These are questions that are being asked by many Christians, and even Baptists Christians.

For many years Baptists have been known to be “Tea-totalers”. Personally, I do not think that to be a bad thing. In recent months and years the idea of Baptists being temperant concerning beverage alcohol has come into question. It has been a source of controversy at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting and recently at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting.

To my point of view it has become a question due to the fact that many younger pastors are saying that the Bible says nothing against a social drink of beverage alcohol. There are several of us, young and old, who disagree with that assessment. There is example after example in Scripture of the danger or the drink. In articles I have written at Fire and Hammer I have written of two examples. The first is of Noah who having come off the ark, grows a vineyard, drinks too heavily of its fruit, and becomes drunkened by it, and brings a curse on a member of the family. The second is of Lot, after being delivered with his two daughters from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, is given wine to make him drunk, by his daughers for the purpose of incestual impregnation; another evidence of moral decay, and Lot goes along by allowing himself to become drunk.

There are also verses which argue against the drink of beverage alcohol. For example Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; and 31:1-6. Every time these verses are presented the one’s who are in favor of “License” or “Freedom in Christ” as they want to call it, will run circles around these and do everything they can to explain them away. There are also some New Testament Scriptures concerning a “sound mind” which needs to be taken into consideration concerning beverage alcohol (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Peter 1:13). At what point does one become drunk? At what point does the alcohol begin to take your mind? Does anyone know the answer to these questions? If the answer to these questions cannot be known, then, in my thinking that is another reason to remain abstinent from beverage alcohol.

I will agree with my brother in Christ David Tolliver who is the Interim Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention; that there is no place in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt not drink beverage alcohol”, however, there are many which speak of its dangers. It is my conviction when the Bible doesn’t say “Thou shalt not…”, but our tradition says “Let’s not…”, then, I will stand with the tradition rather than try to allow loose living and morality. That is where this debate over the alcohol issue will lead us if we lower our standards.

Do we want to lower our standards to allow a few to come in? I choose to remain faithful to the Bible and the tradition which does not allow loose living. This is not a matter of salvation, but of sanctification and holiness.

edited the links given above on Noah and Lot because of the deletion of THE WATCHMAN’S TRUMPET. 01/09/10

T.A.

Hatred For Baptists

November 5, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

If all Baptists and their churches were like a certain F.P. from Topeka, Kansas, then I could understand why Baptists have been hated before. Generally we Baptists are kind hearted, willing to fight for your right to believe what you want to believe; even if we believe you are wrong.

We have done that before. We will do it today, and tomorrow when the need arises. The Phelps character of Kansas is no Baptists, nor a Christian, unless he is sorely deceived. He very much needs to fall on his knees, along with his deceived congregation and seek God’s forgiveness for using the name of God and His Son to defame, disgrace, and protest the burial ceremonies of our soldiers who have died in the war with Iraq.

I guess you could say he and the “church” he pastors has a right to do what they please; but the people they harm emotionally, or physically also have the right to sue and win a legal judgment against them. The last family that has made the news due to the ill presence of F. P. and his “church” sued and won an 11 million dollar judgment against them. I am not in favor of law suits, but if one was ever deserved this group who falsely call themselves “Baptists” and “Christian” could stand a bit more humiliation, and humility, and realize that save for the grace of God they themselves could be the one’s lying in those graves.

I pray for the families they have harmed. I also pray for the families of this group, and for the false teacher who is more interested in harming than helping the weak and the weary.

How can I so clearly declare that Fred Phelps and this group is not Baptists or Christian? Because, if they were they would know that it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance. God does not hate sinners; He loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. That is how I know he has not experienced that grace. If he had he would be giving rather than stealing the souls away from God.

Arkansas Baptist Convention

November 5, 2007 / Tim A. / 3 Comments

The following was posted by Ben Stratton of the Landmark Southern Baptist yahoo Group List. Baptists pay attention:

(The Arkansas State Baptist Convention will meet in Van Buren, Arkansas this Tuesday, November 6, 2007 to decide whether to keep or delete the words “The Baptist Faith and Message shall not be interpreted as to permit open communion and / or alien immersion” from the ASBC articles of incorporation. Be sure to read and forward the below article and to pray for Arkansas Baptists on Tuesday.)

WHY WE SHOULD VOTE TO SUSTAIN ARTICLE III,
SECTION 1 OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
by
Jimmy A. Millikin
former President of Williams Baptist College
At the 2007 annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist Convention a study committee will recommend an amendment of Article III, Section 1 of the constitution and by-laws of the state convention called the Articles of Incorporation. The recommended amendment calls for the elimination of the phrase: “The Baptist Faith and Message shall not be interpreted as to permit open communion and/or alien immersion.” In other words, this proposed amendment wants to open the door to allow cooperating churches to accept any baptism regardless from what source it comes as long as it is immersion, and would technically open the Lord’s table to anyone and everyone, even to the unregenerate.
The question that needs answering is, Why change this article of doctrinal belief? The truth of the matter is that there has been very little debate over this issue. The Newsmagazine has been strangely silent about this important matter in Arkansas Baptist life. The only thing that I can remember reading is the reason given for the change. As I recollect three arguments have been advanced for the change. Perhaps the foremost one that has been presented by the Study Committee itself is that the article violates the autonomy of the local church. This argument has been used for years by those who object to using any kind of confession of faith as a basis of cooperation and fellowship among Southern Baptists. If this argument is followed then the entire second paragraph of Article III should be eliminated. To set forth a doctrinal requirement as a basic of cooperation and fellowship among churches does not violate the autonomy of a local church at all. No Convention or Association can tell a local church what it can believe or practice, but a Convention or an Association can define the doctrinal parameters of its body. A local church can decide whether it wants to abide by those guidelines or not. If this were not so, then we are not a convention of Baptist churches, but simply an ecumenical organization composed of all different kind of churches.
Another argument I have seen stated is that many churches in the Convention, especially many of the larger churches, are already violating the article. Sadly, that is true. But I would hope that anyone with a clear mind is able to see the wrong thinking of such an argument. Suppose some of these churches begin to accept other forms of baptism than immersion. Are we to conform our articles of faith to accommodate those who are violating them, or should those who are violating the article be held accountable and asked to cease? I believe the answer to this question is clear.
Another argument I hear is that the restricted view of baptism impedes evangelism and church growth. Can anyone honestly contend that the historic Arkansas Baptist view of alien immersion impedes our evangelistic mission? Let me put in another way, Does accepting alien immersion enable Baptists to make converts more rapidly? Again, I believe the answer to these questions is obvious. The article against alien immersion may indeed impede the proselyting of members from other denominations, but it does not impede winning the lost to Christ.
Now, to deal with this issue in a positive manner, I will advance only one argument for retaining the statement about alien immersion. That is not to say that there are not others, but it is, in my judgment, the most crucial one. One significance of baptism is that it is an identification act. It is an act of identification with Christ, and it is an act of identification with a people. Those who received baptism from other denominations have identified with those bodies from which they come. To require such to be baptized and their willingness to do so indicates that they have broken with their former denomination and now have publically committed themselves to being Baptists. On the other hand, people who desire to join a Baptist church but is unwilling to submit to baptism is a strong indication that they want to join a Baptist church without becoming a Baptist.
It is the ordinance of baptism that protects and preserves our distinctive as Baptists. Here is the question that every messenger to the Arkansas Baptist Convention must answer in his mind and conscience, Will eliminating the statement concerning alien immersion prosper and perpetuate Baptist churches? Or will opening the door to alien immersion eventually erode our Baptist distinctive to the point that many Baptist churches cease to be Baptist churches and become non-denominational churches? As a member of an Arkansas Baptist church for forty-eight of the fifty-seven years of my Christian life, I urge the messengers of the 2007 annual convention to vote to sustain the present reading of the Articles of Incorportation.

