Where does faith come from? One who reads the Scriptures would answer this way; Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Another might add that faith is a gift from God (Eph.2:8,9) and that would be true. Someone who dabbles in Scripture might say that faith “comes from within.” WRONG!!! We quoted Ephesians above and we will again. Ephesians 2 v. 1 states, “And you hath [H]e quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…” So, No faith inside. That implies that no one could ever reach up to God with “inside faith.” No one could simply “believe in (their idea) of “Jesus.” and be saved; for the Lord Himself said [salvation] is, with man …impossible. But, He then said that with God all things are possible. Salvation of man is possible with God. Our God saves men through sanctification, grace, and faith. As this is “verily, verily” good news we are still at square number (1) one. Where does faith come from?

What we do know is …….faith is, faith cometh, faith is a gift, and by the Grace of God we can be saved by God through faith. Yet we are still stuck. Where does saving faith come from?

Here is what we/me thinketh, The salvation of man was born in the Covenant between the Trinity in the awesome (word used properly) passage of Scripture of Isaiah 42 which is our eternal history. At the time of the Covenant (again Isaiah 42, and Psalm 2) I believe faith was born. The love and trust of the Word in the Godhead and the Godhead’s love and trust in the Word gave creation to Faith, which is called “the substance” in Hebrews 11.

So….then…in terms of time, the “Word became [F]lesh.” and she called [H]im Jesus. All that God’s beloved Son and our great Lord did for us was through faith in the Godhead and the Covenant (Is. 42 and Psalm 2)

We must now look to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, the first one. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we read this, “And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Why is charity greater? Charity is greater because when one goes to Heaven faith and hope are no longer needed, but charity or love will last for ever in Eternity.

Now… we know that… faith is, faith cometh, faith is a gift, by Grace Faith can save and we think it was born in the Covenant. We also know that Christ lived His life by that substance of faith. We also know that by faith our blessed Lord and Saviour went to Calvary, not for His sin, but for all the sins of all of His people. We are also blessed to know that our Lord rose from the dead three days later after He openly spoiled the powers of darkness and took captivity captive.

We then go on to learn that the blessed Lord ascended into Heaven. But remember… faith is no longer needed in Heaven. Read Psalm 24 and you can learn what happened after He ascended into Heaven.

So now that He is enthroned in Heaven where He intercedes for us and where He is preparing a place for us what of His mighty faith?

Here it is….. When the Holy Spirit of the Godhead descended to dwell within Christ’s blood bought and eternally owned people He, The Holy Spirit, divided up into different measures (maybe decided at the making of the eternal Covenant) the very substantial faith of our Elder Brother, and placed and still places the very faith of Christ into his own (Galatians 2:20)!!!!!

Glory!!!

.

“Let their tables become a a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out [T]hine indignation upon them, and let [T]hy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into [T]hy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.”

One might think that the text above was said by a character of Shakespeare. It truly is a curse meant from the heart. If one thinks that this is a line from a fictional play one would be wrong. The above text was a petition from King David to his Lord and God. And it is prophetically spoken as the Words of Lord Jesus as He is hanging upon the cross. Some may think that the last sentence is heretical due to the Words we have from Christ’s own lips, “Father, forgive them….” If one does think it to be heretical and wrong they, are in fact, heretical and wrong. As Our Lord speaks those incredible Words of compassion He is speaking only of those soldiers who are crucifying Him (see and compare 2 Samuel 15:11) and not for all others.

The last paragraph is not to be the point of this post. I would have been remissed, however if I had not clarified and rightly explained the above because it is needed for us to understand a responsibility that is not usually, if ever, spoken of.

What is this responsibility? To Curse and petition God to glorify His Wrath and Justice upon evil. We are not to ask God to avenge our hurts persecutions; no we are to bless them that curse us and pray for those that despitefully use us. But the enemies of God, the enemies of holiness and righteousness are to be prayed AGAINST! I do not suggest that we pray against individuals necessarily but against the evil itself. For example: We might pray for an individual muslim to come and submit to Christ and at the same time pray and ask God to destroy the religion of Islam. One might pray thusly, ” O’ God please let these evil men; these enemies of the cross and of Thy Son, slip and slide into confusion and darkness.”  We do not pray against those that are of other “religions” but we may pray against the religion, itself. We love those of the catholic religion but we might ask God to expose the lies that the religion purports. As to politicians, the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord. We might ask God to send forth a spirit of dimness that they might see Light.

Prayer is part of the whole armour of God. Let us, therefore,  armour up.

BKL

 

Luke 5:12  “And it came to pass, when [H]e was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing [Lord] Jesus fell on his face, and besought [H]im, Lord,  if [T]hou wilt, [T]hou canst make me whole.”

