Things Christians know for sure.

As Christians, there are many things we do not know. We do not know when Jesus will come again. We do not know what is on the morrow. We just don’t know. But there are things that we do know and we know for sure.

The book of 1 John is filled with this word “Know”.  But John closes out his first epistle in chapter five and verses eighteen through twenty with three main things the Christian most assuredly knows.

Firstly, we see that the Christian knows that one who is born of God, does not sin. The idea behind the language here is not that the Christian could never sin but that he does not keep on sinning. Notice verse 18, it says that he keepeth himself. This is to guard. To hold on to. He guards himself from sin.

Second, John tells us that we know that we are from God. We have been created by Him, physically and spiritually. Ephesians 1 tells us we have been begotten by God through Christ. If our life is from God, at the end of time, God is going to recognize us and welcome us home.

Third, John tells us that the son of God has come. He came to give us life and that we might have it more abundantly (John 10:10), He came to be the propitiation of our sins, which by definition means to turn away the wrath that our sins have caused. (1 John 2:2) and He came to save the world. (John 3:17)

We may not know it all, but we know enough to give us faith and to keep us confident in our salvation as we walk in the light toward the goal. Let us hold fast to that confidence!

You can be that one!

A recent car ride with a friend brought these thoughts to mind. How far does your influence go? The answer is simple. We will never know this side of eternity.

I'm going to relay a story to you. Its about a man of faith and courage. That man was William Woodson.
At the age of 19, he was converted out of denominationalism by a man named Gus Nichols. Brother Nichols told the young Woodson "You are going to Freed Hardeman and you are going to be a gospel preacher". Well, brother Woodson did just that. He eventually returned to FHU to be the head of the Bible department. Later, Lipscomb hired Him to come and write an entire graduate program in Bible so they could become a University. Brother Woodson preached for 60 years. He had impacted so many men through his work in Preacher workshops and teaching in Bible colleges. and that impact is still felt in the lives of those men, myself included. And we are still passing his words down to the next generation of faithful men! Through the efforts of Gus Nichols, brother Woodson will have an influence and impact that is unfathomable in this side of eternity.

Now if you will, a personal story. My mentor, W Gaddys Roy. The impact this man had on my life is unexplainable. As a young boy, sitting at his feet during worship, sitting in his office as he explained how to preach, listening to him explain Bible topics as I followed along behind the trailer picking up limbs in his pecan orchard and being "baptized" in the same orchard as he showed me how to baptize someone in Christ. This man molded me into the preacher I am today. He started when I was 12 years old. At 18, because of his failing health I had the honor and privilege to serve beside him as assistant minister. 2 years later, at the age of 94, 6 weeks after preaching his last sermon, brother Roy went on to his reward with the Father, leaving me to continue on his work at the congregation where we served. The instruction this man provided me has been invaluable. His words keep coming back to me and will continue to do so as long as God gives me the strength to stand and proclaim His message.
The impact he will have because of the interest he showed in my will never be calculated this side of eternity.

But why do I share these things? Because you can be that person in someones life. You can be the one that makes a difference in their spiritual life. And one day they will look back and thank God upon every remembrance of you. Be that person. Be that example. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2- what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. That word "entrust" there literally means to "put it alongside for safe keeping". Has someone made a difference in your life? Don't let their influence and impact stop at you! Pass it on! Entrust it, commit it to someone else. Make a difference in the life of someone today.

Houston we have a problem...

The title of this post is very well known. Captain Jim Lovell of the Apollo 13 crew, calling in to Houston, when the motor had failed. We have a problem.

I have chosen this title for this post because, I am noticing a huge problem in Christianity today.
But, allow me to start like this...
Have you noticed whats going on in the food world today? The food industry has gotten into the "more, faster, is better" mentality that we have found ourselves in here in this country of late.
For example: Did you know that know the chicken in the grocery store that you buy off the shelf went from hatching to butchered in 49 days? That's right! 49 days! These birds are so genetically altered that they basically swell up like balloons! They grow so fast that their bones and organs cannot keep up. They are dying in droves in the chicken houses daily. They take four to five steps and have to stop for rest.

Another example: That 10 piece fast food chicken nugget you ordered, or that fast food burger, did you know that they are POURED into  a MOLD!!!! Yes! They are liquid!

Corn growers across America won't eat the products they grow because the products are not yet fit to eat! They leave the farm to be treated and processed into food!

