Greetings Friends of Faith,
The election of Scott Brown to fill the U. S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy is another evidence that truth is often stranger than fiction! At the very moment when the United States Government was poised to take over the American Healthcare System, a socialistic plan that would have increased our national debt by trillions (one trillion dollars = $1,000,000,000,000.00), and would have applied taxpayer dollars to fund abortion, one of the plan's most liberal proponents is stricken with brain cancer and dies.
Into the political fray enters Scott Brown, a strict constitutionalist, a fiscal conservative, who is strong on national defense (He believes that American tax dollars should be used to capture terrorists, not defend them), and opposed to the President's Healthcare plan. He was written off with little or no chance of success. But on Tuesday of this week he won with more than 50% of the vote, a margin of 5% over his opponent. This was nothing less than a Massachusetts miracle in a state that is noted for its liberal legislators. (i.e. Barney Frank, the overtly homosexual Massachusetts congressman).
Across the United States of America there is a rising tide of voters demanding that their representatives return to the principles of the Declaration of Independence, (That all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights...life, liberty, and the pursuit of holiness) and the U. S. Constitution. If pollsters are correct these voters will profoundly change the composition of Congress in November.
To the extent that our country is true to our national DNA (The genetic code found in the nucleus of every cell), as expressed in our founding documents, we will be strong and prosperous. Enacting laws and engaging in practices that are unconstitutional will prove a malignant force that robs us of our freedom and our secure future. Unless malignancies are quickly identified and removed, our very existence is threatened.
There is a lesson here for the Church as well. To the extent that our church is true to our spiritual DNA as expressed in the inspired, inerrant Word of God, we will be found faithful in the sight of God. False doctrine and disobedience are malignancies that will ultimately destroy us. We, who have been called by the Lord to proclaim holiness, must not dilute or deny the faith. This is not the time for compromise. This IS the time for truth.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
HEART HOLINESS
Dear Friends of the Cross,
In a shocking new survey, George Barna is reporting that less than 1% of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 23 have a Biblical worldview.(1) I’m hoping that something is really wrong with the methodology of his survey, but even if his margin of error is +/- 10% (an extremely unlikely possibility for such a reputable pollster), it is alarming evidence that the youngest adults in America are rejecting Biblical Christianity.
Furthermore, 61% of today’s young adults who were churched as teens are now disengaged from the Church (they do not actively attend Church, read the Bible, or pray). Only 20% of the twenty-somethings have maintained a level of spiritual activity that is consistent with their high school experiences.
We who contend for Scriptural holiness may be quick to criticize Churches that are failing to win their young people, but we too have witnessed our own “falling away.”
During the 19th Century, Methodist circuit-riders, Camp meeting Evangelists, and holiness writers were the predominant religious force in our nation. Today, many of our congregations iare struggling, several of our schools are finding it increasingly difficult to attract students, and the message of holiness has been relegated to a historical footnote.
Why? One thoughtful observer concludes:
We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.2
Michael Spencer’s diagnosis of our plight is right, but it is incomplete.
We believe with John Wesley that, “A man may be orthodox in every point, he may not only espouse right opinions, but zealously defend them…and yet it is possible that he may have no religion at all. He may be almost as orthodox as the devil, and may be a great stranger to the religion of the heart!” (52 Standard Sermons, Number 7:The Way to the Kingdom).
We need more than enlightened minds. Our greatest need is for the heart-purifying, life-changing, mighty baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16). We need flaming hearts.
The inspired Apostle Paul tells us, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [or self-discipline].” (2nd Timothy 1:7). Indeed it is this power, this love, and this self-discipline, that is our most pressing need.
Without a personal Pentecost and the frequent fresh outpourings of God’s Holy Spirit into our lives—our Christ will not be exalted, the cause of Holiness will not be advanced, and our Churches will never be that winsome force God intended for us to be.
We need apologists who will defend our faith against the onslaught of heresy
…but we need more.
We need leaders who will strategize and organize God’s people …but we need more.
We need pastors and teachers who will minister and teach …but we need more.
We need writers, composers, and musicians who will communicate the Gospel to the masses…but we need more.
We need workers and supporters who will man their posts and finance the work
…but we need more.
More than anything else, we need Christians who are so “filled with all the fullness of God,” (Ephesians 3:19) that the fruit of the Spirit, (“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” Galatians 5:22ff) is existent in their hearts and evident in their lives.
We need Christians who “are Christ’s.” We need Christians who “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” and who are “quickened by the Spirit,” (1st Peter 3:18) “filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18), “sanctified by the Spirit,” (1st Corinthians 6:11), “walk in the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:25), and are “led by the Spirit.” (Romans 8:14).
It is our conviction that Spirit-filled men of God are the only ones who will “earnestly contend for the faith” with the kind of power that can triumph over the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Enlightened minds and inflamed hearts will not dilute, nor deny the faith. They will deliver the faith!
We invite you, and all of like heart and mind, to join with us for next month’s St. Louis Holiness Convention. Our speakers are men of God. Our singers are anointed by God. Our services will be ordered by God. And it is our fervent prayer and anxious expectation that everyone attending will be blessed by God. Without Him we can do nothing. But “with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). This year our speakers and singers include:
WILLIAM CAWMAN (Emmanuel Church, Colorado) comes to us from New Jersey. Brother Cawman is a devout and thoughtful man of God.
BOB & ROWENA CLOUSE (Church of God Holiness, Missouri) pastor the Church of God Holiness in Mexico, Missouri. They are wonderful singers with a passion for the cause of Scriptural holiness.
BENJAMIN CRAWFORD (Bible Methodist, Alabama) is a young man with a passion for evangelism and the cause of Scriptural Holiness. He is currently a candidate for the Alabama legislature.
ANDREW DURST (Crusaders USA, Illinois) is Associate Pastor at Faith Crusaders, Urbana, IL, and the Field Director of GREAT COMMISSION CAMP. This year Pastor Durst will be leading teams in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.
DR. STEVE GIBSON (Midwest Pilgrim Holiness), Pastors Victory Chapel in Indianapolis. He is the author of five books including “The Essential Wesley, I Believe,” and “Practical Christianity,” and director of KEYSTONE URBAN INSTITUTE.
ERIC HIMELICK (International Conservative Holiness Association, Indiana) leads Victory Inner City Ministries. He is a church planter, a professor at Union Bible College, and author.
DR. MARSH W. JONES (Crusaders Church USA, Illinois) is serving his 3rd year as Bishop of the Crusaders, and Pastor of Faith Crusaders Church in Urbana, IL. He has written “The Pulpit, The Periodical, and The Pen: The Life of Joseph Benson.”
TOM KISER (New York Pilgrim Holiness) is launching a new ministry to the streets of New York City. “Goforthall.org” is reaching thousands through prayer stations and discipleship groups.
P L LIDDELL (Church of the Nazarene, Michigan) has been an evangelist for holiness over 50 years. He has composed and written a number of great Gospel songs including, “When I Said Yes To Jesus.”
KENNY THOMPSON (Church of God Holiness, Missouri) has been used of God around the world in the advancement of holiness missions. His zeal for God and his love for people have endeared him to thousands.
WALLACE THORNTON (Church of the Nazarene, Missouri), Pastors in Moberly, Missouri, and serves as an adjunct professor and scholar to a number of Bible Colleges. He is the author of “Radical Righteousness.”
Meals will be provided on a free-will offering basis. We will do what we can to help you secure lodging. If you’re looking for rooms on Priceline, select the St. Louis Airport and Westport areas as they are closest to the convention site. If you need transportation to and from the Lambert International Airport, we will meet you.
