Michael's Reflections

Cowper's Grave

2011-09-20T12:15:00.000-04:00

I was recently made aware of this poem and thought it a worthy share. Apart from the cross of Christ of Christ we would indeed be miserable!

Cowper's Grave

It is a place where poets crowned may feel the heart’s decaying,—

It is a place where happy saints may weep amid their praying:

Yet let the grief and humbleness as low as silence languish!

Earth surely now may give her calm to whom she gave her anguish.

O poets! from a maniac’s tongue was poured the deathless singing!

O Christians ! at your cross of hope a hopeless hand was clinging!

O men! this man in brotherhood your weary paths beguiling,

Groanedoinly while he taught you peace, and died while ye were smiling!

And now, what time ye all may read through dimming tears his story.

How discord on the music fell, and darkness on the glory,

And how, when, one by one, sweet sounds and wandering lights departed.

He wore no less a loving face because so brokenhearted.

He shall be strong to sanctify the poet’s high vocation,

And bow the meekest Christian down in meeker adoration;

Nor ever shall he be, in praise, by wise or good forsaken.

Named softly as the household name of one whom God hath taken.

With quiet sadness and no gloom I learn to think upon him.

With meekness that is gratefulness to God whose heaven hath won him,—

Who suffered once the madness-cloud to his own love to blind him.

But gently led the blind along where breath and bird could find him;

And wrought within his shattered brain such quick poetic senses

As hills have language for, and stars harmonious influences!

The pulse of dew upon the grass kept his within its number.

And silent shadow from the trees refreshed him like a slumber.

Wild timid hares were drawn from woods to share his home-caresses,

Uplooking to his human eyes with sylvan tendernesses;

The very world, by God’s constraint, from falsehood’s ways removing,

Its women and its men became beside him true and loving.

But while in blindness he remained inconscious of the guiding,

And things provided came without the sweet sense of providing.

He testified this solemn truth though frenzy desolated,—

Nor man nor nature satisfy, whom only God created.

Like a sick child that knoweth not his mother whilst she blesses,

And drops upon his burning brow the coolness of her kisses;

That turns his fevered eyes around—”My mother! where’s my mother?”—

As if such tender words and looks could come from any other!—

The fever gone, with leaps of heart he sees her bending o’er him.

Her face all pale from watchful love, the unweary love she bore him!—

Thus woke the poet from the dream his life’s long fever gave him,

Beneath those deep pathetic eyes which closed in death to save him!

Thus? O, not thus! no type of earth could image that awaking,

Wherein he scarcely heard the chant of seraphs round him breaking,

Or felt the new immortal throb of soul from body parted,

But felt those eyes alone, and knew, “My Saviour! not deserted!”

Deserted! who hath dreamt that when the cross in darkness rested

Upon the Victim’s hidden face no love was manifested!

What frantic hands outstretched have e’er the atoning drops averted!

What tears have washed them from the soul, that one should be deserted?

Deserted! God could separate from his own essence rather,

And Adam’s sins have swept between the righteous Son and Father;

Yea, once, Immanuel’s orphaned cry his universe hath shaken,—

It went up single, echoless, “My God, I am forsaken!”

It went up from the Holy’s lips amid his lost creation.

That, of the lost, no son should use those words of desolation,

That earth’s worst frenzies, marring hope, should mar not hope’s fruition.

And I, on Cowper’s grave, should see his rapture in a vision!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Church Builders #4

2011-07-29T16:48:00.000-04:00

Moderation

Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

What is the intended meaning of the biblical term moderation? This is a clear example of how the meanings of words can drastically change over the years. Therefore, we must carefully seek out the intended meaning and context of words used in scripture. Today's definition and the original meaning are drastically different.

The modern use of the word is generally defined as the process of eliminating or lessening extremes. In recent times the term 'moderate' has become a buzzword in political circles. It is used to describe an individual who holds an intermediate position between extreme political parties. In religious circles it can describe one who stands on middle ground between two perceived extremes in a particular religious order. But what does the above verse teach us about this term?

The Apostle Paul begins Philippians chapter 4 by encouraging the church to stand fast in the Lord. This exhortation in and of itself disqualifies the modern connotation of eliminating extremes. A public stand in the doctrines of the Lord automatically puts all believers in an extreme position against many institutions of the world. Christianity was not merely a compromise in behavior or affiliations, it was complete lifestyle change from being a servant to the world to a soldier in the Lord's army. He later encourages them to center their joy in the Lord. Not unlike today, the ancient Roman citizen was encouraged by the powers-that-be to seek pleasure in worldly entertainment. Bread and circuses were used to placate the people. But Paul encouraged the disciples of Christ to be glad and well-off in the Lord.

So, what is biblical moderation then? It conveys an attitude of patience or gentleness. It is not a call to compromise the radical teachings of scripture. However, it does instruct one to carry out God's commands with meekness and gentleness. When listing the qualifications of a minister, Paul emphasizes this behavior. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (1 Timothy 3:3). He later expands this trait to all believers in Titus 3. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men (v. 1-2). James later describes a peaceable attitude and gentleness as wisdom given from above (James 3:17). All of these passages are synonymous with Paul's use of the term moderation.

How are we to apply this to our present situation? First, we realize that scriptural moderation is not compromise. As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to stand fast in his truth. Paul emphatically encourages the Corinthian believers to be steadfast, unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). In other words, we are to settle for nothing less than the truth. This should be our goal, both doctrinally and practically.

However, we are to exercise godly patience and gentleness in every activity of life. An adherence to biblical truth will inevitably cause friction. Perhaps it may come in the form of government persecution, ostracism from so-called friends and family, or even attacks from within your own church body. When these difficulties arise we are to moderate our behavior with gentleness, meekness, and patience. Our natural tendency is to 'lash out' at others due to frustration or mistreatment. The proper God-honoring response it to be that of biblical moderation. Notice what Paul writes to the people of Thessalonian church:

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15).

Later, he exhorts Timothy in a similar manner:

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).

These verses contain no compromise when it comes to the truth, but all confrontations were to be tempered with patience and goodness. Moderation was to prevail in all situations. Is this the case in your life? Our tendency is to be hotheads when we our our loved ones are mistreated. We can get in the flesh over the most insignificant slights that occur in everyday life. The Lord is neither pleased or glorified in such! There are times that we are called to graciously suffer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that we would examine every avenue of life and apply true, biblical moderation. What a great blessing it would be to us and a powerful testimony of the Lord who saved us if we heeded this biblical principle!

Church Builders #3

2011-07-06T10:47:00.000-04:00

Walking in the Spirit

Living a Spirit-filled life might be the most often overlooked aspect of discipleship. We readily acknowledge that God is the creator and sustainer of our universe. We understand that salvation is by His grace and that Jesus died for the sins of His people! To become a Primitive Baptist you have you have to be able to quote Romans 8:29-33 and Ephesians 1:4. That might be a slight exaggeration, but not so much :-)

But how much attention do we give to the Holy Spirit? This third aspect of the Trinity is oftentimes ignored in our everyday lives, is it not? I have recently become convicted of this reality in my own personal walk. I will soon be secularly unemployed and have been seeking a new job. Needless to say, it is a tough climate to be doing such! Unfortunately, I have allowed this setback to be too much of a distraction. There have been nights that I have stayed awake worrying about things that have not yet happened. It has been a distraction in my studies and at times downright overwhelming. In other words, I have not been walking in the Spirit. If I were, this (and other) difficulties would not be so paralyzing.

I find the same to be true in our church bodies. We allow the inevitable challenges of life to elicit worldly responses instead of spiritual. We let worry and uncertainty to prevent us from doing what the body of Christ is called to do; act as the salt of the earth and shine light in this world of darkness (Matthew 6).

We fear the consequences of sharing the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace because it is diametrically opposed to what much of the rest of our society believes.
We despair because of our small numbers and think no one would want to be a part of our community of believers.
We allow anger and bitterness to take over when inevitable conflict occurs amongst those who make up our church body.
We constantly worry about when ‘the other shoe is going to drop’ when things are progressing well.

These attitudes all result from the church neglecting to walk by the Spirit. It is vital to understand what the Holy Spirit does for us. Notice what Jesus says to His disciples about the Holy Spirit:

John 14:16-18 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

First, we notice that the Holy Spirit is a comfort to the church. He is literally there for our aide. Strong’s defines the Comforter as the one who gives divine strength needed to enable us to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom. Do you see that we have divine empowerment as God’s people? The Spirit miraculously gives us (the church) strength that the world knows nothing about.

Second, the Holy Spirit testifies of the truth. As mentioned earlier, many have an intellectual knowledge of the truths contained in scripture. Hopefully, our churches testify of divine truth and experience the blessings of truth to some degree. But it is easy to forget them in the midst of trials. Thanks be to God that our Comforter can encourage us with the timeless truths of the Bible. In our verse above, Jesus would soon be crucified and ascend to Heaven. He would no longer walk in the midst of the disciples. But they would not be left to figure things out on their own. He would dwell in their hearts and encourage them in truth and righteousness through the Spirit.

Finally, we notice the permanence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to not leave us comfortless. You may ask why then do we worry, doubt, act in the flesh, etc? It is not that the Spirit has left us. The Bible teaches that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God is unchangeable. The difficulties arise when we forsake Him. The Apostle Paul warns us not to quench the Spirit in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. How does this happen? Based on the surrounding verses of this warning, it occurs when we are in the flesh. Forgetting to pray, being unthankful, ingratitude, flirting with evil, rendering evil for evil, and many more worldly attitudes cause us to extinguish the Spirit of God in our lives and in the life of our churches.

The good news is that the Spirit of God has not moved one inch. He is where he has always been. He dwells in the heart of every born-again elect child of God. Our responsibility is to continually recalibrate our lives to the standard of scripture. It is there that we find the divine comfort and encouragement of the Spirit of God. This is where we need to be as a church body. The alternative is unpleasant darkness. I encourage you to read about the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2. The Spirit can remove itself from a body of believers if they insist on repeatedly quenching the Spirit and leave their first love.

On a positive note, our churches will grow both in grace and knowledge of the truth when we walk in the Spirit. I have been studying the Book of Acts over the past several days. If correct, I have noted sixty mentions of the Spirit in this book. That is significant! We oftentimes refer to Acts as the place to go to discern the correct practical/doctrinal pattern of our churches. Lord help us to also remember that everything that we do as a church should revolve around the Holy Spirit as well.

We please God and are personally comforted when we are filled with the Spirit. Lord help us to apply this truth!

Ephesians 5:14 - Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Lessons Learned From Old Testament Israel

2011-06-30T10:28:00.001-04:00

We have been taking full advantage of the warm, sunny afternoon/evenings in Northern Indiana over the past couple of weeks. That, coupled with me searching for new secular employment, church meetings, and pastoral responsibilities has greatly limited my time to write. Stay tuned for more to come in the future. I have a lot of thoughts whirling around in this head of mine.

Here are a few thoughts for today....

Sometimes we question the importance of the Old Testament in our lives. Does any of it apply to me today? Yes it does! We must remember that all of scripture is written FOR our benefit. However, not all is written TO us. Obviously, we are no longer required to enact the sacrificial system of the Old Testament times. Jesus was the once-for-all sacrifice for our sins. The Bible teaches us that he fulfilled the law to a jot and a tittle. But, we glean many doctrinal and practical truths from the OT and Israel.

Consider God's relationship with Israel. They were blessed of God when they obeyed the laws and commandments contained in the Mosaic Covenant:

Deuteronomy 28:1 - And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

All manner of blessings are contained in the above chapter. It included fertility for the Israelites personally as well as for their herds and crops, and it included the ability to defeat their neighboring enemies and to enjoy peace and prosperity. It also included other material and social blessings, as well as the enjoyment of an close spiritual relationship with God. Likewise, he also assured Israel that judgement would be cursed if they were disobedient:

Deuteronomy 28:15 - But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Moses goes on to list a plethora of disasters that would befall God's chosen nation if they hardened their hearts to the commandments of the Lord. God's 'curse,' would be barrenness, defeat, oppression, unfruitfulness and many other undesirable conditions. His expectations are clearly outlined in the early books of the Bible and the blessings/consequences are plainly manifest in the above chapter.

This warning was written to Israel of old. But we can see how this promise of blessings or curses is FOR God's people today. He still hearkens unto those that seek to honor Him in obedience. Notice what Paul writes in Hebrews:

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

God blesses those that obediently seek Him. When the regenerate elect turn to the Lord, He is pleased and bestows favor upon them. This characteristic of God permeates scripture. On the other hand, judgement comes when his people are disobedient. I encourage you to read through all of Deuteronomy 28, paying particular attention to the consequences of disobedience. Do we not see much of this in our own society? We were once a nation that feared God and enjoyed His favor. Today, not so much.

As we celebrate the independence of our great nation, let us remember what made us great. A government founded upon the principles of God's word and His people demonstrating a commitment to live their lives as the salt of the earth and lights in this world of sin and sorrow. God is still on His throne. He still blesses those that seek Him. May we learn from the history of Israel of old and strive not to repeat the mistakes that brought judgement upon them.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Church Builders – 2

2011-06-23T10:08:00.000-04:00

Keeping it Real

Another attribute of true church growth is genuine actions and godly sincerity. It seems as if much of modern day religion is more about a performance than pleasing God. Some institutions are actually utilizing the services of marketing experts to determine how they can appeal to the broadest variety of people in their community. My friends, this might be desirable if you are offering some type of worldly product or service. But that which is flesh pleasing and performance driven has no place in the New Testament church. Let us explore what scripture emphasizes:

2 Corinthians 1:12 - For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

The Apostle Paul makes no mention of appealing to man’s flesh or staging elaborate productions in preaching the gospel to the church of Corinth. Notice that he rejoiced that his ministry was tempered with simplicity and godly sincerity. His approach was free of any pretense or hypocrisy. He also preached the sincere truth. In other words, Paul was keeping it real.

Our little congregations have labored throughout history to preserve the simple pattern of the New Testament church and adhere to the doctrine of grace. However, we must vigilantly strive to not make our worship and interactions with others merely a performance. If we are not careful the old flesh will try to usurp the glory that belongs to God. This involves both our ministry and members. Do you view worship as an experience or as a show Consider the following:

Undue pressure and 'looks' are directed towards those that disrupt our notion of church worship. Perhaps it is a mother struggling with young children. My wife and I have dealt with well-meaning, but inconsiderate folks in church that have rebuked us because our children were making noise during worship. Such rebukes are also thrown at some who may look different or don't fit into our perception of a proper congregant. This ought not be!

Extra emphasis placed on 'special meetings' and traveling to hear 'big preachers'. I enjoy annual/fellowship/associational meetings as well as the next person. But aren't the regularly scheduled meetings equally as important? Perhaps more so. This is the time that the pastor usually digs deep into the word to specifically minister to his flock. Yet, there are some who act like it is torture to go to regular worship. Let a special meeting roll around and they are the most zealous person there. Some think nothing of even forsaking the local assembly to travel to the 'big meetings'. This appeals to our flesh, but it is our spirits that need fed! Our first priority is the local church.

The gospel minister must also remember these truths and take care to guard against the flesh. Our job is not that of a church police officer, politician, comedian or public relations guru, but a preacher of the gospel. One who labors in the word and doctrine is indeed worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17). But the laborer should not be actively seeking the accolades and attention of men. This takes away from the glory that rightfully belongs to God. We should strive to study the word, preach the gospel clearly to the best of our ability, and do everything within our power to get self out of the way. I also adjure those in the ministry who have committed themselves to serve as a pastor. Do not allow the local flock to languish and suffer at the expense of your ambitions to travel. Perhaps you are well-intentioned in accepting preaching appointments and many around the country appreciate your gift. But do not drag down the folks back home with your constant absence. If you truly have the burden to travel, give up pastoral responsibilities. It is healthy for us ministers to constantly assess why we do what we do in the church. This too is part of keeping it real. I believe that this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote about simplicity and godly sincerity. I pray that our ministry will heed the instruction of Peter as the gospel is proclaimed.

1 Peter 5:2-4 - Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Those seeking the truth that visit amongst us can usually perceive whether or not we are sincere in our worship. By default we Primitive Baptists do not attract people that are looking for worldly entertainment. I believe that many are seeking to fellowship with those who sincerely worship the Lord in spirit and truth. May we search our hearts and constantly strive to 'keep it real' in the sense that we do not forget our purpose in gathering together as the Lord's people.

It ain't about the show! It is about humble obedience to the One who saved us!

Church Builders

2011-06-16T11:34:00.000-04:00

Enough about the negative!

Once a problem has been identified the best course of action is to turn from an undesirable behavior/attitude to a more edifying one. This is also known as repentance. One of the glorious characteristics of our Lord is that he is forgiving. Don’t take my word for it! Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 John 1:9. I believe that both of these texts can be safely applied to the church body. In light of this truth, here are some attitudes and actions that lead to scripturally desirable church building.

Let’s just have church!

This is a simple yet profound statement when we consider it context of the gathering together of the Lord’s people. As Primitive Baptists we wave the banner of church simplicity, yet do we always practice what we preach? Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Outwardly, we might dot all of the i’s and cross all of the “t’s” of orthodoxy, but think about some of the inner workings that sometimes complicate things.

First, the glory of God should be the primary focus of corporate worship. Everything else should be checked at the door! I wonder how many times we have quenched the Spirit by dragging our ‘stuff’ into church. There is a time and a place for dealing with the drama that inevitably occurs when people are involved, but Sunday morning is not the place to hash it out. If the church is to be edified, Christ must be the central focus both outwardly and inwardly. Notice the following:

Colossians 1:16-18 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

This passage emphatically declares that Christ is the head of the church. It also states that he is to have the preeminence in all things. Therefore, he is to be the primary focus of our public assemblies. Anything else is merely a distraction from our goal. Have you ever engaged in or witnessed the following:

Been physically present at a worship service yet been mentally disengaged because of some outside unrelated issue (problems at home/work, activities after church, etc.).
Attend church and worry about what others think about your physical appearance, dress, and demeanor and get offended because some do not give you the proper amount of attention.
Spend the assembly time finding fault in the preacher, building, and others people around you.

These things (and many more) are the inward additions that distract from glorifying the Lord in our worship. Sadly, all of us have likely been guilty of these actions (and others). Ministers can contribute to the problem as well.

Using the pulpit to ‘grind an axe’ over a particular doctrine or practical issue. The old timer theologians referred to this as ‘hobby horse’ preaching.
Causing the congregation to be distracted by abnormal mannerisms or theatrics.
Forgetting to make Christ the center of the gospel message and too much time speaking about personal opinions/experiences.

Lord help us ALL to examine ourselves before we come to His house for worship. If a church is going to prosper, Christ has to be at the forefront of every endeavor. When this attitude prevails, God’s word is more likely to be lovingly upheld. Folks will also be more inclined to love as He loves, forgive and He has forgive us, and zealously share the good news of the full, complete and finished work of our Redeemer. This is how a church experiences true, biblical growth. Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

This is not a limited subject for God’s people! It is an inexhaustible message of exhortation and encouragement. Let’s just have church the way it was intended. Preach the word, preach about Christ, and preach how we are to love as Christ in our relationships. When you come to church, be ready to listen, learn and apply the word of God to your life and grow from it! This is the foundation in which churches are built upon!

Life Turns on a Dime

2011-06-13T13:24:00.000-04:00

This is the lesson that I have been learning over the past several weeks. It started with me being informed that the grant that has funded my position will be ending this summer. Time to polish up the ole resume :-) I have discovered that my experience (and the salary that schools are contractually obligated to provide a person of my experience) is working against me in these tough economic times. I can only imagine what my 40 and 50 something friends are going through as they seek employment to provide for their families. However, my struggles pale in comparison to other situations that some of my friends and acquaintances have been dealing with over the past couple of weeks.

A couple of weeks ago on of my co-workers started experiencing some unexplained headaches and had difficulty putting her words together. This was on a Monday. She worked Tuesday and went to her doctor Wednesday. To make a long story short, after several different tests it was determined that she has an inoperable brain tumor the size of a tennis ball and has been given 2-6 months to live. As far as we know, she did not have any prior symptoms. She is the age of my mother. Please pray for her and the family that will be operating as caregivers in the days to come.

I was also saddened to hear of the sudden passing of a fellow minister last week in an automobile accident. I did not know the brother personally, but have been inspired by the accounts given about others about this man’s ministry and love for the Lord’s people. I hope that I can leave such a legacy when my time on earth is done.

