Pastors Pen 1/20/2021
Grace….Do We Really Understand It?
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by Grace are ye saved through faith, not of works, lest anyone should boast. A traveler was lost in desert of Saudi Arabia. He began walking—Thirsty—Feeling faint/Reduced to crawling/On the verge of passing out when he spies a tent about 500 yards in front of him. Barely conscious, he reaches the tent & calls out, "Water..." A Bedouin appears and replies sympathetically, "I am sorry, sir, but I have no water. However, would you like to have a tie?" With this, he brandished a collection of exquisite silken neckwear. "You fool," gasped the man. "I’m dying! I need water!" "Well, sir," replied the Bedouin, "If you really need water, there is a tent about 2 miles south of here where you can get some." The man summoned sufficient strength to drag himself to the other tent. With his last ounce of strength he tugged at the door of the tent and collapsed. Another Bedouin, dressed in a costly tuxedo, appears at the door & enquired, "May I help you sir?" "Water..." was the feeble reply. "I am very sorry sir, but you cannot come in here without a tie!" The lost stranger forfeited a great deal because he found fault with the bedouin’s offer. People forfeit a great deal when the find fault with God’s grace.
Craig Barnes, a pastor in Washington, DC tells this story: When I was a child, my minister father brought home a 12-year-old boy named Roger, whose parents had died from a drug overdose. There was no one to care for Roger, so my folks decided they’d just raise him as if he were one of their own sons. At first it was quite difficult for Roger to adjust to his new home—an environment free of heroine-addicted adults! Every day, several times a day, I heard my parents saying to Roger: "No, no. That’s not how we behave in this family." "No, no. You don’t have to scream or fight or hurt other people to get what you want." "No, no, Roger, we expect you to show respect in this family." And in time Roger began to change. Now, did Roger have to make all those changes in order to become a part of the family? No. He was made a part of the family simply by the grace of my father. But did he then have to do a lot of hard work because he was in the family? You bet he did. It was tough for him to change, and he had to work at it. But he was motivated by gratitude for the incredible love he had received. Do you have a lot of hard work to do now that the Spirit has adopted you into God’s family? Certainly. But not in order to become a son or a daughter of the heavenly Father. No, you make those changes because you are a son or daughter. And every time you start to revert back to the old addictions to sin, the Holy Spirit will say to you, "No, no. That’s not how we act in this family."
Charlie “Tremendous” Jones has come up with a way to tell his entire life history in 15 seconds or less. He says, “I am not what I used to be, I am not what I shall be, but, by the Grace of God and through the Blood of the Lamb, I shall become what I am supposed to be.”
We have no part in the process of salvation except to receive it. Jesus has paid it all and all to Him we owe.
Pastors Pen 1/13/2021
Breaking or Making the Home.
I heard about this husband who died and went to heaven. St. Peter (the Bible doesn't say St. Peter is at the gate, we just say that) was at the gate. He said to him, "I'll let you in if you can spell the password." The husband asked, "What is it?" St. Peter said, "Well, the password is love." The husband said, "I can do that -- l o v e." St. Peter said, "Come on in." In a little while the phone rang and St. Peter picked it up and said, "Excuse me but the Lord needs to see me up at the throne. Would you tend to the gate while I'm gone?" In a little while there came a knock at the gate. The husband went to the gate and there was his wife. He said, "My goodness, what are you doing here?" She said, "Oh, I just couldn't live without you." He said, "Before I can let you in heaven you have to spell the password." She said, "What is it?" He said, "Czechoslovakia."
It appears to me that unless God sends revival in this country that family life is going to absolutely collapse in America. About 40% of all the children of America live in single parent homes.
We have all kinds of problems. The last I read over 6 million couples are living together without benefit of marriage. It's become so common place. Just because somebody doesn't like it doesn't mean we just close the Bible and do it any old way.
Part of the problem in this country today is if somebody objects we just back out like a bunch of cowards. What our generation and our culture needs to hear people who believe God's truth and who believe in God's moral absolutes and who believe in Bible-generated values to take a stand and show people that there's a better way than the life they are living right now. There's a better way!
In Colossians 3:18 and 19 Paul talks about "wives and husbands." That's the fundamental relationship. These are the key. The man and the woman, the husband and the wife are either home breakers or home makers."Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them." That is, don't be harsh and cross with them. Love your wives. It is interesting to me that the Bible puts the primary responsibility for love in the relationship on the husband, not on the wife. That doesn't mean the wife isn't to love the husband. She is. The Bible teaches that also, but it says specifically here for husbands to love your own wives. That’s because God knew men would have to work at this. That they would have to work on thinking of someone other than themselves and their work. Women will love their husbands, that just the way they are. But they still need to work on things like respect. Couples are you working on your marriage or are you working out of your marriage?
Are you breaking or making the home? Men are you loving your wife? Women are you respecting your husband? The key relationship in the Bible is the husband and the wife. You read it over and over. As a matter of act the church is described as the bride of Christ. Marriage, the husband and the wife are very important to how God is going to work in our world.