(Jimmy Millikin is the Dean of the Master’s and Associate Programs and Chairman and Professor of the Department of Theology at Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Memphis, TN.)

Let’s be in prayer for our fellow Baptists in Arkansas as they meet. Pray first for the Holy Spirit to move in power and for God’s will to be done. Let’s hold to our Baptist distinctives.

The Missouri Baptist Convention

November 1, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

Baptist people love getting together for worship, fellowship, and Baptists meetings. We are blessed by great singing and good preaching. I don’t say great preaching because that is a matter of opinion. Any preaching that faithfully expounds the Word of God is great preaching. It is the Word of God which is central, not the style, or whether the preacher is loud, or soft.

The MBC was a good meeting this year, but to me it was disappointing. With some controversy going on in the MBC over alcohol, the variance of opinion of what Christian freedom and legalism is is responsible for the diversity in the meetings. The meetings were all done with Christian accord to one another. There was no fighting, no shouting in disagreement with one another, and I can whole-heartedly say that I believe the Lord was glorified in the demeanor of the people at the meetings.

Now what went on behind the scenes may be a different story. I heard none of it, nor did I care to hear any of it. Others, however, evidently did. I know this only by the comments on “caution we should take while speaking in the hallways”.

I do want to add to this that the people for which I voted for the officers of the Convention were not elected. None of them. According to Baptists polity the majority rules, and the majority of the messengers present and voting had their way. I accept the four men who were elected, and they have my prayers and support for the will of the Lord to be done.

There was a resolution against the sale, and use of, etc. of alcohol as a beverage. I am thrilled to say that this resolution passed, though there was discussion, and though the president ruled it passed after a show of ballots, there was a call for a vote by ballot, and it still passed. We Baptists have stood opposed to alcohol for years, and in my opinion it is even more important that we do so today. Rather then giving in to our society and the world in which we live, we must stand on the principles of Scripture and never approve of anything which destroys homes, children and peoples lives. Not only does beverage alcohol do that; it also destroys the mind of clear and able thought.

The alcohol resolution which passed was word for word the same which passed at this past June’s Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio, Texas; with exceptions being the State Convention [MBC], and the time and place. With the passing of this resolution I could leave the annual meeting rejoicing in this at least: that the majority of Baptists that were present at this meeting were still opposed to beverage alcohol, and its detriment to people, their marriages, children, homes and communities. Let’s pray that God will truly be glorified in the people who call themselves Baptists.

A Ruler’s Need

November 1, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

The King Meets the Need of a Ruler

“While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.” “And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.” Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26 (KJV).

This man of the synagogue could very well represent anyone who is in a place of authority. This man’s name is Jairus. We know His name from reading the gospel according to Mark and Luke (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Why Matthew does not name Jairus is not known, at least by me. Jairus being a religious ruler, when his daughter became very ill, suddenly did not care what his friends and associates thought about what he did.

This religious authority recognized a superior authority and worshipped Him. It is amazing what real needs do to people. A sense of desperate helplessness drove this man to a man his peers hated, despised, and counted as a blasphemer. Certainly this ruler recognized the truth of Jesus’s statement in verses twelve and thirteen. Now he needed a physician, at least for someone he loved and cherished, and that was his need too.

Jesus and His disciples followed Jairus home. They found the girl to be dead. Death offers no hope in the scene. The mourners are already mourning her death. Jesus, however, came into the world to deliver those who are “dead in trespasses and sin” (Ephesians 2:1), and giving physical life to this girl is evidence and proof positive that He had power over life and death; both physical and eternal. The dead cannot have faith until there is regeneration. Jesus says, “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth”.

At the statement of Jesus’s words of assurance the people present at the home of Jairus’s family laugh at Jesus. We are told,

“And they laughed Him to scorn” – “Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are not proper witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ.” From Matthew Henry Concise.

In the eyes of Jesus the young girl was only sleeping. Her body was dead, or sleeping as Jesus said it, but her soul and spirit were very much alive and alert. Death is but a sleep from which we can only be awakened by the power of Jesus. Those who make a mockery of Jesus are put out — run off. The girl arose from her “Sleep” at the touch of the voice of the Master – King Jesus.

At the voice of the King, our Master, we receive new life through Him. He is the resurrection and the life. That is our greatest need.