Invite your family and friends to join us next month, Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26, 2010. If you have need of more information you may call my cell phone (314) 607-1424, or e-mail PastorRick@FCCToday.org.
Onward!
1The survey defined having a Biblical worldview as holding the following six beliefs:
1) Believing that absolute moral truth exists.
2) Believing that the Bible is completely accurate in all the principles it teaches.
3) Believing that Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4) Believing that a person cannot earn their way into heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works.
5) Believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6) Believing that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.
2 Michael Spencer, “The Coming Evangelical Collapse,” in The Christian Science Monitor,
March 10, 2009
In a shocking new survey, George Barna is reporting that less than 1% of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 23 have a Biblical worldview.(1) I’m hoping that something is really wrong with the methodology of his survey, but even if his margin of error is +/- 10% (an extremely unlikely possibility for such a reputable pollster), it is alarming evidence that the youngest adults in America are rejecting Biblical Christianity.
Furthermore, 61% of today’s young adults who were churched as teens are now disengaged from the Church (they do not actively attend Church, read the Bible, or pray). Only 20% of the twenty-somethings have maintained a level of spiritual activity that is consistent with their high school experiences.
We who contend for Scriptural holiness may be quick to criticize Churches that are failing to win their young people, but we too have witnessed our own “falling away.”
During the 19th Century, Methodist circuit-riders, Camp meeting Evangelists, and holiness writers were the predominant religious force in our nation. Today, many of our congregations iare struggling, several of our schools are finding it increasingly difficult to attract students, and the message of holiness has been relegated to a historical footnote.
Why? One thoughtful observer concludes:
We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.2
Michael Spencer’s diagnosis of our plight is right, but it is incomplete.
We believe with John Wesley that, “A man may be orthodox in every point, he may not only espouse right opinions, but zealously defend them…and yet it is possible that he may have no religion at all. He may be almost as orthodox as the devil, and may be a great stranger to the religion of the heart!” (52 Standard Sermons, Number 7:The Way to the Kingdom).
We need more than enlightened minds. Our greatest need is for the heart-purifying, life-changing, mighty baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16). We need flaming hearts.
The inspired Apostle Paul tells us, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [or self-discipline].” (2nd Timothy 1:7). Indeed it is this power, this love, and this self-discipline, that is our most pressing need.
Without a personal Pentecost and the frequent fresh outpourings of God’s Holy Spirit into our lives—our Christ will not be exalted, the cause of Holiness will not be advanced, and our Churches will never be that winsome force God intended for us to be.
We need apologists who will defend our faith against the onslaught of heresy
…but we need more.
We need leaders who will strategize and organize God’s people …but we need more.
We need pastors and teachers who will minister and teach …but we need more.
We need writers, composers, and musicians who will communicate the Gospel to the masses…but we need more.
We need workers and supporters who will man their posts and finance the work
…but we need more.
More than anything else, we need Christians who are so “filled with all the fullness of God,” (Ephesians 3:19) that the fruit of the Spirit, (“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” Galatians 5:22ff) is existent in their hearts and evident in their lives.
We need Christians who “are Christ’s.” We need Christians who “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” and who are “quickened by the Spirit,” (1st Peter 3:18) “filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18), “sanctified by the Spirit,” (1st Corinthians 6:11), “walk in the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:25), and are “led by the Spirit.” (Romans 8:14).
It is our conviction that Spirit-filled men of God are the only ones who will “earnestly contend for the faith” with the kind of power that can triumph over the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Enlightened minds and inflamed hearts will not dilute, nor deny the faith. They will deliver the faith!
We invite you, and all of like heart and mind, to join with us for next month’s St. Louis Holiness Convention. Our speakers are men of God. Our singers are anointed by God. Our services will be ordered by God. And it is our fervent prayer and anxious expectation that everyone attending will be blessed by God. Without Him we can do nothing. But “with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). This year our speakers and singers include:
WILLIAM CAWMAN (Emmanuel Church, Colorado) comes to us from New Jersey. Brother Cawman is a devout and thoughtful man of God.
BOB & ROWENA CLOUSE (Church of God Holiness, Missouri) pastor the Church of God Holiness in Mexico, Missouri. They are wonderful singers with a passion for the cause of Scriptural holiness.
BENJAMIN CRAWFORD (Bible Methodist, Alabama) is a young man with a passion for evangelism and the cause of Scriptural Holiness. He is currently a candidate for the Alabama legislature.
ANDREW DURST (Crusaders USA, Illinois) is Associate Pastor at Faith Crusaders, Urbana, IL, and the Field Director of GREAT COMMISSION CAMP. This year Pastor Durst will be leading teams in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.
DR. STEVE GIBSON (Midwest Pilgrim Holiness), Pastors Victory Chapel in Indianapolis. He is the author of five books including “The Essential Wesley, I Believe,” and “Practical Christianity,” and director of KEYSTONE URBAN INSTITUTE.
ERIC HIMELICK (International Conservative Holiness Association, Indiana) leads Victory Inner City Ministries. He is a church planter, a professor at Union Bible College, and author.
DR. MARSH W. JONES (Crusaders Church USA, Illinois) is serving his 3rd year as Bishop of the Crusaders, and Pastor of Faith Crusaders Church in Urbana, IL. He has written “The Pulpit, The Periodical, and The Pen: The Life of Joseph Benson.”
TOM KISER (New York Pilgrim Holiness) is launching a new ministry to the streets of New York City. “Goforthall.org” is reaching thousands through prayer stations and discipleship groups.
P L LIDDELL (Church of the Nazarene, Michigan) has been an evangelist for holiness over 50 years. He has composed and written a number of great Gospel songs including, “When I Said Yes To Jesus.”
KENNY THOMPSON (Church of God Holiness, Missouri) has been used of God around the world in the advancement of holiness missions. His zeal for God and his love for people have endeared him to thousands.
WALLACE THORNTON (Church of the Nazarene, Missouri), Pastors in Moberly, Missouri, and serves as an adjunct professor and scholar to a number of Bible Colleges. He is the author of “Radical Righteousness.”
Meals will be provided on a free-will offering basis. We will do what we can to help you secure lodging. If you’re looking for rooms on Priceline, select the St. Louis Airport and Westport areas as they are closest to the convention site. If you need transportation to and from the Lambert International Airport, we will meet you.
Invite your family and friends to join us next month, Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26, 2010. If you have need of more information you may call my cell phone (314) 607-1424, or e-mail PastorRick@FCCToday.org.
Onward!
1The survey defined having a Biblical worldview as holding the following six beliefs:
1) Believing that absolute moral truth exists.
2) Believing that the Bible is completely accurate in all the principles it teaches.
3) Believing that Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4) Believing that a person cannot earn their way into heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works.
5) Believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6) Believing that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.
2 Michael Spencer, “The Coming Evangelical Collapse,” in The Christian Science Monitor,
March 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA?
We sing ‘Tis the Season to be jolly! Fa la la la la, la la la la!” (I think there are enough “la-la’s” in there.) But “jolly” does not really describe many of us today. I think we would identify more with the Christmas carol, “ye beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way, with painful steps and slow.”
It’s hard to be “jolly” as you watch your country being led by men and women who mock those of us who “cling to our Bibles” and who declare, “America is not a Christian nation.”