The Pastors Pen 1/6/21
Big Lies, Little Lies, Good Lies and Bad Lies "Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Did you ever lie to anybody? Did you ever say anything that's not true? I guess this is one of the sins that people are born with that comes out so soon. Children are really good at telling little lies. You heard about the little boy. It was about supper time. He came running into the kitchen. "Mama, mama, there's a big bear out in the front yard." It scared her to death. She ran out to the front yard and there was the neighbors big black shepherd dog. She said, "Now, son, that's a lie. That wasn't a bear, it was the neighbors dog. You go upstairs to your room and stay there until you talk to Jesus. Ask Jesus to forgive you for telling a lie like that before you come down for supper." It wasn't long before the little boy came back down. Mama said, "Now, wait a minute, son, did you tell Jesus that you told that big lie?" He said, "Yes, Mama, I did." She said, "Well, what did Jesus say to you?" He said, "Jesus said that the first time he saw that dog He thought it was a big bear too."We learn early to stretch the truth. We learn early to tell things that aren't so. Kids tell lots of little lies. Mom asks, “Did you eat your brothers ice cream?“ and the little kid with ice cream all over his face says, “No, mommy It wasn’t me. Rover jumped up and ate it.” That’s a little lie. Not only are there big lies and little lies but you know that there are good lies and there are bad lies. A good lie is when you ask your spouse “am I looking fat?“ And they say “absolutely not, Honey!“ That’s a good lie isn’t it? When a stranger breaks into your house and they ask you if anyone else is in the house….what are you going to say? That’s a good lie. In the book of Joshua, Rahab the harlot told a good lie to hide the Hebrews spies at Jericho. There are some good lies. But, what a tragic thing it is in a family, in a marriage, when people begin to lie in order to hide things from one another, to deceive one another. The devil is called a “deceiver.“ And when partners and couples get suspicious of each other, how it destroys trust, how it destroys the warmth of the relationship that ought to be there. That’s a bad lie. To tell a lie about someone that will hurt them, is also a bad lie. Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, the old man is dead at that point. We have put on the new man. We have become new creatures in Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:17. We have been “born again” John 3:3. We should act and behave like Jesus Christ. We should not deceive each other or lie to one another. Remember though, “if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1 Ask God to forgive you for big lies, little lies, and bad lies. Then act, speak and do what Christ would do.
Pastors Pen 12/30/20
The Uncertainty Of TomorrowJames says "you know not what shall be on the morrow." It is a serious mistake for a person to presume upon the future because we really don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. We have no promise of tomorrow. We do not know if there is going to be a tomorrow or not. Chances are, there will be. Chances are there will be a tomorrow, and yet the Bible says it is a very serious thing for us to presume on tomorrow.
Proverbs 27:1, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." The tombstone of a 15 year old boy had these words. "Remember, young men, as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, soon you shall be; therefore prepare to follow me." A number of years later someone had added these lines to it. "Young man, to this can't consent, until know which way you went."
Tomorrow. Someone once said "For we know not what the future hold, but we know who holds the future." Life is very, very uncertain. That is why it is a foolish thing, indeed, and a serious mistake, indeed, for people to make plans for the future and to look out there in the future when they are not ready to live today. They are not prepared for life today. You don't know what a day may bring forth the Bible says.
I think about the parable Jesus told about the uncertainty of life. He told about a rich man and his crops gave a bumper crop that year. He decided he was going to have to tear down all of his barns and build bigger barns. Then, Jesus said that the man said this, "I will say to my soul, Soul, thou has much good laid up for many years. Take thine ease, drink and be merry."
That man made several mistakes about life. One was that he mistook his bankbook for his Bible. He thought because he had an abundance of material things that he was prepared for the future. But he mistook his bankbook for his Bible. Another thing he did was he mistook his body for his soul. "I will say to my soul, eat, drink and be merry." Your soul does not eat. It is your body. But all a lot of people know about life is that they are bodies. So much food to eat, so much beverage to drink. They think all that is important is to clothe and feed a body. Yet the Bible says that there is a soul and Jesus said, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
He mistook his body for his soul. But even worse than that, he mistook time for eternity. God said to this man, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. He didn't have a tomorrow. He didn't have a whole day. That very night it was all over for him.
When we think about tomorrow and the fact that tomorrow is the closing day of the year 2020, and the first day of the year 2021 is Friday. You must be aware of the uncertainty of life. You just really don't know. Whatever you are going to do, you better do it today. Whatever decision you are going to make, you better make it today. If you are not ready to meet God tomorrow, you better get ready to meet God today.
Pastor Jack Ward is on facebook under the name “Jack Ward”, Spotify and iTunes under “Tomahawk Missionary Baptist.” Hear Pastor Jack each Sunday Morning at 10:30 Am on WSIP FM 98.9. Check out the website tomahawkmbc.com
Pastors Pen 12/16/2020
A Faithful Servant
Acts 6:5. "And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit."
Stephen was a man who was willing to serve the Lord in what some people might consider a little place. If you're too big for God to use you in a little place, then you are too little for God to use you in a big place. Some people won't serve the Lord unless they get a lot of press and be known for what they do for the Lord. The record is being written in heaven. You just be faithful to serve Jesus wherever He puts you. If your name never gets mentioned on this earth, you could be headlines up there in glory.
Stephen brought his great message to its climax in the Acts 7:51. Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did, so do ye. Have you been resisting the Lord? The Lord has spoken to your heart and touched your heart. But you said no. God has given you another opportunity today. Don't reject it.
At the First Baptist Church Dallas there was a man named George Truett who was pastor for 42 years. George Truett used to tell the story about a man who came to hear him preach. On an occasion Dr. Truett had the funeral of a relative of this man. This man asked if he could ride to the grave service with Dr. Truett. He began to talk to him and said, "Dr Truett, I've been coming to hear you preach a long time. Through the years as I listened to you preach, you used to get hold of my heart. You used to shake me by what you preached as you preached about Christ and Him dying on the cross and being saved. You used to stir my heart. Preacher, during the invitation time I would grab hold of the pew in front of me and I'd hold it so tight until my knuckles became white to keep myself from coming forward. But something interesting has happened. I can come hear you preach now and it doesn't bother me at all. I don't feel that same stirring in my heart I used to feel when I heard you preach."