All of these events have served to remind me that life can change quickly. We do not know when we might breathe our last breath. One of the most eloquent statements to this effect can be found in the book of James:

Jam 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

At best, our life is like a wisp of air. We have 90 to 100 years on this earth at most. Knowing this truth, how are we spending our time? Are we focusing on what is important? How many words have gone unsaid? How many grudges and ill feelings do we harbor? The honest truth is that we should be living every day like it is possibly the last. Our times are ultimately in the Lord’s hands are they not? James believed that!

Today’s lesson is this:

1. Frequently tell your loved ones and friends how much you love them. Better yet, show them by your deeds!

2. Do not harbor grudges! I have counseled several heartbroken folks that neglected to mend fences and later regretted this decision when the other person passed away suddenly. Today is a good day to practice Ephesians 4:32.

3. Constantly assess your priorities. God first, then family/loved ones, and everything else falls into place somewhere behind. When your life is drawing to an end, you won’t be regretting not spending enough time working or playing. You will wish that you had taken advantage of more opportunities to engage in spiritual endeavors or had spent more time with your wife, children, cherished friends and loved ones.

Life indeed turns on a dime. I pray that we will make the most of our time on this earth. We all are not likely to make it out alive unless the Lord returns soon. Whatever the case, may we remember what is important!

Time, what an empty vapor 'tis!

And days, how swift they are!

Swift as an Indian arrow flies,

Or like a shooting star.

The present moments just appear,

Then slide away in haste,

That we can never say, "They're here,"

But only say, "They're past."

Our life is ever on the wing,

And death is ever nigh;

The moment when our lives begin

We all begin to die.

Yet, mighty God! our fleeting days

Thy lasting favors share,

Yet with the bounties of thy grace

Thou load'st the rolling year.

'Tis sovereign mercy finds us food,

And we are clothed with love;

While grace stands pointing out the road

That leads our souls above.

His goodness runs an endless round;

All glory to the Lord!

His mercy never knows a bound,

And be his name adored!

Thus we begin the lasting song;

And when we close our eyes,

Let the next age thy praise prolong,

Till time and nature dies.

The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, 1806

Have a great week!

Church Killers - 5

2011-06-07T11:03:00.000-04:00

Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning. -Anonymous

In this article we will take a look at another attitude that is extremely destructive to our churches - forgetting our first love. You say, I love everyone in my church. Perhaps you do in word, but when we look at how the Bible defines love we quickly find out that we oftentimes forget this part of our daily walk with the Lord. This is precisely what happened at the church of Ephesus during the time of the writing of the book of Revelation. Notice the text in Revelation chapter 2:

Revelation 2:2-4 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Here is a church that would be considered orthodox by Bible standards. They patiently worked and labored in the kingdom of God. They diligently stood for doctrinal truth and were good judges of the true intentions of men. Yet Jesus had a problem with them because they had left their first love. This was a serious indictment pronounced by the Lord. How exactly did they leave their first love? The text does not specifically say. However, in light of other scriptures we can ascertain the general attitude which the Lord rebuked in this passage and apply it to our current situation.

1 John chapter 4 deals with us loving our brother. Is love merely a word that is arbitrarily used to describe our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? No indeed! This passage deals with us loving our brother as Christ loved us.

1 John 4:19-20 We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Love in this passage is translated from the Greek word, agapao which is aptly defined as a noble affection or concern for others. This attitude was expressly communicated to us (God's children) through Jesus Christ's self-sacrificing actions on the cross for our eternal salvation. Do you see how love extends infinitely beyond mere words and placation?

Here are a couple of scenarios for your consideration:

You are confronted with a new visitor to your church that does not fit the demographic (usually white, middle-aged, middle class) of the majority of others in the congregation. Perhaps they are black and you were raised to have a certain bias against people of color? Would you show them the same love and consideration as other congregants? Maybe some folks visit that are obviously destitute and you automatically assume that they must be lazy and are looking for a handout. Is this biblical love? These are important parts to ponder. Perhaps the church at Ephesus made distinctions between different races and socioeconomic groups, and this is why they were rebuked of the Lord.

Do you accept children as a part of your church? Throughout my time in the church I have been astonished at how some 'respected' members of the church treat children. Unfortunately, I have seen them marginalized and unfairly rebuked because they acted like kids. They should be loved and treated as respectfully as any other part of the congregation. Yes they can be loud. Yes they do make messes and can be rambunctious. So what! They are not only the future of the church, but the present as well. I love Jesus' teaching about children. It will do us well to constantly remember it when we find ourselves losing patience with the little ones around us.

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

My friends we must put aside our biases and annoyances for the sake of the church. ALL who make up our congregations come with baggage because ALL are sinners. If anyone had the authority and right to give up on others, it was the Lord. Yet he loved us. He still loves his church! Have you left off loving your brothers in sisters in Christ? If so, repent! If this attitude is allowed to continue, our churches will find themselves in the same situation as the church Ephesus of old.

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Lord help us to follow Christ's example of loving the church, differences and all!

Article Featured in "Faith" Section of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette

2011-06-06T08:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette published an article that I wrote about our responsibility as fathers. In light of Father's Day I thought it served as a good reminder of what is important in life and am humbled that they decided to print the article.

http://www.jg.net/article/20110605/FEAT04/306059983/1125/FEAT04

The editor (not me) took the liberty to give me the title of reverend. IMO, this title belongs to the Lord alone!

Psalms 111:9 - He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

I am sure that she added the designation as a sign of respect, but it still makes me cringe :-)

Have a great day!

Don’t Worry, It's Only Grass!

2011-06-03T13:47:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we worry and obsess about the craziest things. I admit that somewhere between our move to Northern Indiana and the present, I developed an obsession with our lawn. Perhaps it is because of my rapidly approaching entrance into middle aged adulthood. Maybe it is the sheer awesomeness of the lush Kentucky bluegrass that sucked me in. I don’t know!

I have invested a great deal of time and resources to cultivating the perfect patch of grass around our dwelling. The weeds were removed. Bald areas reseeded. Total warfare has been waged on the dandelions. But to what end? I found myself overly concerned about the kids injuring the grass by trampling on it like a herd of cattle. I was even fretting to Sarah about them sullying up the backyard; their play area!

The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter what the grass looks like. It is not that important in the big scheme of things. What are you obsessing about? An immaculate house? Business endeavors? Your appearance? There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these as long as they are placed in proper perspective.

It is far more important to make a few messes if it gives you an opportunity to build lasting memories with your children. Seeking the kingdom of God and edifying relationships with friends/loved ones should be top priority. How often to we get it all wrong. Notice the words of Jesus from Matthew 6:

Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I remember a father who lost a young child relating his experiences in this realm. He used to constantly scold his son about leaving crayons on the carpet and possibly causing stains. Some time after this the boy tragically drowned in the family pool. The father recalled seeing one of his son’s crayons on the floor. He crushed it under foot and grounded it into the carpet. To this day the stain is still on the floor. The father looks at it as a reminder of what is really important.

Lord help us to constantly assess our own priorities and remember what is really important in life!

Muddying the Waters

2011-06-01T11:10:00.000-04:00

Perhaps I am getting more crotchety as I grow older. Whatever the case, I find myself having less patience and time for those who refuse to communicate their thoughts clearly.

Sometimes people will make the comment along the line of, "insert name here is so deep/intellectual that I cannot understand half of what he is talking about." I beg to differ with this opinion! In many instances, the speaker is either not communicating his message in the best manner possible or worse, intentionally trying to confuse his audience for his own personal agenda/gain.

Effective communication is essential for a harmonious marriage, successful career and and is essential to a healthy church environment. How many disagreements, hurt feelings, or misunderstandings could have been avoided if the parties involved would have effectively stated their needs/purposes?

In the realm of communicating our beliefs to others, clear communication is essential and desirable. Those who preach the gospel should always strive to not leave any of his congregates confused about what he believes. Granted, we are not infallible as ministers of the gospel. However, it should be our desire to speak about the doctrine and practical teachings of the Bible with as much clarity as possible. The sheep should never be more confused about a particular topic after the sermon than they were before. This is muddying the waters!

Here are some thoughts for ALL to consider when attempting to communicate with others:

Are you using "insider language" that newcomer might not understand. All my life I have heard ministers refer to dead alien sinners. What image does this conjure in the minds of those new to the faith?

Does this come to mind?

What about the term, Arminian? Several years ago I recall one particular gentleman that was concerned about a Primitive Baptist minister picking on the poor folks living west of Turkey.

Notice the spelling difference :-)

Do you see how folks can be confused? If we are not clear with our definitions, how can we expect God's people to be converted and embrace the truth that we hold dear? Jesus taught the importance of clarity when addressing the confusing language of religious elite of his day.

Matthew 5:37 - But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

This was also the expectation during the Old Testiment times:

Nehemiah 8:8 - So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

In other words, don't muddy the waters! If a preacher (or any other person) is so deep that you cannot understand the point that he is making, it is not a sign of intellect but poor communication skills. Great communicators do not use their forum to show off or share everything that they know to the point of confusing their audience. They take great pains to make sure that listeners of all ages and ability levels can clearly understand the topic.

We must constantly remind ourselves that we are called to feed the sheep in God's kingdom. If we aim for feeding spiritual giraffes, then we miss the mark. Lord help us to say what we mean and mean what we say.

Preaching Trip/Vacationette to East Tennessee and Northern Kentucky

2011-05-31T21:37:00.000-04:00

The family and I were greatly blessed to make a trip down to East Tennessee for a preaching trip/mini vacation. We arrived to Lenoir City, TN late Friday afternoon and were in worship services Friday night, Saturday and Sunday with Grace PBC. This is a delightful group of saints who we have quickly grown to love.

Elder Bill Taylor serves as their pastor and is assisted by Elder Dennis Holt. Both of these men are humble servants who are lovingly laboring to lead this flock in accordance with God's word. Every service seemed to be spirit filled. I also enjoyed meeting Elder Ellis Lynn from Knoxville and sharing part of the preaching time with him.

Grace Church is located in Louden, TN at the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. While we were there, we also visited Cades Cove. If you go to the Smokey Mountains, this is a must see! There is an old settlement in the cove that has been preserved by the National Park. The family and I toured a few of the old homesteads and visited the Cade's Cove Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Taylor brought some of the history of the church to life for us. His grandmother was born in Cades Cove and his great-grandfather served as pastor of the church for over 40 years. It amazes me to think of those old saints who believed/preached the same truths that we hold dear today. God is good! I wanted to preach a little bit there, but Sarah would not let me ;-)

Sunday evening we were able to meet with Lexington PBC in Lexington, KY. We always enjoy visiting with Elder and Sister Gowens and the folks in Lexington. We enjoyed the services and had a great evening of fellowship with the Gowens family and other members of Lexington PBC. I appreciate Elder Gowens' zeal for the truth and his willingness to share it with others. He has helped this young preacher out on many occasions.

The family and I made it safely back home late Monday afternoon. All was well back home and we are thankful that the Lord blessed us with traveling mercies throughout the trip. I am glad to be home and missed our church family in Fort Wayne. A special thanks to Elder Troy Thomas for supplying at FWPBC while I was away. I have been trying to catch up yesterday and this morning. I enjoy being with and preaching to God's people. May God continue to bless our churches to grow and prosper!

Church Killers - 4

2011-05-31T09:51:00.000-04:00

Indifference

Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand.

-B. Thoene

Last week we examined the lack of balanced, biblical teaching as a factor in church decline. This week we will take a look at the detrimental results of an indifferent attitude towards the word of God. This is a subject that all of us should frequently consider because of our propensity to gravitate towards stagnancy. This was the concern of the Lord in Revelation chapter 3.

Revelation 3:14-16 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

They were neither cold nor hot. Have you ever found yourself at this point in your life? From time to time we all will shift into mental cruise control. There is nothing wrong with taking short breaks from the stresses and worries of life. However, problems quickly arise when these respites become prolonged, especially in the church. Let’s look closer at the church mentioned above.

Laodicea was a Roman province in Asia (modern-day Turkey) that was home to a church established early in Christian history. The province enjoyed great material prosperity because of its importance as a Roman trade route. Expensive black wool which was utilized for ornate garments was one particular product that was traded in this region during ancient times. One result of the wealth enjoyed by the citizens of Laodicea was the import of Greek art, science and literature. This led to the founding of a great medical school in the area which led to an improved quality of life. The Laodiceans enjoyed the good life. Wealth, great material possessions, and good health were commonplace in this region during the time of the Apostle John’s writing.

Apparently, these material blessings led to an indifferent attitude towards the things of God. The Bible uses the term ‘lukewarm’ to describe this church’s feelings towards the Lord and His word. Their apathy resulted in an unthankful and forgetful spirit towards the true giver of blessings, both material and spiritual.

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

They enjoyed material wealth, but were spiritually poor. They possessed excellent health care, but their stagnancy led to wretchedness, blindness and misery. The Laodiceans enjoyed clothing of fine wool, but they were naked before the Lord. Are you beginning to get the picture of the devastating results of indifference?

How does this attitude manifest itself in the modern church? Consider the following attitudes:

An individual begins to miss worship services because of work and other ‘important’ activities on Sunday morning. If the time is taken to meet with the saints, then they exit quickly after the final amen (sometimes before).
The pursuit of entertainment dominates takes the place of regular prayer and Bible study in ones life.
Weekly worship becomes merely a spot on the calendar rather than the center of all other activities.
Godly thoughts and meditations are replaced with ideas to build more security and material wealth. Worry replaces the peace that passes all understanding.

Such attitudes are born out of an indifference to the things of God. First, we must realize that this is displeasing to the Lord. This conduct makes Him sick! The Laodicean’s apathy towards the truth of God’s word also invited severe rebuke and chastening from the Lord. We should expect nothing less for the church today. We must realize the deception of trusting in our own riches and works, or prepare to suffer the same fate. Paul warns us of the consequences of such attitudes.

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Sadly, the Laodiceans were in the middle of this downward spiral and did not even realize it. Can the same be said about us today? God strengthen us to remember to source of our blessings and heed the advice of the Lord to His church throughout the ages.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

True peace, satisfaction, joy, healing and contentment can only be found in the Lord and His service. May we be ever diligent in our service to him and guard against spiritual cruise control.

Ask! Seek! Knock!

2011-05-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

Here are some excellent observations from one of my fathers in the ministry, good friend, and golf buddy... Enjoy!

Ask! Seek! Knock!

“My Two Cents Worth” 5-25-11

We are living in a world today where many, seeking to be righteous, go by the phrase “just name it and claim it.” Their point of theology is one of receiving everything you ask for, usually in a health or financial sense, or both; by putting God under obligation to provide it for them due to their “exercise” of faith. They misuse and abuse a well known scripture found in Matthew chapter 7, verses 7-8.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Just what is this scripture pertaining to when it states we are to ask, seek, and knock? It is either relating to things earthly (material) or things spiritual; one or the other. We would be breaking one of the commandments if this were relating to things of an earthly or material nature. One of the ten commandments states we are not to covet. Therefore, asking for material things as a priority in our lives would be against the intended meaning of this scripture. In addition, we are told to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.

The things which we are to ask, seek, and knock after is relating to those things which are spiritual; mainly asking, seeking, and knocking on the door of understanding of God’s will for us in our lives. We are to continuously ask for spiritual guidance. Peter related to this when he said we “have not, because ye ask not.” Prayer is the path we are to use in asking God for guidance and instruction. Reading God’s written word and praying for understanding goes a long way in achieving spiritual guidance and direction for our lives..

The second thing we are to do is to seek. One of the best ways to seek is to not only read God’s written word and listen to good, sound, preaching; but also to study God’s word. To study His word is to seek to know what His will is for us in giving Him praise, honor, and glory. Acts 17:11 teaches us what to do when it said that those in Thessalonica “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” We cannot find that which we need if we are not seeking, or looking, for it. Remember, it is not about us; it is all about HIm.

What then, is the knocking all about? This is NOT a knocking in an attempt to get Jesus to open up the door of salvation to us as is taught oftentimes in the world today. But rather, it is a knocking on the door of understanding. It is not us who opens the door of understanding. Jesus is the only one that can open this door for us. We are to “knock” as a show of our faith.

Look again at the passage found in Matthew 7:7-8. If we ask in prayer for guidance and direction, the Lord has promised to give it to us. If we seek to know His will, he has promised that we shall find His will for us. And, if we knock, God has promised to open a door of understanding unto us which will result in manifold blessings and benefits in the kingdom of God.

To ask, to seek, and to knock takes work on our part. Listen to what James says in James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Let us today be up and about our Master’s business of giving Him that praise, honor, and glory by knowing more about His will for us. But then, that is just “my two cents worth.”

Elder Bobby Willis

ShareTheWord

“In God We Trust”

Book Review - The Farmer

2011-05-25T13:05:00.000-04:00

What can I say? I love a good children's book. This is one of my favorites, by far:

Here are a few reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

A jolly farmer faces both the bounty and wrath of nature and prays to God in good times and bad in this picture book about faith and perseverance. A rotund farmer with a fluffy white beard works hard tending his animals and crops, only to have his endeavors wiped out first by a tornado, then by a devastating fire set by neighbor boys. He patiently rebuilds each time, appreciating even the smallest signs of growth and recovery. And even in his hardship, the farmer does not forget the ill-behaved neighbors in their time of need. Ludy embodies his farmer with the traits of such biblical figures as Job and Noah while emphasizing prayer as a constant in the farmer's life. A few passages of text directed at the reader prove jarring ("Have you noticed Squeakers [the pig]?"), but in all, the tale unfolds smoothly. The illustrations are busy but focused, with most of the characters rendered in a mannered cartoon style (although some of the animals look out of place, a little Disney-ish). The settings combine detailed foregrounds with abstract (perhaps computer-generated?) backgrounds. Samples are posted on the publisher's Web site, at www. greenpastures.com. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Farmer is a gentle, hard-working man who loves his animals and tends his fields with strong, caring hands. When a tornado destroys his crops, he is forced to sell some of his cherished animals to recoup losses and survive until the next planting. Mark Ludys unique, extraordinary picturebook. The Farmer is a thought-provoking and splendidly delightful story of patience, perseverance and faith. The Farmer offers the young reader an engaging message focused on the qualities and values that build character. The illustrations are richly detailed and fill the pages of this outstanding picturebook.

The surprise ending is both heartwarming and memorable. -- The Midwest Book Review - Childrens Bookwatch August 1999, page 3.

Mark Ludys illustrations make this book a visual masterpiece, blending photographic detail with exaggerated colors and expressions that exist only in a talented imagination. The cast of characters, balanced equally between humans and animals endure seasons of hardship before a bountiful harvest and a lesson in generosity come to joyful fruition. Leaning heavily on humility and spiritual perseverance, the books plot remains less embellished than its pictures. And some of the text is swallowed by a tight center margin detracting from an otherwise impressive layout. Still, young readers (and parents flipping the pages) will be spellbound by images more original than a blushing cow. -- The Bloomsbury Review November/December 1999; page 27, by Cyns Nelson

My .02:

This is an amazing book, both artistically and story-wise. I picked it up for my children a couple of years ago and it quickly became one of their favorites. I was pleasantly surprised by the examples of prayer, perseverance, and loving your neighbors. If you want a heartwarming, engaging read for the family, this one fits the bill.

Have a great day!

Church Killers - 3

2011-05-24T13:23:00.002-04:00

Today I want to address another destroyer of our churches: a lack of complete biblical teaching. Sure, most of us can quote Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:4. But there is much more to the word of God than these few verses. ALL scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable...

Sometimes the problem stems from the church leadership. If the pastor/preacher is not applying himself to studying the Bible, then the sheep under his charge will suffer. Sheep need sheep food. This can only come from the word of God. If a man is called to preach the gospel, then there is no excuse for neglecting the word of God. I am reminded of the following proverb:

Proverbs 29:18 -Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

During the Old Testament times, God spoke to this people through the mouths of prophets. When they were silent, the Israelites would lack direction as a people. They depended on this particular blessing from God for comfort and direction. In the New Testament times, God speaks to us through his word, and the preacher is his mouthpiece. Do you see the importance of a ministry that is committed to studying scripture? It is the spiritual food that sustains us in the wicked world!