The Wonderful Love of God

October 16, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

There are far too many times I have heard of people, even Christians, saying; “The God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament”, or they say; “People of the Old Testament were saved differently than the people of the New Testament time.” My usual response to that is; “That just isn’t so”.

In reading in the book of Genesis we find that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD”. He did not earn his salvation it was by grace (Genesis 6:8). We find again in Genesis, “And he [Abram, ie., Abraham] believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). That same phrase is used to assure us that Abraham was not saved by works but by grace in Romans 4:1-4.

In looking in the book of Jeremiah the prophet proclaims the love or our God and Savior:

“They say, ‘if a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again?’ Would not tht land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; ‘Yet return to Me,’ says the LORD.” Jeremiah 3:1 (NKJV).

The prophet likens the people of Israel and Judah to a wife who has committed many adulteries, and abominations against her Husband who is God. According to law, Deuteronomy 24:1-04, it was an unclean act for a man to have his previously divorced, remarried, divorced and to take her back to himself. It was considered a defilement of the promised land. God, though, seeing the uncleanness of His people calls them to repent and return to Him. Despite the fact of their many acts of treachery, adultery and spiritual adultery, their murder of small children and elderly people; God says, “I still love you. Return to Me.’

That is the grace of God displayed in the Old Testament. Saved and restored by God’s amazing and wonderful love and grace.

Being A Disciple of Jesus

October 10, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

Being A Disciple of Jesus

Matthew 8:18-23

Disciple making is the business of the local church. It is the call of God for every Christian to be a faithful, follower of Jesus, and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. The Great Commission says just that, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” and that word “teach” is for making disciples. Disciples are made by teaching them. The disciplemaking of Christ is teaching people to follow Him.

Let no one think that following Jesus is a life of ease, comfort, popularity, or praise. Jesus gives us ample warning of the trials and tribulations that come into the Christian disciple’s life in the following portion of Scripture we see some of those things which come, or are part of the Christian disciple’s life. I am saying “Christian disciple” because there are “Disciples” of other causes, of religions, and men; and need to differentiate between the follower of Jesus Christ and the riff raff of the world.

“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” Matthew 8:18-22 (KJV).

One of the things we can see about Jesus and His ministry is that He had no desire for popularity. His sole desire was to be pleasing to the Father and fulfill His will and Word. The reason we can know this is because when many had already been to Him for healing of their sicknesses and diseases, and deliverance from demons He called to His disciples to “depart to the other side”.

On the other side was a place of rest. It was a place where Gentiles dominated the lands. That is evident because of the herd of swine mentioned in verse 30. No law abiding Jew would be raising pork. The reason for Jesus’s departure to the other side was partially rest, and to get away from the crowds. There are many false teachers who love the crowds, at least love their accolades and praises. They also love the huge offerings a large crowd can provide them for their lush homes, fancy cars and clothing. You will never hear a false teacher revealing the sins of the people’s hearts and lives. The crowds will not come to hear the truth.

Every where Jesus went His presence drew a crowd. He saw people hurting, and ministered health to them, and that is why many sought Him out; and when He started preaching on the hard things, they departed (John 6:1-59ff.). “Will you also go away?” Jesus asked His disciples.

A scribe breaks ranks with the other scribes and does seek Jesus out asking to be His disciple; at least he is looking into the possibility. This scribe must have been fairly well off. Jesus knows all men’s hearts, and surely this man’s heart was set on his security in having a home, a secure place to live, sleep, eat, entertain, and to be comfortable. This scribe soon learned that the life of a disciple was a life of sacrifice. Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head”, as saying if you are going to follow me you can have no ties to this world that will keep you from doing My will. It is a life with no house, no comforts, no securities. In Matthew 10:16 we read, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16; saying to us that all we have is what Jesus and the Father gives us. Sheep have no protection except the Shepherd. Sheep have no sustenance except by the wisdom of the Shepherd. Sheep have no shelter, but by the Shepherd.

Jesus also said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” Matthew 10:39. The scribe evidently did not approve of the cost of being a follower of Jesus. We never hear of this man again. We are not even given his name, just, “A certain scribe” as though he were only a parable; an illustration so as not to pattern one’s life in the same fashion. What is the cost of discipleship? Let’s hear what Jesus says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” Matthew 16:24-25.

There was another disciple who came to Jesus seeming to be willing to follow Jesus. We see that he was wanting, though, to wait for a more convenient time. He says, “Let me first bury my father”, but his father was not dead. What he was asking was for the ability to wait until dear old Dad was gone, and then, he would inherit the inheritance. He was still tied to his family; basically the family inheritance. He is evidently the elder son of the family who was the one whose responsibility it was to care for the father’s estate.

When the call comes to follow Jesus, that is the time to go, and follow Jesus. Family, and/or family inheritance is no excuse for putting it off. Are we being told to neglect our wives, children, elderly parents, etc.? Definitely not. Jesus is telling us that following Him is of the highest priority. We can be faithful disciples of Jesus, and as a matter of fact are the most faithful; when we disciple our families into Christ, as well as others. The disciple’s seeing to it that his/her family follows Jesus is the disciple’s greatest achievement. If we were to win the world and lose our own children what have we achieved?

I know of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who have served as pastors, loved and cherished their children, and those children depart from the faith. I mean to place no guilt on any faithful follower of Jesus, only to stress that we must begin at our homes.

As disciples of Jesus we must value the eternal over the temporal – that which is only temporary. The first man [the scribe] must have decided that the cost was too high. He could not give up the life of comfort and ease that he had been living. He had a nice home, a place to lay his head, and it was his. He could not part with the security of a walled home, and the protection he thought he had in it. The second man, giving him the benefit of the doubt, shows that he has concern for his family. It would be more beneficial for him to follow Jesus, for in following Jesus his whole family could and might also come to Jesus.

Remember Jesus’s words, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” Matthew 16:24-25 (KJV). The life of the follower of Jesus is a crucified life as Paul the apostle described it, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Gal 2:20 (KJV).