If you ever, ever intend to know Christ as your savior, could I say to you - whatever you do, don't put off an opportunity to come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:3 says that he who had purged us from our sins by himself sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. That means the work is done. He sat down. It's all over. You don't have to work for your salvation. Jesus did it all. Acts 7:55 ….Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Stephen said, I see Jesus standing!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to so live that when you and I went through the gates of glory the lovely Lord Jesus Christ would stand and say, "Welcome to heaven, faithful servant! Welcome home, faithful minister."
An athlete throws the winning touchdown, runs the punt back for a touchdown, wins the game, comes off the field and the people stand to applaud and congratulate him. May you and I so live for the Lord Jesus Christ that all heaven will applaud, and Jesus stand.
Pastors Pen 12/9/2020
GIVING OUR BEST
Has it ever occurred to you that everything that Jesus ever did on this earth, He did for us! Think about it. He was born voluntarily for us. No one made him leave the ivory palaces to come into a world of woe. He did it voluntarily for us.
He lived virtuously for us. Jesus lived a perfect life that He might die a perfect death/ and thereby secure for us a perfect salvation. "He who knew no sin became sin for us/ that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (II Cor. 5:21)
He died vicariously for us. Jesus took on the cross what I would have taken for all eternity if I had not taken Jesus. Jesus died for my sin, so that I could die to my sin, rather than die in my sin.
He was raised victoriously for us. Jesus came out of death's dungeon/ holding the door in one hand and the key in the other, that He might take the sting out of my death, and the victory out of my grave, so that He might walk with me through the valley of the shadow of death.
One day He is going to return visibly for us. He will come to rapture the living saints, raise the dead saints, and reunite all saints for ever with Him. Think about it. He was born for us. He lived for us. He died for us. He was raised for us. He is coming again for us.
So I want to ask you this question….what are you doing for Him? What on earth are you doing for heaven's sake? Mark 14:8 tells us "She has done what she could…..
Do you know why Mary's deed was such a great deed? Mary not only did WHAT she could. /She did it WHEN she could.
I believe you ought to do WHAT you can, you ought to do the BEST you can, you ought to do ALL that you can. But you need to do it WHILE you can.
Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper; as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard, And she broke the flask and poured it on His head." Mary takes some tremendously costly perfume that she had probably saved years to purchase, and pours it over the head and the feet of Jesus. This perfume called “spikenard” literally means "genuine." Mark is letting us know that this was not something she got a good buy on at “Wal-Mart,‘ But this perfume was the real thing!
Mary gave her all and her very best to Jesus. What Mary did…. you can do. You may not be able to give as much as someone else can give. But you can give what you have, and you can give your best. Please understand that this is all God wants. God simply wants what you have, and the best that you have.
God doesn't grade us on the curve. God doesn't compare us with somebody else. Your best may not be as much as somebody else's best. Your best may not be as great as somebody else's best. But if you give your best to God, then your best, as far as God is concerned, will be just as great as someone else's best. Remember Jesus was more impressed with the widow's mite than He was with the Pharisee's gold.
The Pastors Pen 12/2/2020
Where To Find Wisdom
You remember the story I'm sure of Aladdin and his magic lamp. Aladdin would rub the lamp, a genie would appear, and he could ask for anything that he wanted and the genie would say, "Your wish is my command," and he would grant him whatever he wished. We all know that is just a fantasy, it is just a fable.
But what if it really happened? If you came upon a magic lamp such as that with a real genie, what would you wish for? I heard about three men who were on a boat that shipwrecked and they wound up on an island out in the middle of the ocean. No way to get help, no way to get home, and they were walking that island depressed and dejected and right in the middle of the sand they kicked up a magic lamp. They could not believe their fortune. They rubbed the lamp and a genie came out and looked at those men and said, "I will give each of you one wish." Well the first man said, "I wish I was in Hawaii on the beach with my wife." Poof! He was gone. The second man said, "I wish I was back in my office in New York City." Poof! He was gone. Well the genie looked at the third fellow and said, "What is your wish?" Well this man looked around so sadly and said, "It sure is lonely here all by myself, I wish my buddies were back here with me."
Almighty God, Omni-present, Omniscient, Omnipotent, once made Solomon an offer like that we just read. II Chron. 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee
What did Solomon ask for? Did he ask for popularity that he might be famous? Did he ask for possessions that he might be rich? Did he ask for power that he might be influential? Well amazingly enough, all he asked for was wisdom. 2 Chron 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? We know that Solomon went on to become the wisest man who ever lived.
What I should want more than anything else in this world is wisdom. If I am smart I will ask you to pray that I would have wisdom. And if you are smart, God’s wisdom is what you will want more than anything else in the world.
If you ask God for wisdom will He just zap you with wisdom like He did Solomon? How do we get this wisdom? Someone said that “wisdom is not given it is attained.“ John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. We find wisdom where we find God speaking….In the Bible.
James 1:5 If anyone lack wisdom, let Him ask of God that giveth all men liberally and upbraided not, and it shall be given him“ If you would be wise, read the Bible. I believe the Bible has all the answers to all of man’s questions, problems and hopes! Are you afraid? Are you uncertain? Are you defeated? Are you nervous? Are you angry? Are you frustrated with life? Read the Bible. Psalm 119:105 says Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
The Pastors Pen
11/25/2020
Are You Thankful?