Not only is the gospel minister to have an understanding of biblical doctrine and principles. He is to faithfully teach the whole counsel of God. If a preacher solely focuses on doctrinal points without practical teaching, then his listeners will struggle when confronted with daily trials. On the other hand, if duty is exclusively preached without a balance of grace, then the congregation will be very discouraged because of their shortcomings. The key to effective teaching is a mixture of 'DO' doctrine and 'DONE' doctrine. The Lord has done many amazing things for us. We were chosen in Christ before the world was created. Christ died for His people on the cross. Mercy and grace are extended to us daily. This is all DONE doctrine. In light of these truths we are to save ourselves from this untoward generation, make our calling and election sure, and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. This is what we are commanded to DO! Both are equally important and must be presented in a balanced manner.

Studying/preaching the gospel is very similar to eating properly. If our diet consisted exclusively of desserts, then we would quickly become lethargic and unhealthy. Conversely, if we only consumed carbs or proteins, we would suffer as well. The key is balance. If you have been called to preach the word, faithfully study and teach ALL aspects of God's word. Don't sacrifice the balanced meal of truth for the 'smooth things' of the world. Study the word! Preach the word! Apply the word!

Sadly, there are many sick and anemic sheep wondering aimlessly about our churches. If they are not soon fed and strengthened, they will leave in search for greener pastures. Or worse, they will be devoured by wolves. A body of believers will not survive long without sound, biblical balanced teaching. Lord, strengthen us for the task!

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine

I Give Up!

2011-05-23T08:28:00.002-04:00

If you're going through hell, keep going. -Winston Churchill

Any normal person has likely made this declaration numerous times throughout life. A difficulty arises in your marriage. There are seemingly endless conflicts in your family. Problems at church deflate you. Problems pile up at work. These and many other bumps in the road oftentimes will drive us to the breaking point (or so we think).

I have found myself at this point on more than one occasion. Such is life. Someone once asked me if I ever consider quitting the ministry. They were surprised when I responded at least a couple of times per month. You have likely entertained such thought when going through a rough patch in your marriage. Or perhaps while dealing with a child that questions every boundary that you try to set for her well-being. We won’t even delve into the ‘stuff’ that can arise with church problems.

As some of you might be aware, I have been going through a particularly difficult time with my secular job. Namely, that it will end in a couple of months due to funding issues. Anyone who has been through similar circumstances can attest to the roller coaster of emotions that comes with this news. There have been points along this particular journey that I have wanted to throw in the towel.

The Lord reminded me of a simple, yet profound truth this weekend that provided some much needed encouragement.

The good things in life are usually hard.

The important things in life are hard, but they are good. Marriage is difficult, is it not? But it is good. Dealing with personalities and problems in the house of the Lord is hard, but the blessings are great. The trials of raising kids are at times almost unbearable, but watching them learn and grow as individuals is awesome. See what I mean? Life is hard, but it is good….

Remember Job? Life was extremely hard for him. Yet, in the midst of his incredible trials he proclaimed this truth.

Job 23:10 - But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

The Apostle Paul suffered many disappointments in his ministry and readily acknowledged such. But he was also inspired to write of the good that awaited him at the end of life’s trials.

2Ti 4:18 - And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Life is hard, but it is good. Remember that when you encounter the difficulties of life that will inevitably occur this week. We all have them! If you find yourself in this position remember that you are in good company and that God’s grace is sufficient for every trial of life.

I was thankful for this reminder. I hope that you are too!

Have a wonderful week!

The Apple Chapel?

2011-05-20T09:28:00.000-04:00

I confess that I am an Apple nerd. I do not venture very far from home without this....

I also invested in one of these guys several months ago...

I have found the iPad to be the most innovative and useful piece of technology to enter my life since my dad purchased our first PC around 1996. It has quickly become my primary computer. I use it for study, reading, Internet surfing, music, videos, etc. I have even started using it as a.... bible in the pulpit ***insert collective gasp here***. Don't sharpen your pitchforks or light your torches just yet. I am firmly committed to using a KJV bible reader. It is exactly like my regular bible, only electronic.

As much as I like these products and appreciate the convenience that they offer, this reaction might be a tad overboard....

Apple triggers 'religious' reaction in fans' brains, report says By Mark Milian, CNN

May 19, 2011 6:33 p.m. EDT
Filed under: Gaming & Gadgets

At product launches, Apple store employees cheer for the first customers to buy the company's latest gadgets.

(CNN) -- Next time Grandma asks why you're going to the mall on Sunday morning instead of church, tell her you're going to Apple Chapel.

For Apple fans, the brand triggers a reaction in the brain that's not unlike that of religious devotees, according to a BBC documentary series that cites neurological research.

The neuroscientists ran a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test on an Apple fanatic and discovered that images of the technology company's gadgets lit up the same parts of the brain as images of a deity do for religious people, the report says.

The first episode of the documentary shows Apple employees "whipped up into some sort of crazy, evangelical frenzy" at the recent opening of an Apple store in London.

Observers and Apple critics have long accused fans of the tech company of taking their infatuation to an extreme.

People have gone to great lengths to prove their love of Apple with tattoos, bumper stickers and home shrines to outmoded Mac computers. Apple's cult-like following was highlighted in a 2009 documentary called "Macheads."

A blog, aptly titled Cult of Mac, wrote on Thursday about Oakland, California, resident Gary Allen's cross-country pilgrimage to Apple's first store in Virginia to celebrate the retail chain's 10th anniversary this week.

In speeches, Pope Benedict XVI has said technology consumption poses a threat to religion and the Roman Catholic church. The holy leader told a Palm Sunday crowd last month that technology cannot replace God.

However, apparently it may inspire god-like devotion.

The full article can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/05/19/apple.religion/index.html?iref=obnetwork

I could not help but chuckle out loud when I read this article. If you get whipped into an emotional frenzy about any piece of technology, then you might need to reassess your life priorities. It goes to show you that anything can become an idol!

Some questions do come to mind. Is Steve Jobs the Mac cult's messiah or chief priest? Does one have to wear a black long sleeve shirt and blue jeans sans belt to religious gatherings?

Are faithful followers reincarnated into Apple Store, Fifth Avenue Employees?

These are questions that demand an answer! Or perhaps our time is better spent pondering the following:

Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I enjoy the conveniences and information availability that comes with technology. But it is just STUFF. My iPad will likely be rendered obsolete in the next few years. Something bigger and better will come along. The toys that the Apple fanatics go berserk over today will be landfill fodder before the next President is elected. They, and all other earthly treasures will soon pass away.

Perhaps our time/excitement/energy is better spent in treasuring heavenly things... Laboring in the kingdom of God. Helping those in need. Prayer. Studying and meditating on the word of God. Call me a fanatic if you must, but these activities will reap longer term benefits than even this:

Lord help us to keep our priorities straight!

Have a great weekend!

Book Review - When a Nation Forgets God

2011-05-19T10:08:00.000-04:00

It is no secret that we are living in a post-modern world has removed God and truth from almost every aspect of society. There are consequences to this decision! This book takes a historical look at Germany before/during WWII and draws some chilling parallels to the current state of our own country.

Here is a quick review of the book:

Bread Over Freedom?

Years ago, a cartoon appeared in a Russian newspaper picturing a fork in the road. One path was labeled freedom; the other path was labeled sausage. As we might guess, the path to freedom had few takers; the path to sausage was crowded with footprints. When given a choice people will choose bread and sausage above the free market and individual liberties. The promise of bread gets votes, even if the bread is at the expense of freedom.

The people of Nazi Germany weren’t any more barbaric, uncivilized, or depraved than any other Western nation of the early Twentieth Century, yet the Nazi regime will forever serve as an example of brutality and extreme racism run amok. What led so many people to such extreme ends?

According to Dr. Lutzer, the German people’s progression from civility to barbarity was not extraordinary, and more than a few benchmarks from their transition can be observed in present day American society (Do any of these sound familiar?):

- The Church is silenced
- The economy is king
- The lawmakers determine behaviors
- The media controls beliefs
- The Gospel and nationalism become inextricably tied to each other
- And yet, heroes still have power

This short, manageable book does not suggest the United States is definitely marching toward authoritarian oblivion, but that we — especially we believers — must be vigilant in our stand for truth, justice, and righteousness.

We must take note of these lessons from history. The parallels are real, but the conclusion is not a foregone one.

My .02:

I do not agree with much of the author's doctrine. He is Arminian in his belief system. Having said that, this book is not about his doctrine. It is a look at a some of the attitudes that permeated the churches of Germany at the time of the rise of Hitler and Nazism, and the lessons that we can learn from their mistakes.

What was particularly interesting to me was the manner in which Germany separated God from government. They did not make church illegal, but they worked intensively to marginalize God and the truth. This was a gradual, yet successful tactic that desensitized the vast majority of the German Christians to the horror of the holocaust and other barbaric practices of the Nazi party. It is shocking to see how quickly people were willing to put aside their previouslt held biblical convictions for national safety and security. Sadly, I believe that this is being replayed in our current society.

Another important parallel is drawn from the Nazi government's insistance that it was the state's resonsibility to train the youth, not the parents. Hitler passed a law that made public education compulasry and banned homeschooling. Darwinian evolution was heavily promoted in public education. Moral relativism was expounded and attitude was preferred over facts. Hitler knew that the key to power was capturing the hearts of the youth. Again, the author makes several chilling comparisons to our modern-day educational system in the US.

There is also a chapter about the use of propoganda. Lutzer also addresses the fact that God (not man) is the ultimate lawgiver. He emphasizes that we are to take a bold stand for the truth in the midst of modern-day misinformation. The warning is clear that if we do not stake a stand for that which is right, then we might find ourselves in the same predicament as Germany of old.

When a Nation Forgets God is not a feel-good read. But it tells a story that we need to hear. There are dire consequences when God's people cease to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. As Americans we are no less succeptable to compromise than the German people. We are not immune to complaceency. The author rightfully states that the preaching of Jesus Christ and firm obedience to the word of God is the answer to such wickedness.

The Bible clearly states that this world is not our home. However, we should be careful to stand upon the promises of God and fight for what is right in the midst of spritiual darkness. This book helped remind me of this important fact and examine several areas of my life that needs improvment in this realm. We might be discouraged about the current state of affairs in our nation, but we must remember that God will bless us when we repent, turn from wickness, and seek his face. This book very nicely illustrates the truth of Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Is Accountability Important?

2011-05-18T09:31:00.001-04:00

Yes. Yes it is! This morning I read an article about actor/former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his recently discovered (ahem..) indiscretions. His behavior was indeed despicable, but it appears that he has acknowledged this fact and is seeking to make amends with his family. I guess time will tell as far as his sincerity.

This instance of infidelity is only one of many amongst those of wealth and influence. It seems as if there is a new scandal of this nature every week in Hollywood and sports circles. Remember the Tiger Woods fiasco? Why is this so? Perhaps it is because they do not have solid people in their lives to hold them accountable and keep their lives in proper balance. In other words, there is not one person in their inner circle that will/can tell them '"no" or "I don't think that is a very good idea." Is this a byproduct of wealth and fame or is it a willful move on the part of the individual? I am not sure.

Sadly, this pattern is not limited to the rich and famous. I have know of pastors, young people, politicians, etc. that have suffered through similar circumstances. Temptation knocks and we just open the door. Such circumstances play out in our lives every day.

I believe that we see such rampant patterns of such behavior in our society today because of a lack of solid accountability in our lives. Thankfully, many have recognized that we need other people actively involved in our everyday affairs. But many have not and have suffered the consequences of an isolated life. Consider the following:

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

We are not meant to live our lives separated from others. Some have willfully chosen the monastic life to escape sin and temptations. Others, through wealth and fame seem to think that they are above it all. Even we average Joes are susceptible to a fall when we do not allow others to help sharpen us, rebuke/correct us or help us bear the struggles of life. The reality of life is that we all struggle with sin. It ain't pretty. We hate for others to see our weaknesses. But we are ticking time bombs and it is likely a matter of time before we find ourselves in trouble if we do not surround ourselves with folks that are bold enough to be real with us. Even the terminator needed help along his journey :-)

Have a great day!

Church Killers - Pt. 2

2011-05-17T10:13:00.001-04:00

Psst, did your hear about ______________ and what they did with _________________? You will never believe what happened! Did you see what she was wearing? It must be true I heard it from ________________.

As we continue our look at actions that are detrimental to the life of a church, we cannot ignore the destructive power of the tongue. James paints a vivid picture in the following passage:

James 3:6-8 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

The tongue is likened to a wild animal that cannot be tamed. It is also compared to a raging fire that possesses enormous destructive powers. Many of us have been a victim of the deadly influences of this potentially damaging part of our body. Sadly, we have oftentimes been quick to engage our own tongues in negative communications as well.

Gossip has been a particular cancer upon the church for many generations. I have witnessed this baseless practice drive individuals, families and huge groups of people away from the church. So, what constitutes gossip? Simply stated it is any communication about another individual that: 1. you would not say to them directly 2. is not uplifting or edifying. We might not think that such communications are not harmful and even humorous, but the passage above proves otherwise. It is like a raging fire or a wild animal! A thoughtless comment to one person about another individual has the potential to spread/burn like a wildfire. My experience is that the initial comments can become exaggerated and more slanderous as they pass 'through the grapevine' of gossip and harm many in its wake.

Here are some other scriptural references to consider:

2 Cor 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

Paul feared that the Corinthian church would revert back to worldly behaviors that included backbiting and whisperings, both synonymous with gossip. What was his desire for the church? He wanted them to be built up or edified, not torn down by gossip!

In another passage, Paul lists gossip as a behavior of the Gentiles of old who are in gross rebellion against God. It also significant to note the worthy punishment of those engaging in such behavior

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Gossip is no laughing matter, especially in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ! We must always remember that we are dealing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Malicious use of the tongue is the antithesis of righteousness and faithfulness. It is nothing more that the product of a corrupt mind that causes hurt, anger, stirs up trouble and fractures relationships among the Lord's people.

So, what is the solution? We would do well to remember granny's advice... If you have nothing nice to say, keep your mouth closed. We do less harm if we exercise extreme caution before we say anything about another individual.

James 1:19-20 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

It is an excellent practice before we say anything about another individual to consider whether or not our words are meant to build up or tear down. We should also think about how our words will be perceived by another person. If there is a potential for hurt feelings, then we ought not speak the words to others. Perhaps more good would come from conversing with an individual directly rather than speaking to a third party. If the pattern of Matthew 18 were followed instead of gossip, how many misunderstandings and hurt feelings would be avoided?

Jesus stated that a house divided against itself shall not stand. This is especially true for the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to labor to communicate those things which lead to the building up and strengthening of our fellow saints. Sometimes confrontation is unavoidable. But it should always be done in accordance with scripture and with much love an charity. This will never occur though the malicious use of the tongue and gossip! God strengthen us to cast away this destructive habit. The life of our local church depends on it!

"Gossip: Something that goes in one ear, out the other and back over the fence." -anonymous

Recovering Sunday

2011-05-16T09:14:00.001-04:00

Over the past few Sundays I have been speaking on the importance of being a part of a local body of believers. The significance of being actively involved with the church has been greatly diminished over the past few generations. Much of our culture is so focused on ‘self’ that it no longer views the church as needful. Such comments as, “I can worship God at home just as well” or “organized religion is a relic of the past” are often bandied about. But if we are going to obey God’s word, we cannot deny the requirement to assemble ourselves together with other people of like precious faith.

In light of this truth, we should consider the following verse:

Eph 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

This is a marriage verse, right? Sure it is! But don’t miss the second portion of this passage. Namely, that Christ loves the church.

There are a plethora of excuses offered up for quitting church. Some are more valid reasons than others. We are busy. We are tired. We grow complacent. We get offended. Others say/do things that hurt us to our core. So we quit!

I encourage you to put yourself in Jesus’ shoes for a moment. How was/is he treated by his bride he church. Oftentimes we are disobedient, hurtful, adulterous, and inconsiderate to our Heavenly Redeemer. In the eternal sense, it was our sins for which he suffered, bled and died. If anyone ever had a reason to turn his back on the church, it is Jesus. Yet, he loves the church and sacrifices for her. I recently read the following quote that drives this point home:

'On earth she is often in rags and tatters, stained and ugly, despised and persecuted. But one day she will be seen for what she is, nothing less than the bride of Christ, 'free from spots, wrinkles or any other disfigurement,' holy and without blemish, beautiful and glorious. It is to this constructive end that Christ has been working and is continuing to work. The bride does not make herself presentable; it is the bridegroom who labours to beautify her in order to present her to himself.'

Pretty cool huh? We should strive to love the church as Christ does, warts and all. Find a church that adheres to the simple biblical pattern of the NT church. Surround yourself with fellow believers that will love you unconditionally and hold you to the standard of God’s word. Such is needful in the perilous times in which we live. If you have been mistreated by others, give the church another chance. Lord knows, we have been forgiven numerous times. If you are not able to 'bloom where you are planted' do whatever it takes to put yourself in a position to be an active part of the Lord's church. Love it as HE loves it!

Have a wonderful week!

Plastic People

2011-05-13T20:22:00.000-04:00

Do you remember G.I. Joe? What red-blooded American male doesn't? I was a child of the 8o's so I am well familiar with the plastic version of this toy icon. My friends and I would spend countless hours waging war on Cobra Commander and his henchmen. Those were good times!

At a young age I also recall being in awe of these muscular little men. They had the coolest gadgets and rode around in awesome vehicles. This was further reinforced by the cartoon that depicted the plastic men in action. They never lost a battle and always made the right call when confronted with difficulty. Who wouldn't want to be like G.I. Joe?

The only problem with these and other plastic men is that they are not real. Countless girls can relate their experiences with plastic women. Many young girls played with Barbie and dreamed of looking and living like her. This cultural icon probably did more damage to a woman's view of a healthy body type than any other instrument in our culture.

The illusion does not end with these childhood toys. We are inundated with unrealistic depictions of physical appearance, body types, lifestyles, family structures through the myriad of media influences of modern day life. In other words, our lives are flooded with plastic people; people that only exist in the fantasy world imaginative play and Madison Avenue.

Sadly, many try to live as plastic people. They go to great lengths to give others the image that they live the life of Barbie and her counterparts. They devote an inordinate amount of energy to developing a certain body type to live up to the 'worlds' ideal of physical beauty. Much emotional energy is expended in building a certain persona to impress others. We even have children in their early teens electing to undergo plastic surgery to look more like Barbie and her counterparts. Individuals spend money that they don't have in an attempt to achieve the unattainable life of plastic people.

The bottom line is that there are no perfect people, physically or otherwise. Many of our ideas of what is physically attractive or what constitutes success is merely a manufactured ideal of our perverted culture. As Christians it is imperative that we consult scripture when confronted with such issues.

First, we must understand that there are no perfect people. We are all products of fallen humanity. The first man, Adam was created in the image of God. The bible states that he was created 'very good' as God concluded his work on the sixth day (Genesis 1:31). This was as close to perfection as man could have been. Interestingly enough, we really have no clue about his specific physical appearance.

Unfortunately, Adam would soon disobey the one commandment given to him by God and sin and death would enter into the world. This would drastically affect all aspects of mankind from that point forward (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Sin has marred all aspects of mankind. There are no perfect people physically, relationally, socially or otherwise.

Secondly, we should reject the unrealistic, unattainable ideal of plastic people because the world's standard of beauty and success are generally at odds with what is pleasing to God. In fact, Solomon describes such things as vanity. Notice the following scripture:

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

In this book of the Bible, Solomon repeats this sentiment repeatedly. All of the things of this world are ultimately useless (vain) and full of frustration (vexation of spirit). These characteristics are far from the peace of God which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), are they not?

What a relief to know that God is not concerned with one's physical appearance. The Lord's words to Samuel are as relevant to us today as it was thousands of years ago.

1 Samuel 16:7b for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Obedience, not appearance is what is pleasing to the Lord. The thing about plastic people is that they have nothing on the inside. Thus it is with the aforementioned characteristics of the world in the realm of pleasing the Lord. Lets be real and use our unique abilities to the glory of God and for the edification of one another.

Have a great weekend!

Book Review - The Walk

2011-05-12T07:44:00.000-04:00

***DISCLAIMER - If I read/review a book, it does not necessarily mean that I endorse all actions and beliefs contained therein. I am a big fan of eating the chicken and throwing away the bones. If a particular book is far out in left field, I will note the issues accordingly (or you will likely not see it on this site). ;-)

Much of my reading time is taken up with materials that pertain to preparing to preach and/or pastoring a church. I try to have a history/historical biography within arms length at all times. I also enjoy how-to/self-help books on occasion. Periodically, I like to pick up something for purely recreational reading. I read this book during spring break and found it to be an extremely engaging read.

http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Novel-Pocket-Readers-Guide/dp/1451625332/ref=bxgy_cc_b_img_b

"The assumption of time is one of humanity's greatest follies. We tell ourselves that there's always tomorrow, when we can no more predict tomorrow than we can the weather. Procrastination is the thief of dreams." — Richard Paul Evans (The Walk)

Here is a summary from the book:

This is the first book in The Walk series, a story about the physical and spiritual journey of Alan Christoffersen.