Rejected Helpers

October 4, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

There have been a few times that the Nation of Israel turned their backs on their God – YHWH, and in doing so committed harlotry against Him. Israel was the chosen wife of God, but they committed adultery against Him. God has not been pleased with them to say the least; when they committed this idolatrous act against Him.

In their sin they have taught their young to despise the prophets, to practice idolatry, at least those who were not burned in fires offered to Baal. The LORD used various forms of judgment against them to bring them back to Himself, but they would always fall back into their disobedience and immorality.

Hear the Word of the Lord:

“Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught the wicked women your ways. Also on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, but plainly on all these things. yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria. Indeed you will go forth from him with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected your trusted allies, and you will not prosper by them.” Jeremiah 2:33-35 (NKJV).

There was such adultery in the land that God hated it. He hates divorce [putting away] (See Malachi 2:16), and He would hate the putting away of His people. He does everything to woo them back to Himself. He warns, He woos, He judges. The nation even made themselves look more appealing to the neighbors, when asking for their aid against the common enemy. This was their adultery. This was their turning away from the LORD, and this led to their actually offering their children in the fire to the Baals of false religions.

When God’s people start to depende upon people, politics, power, and religion, then, they have forsaken the LORD God in favor of the favors of men.

When God says, “On your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents.” It seems that He would be referring to the lives of the children offered to the false religions in the fire. The blood of their innocent children are all over them, and cry out from the soil of the earth. God says, that it is plain to see. It is on your skirts. As one other prophet has said, “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

One sad thing about this passage of Scripture is even though they have been caught in the act they deny their sin, and the responsibility of their actions, “I am innocent, I have not sinned”. There can be no repentance when they cannot see that they have sinned against God and His Word. God says, “I will plead My case against you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.'” When God has a great love for His people, or an individual who is supposed to have a relationship with Him He will work to get them to the point of recognizing their guilt and sin. Why fuss and argue with God about your sin, just confess it and repent. That would be simpler, and much less complicated than arguing with God.

God assures His people that there is no prosperity to those who trust in foreign countries who will be their enemy, but you will leave “With your hands on your head”, surely indicating their captivity in the form of surrender. Most of the time when a police officer captures a fleeing criminal they order them to place their hands on their heads. This is surrender. They give it up. Any allies Israel or Judah trusted in has came to nought, and so will the allies we depend on other than God. God rejects the helper, and also rejects those who were dependent upon the helpers. It is because they have rejected God.

Christian brother and/or sister our only help is the LORD God. When we put more confidence in people, power, politics, wealth, fame, or anything other than God we too commit an act of adultery against God. God will also reject our helpers.

Of More Value???

September 28, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

The prophet Jeremiah’s heart is grieving for his people to see their lives as the LORD does. They don’t and won’t. At least for some time to come. The generation the prophet is addressing is one who has refused to see and hear the Word of the LORD.

The LORD ask a question, “Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness?” Their is a contrast the LORD desires them to see. Have I been barren and left you with nothing or has My witness to you been that of darkness and not light?

Hear the Word through the prophet:

“O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; we will come no more to you? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” Jeremiah 2:31-32 (NKJV).

The people had become self dependent rather than depending upon the LORD God. Some people have said and believe that faith is a crutch, or that God Himself is a crutch. Some have said things like, “Only the weak need God.” I need God, and I can only have God in my life as God gives Himself to me through His Son Jesus Christ. Am I weak? You better believe it. When it comes to the things of God; when it comes to pleasing God; when it comes to getting into the very presence of God; when it comes to having a relationship with God, and fellowship with Him; yes! I am weak. None of those things can be mine on my own. They are given to me as a gift of God.

You may be your own lord, but you do not know God; nor can you as long as you have that attitude and heart. If God wants you He will have you. You will submit to Him and He will have His own way in your heart and life.

The virgins of Jeremiah’s day wore special ornaments, which was a reminder of their virginity, and their purity. Brides, as always, seem to greatly admire their wedding gown, ang may even become quite prideful in that attire. There is something quite beautiful about a bride in her gown, coming down the aisle, and it causes the groom to take a deep breath, and gasp at her beauty. “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?”, seems to indicate that these had more care for their ornaments and their gowns, than they had for the Word of the LORD. They had not forgotten their ornaments, nor their beautiful clothing, and gowns, but they had “Forgotten” the LORD; “Days without number”.

Christian, may we never forget the price that Jesus paid for our salvation. May we always be reminded of the body and the blood of Jesus; broken and shed that we might know God. The only true and righteous One who loves us, and gave Himself for us.

He is coming again. How will He find us?

Seven Year Marriage

September 27, 2007 / Tim A. / 2 Comments

I recently started writing a weekly article which is called “TWO FOR TUESDAY”. In that category I will be dealing with Marriage, especially Christian marriage, because it is a true Christian marriage that shows the picture of Jesus Christ and His relationship to His Body – the Church.

This past Sunday morning as I was viewing and listening to the FOX AND FRIENDS weekend they reported a story of a woman politician in Germany who was putting forth the idea of a seven year marriage. She believes that every marriage, at least in Germany, should be limited to seven years, thus there would be no divorces.

I believe her idea was also, if after seven years the couple decide they are happy with one another they can opt to continue their marriage.

It seems like a joke to me. Marriage, however is no joke. It is a sacred institution designed by God, and is a bond which under God is to never be broken. Jesus did say, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” Matthew 19:8 (NKJV).

Marriage is to be a lifetime joy. A lifetime of sharing with the one you love. It is between a man and a woman – one man, one woman – for a lifetime. No matter how you look at Gabrielle Pauli’s idea, it is a bad idea, and even if marriages ended after seven years it is still divorce. No matter what other name you would call it.

The Judgment that Stands

September 26, 2007 / Tim A. / 2 Comments

The Judgment That Will Stand

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:24-29 (KJV).

The foundation is one of obedience. Is it required that a follower of Jesus be obedient? Should a child be obedient to their parents? Obedience is as a child to a parent or master who has our best interest at His heart. So my answer to those questions is YES!! Perseverance is the mark of obedient faith – it stands in the times of storms and trouble. It has a foundation which is built upon the Rock. This rock will never fall, nor will the foundation that is built upon this Rock.