It’s hard to be “jolly” when the most defenseless among us, our unborn children, are at greater risk of being murdered in the womb, than they are outside. To add insult to injury, yesterday a majority of our United States Senators voted that healthcare reform would include government funding for abortion! Our tax dollars would be used to pay for the slaughter of the pre-born should this make it to the President’s desk.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when divorce is ripping our families apart and leaving millions of children confused and torn. Adding insult to injury, today’s parents are so self-centered their children are too often left to fend for themselves. We wonder why our schools are struggling to meet academic goals. We need look no farther than the disintegrating family unit.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when the vice is praised and virtue is mocked. Christianity is ridiculed in the public square while pornography is celebrated.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when government spending is growing at such an alarming rate. Today 20 cents of every federal dollar is spent on the military, while 54 cents is laid out for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Welfare programs. The other 26 cents goes for roads and other government projects and the interest on our debt. (Congressional Budget Office 2008). Right now the U. S. Government owes $12,000,000,000,000.00. That’s over $350,000 per American. At the current pace, our debt will equal the total value of all the goods and services our economy produces next year. That hasn’t happened since World War II.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when the Church, the one institution that God has ordained to be the conscience of the nation is for the most part AWOL (a military term meaning “Absent Without Leave.”). Our pulpits are silent on the great moral issues of our day. We refuse to confront sin, proclaim grace that delivers from sin, and promote holiness of heart and life. The fastest growing churches are those that have adopted sensual music and whose leaders embody the spirit of the age.
BUT WE WHO KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST NEED NOT DESPAIR! While we are deeply concerned about the direction of our nation, we have an unshakable confidence, an optimism that is grounded on the unchanging, eternal Word of the Living God— Christ shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though our nation rejects the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though churches neglect the Gospel of the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though sinners oppose the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the world denies the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the self-righteous crucify the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the carnal ignore our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though families renounce our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though schools disallow our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though professors and scientists repudiate our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though cynics and comics deride our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the enemy and all the powers of hell are bent on destroying our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
You know, the more I think about it, the more thrilled I get! Fa la la la la! La la la la! Hearing the bells of Christendom on Christmas day, Longfellow wrote:
Then peeled the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, goodwill to men.
And that we know is true, for He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
So look up this Christmas season. Whatever the burden you bear, whatever the concern you have, the virgin-born, crucified, buried for three days, risen from the grave, ascended into heaven, and coming-again King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall reign forever! And of His Kingdom there shall be no end.
If this Christ Jesus is not your Lord and Savior He wants to be. No matter how far you have strayed from His will, He loves you with an everlasting love. He longs to see you reconciled to God.
Repent of your sins—confess your sins and decide to do the will of God.
Believe—Trust only in Christ’s sacrifice for your salvation and believe Him. He told the truth, and He is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Love—Live life from this day forward loving God, loving His Word, loving His will, loving His church, and loving your neighbor as yourself.
It’s hard to be “jolly” as you watch your country being led by men and women who mock those of us who “cling to our Bibles” and who declare, “America is not a Christian nation.”
It’s hard to be “jolly” when the most defenseless among us, our unborn children, are at greater risk of being murdered in the womb, than they are outside. To add insult to injury, yesterday a majority of our United States Senators voted that healthcare reform would include government funding for abortion! Our tax dollars would be used to pay for the slaughter of the pre-born should this make it to the President’s desk.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when divorce is ripping our families apart and leaving millions of children confused and torn. Adding insult to injury, today’s parents are so self-centered their children are too often left to fend for themselves. We wonder why our schools are struggling to meet academic goals. We need look no farther than the disintegrating family unit.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when the vice is praised and virtue is mocked. Christianity is ridiculed in the public square while pornography is celebrated.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when government spending is growing at such an alarming rate. Today 20 cents of every federal dollar is spent on the military, while 54 cents is laid out for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Welfare programs. The other 26 cents goes for roads and other government projects and the interest on our debt. (Congressional Budget Office 2008). Right now the U. S. Government owes $12,000,000,000,000.00. That’s over $350,000 per American. At the current pace, our debt will equal the total value of all the goods and services our economy produces next year. That hasn’t happened since World War II.
It’s hard to be “jolly” when the Church, the one institution that God has ordained to be the conscience of the nation is for the most part AWOL (a military term meaning “Absent Without Leave.”). Our pulpits are silent on the great moral issues of our day. We refuse to confront sin, proclaim grace that delivers from sin, and promote holiness of heart and life. The fastest growing churches are those that have adopted sensual music and whose leaders embody the spirit of the age.
BUT WE WHO KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST NEED NOT DESPAIR! While we are deeply concerned about the direction of our nation, we have an unshakable confidence, an optimism that is grounded on the unchanging, eternal Word of the Living God— Christ shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though our nation rejects the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though churches neglect the Gospel of the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though sinners oppose the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the world denies the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the self-righteous crucify the Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the carnal ignore our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though families renounce our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though schools disallow our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though professors and scientists repudiate our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though cynics and comics deride our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
…Though the enemy and all the powers of hell are bent on destroying our Savior—He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
You know, the more I think about it, the more thrilled I get! Fa la la la la! La la la la! Hearing the bells of Christendom on Christmas day, Longfellow wrote:
Then peeled the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, goodwill to men.
And that we know is true, for He shall reign forever…and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
So look up this Christmas season. Whatever the burden you bear, whatever the concern you have, the virgin-born, crucified, buried for three days, risen from the grave, ascended into heaven, and coming-again King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall reign forever! And of His Kingdom there shall be no end.
If this Christ Jesus is not your Lord and Savior He wants to be. No matter how far you have strayed from His will, He loves you with an everlasting love. He longs to see you reconciled to God.
Repent of your sins—confess your sins and decide to do the will of God.
Believe—Trust only in Christ’s sacrifice for your salvation and believe Him. He told the truth, and He is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Love—Live life from this day forward loving God, loving His Word, loving His will, loving His church, and loving your neighbor as yourself.
Friday, November 6, 2009
ATTITUDE AND ALTITUDE
My flight instructor warned me, “Do not trust your feelings! Keep your eyes on the instrument panel.” I can’t tell you how difficult that was. For several minutes I flew at about a half mile above the ground with my hands gripping the controls. “Now prepare to land,” my instructor directed. It was my first attempt at landing.
I radioed my intention to the tower then gently turned the plane to align myself with the runway. I was now flying in the landing pattern and waiting for my turn to bring the plane down. “You must keep your eyes on those instrument gauges!” my instructor warned. My eyes quickly scanned the panel.
The altimeter indicated that I was flying at the right altitude, approximately 1,500 feet above the runway. The airspeed indicator showed that my speed was proper—not so fast that I would be unable to land, and not so slow that I would “land” (or perhaps I should say “crash”) before I reached the runway. The fuel gauge reported that I had a half a tank.
“Sport 1150 you’re cleared to land,” the air traffic controller’s voice crackled on the two-way radio. My hands were sweating. With my instructor beside me, we rolled into the final approach to the runway. I extended the flaps on the wings. The plane slowed, and began to drop toward the runway.
For a moment I turned my attention away from the gauges, to look out at the horizon. “Pull back on the stick!” my instructor raised his voice. “Keep your wings level!” He shouted. Watch those gauges. Suddenly an alarm sounded. “Rick!” My instructor’s voice was urgent. “Watch…”
But it was too late. The plane hit the ground moving at 100 miles an hour. My first landing ended in disaster. Fortunately, I was only flying a Flight Simulator—a plane built to teach new students how to fly before actually leaving the ground.
What had been my fatal mistake? I had failed to keep my eye on the gauge that showed my plane’s relationship to the horizon. This gauge indicates to the pilot if the wings are tilted or parallel to the ground. It also would also show if the plane was pointed to the surface of the earth or up towards the sky. Pilots know this gauge to be the ATTITUDE INDICATOR or artificial horizon indicator.