Go through the book of Colossians sometimes. There is just four chapters. Find out how many times he talks about being thankful and thanksgiving. He mentions it back in verse 3 of chapter 1. "We give thanks to God the father." He mentions it again in the 2 chapter 7th verse. "Abounding therein with thanksgiving." He mentions it in chapter 3. In verse 15 he says, "And be ye thankful." Verse 17, "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks."
Are you a thankful Christian? Have you thanked God for anything lately? How would you feel if one of your children was always coming asking you for something but never thanking you for the things you did for them? One of the most important lessons parents can teach their children is to teach them to be thankful.
We need to learn to be thankful to the heavenly father. Paul says, "Giving thanks unto the father."
I heard about a little girl in Sunday School. They were studying Philippians 4:6 where it says, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Some paraphrase that, "Be thankful for everything, worry about nothing." She kind of got it mixed up. She said, "Be thankful for nothing and anxious about everything." Too many Christians live that way. They are anxious about everything and thank God for nothing.
We have so much to thank God for. God is so good. Have you thanked God for your life today? Have you thanked God for your health? Have you thanked God for your hands and fingers? Have you thanked God for your eyes? Have you thanked God for your hearing? Have you thanked God for your sense of taste? Have you thanked God for your family? Have you thanked God for your church? Be thankful!
I Peter 1:4 says, "God has begotten us to an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you." Have you thanked God that he has qualified for your home in glory?
Colossians 1:13, says "Who has delivered us from the power of darkness." That's something to thank God for. The word, delivered, is a precious word. It means He has rescued us. That's what God has done for us. God has rescued us. God has delivered us. God has saved us from the power of darkness. That's something to thank God for. Aren't you thankful you aren't going to hell?
There was a preacher who was preaching on hell one night and got to shouting. When it was over somebody said to him, "Man, you were preaching on hell, why were you shouting about preaching on hell?" He said, "I just got to thinking in the middle of my sermon that I wasn't going there."
Be thankful to God through Jesus Christ who has made all this possible for us. No matter how bad things are going for you right now we still have so much to thank Him for!!
Pastors Pen 11/18/2020
How To Get All God Has
There was a wealthy man who had an only son. He loved his son dearly. The wealthy man was interested in collecting expensive, beautiful paintings. He taught his son to love paintings, also. They just accumulated quite a treasure of these remarkable, expensive paintings.
A war broke out and the son was called away to war. The father received a message that the son was missing in action. Not long after that he received the word that his son had lost his life in the war. The father was just heartbroken. He had all of these art treasures, but none of them could compare to his only son.
One day a knock came at his door and a soldier stood there and said, "Sir, I was a good friend of your son. I want you to know that he died trying to save the lives of other people. Sir, I'm an artist, not real good, but I painted a picture of your son just before he died and I just wanted to bring you this portrait of your son." Well, the father was overjoyed to get this picture of his son. It was a remarkable likeness. It was done by a famous painter, but it was a remarkable job. The father took that painting of the son and put it over the mantel in his house along with the other paintings.
In time, the old man died. They gathered together for the sale of his paintings, as his will had instructed they should be sold. Many art collectors from many places came to bid on all of these paintings. As the auction opened up the auctioneer started off with the painting of his son. The art collectors said, "That's not worth anything. We are interested in all these other paintings." They said, "No, according to the stipulation of the father's will, this painting of the son has to be sold first. What am I bid for this painting? Am I bid $100?" No one said a word. They were wanting to get on to the more expensive paintings. Finally he said, "Will somebody bid $10?"
A fellow in the back said, "Okay, I'll bid $10 for the painting."
"Going once, going twice." It sold for $10. Folks said, "Good, Good, now we can get on to the main business of the expensive things. The auctioneer said, "The auction is over."They said, "What do you mean? You just sold one painting." He said, "The auction is over. It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever gets the son gets it all."
Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Whoever gets Jesus gets all God has. Have you received this Jesus? Wouldn't you like to? He's what you've been looking for.
Pastors Pen 11/11/2020
Help Wanted
Every church has three kinds of members. First of all, there are the leaders. There are those both on the church staff, and not a part of the church staff, who lead in the work to be done. That leadership begins with the pastor, and filters right on down through the staff and certain lay people. Then there are the laborers. These are the people who are led by the leaders to get the work of the church done. Now both the leaders and the laborers are equally important in the eyes of God, equally necessary to the work of the church, and hopefully, equally effective in what God has called them to do.
But there, unfortunately, is a third kind of church member. Quite frankly, this third group makes up the vast majority of church members. These are the lookers. These are the church members who simply look at what everybody else is doing. Someone has observed that the church is full of willing people - some willing to work and others willing to let them.
The cold hard fact is, sitting in the pews of our churches today are far too many shirkers and not enough workers. Jesus said that salt that has lost its savour is good for nothing. That is exactly what is wrong with most Baptists, they are good for nothing. They are good, they just do nothing..
A little boy asked his mother one time, "Mother, how much will you pay me for being a good boy?" She said, "Why don't you be good for nothing like your Daddy?" Let me ask you this pointed question: "What on earth are you doing for heaven's sake?" I do not know of anything more discouraging, either to a pastor or to his people, to see pews filled with people who sit, and soak, but never serve. Moses faced exactly that kind of a situation.
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law couldn't believe what he was seeing. So he admonishes Moses in Exodus 18:14-17 "So when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, 'What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?' And Moses said to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statues of God and His laws.' So Moses' father-in-law said to him, 'The thing that you do is not good.'" Moses was burdened with activity. Activity doesn’t mean we are accomplishing anything. It’s like running in place. It doesn’t get you anywhere. Moses’ problem was he thought that no one could do the job like he could.