There was a time when the Southern Baptist Convention was leaning very strongly toward liberalism; denying the truth of the authoritative Word of God, opening it up to what is called “Higher criticism”, and interpreting Scripture in light of our culture rather than for what it says. I was attending Boyce Bible School’s satellite branch in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1980. There was a discussion going on about the controversy among some of us students following a class. Some were questioning where to stand on this controversy. I answered this way. I said something like this, “Considering Jesus’s words in the Sermon on the Mount to be a wise builder and build on the rock. You stand on the Rock” Someone asked, “Well which way is the Rock”, to which I said, “The one which is standing on the truths of God’s Word”. The best I can remember that was the end of the discussion. I know it was for me.

Jesus Christ Himself is the Rock, and we must trust Him to be our Rock of security, strength, and power. He is our authority. The people who heard this Sermon on the Mount realized His authority. “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”. He is the authority, and anyone who detracts from Him is a liar and a deceiver. His judgment and the judgment of His Word will stand forever.

Marriage in the Garden

September 25, 2007September 25, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

As a young and very inexperienced preacher I was asked by a cousin and good friend, to conduct his wedding ceremony. He and his fiance’ wanted to have their wedding small, with just a couple of witnesses, myself and them. They also wanted to have it on the cliff overlooking the spring pool at Roaring River State Park. Being my first wedding I was thrilled to do it. The sad part is the marriage did not last. Within a few short years they had a young daughter, and they divorced.

Divorce is a sad element in society today. Christian marriages are failing just as non christian marriages. It seems that the word “commitment” is a lost word. It seems to mean nothing anymore, and that truly saddens me. Love means lust instead of joy of endurance in marriage. God’s way of marriage is to be a lifetime together, truly loving one another. Helping one another grow in Christ. When one is sick the other aids the one who is week. When there are good times both rejoice together.

Hear God’s Word on this matter:

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’

‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:23-25 (NKJV).

God officiated at the first marriage. He formed the woman from Adams’s rib, taking her from his side to be together with him, walking side by side. Each would encourage the other. Each would love and enjoy the other.

Following Adam and Eve each child when they married would need to leave the protected home of their parents, and make a home for themselves.

Marriage is a very precious matter. God made them male and female to love, enjoy one another, and to propagate the human race. Marriage is precious union between two adults who covenant together to love, cherish, live, and at times to even endure one another. The married couple will know things about one another that no one else knows. That is part of what the Scripture means when it tells us, “they were both naked…and were not ashamed.” In marriage, between husband and wife, there should be no secrets. Everything should be out in the open for one another.

When an individual starts doing secretive things, without the spouse knowing, then, there is a marriage headed for trouble, and if not corrected will sadly end. At the least trust will end. At the worst divorce will come. Be unashamed before one another in all things. And by the way – I am not speaking of the purchasing of special gifts – concerning the secretive things.

Baptism and Church Membership

September 24, 2007 / Tim A. / 2 Comments

The following was posted on the LANDMARK SOUTHERN BAPTIST email group list. You will notice that it is a quote from an Southern Baptist Convention tract published by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1970’s –

“A person must repent of his sin and profess faith in Christ as his Saviour in order to become a child of God. Then he attests his salvation by being baptized – immersed in water – by one who is authorized by a church to baptize him. This establishes initially his identity with a fellowship of children of God. Should he seek to join another Baptist church, the church which initially authorized his baptism verifies to the receiving church that the person has professed faith in Christ, and has been baptized. Subsequently, each Baptist church which one might seek to join receives verification to its satisfaction from the church where the person was a member just previously. ” J. Carey Wood

(The above is from a Southern Baptist tract entitled “What Is a Baptist Church?”. This small tract was published by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1970’s. Notice the author of the tract teaches that baptism is an ordinance of the local church and that baptism identifies an individual with the church that baptized him. This is the reason the vast majority of Southern Baptists have always rejected alien {non-Baptist} immersions. This tract also shows where the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention stood on this issue even in the 1970’s.)

Water baptism [immersion], is the public testimony of the believer in Christ to his trusting faith in Jesus Christ as His crucified, buried, and risen Savior. This public testimony by immersion makes him the member of the local church. It is a picture of what Jesus has already done, baptizing each one who has trusted Him into His Spirit, making us a member of the body of Christ. The local church is the physical representation of the body of Christ.

On Overcoming Spiritual Depression

September 24, 2007 / Tim A. / 2 Comments

The following is a quote by Lloyd-Jones given by John Piper in his book “Future Grace”, and I found it to be really encourageing. I think it will be especially so on Monday, since this is the day most pastors think about resigning :>)

“I say that we must talk to ourselves instead of allowing ‘ourselves’ to talk to us! Do you realize what that means? I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression in a sense is this, that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self. Am I just trying to be deliberately paradoxical? Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now [the psalmist’s] treatment was this; instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you…Why art thou cast down?–what business have you to be disquieted?…And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who He is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: ‘I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” From FUTURE GRACE, by John Piper, p. 304, paperback.

It is wise preacher/pastor if we do not make crucial decisions while we are in the pit of depression or discouragement. I think the above words are wise words to hear. Speak the Word of God to yourself.

The Aggressor

September 21, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

The Mighty Hunter

“And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.” Genesis 10:8-14 (KJV).