I’ve often thought how appropriately named that gauge really is. As we fly through life, it is vital that we pay attention to our ATTITUDE. If we fail to keep a right attitude, we too will crash.
THE BIBLE URGES GOD’S PEOPLE TO THINK AS CHRIST THOUGHT. “Let this mind [or attitude] be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5.) That means that we are to discern what is holy and sinful, and that we are to approach each situation with a Christ-like attitude.
Truth is, OUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES OUR ALTITUDE. If we have a Christ-like attitude we will have a heavenly altitude! No matter what our circumstance may be—for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health—we can triumph in every circumstance when our hearts and minds are directed towards heaven.
Fear is paralyzing. But faith—that unshakeable confidence in God and His goodness is empowering. I can’t think of any great accomplishment that was built on the foundation of fear. I can think of many temporal and spiritual victories that have been won because someone believed God. (Be faithful!)
Impossibility thinking is debilitating. But possibility thinking—directed and inspired by God—enables us “attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” (the words of William Carey, missionary to India). The enemy says, “It can’t be done!” But Jesus said, “with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (Be confident!)
Hopelessness drives us to despair. But the Christian’s hope—the assurance that one day our “faith shall be sight”—keeps us moving towards victory. Our brave American veterans who fought their way onto the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, pressed forward with the hope that they would win. And they did! (Be hopeful!)
In fact, if we had come to St. Louis with a hopeless attitude there would be no Faith Community today. But we believe God! And we know, that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. We know that “he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Philippians 3:20. I agree with the songwriter:
We’ve come this far by faith, Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His Holy Word, He’s never failed us yet.
Oh! We can’t turn back! We’ve come this far by faith!
The Scriptures urge us to:
“Rejoice evermore!” 1st Thessalonians 5:16 (Be joyful!)
“In everything give thanks!” 1st Thessalonians 5:18 (Be grateful!)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (Be encouraged!)
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32. (Be compassionate!)
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1st John 4:7. (Be loving!)
“Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” 1st Thessalonians 5:14.
(Be patient)
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1st Timothy 6:6. (Be satisfied!)
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” Philippians 4:6. (Be exultant!)
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (Be intentionally upward in your thinking!)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7. (Be peaceful!)
SO BEFORE YOUR PLANE HITS THE GROUND, CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE! And let the mind of Christ be in you! Ultimately it is a matter of our will agreeing with God’s will. When we give up on seeing things our way, and begin seeing things God’s way, it is then that our hearts and minds and lives will soar into the “good, acceptable, and perfect will of God!” Romans 12:2.
I radioed my intention to the tower then gently turned the plane to align myself with the runway. I was now flying in the landing pattern and waiting for my turn to bring the plane down. “You must keep your eyes on those instrument gauges!” my instructor warned. My eyes quickly scanned the panel.
The altimeter indicated that I was flying at the right altitude, approximately 1,500 feet above the runway. The airspeed indicator showed that my speed was proper—not so fast that I would be unable to land, and not so slow that I would “land” (or perhaps I should say “crash”) before I reached the runway. The fuel gauge reported that I had a half a tank.
“Sport 1150 you’re cleared to land,” the air traffic controller’s voice crackled on the two-way radio. My hands were sweating. With my instructor beside me, we rolled into the final approach to the runway. I extended the flaps on the wings. The plane slowed, and began to drop toward the runway.
For a moment I turned my attention away from the gauges, to look out at the horizon. “Pull back on the stick!” my instructor raised his voice. “Keep your wings level!” He shouted. Watch those gauges. Suddenly an alarm sounded. “Rick!” My instructor’s voice was urgent. “Watch…”
But it was too late. The plane hit the ground moving at 100 miles an hour. My first landing ended in disaster. Fortunately, I was only flying a Flight Simulator—a plane built to teach new students how to fly before actually leaving the ground.
What had been my fatal mistake? I had failed to keep my eye on the gauge that showed my plane’s relationship to the horizon. This gauge indicates to the pilot if the wings are tilted or parallel to the ground. It also would also show if the plane was pointed to the surface of the earth or up towards the sky. Pilots know this gauge to be the ATTITUDE INDICATOR or artificial horizon indicator.
I’ve often thought how appropriately named that gauge really is. As we fly through life, it is vital that we pay attention to our ATTITUDE. If we fail to keep a right attitude, we too will crash.
THE BIBLE URGES GOD’S PEOPLE TO THINK AS CHRIST THOUGHT. “Let this mind [or attitude] be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5.) That means that we are to discern what is holy and sinful, and that we are to approach each situation with a Christ-like attitude.
Truth is, OUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES OUR ALTITUDE. If we have a Christ-like attitude we will have a heavenly altitude! No matter what our circumstance may be—for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health—we can triumph in every circumstance when our hearts and minds are directed towards heaven.
Fear is paralyzing. But faith—that unshakeable confidence in God and His goodness is empowering. I can’t think of any great accomplishment that was built on the foundation of fear. I can think of many temporal and spiritual victories that have been won because someone believed God. (Be faithful!)
Impossibility thinking is debilitating. But possibility thinking—directed and inspired by God—enables us “attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” (the words of William Carey, missionary to India). The enemy says, “It can’t be done!” But Jesus said, “with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (Be confident!)
Hopelessness drives us to despair. But the Christian’s hope—the assurance that one day our “faith shall be sight”—keeps us moving towards victory. Our brave American veterans who fought their way onto the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, pressed forward with the hope that they would win. And they did! (Be hopeful!)
In fact, if we had come to St. Louis with a hopeless attitude there would be no Faith Community today. But we believe God! And we know, that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. We know that “he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Philippians 3:20. I agree with the songwriter:
We’ve come this far by faith, Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His Holy Word, He’s never failed us yet.
Oh! We can’t turn back! We’ve come this far by faith!
The Scriptures urge us to:
“Rejoice evermore!” 1st Thessalonians 5:16 (Be joyful!)
“In everything give thanks!” 1st Thessalonians 5:18 (Be grateful!)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (Be encouraged!)
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32. (Be compassionate!)
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1st John 4:7. (Be loving!)
“Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” 1st Thessalonians 5:14.
(Be patient)
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1st Timothy 6:6. (Be satisfied!)
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” Philippians 4:6. (Be exultant!)
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (Be intentionally upward in your thinking!)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7. (Be peaceful!)
SO BEFORE YOUR PLANE HITS THE GROUND, CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE! And let the mind of Christ be in you! Ultimately it is a matter of our will agreeing with God’s will. When we give up on seeing things our way, and begin seeing things God’s way, it is then that our hearts and minds and lives will soar into the “good, acceptable, and perfect will of God!” Romans 12:2.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
"EMERGENCE" AND "AMBIVALENCE"
When the serpent, “that old serpent called the devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:29), tempted Eve to take the forbidden fruit, his first tactic was to question God’s word. “Hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1).
The devil’s tactics have not changed throughout all human history. Still today his first attack is “Hath God said?” Is God’s Word true? It is not possible to overstate the importance and urgency of knowing and believing God’s Word
From the middle of the 18th to the early 20th century Bible Believing Christians were ridiculed by scholars and clerics who aggressively taught that the Bible was simply a man-made book. Unlike their skeptical predecessors these cynics doubted not only the accuracy of the texts, but the authority of those who authored the Bible. “Higher Criticism” as this approach to the Word of God was called, undermined the confidence of millions of professing Christians.
In the middle of the last century, Bible Believing Christians were ridiculed as unscientific and unreasonable. The creation account, Noah’s flood, and the miracles of Scripture were all discounted as moralistic fables. It is noteworthy that even in many of the Evangelical and Conservative Christian colleges and universities, the possibility that “God breathed into man the breath of life” is no longer considered factual.