In short, we are fed genetically modified meats grown on genetically modified grains that have no nutritional value whatsoever and our bodies are suffering for it.

But, you might say- "Hey, I thought this was a Bible blog!" It is. I tell you these things to bring about this point: We are doing the same thing spiritually in our congregations across the world! We are starving the people of the word of God!
The mentality now is "Pack them in the churches, feed them filler to make them feel good and give artificial growth" and it has left Christians floundering and dying with no exposure to the SON just as a chicken in a chicken house!

We are robbing the vital nutrients of the word of God. The nutrients that give us true growth. Peter says to desire the SINCERE, the PURE milk of the word that what, you may grow thereby! 1 Peter 2:2.
What do we do? Start realizing that we have forgotten the sufficiency of the scriptures in our lives. If we ever dare to think that the Bible is neutral in any aspect or area of our lives we are thinking like a humanist. But enough of what I say, what does God say? 1 Tim 2:15- Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What do we study? The word of truth! Why? To make us workman that needeth not to be ashamed! It tells us how to live! 2 Tim 3:16-17 tells us it is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be COMPLETE, PERFECTLY furnished unto EVERY good work. Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:4 that man shall not LIVE by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

How do we start producing healthy, happy Christians that are not floundering in their faith? We give them the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said he wasn't ashamed of the gospel and that he was ready to preach it. We are so worried that people will be offended by preaching and teaching on sin that we are willing to offend the gospel by watering it down.

Lets be real here. God creates us, in His image. He puts us on this earth and says live holy lives for I am holy. How do we know what to do? Does God expect us to guess? And if we guess wrong He punishes us for us? No, God is a just God. He wrote us a book! Detailing how we are to conduct ourselves! We must realize that it speaks to every aspect of our lives.

If all you had to interpret the things around you with was the Bible and not the worldviews around us, would your life be radically different? Your entertainment? Your worship? Your relationships? Your life? Try it. It hurts. Oh believe me it hurts! But the word of God is a two-edged sword! Its not a feather duster, its sharp, it cuts, it hurts! When seriously applied to our lives. Jesus tells us that we will receive persecution because of Him. Are we? If not, I will be so bold as to say that we are not living as Christians but as humanists.

God calls us to be different in this life. We must answer that call. Its time to stand up and say "Give me the Bible, that holy message shining!" It's time to let the ministers and elders of our congregations know that we want the word that is able to save our souls! We want it as it is and as it says. Because we are willing to do what we have to do to be Christians.

We have a problem. But God is on our side and we can overcome this famine in the land. God says "My people are destroyed by lack of knowledge!". It's time to bring that knowledge back into our lives.

We have a problem, but we can overcome it.

Good quote on modesty...

I ran across this post on modesty and thought I might share:
"You wonderful girls , dress modestly and keep yourselves physically clean. Be cheerful and happy . Be positive about life . Then the Holy Spirit will cause you to be more beautiful and attractive. And when a faithful priesthood bearer comes to carry you away on his white horse- -which might be an ' 84 Ford - -to the temple, you will be prepared in every way ."
F. Melvin Hammond

I Will Set No Wicked Thing...

It's amazing how often Christians can become so innoculated that we fail to realize just how much sin we condone in our lives and entertainment. I was just watching a movie that I absolutely loved, and was shocked at the amount of times a curse word was uttered or the Lord's name was used in vain! I have watched this movie over and over again and never realized it! The problem was I was hearing it, but just didn't care. And thats theproblem with so much of our lives today. we, as Christians, just don't care. If we are going to bring our thoughts under captivity to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), we have to understand this takes place in every aspect of our lives and we must care!


The Psalmist teaches us such a wonderful lesson in Psalms 101. Please read this!
"I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD."

I will set NO wicked thing beofre my eye... I HATE the work of them that turn aside...I will destroy ALL the wicked of the land.
Notice that... NO wicked thing, I HATE the works of the evil one, I will destory not some but ALL the wicked. How many times have we applied that to our lives! If we claim to be a follower of God, whose side are we on! Who is determinig our thoughts, our entertainment, our lives! Jesus says we have only one master. We can't please one if we serve the other. It's one or the other. Please, please, please please please! Take this to heart. If you care about your Christianity, let us "Be holy for He who calls us is Holy" (1 Peter 1:16) Let us realize that "we are not ourselves! But we have been bought with a price, let us glorify God in our bodies!" (1 Cor 6:19) If we truly want to serve God and be close to Him, we must realize that sin seperates us from Him! we can't condone it in any way shape or form. We must allow God and Jesus to be captain over our thoughts, our actions, our lives.