What would you do if you lost everything—your job, your home, and the love of your life—all at the same time? When it happens to Seattle ad executive Alan Christoffersen, he’s tempted by his darkest thoughts. A bottle of pills in his hand and nothing left to live for, he plans to end his misery. Instead, he decides to take a walk. But not any ordinary walk. Taking with him only the barest of essentials, Al leaves behind all that he’s known and heads for the farthest point on his map: Key West, Florida. The people he encounters along the way, and the lessons they share with him, will save his life—and inspire yours.

My .02:

The Walk is written in journal form and follows the physical (and spiritual) journey of a man that is seeking the true meaning of life. This is the first in a series of novels that chronicle Alan's walk across the US after the loss of everything that he loves. I was drawn into the story by the realistic portrayal of the main character. Life can sometimes be nasty and the loss that Alan suffers is indeed tremendous. He is angry with God and even questions his existance. However, God begins to work in Alan's life and the physical journey that he undertakes becomes a symbol of his spiritual walk. I do not want to reveal too many details, but Alan will endure hardships and meet people on his journey that teach him what is truly important in life.

I am a wanna be hiker and the idea of dropping everything and trekking across the US does appeal to my flesh. This particular concept initially piqued my interest in this book. In reality, we cannot run away from our problems. The truth is that God's grace is sufficent to overcome the darkest trials of life, whatever our situation. Alan seems to be learning this lesson as his grief and anger remains a not-too-distant companion throughout his journey.

I do not expect a lot depth in the religious message of this series. There are not any specific Bible references. But it is refreshing to see positive values and spirituality heralded in a popular fictional work. Each of Alan's encounters are entwined with both. I am sure that subsequent novels in the series will continue to elaborate on both. It will be interesting to see how the author further develops this theme.

"As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding off. As he neared the edge of the roof he prayed, "Save me, Lord, and I'll go to church every Sunday, I'll give up drinking, I'll be the best man this city has ever known." As he finished his prayer, a nail snagged onto his overalls and saved him. The man looked up to the sky and shouted, "Never mind, God. I took care of it myself." How true of us." — Richard Paul Evans (The Walk)

If you are looking for an uplifting and entertaining read, then you might want to give this book a look. If you want any additional info, let me know.

Have a Great Day!

Counting My Blessings!

2011-05-11T09:34:00.001-04:00

Couldn't get the pic to rotate :-)

Psa 127:3-5 KJV - Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

After yesterday's heavy post, I think I will use today's entry to count my blessings. The picture above was drawn by my oldest daughter Maggie. First, words cannot express how thankful I am that God has blessed me with such a wonderful wife and five amazing children. None of us are perfect and we all have faults aplenty, but most of our days are spent in love, peace and joy with one another. It also makes my heart happy to know that my daughter (and other children) are happy as well. The LORD is good!

We have heard almost every comment that you can imagine about our larger than normal family. No, we are nor Mormons or Catholic. Yes, we do know what causes that! Yes it is challenging, but I would not trade the life that I have given for anything in the world! Etc., etc., etc. We truly believe that all of our children are special gifts from God!

Gideon

It is my prayer that families will remember this truth. It is our God-given privilege to have children (whether natural or adopted) and be able to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There will be hard times. All parties involved will have to battle with sin. But remember the words of the Psalmist, "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them."

Here are some points to ponder:

Have you thanked God for your family today?
Do you see the challenges of parenthood as a blessing or burden?
Does your view of family/children resemble Scriptural teachings or the world?

Have a wonderful day!!

Church Killers

2011-05-09T12:50:00.020-04:00

We are living in a period of general church decline. Many factors can be attributed to dwindling congregations and once flourishing houses of worship closing their doors. Some are out of our hands. However, there are other things that are well within our control. With this in mind I hope to explore attitudes that lend themselves to dividing and possibly causing the death of our beloved churches.

In no particular order, I ask you to consider the first of many attitudes that will kill a church:

1. Forgetting who is in charge

Most of us readily acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Granted, this is easy to say and believe. But experience proves that it is much more difficult to put into practice.

In our family Bible reading we have been reading about the life of King Saul. Here is the story in a nutshell:

Israel wants a king.

God says a king will put you under heavy personal and financial burdens.

Israel rejected the counsel of God. They insist that they want a king like the other nations.

God gives them a King (Saul).

When we first meet Saul, he is the picture of humility. He was everything that Israel wants in a king. He was a dynamic leader who commands respect from those around him. Early in his reign as king of Israel the Lord blessed him mightily. However, as God blessed him he began to think more highly of himself than he should and began to usurp the authority that belonged to God. It started with him impatiently overstepping God's command and offering a burnt offering (1 Sam 13:9). Later, he blatantly disobeys the commandment of God in not utterly destroying everything of the Amalekites. God rejects Saul as king of Israel as a result (1 Sam 15:9-25). Thus begins the downward spiral and ultimate demise of Saul. I believe that the following verse sums up his actions:

1 Sam 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

Saul was most effective when he acted in humility. Unfortunately, he forgot who was really in charge! This same attitude that Saul exhibited has been replayed numerous times throughout the history of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the following scenarios:

A minister confuses and scatters God's flock because he allows his ego and personal agenda to take precedent over God's word.

An individual believes that his longevity at particular place of worship allows him to treat people in any manner that he sees fit.

Cliques or large families exert undue influence or leave others out of church activities.

Biblical doctrine or practice is compromised for the comfort of the congregants.

Disgruntled sheep pointedly and purposely drive off pastors/preachers who preach doctrinal and practical truths.

In all of these situations, you likely have folks that started out with solid intentions. However, they begin to believe their own 'press releases' and think too much of themselves. Sinful pride starts to creep into their lives. No matter how noble their efforts, they quickly forget that the LORD is in charge of his church!

The Lord commands his church to always act in humility. Notice the following passages:

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. -James 4:10

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. -1 Peter 5:5

We have all been in Saul's shoes and have acted in pride. It is my prayer that we will learn from past mistakes and clothe ourselves in humility. The Lord is not pleased with competition for his glory. The growth and existence of our local church could very well depend us considering our attitude!

A Mother in Israel

2011-05-09T09:40:00.008-04:00

On Facebook I recently commented that I am thankful for both my natural mother and other mothers in Israel who have been a blessing to me along life's journey. The term 'mother in Israel' is rarely used in our modern vernacular. So what does this phrase mean?

The term is taken directly from the Bible. Specifically, it is a term that the judge of Israel, Deborah used to describe herself (Judges 5:7). What does this title entail and how was she qualified to take this title? While not comprehensive, I offer a few reasons:

First, she was a woman who was willing to actively uphold and defend the cause of the LORD in a time of great apostasy. Apparently, the nation of Israel was in such a state of spiritual decline that there were no men with the fortitude to stand for the righteousness of God. But this woman was unwavering in her defense of the truth. When the enemy threatened hearth and home, she zealously met him in battle.

Second, Deborah was quick to acknowledge that the sovereign God of Heaven was her (and Israel's) deliverer. She understood the timeless truth that the Lord was the source of her strength. Although she occupied a position of great authority, her perspective was never skewed. Judges chapter five is the song that she wrote to chronicle this truth.

Lastly, she inspired others to abandon their lackadaisical attitudes and fight for the cause of the Lord. The other elders and warriors of Israel were seemingly resigned to defeat because of the military superiority of Sisera and his army. This did not deter Deborah. She mustered the warriors of Israel and a great victory was given by the hand of the Lord.

The time that Deborah lived is not unlike our current situation in America. Many of God's people are at best lukewarm in their dedication to the Lord. At worst, they have altogether abandoned the doctrinal truths and moral compass of scripture. We need modern-day mothers in Israel to exhibit a willingness to stand in the gaps and model the characteristics of Deborah of old!

I am thankful for a handful of godly women that were willing to challenge and encourage me to seek the Lords will early in my journey as a disciple of Christ. Their patience and example are still a blessing to me today! I also appreciate those that continue to faithfully encourage and expound unto me the way of God more perfectly.

Sisters, you have an amazing privilege/responsibility/opportunity to serve as a modern-day mother in Israel. Whether in the local church, home, or community you can serve as a godly motivator to many in this day of spiritual decline. Perhaps you might be used of the Lord to encourage a revival in one or more of the previously mentioned areas. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments are replete with ordinary women manifesting extraodinary influence by God's grace. Never sell yourself short as far as your usefulness in the Kingdom of God. Our society needs you to stand up for the truth, acknoweldge God's sovereignty, and motivate others to fight the good fight of faith!

To those that are standing in the gaps and fufilling this role, thank you. The Lord's church will be better off because of your efforts!

I encourage you to re-read Judges 4 & 5 for more information on this incredible woman.

The Elephant in the Room

2010-03-22T08:18:00.000-04:00

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. - (1 Timothy 4:12 KJV)

As I grow older and witness my young children growing older (both processes which seem to be speeding up exponentially!), I find it more and more impossible to ignore a problem that every parent and every church is facing--the noticeable lack of young adults in many of our congregations. A lot of churches have seen a resurgence of school-age children that are attending with their parents, but what happens in the late teenage years and early 20’s? The question must be asked: what is being neglected by ministers and members of the body of Christ? What are we not doing in our churches and homes that we should be doing? This article is by no means comprehensive, but hopefully it will stir up our thoughts about this important issue.

First, we must question if we are teaching the whole truth of God’s word. Are we equipping our young people for the many temptations and troubles that can ensnare them in adolescence and early adulthood? Oftentimes, we speak about godly behavior in generalities and never delve into specific scenarios that confront our young people in everyday life. This includes the temptations of peer pressure, the importance of chastity and purity, the dangers of alcohol or drugs, and the flaws of worldly philosophies. One of the great things about scriptural truth is that it does impact our behavior and equips us to battle the myriad difficulties that confront us in everyday life. ALL of God’s children are commanded to be examples of Christ, even young adults.

We must also make sure that our teenager/young adults are actively included in the fellowship of believers. If they demonstrate a genuine love for the Lord, then they have spiritual gifts and talents that can benefit the body of Christ. Singing, praying and teaching is not limited to the older folk. I have personally been greatly encouraged when a younger church member has offered a word of encouragement or engaged me in a spiritual conversation. They have much to offer to the body of Christ.

Our nature is to associate with those that are similar in age, personality and background. We miss out on many blessings and fellowship when we limit our fellowship thusly. I encourage you to step out of your ‘comfort zone’ and actively engage the young people around you, and all those who demonstrate an interest in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Again, clear communication and expectations should be maintained when interacting with our young adults. We have a tendency to assume that teenagers and twenty-somethings will not listen to counsel, so why bother engaging them? We err when we have this attitude. God’s wisdom is relevant to the old and young alike. If we fail to show interest in their lives, and neglect to help them build a Biblical foundation, then they will seek answers elsewhere. I confess that I have been neglectful in this avenue of discipleship. Many have despised the youth. God grant us mercy and strengthen us to do a better job in the future.

Some Observations about Communication (aka, Shut Up, Put Up, or Listen Up?)

2010-03-19T23:51:00.000-04:00

I have attempted to minister unto the Lord’s people for fourteen years and have been employed in public education for approximately twelve years. Both fields of labor require effective dialogue to meet particular goals. Poor communication on the part of the giver and receiver hinders progress in both areas. As far as receiving communication, experience has taught me that there are generally three responses when communicating with others about topics that might be challenging, uncomfortable or confrontational in nature.

One group of people will clam up. In an attempt to avoid dealing with an uncomfortable topic, they will shut down. They might quietly listen to the communicator, but will offer no response. This person usually will respond with a ‘deer in the headlights’ look when addressed. The mindset is that if I just ignore the issue at hand, then it will go away. Perhaps the individual who is being confronted is hoping that someone else will deal with situation. This mindset is an avoidance technique.

Another group will put up--walls and defenses, that is. When confronted about a challenging topic, they default to a defensive response. Any type of reproof or correction is received with much anger and bitterness. They perceive such communication as an attempt to cause them harm or single them out from everyone else.

And finally, the third group of people will listen up. These are the few who are ready to listen to others when presented with a difficult subject. They might not like what they are hearing, but they take the time listen to the information being presented. This type of person may not agree with what is being communicated but they hear the presenter out. Once they digest the information, they will try to formulate a well-reasoned response.

Obviously, the third response allows the most effective communication to take place. I believe that this is the Biblical response. James writes,

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. - (James 1:19-21 KJV)”

Useful communication takes place when we manifest a willingness to listen to others. Oftentimes, while another person is presenting something that we perceive as a challenge to us, we either immediately begin to tune them out or formulate a response to defend ourselves. Sometimes we don’t even give the speaker time to finish what they are saying before we interrupt them. James exhorts us to be ready to hear.

After we hear someone’s position on a particular topic, James teaches that we need to be slow to speak. In other words, we must pause and think about what we are saying in response to others. This simple change in our behavior would eliminate many later regrets when dealing with people! There is nothing wrong with pausing during an uncomfortable or challenging conversation to formulate a reasoned response; even if the conversation has to be picked up at a later date. This will also give us pause to examine ourselves and consider what is being verbalized to us. Perhaps the communicator is correct in their words to us.

Godly advice from others has the potential to save our souls in this present world. The gospel minister has been called by God to impart scriptural truth to the sheep. If we shut down or get defensive when confronted with Bible, we might ignore some important truth that will deliver us from great misery in our lives. There are others around us that have much wisdom that they can potentially share with us. Perhaps they have experienced some of the same trials with which we struggle, and can give Godly counsel. This needful communication will likely not occur if we respond by shutting down or getting angry. May God bless us as individuals, families and churches to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. When we cultivate this attitude, we will grow closer in our fellowship with one another and progress in our service to God. We need all of the help that we can get!

I Am Still Alive!

2010-03-09T13:55:00.003-05:00

Greetings!

It has been a while, but I wanted to take a moment to update my blog. WE have been busy preparing and welcoming the new addition to our family. Gideon Everett Green entered the world at 4:55 AM on March 3rd. We are thankful for God's blessings in every aspect of our lives.

I have recently invested in a new camera, so I hope to add some pictures and post other musings that I find amusing :-) I am still writing about varied religious subjects. They can be accessed at www.ftwaynepbc.org. Most are contained in the church newsletter section.

I am also hosting an Internet broadcast on Sunday evenings at 6:00 (www.blogtalkradio.com/pastormichael). Tune in and take a listen!

Have a great day!

Four Things to Remember As You Begin School

2009-08-21T10:31:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year again! Time to get back to the rigors of education. It is time to once again push back the frontiers of ignorance. Regardless of your educational circumstances, there are several biblical principles that will serve you well as you enter into the next phase of your education.

First, you need to remember that God is to be honored above everything else as you resume your educational endeavors. The dominant cultural values of our society are largely hostile to the God of Heaven and the principles of scripture that we hold dear. If you are being educated in a public school or university the opposition may be exaggerated, but it is present in every realm of our society. I am reminded of the scene in Star Wars when Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are preparing to right an injustice. Obi-Wan warns Luke that, “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” Such is much of our present world! They have no desire to honor God.

Do not allow yourself to be influenced by those who denigrate our God! You will face opposition from education professionals, the media, other young people, etc. This will be a battle in the most controlled of environments. Stand firm in the truth that God is to be honored above all. Note the following scriptures:

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:2-3).

Simply stated, God is to be number one in your life. His word and his truth should be valued above all else. Do not be discouraged by those who will mock his name and try to cause you to doubt in his existence. God is real and he is actively involved in the affairs of men. Any person, thing, philosophy that is given priority to the honor of God and his word is disobedience to the first commandment.

Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar (Romans 3:4);

Paul writes that the truth of God is to supersede everything else in this world. There are times when we might not agree or understand his truth, but we are instructed to follow his word by faith. This truth will serve you well as you interact with negative influences, imperfect teachers and worldly evil.

Second, you should put maximum effort in your studies. It is a poor testimony when one professes to serve the Lord with their words, but their actions display laziness and a lack of effort. All of us are not suited to be PhD scholars, but we are all instructed to put forth our best efforts in all pursuits; in this case our educational endeavor.

In Ecclesiastes 9:10 Solomon writes, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” We need to strive to do the best we can in our academic pursuits. As believers in Christ we are a witness to others. For better or worse, we project our values to everyone around us. Does your work ethic cast a positive light on Christ and his church? Christ is magnified to others through our diligent labors.

If this does not motivate you to put maximum effort in your studies, remember this scripture:

And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Colossians 3:23);

The Lord is observing our efforts. He is the only perfect teacher and supervisor and he knows if we are just getting by with minimum effort or working to the best of our abilities. He is pleased when we put forth our best effort. He is reflected in a positive light when we perform well in the academic realm.

Remember to think critically as you move through your studies. In other words, search out the facts. Look for the truth. We have the tendency to take textbooks and people at face value. Beware of this! As born again children of God we have been blessed with the gift of discernment. We have been given a mind and an ability to think and study for ourselves. We also have the Bible, which is the ultimate textbook!

Many of God’s children have had their faith overthrown because they do not follow up what is being taught to them with sound biblical study. The Apostle Paul instructs Timothy to, “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).” Literature, Science and History need to be measured according to the standard of God’s word. For example, most modern academic texts completely ignore the Genesis account of creation. They take evolution as a fact and completely ignore the scriptural fact that God is creator of all. If you view these writings of men with a critical eye, then you can easily reject such errors.

Sadly, there are those in our world that want to rewrite science and history. They want to completely eradicate God from our culture. You need to be as the Bereans and search the scriptures and reject that which contradicts the word of God.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).

Finally, you should persevere in spite of difficulties. Theodore Roosevelt once said,

“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”

This is indeed true for those of you engaged in academic pursuits. If might seem at times that you are the only one who love the Lord. You will grow weary of the constant attacks upon your faith, your beliefs and the God you serve. You might be tempted to give in to the pressures of this world. I encourage you to persevere. Serving God is not an easy path to follow. It is a great challenge, but the blessings far outweigh the burdens. Hang in there! Surround yourselves with Godly mentors and friends that hold the some doctrinal and moral convictions that you value. Keep on keeping on! In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Do not compromise your Godly values. Remember that our ultimate goal in all of life’s pursuits is to live for God.

It is my prayer that all will have a successful year of learning and growing. These truths coupled with prayer and a regular study of scripture will do you well!

Article - Encouragement

2009-03-19T18:51:00.001-04:00

Encouragement

I have recently been studying the subject of encouragement. We are living in very discouraging times. The economic outlook is beak. There is a lack of confidence in our governmental system. It seems as if we are buffeted from every corner in our families, churches, neighborhoods and places of employment. One does not have to look very far to find disappointment and we quickly discover that discouragement abounds in the sin-cursed world.

David was a man that was acquainted with despair. He was the anointed king of Israel, and had to flee from the presence of Saul, the acting king. He had to leave behind friends and family because of the constant threat upon his life. He was a man without a country. During this time David also amassed an army of about six hundred men not including their families. These too were men that were distressed, in debt and discontented. They made David their captain and were involved in several military engagements during their time away from Israel.

In 1 Samuel 30 we find David and his army in Ziklag. While there the Amalekites invaded and kidnapped the families of David and his men. Obviously this was a significantly discouraging event. In verse 4 we find David and his men weeping. They were in the depths of despair and wept until they had no more power to weep. In addition to this tragic event, the men that loyally followed David into battle were now talking amongst themselves about the possibility of stoning their captain. They blamed him for this loss. Needless to say, there was overwhelming grief in the camp.

Can you imagine that degree of despair? Maybe you have been there. I have witnessed intense weeping because of the loss of a spouse or a child. The shock of the event and the numerous unanswered questions often drive people to weep as those in the above passage. Some despair because of past decisions. When a significant other leaves or a child goes astray, those that are left behind often play the “what if” game. If only I would have tried harder. What if I had given more time? What if I did not make that decision, etcetera? Other stresses such as financial difficulties, work related stresses and interpersonal conflicts can all lead to feelings of hopelessness.

