"The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain."As the end of the last century approached, I was reminded of something D. L. Moody said at the end of the previous,Deuteronomy 1:6“I believe … four-fifths of the church is wandering around in the wilderness, far away from the cross of Calvary and the Promised Land.” Moody was commenting on the lives and character of Caleb and Joshua. Specifically he said, “… these two men … looked up yonder.” [Bible Characters: “Caleb”; Thos. W. Jackson Publishing Co., Chicago; 1902, pp.34-36]George W. Truett added, their report was a “full-of-grace” report. [“Jewels From Past Giants.” Pulpit Helps, January 1995, 6-7]
When I think of men of the bible, I do what others do (right after I think of Jesus): I think of Paul, David, Moses, etc. But when I take serious inventory of biblical men, four stand out: Joseph, Joshua, Caleb, and Stephen.
One reason I admire them [the same reason Moody gave] is, there’s nothing special about them. Basically, they were men like other men, who simply stood out; but they were additionally “can do” men. It seems our world lacks men of this caliber today.
Just a few years ago, the world fantasized at the character of Mel Gibson in Brave Heart; but the fact remains, his history was written by men and embellished by men. Men of Pure Heart, like Caleb and Joshua, are men of all heart; their stories written by the hand of God, through a man of God.
Look around today. Look at the devastation brought on by supposed men-of-conviction, who are not men-of-resolve. Look at the horrible decisions made in this world as the result of men who fear popular opinion.
Luther fanned the flames of revolution when he pointed the way to reformation; he swam against a huge tide of popular opinion. Our own American revolutionaries sacrificed virtually everything to secure this land for us. And what of Jesus? What did He secure for the Church? Political correctness?
Praise God some Christian men are recognize a higher standard of manhood than that foists upon us by our culture! Consider: In 1960 only 5% of American children went to bed without a father in the house; today the number exceeds 25%.
Recently a woman discovered she couldn’t obtain enough “Mother’s Day” cards to give to male inmates in her state’s prison system; on the other hand, she couldn’t give away the “Father’s Day” cards.
In a study of 11,000 crimes, no link was found between the crimes and poverty or race; a link was found, however, between the crimes and “father-absent households.”
And men continue to get women pregnant and remain strangely silent as they continue to abort their babies in record numbers.
Men who fearlessly face the bogeymen of life are invaluable to their nations, their neighbors, their families, and their churches.
Showing posts with label Conviction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conviction. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
MAN: Not many pure hearts in that group!
PERSEVERANCE: Washing Your Car to Success
"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."It was a strange place to have a motivational poster … the Men’s Room at a car wash; then again who’s surprised at anything these days. The message read: “PERSEVERANCE … never give up for that is the place the tide will turn.”Luke 8:15
The message is clear: “Keep on trying, you can make it, don’t quit. Persevere in reaching for the things the world offers, they are available to any who will try hard enough.” And you can do this while you’re having your car washed.
On the other hand, God also calls us to persevere; we’re to do this after we have received His free washing. But Jesus has said the tide will not turn unless you are born-again; unless you come to Him as a little child.
Friday, January 18, 2008
CONFESSIONS: True Confessions!
"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."A fully soundproof state of the art confessional was unveiled recently in Rome, offering air conditioning, black leather seats and soft lighting.1 John 1:8-10
A Venice-based firm presented the spacious new confessional, which allows penitents to regulate the temperature at which they confess, at a major religious trade fair. A red light shows when the glossy box is occupied and a green light when it is vacant; an optional hygienic filter may be used to separate priests from penitents. “If it is too hot or too cold inside we have air conditioning and heating. These are the real novelties of the confessional,” Pierantonio Bellotto manager of the firm told Reuters Television.