What will we do? "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we."

Please, be challenged by Pauls words here in 2 Corinthians 10:5-7, to take every thought captive to obey Christ, to remind ourselves that if we are confident that we are Christ's, that we are to live as He.

What shall we do?

Worship

Worship. What constitutes it? When is it done? How is it accomplished?


This is part one of two. We will define worship in this part, then expand and examine other questions and thoughts about worship.

First off, the word worship. What does it mean? Reverent honor or homage paid to a god or divine being, or to attend the reverent service of a divine being.

As Christians, who serve the true and living God, when we sing praises of, or pray to our God, we are in fact worshiping Him. But that’s just what the dictionary has to say. What does God say about the matter?

First off, lets turn to Psalms 96. This is God speaking through the inspired psalmist, and His subject is exultation, or worship. Notice:

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”

Sing unto the Lord! Bless His name! Worship Him in the beauty of holiness! When? Only on one day a week? Or could it be every day of our lives! We see the example of Daniel, who went three times daily to pray toward Jerusalem, which was a worship act for the Jews. The Apostles worshiped God throughout the week, we see the example of Paul and Silas in prison singing hymns to God.

Worship is anytime we decide that we are going to dedicate a period of time from our lives and set it apart to devote to the praise and honor of almighty God.

Now, as it is generally accepted throughout Christianity that Sunday is the day that God has commanded us to worship Him on, we will not go into that. But Let’s turn our focus to and spend our time on what is to take place.

We mentioned that there are five acts of worship.

Singing, praying, study (preaching or study) Lord’s supper and collection.

Where is our authority for these?

Lets begin… (Please note, these are not in any order of importance, but simply as they came to mind)

1. Singing. The natural response of a happy heart is to sing! And this is what the early church did. They sung songs of praise in their worship to God. Ephesians 5:19 is the command “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”

Also we see in Colossians 3:16- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. God desires for us to worship Him in song. Notice here, this does not say on Sunday only, but, if we look at the context of these two chapters, Paul is referring to the daily lifestyle of the Christian. It is important for us to worship God in song.

2. Praying. This is how we communicate with or speak to God. In Acts 2:42 it says “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” They continued steadfast in prayer. Notice what prayer is… It is a human being, humbling his heart, bowing his spirit, and coming into the presence of God almighty, right into the very throne room of God! In Revelation 4 and 5, it shows the 24 elders in the throne room of God, falling down before Him, lifting up His name in a Holy song, and in chapter 5:8, they have golden bowls of incense, which or the prayers of the saints! Our prayers are right in there with the worship of the elders.

3. Study. On numerous occasions we see the word of God being opened in a worship assembly or gatherings of people. On the first day of the week, Paul was at Troas and he preached to the saints there, in the synagogue in Acts 13:15, the leaders of the synagogue, invited the preachers Paul and Barnabas, if they had a “word of exhortation” to “say on”. To speak to them. No indication here this was on a Sunday. In Acts 8, Phillip is in Samaria, now Phillip is a deacon in the Church, not an apostle, and he was speaking to the people throughout his time there with them. Any time the word of God is opened, whether it be in a group study or a sermon, we are worshiping God. How? The word of God is His communication to us! Just as prayer is ours to Him. When the “Bread of Life” is being broken, no matter how, God is speaking to us. Study is study, no matter the method. Any way it is done, people are still interacting. With a Bible class lesson where people are encouraged to speak up, there is interaction with the study leader. Same with preaching. The preacher is presenting the lesson, the only one speaking, but the audience is interaction with him the whole time! Attention, turning to the passages he directs them to, taking notes, thinking about and dwelling on what he is speaking, adding to his thoughts in their own minds. Constant interaction between the speaker and his audience. That’s why we have study instead of Preaching as the third act of worship.
4. Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:26-29- And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.


This verse does not tell us that it is worship, but it explains what it is. How do we know it is an act of worship? Well, the early church gathered for the purpose of partaking of it on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7- And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.