And today, at the dawn of the 21st century, we are met with the spectacle of “The Emergent Church.” Their leaders have managed to fuse the dominant philosophy of our generation, “nothing is certain,” into a basic theological tenet. For them, “truth is not a destination, it is a journey.”
Their leaders write:
“We are half finished, half-baked, and not driven by the need to find final and definitive answers.” - Jason Clark
“Modern foundationalism, with its emphasis on the objectivity, universality, and absolute certainty of knowledge, is an impossible dream for finite human beings whose outlooks are always limited and shaped by the particular circumstances in which they emerge” - John Franke
“Moving from Absolute to Authentic” - The subtitle of the book Stories of Emergence
“The problem with the critics [conservative Evangelicals] here is that they think they have a superior, timeless gospel that floats above any culture…” - Brian McLaren
Of course we are humble enough to know that we do not possess all truth. We have never made such an outlandish claim. But we do believe that Jesus is “the truth.” (John 14:6).
We reject the notion that Truth is unknowable, for we know Him! He bears witness of the Truth. (John 18:37) Pilate, the same who ordered Christ’s execution, wondered aloud, “What is truth?” But those who crown Christ King know Truth.
While we acknowledge that the life of faith is a journey from the City of Man to the City of God, it is certain that no one will make it to heaven without Him who said, “I am the door!” (John 10:7). Only those who definitely and unreservedly commit to Christ will be saved. No one can be admitted into the City of God who fails to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the Way!
And we reject the idea that since we can never know all the Truth, we should not commit to the Truth that we do know! That would be like saying that since I do not understand calculus I will no longer believe the multiplication tables.
Truth perfectly corresponds with reality, but it is more. It is propositional, but it is also personal. “The Word was made flesh…and we beheld His glory…full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
And we believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is superior to any and all cultures—American, Roman, Greek, or any other culture on earth. Let God be true and every man a liar. We are Christians first. He is the Life! (John 14:6)
Ours is a generation that would rather discuss all the options than commit to a specific truth or person. We love to talk. We loathe commitment. But it is this unwillingness to commit that lies at the heart of all that troubles our soul—our churches, our politics and our culture.
Leaders would rather waffle than clearly state their positions. Men are afraid to commit to be loyal husbands. Women are hesitant to commit to be faithful wives. Young people are unwilling to commit to virtuous living. Pastors are afraid to say “Thus saith the Lord.” We’d all rather just go along and see what happens than commit ourselves to another person, to a particular choice or to an idea.
Many are hoping that what they lack in commitment they can make up in sincerity. They imagine that so long as they are sincere they will “live happily ever after.” How tragic. When the President Kennedy’s son JFK Jr. was flying his wife and sister in law to Martha’s Vineyard he sincerely thought he was heading for a safe landing but his inexperience cost him and his passengers their lives.
Actually, when we fail to commit or when we justify our lack of commitment we are in fact making a choice. We are choosing to believe that the cost of commitment is greater than the cost of failing to commit. But it is not. When it comes to the most important commitment a person makes—the choice to believe Christ—our eternal destiny is at stake.
Moses urged Israel to choose: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Joshua made his choice: “If it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15).
Elijah challenged Israel to choose: “Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye
between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. (1 Kings 18:21).
Jesus said, “6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)
The Apostle Paul knew that half-hearted commitment would not suffice at judgment. When King Agrippa testified, “Almost thou persuadest me…” the Apostle urged, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, (Acts 26:28,29).
If Paul had been an “Emergent Christian” he might have said, “Agrippa, I know you are on the journey so that’s fine. Just keep searching around.”
If Paul had been an “Emergent Christian” he would have written, “I am pretty sure whom I have believed, and I’m sort of persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’m considering committing unto Him against that day,” instead of “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12
If Paul had been an “Emergent Christian,” he would have concluded his ministry with, “I have struggled with what I should fight for, I think I’ve come quite aways down the track, and I have kept my heart and mind open,” rather than “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).
May God grant that we will not be changed by the wrong-headed, weak-willed, rebellious Spirit of this Age, but that by God’s Spirit we will change the spirit of our Age!
The devil’s tactics have not changed throughout all human history. Still today his first attack is “Hath God said?” Is God’s Word true? It is not possible to overstate the importance and urgency of knowing and believing God’s Word
From the middle of the 18th to the early 20th century Bible Believing Christians were ridiculed by scholars and clerics who aggressively taught that the Bible was simply a man-made book. Unlike their skeptical predecessors these cynics doubted not only the accuracy of the texts, but the authority of those who authored the Bible. “Higher Criticism” as this approach to the Word of God was called, undermined the confidence of millions of professing Christians.
In the middle of the last century, Bible Believing Christians were ridiculed as unscientific and unreasonable. The creation account, Noah’s flood, and the miracles of Scripture were all discounted as moralistic fables. It is noteworthy that even in many of the Evangelical and Conservative Christian colleges and universities, the possibility that “God breathed into man the breath of life” is no longer considered factual.
And today, at the dawn of the 21st century, we are met with the spectacle of “The Emergent Church.” Their leaders have managed to fuse the dominant philosophy of our generation, “nothing is certain,” into a basic theological tenet. For them, “truth is not a destination, it is a journey.”
Their leaders write:
“We are half finished, half-baked, and not driven by the need to find final and definitive answers.” - Jason Clark
“Modern foundationalism, with its emphasis on the objectivity, universality, and absolute certainty of knowledge, is an impossible dream for finite human beings whose outlooks are always limited and shaped by the particular circumstances in which they emerge” - John Franke
“Moving from Absolute to Authentic” - The subtitle of the book Stories of Emergence
“The problem with the critics [conservative Evangelicals] here is that they think they have a superior, timeless gospel that floats above any culture…” - Brian McLaren
Of course we are humble enough to know that we do not possess all truth. We have never made such an outlandish claim. But we do believe that Jesus is “the truth.” (John 14:6).
We reject the notion that Truth is unknowable, for we know Him! He bears witness of the Truth. (John 18:37) Pilate, the same who ordered Christ’s execution, wondered aloud, “What is truth?” But those who crown Christ King know Truth.
While we acknowledge that the life of faith is a journey from the City of Man to the City of God, it is certain that no one will make it to heaven without Him who said, “I am the door!” (John 10:7). Only those who definitely and unreservedly commit to Christ will be saved. No one can be admitted into the City of God who fails to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the Way!
And we reject the idea that since we can never know all the Truth, we should not commit to the Truth that we do know! That would be like saying that since I do not understand calculus I will no longer believe the multiplication tables.
Truth perfectly corresponds with reality, but it is more. It is propositional, but it is also personal. “The Word was made flesh…and we beheld His glory…full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
And we believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is superior to any and all cultures—American, Roman, Greek, or any other culture on earth. Let God be true and every man a liar. We are Christians first. He is the Life! (John 14:6)
Ours is a generation that would rather discuss all the options than commit to a specific truth or person. We love to talk. We loathe commitment. But it is this unwillingness to commit that lies at the heart of all that troubles our soul—our churches, our politics and our culture.
Leaders would rather waffle than clearly state their positions. Men are afraid to commit to be loyal husbands. Women are hesitant to commit to be faithful wives. Young people are unwilling to commit to virtuous living. Pastors are afraid to say “Thus saith the Lord.” We’d all rather just go along and see what happens than commit ourselves to another person, to a particular choice or to an idea.
Many are hoping that what they lack in commitment they can make up in sincerity. They imagine that so long as they are sincere they will “live happily ever after.” How tragic. When the President Kennedy’s son JFK Jr. was flying his wife and sister in law to Martha’s Vineyard he sincerely thought he was heading for a safe landing but his inexperience cost him and his passengers their lives.