The walnut finished confessional, to be priced at around $6,250, will cater to some of the 26 million pilgrims forecast for Rome in 2000. But some suggested the box was too extravagant. Responding to criticism was Don Rosino Montarelli, a priest from the Montecassino church, “The subject of confessions is not a comfortable one … the important thing is the act of confession itself,”. [“Thank God: Air-conditioned confessional unveiled in Rome”; November 29, 1999 Fox News Online]
We now know for certain that certain evil contractors will invade hell after judgment, to sound-proof, upholster, illuminate, and air-condition this place of the damned. I just hope they don’t talk Satan into the red light – green light option: seems to me anyone who might care at all will know the place is occupied.
I have been told that the English are masters of understated humor; well the Casino priest must be running a close second.
Monday, August 13, 2007
BOLDNESS: Of the John Wayne kind!
GO AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY: John 16:8-11; other topics - Attitude, Commitment, Conviction, Courage, Fear, Right (opposed to wrong)
The gunman found Ponsett sitting on his horse waiting for him; he asked, “Who are you?” He said, “Britt Ponsett” and laid a shotgun over his saddle as the tough started to draw. And in his signature style he drawled, “How come you're stopping? Go ahead, draw!”
The bully was so flabbergasted he couldn't find his courage; he never showed his face in the region again.
Fantasies concerning life and its living are common to all people … one of mine is stepping toward the next illogical, irrational, relativistic humanist or atheist and saying, “Go ahead, draw” as I lay the sword of the Lord across my saddle horn.
In my vision the rascal doesn’t turn and run; instead he comes under conviction, drops to his knees and pleads for God’s forgiveness.
I fear many of our brothers and sisters have become so fearful of the world and its minions they’ve rendered themselves powerless in the battle for souls.
The Six Shooter was an extremely popular western, broadcast on NBC radio from 1953-54. Jimmy Stewart starred as Britt Ponsett, a Texas plainsman.
On one broadcast (“Duel at Lockwood”; 3/21/54 - Radio Spirits) Britt called a young tough’s bluff … even though it was possible the kid might be faster.
A teen-aged killer went after The Six Shooter in a town called Lockwood … he bragged to everyone if he ran into Ponsett he’d kill him. Well Britt showed up one day; the outlaw heard the quiet gunman had come to town, so he sent a messenger to warn Ponsett he was on his way. Ponsett didn’t wait … he rode out on the trail and waited for the kid on the trail.The gunman found Ponsett sitting on his horse waiting for him; he asked, “Who are you?” He said, “Britt Ponsett” and laid a shotgun over his saddle as the tough started to draw. And in his signature style he drawled, “How come you're stopping? Go ahead, draw!”
The bully was so flabbergasted he couldn't find his courage; he never showed his face in the region again.
Fantasies concerning life and its living are common to all people … one of mine is stepping toward the next illogical, irrational, relativistic humanist or atheist and saying, “Go ahead, draw” as I lay the sword of the Lord across my saddle horn.
In my vision the rascal doesn’t turn and run; instead he comes under conviction, drops to his knees and pleads for God’s forgiveness.
Clearly, there is a present need for more boldness amongst the Body of Christ. Jesus didn’t die in order for us to become doormats for every godless heathen we encounter. After all, Jesus was no wimp! [Luke 19:45-47; John 2:13-17]
I fear many of our brothers and sisters have become so fearful of the world and its minions they’ve rendered themselves powerless in the battle for souls.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
CONFESSION: If We Confess Sin He's Faithful to Forgive
SPICY SUPPLICATIONS: [Ezra 10:1]
I love hot and spicy food. Give me a Mexican breakfast with a bowl of hot, spicy salsa and I’m a happy camper. Let me splatter the feast with Tabasco Sauce and my spirits lift to the heavens.
I began this journey years ago when I read a Reader’s Digest article which said people who ate spicy foods or used hot sauce liberally were less prone to upper respiratory ailments. I don’t know if that’s true, but I had a cold at the time and wanted it to be true. Shortly thereafter I was hooked.
Spicy dishes often have the annoying effect of clearing the sinuses. If experienced at an opportune time, this can be a beneficial event. On the other hand it can also be a nuisance.