How did David deal with this discouragement and stress? The Bible records that he encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6)! He turned to the One that was able to give strength in a time of great difficulty. It looked like all was lost from a worldly perspective, but when David turned to the Lord things quickly changed. He sought the Lord for direction and the Lord gave him an answer. The Lord also blessed David and his army with victory over those who had kidnapped their families. Their women and children were rescued and not one person or possession was lost.

In the midst of discouragement we should labor to encourage ourselves in the Lord. There are times when we all suffer the consequences of poor choices and sometimes disappointments come in spite of our best efforts. Either way, we can find strength in the Almighty. The word ‘encourage’ literally means to strengthen, prevail, harden, and be courageous. God is the ultimate provider of these things. I am reminded of what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. Jesus taught us to pray that, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” David was walking through that valley, yet he encouraged himself in the Lord. All of us will likely experience such trials in our lives. May the Lord strengthen us during these times!

For Whom Did Christ Give Himself?

2009-01-24T20:42:00.001-05:00

For Whom Did Christ Give Himself?

Many well-intentioned Christians argue that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was for every man that inhabits the Earth. All that man must do is accept the gift of Christ. I submit unto you that Christ did not atone for the sins of all of mankind but a particular people. Notice the following passages:

His People

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

His Friends

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

His Sheep

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

His Church

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

For Many

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

For Us

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

For Me

Gal 2:20 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.

If Christ died for every man, then all would be in Heaven. The truth is that Christ died for the elect chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. To preach that Christ’s atonement was universal and that it is up to man to ‘finish the job’ is to preach a weak savior. I am thankful that my God redeemed a particular people, and ALL of them will be in Haeven some sweet day.

Bro. Michael Green, Jr.

Is God Fair?

2009-01-17T21:51:00.002-05:00

Is God Fair?

When we discuss biblical topics such as the sovereignty of God and election/predestination, inevitably someone will question the fairness of such. Ultimately, they are questioning the fairness of God. Let us allow the Bible to speak for itself regarding God's fairness.

-Abraham
Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Jam 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

-Jacob (speaking of the righteousness of God in his life)
Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant;

-Moses
Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

-Elihu
Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

-David
Psa 99:4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

-Jeremiah
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

-Nebuchadnezzar
Dan 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

-Jesus (speaking a parable about fairness)
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

It becomes abundantly clear that God is just, fair, and righteous in all of His dealings. In Romans 9:14 Paul writes, “What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.” Our Lord has done all things well. May we (His people) conform ourselves to his will.

Have a great day of worship tomorrow!

Bro. Michael Green, Jr.

Note

2009-01-12T14:21:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon -

I have updated the Ft. Wayne PBC (www.ftwaynepbc.org) website with additional sermons and have added some writings/thoughts to my blog. The sermons have been tested and are working correctly. I hope to add more in the days to come. They are in MP3 format and will have to be downloaded before they can be heard.

I want to especially thank Brother Paul Colter for his labors in digitizing the sermons and express appreciation to the others who have offered suggestions. My goal is to provide a comprehensive site for people our area that might be interested in attending Ft. Wayne PBC. Lord willing, more resources will be added in the future. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

I am also attending a meeting later this week that will enable me to produce a local access T.V. program it the Ft. Wayne area. I would like to either create a talk show dealing with the doctrines of grace or eventually broadcast Primitive Baptist sermons on television. I am very excited about this prospect. Ft. Wayne has over 200,000 people. My desire is for all of them to at least know about the truth that we believe. Please pray for this endeavor.

Have a great week!

Bro. Michael

THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN GOING INTO A NEW YEAR

2009-01-12T14:02:00.000-05:00

THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN GOING INTO A NEW YEAR

We are indeed living in times of uncertainty. As we enter into a new year our nation faces worries governmentally, economically, globally, and personally. We do not know what tomorrow holds as we enter into 2009. However, it is a great blessing to know who holds tomorrow. This was joy to the first century Christians who faced similar trials.

The early church was plagued with much uncertainty as it struggled with spiritually darkness, antichrists, evil seducers, deceivers; all of which spring forth from the devil. It appears that they were so shaken by the attacks of the evil one that they begin to doubt their own salvation and relationship with the Lord. Notice the following teachings of John, Paul and Jesus.

In I John 5, John reassures them of a few of the innumerable certainties they have as God’s children. In particular, he reminds them that they know that they have eternal life. John writes, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (v.13).” The greatest assurance that we have as God’s children is that we have a home beyond this sin-cursed earth. Jesus Christ laid down his life for the sins of the elect family of God (Matthew 1:21). He indeed saved his people from their sins. We were redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and no one can separate us from the love of God. In Romans 8:38-39 the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our relationship and eternal life is absolutely secure because of the efficacious work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Later, Paul wrote to the young minister Timothy regarding false teachers that would sow seeds of uncertainty amongst believers. In 2 Timothy 2 he wrote of those who taught error concerning the resurrection and had overthrown the faith of some of the Lord’s people. Did this destroy their eternal life? Were they no longer God’s children? No indeed! Again Paul writes, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. (v.19).” Paul was absolutely certain about the eternal life of those who were carried away in error. The Lord knows his people.

In John 6:37 Jesus stated that, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” This is great news for lowly sinners. Jesus did not come into the world to save everyone. He came to die for those that the father gave him (the elect). Through his sacrifice on the cross, all of these have eternal life. It is sad to think of the millions of well-meaning people who do not grasp this concept. It must be a great burden to not have the certainty of eternal life. Praise be to God that we can be sure. Not because of our works, but through the finished work of Christ we know that we will be face to face with the lord some day.

Whatever happens in the year to come may we rest on the promises of God and his word. The blessings of eternity far outweigh any trials that we face in this world. It is my prayer that we would diligently serve God on the foundation of this precious truth.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Ft. Wayne Primitive Baptist Church (www.ftwaynepbc.org) in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ft. Wayne PBC meets every Sunday at 10:30am. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 758-0831 or by email at pastor@ftwaynepbc.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Ft. Wayne Primitive Baptist Church.

Interesting Thought on Adam's Transgression

2009-01-10T17:37:00.002-05:00

I have been studying the subject of total depravity and found this snippet in A.W. Pink's, The Total Depravity of Man:

Very much more was included and involved in Adam’s transgression than is commonly supposed or recognized. Three hundred years ago that profound theologian James Ussher pointed out that wrapped up in it was "the breach of the whole Law of God." Summarizing in our own language what the Bishop of Armagh developed at length, Adam’s violation of all the Ten Commandments of the moral law may be set forth thus: He broke the first commandment by choosing another "god" when he followed the counsel of Satan. The second, in idolizing his palate, making a god of his belly by eating the forbidden fruit. The third, by not believing God’s threatening, in that way taking His name in vain. The fourth, by breaking the sinless rest in which he had been placed. The fifth, by thus dishonoring his Father in heaven. The sixth, by bringing death on himself and all his posterity. The seventh, by committing spiritual adultery, and preferring the creature above the Creator. The eighth, by laying hands upon that to which he had no right. The ninth, by accepting the serpent’s false witness against God. The tenth, by coveting that which God had not given to him.

It is interesting to see the depth of Adam's transgression of God's righteous law.

MG

Why Move?

2008-12-01T01:17:00.000-05:00

Why Move?

In early October I made the announcement that my family and I would be moving to Ft. Wayne, Indiana towards the end of December to accept the call to pastor Ft. Wayne Primitive Baptist Church. While many people have been encouraging, some have asked valid questions about my decision. Is there a problem in Crestview? Why leave one church to move to another? How will you make ends meet? Why move so far away? These are all good questions that I hope to answer below.

First and foremost I must be receptive and obedient to God’s leadership in my ministry. In Galatians 5:16, Paul instructs us to walk in the Spirit of God. While I fall short of this standard in all aspects of life I feel that God is leading me to move to Northeastern Indiana. Earlier this year I began to feel that my work might be coming to an end in Florida. The Lord has greatly blessed Palm Chapel in the ten years that we have been a part of the church. I feel that he is continuing to bless the word to be preached in power and the church to grow. While in the beginning I did not know what the Lord had in store for me, it became abundantly clear as I visited the church in Indiana. I have always believed that a minister should remain in his present field of labor until God opens up another field. I did this until he made it clear where I was to go.

In the interim time between the lord ‘stirring me up’ and deciding to move to Ft. Wayne I tried to continue my ministerial duties at Palm Chapel. I asked for some of the brethren of the church to pray for me during this uncertain period in my life. They diligently honored my request and were awesome throughout the whole situation. I visited other churches at this time while I waited on the Lord. Trust me, this was not easy. At one point I thought God was leading in one direction, but it turned out to be what I wanted and not God’s will. I am thankful that this was made clear before I made an erroneous move. I have been greatly touched by the love and understanding of God’s people during this time. Walking by faith is extremely difficult, but it gives God opportunity to shine in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:7)!

There was no major problem in Crestview that led me to leave. All churches have their individual difficulties. This is true of anything that involves sinful man. The brothers and sisters of Palm Chapel have been good to my family and I over the last ten years. They have freely given of their prayers, time, and resources to make sure that I was able to preach the gospel. I will hold a special place in my heart for the members of Palm Chapel and will not cease to make mention of them in my prayers. I will miss them all! I am moving because God has moved me. All of my other decisions/actions are secondary to this fact. My prayer for the church in Crestview is that God would bless them with a pastor better than their former. They will be a blessing to any man that is privileged to serve them.

As far as making ends meet financially, we are trusting God in this area as well. I have frequently said that where God leads he feeds. Now I get to put that into practice. I appreciate the concerns about the financial well-being of my family and I. We need to remember that God is able take care of us regardless of the current economic climate in our nation. He is aware of the state of our government, economy and world!

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith (Luke 12:27-28)?

Tough times are nothing more than opportunities for God to manifest his great power. I am confident that he bless us with what we need to make ends meet. Remember, he owns everything!

Some have questioned the practicality of moving so far away. Again, where God leads we should go. Remember Abraham?

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God (Hebrews 11:8-10).

I can unhesitatingly say that I was comfortable in my situation at Crestview. That is not a good thing! I believe that God has successfully uprooted me out of my comfort zone with this change. Thankfully, I am excited about this move and very happy. My family is also enthusiastic about this move. God have given all of us great peace throughout this whole process.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

There is great opportunity to preach the gospel in Ft. Wayne. The church is comprised of people that have a zeal to serve God. I have been touched by Ft. Wayne Church’s desire to have a minister to preach regularly amongst them. They have been extremely generous of their prayers, time and resources. It has been humbling to say the least. The harvest is plenteous in Indiana! It is my prayer that God will bless me with many days to share the truth of salvation by the grace of God. I hope that this provides some answers to why we’re moving. Maybe my experience will also serve as an encouragement to you. If the Lord has burdened you to make a change in your life, MOVE.

Prayer Request for Church and My Family

2008-10-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends -

After wonderful services at Palm Chapel last week I informed the church of my decision to accept a call extended from Ft. Wayne Primitive Baptist Church (Indiana) to serve as their pastor. I will continue to serve as pastor at Palm Chapel until the end of December and will try to assist the church in the initial phase of searching for a new pastor.

The Lord has blessed us greatly at Palm Chapel and I am thankful that we are leaving under good circumstances. They have been a great group of people to preach to for the last 9 plus years. The church has done very well in providing both material support and the encouragement needed to labor in the kingdom of God. I only wish I could have served them better. I pray that their next pastor will be a step up from their former!

My family is excited about the upcoming move. Please pray that God will be glorified in all of our decisions. My heart's desire is for Him to be magnified, and that His people will be better equipped in their service to the Lord. I believe that God has many elect in the Ft. Wayne/Northeastern Indiana area. Lord willing, we can share our precious doctrine with more of them.

If you have a moment, please pray for us. This will be a big change for a life-long Florida boy!

In Christian Love,

Brother Michael Green, Jr.

Colossians 3:15-17

More postings to come……

Article - How Are We Justified by Works

2008-05-03T18:26:00.002-04:00

How Are We Justified by Works?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. – James 2:21-24

The Bible speaks of Abraham being justified by his works. How can this be true when the Bible teaches that we are eternally saved by the grace of God? Could it be that the Bible speaks of other justifications besides eternal? It is my intent to explore the uses of the word justified in the New Testament and discover exactly how it is that there we are justified by our works.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines justification as the remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment, or an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ. This is indeed the case in Jesus Christ laying down his life on the cross for the sins of his people. The Apostle Paul writes of this in Romans 5:9. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” We are saved from eternal damnation because of Jesus’ precious blood. It is just as if I’d never sinned because of his work of salvation. Thus we observe one important aspect of justification from the Bible.

We also experience justification in our own consciences. In Romans 5:1 Paul writes, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I believe this to be referencing justification in our own minds. Christians have a peace which passes all understanding when they are able to comprehend the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross. In the verses that follow Paul writes of rejoicing in hope, having patience and experience. This is a confidence in the Lord that resonates in the conscience of those who embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ. When we believe that Christ is who he says he is we enjoy a peace that compares to nothing in this world.

Finally, we observe that the Bible teaches justification in the sight of other people. This is how Abraham was justified by his works. In our opening verses James takes us back to the time when God instructed Abraham to offer his son Isaac upon the altar (Genesis 22). Although God’s request did not make sense to Abraham, he was faithful to obey all that God had commanded him to do on that occasion. Hebrews 11 provides some insight into what Abraham was thinking on this occasion. In verse 19 we read that Abraham’s faith was so strong that he knew that even if he sacrificed his son, God was able to raise him again. Abraham’s obedience was a tremendous example of showing faith by works. It was an example to those that knew Abraham thousands of years ago and it continues to be heralded as a pattern of faithfulness today. Abraham is justified in the sight of others because he showed his faith by his works. It is my prayer that we would follow his pattern and show the love and truth of Jesus Christ through our unwavering obedience in the word of God. When we do this, we are living testaments of a living faith and God is glorified!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - The Simplicity of the Gospel

2008-05-03T18:19:00.002-04:00

The Simplicity of the Gospel

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. –Ecclesiastes 12:13

It never ceases to amaze me the great lengths that men will go to muddy the waters of God’s word. A couple of years ago, many people were in a panic about the book, The Da Vinci Code. Were there additional accounts of the life of Jesus? Was Jesus really God? Was he married to Mary Magdalene? These questions were easily refuted from scripture and found to be totally false. To make a long story short, this story was proven to be a complete work of fiction. Yet many were influenced by this erroneous writing.

Today, many are stirred up about a book that Oprah is promoting called, The Power of Now. While I have not yet read the book, I have heard some of the hype about this so-called guide to happiness. The author promotes his book as a guide to spiritual enlightenment. It appears to teach a pathway of enlightenment by releasing oneself from their mind. Oprah has praised this book as an essential of spiritual teaching. I will reserve any commentary until I have read the book, but want to point it out as yet another example of many attempts to complicate the simplicity that is provided to God’s people through his word.

It will do us well to heed the teaching of one of the wisest men to ever live on the Earth. By the inspiration of God, Solomon writes that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep his commandments. Any deviation from this pattern will only bring confusion and lead us astray from our service to God. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes of his involvement in numerous worldly pursuits. He states that all of this was vanity and vexation of spirit (2:11). This can also be said of the wisdom of men. It is vanity! The Apostle Peter writes that, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16).” From scripture we can easily conclude that happiness does not come through some journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. These are merely fables. It comes from obeying the word of God.

As Christians we must understand that the ideas and philosophies of men will always be flawed. Why is this so? It is because all men have a flawed, sinful nature. Paul writes that all men have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Carnal writings may contain some truth, but they are usually followed with a lot of error. The true pathway to happiness and contentment in this world is a life of obedience to Jesus Christ. There is no higher truth out there. God has given us his word. Peter writes that, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:3-4).” Any philosophies and writings that deviate from the clear teachings of the bible will do nothing but confuse the little lambs of God. He has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness.

When we follow the simple teachings of scripture, we will have a joy and peace that passes all understanding. In his dialogue with Thomas, Jesus says that, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the father, but by me (John 14:6). It is my prayer that God would bless us to see the simplicity of his truth.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - A Worthy Walk

2008-03-16T22:18:00.002-04:00

A Worthy Walk

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, -Ephesians 4:1

How are we to properly serve the Lord? Is it merely attending church every once in a while or is there more to it? Does the Lord only require a verbal commitment to him or does he command us to actively serve him? These are questions that the Apostle Paul answers in his epistles. In our above verse it is clear that we are to be engaged in a worthy walk as Christians.

Paul likens our Christian service to a job. The word vocation literally means an occupation or profession. When God’s children are born again by the Holy Spirit, they are pressed into his service. Their vocation is to serve God! Paul thought of himself as the Lord’s prisoner. In other places he calls himself a servant of the Lord. He took his Heavenly calling seriously! He prayed that the Colossian church would, “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (1:10).” Is this your prayer and desire?

Our primary job in this life is to be about the Father’s business. However, we oftentimes put vain worldly things before the service of God. Does your secular career define who you are? Are you known for your dedication to recreational endeavors? Do your things own you instead of you owning them? All of these things mean nothing in the grand scheme of life. We need to adhere to Jesus’ teaching a seek first the kingdom of God in all things and he will take care of everything else we need.(Matthew 6:33). The things of this world are temporary. Walking worthy of the Lord is far more lasting.

In Ephesians 5:8, Paul instructs us to walk as children of light. Did we get to this state based on our own merit? No indeed! He states that we were sometimes darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. We can walk in light because, “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). The good news for those that are the light of the Lord is that they have the ability to know the things of God. Those of us who have been exposed to Biblical teaching are able to obey God’s commandments and serve him acceptably. Later in chapter 5, Paul writes, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (v.15).” One who walks circumspectly is spiritually aware of his/her surroundings. All of their decisions in life are tempered with scriptural teaching. When we are walking circumspectly as Christians, we are fulfilling our God-given vocation.

Those of us engaged in secular professions are usually given an annual performance review or observation. Sometimes our compensation is tied to meeting certain standards on these reviews. If you were given an annual review on your service to the Lord, how would you fare? How would you perform in the area s of bible study and prayer? What about meekness and humility. Would you meet the biblical expectations in the area of evangelism? We must realize that we all fall short of God’s standard. However, we must also recognize that our service to God is a lifelong profession that we are to be engaged. May the Lord bless us to better serve him in the days ahead!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Who Will Be in Heaven?

2008-03-16T22:15:00.002-04:00

Who Will Be in Heaven?

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: -Matthew 25:34

Have you ever wondered who about who will be in Heaven. Some believe that it will be populated by a select few while others suppose that everyone will be there. Will Heaven be populated by professing Christians only? What about those who never heard the gospel or Jesus’ name spoken? Is the native living in a hut deep within the jungles of South America out of luck because the missionary has not reached him? There is also the issue of the countless millions throughout human history who have died without hearing the gospel and the unborn that never see the light of day in this world. Do any of these have any hope of being in Heaven? If so, how will they get there?

The answer is simple. All whom Jesus died for are or will someday enjoy Heaven’s immortal glory, no more or no less. If anyone is to make it into Heaven it is by the glorious grace of God. The biblical term for this group of people is the elect (Romans 9:11, Titus 1:1, 2 John 1:1). The elect of God are those who were chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). In Matthew 25, Jesus calls the elect his sheep. Upon his return to the earth, he will place his sheep on his right hand and shout the words, “Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Before the world was created the destiny of God’s elect was settled. They were chosen to inhabit Heaven after death. Jesus Christ was the redeemer for all of the elect family of God. He paid our sin debt on the cross of Calvary.

Those that will inhabit Heaven are not limited to a select few. The Bible says that if we are in Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:39). How is Abraham’s seed described in Genesis? First, they are likened to the stars of the heaven (the sky) and the sands of the seashore (Genesis 22:17). This divine proclamation assures us that there will be a large number of people in Heaven. God then tells Abraham that in his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed (v.18). If you can count the stars in the sky or the grains of sand upon the beach, then you will be able to number the elect in Heaven! Needless to say, there will be a great host of people from all nations in Heaven.