The following article is from the MATTHEW HENRY CONCISE COMMENTARY on these verses:

“Nimrod was a great man in his day; he began to be mighty in the earth, Those before him were content to be upon the same level with their neighbours, and though every man bare rule in his own house, yet no man pretended any further. Nimrod was resolved to lord it over his neighbours. The spirit of the giants before the flood, who became mighty men, and men of renown, Gen 6:4, revived in him. Nimrod was a great hunter. Hunting then was the method of preventing the hurtful increase of wild beasts. This required great courage and address, and thus gave an opportunity for Nimrod to command others, and gradually attached a number of men to one leader. From such a beginning, it is likely, that Nimrod began to rule, and to force others to submit. He invaded his neighbours’ rights and properties, and persecuted innocent men; endeavouring to make all his own by force and violence. He carried on his oppressions and violence in defiance of God himself. Nimrod was a great ruler. Some way or other, by arts or arms, he got into power, and so founded a monarchy, which was the terror of the mighty, and bid fair to rule all the world. Nimrod was a great builder. Observe in Nimrod the nature of ambition. It is boundless; much would have more, and still cries, Give, give. It is restless; Nimrod, when he had four cities under his command, could not be content till he had four more. It is expensive; Nimrod will rather be at the charge of rearing cities, than not have the honour of ruling them. It is daring, and will stick at nothing. Nimrod’s name signifies rebellion; tyrants to men are rebels to God. The days are coming, when conquerors will no longer be spoken of with praise, as in man’s partial histories, but be branded with infamy, as in the impartial records of the Bible. —Matthew Henry Concise

Much that has been written concerning Nimrod has nothing good to say of the man. Even by the verses of Scripture we have written of him he appears to be the type man who desires to rule over others. It seems that he was a warrior, and sought men, for destruction or men to follow him. He was a man who also is attributed with having a bit to do with the beginning of a religion, and it could be called a world religion.

The new religion was basically inspired by his mother who has been identified as Semiramis, and she inspired a MOTHER/CHILD religion. Nimrod is most likely the ruler which led in the building of what we know as the “Tower of Babel”. It seems to have been a tower of great pride. A tower of no significance campared to God’s glory. Men continue to build towers and monuments even in our day.

Some of those monuments could be our technological knowledge, knowledge, NASA, these and others seem to be continual increasing towers lifting the pride of the “Achievers” over the power and knowledge of God; at least in their own mind and thought. Arrogance has been the downfall of many a man and woman, and it will be the downfall of today’s world leaders if they continue to rebell against the LORD.

The Righteous Judge

September 19, 2007 / Tim A. / 4 Comments

The Righteous Judge

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV).

Many of the false prophets and teachers are those who are relying upon their “good deeds” to get them into presence and pleasure of God. They believe that by their many deeds they surely will be allowed into God’s house. They have, according to them, healed the sick, cast out devils, and preached in His name; why shouldn’t God allow them in?

The reason they will not get in is because they are not known by the Savior. Someone is going to say because of this statement, “I thought God was omniscient.” He is. God does not know them in the sense of salvation. He has not declared them to be righteous/just. They have, in many cases, gone around doing good all their lives, but have spent that time relishing in the praises and accolades of the crowds they have preached to and performed before, and in fact neither do they know Him.

They are in fact self-deceived people. Because of a “Prayer of decision”, led by someone else, and false assurances given from men, and not from the Word of God they go from the church “altar” thinking all is well and there has never been any change made in their lives toward God, grace, and salvation. They fail to examine their own lives – “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV). Some may go on into religious activity, but there is no joy, peace, love for God or others; but duty alone to please God, and so their activity is their means of obtaining God’s pleasure; which will ultimately be to no avail. They are sometimes ones who believe that God surely must have a set of scales and will weigh the good on one side, and the bad on the other, and they just know that the good will outweigh the bad. Thus, we have God owing them a debt.

Many will speak of Jesus and of God. There are many who speak of Christianity, but know not the Christ. They speak vain words. Even the word Jesus Christ becomes only a means of “Fire Insurance” rather than a personal Savior to know, love, cherish and worship. The Righteous Judge: who is Jesus Himself will say to those who do not know Him and are not known by Him; “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity”.

Notice, that He attributes what they have deemed as good works, as iniquity.

Don’t Be Found Out

September 18, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

Has anyone ever stopped to think about the foolishness of idolatry. That is the desire for things, the greed for wealth, the lust for power, and/or the opposite sex. That is, afterall, what idolatry is all about.

We live in an era not dissimilar from Jeremiah’s. The people were living in basic comfort, secure in their wealth, and easy lives. Though, ours is plagued somewhat with fear of terrorism we still go about doing whatever we please; paying the exhorbitant prices for gasoline, and everything going up due to that; yet we purchase, or at least those who can do. Power for more of the things desired.

Hear the word of the LORD through the prophet Jeremiah:

“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You have birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.” Jeremiah 2:26-28 (NKJV).

It seems quite clear that the people of Judah have been caught in the practice of idolatry, worshipping other gods, which are not gods at all, but more burdens for the people to carry. Have you ever notice the junk that we in our society build up and keep in closets, garages, security vaults, magazine racks, and how valuless they really are?

In the prophet Jeremiah’s day they were here being accused of having wood idols, and giving it praise for being their father. Also of telling one made of stone that was their mother. In the worship of other gods, they turned their back on God, denying Him as their birthparent as a nation. By turning their back and not their faces we find a great hypocrisy.

The hypocrisy is that while everything is going good, life is easy and comfortable, they really have no care to remember God, His holy days, nor His Law or His Word. However, when they start hearing about an enemy, or having some other troubles they begin to cry out to the true God for help. God, the LORD, says to that, “Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble;” It is like He is saying to them you have plenty of gods you love and adore more than Me, “Let them help you”. The prophet continues by saying, “For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.” You would think that the more gods the better. Right? Wrong.

The one true God is sufficient to meet our every need. In fact there is no other god but the LORD God. The one who loves us enough to send His Son to die in our place.

We continue now to the next two verses:

“Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,’ says the LORD. ‘In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.'” Jeremiah 2:29-30 (NKJV).

At times when people face catastrophe they tend to recognize that God does exist. When things ease off, and start getting back to normal it is back to the worship of things,getting those desires met, achieving those personal goals at the cost of life, limb, or friendships, or spouses and family. When this happens, some of it is genuine, and some is not. The one’s who are genuine will continue being faithful when the things start being good again. They will hear the voice of the LORD and will obey Him. They do not turn away.

These are the ones whom the LORD will bless. These are the ones whom the LORD has genuinely saved.