Actually, when we fail to commit or when we justify our lack of commitment we are in fact making a choice. We are choosing to believe that the cost of commitment is greater than the cost of failing to commit. But it is not. When it comes to the most important commitment a person makes—the choice to believe Christ—our eternal destiny is at stake.
Moses urged Israel to choose: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Joshua made his choice: “If it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15).
Elijah challenged Israel to choose: “Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye
between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. (1 Kings 18:21).
Jesus said, “6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)
The Apostle Paul knew that half-hearted commitment would not suffice at judgment. When King Agrippa testified, “Almost thou persuadest me…” the Apostle urged, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, (Acts 26:28,29).
If Paul had been an “Emergent Christian” he might have said, “Agrippa, I know you are on the journey so that’s fine. Just keep searching around.”
If Paul had been an “Emergent Christian” he would have written, “I am pretty sure whom I have believed, and I’m sort of persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’m considering committing unto Him against that day,” instead of “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12
If Paul had been an “Emergent Christian,” he would have concluded his ministry with, “I have struggled with what I should fight for, I think I’ve come quite aways down the track, and I have kept my heart and mind open,” rather than “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).
May God grant that we will not be changed by the wrong-headed, weak-willed, rebellious Spirit of this Age, but that by God’s Spirit we will change the spirit of our Age!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A SPIRITUAL CHURCH
Have you noticed that those who are opposed to Christ and to virtue pursue their agenda with fearless and boundless resolve, while those who are committed to Christ and to virtue too often end up in cowardly compromise?
Our enemies are wrong, but we are weak. We are intimidated by their credentials, their wealth, and their influence in society. We fail to speak up for fear of sounding ignorant or old-fashioned. Our ambition to be successful and well thought of lures us to abandon principles and practices we once held with conviction. We compromise our principles, then justify our accommodation as "keeping up with the times," or "being relevant."
Why are we so weak?
A week ago I challenged our church to be a Soul-Winning church. (You may see our adaptation of J. B. Chapman's message "All Out for Souls!" at http://pastorrickjones.blogspot.com).
This week we urged the church to be a Spiritual Church. And here I believe is the crux of matter: Spirituality is essential to power. Until the Church experiences a revival of deep spirituality we will be powerless against the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Without the power of God’s Holy Spirit we cannot understand, or stand for, or live out the truth.
When I searched the internet for “Spiritual Church” I was chagrinned to discover that the majority of links were to groups that worshipped ancestors, demons, and spirits that are not of God. It made me wonder how many people today even understand what a Spiritual church really is. Here is what we mean:
A Spiritual Church is a Church that is filled with the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Holiness, is led by the Holy Spirit, and is obedient to the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord!
A Spiritual Church is a Church that worships in the Spirit, prays in the Spirit, is edified or “built up” by the Spirit, is unified in the Spirit, and loves one another in the Spirit. Amen!
A Spiritual Church is a Church that is purified by the Spirit, and is empowered by the Spirit to live out and proclaim the will of God. Hallelujah!
That’s the Church I want to be a part of. That’s the Church that God wants us to be. And that’s the Church that we will be, if we are willing to be! Spirituality is essential to power.
This kind of spirituality is well within our reach, IF only we will reach. Spirituality is proportional to sacrifice.
…If we will sacrifice ourselves to do the will of God, and only the will of God we will be spiritual.
The heart of the spiritual person is a million miles away from the legalist who obeys the letter but rejects the spirit of God’s law, and the liberal who disobeys the letter and dishonors the spirit of God's law. The spiritual man loves God and obeys the commandments of God outwardly and inwardly!
…If we will sacrifice our time to fervently and faithfully seek the face of God alone in prayer, we will be spiritual. How long has it been since you talked with the Lord? Have you made it a priority in your daily routine?
…If we will sacrificially give ourselves to loving God and our neighbors, we will be spiritual. Spiritual men go the extra mile. Spiritual men love the unlovable. Spiritual men never give up.
…If we will renounce the devil and all his works, along with the vain pomp and glory of this world, and the sinful desires of the flesh, we will be spiritual. Spiritual men do not try to see how worldly and disobedient they can be and still maintain their profession of faith. They despise the world, crucify the flesh, and hate the devil. “Whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.
It’s no wonder that we are so weak.
Oh that God would clear out of our hearts and lives any obstacle to the free flow of His Holy Spirit. And may God make us a Spiritual people who are channels of blessing to our judgment bound world.
Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner self may flow.
Channels only, blessèd Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
By Mary E. Maxwell
Our enemies are wrong, but we are weak. We are intimidated by their credentials, their wealth, and their influence in society. We fail to speak up for fear of sounding ignorant or old-fashioned. Our ambition to be successful and well thought of lures us to abandon principles and practices we once held with conviction. We compromise our principles, then justify our accommodation as "keeping up with the times," or "being relevant."
Why are we so weak?
A week ago I challenged our church to be a Soul-Winning church. (You may see our adaptation of J. B. Chapman's message "All Out for Souls!" at http://pastorrickjones.blogspot.com).
This week we urged the church to be a Spiritual Church. And here I believe is the crux of matter: Spirituality is essential to power. Until the Church experiences a revival of deep spirituality we will be powerless against the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Without the power of God’s Holy Spirit we cannot understand, or stand for, or live out the truth.
When I searched the internet for “Spiritual Church” I was chagrinned to discover that the majority of links were to groups that worshipped ancestors, demons, and spirits that are not of God. It made me wonder how many people today even understand what a Spiritual church really is. Here is what we mean:
A Spiritual Church is a Church that is filled with the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Holiness, is led by the Holy Spirit, and is obedient to the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord!
A Spiritual Church is a Church that worships in the Spirit, prays in the Spirit, is edified or “built up” by the Spirit, is unified in the Spirit, and loves one another in the Spirit. Amen!
A Spiritual Church is a Church that is purified by the Spirit, and is empowered by the Spirit to live out and proclaim the will of God. Hallelujah!
That’s the Church I want to be a part of. That’s the Church that God wants us to be. And that’s the Church that we will be, if we are willing to be! Spirituality is essential to power.
This kind of spirituality is well within our reach, IF only we will reach. Spirituality is proportional to sacrifice.
…If we will sacrifice ourselves to do the will of God, and only the will of God we will be spiritual.
The heart of the spiritual person is a million miles away from the legalist who obeys the letter but rejects the spirit of God’s law, and the liberal who disobeys the letter and dishonors the spirit of God's law. The spiritual man loves God and obeys the commandments of God outwardly and inwardly!
…If we will sacrifice our time to fervently and faithfully seek the face of God alone in prayer, we will be spiritual. How long has it been since you talked with the Lord? Have you made it a priority in your daily routine?
…If we will sacrificially give ourselves to loving God and our neighbors, we will be spiritual. Spiritual men go the extra mile. Spiritual men love the unlovable. Spiritual men never give up.
…If we will renounce the devil and all his works, along with the vain pomp and glory of this world, and the sinful desires of the flesh, we will be spiritual. Spiritual men do not try to see how worldly and disobedient they can be and still maintain their profession of faith. They despise the world, crucify the flesh, and hate the devil. “Whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.
It’s no wonder that we are so weak.
Oh that God would clear out of our hearts and lives any obstacle to the free flow of His Holy Spirit. And may God make us a Spiritual people who are channels of blessing to our judgment bound world.
Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner self may flow.
Channels only, blessèd Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
By Mary E. Maxwell
ALL OUT FOR SOULS!