In Revelation 17:9, John gives us a view into Heaven. He writes of a great multitude that no man could number standing before the throne of God. They represent every nation, kindred, people and tongue. It is a comfort to know that the Lord will reach and save everyone of his elect. Though the missionary may never reach the whole world, God knows them that are his. We don’t sorrow for those who may have died not hearing about Jesus. Jesus knows them that are his. In John 10:27 Jesus says that, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus knows them that are his and he will not lose one. “All that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37).” This promise applies to the most pious Christian. It is also true for the lowly nomad in the desert that feels his sinfulness. It is real for the native running through the jungle that looks to the sky and recognizes that there is one greater than himself. God can even reach the unborn babe in his mother’s womb. Though he may never see the light of day in this world, God knows his situation. The Lord knows them that are his! All that Jesus died for will someday be with him in Heaven forevermore. He shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - A Worldwide Epidemic

2008-02-04T17:39:00.000-05:00

A Worldwide Epidemic

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: -Romans 5:12

It appears that we are in the midst of a cold and flu season. There is sickness all around us. Pews have been empty and desks unoccupied because of people battling the bug. Usually, these illnesses last but a few days. With some medication and rest colds and flu’s run their course and we are back to business as usual. However, there is a fatal illness that all of humanity is suffering from. The worldwide epidemic is sin. It is a disease that we are unable to recover from apart from the grace of God!

The Apostle Paul writes of this epidemic in his letter to the Roman church. The Jewish converts thought that they had some advantage over the Gentiles. They were the people whom God dwelt with during Old Testament times. Indeed they had they oracles of God, but they were as guilty as their Gentile counterparts. In fact, they were without excuse because God did dwell with them. Paul would write in Romans 3:12 that, “There is none that doeth good, no not one.”

We are all suffering the effects of sin. This is because of the first man Adam transgressing God’s law. He was our federal representative. When Adam disobeyed God’s commandment, sin passed upon all of his posterity (us). Therefore, in God’s view there is no man that is good. This truth destroys any notion that we have any ability whatsoever to save ourselves. We are totally dependent upon almighty God for eternal salvation! Paul describes the sickness of sin as terminal. Death is the result of sin, both spiritual and physical. While no one looks forward to the suffering involved with a natural death, the spiritual consequences of sin are far graver. Spiritual death involves a separation from God, namely an eternity in hell.

All of us have suffered the consequences of sin. We are all rendered spiritually dead because of our disobedience. This is where we would be apart from the mercies of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ. We have no ability to save ourselves from the dreaded disease of sin. However, we can take comfort in the words of the Apostle Paul that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” In Jeremiah 8:22 the question was asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” These mournful words were uttered during a dark time in the nation of Israel. I sometimes wonder if we are heading down the same path as those that Jeremiah spoke to concerning the things of God. I am thankful that Christ indeed came into the world to save sinners such as myself!

It is a great blessing to know that there is a remedy for the sin epidemic. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and came into the world to save His people for their sins (Matthew 1:21). All of the elect family of God will enjoy Heaven’s glory because of our redeemer. In Matthew 9:12, Jesus states, “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” If you have been blessed to realize that you are suffering from the disease of sin, and you see your need of a savior, you are blessed indeed! Christ short-circuited the sin cycle and suffered the consequences of our sin that we may live with him in Heaven forevermore. Though we may suffer sickness and afflictions in this present world, we can rejoice in knowing that sin and death was conquered by our Redeemer.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church ( www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - The Kingdom of God

2008-01-20T18:52:00.000-05:00

The Kingdom of God

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. –Romans 14:17

Many people have intermingled serving God with the things of the world. One of the most popular teachings amongst religious circles today is the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. This is the idea that God wants us to enjoy perfect health, amass great wealth and enjoy material prosperity. According to proponents of this theology, these rewards can be reaped when Christians faithfully obey and serve the Lord.

In the above verse, Paul draws a contrast between the things of the world and the service of God. There were those in the church at Rome that were disputing days of the week and whether or not it was acceptable to eat meat sacrificed to idols. Some thought that it was inappropriate to worship God on any other day besides the Sabbath. Others thought that they could worship God any time. There was one group that thought it okay to eat meat sacrificed to idols while another group thought it sinful to eat this meat. Paul writes that these arguments are fruitless. He teaches that these worldly things do not make up God’s kingdom, but righteousness, peace and joy are the results. This principle rings true today.

We cannot equate financial gain, material wealth and a life free from sickness with the kingdom of God. The fact of the matter is that our Christian walk is fraught with tribulations. In John 16:33 Jesus says that, “In this world ye shall have tribulation.” Just a brief examination of the life of Christ supports this fact of life. Jesus was born in the poorest of conditions. He had nowhere to lay his head. During his public ministry he was constantly troubled by the religious elite of his day. Then, he was crucified for the sins of his people. His life was full of turmoil. While we will never be called upon to suffer as our Savior, we should expect tribulation in our lives. Jesus also said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you (John 15:18).” Our days upon this earth will be troublesome.

It is a blessing to know that Jesus also taught that he has overcome the world (John 16:33b). Enduring pleasure will never come from the things of this world. Meat and drink only brings a temporary fulfillment. Sustained righteousness, peace and joy come from the Holy Ghost! This is true in our families. Some think that the key to a happy home is a lot of money in the bank, a luxury car and a grand residence. There are numerous broken marriages and families that disprove this theory. One cannot turn on the television without hearing of another occurrence of family and personal problems amongst the rich and famous of America. The old adage that money cannot buy happiness rings true.

The Bible also teaches that the church is not identified by worldliness but by an adherence to the things of God. In an effort to fill the pews, many religious institutions have adopted worldly practices. Scriptural worship has been adjusted to reflect the changing culture. The doctrinal truth of the Bible has been scuttled for the flesh pleasing ‘meat’ and ‘drink’ of the world. The problem with this is that God is not glorified in this action. He is unchangeable. When a church starts down the path of imitating the world, it must constantly reinvent itself to remain attractive to the ever-changing culture. If this continues a church will fail to have any identity with the things of God. If we are going to truly enjoy the blessings of the Spirit of God, then we must seek first the kingdom of God.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Letting Go

2008-01-20T18:49:00.000-05:00

Letting Go

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 3:13-14

As I was driving through Crestview the other day I could not help but notice about ten houses that are continuing to display their Christmas lights. Not only were they still hanging, they were lit! I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. I guess that some people just don’t want to let go of Christmas. The end of January is rapidly upon us. It is time to move on and look toward future things.

It is our nature to hold on to the things when we should be letting go. Sometimes these things might be pleasant memories while others could be traumatic experiences. Whatever the case, the Bible teaches us that we are to be moving forward as Christians. The Apostle Paul emphasized this lesson to the Philippian church. One of the themes of Philippians is rejoicing in the Lord. Paul teaches us that if we are to bask in the joy of the Lord, then we must forget the things that are behind us and press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He enjoyed the highest of highs in his Christian service but also experienced the lowest of lows in his life. Regardless of the experience, Paul understood the need to go forward. The old adage that a rolling stone gathers no moss definitely applies to our service in the Lord. This is true in our work life, family life and definitely in our religious life. We need to constantly be moving in God’s service.

Sometimes we dwell on past glories. We all have been associated with those who are living in the past. Maybe it is the high school football star that insists on wearing the letterman jacket years later and constantly relish in the accomplishments of bygone days. Those that constantly dwell in the past are usually not very productive in future endeavors. This is true with people and with churches. This principle is echoed in Proverbs 29:18 where Solomon writes, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” I have known groups of people that are trying to maintain churches by reminiscing about the past blessings of God. They constantly recall the good old days or refer to pastors/members who are long gone. They display no vision for today, much less the future. This is a church that is not pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God. Let us beware of falling into the trap of living off yesterday’s blessings. While memories can be precious, we need to focus on today and the future. Paul reminds the Corinthian church that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:9). We need to serve him in the ‘here and now.’

We also have the propensity to ruminate on negative things that happen in our lives. I have noticed working in the education field that you remember the ‘bad’ students more than the well-behaved ones. This is also true in our marriages. If a husband/wife makes a mistake the spouse will often bring up gaffes that occurred years ago. Some will allow a negative experience in life define who they are. This ought not be the case! Today is a great day to let go of the experiences that have negatively impacted your life. If one has wronged you, follow the example of scripture. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).” If we fail to let go of past grief, we are at risk to be destroyed by it. Many of us have been deeply hurt by others. Things have been done to us that we don’t deserve. But in the light of what Jesus Christ did for his people on the cross, we can forgive those that have done us wrong. In Hebrews 12:14-15 Paul writes, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” If we are to have joy in the Lord, then we must let go of the past.

All of our pasts are checkered with triumphs and tragedy. Wherever you find yourself in life, remember that today is a new day. It is not too late to commit or recommit yourself to the service of God. It is time to take down the Christmas lights and live for the Lord today. Let us press forward in our Christian service. Our service to God is like a race. We know how it ends, so let us let go of the past and move forward.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - The Coming Savior

2007-12-24T11:42:00.000-05:00

The Coming Savior

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. –Micah 5:2

During this time of year, many Christians try to reflect upon the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. However, in the materialism and revelry that accompanies the holiday season, thoughts of Christ are often lost in the shuffle. Although we do not know the exact time of year Christ was born into this world, we have an excellent opportunity to meditate upon the purpose for which Christ was born, and to share these truths with others.

In the above verse we witness the power and sovereignty of God in sending forth Christ to become our Savior. By the inspiration of God, Micah says, "Out of thee (Bethlehem) shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." It should be comforting to us to know that Jesus was sent of God. He was sent to be the Savior of His people. There was perfect harmony in Heaven in the work of redemption. Jesus spoke of this truth in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

In observing the humble birthplace of our Savior, we are blessed with a glimpse of God's mercy and grace. He was born in Bethlehem, one of the most insignificant cities in Judah. Our Redeemer did not enter into this world with pomp and circumstance; instead He was born in a manger in a small town! The Bible says that there was nothing physically impressive about Christ that men would be attracted to him. Bethlehem--the name itself is quite humble, meaning 'house of bread.' What hope that gives to the least of us! Christ came for all of His children, not just the rich or the mighty or the powerful or the beautiful!

Prophecy was fulfilled when the Bread of Life was born of the Virgin Mary in the house of Bread. Bethlehem was also the birthplace of David, the second King of Israel, and one who also had meager beginnings. Jesus was often referred to as the Son of David. David was a type of Jesus, but unlike David, Christ's kingdom was to be an everlasting one. Ephratah means, "Fruitfulness" or "abundance." All Christians would readily affirm that these characteristics aptly describe our Redeemer. We have abundant, everlasting life through Jesus Christ!

Finally, we observe why Christ came. Micah prophesied that Jesus was to be ruler of Israel. Was the Bible speaking about Jesus ruling as a natural king, or something greater? His rule far surpassed earthly kingdoms. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus Christ is the head of spiritual Israel, His elect family. In John 18:36, Jesus explained that His kingdom was not of this world. His kingdom is an everlasting, spiritual one. He came into the world to save His people (spiritual Israel) from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He accomplished this work when He laid down His life on the cross. When He said, "It is finished" the work of salvation was complete! Speaking of God, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Christ suffered in our stead that we might have fellowship with Him in His kingdom.
Christ was born into this world to redeem His elect family. When we think of Jesus' birth, it ought to point us to His work on the cross. Child of God, Heaven is your home because of the full, complete, finished work of our Redeemer. We know that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and yet, though we be so undeserving, we have been given such astounding graces! In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season let us think upon the greatest gift that has ever been given; the free gift of eternal life. It is my prayer that we would share these truths with one another.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - How Are We to Worship God? Pt. 1

2007-12-07T22:50:00.000-05:00

Article - How Are We to Worship God? Pt. 1

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -John 4:24

What does it mean to worship God? The Oxford English Dictionary defines worship as the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. It also describes it as a great admiration or devotion towards another. Both descriptions aptly describe the relationship that Christians should have towards God. While the worship of God should be woven into every aspect of our lives, I hope to explore the issue of public worship (attending church). I believe that the Bible gives us a clear guideline on why and how we are to worship God as a church body. It is my hope that we would all search the scriptures and serve the Lord to the best of our abilities.

First, we must understand that in public worship, the primary focus must be God, not man. When we assemble ourselves together as Christians, the goal is to praise and glorify the Lord. In Psalms 29:1-2 David writes that we are to, "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." Our God is due all of the glory. David had enjoyed many successes as the King of Israel, but he knew that the Lord deserved all glory in worship. As we study both the Old and New Testaments we will notice that God was the center of all proper worship. Any deviation from this pattern constituted idolatry. In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul observed many different types of worship in Athens. Some historians write that there were more altars than people in this city. Verse 16 states that Paul's spirit was stirred in him when he saw Athens wholly given to idolatry. They were a religious people, but they were not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

Sadly, we are often guilty of not making the Lord the center of our public worship. We become like the Gentiles of Romans 1:25 and worship the creation more than the Creator. Is your public worship Christ-centered? Many today believe that the assembly of believers must be constantly changing to reflect the culture around it. Is this Biblical? There is a great movement in many churches to reinvent themselves to look more appealing to the world. When this becomes our focus, it behooves us to ask: "Are we fulfilling the scriptural mandate to be the light of the world and salt of the earth?" In John 15, Jesus says, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The carnal world hated Jesus and it hates those who make Him the center of their worship. However, when the Spirit of God touches one of His children, they begin to love the things that they once hated. Though your public worship offers no appeal to the carnal world, it gives great hope and edification to the children of God. Is your worship centered around expressing reverence and adoration to God Almighty? Or is the focus on entertaining people so they will be drawn into your establishment? Are you focused on fostering a true admiration, love and devotion to your Savior, or are you focused on becoming the most popular and most populated church in town? It is my prayer that God would be the center of our worship when we assemble ourselves together as His visible church.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Black Sunday

2007-12-02T21:32:00.000-05:00

Black Sunday

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. –Matthew 6:33

I hope that everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family. It is nice to fellowship with family members that you generally do not see except on special occasions. Thanksgiving is also a wonderful time to meditate upon all the blessings that God has given us as individuals, families, churches and as a nation. One of the weirder traditions that I have recently observed is the tradition of Black Friday.

This is supposedly the busiest shopping day of the year. I’ve never paid a lot of attention to this day, but observed an amazing phenomenon while watching the news on Thanksgiving morning. The reporter was interviewing several people out of about eighty that were lined up at a local electronics store in anticipation for Black Friday. These people were camping out in the cold and rain to save a couple hundred dollars on the latest electronic gadget. There are very few things that I would camp out for in the rain and cold, especially for a gizmo that will be obsolete when you leave the store. However, you must admire the individual’s zeal that will brave the elements to accomplish their goal. It is incredible to see the lengths people will go to obtain material possessions. We observe this behavior in people pursuing entertainment. Have you ever waited in line for hours at an amusement park? All of us have spent time in such vain pursuits. Wouldn’t it be a blessing to observe such zeal in our service to the Lord?

Sadly, most Christians place their service to God at the bottom of the priority list. We wait to pray at the end of the day. Financial offerings are given when everything else is cared for. God’s people rarely minister to others in need. Bible reading is done sporadically and family devotion time is virtually nonexistent in most homes. To say that we are complacent as Christians is an understatement. The Bible says, “Woe unto those that are at ease in Zion.” The Apostle Paul writes, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Our time would be much better spent on first seeking the kingdom of God. He will take care of the rest of our needs.

Maybe we should propose a date for Black Sunday. This will be a time when God’s people come to the place of worship the day before and camp outside waiting for the doors to open. Regardless of wind, rain or snow we excitedly brave the elements in anticipation for worship of the Lord. When the doors open we spend countless hours singing songs of praise and learning from the truth of God’s word. Those in attendance will be very interested in scripture and ask many detailed questions about the messages being preached. Young and old will assemble together for instruction and not entertainment. Praise will be freely expressed without fear of what others might think. Then when we finally leave, we will share our excitement with any and all who would listen.

Does this sound preposterous? It shouldn’t. The early church assembled together in a similar manner daily! While Christians need not camp out overnight to attend worship services it would be nice if they arrived at church in a timely manner. Pastors across America would be greatly encouraged if less time was spent looking at watches and more time was given attending to sermons and note-taking. Much more could be said about this. Jesus said that we are to first seek the kingdom of God. If we can exhibit so much excitement for material things, should we not be zealous for spiritual endeavors?

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - We Shall Behold Him

2007-11-10T21:51:00.000-05:00

We Shall Behold Him

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. - 1
Thessalonians 4:16-18

The truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the
heart of our Christian faith. It gives life to all
that we hold dear as God's people. In 1 Corinthians
15, the Apostle Paul states that if Jesus were still
buried in a tomb, preaching and our faith would be
empty (v. 14). Our witness would be false (v.15) and
we would yet be in our sins (v.17). We would indeed be
miserable creatures!

In our introductory verses Paul writes to a group of
young Christians who were worrying about their
deceased loved ones. They were worried about the
eternal destiny of those who died without the benefit
of the preached gospel. Paul's good news to them was
that the Lord is coming down from Heaven to gather all
of His people. This includes an innumerable host that
died without the benefit of the preached word. Jesus
is coming back to call ALL of His elect home. Those
who are dead in Christ will rise from the graves and
meet Him in the air! None of His sheep shall be lost.

Jesus' return is going to be powerful. The Bible
states that He is coming back with a shout! In the
midst of battle, generals will shout orders to their
obedient soldiers, who in turn dutifully heed the
instructions of their commander. In like manner, when
our King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns on the
last day, we will heed the shout to get up! The dead
in Christ will obediently rise first and then those
who are alive will follow. When Jesus shouts,
everything obeys!

The voice of the archangel marks the final victory
over the devil and his angels. In Jude 9 we read about
Michael the archangel contending with the devil. On
the resurrection day, there will be no contending.
The archangel will simply cry, "Surrender!" to Satan
and his emissaries. The Bible states that at the end
of time, the enemies of the Lord will be made His
footstool (Hebrews 10:13). They will be cast into the
everlasting lake of fire (Matthew 25:41). The return
of the Lord will mark the end of the warfare that we
fight with the devil and his angels.

Finally, the trumpet of God will be sounded. The
trumpet was another important communication device on
the ancient battlefields. Certain sounds directed
armies into certain formations on the battlefield. It
directed them to press forward in the midst of
conflict. Sometimes it was sounded to command a
retreat. When Jesus returns, the trump of God will
play the tune of victory and will direct His people to
go up unto Him. Dear child of God, on the resurrection
day you will be called up to meet Jesus in the air. He
will personally lead you into Heaven's eternal glory.
Paul wrote that we will be with Him in Heaven forever
(1 Thessalonians 4:17). It is comforting to know that
when we enter the gates of glory there will be no more
battles to fight. There will be no more sickness,
sorrow, or pain. Our days will be filled with the
majesty of God and we will be in the presence of our
Savior forever and ever. All for whom Jesus died will
be with Him in Heaven forevermore. Comfort one another
with these words!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive
Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL.
Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and
Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at
(850) 689-3383 or by email at
pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly
invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel
Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - God Does Not Need Our Help!

2007-11-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

God Does Not Need Our Help!

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. –Psalms 115:1-3

Many of us are under the mistaken notion that God needs our assistance to accomplish his will. The truth is that he is not dependent upon us for anything. Simply stated, he is God. The Psalmist understood this concept and exclaims that God does whatever he wants. In other words, he is sovereign. Why is it important? It is essential to have a proper perspective of God if we are going to give him the appropriate glory he deserves. In this article we will explore a couple of areas where God exercises supreme authority.

First, we need to recognize that God is sovereign over his creation. This has been the case since the beginning of time. Genesis 1:1 states that, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” Did God require any assistance or input from man when he flung the stars out into space? Did he solicit ideas about where to place the mountains and how much water needed to be added to the seas? No indeed! It was all done according to his will. He did what he pleased in creation. Psalms 19:1 substantiates this fact. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” This wondrous universe that we inhabit was spoken into existence by God alone.

God also created us. The Bible teaches that God created man on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26). He made male and female for his glory. Many today will claim that humans exist because of chance. Some will even say that we are no better than the animals and we are what we are because of billions of years of evolution. The Bible claims otherwise. We were created by God to glorify him and show his handiwork. In Psalms 139:14, David writes, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Dear child of God, you are no accident. God’s elect are known as his workmanship. We were created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Ephesians 2:10). The idea that we are here by mere chance leads to the ‘every man for himself’ attitude. You are here because of God almighty.