These “two faced” people are about as dependable as a flat tire, and no rim with it. The correction of the LORD does no good, accomplishes nothing, and they hate the prophets who tell them the truth for the saving of their souls.

Don’t turn your back on God. Don’t be a two faced individual who worships God on Sunday, then, through the rest of the week no one will ever no any difference from watching your life, hearing your dirty words, and dirty jokes. When you have given your life to the LORD your life changes, for His glory and your good. You will love the Law, the History of His people, the Wisdom of the sages, and the prophets; both the Major and Minor prophets. You will love God’s Word.

Male and Female

September 18, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

For some reason the idea for this category of messages came to my heart and mind the other day, and I could not shake it. It is not that I really wanted to, but if something does not leave my thoughts, I am one to believe that the good Lord placed it there. As long as that thought is a good, and holy thought, that is.

This is going to be the beginning of a weekly article dealing with Marriage, and I have had several ideas come to mind. One is to use Scripture to show God’s plan for marriage, which is of the utmost importance. Another is to share stories of people who have been married for 25 years or more and how they have seen the Lord bless their marriages, and strengthen them through the years.

We do not often like to talk about the struggles of marriage or marriages that have failed or are in the process of failing. It is sad to me to hear of those couples who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and have marriages that have failed, and that those numbers are in the same level as those who are not Christians.

I may be putting myself in a spot, but I will take that spot. Here is the deal. If you have a good story of a couple who has been married 25 years or more, and they are a thriving couple in their marriage, happy, sound in doctrine, very much in love with one another, and they would not mind their story appearing here at Fire and Hammer email me at isaiah4031@mo-net.com with the story, your name, and I will give you the credit for it if it is posted. If it is not posted I will simply delete it from my emails.

In Genesis we read:

“So God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NKJV).

Sometimes we men are the ones who have problems with our wives. For some reason it has come into the minds of some males that women are inferior to us and we are superior. That is a grave error and the cause of many a marital problem.

We do see from the beginning of marriage that we are both created in the image of God. We both stand on equal ground before Him. We both are responsible for the fall. We both are sinners, and because of sin the original image of God which we were created in has become marred and inferior.

That image is renewed in Jesus Christ, and any marriage that does not have Jesus Christ as the center of that marriage and home is in danger of failure.

Let me be blunt here. You may be male in gender, but that does not make you a man. A man, especially the man of God will see his wife as equal to himself and will treat her with great respect and care. He will strive to meet her every need to the best of his ability, and will trust the Lord to meet those which he cannot.

One man, one woman for a lifetime together is God’s plan. What therefore God has joined together, let no man or woman put asunder.

Why I Preach Expositionally

September 17, 2007 / Tim A. / 6 Comments

For several years following God’s call, and my surrender to His will in preaching, I struggled with how I would preach. I grew up in an environment where notes were frowned upon for a preacher. “Any preacher who uses notes can’t be led by the Spirit” was and in some cases still is the argument against notes. I use notes most of the time and have no problem taking some heat for it. But, there is another thing that I struggled with and with that same environment is the idea of sermon preparation and the message itself.

For some time I struggled to find a message for the following Sunday morning. Direction of the Holy Spirit was a necessity, and it still is, but there was something that had to change. I could spend all week long praying, seeking a text which I believed to be Spirit inspired, and then prepare the thought of the text, or even insert my own idea. You wind up preaching a lot of “Topical” sermons that way. For me topical sermons are built from an idea, then you find a text to fit the idea, and that requires a lot of human flesh – at least on my part.

Well, finally to the point of this posting; here is WHY I PREACH EXPOSITIONALLY:

First of all to preach expositionally you need to start with a book of the Bible. The Bible, then sets the path and plan for which the messages will take. Since I am not a Hebrew nor a Greek student, I am dependent upon Strong’s Concordance in many cases; upon others who are more knowledgeable, and scholarly than myself; prayer, and the rest of Scripture. Scripture must ultimately be interpreted by Scripture.

Secondly, preaching through a Book of the Bible, you never wonder what you will be preaching on the next time, and you are most likely to be better prepared. You have more time to pray on that particular topic, spend more time in study and preparation, and you always know you are preaching the Word of God to the people.

Thirdly, when I preach expositionally it is much more difficult to get off onto pet subjects, than when you preach topically. There is nothing wrong with “Pet subjects”, but sometimes we may bore our people to tears with the continued rhetoric.

Fourthly, preaching expositional sermons keeps you in study. I have found times when the Lord has pointed something out that may be a pet subject, that needs to be dealt with, and He will give me time to do it.

Fifth, expositional preaching will be a verse by verse, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, or chapter by chapter explanation of the Scriptures and how we may apply their teachings to our lives. We are more assured by this that God is speaking through His Word.

There are times where we may need to preach a narrative sermon, a topical sermon or however God may lead, but I believe, and I know it to be extremely so for myself, that the best form of preaching is through the exposition of God’s Word, Book by Book, chapter by chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, sentence by sentence, and verse by verse and maybe sometimes even, Word by Word.

There are more reasons than these. These are ones which I have found helpful. There are others who have given reasons, and some of them as I have listed. If God has called you to preach His Word, then do it with all your heart. When you become a pastor that is the time to begin expositional preaching of the Word. That is what our people need. They do not always like it, nor appreciate it, but in the long run it is for their benefit, and yours.

The Promise Continues

September 14, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

The Human Race Continues

In the following verses of Genesis chapter 10 we have the legacy of Noah and his sons. Human life, and all life would continue due to the amazing grace of our God and Savior. God used Noah for the continuation of life, and He chose to continue the human race for the ultimate saving of it. That is done through the sending of Messiah Jesus, and His death on the cross, His burial, and bodily resurrection. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we live eternally with Him. He returns to us what Adam lost.

We have a genealogy of the three sons in these verses. We will not see the genealogies of Ham or Japheth again. Shem’s genealogy is seen throughout the Scriptures; even to the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospel.

“Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.” Genesis 10:1-7 (KJV).