But let’s face it, though some of us in the church may be burdened like Moses, but we are certainly are willing to let someone else step up and help us with the burden of serving our church. Notice the word “burden.” Serving Christ becomes a burden when we try to do to much. Jesus said “my burden is easy and my yoke is light.” If you are burdened by your work in the church, then it’s time to stop doing so much. We might have to cut back on the things that are unnecessary, our better yet ask others to share in the work.
Moses didn’t have any problem finding helpers once he started looking. We may not have as much success as Moses did in finding help, but listen to some good advice…..if God doesn’t send someone to do it, and you already are doing too much….then He must not want it done yet. No matter how good it sounds, no matter how important it may seem to be….Leave it for someone else.
Pastors Pen 11/4/2020
If you are not sure if your are going to heaven or not, I'm asking you, "What are you going to do with Jesus?" Receive His forgiveness and trust Him as your Savior. Take time and think about that. What Shall I Do?
I want every one of you to think about this question. "Matthew 7:22 What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" If you are a Christian, I'm asking you that question. What are you going to do with Jesus? Are you going to serve him? Are you going to share him? Are you going to study him and be conformed to his image?
I read about a church pastor who told his prospective congregation before they called him as pastor. "I warn you now that if you call me as pastor we will not treat Sunday as a second Saturday. Sunday is not a 2nd Saturday! Sunday is the Lord's day all day! We use the Lord's day to prepare for the next six days. I believe that we should tithe our time as well as our resources! Let me also warn you now if you call me as your pastor I will REQUIRE Sunday Morning attendance and as your pastor I will EXPECT Sunday Evening and Wednesday Evening attendance!" The congregation was stunned! They had never had a pastor talk to them like that or challenge them that way before. They called him as their pastor. Their attendance soared at all services.
A church was located near a shopping center with big new Super Wal-mart. The new pastor noticed many church members passing by on their way to Wal-Mart during Wednesday and Sunday night during services. So he had a sign put up on the road next to the church... it said "IT IS A VIOLATION OF HEBREWS 10:25 TO PASS BY HERE WHILE SERVICES ARE GOING ON "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is." One member said "Pastor I hate that sign you have up. You know what I am going to do about it Pastor," The Pastor said "No, what are you going to do about it?" the member said "I'm going to drive by the church every Sunday and Wednesday night just for spite." The pastor asked, "who are you spiteful of? Me or the Lord?" The member said "You for putting that message right out there on the road just to make us feel guilty." The pastor replied, "Why are you mad at me, I am only quoting a passage right there in the Bible." The member said, "that's just it, as long as its in the Bible no one would ever have read it or paid any attention to it!" That churches Sunday night and Wednesday night attendance was substantially increased after the sign went up.
I know we get bogged down with life. Is that an excuse? I know that Covid fear has caused some of our churches to stop having services. Is that really what the Lord wants us to do? A virus that 99.4 percent will recover from? Are we who have eternal life worried about a virus that probably won’t kill us and that 80 % won’t even have any serious symptoms? And so what if we die? Don’t we believe in heaven and being with Jesus which is far better?
Sometimes we just need to be challenged to be better as churches. To be reminded of why we are here. We are here to serve the Lord Jesus, to please Him and to know Him more completely. We need to be reminded of why your church is here. Your church is here to teach and instruct in the word of God and to fellowship and serve others and tell others about our Lord. And as a part of your church you should be there at every service.
Pastors Pen 10/28/2020
Jesus is the One and Only
Colossians 1:15-20 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians sets forth the fullness of Jesus Christ and our completeness in Him. There is a book out entitled, One Jesus, Many Christ’s. I have thought that this book's title pretty well reflects the religious atmosphere in America. People are saying today that Jesus Christ is just one among many. There is no uniqueness, there is nothing out-of-the-ordinary about Jesus Christ. He is just one Jesus, but there are many Christ’s.There are many today who say that it really doesn't matter what kind of religion you have if that religion works for you. If it is true for you, then it is true. There are those today who say, "Well, you're a Christian. That's great. Jesus is a Messiah. I believe Ronald McDonald is a messiah so my truth is equally as valid and as real as your truth."It is the thesis of Colossians that Jesus Christ is not just prominent, He is pre-eminent. Jesus Christ is not just A way, He is THE way. Jesus Christ is not just A truth, He is THE truth. Jesus Christ is not just a life, He is THE life. Jesus Christ is not just one among many, Jesus is the ONE AND ONLY.
Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe. What you believe about your origin will have a great deal to do with what you believe about your destiny. Jesus Christ is the One and Only, above the Creation. Focus on two words in verse 15 -- image and firstborn. "He is the image of the invisible God." That sets forth the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The image, the exact representation of God. Hebrews 1:3 puts it this way, "He is the express image of His person."
Jesus is the one and only over the church. He is the head of the church. he's the "firstborn from the dead." That means He is not only the head of the church, but He is the risen head of the church. This is what puts life in a church. Jesus Christ is alive and vibrant and active. Any church that preaches Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection is a church that will be alive.
Jesus is one and only ON the Cross. Having made peace by the blood of His cross." Notice it's HIS cross. Not Buddha's cross. Not Confucius' cross. Not Mohammed's cross. HIS cross. If you are a believer, you should never get tired of hearing about the cross. That cross has a wondrous attraction to me.