We also need to recognize that God does what he pleases in the realm of salvation. Many Christians mistakenly believe that they have some part in their eternal salvation. Some say that we must make a decision to serve God or let him into our hearts. Others say that you have to be baptized or one’s good works must outweigh their bad. Many of God’s children dedicate their lives to saving souls from eternal damnation. While these ideas may be backed with the greatest of intentions, they do not harmonize with scripture. We must first understand that we are spiritually dead because of our sins. We are not merely sick and in need of some medicine we are dead. Romans 3:9-12 records this truth. “There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Who is the Apostle Paul writing about? All of mankind throughout history. We are all spiritually dead because of sin. What can a dead person accomplish? Nothing! Therefore, we are wholly dependent upon God for our eternal salvation. In Ephesians 2:3-5 Paul later writes of how we are made alive by the mercy of God. “But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved;)”

God does not need our help with saving his children. Heaven is home for his elect because of his power. You are not saved because of a decision you made to serve the Lord. You are not going to enjoy eternal glory because of your works. Heaven is the blessed home of the child of God because of his sovereign love. For more insight into the power of God in salvation, read Ephesians chapters 1-2 and Romans 8-9. God did not need our help in creation and he certainly does not need our assistance in determining the eternal salvation of his people. He has commanded us to obey biblical teaching and glorify his name in all that we do while we are in this world. May God bless us to honor him in all things.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Tearing Down - Part II

2007-10-26T21:25:00.000-04:00

Tearing Down – Part II

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. – James 3:2

As children we would oftentimes recite, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This would be helpful if it were true! Words do hurt others. Author Robert Fulghum stated correct sentiment when he wrote, “Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts.” We all have been harmed by the words of others. While the pain is not physical, the emotional wounds can last a lifetime. I have counseled with people that continue to feel the pain of a cruel word that might have been spoken decades ago. In this article we will explore what the Bible says about our words. In light of scripture we can determine if our words are building up or tearing down others.

In the verse above, James describes the great challenge of bridling our tongues. The first step to using edifying words is to understand that it is a great challenge to keep our tongue in check. James writes that a man who does not offend in his speech is a complete man who is able to display self-control in all aspects of his life. Are you at this point in your life? I continue to be a work in progress! The tongue is a small organ but wields great influence. James likens it to a horse’s bridle and a ship’s rudder (James 3:3-5). In verse 5 he writes of the great fire that the tongue can start. This week we have been made starkly aware of the devastating force of natural fires. Hurtful words, gossip, slander, and evil speaking can cause its own destruction.

The Bible instructs us to bridle our tongues. While it is a challenge to our carnal natures, it is entirely possible for the Christian to accomplish. James likens us to fountains and fig trees. In James 3:11-12 he writes, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh?” As God’s children that have been made alive by his Spirit, we are to produce sweet waters. Our tongues are to bear fruit that is honoring to our master. He concludes in writing that wisdom is manifested by a good conversation seasoned with meekness (v.13). Are your words seasoned with wisdom?

In Matthew 12:34 Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Our words are indicative of what is going on in our heart. In light of Jesus’ teaching we need to understand that inappropriate words are not merely ‘slip-ups.’ They are outward manifestations of what we are carrying inside of us. If we are harboring anger, bitterness, etc. then our conversations will be seasoned with such things. This should motivate us to put away evil thinking and focus on things that are lovely, just, and pure (Philippians 4:8).

Take care when you speak to others. The things that we say can cause great damage to others. Pay careful attention when you converse with your wife, husband or children. Sometimes we say things to them that we would never speak to anyone else! Be careful not to offend your brother or sister in the church by engaging in gossip or careless communication. Remember, the tiny tongue can start a huge fire! Solomon wrote that, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” While hurtful words can cause great damage, a fitly spoken word can be a beautiful thing. Let us labor to build up others with our words.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Tearing Down

2007-10-18T22:25:00.000-04:00

Tearing Down

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. – Romans 14:19

I have recently undertaken a project that involves disassembling an old structure on my property. I had forgotten how much easier it is to tear down something than it is to build it up. Boards are pounded out with ease and there is even a certain euphoria involved with busting through old drywall with reckless abandon. One does not have to exercise much care when tearing something apart. However, there is usually a big mess left to clean up afterwards as you sift through the battered debris.

The same principle applies to the manner in which we interact with other people. We find it easier to tear other people down than build them up. The satisfaction derived from this practice is that it somehow makes us feel better about ourselves. I assure you that this emotion is short lived and like my construction project at home, there is usually a mess to clean up. The wreckage of hurt feelings, resentment, and bitterness is infinitely more difficult to mend than any natural destruction that we can cause.

The Bible instructs us to follow after things that edify. The word edify means to build up or establish. The Apostle Paul instructs the Roman church to seek those things that make for peace and build up those around them. They were fighting over days of the week and what type of meat was acceptable to eat. Paul recognized that there were those in this church that were tearing one another down. His command was for them to build up one another. In his letters to the Corinthian and Ephesian churches, he states that God blessed them with gifts for the edifying of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:12, Ephesians 4:12). As God’s children who have been quickened by the Spirit, we all have unique abilities that can edify another in many aspects of life. Is your church a place where people are constantly being built up or is everyone trying to selfishly tear one another down? What about your home? What about work? We all have the capacity to either encourage or discourage someone else.

It takes some work on our part to build up another person. First we must put away selfishness and pride. The Bible refers to our tendency to be selfish as “living after the flesh” (Romans 8:12). It is our nature to be selfish. When we are living after the flesh we will both knowingly and unknowingly tear others down in order to make ourselves look better. However, whatever satisfaction is garnered from this action is short lived, because the flesh is never satisfied. We must further tear down others to feel better about ourselves. This is a very destructive cycle! The Bible teaches us that true joy and contentment comes from the labor of building up others. If we actively seek ways to encourage others then we receive true joy. This is our responsibility as citizens in the kingdom of God. Paul wrote, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men (Romans 14:17-18).”

You can choose to build up or tear down by the words you speak to another. How many times have we caused hurt feelings amongst our brothers/sisters in Christ, family members or friends because of an inappropriately spoken word? In Proverbs 25:11, the wise man Solomon wrote that, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Let us labor to build up one another in both action and deed, and follow after peace.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - The Author and Finisher

2007-09-22T21:10:00.000-04:00

The Author and Finisher

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:1-2

What or who is the source of our faith? Some will say that it originates from within. We have all heard the saying, “take a leap of faith” or, “all you need is faith.” Many sincere Christians believe that it is their faith that saved them and will allow them to enjoy Heaven’s eternal glory. The health, wealth and prosperity gospel teaches that we can enjoy great riches and have no problems whatsoever in this world if we have enough faith. Do these beliefs pass the test of scripture? The Bible and life experiences offer a stark contrast to these ideas.

In Hebrews chapter 12, the Apostle Paul encourages us to patiently run the race of life. He challenges us to lay aside the weight of trials and tribulations that we encounter daily. He instructs us to put away the sin that hinders our Christian walk. Then, he counsels us to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We are commanded to keep our eyes on the Lord because he is the originator and completer of our faith. Faith does not originate from us but from Jesus Christ!

In Hebrews 11:1 faith is defined as, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In the spiritual sense, Paul is teaching us that we have a hope beyond this world and the ability to believe things that we cannot see with our natural eyes because God reveals himself to us. In other words, we believe in God and know that Jesus is our Savior because he has imparted his faith to us.
The Bible teaches that we do not have the ability to understand spiritual things apart from the spirit of God. In John 3:3, Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” If faith is the evidence of things not seen, then we must understand our Savior to be teaching that we are given faith when we are born of the Holy Spirit. In verses 5-6 Jesus reiterates this truth. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Hence, faith is from God.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul writes, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We are saved because of the Lord’s faith. He is the author of our faith. The Bible teaches that we were chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation (beginning) of the world (Ephesians 1:4). The result of this choice is that the elect should stand before the Lord in holiness and without blame. Jesus is not only the author, but the finisher of our faith. When he sacrificed himself on the cross for his people, he did all that was necessary to secure our faith. Therefore, we can run with patience the race that is set before us! It is not our works, but the work of our Redeemer that empowered us with faith.

Critics will argue that if it is not of our faith that saves us, then we have no responsibilities towards God. On the contrary, we should be zealous workers in the Kingdom of God because of the faith he gives us as his children. Paul’s illustration of us running a race provides an excellent example of Christian zeal. Those that have run natural races understand the great effort involved in accomplishing this task. Likewise, the Christian race is challenging and we must approach it with the end in mind. We might run a natural race and not finish due to fatigue, etcetera. But rest assured that as one of God’s children you will finish your spiritual race because of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. It is not our own!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - We Have all Fallen Short

2007-09-14T21:44:00.000-04:00

We Have all Fallen Short

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - Romans 3:23

One of the problems of our society today (especially amongst the younger generation) is the tendency for us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. In many educational circles, “self-esteem” has been the mantra. Sadly, this has created a generation of narcissists that think that they are the center of the universe and are accountable to no one. This mentality has also deceived people into thinking that they deserve rewards, accolades and attention regardless of their qualifications or behavior.

Spiritual narcissism has crept into many of our churches. Sound doctrine has been replaced with the idea that we are able to do something to procure our eternal salvation. God-centered theology has been replaced with the philosophy that all men have some degree of goodness within them and only need to be reformed in order to be fit candidates for eternal salvation. Both of these ideas are foreign to the teachings of scripture.

In the above passage, the Apostle Paul writes that we all have fallen short of God’s glory. He teaches the doctrine of total depravity, which means that all of us have failed and deserve nothing more than eternal punishment because of our disobedience of God’s commandments. The short statement, “For all have sinned,” negates any ideas that we have the ability to act in such a way that warrants eternal rewards. The failure to meet God’s glory also destroys any thought of man having any degree of goodness in his/her own nature. Our sins have convicted us. James writes, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (2:10).” If we commit only one sin in our lifetime, we deserve eternal hell as our just punishment. The reality is that we transgress God’s righteous law on a regular basis. All of us are guilty sinners with no hope of reformation!

When we sin, it means that we have missed the mark. The mark that we have missed is the glory of God. Be not mistaken, God will receive his just glory. Scripture teaches us that everything was created to bring glory unto the Lord. But when we sin, we are essentially thumbing our nose at the Creator and saying that his laws and commandments are worthless. We are placing our desires above his direction and therefore coming short of his glory. This is the makeup of all mankind; even God’s elect before being born again of the Spirit.

The sinful, depraved nature of man necessitates redemption from one who is able to fulfill God’s righteous law in order for them to be fit subjects for fellowship with God. In Romans 3:24-25, Paul writes of the work of Jesus that was done in order to save God’s elect from their deserved wrath. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” He redeemed us through his blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross. The one who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). We who have sinned and come short of the glory of God have been justified (judged not guilty) before God because of Jesus. It is my prayer that we would meditate upon this monumental doctrine and give credit where credit is due. All praise and glory belongs to the Lord! It is not our work that saves us, but the sovereign power of God almighty. Let us all live humbly before our heavenly father.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Laboring in the Kingdom

2007-08-31T20:45:00.000-04:00

Laboring in the Kingdom

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. –Ephesians 4:1-3

Monday is the day that we celebrate Labor Day. It has always been interesting to me that we celebrate work by taking a day off. However, it is beneficial to stop and think about the importance of hard work. I am thankful for the dedicated example provided by my parents and grandparents as they struggled to provide for their respective families. My grandparents were part of what is oftentimes referred to as the ‘greatest generation’ of people to be born in the United States. There is much that we learn from their work ethic and dedication to persevere through some of our nation’s greatest trials. This is an amazing accomplishment, but what made a greater impact than their physical labor was their dedication to the kingdom of God. They worked hard to feed their family physically, but the greater portion of their efforts was dedicated to laboring to serve God.

The Bible teaches us about labor/work. Some works in the Bible were accomplished for us approximately two thousand years ago. The work of salvation was wholly completed when Jesus laid down his life on the cross. Jesus came into the world to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He died for the elect family of God (Romans 8:28-33), and all for whom he died will be in Heaven some day (John 6:39). Is there any labor that you engage in that will assist you (or anyone else) in entering eternal glory? No! In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul writes, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The work necessary to save you from your sins was completed on the cross of Calvary. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished” the work of eternal salvation was complete.

In light of what Jesus did on the cross, Christians are instructed in scripture numerous times to labor. In our introductory verse, Paul instructs us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. The word vocation literally means an occupation. Paul is teaching us that Christian service is not merely a part-time job or a hobby, but an occupation that we are wholly dedicated. In light of the work that Christ accomplished on the cross, we need to be laboring in serving him. Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church was that they “might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10);”

Is your life pleasing to the Lord? Would an accurate appraisal of the decisions that you make reflect Christ-worthy thinking? If not, you need to repent and follow after the Lord. Paul teaches us that we are to labor in meekness. Pride is something that we all struggle with. We want to take care of our wants and needs first. If we are laboring in the Lord, then we are seeking him first. After that we are placing others above ourselves. This includes the needs of your spouse. This involves ministering to those in your church and neighborhood that are in need. Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). We are not to worry about our needs. He will see to them!

We are also called to labor in love; even in those times when we are confronted with those that are unlovable. We are also to labor to do that which is good. The Bible also teaches that we are to labor to increase in the knowledge of God. The Bible teaches us in the aforementioned verses (and hundreds more) that we are to labor while we are living in this present world. As you have already figured out, there is much to be busy about in serving the Lord. It is my prayer that we will get to work. While we enjoy periods of rest in our physical labors, let us never take a vacation from serving the God of Heaven and Earth! Whatever our burden in this life, it is light as a feather when compared to the work of eternal salvation that was accomplished on the cross.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - A Message to Our Youth

2007-08-25T21:09:00.000-04:00

A Message to Our Youth
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Romans 12:1-2

This week marks the time that many of you have started your educational program for another year. Whether you are in public school, private school, college, or are homeschooled you face daily challenges. Some are facing pressure from peers that want you to do something that you know is immoral. Articulate instructors may be trying to cast shadows of doubt upon everything that you have been taught from the Bible. Perhaps you have a horrible home life and do not really know what is right or wrong. There are numerous people that feel like a ship being tossed about by the waves of life. Wherever you find yourself, know that God is in control and he is able to bless us through any trials that we encounter.

In the above passage, the Apostle Paul instructs us to live for one that is greater than anything or anyone in this world. We are commanded to present our bodies as a sacrifice to God. This should be our goal as Christians, both young and old. We are oftentimes willing to sacrifice our bodies for the most trifling things in this world. Have you sacrificed your body in an immoral manner? Is the majority of your time devoted to the vain things of this world? If this is the case, we should repent and present our bodies a living sacrifice to God. Proverbs 14:12 states that, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We might think it right to compromise our values/morality in order to gain the attention of others, but this is wrong. Misery and heartache follow a compromise of God’s commandment.

Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is our reasonable responsibility as Christians. There are many things that you can find to occupy your time as a youngster. In high school and college people will encourage you to be involved with numerous organizations and causes. Well meaning parents and educators will try to occupy your time with sports and extracurricular activities. While many of these things not inherently sinful and some can even be beneficial, our primary concern ought to be our service unto God. Jesus teaches us to, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33).”

When we first serve the Lord, he will bless us with those things we need in our lives. All of the other activities that we engage in are vanity at the best.
In Ecclesiastes 2:11, King Solomon wrote, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” As you read this book in the Bible you will notice that Solomon did a little bit of everything! He said that all of this was void of any true substance. The wise king concludes in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” It is my prayer that you will not wait until you are old to come to this conclusion. Serve the Lord in your youth! Refuse to conform to the standards of this world. Study the Bible and stand up for Godly values. Seek a place to worship God in spirit and in truth. Our Heavenly Father will never lead us astray!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Do and Done Doctrine

2007-08-19T21:36:00.000-04:00

‘Done’ Doctrine and ‘Do’ Doctrine

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

The epistles of the New Testament can oftentimes be separated into two categories. They contain those things which God has done for us and the things that we ought to be doing as Christians. It is our responsibility to diligently study the Bible and rightly divide the work that the Lord has done for his people from the works that we are to be engaged in.

The Book of Ephesians contains both ‘done’ and ‘do’ doctrine. The first 3 chapters address what the Lord has done for his people. Chapter 1 addresses the doctrine of predestination. Some will argue that election and predestination is the act of God looking down through time to see who would accept him and choose to serve him in this world. Thus, they try to place this doctrine in the ‘do’ category of Biblical teaching. However, we read in Ephesians 1:3-6, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” The Apostle Paul clearly writes that we were predestinated according to the good pleasure of Christ’s will; not our own. Notice how many occasions God is referenced in this passage. He did all of the work necessary to make us (God’s children) accepted in the beloved. When rightly divided, the word of God unequivocally teaches that predestination is a ‘done’ doctrine.

The new birth, salvation and faith are some other works that were done for us by God through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:1 states, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” In the following verses Paul lists the ways of carnal man. Then, he highlights the source of our new life in verse 5. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).” The Bible teaches that all men are spiritually dead. They are not merely sick people in need of someone to bring them the medicine of the gospel. They are completely dead to the things of God. Therefore, they cannot do anything to save themselves. However, Paul teaches that as God’s elect we who love the Lord and his word have been quickened (made alive) by the work of God. It is his work that gives us the ability to glorify his name. It is his spirit that enlivens us to the things of God. We observe in Galatians 5:22 that the faith we manifest is a fruit of his spirit. We are saved by the grace of God Almighty (Ephesians 2:8). Ephesians chapter 3 continues expounding the wonderful works of God in our lives and his power to bless beyond all of our expectations.

As we begin reading Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul begins to admonish Christians about their responsibilities in the service of the Lord. In verse 1 Paul writes, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Serving the Lord is not to be a trifling endeavor. Paul likens our work in the service of the Lord to a vocation or job. What are we to be laboring for in the Kingdom of God? In the following verses Paul states that we are to walk in lowliness, meekness, and longsuffering (v.2). We are to labor in forbearing one another and work towards peace (v.3). This is easy to say, but challenging to put in practice. Although this is hard work, these principles (and many more) are the things that we are to ‘do’ in our service to the Lord. We are to use the talents that God has given us to edify his people (v.12), and put off corruptible things in our lives (v.22). In the final chapters of Ephesians, Paul instructs us to be followers of Christ and elaborates on how we are to accomplish this task in our families and with those we come into contact with in our everyday lives.

God will not force his people to engage in the ‘do’ doctrines of the Bible. Our disobedience does not undermine those things that he has done for his people. Psalms 89:30-34 records, “If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” We are secure in those things that God has done for us, but when we are disobedient we will be chastened in this world. As Christians we ought to be empowered when we realize that God did the work necessary to save and quicken us. Then, we can go forward and do those things God requires of us. We serve God as a result of what he has done for us, not to obtain eternal life or the new birth.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Busy

2007-08-19T21:30:00.000-04:00

I found this in my 'keepers' archive. Enjoy!

******************
Busy

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from cultivating an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to cultivate a relationship / with Jesus Christ. "This is what I want you to do" said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted. "Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds" he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, and borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. Keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.

Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands. If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly! Give them Santa Clause to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, 'and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.

Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek the Lord. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!" It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families, having no time to tell others about Jesus. I guess the question is has the devil been successful in his schemes? You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S -atan's Y-oke? Let us only be busy about the Master's business.