In these first seven verses are mentioned only the sons of Japheth and Ham. These are the descendants of Japheth – Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. These are the sons of Ham – Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan; with special note given to the sons of Cush; they being – Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, Sabecha; and a couple of sons of Raamah being Sheba, and Dedan. Special note is given to one son of Cush who is not named among the others, and that is Nimrod in verses 8-14.

Japheth and Ham are the fathers of what were to become the Gentile nations. Following this genealogy we have no more genealogy for the Gentiles. There is virtually no way any one who is Gentile to trace and see from whom they came. We can know for certain that Noah came from Adam, and we are all descendents of them both.

In the new era following the flood Noah is almost like a second Adam, yet we have seen his sin in chapter nine by his drunkenness. Yet, he is like Adam in that he was given promise of a continuation of the human race, even unto the coming of the Savior, the Messiah. The Messiah would come through the lineage of Shem.

The people of the human race need to be assured that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, because we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The penalty for sin is death. When we die there are two places for eternal beings to inhabit. One is a place of the glory and splendor of God. The other is a place of darkness, continual dying without dying, a place where your most innate desires go unmet, and your hatred for God is increased, but you cannot even curse Him. The only way to spend eternity in the glory and splendor of God is by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, His burial and resurrection. To go to the other all you need to do is nothing. It is already yours.

Judging the Doctrines of Men

September 12, 2007 / Tim A. / Leave a comment

Judging Doctrines of Men

” Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20 (KJV).

Again, it seems to be needed to state that Jesus’s intent was not against making judgments, but doing it with the wrong idea. Judgment of motive would be something you or I could have no clue. Only God alone could make that kind of judgment.

By our looking at verse 15 it seems we are required to make judgments by action, words spoken, and behavior. A “False prophet” is to be identified as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. How does one discern a false prophet? By the words they speak and the lives they live. There are a couple of Old Testament passages which tell us how to make that determination. The first says;

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’ — which you have not known — and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst” Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (NKJV).

“And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken? — when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (NKJV).

So the Old Testament gives us two ways by which we may discern or judge a prophet, whether they are from God or not. The first we determine by whom he calls on to worship. Even if the message comes to pass just as proclaimed, if he directs his people to turn away from the true God he/she is a false prophet, and cannot be trusted, and is worthy of death. The second means of discernment is when the prophet speaks, and what he/she says does not come to pass, then, you know they are not of God.

Usually, false teachers/prophets like having a large following. They are dependent upon the applause and accolades of the people. The true prophet of God proclaims the Word of the Lord, and is not motivated by men, money, or mention. The prophet of God will preach the Word of God even while he is being stoned, and hated and despised. The prophet of God will preach even when it seems no one is listening, or seems that no one cares.

One of the fruits of a true prophet of God is his faithfulness to the Word of God. The false prophet on the other hand will seek to twist it and make it easier to be heard, or use the word to help people feel better about themselves, rather than calling people to a holy, righteous way of life.

The fruits give the verdict. The fruits of the true prophet of God will be that those who hear the Word of the Lord through him will be on their face before God, seeking righteousness, holiness, and the face of God. The fruits of the false prophet will be large screaming, applauding crowds, praising the gods of pleasant speech, pleasure, and success. In fact, the fruits of the prophet of God may not be seen immediately; they may come after the prophet is dead.

Any teacher who does not bring forth good fruit is of no use in the kingdom or our Lord and Savior. He even tells us, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (v.19). The fruits of the prophet is the life he lives as well as the words he speaks.

Whose Land is It???

September 10, 2007 / Tim A. / 2 Comments

There has been a struggle over the land that is often referred to as “The Holy Land” or even “The Promised Land”, and over whose land it is. What I am about to write here is not going to settle the issue until people will receive and hear what the Word of God says in its truest meaning, and that is in what God says.

Does God say what He means, and mean what He says? I certainly believe so. The Bible says quite clearly that the land belongs to Israel, and we have professing christians who say God is finished with Israel as a nation and a people. Personally, I believe they are placing themselves under the wrath of God, and in fact are denying the truth of His Word.

Hear the Word of God:

“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.” Jeremiah 31:35-40 (KJV)

Now, the only way you can get around these verses is to spiritualize them and say that these are fulfilled in the Church. To spiritualize a passage of Scripture is to deny its basic truth, to make a point of personal preference. There is too much spiritualizing of God’s Word today.

The pastor whom I surrendered to preach under said this when he was pastor of my home church, and I have remembered it since he said it. I believe it to be so true. “People who spiritualize, tell spiritual lies, because they don’t have spiritual eyes”. That may be cute, but it is true. There are passages of Scripture you can get spiritual truth and understanding from, but in doing so you do not deny its basic truth. Tht is what the people who say that God is through with the Nation of Israel are doing, ie., denying its basic truth.

According to God’s promise in the passage above God says, “If the ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a Nation before Me forever.” The ordiances He speaks of is the sun lighting the day, and the moon which lights the night. When those things fail, then, God will cause Israel to cease from being a Nation.

When they went into Babylonian captivity God promised to return them to their land, and He did. He has promised it to them for as long as the sun and the moon shall endure. The people of Israel have once again been given back their land; and the promise still stands. Why? Because the sun is still shining, and the moon lights the night sky. It is just as God has said.

Remember God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”, and we have been. Let’s take God at His Word and not use the faulty thinking of men to turn our hearts away from the Nation He has blessed, cursed, and blessed again, and again.

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The Fire and Hammer

"Is not My Word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29

Author: Tim A.

The King, and a Mute

Arkansas Baptist Convention – Update

The King and Blind Men

Baptists and Beverage Alcohol

Hatred For Baptists

Arkansas Baptist Convention

The Missouri Baptist Convention

A Ruler’s Need

The Wonderful Love of God

Being A Disciple of Jesus

Rejected Helpers

Of More Value???

Seven Year Marriage

The Judgment that Stands

Marriage in the Garden

Baptism and Church Membership

On Overcoming Spiritual Depression

The Aggressor

The Righteous Judge

Don’t Be Found Out

Male and Female

Why I Preach Expositionally

The Promise Continues

Judging the Doctrines of Men

Whose Land is It???

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