J.B. Chapman (1884-1947) was a minister and general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. He was the Editor of the Herald of Holiness.
At the close of the Second World War his Church was facing a crisis. As the Church was turning 40 years of age, Chapman was deeply concerned for the direction of his Zion.
He stood to address a gathering of leaders, he spoke prophetically. It is a message we still need today! We have revised and extended his remarks with the prayer that our Church will take up the challenge and go "All Out for Souls!"
The fault is deeper and more fundamental-there is not enough heartbreak over the lost, not enough soul burden, not enough groaning and weeping and fasting and crying. Moreover, and as a consequence, there is not enough deep and genuine conviction for sin among the unsaved of our families and friends.
Hypocrites are too comfortable in our presence, and in our meetings. Bickering and backbiting go with too little condemnation.
Sour holiness, bitter devotion to persons and causes, lightness in the homes and in the churches, worldliness, love of ease and occupation with silly social conventionalities among the women, covetousness and love of money among the men, contentment with the mediocre, delight in nice clothes and comfortable homes, measuring men by the salaries they receive, and weighing people by the position they occupy-all these things get by with too little reproof because the light is not bright enough to discover their devilish origin.
Newton said he had observed that when men are getting religion they have a tendency to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are losing religion or are already backslidden, they have a tendency to be easy on themselves and hard on other people.
Nine-tenths of the bickering and faultfinding and suspicion and criticism among us would disappear if we were properly joined up in an all-out crusade for souls.
We are callous and indifferent when we are prayerless.
We are dictatorial when we are legalistic, rather than spiritual.
We are critical when we skewer the faults of others, to take attention away from our own inward sense of badness.
It is almost easier to reverse a man who is going in the wrong direction than to start one who has stopped. Stagnation is a more dangerous estate than faulty agitation. Brethren, we are not in so much danger of going the wrong way as we are in danger of not going at all!
We are not as menaced by too much enthusiasm, as we are paralyzed by an increasing stagnation. We are all too complacent. (Definition: –adjective 1. pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: i.e. The voters are too complacent to change the government.)
I. A RENEWED PEOPLE
I would be untrue both to you and to myself if I stood up here and said this is an easy task. But I would also be untrue if I stood here and said the task cannot be done.
If I said the days of revivals have passed, and that we are doing as well as could be expected, I would be saying what I do not believe, and what you know is not true. This work can be done.
It can be done. It can be done. My soul is so stirred that I feel like saying, It can be done. It can be done either with the present leadership or in spite of it.
It will take a changed leadership to bring it about, but that change can come in the present personnel as well as it could come by a change in personnel. Our church needs a new pastor.
May God grant this Pastor will become new men!
We need new people in our pews. May God grant us new ones, either by making us new or by replacing us with the type of men God designs us to be!
I am afraid of that kind of leadership that concerns itself principally with its own ease and safety. I am afraid of that cautious leadership that is so afraid it will make mistakes that it makes the greatest of all mistakes -not undertaking anything worthwhile. I do not come here today to criticize you or myself for the way we do things.
Rather I feel deeply criticized about the way we don't do things. And I know you know I appreciate all that all of you are doing and trying to do. But my soul is stirred because we have not seemed to do the one thing most needful-lead on in a soul-saving crusade.
We have run the machine; we have made some noise; we have reached some significant records, and built an impressive church, and run a large Sunday School.
But, brethren, these ought we to have done and not to have left the spiritual aggressiveness undone. We have done good things, but we have made a poor showing with the best things.
We have been occupied with the means, and have not in sufficient measure reached the end. We should have done what we have done without accounting it the purpose.
We should do these things again, and better, but should turn more definitely to the one thing that can keep us from becoming just another church. Just a people with a circle of influence, and a nest of static contentment!
I am thinking of the future-the near future-when I lift the battle cry once and again.
Nothing is more important than soul passion, soul burden, souls! Souls! Souls that are lost! Souls for whom Christ died!
Souls which are near and dear to us! Souls for whom we care and for whom we pray! Souls for whom no one cares and for whom no one prays! Souls! All out for souls!
Congregation! all out for souls! All out for souls in 2009! All out for souls! All out for souls!
II. A REKINDLED LOVE
I know you can operate the machinery of the church, and I want you to do these things. But I would not make these the standard by which to measure your fitness for your present task. I ask you, Do you love souls?
Do you find it possible to pray for souls with heartbreak and with tears? Do you make souls your aim?
I know we ask our evangelists to do these things. I know we want pastors to be like that. But I ask you, Are you like that?
How long since you have gone through the throes of birth pains for the deliverance of the ungodly?
And I must not excuse myself. I feel like I need to get down here at this altar and wrap my arms around it, and stay there until God breaks in on me in such a manner that this service will become an upper room from which streams of Pentecostal blessing may break forth to bring the dawn of a new crusade for souls throughout this land and around the world.
I feel that my own soul is lonesome for the company of those other souls which I am to have with me when I come at last to heaven's gate. And I expect the ticket I hold to read, not, "Admit one," but, "Admit two," or, "Admit ten," or, "Admit a hundred." And it will be embarrassing if the Chief Shepherd must ask, "Where are the other nine?" or, "Where are the other ninety and nine?"
III. A REVIVED CHURCH
Brethren, I was born in the fire, and I cannot endure the smoke. I am a child of the bright daylight, and mists and fogs and depressing gloom are not to my liking.
I want to go all out for souls. The revival I seek is not the product of the labors of some personality-plus evangelist. Such a revival is too detached and impersonal to meet my needs or to answer my prayers.
I want that kind of revival that comes in spite of the singing, the preaching, the testimonies, and the human attractions and detractions. I want that kind of revival because it takes that kind to really revive me.
I want a revival that, like a summer shower, will purify the atmosphere of our churches everywhere, and which will awaken the dormant forces of our people young and old.
I want something so general and so divine that it will be uncontrollable. I want something that will re-emphasize old-time moral and spiritual conditions.
Something that will reform and regenerate drunkards and save respectable worldlings.
Something that will bring in the youth and the little children.
Something so attractive that it will break over into the circles of the pleasure-loving.
Something that will set people on their back tracks to make restitution for wrongs committed.
Something that will bring God to bear upon our domestic problems to save our people from the twin evils of divorce and race suicide.
Something that will inject old-time honesty, veracity, purity, and other-world-mindedness into our preachers and people.
Something that will make this namby-pamby, soft-handed, compromising, cringing sort of holiness as obsolete as Phariseeism was on the Day of Pentecost.
Something that reveals a man's credentials by means of souls saved and sanctified and established in Christ Jesus.
And, brethren, I propose that we come down off our high horses, and that we get down before God in sackcloth and dust and ashes, and that we pray until we pray. That we then preach until we preach with unction, and that we win the victory for God and for souls. And then as Sunday School Workers and Deacons and a Congregation…we win the victory for God and for souls!
TRYING IS NOT ENOUGH!
In the heat of a battle in our American Civil War a Confederate general called a corps commander to him and said, "General, go out there and take that fortified hill."
The corps commander answered, "I'll try, sir." But the general answered, "I did not tell you to try. I told you to go and take it." The corps commander answered, "I'll do it or die, sir." Then the general said, "I did not say, Take it or die, I said, Take that hill." Then the corps commander turned his horse and started, saying back over his shoulder, "I'll take it, General." And he did take it.
Trying is not enough. Dying is not enough. We must take this fortified hill. We must take it, brethren, we must take it. Ml out for souls!
Brethren, all out for souls. All out for souls! This is the order of our great Commander in Chief speaking from Calvary, from Olivet, and from His throne now high and lifted up. Our answer is, "We will do it, blessed Lord; we will do it!"