Pastors Pen 10/21/20
The Think Not Generation
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Why would Jesus tell us to watch and then we don’t watch? What part of “watch” means don’t “watch?” Did Jesus ever tell us there was a time not to be watching for Him?
Paul even told the first century Christians to watch for Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Comfort one another with these words”. What words? The rapture of the church mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. Then Paul assured those who read his first letter that were worried that they had missed the rapture. So he described what would happen after the rapture. What happens right after the catching up is described in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9. That the man of sin would be revealed after 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” Falling away means either the Abandonment of the faith or the Abandonment of the planet by believers. Many scholars more and more now think it means the rapture of the church. After the rapture the beast, the Anti-Christ, the man of sin is revealed. So to sum up what Paul is saying….if the man of sin is NOT on the scene you have not missed the rapture.
That leads us to the two super signs that Jesus coming very soon.
The first sign is that people will scoff at the second coming of Christ. The second coming of Christ is in two phases. First Christ comes FOR His church and then seven years later come WITH His Church. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Revelation 19:14-15; Jude 1:14.
2 Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
The second sign or the Billboard for the announcement of Christ’s soon return is that Israel will be in their land again! Matthew 24:32-34 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors (know for certain that He is near, right at the door). Verily I say unto you, This generation (this generation the people living when these signs and events begin] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
The fig tree Jesus refers to often is always Israel. Israel will live again in their own land in the latter days and God will take notice of those nations that come against Israel in that day. Zechariah 8:7-8, 12:1-9; Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 11:11-12, 35:1-2; Deuteronomy 30:3; Jeremiah 30:10-11.
A lot of people get confused about Matthew 24:34 and the term “this generation.” The Amplified Bible, which is the literal translation of the original Greek language, says that “this generation” means the people living when these signs and events mentioned in the previous verses of Matthew 24….begin.
Israel is in their land and people are scoffing at the return of Christ exactly as was prophesized. So obviously if they were told to be watching in the first century, how much should we be watching for Jesus today? Answer…always!
Pastors Pen 10/14/2020
The Uncommitted
A man once told his wife that he never wanted to live in a vegetative state dependant upon a machine. He said, “If I ever get in that shape, I want you to pull the plug.” She got up and unplugged the Wifi modem! (For those who don’t know that’s what gets you on the internet with your smart phone or tablet.)
Remember when many churches conducted Vacation Bible Schools? Many churches have people that were content just to sit in front of their TV each evening and let others do the work at VBS. They are the uncommitted! And there will be some of you who will be frustrated at the uncommitted in your church. By the way, the Chinese Communist Party Corona Virus is no excuse to be uncommitted! People are ready to hear about Jesus and His return now more than ever! Commit to telling someone about Him everyday!
Many people think that “involvement” is commitment. What is the difference between involvement and commitment? Perhaps I can best explain this by way of analogy with bacon and eggs. In bacon and eggs, the hen is involved but the pig is committed!
Involvement is coming a Sunday or two and standing around and watching others work. Let me tell you what commitment is in your church…commitment is when you see a need or a place in your church that needs help and you begin to meet that need! I believe that if the Lord Jesus Christ opens our eyes to a need and He is thereby is giving us that task. There should be no question or hesitation, but total commitment to the task that the Lord has laid upon your heart.
Do you think Paul was involved or committed? When you think about commitment to a task think about the Apostle Paul. Now there was one committed guy. “Paul, if you don’t quit preaching, we are gonna stone you!” “Well, that’s been done before!” Look, Paul, if you don’t quit preaching we are gonna throw you in jail!” “Hey, guys, could you send me back to Rome. They let me out of jail last time right before I could get the jailer saved! If you could just send me back there…” “Paul if you don’t quit preaching, we’re gonna kill you.!” “Could you please? I’ve been in this dilemma for a long time: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! If you could just bump me off!”
What do you do with an Apostle Paul? You can’t kill him! He’s already dead! Paul said in Galatians 2:20 “For I am crucified with Christ, 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.”
During the Second World War a company of American soldiers was marching through France when a little old lady approached them with a broom over her shoulder. She joined the soldiers and began to march with them. The soldiers smiled at the lady and told her to please step aside because she could not do anything with her broom. “Maybe not,” came their reply, “but I can let them know whose side I’m on!” She went from involvement to total commitment.
We may not have all the talent and ability in the world, But don’t let that stop you from being committed to serving Christ. Remember that boy that gave his small lunch to the Lord, he found out what a little could do in the hands of the master!
Pastors Pen 10/7/2020
Winning The Battle Of The Mind
Philippians. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - think on these things.
The key to controlling your mind is not in trying not to think bad thoughts, but in constantly thinking good thoughts.
May I tell you the greatest way to do that - saturate your mind with the Word of God. The psalmist said, "Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Ps. 119:11) The word "hidden" literally means "to store up" or "to load." I'm still trying, even after several years, to become computer literate. One thing I have learned about a computer is: it only has so much memory. After you have fully loaded the memory of a computer it cannot carry any more information. The psalmist says your mind is to be so loaded with the truth of the word of God, there is no room for the lies of the devil.
I read recently about a woman in St. Louis who invited a man to come and live in her home though she was not married to him. It really was more than an economical arrangement than anything else, but they were still unmarried and living together. After awhile her conscience began to bother her. She knew that she was doing wrong and she asked the man to leave, but he refused. He said, "You invited me in and I'm not leaving. My clothes are here, my belongings are here and I'm not leaving."
She said, "I am commanding you to leave." He laughed at her and said, "You can't make me leave, and you can't put me out." Well, then she began to plead with him, but he said, "I am not going." He continued to stay. She was so embarrassed, humiliated, and convicted that what she had done was wrong by inviting him to come and live in her house, but she didn't know what to do.