Prayer is like a spicy dish … especially when sprinkled generously with confession. People who pray and confess are less prone to spiritual ailments.
It clears the conscience like nothing else known to mankind. We often don’t realize our heads are stuffy until the spice begins to do its work. Similarly, we don’t often know our hearts are burdened until prayerful confession begins to do its work.
I love hot and spicy food. Give me a Mexican breakfast with a bowl of hot, spicy salsa and I’m a happy camper. Let me splatter the feast with Tabasco Sauce and my spirits lift to the heavens.
I began this journey years ago when I read a Reader’s Digest article which said people who ate spicy foods or used hot sauce liberally were less prone to upper respiratory ailments. I don’t know if that’s true, but I had a cold at the time and wanted it to be true. Shortly thereafter I was hooked.
Spicy dishes often have the annoying effect of clearing the sinuses. If experienced at an opportune time, this can be a beneficial event. On the other hand it can also be a nuisance.
Prayer is like a spicy dish … especially when sprinkled generously with confession. People who pray and confess are less prone to spiritual ailments.
It clears the conscience like nothing else known to mankind. We often don’t realize our heads are stuffy until the spice begins to do its work. Similarly, we don’t often know our hearts are burdened until prayerful confession begins to do its work.
Monday, December 19, 2005
EVIDENCE - The testimony of our eyes!
NOT WHAT HE SEEMS TO BE! [Matthew 16:15; other topics - Deity, Identity]
I have a unsaved friend, a really good guy, who drives a white pick-up, with a utility conversion instead of a bed … it has several key-entry bins on each side-bank and an overhead rack with ladders and electrical conduit secured to it. Strewn about the open area between the bins are buckets of electrical boxes, used conduit connectors, electrical tools and reels of various gauge non-insulated and insulated wire, both stranded and solid core.
He tries to convince me he’s an electrician, but I’m not fooled … he has to be either a teacher at a local junior college or a chiropractor. He can’t really be a successful contractor … after all, I know his family, I went to high school with him, and I even dated his sister. No way he’s an electrician … no way!
Now you know I’m nuts, right? Why would I do this in the face of all the evidence which says he is what he says he is? Because that’s what my friend does with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
In spite of all the evidence confirming Jesus did the things the Bible claims He did, in spite of the testimony of eye witnesses, in spite of the testimony of millions that He is the Son of God, in spite of the archealogical and historical evidence, in spite of the lives He's changed, my friend still says Jesus was just a religious teacher or a mystic healer. He even insults my Sovereign King by saying, “Regardless of what he was, he certainly was a good man.”
My friend doesn’t understand this makes Jesus, the church fathers, and all God’s witnesses liars and charlatans. So I tell him he’s no electrical contractor, regardless of what he carries in his truck. Nope, he’s no electrician … can’t be!
Adapted from a message by R.G. Lee
Friday, March 04, 2005
Courage
The Six Shooter was an extremely popular western, broadcast on NBC radio from 1953-54. Jimmy Stewart starred as Britt Ponsett, a Texas plainsman.
On one broadcast (“The New Sheriff”; 6/10/54 - Radio Spirits) Britt called a bully’s bluff … even though his gun was several feet away on a dresser.
In his signature style, Stewart (as Ponsett) told the tough he could draw his gun anytime he wanted. The surprised crook stammered, “B-b-b-but you a-a-a-ain’t got your six-shooter.”
Ponsett stepped toward the thug and drawled, “Things might not work out the way you think they will.” The Six Shooter’s bold confidence made the rascal turn and run.
Fantasies concerning life and its living are common to all people … one of mine is stepping toward the next illogical, irrational, relativistic humanist and saying, “Things might not work out the way you think they will.”
Only in my vision the rascal doesn’t turn and run; instead he comes under conviction, drops to his knees and pleads for God’s forgiveness.
Only in my vision the rascal doesn’t turn and run; instead he comes under conviction, drops to his knees and pleads for God’s forgiveness.