 

In this divinely inspired verse of (37) thirty-seven words and (5) five punctuation marks, the Holy Spirit has presented before us the manner in which we are to address the Son of God. Also contained in this gift verse is the encouragement to hope. And, in addition to that, we are most blessed to see that God’s attention is upon each one of His people. What a God; What a Master.

“And It came to pass…” In five words God tells us that whatever we are enduring or enjoying  it shall “come to pass”.  While enduring, take comfort in the fact that God knows of your circumstances, and and if He allows the circumstances you should know that it is for your good. He knows thy uprisings and thy down-sittings. As far as enjoyment goes, He has given us all things to enjoy. However, be careful to weigh any costs and residual consequences of your enjoyments because it, too, shall come to pass… and then what? A wise man knows to seek his pleasure and enjoyments in the Lord.

“A certain city”.  God is a great lover of the certain ones. The Spirit speaks of a certain man in John 5 v.5, and this certain man was among a great multitude of hurting people; yet Christ was interested in only a certain man. In Acts 16 v. 14 we meet a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God. Like Lydia, those who populate the Kingdom are the certain ones of God; He knows each of our names, what we do, and where we are at all times. (Pslm 139).

“full of leprosy”.  This is a perfect description of the sinner. Full of sin and desensitized to much of the wickedness in the world. The sinner is full of sin and empty of hope, lest the sinner comes to Christ.

“who seeing [Lord] Jesus fell on his face…” This is the right and proper way one should conducts one’s self in the Presence of God’s Son. All the prophets, when in His Presence, lost strength and fell prostrate before Him. This is the attitude one must have when entering His Presence in prayer. We remain humble and thankful to Him with this mindset. Unthankfulness is the gateway to all sin (Romans 1).

“and besought [H]im”. Once we enter His Presence in a thankful and humble spirit, we are encouraged to beseech our good and sovereign Lord with a kindly-given boldness. We who know the Master know that He is ever pleased to condescend to our needs and even our wants.

“saying Lord”. When one addresses Christ one should do so with His title of Lord. He said to His certain ones, “Ye call[M]e Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” When meeting a new person we use the titles of Mr. and Mrs. When addressing Royalty one says “Your Highness” or “Your Grace”, so we should always address Christ as “Lord Jesus” in the stead of the disrespectful “Jesus”.

“if [T]hou wilt,” It is a great privilege and comfort to know and to be allowed and encouraged to leave our cares in His Hands.

“[T]hou canst”  With God all things are possible; He can do as He pleases and He is pleased to care and provide for His certain ones.

“make me clean.” There is no other Saviour; there is no other Name under Heaven that is given to man whereby he might be saved. The only remedy to the disease of sin is The Divine and Precious; the One of a kind Blood type of The Lord Jesus Christ.

What a Man; What a Lord and Master; What a great Saviour is our Elder brother; The Son of God.

“And God said…” (Gen. 1:3)

“And Jesus answering said…” (Matt. 3:15)

“…the Holy Ghost said…” (Acts 13:2)

“For we cannot but speak…” (Acts 4:20)

“…and a time to speak…” (Eccl. 3:7)

 

In some circles there is a very strong focus on witnessing. The emphasis is so strong that any text of Scripture can be wrested into the believer’s responsibility to witness. But the truth is that there is nothing in Scripture to warrant their type of rehearsed witnessing. Those that are of that school of thought will at once point to Acts 20:20. In that passage Paul says, “[I] have taught you publicky, and from house to house.” Paul was not going door to door throwing his pearl to the swine. “House to house” means house church to house church. Paul was establishing Christian house churches. In fact, our Lord forbids the door to door method; “Go not from house to house.” (Luke 10:7)

The Word does not know of “witnessing” but of being a witness. As a matter of fact, our word for witness is translated from the word martyr. Martyr as in “dying daily to self”; “I am crucified with Christ”; “he that is dead to sin is freed from sin.”; “Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Being a witness is dying unto sin and self, and living unto God through our Lord Jesus.

Am I suggesting that we should not speak of the Gospel to the lost? God forbid. However, I am suggesting that the prepared and rehearsed method of “witnessing” be put down. When a believer stands in front of an unbeliever and delivers his lines, it comes across as practiced and dare I say- a sales pitch?

In speaking to the lost one must be fluid and organic. “Witnessing” cannot not be taught in a (3) three hour class or a step-by-step book.  Speaking to the lost must be Spirit-taught and Spirit-led.