She finally went and talked with a lawyer. The lawyer sent her to the judge and the judge issued an injunction that said the man had no legal right and that he must move out. She went back with that legal injunction and showed it to him and said, "Now I'm asking you to get out." He began to cry and to howl and to complain. But she just stood her ground, her legal ground. After a lot of protest he left because he knew he had to go.
The devil is just like that. There are some who have given a place to the devil, and he has come in and gotten some stronghold their heart and in their mind and in their life, and they ask him to leave, but he won't leave. They command him to leave, but he won't leave. They beg him to leave, but he won't leave. I will tell you this - if they will go to heaven's court, and in the power of attorney command him to leave in the name of Jesus, he will not play mind games with them anymore. So remember we do have weapons. They're not carnal, but they are powerful and they can tear down any stronghold: they can cast down any argument; and they can bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. When you have victory in your mind you will have victory in your body and in your soul.
Pastors Pen 9/30/20
Finding Fault With God
Friday at quitting time, Jim said, ‘Boss, have you got any extra work I can do tonight?’ Sure do but I can’t pay you overtime.That’s okay, I just don’t want to go home. Why not? Well, I’ve been in the doghouse since last night. I see...Why? What did you do to deserve that? I still don’t know, it must be one of those woman things. I was minding my own business relaxing in front of the TV.My wife enters the room & asks, "What’s on the TV?" And honestly, I swear all I said was, "Dust!" She’s been mad ever since!
The wife found fault with her husband’s grace/truthfulness & forfeited her companionship.
We also forfeit a great deal when the find fault with God’s grace. The synagogue of Nazareth, the Jewish leaders, despised the grace offered them in Jesus. Religious people can find fault with God’s grace.
Luke 4:-24-29 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.' And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
The people who ought to have welcomed Jesus the Messiah, the people of the word of God, the synagogue, who ought to have known better, became angry with Jesus when He told them the truth about their sin and the truth about Himself. Jesus offered them grace, truth and fellowship and they rejected that message and the messiah they were looking for.
People who ought to know better are still doing this today. They have despised the grace of God, the truth of God and the free gift salvation and forgiveness of sin. And in so doing have cut themselves off from truth and fellowship with the living God.
They have found fault with Jesus because of His message. They reject the fact that man has a sin problem. They cannot accept the grace of God and the truth that we are all sinners and there is no way to God but through Christ.
So most people don‘t want to hear that message. They find fault with it. In their own minds they believe that they are good. So they reject the truth, because it doesn’t meet their expectations and in so doing they reject Jesus Christ and forfeit fellowship with Him. We all agree that the Jews finding fault with Jesus was tragic. But aren’t some of us still doing this today?
Pastors Pen 9/23/2020
The contentment of His Provision
Hebrews 13:5 Let your behavior, your conversation be without covetousness. And be content with such things as you have. Discontentment is a disease, and it takes away your joy and it takes away your peace. And what is contentment? Contentment is not getting what you want, but it is wanting what you already have. Contentment will make a poor man rich. And discontentment makes a poor man poor. One poor man said to a rich man, "I'm richer than you are." He said, "Why's that?" He said, "Because I have everything I want, and you don't." No matter how much you have, if you're discontented, you're really poor.
I heard about two tears who met themselves along the river of life. Said one tear to the other tear, where did you come from? Oh this tear says, "I'm the tear of a girl who loved a man and lost him. And where do you come from?" She said, "I'm the tear who found him and married him." Many times, we think we want something, we need something we really don't. We get our luxuries and our necessities confused.
I Timothy 6:6 says "But godliness with contentment is great gain." You are so rich today, if you know the Lord and if you're content, that is great gain. He explains it, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. But having food and raiment let us therewith be content." If you've got clothes on your back, and something to eat, and you have Jesus Christ in your heart, you are blessed.
Material things can never bring contentment, and the reason they cannot bring contentment is that material things can never satisfy the deepest need of your heart. That's the reason the Bible says in Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 and verse 10, "He that loveth silver shall never be satisfied with silver." Either you can't get enough of it, or when you get it, you find out it doesn't meet your need.
A little boy who loved pancakes so much. One day his mother thought she would satisfy him, so she put him down to the table, and decided she would cook all the pancakes he wanted. She served him pancakes, and he ate the first ones and he ate the others and then some more, and then some more, and then some more, and she just kept cooking them and he kept eating them. Finally she asked him, "Johnny, do you want another pancake?" He said, "No mam." He said, "I don't even want the ones I've already had." Have you ever felt that way?
That's the way it is with silver. When you get it all, it doesn't satisfy, and if you don't get it all, you want more. This round world, will never fit in your three-cornered heart. I cannot satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. Why is this? Why can't material things bring contentment? Jesus explained it in Luke Chapter 12 and verse 15, He said, "Take heed and be ware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses." How true that is. Your deepest needs will never be met by material things but only by Jesus Christ.
The Pastors Pen 9/16/20
Disappointments Transformed
The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith.
One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me." Now, at last, his prayer would be answered. When the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down. He did not meet their qualifications. He failed the test. Oswald Smith had set his direction, but now life gave him a detour. What would he do? As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted another idea in his heart. If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church which could send out missionaries. And that is what he did. Oswald Smith pastored The People's Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time.
Oswald Smith brought God into the situation, and God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service.
The disciples expected Jesus to be the King of Israel and in that they were sorely disappointed. But what they could not see brought them so much more; he turned out to be the savior of the world and they became the ambassadors of the Great King!