They gathered to partake of the Lord’s Supper. On the first day of the week. Now, we know through extra biblical sources, those of Roman governors writing to Emperors, that they did this every week, as well as to have a study, to sing and to pray.

On the first day of the week. And only on that day.

5. The collection. We turn to 1 Corinthians 16:1-2- Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.


Upon the first day of the week. Again, this act is “day specific” as well. It can only be done on the first day of the week, when we are gathered together to worship God.

There is where we have the authority for our worship practices under New Testament Christianity. This is what constitutes our worship to God almighty. Anything more than this would be to add to His word and His pattern.

This will complete this post for now! Soon, I will be posting part two. Please check back! I will discuss, whether these acts can be done throughout the week and if they should be done throughout the week.

Hope to be with you again soon!

Christian Entertainment

Christian Entertainment

This has become my favorite hymn:

"Christ has no hands but our hands, To do His work today;

He has no feet but our feet, To lead men in His way;

He has no tongue but our tongue, To tell men how He died;

He has no help but our help, To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible, The careless world will read;

We are the sinners gospel, We are the scoffer's creed;

We are the Lord's last message, Given in deed and word;

What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy, With other work than His?

What if our feet are walking, Where sin's allurement is?

What if our tongues are speaking, Of things His lips would spurn?

How can we hope to help Him, And hasten His return?"

(Annie Johnson Flint)

How can we hope Him if our lives are so busy doing things that we want to do and not leaving time to do His work?

I've been thinking a lot recently about the entertainment choices I have chosen over the past few years and how far I had gotten from where I once stood.

I don't drink, I don't smoke, I believe no Christian should do these things, so why am I ok with songs that mention drinking and "having a few as long as you don't cross that line"? Why am I ok with movies that have this in them?

I don’t swear or curse, use vulgar language, make crude jokes, and I believe that our words should be holy and clean in the sight of God. So why should I be entertained by songs and movies that have unclean speech in them?

I believe that there are things that should be saved for your future spouse, so why should I be ok with songs and movies that advocate, brag about, and glory in such. This is an abomination in God's eyes! Why should I, as a Christian be entertained by it?

I believe that fornication is the only scriptural reason for a divorce, so why should I be willing to be entertained by songs that talk about a man who has a restless spirit and just can't stay any longer? (Another topic for another time but God desires that men are to be leaders for their families and desire to raise them in the Lord) Why should I be fine with songs that constantly bring the subject up as if it were a good and acceptable thing?

I believe that God is not please with witchcraft, and black magic. I fully believe that life is in the blood. So why should I as a Christian celebrate a holiday that glorifies these things. why should I as a Christian support literature that honors vampires and such like when I am fully aware that God has condemned the eating of blood? (Acts 15:28-29)

I am doing my best to change these things because I fully believe now, that even in entertainment, God is not pleased with these actions and they are holding me back from a proper relationship with Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says- Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

What is that? Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us? It is time to lay it aside. The beat may be good, the overall moral may be good, but is it worth it in eternity?

As Christians we should be thinking about these things in our lives. The apostle Paul begs us in Ephesians 5:11-12- Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

He says "Take no part in them". Isn't being entertained by them taking part in them?

If bidding someone who is a false teacher god speed is being a partaker in their evil works (2 John 1:10-11) than being entertained by things we wouldn't dream of actually doing would be "taking a part in them".

Paul also says that its "a shame to even speak of such things". It’s a SHAME! How many times have we thought of that?

If it’s a shame to even speak of it it most certainly is to be entertained by them and fill our lives with such.

I want to be like David and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14

God told the Israelites "Be ye holy for I am holy". Our holy God cannot dwell among an unholy people. When He dwelt in a temple, the priests had rituals they had to go through before they could enter into the temple. Well, we know that God's temple today is the Christian. We are, being called by God, priests in His service. We should strive to abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22).

This "Be holy for I am holy" concept is not just an Old Testament thing, it’s found in the New Testament as well. Look at 1 Peter 1:13-16- Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

A Christian is supposed to add to his life the Christian graces, and theres no room for coarse speech, drinking, and whatever else we allow in through entertainment, if we are adding these to our lives.

2 Peter 1:5-10- For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Yes, it is time that we look to ourselves, be introspective, examine what we are puting into our hearts. Is it acceptable? Let's think "Would I be listening to this or watching this, or reading this if God were sitting beside me, looking over my shoulder?" We need to think about this because, He is...

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14