Before you begin speaking to the lost you must ask yourself a question. The question is this- Why am I speaking to this person about their sin and of the One and Only Saviour, the Lord Jesus? Is it because it’s Thursday and that is outreach day? Is it to meet a quota?  Is it to grow the number of members in my church? Am I speaking to the lost because I am insecure in my own faith and in order to affirm my faith I try to get others to believe like me? Or is it for the right reason? What is the right reason? We speak to the lost not for the lost’s sake, but we speak to the lost to bring glory to the Lord Jesus. We speak to the lost with the aim being a body of new creatures giving Him the praise that He is due.

Many believers do not speak of their Lord because they do not think they can present the rehearsed spiel that they have heard others give. This is unfortunate.

Let us look at the passage that preachers use to teach this type of “witnessing.” Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” The question we must ask is this; Is this commission meant for all believers? We will answer that question with a question. Do you, beloved, have the authority to baptize? If you answer, “no” then the commission is not meant for all believers.  Many believers feel a weight of guilt because they are not “witnessing” as the preacher would like. Beloved, the Truth shall make you free. The salvation of your family and neighbor is not your responsibility, for Salvation is of the LORD.  It is God Who seeks and saves that which was lost.

Having said all that I would encourage thee to speak often, to speak freely, and to speak loudly of your Lord Jesus and His Gospel because we, like brother Paul, are not ashamed of the Gospel.

 

“Wherefore I give unto you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Let us imagine meeting the President of the United States and Queen Elizabeth  or introducing your child to a new person.

Would you address the President as Barack or Barry? When meeting the Queen, would you address her as Liz?

You would not use the first name. Protocal is Mr. President and Your Highness.

With that being said, why do Christians address the Son of God as Jesus? As you read the Scriptures you will find His enemies calling Him Jesus. You will find demons calling Him Jesus, but what you will not find in the Inspired Scriptures is His disciples calling Him Jesus. They addressed Him as Lord. He even states in John 13:13 “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”

In the Scriptures He is called Jesus, but remember, It is the Holy Spirit that is narrating the Gospels. He, the Holy Spirit, may call Him such ,yet You and I should not.

In the epistles, once and a while an apostle will use His Name, Jesus. This is to draw attention to His Human nature.

Think about it….when one meets a new person, one will address them as ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’ So a stranger warrants a title but our Lord does not?

To call Him Lord is an honour and a privilege. As our Scripture text teaches us: no man can call Him Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

This is a litmus test: Do you call Him Lord?

Thinking back to a previous posting on bad preachers, we can add another mark  or red flag. If a preacher calls out to sinners and asks them to “accept Jesus as Saviour” and leaves out His title of Lord, he is not presenting the pure Gospel. The Scriptures state: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised [H]im from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”(Romans 10:9)

 

 

 

 

 

Cast me not away from [T]hy [P]resence; and take not [T]hy [H]oly [S]pirit from me.

When taking up a verse such as this one can go numerous routes. Some examples of these possible routes could include the erroneous teaching that one could lose one’s salvation. Another is the Holy Spirit’s office in the Old Testament. One could use this verse as a text for Pr/teaching on the Person of the Holy Spirit and the Absolute necessity of His Presence and Office in the salvation of sinners. We will use this frightful text to demonstrate the doctrine of the saints perseverance.

There is a classic Christian teaching/doctrine called “the perseverance of the saint.” this doctrine will be set at variance with today’s “once saved always saved” mantra. The best way, we believe, to demonstrate this doctrine is to quote Scripture. Lord Jesus says very clearly in John 8:31; “If ye continue in my word, then are ye [M]y disciples indeed…” Notice the if/then. also notice to whom He speaks “Then said {Lord] Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him..” Our Lord also states that “whosoever endures until the end shall be saved.” Let me draw your attention to Paul’s words in Colossians 1:21-23: “And you, who were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has [H]e reconciled in the [B]ody of [H]is [F]lesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable  and unreprovable in [H]is sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the [G]ospel…” Have you noticed the conditions?

1.Continue in the word of the Lord Jesus.                                                                                                                                   2. Endure until the/your end.                                                                                                                                                       3. Continue in the faith….and be not removed from the Gospel.

Am I proclaiming a works salvation? Am I suggesting one may lose one’s salvation? Yes/no and no.  Allow me to explain. In today’s contemporary church there are pitfalls.  These pitfalls take the form of salvation through hand raising; the very dangerous “once saved always saved” mantra or the “never doubt your salvation because this offends the Lord.” (2 Cor. 13:5)

When one is told by a preacher that he is saved since he raised his hand and said a plastic prayer one will believe the preacher. It is no different from a psychics cold reading. One believes because one wants to believe and someone with authority told them so. In reality this person is no more saved than Judas. On top of this dung hill the preacher will tell the “convert” that once he is save he is always saved. So now what we have is a spiritually dead, blind and deaf sinner who believes he is saved forever and he will continue to live the life of the condemned!!! When a faithful servant of the Lord approaches him about salvation the mind is closed because he is “saved”…by a raised hand and a plastic prayer.