Clearly, there is a present need for more boldness amongst the Body of Christ. Jesus didn’t die in order for us to become doormats for every godless heathen we encounter. After all, Jesus was no wimp! [Luke 19:45-47; John 2:13-17]
I fear many of our brothers and sisters have become so fearful of the world and its minions they’ve rendered themselves powerless in the battle for souls.
EASTER - The day to end all days!
BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD! [John 1:29, 36; Other topics - Humility, Jesus, Lamb of God, Salvation]
A few years ago our church decided to change the traditional Easter decorations in the sanctuary.
My wife, Rita, volunteered to find a ceramic lamb for the altar decoration. She searched and searched every craft and church supply store in the area; she spent days looking; she found standing lambs, knelling lambs, and grazing lambs but not one like we wanted. Ours would be a lying down lamb, a cute and “innocent” little, reposing lamb.
Being a Shepherd, I decided I might add just the right spiritual element as she headed to the last store. We examined every self in the place; hoping perhaps one might be hidden behind something. Frustrated, we both headed for the exit, dejected, heads down … then we saw it, on the floor, in a corner, under a shelf, unattended, dirty, ignored, alone. It was perfect! And it was on sale!
The world has also been searching for a lamb to save them from their sins. They’ve been looking for 6,000 years.
They too are looking in all the wrong places, heads up, proud, money no object. They’ve found all kinds of saviors: standing ones, knelling ones, grazing ones and many others as well. But not one turned out to be the “perfect” one!
We have to give them credit, they have looked everywhere imaginable. But, it is only when they seem to have lost all hope, when their heads are down, humbled, and through with doing it themselves that they find Him … Jesus, the Lamb of God!
Jesus was likewise rejected and ignored, the world trying to shove Him out of the way, into a corner or under a shelf.
How much does the Lamb of God cost? The tag says, “Priceless.” He has paid it Himself. This Lamb gave His life for those who rejected Him.
BLESSINGS TOO NUMEROUS! [Psalm 107:31; other topics - Blessings, Conviction, Self-examination]Pastor Jack Hinton from New Bern, NC was leading worship music at a leper colony in Tobago; time allowed for one more congregational selection. A woman in the congregation, who’d been turned away, turned to face Hinton, revealing a most “hideous” face. The lady’s nose and ears were gone; most of her lips had worn away as well. She lifted a hand, more stub than hand, and asked, “Can we sing ‘Count Your Blessings’”?
Overcome by the situation Hinton fled the room, followed by another team member. The man tried to comfort the distraught song leader, “I guess you’ll never be able to sing that song again”? “Oh, yes I will,” he responded, “but never the same way.”
Warren Wiersbie is credited for saying, “Life is a school in which God trains us for eternity. Trials are ... God’s textbooks in this school of Christian experience.” It often takes the deficiency of another to reveal our own; but in the revelation, we can find fruit for nourishment.Pastor’s Update; FMB of the Southern Baptist Convention; Richmond, VA, May 1996, p.4; Sermon-Illustrations-Each-Week, 991004-6]
MORE THAN AN IMAGE IS NEEDED! [1 Peter 1:14-19; Atonement, Lamb of God, Blood (the)]
Evidently Peruvian authorities have begun dressing up walls along their nation’s filthiest streets with pictures of Jesus Christ; the purpose seems to be to shame those illegally dumping trash along the streets.Apparently, just the image of our Lord is believed to have such importance among the general Peruvian population.Oh that the mere image of the Lord would clean up the streets of our minds and hearts. But it takes the precious blood of the Lamb to cleanse the heart and mind of a sinner.
Oh that it had not been necessary for the Son of God to give His life an atonement for man’s sins … but it was.The Father tried everything; but we rejected His miracles, rejected His word, killed His prophets, and turned our backs on Him … it was oh so necessary to send His Son.You see, an image could never pay the ransom … the Jews tried that in the temple for centuries … only the priceless and spotless Lamb of God in person was worthy [Revelation 5:12].
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