Article - Time Marches On

2007-08-10T18:35:00.000-04:00

Time Marches On

Go to now, ye that say, to day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- James 4:13-14

Several years ago there was a popular county music song that dealt with the inevitability of time moving forward. It seems that one day you are a child with no cares in the world, and the next you are employed, married, and raising children of your own. I recently turned 30 and am acutely aware of how time flies. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was in my teenage years. Now, I have my own family (and even a few gray hairs). Some of my older friends have told me that time goes faster as you grow older. It certainly appears that way! There never seems to be enough time to do all that needs to be done. Days and weeks seem to fly by where they once seemed to crawl along at a snail’s pace. Time indeed marches on!
James addresses the celerity of time in his epistle to the churches scattered around Asia Minor. He states that our life is but a vapor. From birth to death our time is at best a wisp of air. It appears for a little time and then fades away. In spite of all our doctors and drugs and technology, the best we can really hope for is maybe 90-100 years on this earth. The reality is that we don’t really know what tomorrow has in store for us. It does not matter how grandiose our plans are for the future, they are framed within the vapor of our lives. The pertinent question for us is how are we going to use the wisp of air that comprises our lives?
I am afraid that many Christians have their priorities askew. Many of us are sacrificing our short lives for things that are not that significant. How do you spend your time? We oftentimes dedicate much of our time seeking financial gain and worldly notoriety. We must work and the Bible states that a man that does not provide for his own household has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel (2 Timothy 5:8). However, this should not be the focal point of our lives. Many have dedicated numerous hours beyond what is needed to provide for their families in order to amass material possessions. Families suffer because the father works 10-12 hour days and mothers are also away from the home to provide a second income. All of this results in a dereliction of our Christian duties and a neglect of our family responsibilities.
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus instructs us to, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The “things” that shall be added includes food, drink, and clothing. The same God that feeds the birds and dresses the lilies will see to our needs as we seek to serve him. We must engage in secular work while we are in this world, but our first priority is to serve God. The blessings of Christian service far outweigh the worldly possessions and notoriety that result from pouring your all of your time into your career.
One aspect of first seeking the kingdom of God involves making your children a priority. How much time do you spend with them? Do you know what is going on in their lives? Who their friends are? What they are watching on the T.V./computer? Are you your child’s primary teacher? Are you teaching them biblical/spiritual principles? Scripture teaches that the parents have the responsibility to train up their children in the way that they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Deuteronomy 6 commands parents to diligently teach our children to love the Lord and keep his commandments. It is not a once-a-week responsibility, but a 24 hour-a-day duty. Parental responsibility is far more important than dual family incomes or working overtime to finance more carnal entertainment.
Time marches on and it passes quickly. How are you spending your days? Using your resources? I have been with several people who know that they were at the end of their lives. Never once have I met with anyone that wished they had worked more hours, built a bigger home, amassed more wealth. Their regrets have always focused upon the amount of time they spend in serving God. Some are sad that they did not spend more time in their youth worshipping the Lord and serving others. Others wish that they had spent more time with their children. God is gracious to bless us despite our shortcomings, but what will be your story at the end of life? Will you be regretful about how your spent your short life? It is my prayer that we would finish our lives like the Apostle Paul. Towards the end of his life he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)” It is never too late to focus your life on what matters most.

Article - If the Foundations be Destroyed

2007-07-29T18:07:00.000-04:00

If the Foundations be Destroyed

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalms 11:3, KJV.

The wise words of Jesus are recorded in Matthew chapter 7. He compares those who do not hearken unto his words to a foolish man who builds his house upon the sand (v. 26). When the floods and wind come upon this man’s house, the foundation is destroyed and the fall of the house is great. Do we as Christians fall under the description of the foolish man or the wise man that builds upon the rock (v. 24)? It is imperative that we understand what foundation we are to build upon as Christians.
In Psalms 11:3 the Psalmist David writes, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This question is of utmost importance in this ‘anything goes’ age that we are currently living in. If our spiritual foundation is manufactured from anything other than Jesus Christ and the word of God then we are setting ourselves up for a fall. In Ephesians 2:20, Paul explains that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus calls himself (not Peter) the rock that under-girds the church. If we are not seeking the will of the Lord and searching his word for the true foundations, then what can we do that will be profitable?
Sometimes we like to build our spiritual foundation upon our feelings. If it feels good then we ought to do it. I am thankful that God gave us emotions, but they should not govern the decisions that we make in life. Many well meaning people have disregarded the clear commands of scripture and substituted what ‘feels’ right for truth. Our worship of God is not to be directed by emotion. In an effort to attract people into their congregations, many churches have orchestrated their services to appeal to our emotions. Jesus says that our primary purpose for gathering together as God’s people is to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), not to be entertained.
Oftentimes in the midst of worship we become emotional as we hear the truth proclaimed (and rightfully so), but our feelings do not govern our worship of God. Our feelings can lead us astray. The Bible speaks of sin being pleasurable (Hebrews 11:25). Should we sin because it feels good? No, we obey the commandments of the Lord because the pleasures of sin are but for a season. This principle applies to all of our emotions
If we try to build our spiritual foundation upon popular opinion we are also setting ourselves up for failure. We observe the effects of this philosophy in the area of creation. Many people have rejected the idea that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days. They say that we are a result of an evolutionary process and are in existence because of chance. Although the theory of evolution has been discredited numerous times, many people hold to its tenets. Sadly, many Christians have integrated it into their belief system. Thus they have built upon the sands of error.
It does not matter how many esteemed and educated people continue to advertise evolution as the answer to our existence, we are directed by the word of God to stand upon His truth. In Romans 3:4, Paul commands us to let God be true, but every man a liar. There is much more evidence in our world that points to a divine creator than this world coming into existence accidentally.
We see the effects of the rejection of creation in our society. It seems that our nation is increasingly turning away from the moral teachings of the Bible. Millions of unborn babies continue to be slaughtered in the name of choice. Our children are increasingly exposed to sexual perversion and wickedness. I believe that this is directly related to God’s people building their spiritual foundations upon worldly opinions. This results in a downward spiral of families, churches and our nation. We should be emboldened by the promises of Jesus and the word of God. If our foundation is not built upon the ROCK, Jesus Christ we are good for nothing in this world.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - The Wiles of the Devil

2007-07-12T10:47:00.000-04:00

The Wiles of the Devil

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:11, 12, KJV.

Did you know that we are engaged in warfare in this world? All of us are in a daily spiritual battle against the devil and his emissaries. Jesus assures us that if we are his sheep then we do not have to fear our eternal security. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:28).” We should take strength from this and the many other promises of eternal life contained in the Bible. However, we must never forget that the devil is a wily enemy determined to wage war on the children of God until the end of time. The Apostle Peter likens him to a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 4:8). When the Bible speaks of the ‘wiles’ of the devil it means that he is not simply lying in wait to harm God’s people, but rather he is actively hunting them down! How does Satan attempt to harm God’s children, and what can we do to protect ourselves?

The devil is undeniably searching for our children to devour them. He is waging
a full frontal assault on the hearts and minds of our young people. It begins in the womb where many babies are snatched from what should be the safest place in the world for them - in the name of choice. These little ones never see the light of day. The attack does not end there. From an early age our children are taught that they are accidents; here in this world because of the process of evolution. Then, they are assaulted with a philosophy that right and wrong are relative. It is up to the individual to determine morality and there is no real authority in the society. This coupled with the bombardment of sex, violence and mocking of sin by the media causes many casualties amongst our youth in the spiritual battle.

The fight does not end with young people. Satan has set a snare for you, to, and is doing his best to drive you into it. He consumes so much of our time with the pursuit of wealth and material things. Many of us work above and beyond what is needed to provide food and clothing for our families. Many homes have become ‘two income’ families as we pursue bigger homes, nicer cars and more stuff. With mothers away from the home because of careers and father gone most of the time, children have been institutionalized for much of their lives. This leads to the problems mentioned in the previous paragraph and opens the door for the devil to obliterate a family. If our time is not taken up with wealth, then it is easily filled with the distractions of the world. It is amazing to observe how many people are distracted by their Ipods, cell phones, and computers. It is rare to see people engaged in meaningful interactions with others, much less spending quality time with God. I believe that Satan has been successful in casting these and many other stumbling-blocks before God’s people.

What is the solution to this problem? Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:11 to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand the devil’s wiles. What is this armor? He lists it in the following verses. We are to have our loins covered with the truth (God’s truth) and the breastplate of righteousness (V. 14). Our feet are to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (V. 15) and we are to defend ourselves with the shield of faith (V.16). Our head is to be covered with the helmet of salvation and our weapon is the sword of the spirit, the word of God (V.17). God’s armor is different than the solutions of the world. If we are truly to withstand the devil’s attacks we must abandon the false ideologies that abandon our youth and consume our time to the point that we neglect all things spiritual. Jesus said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:15-17).”

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - The Foundation

2007-07-01T08:46:00.001-04:00

The Foundation

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. –Matthew 7:24-27

Does it matter where you build your spiritual house? Modern philosophers espouse the idea of individual morality. This is the idea that right and wrong is determined by each person. What may be right to me might be wrong to another person and vice versa. Jesus likens this belief to the foolish man that builds his house upon the sand. As Christians we should desire to build our houses upon the foundation of the rock, Jesus Christ.
In the Book of Judges we observe the results of individuals doing that which was right in their own eyes (ex: 17:6, 21:25). During this time in Jewish history we witness many of God’s chosen nation turning to the worship of idols and intermingling with peoples that did not believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When the people would foolishly turn from God, judgment would inevitably follow. It was during these times that they were building their spiritual houses upon sand. It is equally important how we build our spiritual houses as individuals, families and churches today.
Who determines right and wrong today? This is an oft debated question in modern society. Ministers and religious institutions are often confronted with the question of what gives them the right to determine the truth. These questions are easily answered when God’s word is sought. Individuals do not determine the truth, but God himself. He has given us the gift of his inspired word and has preserved it for many generations. The Bible is the authoritative point of reference for all of us. It contains absolute truth regarding morality and gives us the foundation that we need to construct our spiritual houses upon. When followed, we are able to withstand the rains, floods, and winds that oftentimes beat upon our spiritual house.
When men follow their own notions, trouble inevitably follows. Notice some of the following scriptures dealing with the wisdom of men. Proverbs 14:12 records that, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Everyone has an opinion about what seems right and wrong but the Bible says that the end is the ways of death. How do we overcome this obstacle? We triumph by adhering to God’s way and not our ways. When our philosophies and opinions differ from God’s truth we need to abandon ours. Jeremiah reveals the true nature of our heart in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The old adage of letting your heart and conscience be your guide should be avoided. The Bible states that the heart is deceitful and wicked. We need to measure every decision we make with the standard of God’s word.
What are you to do if you don’t know God’s pattern? The Apostle Paul instructs us to study! He writes us in 2 Timothy 2:15 to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Bible is a thorough furnisher of good works and gives us the plan to build our house upon a strong foundation. I encourage you to diligently study the Bible. When you are confronted with a difficult passage, seek wisdom from Godly people. You will be blessed in this endeavor.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Article - Teaching Our Children

2007-06-16T08:54:00.000-04:00

Teaching our Children

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Who has the primary responsibility in teaching our children? Does the responsibility
fall on the public school system? Is it the church? Does it really take a village
to raise a child? I believe that the Bible places the principal responsibility on
the child’s parents. Locally, I believe that we have one of the best public school
systems in the world. However, public education was not designed to supersede the
moral teachings of a youth’s family. In the beginning the primary purpose of school
was to teach reading, writing and math. Sadly, some have neglected the Biblical
mandate of Proverbs 22 and public education has been given a burden that it was
never intended to bear. I am thankful for Godly men and women that gladly bear this
yoke. However, it ought to be our desire to return to the pattern of the scriptures.
Some may place the task of teaching our youth on the church. While local congregations
and ministers are to provide clear instruction from God’s word, the training up
of children is a parent’s job. Well meaning Christians will sometimes enroll their
children in Sunday school, youth groups or children’s church and assume that they
are receiving the necessary spiritual teaching. Mothers and fathers, God has made
you responsible for teaching your son/daughter the moral truths of God’s word. As
Christians we need to find a church that upholds the doctrine and practice of the
Bible. We should regularly attend a house of worship that teaches the Word of God.
When we are spiritually fed the Word at church, then we pass those teachings along
to our children.
Solomon instructs us to train up a child in the way that he/she should go in Proverbs
22:6. The word train in this verse is synonymous with the idea of instructing, shaping
or guiding a child. How do we go about shaping our children in the things of God?
It has already been mentioned that we need to be sitting under the preached word
of God. I believe that the most effective method of public worship occurs when families
are all together. This also appears to parallel the pattern of the New Testament
Church. When families worship together there is no doubt about what your children
are hearing. When we are not in public worship we need to be taking time daily to
study the Bible with our children. When our youth are trained in Biblical morality
they will be equipped to deal with the evil that they confront in the world. Another
way that we teach our children is to be actively involved in all aspects of their
lives. This means that we are discussing with our children what they are learning
in school, church, etc. When the teachings from other places are contrary to Biblical
instruction it is imperative that we show our children the right way.
In Deuteronomy 6:5-9 we observe the importance of teaching our children to love
God with all of our heart, soul and might. God states that the children of Israel
were to
“Teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and
when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts
of thy house, and on thy gates (v.7-9). God wants parents to be constantly engaged
in teaching their sons and daughters.
Solomon says that when parents are diligent to train up their children they won’t
depart from these teachings when they are old. Does this mean that all will be perfect
when we diligently teach our children Biblical morality? As long as we are in this
world of sin God’s children will periodically stumble along the way. However, when
we provide Godly teachings and live a Christ-honoring example before our children
they will know where to turn when confronted with our present culture. I believe
that when we as parents adhere to this Biblical principle, we can make a positive
impact in our present and successive generations. I know that we do not live in
a perfect world and many children come from broken families. It is my prayer that
mothers, fathers, grandparents or others who are guardians of children would make
Godly teaching a priority in the lives of their children.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org)
in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm.
Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org.
Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist
Church.

Article - Who Will be in Heaven??

2007-06-08T15:31:00.000-04:00

Who Will be in Heaven?

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” Matthew 25:34, KJV.

Who will be in heaven? This question in often debated amongst religious circles. Many Christians believe that only those who have heard the preached word and have made a profession of belief in Jesus Christ will enter into Heaven. Other religious groups believe that they are the only ones who are entitled to paradise beyond this world, and the rest of the human race are doomed infidels. Is heaven reserved for a small group or will we all be there? Will only Christians enter into heaven or will there be people from other religions there also? What about those who have never heard about Jesus Christ?

In the latter part of Matthew 25, Jesus speaks of his return to the earth. The Bible states that all nations will be gathered before him and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. Those on the left (the goats) will be sent to everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Those on the right hand (his sheep) will inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. It is they who are going to heaven whom we will address in this article.

The Bible provides much teaching about heaven and who will be there. Simply stated, all that are supposed to go to heaven will be there. In 1 Peter 1:2, the Apostle writes to those who are, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” Who are the elect? They are those who God chose before the foundation of the world to enter into heaven. In Ephesians 1:3-4, Paul writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” God has chosen who will be before him for all eternity. His Son, Jesus Christ procured the salvation of the elect through his sacrifice on the cross. How did God decide who was going to go to heaven? He predestinated (determined their destiny beforehand) them according to the good pleasure of his will (Ephesians 1:5).

Does the concept of election limit the number of those that will enjoy heaven’s eternal glory? No indeed! The Bible speaks of God’s children as being a great multitude. The number of God’s elect is likened to the sand of the sea. God told Abraham that if he could number the sand, then he could number His people. The elect are also likened to the stars of heaven (Genesis 22:7). Today, telescopes have located millions of stars. New ones are identified daily! Many have not yet been discovered. So it is with those that will enjoy heaven’s glory. They are a great multitude which no man can number. In Revelation 19 we observe a great voice of much people in heaven saying, “Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.”

There will be people from all nations in heaven. Entrance will not be limited to one particular race, culture or religion. God’s elect are everywhere! Acts 10:35 records that, “In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Scripture teaches that hell is a real place that will be populated by those who know not God. These will be judged according to their sins. However, we know that all whom Jesus died for will be in the presence of the Lord forevermore. How do you know that you are one of the elect? If you have a reverential fear of the Lord and work righteousness, then you have good evidence that you are one of his! As one of God’s children we need not fear his return to the earth. When he comes again he will say unto his children, “ Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” What a day that will be!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Repentance Unto Life

2007-06-04T12:36:00.000-04:00

Acts 11:17-18

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Yesterday I attempted to speak on the subject of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind; a conversion from sin unto God. Peter was giving an account of the Lord's work amongst the Gentiles. God gave them repentance. He changed their lives! The good news for us is that the Lord continues to change the lives of his people today. If you sorrow because of your sinfulness yet see Jesus Christ as your savior, then you have been granted repentance unto life. If you believe on him it is because of the work of the Lord in your heart!

Thankfully, God also grants repentance in our everyday lives. The Bible says that Godly sorrow worketh repentance (2 Cor 7:10). The Spirit convicts his children when they do wrong. It is at this point when we should change out way and clease ourselves from all filthiness. I don't know about you, but I have to do this on a regular basis. Praise the Lord that we have a loving Heavenly Father that is faithful to chasten us when we do wrong.

Remember that repentance is not merely saying your sorry or feeling bad because of sinful behavior. It involves a change in behavior. We are able to make a change on the outside because God works on the inside.

In Christian Love,

Michael Green, Jr.

Article - Being Instant in Prayer

2007-06-01T22:26:00.000-04:00

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer...”
- Romans 12:10-12

Are you distressed at the current moral climate of our nation? Do you feel helpless and hopeless about any changes for the better? If you are in this condition, have you thought to pray? I am reminded of the hymn, Did You Think to Pray? by Mary Kidder. She writes:

Ere you left your room this morning,
Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ our Savior,
Did you sue for loving favor,
As a shield today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life seems dark and dreary,
Don’t forget to pray.

The Bible teaches that we have instant access to our Lord. He is always available to hear our petitions. In the above verse, the Apostle Paul commands us to be instant in prayer. He is teaching us to earnestly persevere in our petitions to the Heavenly Father. Sometimes we are discouraged when we do not find instant peace or solutions to our problems. Do
not be disheartened! Continue to pray that God will lead you according to His holy will. The Bible teaches us that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous main availeth much (James 5:16). As we enter into the summertime months, here are a couple things that we need to diligently remember in prayer:

1. We need to pray for our churches. We are living in a time where many do not see the importance of public worship. The Bible teaches us that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). God blesses us in an extraordinary way when we are faithful to assemble ourselves together in corporate worship. There are myriad
reasons that people stop attending church. Some have been offended by another. Some might be overwhelmed with personal problems while others might have grown apathetic in their Christian walk. Whatever the case, we need to pray for those that are struggling. We need to diligently pray that God would revive his people so they will return unto their first
love and glorify the Lord.
2. We need to pray for our youth. As we enter into the summer months, many of our children have completed another school year. Some have graduated and are planning to move on to secondary education. We need to constantly remember them as we pray to the Lord. Satan desires to cast stumbling blocks in the paths of our youth. I have observed many cases
where young adults have faltered in their Christian walk when they leave home and enroll in college. An articulate, engaging professor can undo 17 years worth of spiritual training in a semester. Pray that God would bless our youth to follow the way of truth and withstand the assaults of the devil.
Moral change will not occur through government policy. It will only be realized when the Lord’s people repent of their sins and turn towards Him. All of us have the ability to pray. He hears our cries and answers prayer. I am reminded of Solomon’s charge in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Our churches are in great need of revival. Our youth are under attack by Satan. Let us strive now to be diligent, fervent, and instant in prayer, that God will forgive our sins and bless our churches and young
people to honor His holy name!

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

I'm Baaack

2007-06-01T22:03:00.000-04:00

Hello All!

It has been I while since I posted on my blog. I hope to use this site more frequently and post articles, reflections, etc. This site is linked to our church website (www.palmchapel.org). I am not proficient enough to add directly to the site without much labor :-) Look for articles here in the near future.

Blessings,

Bro. Michael

P.S. The church website is now updated.

New Church Site

2006-03-02T23:07:00.000-05:00

Greetings! The church website has been updated. Please visit www.palmchapel.org and let us know what you think. More to be added in the coming days.

The family is getting over various illnesses that have been going around. E turned 4 Tuesday. M will be 2 in March and little brother A is growing fast!!

Hope all have a blessed night!

Bro. Michael

2006-01-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

Greetings all!

Andrew Lawrence Green Entered the world Friday January 6, 2006. He weighed 9lbs. It has been an interesting couple of weeks. We had a tornado hit the school last Friday. Thankfully no one was harmed.

We've been blessed to have some great meetings at church. I am currently updating the church webpage (www.palmchapel.org) and hope to have it up and running soon. Hope all are well!

Michael Green

The Journey Begins

2005-10-14T15:02:00.000-04:00

Greetings All!

This is my first venture into "Blogging" on the Internet. I hope to post reflections about this adventure that I call life.

Brief introduction... I am pastor of a Primitive Baptist Church, husband, father of 2 (soon to be 3), educator, and student. I believe this site to be an excellent medium to reflect on my activities, thoughts, meditiaions, etc. on all the subjects written above. I hope all will be honourable to God and conducted in such a way to magnify His name and truth. I hope you enjoy the ride. Buckle up, locate the nearest flotation device and hold on :-)

I awoke this morning with this thought:

God knows all of our thoughts and imaginations, yet he still loves us! If we could read each other's mind, would we be as forgiving or overlook one another's evil thoughts? Thankfully we are not mind-readers. God knows everything we think and has mercy on us! God help us to love one another despite differences and be quick to forgive when one crosses us. Let us manifest the mercy to another that God shows us! (see: Psalms 103:8,14)