At the close of the Second World War his Church was facing a crisis. As the Church was turning 40 years of age, Chapman was deeply concerned for the direction of his Zion.
He stood to address a gathering of leaders, he spoke prophetically. It is a message we still need today! We have revised and extended his remarks with the prayer that our Church will take up the challenge and go "All Out for Souls!"
The fault is deeper and more fundamental-there is not enough heartbreak over the lost, not enough soul burden, not enough groaning and weeping and fasting and crying. Moreover, and as a consequence, there is not enough deep and genuine conviction for sin among the unsaved of our families and friends.
Hypocrites are too comfortable in our presence, and in our meetings. Bickering and backbiting go with too little condemnation.
Sour holiness, bitter devotion to persons and causes, lightness in the homes and in the churches, worldliness, love of ease and occupation with silly social conventionalities among the women, covetousness and love of money among the men, contentment with the mediocre, delight in nice clothes and comfortable homes, measuring men by the salaries they receive, and weighing people by the position they occupy-all these things get by with too little reproof because the light is not bright enough to discover their devilish origin.
Newton said he had observed that when men are getting religion they have a tendency to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are losing religion or are already backslidden, they have a tendency to be easy on themselves and hard on other people.
Nine-tenths of the bickering and faultfinding and suspicion and criticism among us would disappear if we were properly joined up in an all-out crusade for souls.
We are callous and indifferent when we are prayerless.
We are dictatorial when we are legalistic, rather than spiritual.
We are critical when we skewer the faults of others, to take attention away from our own inward sense of badness.
It is almost easier to reverse a man who is going in the wrong direction than to start one who has stopped. Stagnation is a more dangerous estate than faulty agitation. Brethren, we are not in so much danger of going the wrong way as we are in danger of not going at all!
We are not as menaced by too much enthusiasm, as we are paralyzed by an increasing stagnation. We are all too complacent. (Definition: –adjective 1. pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: i.e. The voters are too complacent to change the government.)
I. A RENEWED PEOPLE
I would be untrue both to you and to myself if I stood up here and said this is an easy task. But I would also be untrue if I stood here and said the task cannot be done.
If I said the days of revivals have passed, and that we are doing as well as could be expected, I would be saying what I do not believe, and what you know is not true. This work can be done.
It can be done. It can be done. My soul is so stirred that I feel like saying, It can be done. It can be done either with the present leadership or in spite of it.
It will take a changed leadership to bring it about, but that change can come in the present personnel as well as it could come by a change in personnel. Our church needs a new pastor.
May God grant this Pastor will become new men!
We need new people in our pews. May God grant us new ones, either by making us new or by replacing us with the type of men God designs us to be!
I am afraid of that kind of leadership that concerns itself principally with its own ease and safety. I am afraid of that cautious leadership that is so afraid it will make mistakes that it makes the greatest of all mistakes -not undertaking anything worthwhile. I do not come here today to criticize you or myself for the way we do things.
Rather I feel deeply criticized about the way we don't do things. And I know you know I appreciate all that all of you are doing and trying to do. But my soul is stirred because we have not seemed to do the one thing most needful-lead on in a soul-saving crusade.
We have run the machine; we have made some noise; we have reached some significant records, and built an impressive church, and run a large Sunday School.
But, brethren, these ought we to have done and not to have left the spiritual aggressiveness undone. We have done good things, but we have made a poor showing with the best things.
We have been occupied with the means, and have not in sufficient measure reached the end. We should have done what we have done without accounting it the purpose.
We should do these things again, and better, but should turn more definitely to the one thing that can keep us from becoming just another church. Just a people with a circle of influence, and a nest of static contentment!
I am thinking of the future-the near future-when I lift the battle cry once and again.
Nothing is more important than soul passion, soul burden, souls! Souls! Souls that are lost! Souls for whom Christ died!
Souls which are near and dear to us! Souls for whom we care and for whom we pray! Souls for whom no one cares and for whom no one prays! Souls! All out for souls!
Congregation! all out for souls! All out for souls in 2009! All out for souls! All out for souls!
II. A REKINDLED LOVE
I know you can operate the machinery of the church, and I want you to do these things. But I would not make these the standard by which to measure your fitness for your present task. I ask you, Do you love souls?
Do you find it possible to pray for souls with heartbreak and with tears? Do you make souls your aim?
I know we ask our evangelists to do these things. I know we want pastors to be like that. But I ask you, Are you like that?
How long since you have gone through the throes of birth pains for the deliverance of the ungodly?
And I must not excuse myself. I feel like I need to get down here at this altar and wrap my arms around it, and stay there until God breaks in on me in such a manner that this service will become an upper room from which streams of Pentecostal blessing may break forth to bring the dawn of a new crusade for souls throughout this land and around the world.
I feel that my own soul is lonesome for the company of those other souls which I am to have with me when I come at last to heaven's gate. And I expect the ticket I hold to read, not, "Admit one," but, "Admit two," or, "Admit ten," or, "Admit a hundred." And it will be embarrassing if the Chief Shepherd must ask, "Where are the other nine?" or, "Where are the other ninety and nine?"
III. A REVIVED CHURCH
Brethren, I was born in the fire, and I cannot endure the smoke. I am a child of the bright daylight, and mists and fogs and depressing gloom are not to my liking.
I want to go all out for souls. The revival I seek is not the product of the labors of some personality-plus evangelist. Such a revival is too detached and impersonal to meet my needs or to answer my prayers.
I want that kind of revival that comes in spite of the singing, the preaching, the testimonies, and the human attractions and detractions. I want that kind of revival because it takes that kind to really revive me.
I want a revival that, like a summer shower, will purify the atmosphere of our churches everywhere, and which will awaken the dormant forces of our people young and old.
I want something so general and so divine that it will be uncontrollable. I want something that will re-emphasize old-time moral and spiritual conditions.
Something that will reform and regenerate drunkards and save respectable worldlings.
Something that will bring in the youth and the little children.
Something so attractive that it will break over into the circles of the pleasure-loving.
Something that will set people on their back tracks to make restitution for wrongs committed.
Something that will bring God to bear upon our domestic problems to save our people from the twin evils of divorce and race suicide.
Something that will inject old-time honesty, veracity, purity, and other-world-mindedness into our preachers and people.
Something that will make this namby-pamby, soft-handed, compromising, cringing sort of holiness as obsolete as Phariseeism was on the Day of Pentecost.
Something that reveals a man's credentials by means of souls saved and sanctified and established in Christ Jesus.
And, brethren, I propose that we come down off our high horses, and that we get down before God in sackcloth and dust and ashes, and that we pray until we pray. That we then preach until we preach with unction, and that we win the victory for God and for souls. And then as Sunday School Workers and Deacons and a Congregation…we win the victory for God and for souls!
TRYING IS NOT ENOUGH!
In the heat of a battle in our American Civil War a Confederate general called a corps commander to him and said, "General, go out there and take that fortified hill."
The corps commander answered, "I'll try, sir." But the general answered, "I did not tell you to try. I told you to go and take it." The corps commander answered, "I'll do it or die, sir." Then the general said, "I did not say, Take it or die, I said, Take that hill." Then the corps commander turned his horse and started, saying back over his shoulder, "I'll take it, General." And he did take it.
Trying is not enough. Dying is not enough. We must take this fortified hill. We must take it, brethren, we must take it. Ml out for souls!
Brethren, all out for souls. All out for souls! This is the order of our great Commander in Chief speaking from Calvary, from Olivet, and from His throne now high and lifted up. Our answer is, "We will do it, blessed Lord; we will do it!"
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