The key in finding God’s will for you life is not in finding the plan, but knowing the one who has the plan!
There was a rich man who came to Jesus seeking to follow God and find the way to eternal life. Jesus told the young man to follow God’s laws, which, by the way no man can do. Jesus did this to show the man that we cannot save ourselves. Then Jesus made this remarkable statement in Matthew 19: 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
The Bible says the young man went away disappointed. This wasn’t what he wanted to hear. The Lord simply was saying to the young man that in order to follow God’s plan for his life he had to forsake his dreams, his desires and his wants, and ….just follow me!
You see, God’s will for your life is not a roadmap to be discovered but a person to know and a person to follow…..and this person is Jesus Christ! I pray that in this new year that you will forsake your dreams, your desires, your wants and simply follow Jesus. Read the Bible every morning, make time for prayer each morning. Attend a Bible teaching and preaching church faithfully and join with them as they share His word with others. Your disappointments will be transformed into glorious delight!
Pastors Pen 9/9/2020
When Jesus Comes To Town
One day a young father was shopping in a crowded super-market. His three-year old son was with him. The little boy was riding in the grocery cart... and he was misbehaving terribly and causing all kinds of problems.
Every time the father would put something into the cart, the little boy would grab it and throw it back out. If the cart went close to the shelves, the three-year old boy would just rake stuff off onto the floor. At one point, the little boy crawled out of the cart and ran down the aisle (knocking over every display he could get his hands on) with his father in hot pursuit.
People who were in the store at the time could hear the father saying out loud over and over, "Just be patient, Tommy. It won't be much longer Tommy. it'll be O.K., Tommy. Be calm, Tommy. Hang in there, Tommy." Finally, a distinguished looking woman came up to the man and she said: "I just want to compliment you. I've been watching you and I want you to know that I admire you and the remarkable patience you have with little Tommy."
"O, but Lady," the man said. "You don't understand..his name is Michael….My name is Tommy!”
Luke 8:27-29 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. …..For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness. Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Christ walks into the tormented life of the Gaderene demoniac, this madman, whose life is coming apart at the seams and He turns it around for him. He gives him a new beginning, a new start, a new birth. At the beginning of the narrative, it sounds like a horror-story. This wild-eyed, adrenalin-filled, madman comes running and shrieking out of the tomb. He is so unbalanced! He is being held captive by a whole legion of demons, who are pulling and jerking him in every direction.
When Jesus comes into an area, he not only casts out demons, he changes the economy because he changes people, their goals and values. When Paul preached Christ's gospel in ancient Ephesus, the silversmiths and others, who made religious souvenirs and idols of the goddess, Diana, knew their economy was in trouble if Jesus' religion flourished.
John Newton, author of "Amazing Grace," finally stopped his slave trading when Jesus really got hold of his life. Charles Colson, Richard Nixon's hatchet man, was converted and devoted his life to prison reform.
In our liberal, educated culture, we have believed that evil could be eradicated by education. In our psychologically enlightened times we have preferred words like repression, impulses, sublimation, drives, complexes, phobias, regression, neuroses, psychoses, manic-depressive, schizophrenic and schizoid -- to name a few.
There is so much confusion in the world today…..but if we would but sit at the feet of Jesus and tell the troubled to do likewise….We would see our confused, conflicted, concerned lives calmed.
The Pastors Pen 9/2/2020
Real Religion
James 1:26-27 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Long ago there was a pastor visiting at a couple's new home out in the country, and because it was so far out, they asked him to spend the night. Well, he was awakened the next morning by the soft voice of a soprano singing, "Nearer, my God, to Thee." Well, he was impressed by the piety of this young wife, and how she began her day in such a religious fashion. When they sat down at the breakfast table, he told her how impressed he was by her religious piety, and how pleased he was that she would start her day off in such a spiritual fashion. She said, "Oh preacher, that's the hymn I boil the eggs by; three verses for soft, five verses for hard."
How do you know whether or not your religion is true or false, superficial or supernatural? Well, the test is the tongue. That's right.
More than your tithe or your testimony, your tongue tells the truth about your religion. You may think you are religious, but James says if you do not bridle your tongue, you deceive your own heart. Like a hot knife through soft butter, James cuts to the heart of the issue. The real test of your religion is not so much in saying the right things, but in not saying the wrong things.
The reason why the tongue is a thermometer that can measure the warmth of your religion, is because it is controlled by the thermostat of the heart. Jesus said, "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Mt. 12:34)
Or, like the old farmer once said, "What's down in the well comes up in the bucket." You see, in a strange way, the tongue always tells the truth even when it lies.
They had a work day at a certain church, and the preacher came to work with some of his men. With his hammer in hand he was going around making repairs, hammering here and nailing there. Well, he noticed after a while, that one of his men wasn't working; he was just following him around. The preacher finally said, "John, why are you following me?" He said, "Well preacher, I'm just listening to hear what you say when you hit your thumb."
A young father came home from work and found his wife crying uncontrollably. He said, "What's the matter?" She said, "I've had a terrible day. The baby cut his first tooth and took his first step..." The father said, "But honey, that's wonderful!" She said, "Yes, but then he fell down, cut his lip on his tooth, and said his first word."
Real religion "bridles the tongue." James compares the tongue to a wild horse. You see, your tongue is not like an old mule passively grazing out in the pasture. It's like a raging stallion pacing back and forth in the corral, looking for an opportunity to jump the fence! The tongue, uncontrolled by the speaker, signifies a heart uncontrolled by the Savior.