This is where works, perseverance and fruit come in. The person who is truly saved has been saved by God. God the Father elects; God the Son redeems, and God the Holy Spirit draws and indwells to fulfill His Sovereign office. One is not saved by the will of man or the flesh (first chapter of John)

Salvation is of the Lord and it is a sacred experience.

When a man is saved he has a new nature..he is a new creature or creation and he begins to perform good works and by these good works others can see his faith. This man does not fall back into habitual sin; instead he reaches forward to grasp the things of God.

As for losing one’s salvation – We will state it this way; Once God has set His love upon a person that person is eternally loved and is eternally safe and is eternally joyous  to please his God.

The “once saved always saved” is dangerous because it could tell a sinner, who is thought to be saved, that he is safe. The doctrine of the saint’s perseverance throws a light on the unsaved who are believed to be saved.

“…the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin (personified) that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil (personified) is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind,and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man That I am! [W]ho shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

When you were a teenager you were “stressed out”,  you were “peer pressured”  and had “low self esteem” and all of this became manifest in a big red pimple right in the middle of your forehead, I mean…like… it’s the biggest pimple eeeeverrrr!

Why was it the biggest pimple ever? Because it was yours. As adults we now know that people don’t pay attention to our person, our pimples, our scars, or a bad hair day.

Methinks that it is likewise with sin.

In the book of Hebrews 12:1 Scripture states clearly “…the sin which doth so easily besets us.  Pay attention to the inspired wording ………the sin which…” Did you catch it?  The sin which…

Methinks everyone has that sin or a sin that ever haunts them.

You may feel as though God has a magnifying glass upon your sin; He does not.  He views you through The Lord Jesus and His Blood. We must look to our Lord and Saviour and not the sin which doth so easily besets.

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, gives a list of the works of the flesh or in other words a list of sins. You would do well to notice how these sins are laid out. Verse 21 has envy next to murder and murder next to drunkenness. And in verse 20 witchcraft is next to hate. The point is ……..sin is sin.

Sin will keep us humble and sin will always drive us to our Father. And where sin does abound ………Grace does much more abound.

Grace be with thee.

A bishop then must be …… 1 Timothy 3:2

• Blameless – You would have to look long and hard to find something in a man’s life to disqualify him from the office of minister. Certainly you will find traits that you do not like but do they disqualify him?                                                                  * “He doesn’t wear a suit and tie.”                                                                                                                                      * “His hair is a bit too long.”                                                                                                                                                * “He goes to the movies..R rated!”                                                                                                                                     * “Someone said he smokes cigars                                                                                                                                  * “My friend works at … and saw him sample some wine.                                                                                                  * and then he ordered a glass!”                                                                                                                                          * “…and then there’s his wife….”                                                                                                                                        * ” …. and those kids they laugh too much (or they never smile), and they where pants!!!! ”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Dearest reader, these are not traits that disqualify a man from ministry but these pet peeves say much about you, your erroneous view of God and of Scripture. You are guilty of judgment, pride, and a deafness to the Spirit’s correction. I would counsel you, as would Paul, to examine thyself to see if you are in the faith.

• The husband of one wife – This does not mean he must be married (see Paul’s counsel to single men)
• Vigilant – He is ever watchful over himself, his doctrine, his family, and Christ’s flock.  What does he watch for?                  * Unsound doctrine creeping in.  This creeping doctrine can come from anywhere; from within the flock (Acts 20:28-31) or from outside (Jude 4) or from new books.                                                                                                          * He watches for straying sheep or sheep causing other sheep to wander.                                                                      * He watches over the personal safety of individual sheep. That means physical safety, mental/emotional safety, and of course spiritual safety.                                                                                                                                                   * He will keep a close eye on the married couple and their well being as well as the single people and their purity.                                                                                                                                                                                                   * The elderly and their spiritual well being because it tends to equate to their physical failings.                                         * He is perpetually watching all things in all directions.
• Sober – Serious minded; that is not to say he cannot have a sense of humour but when it comes to all things spiritual and relates to God or His flock this minister is drop dead, stone cold serious. His logic must be deadly and his faith thriving!
• Good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt (able) to teach
• No present day alcoholics and no one that believes they are always going to be an alcoholic (only in recovery). Paul states very clearly and with apostolic authority as well as Holy Spirit inspiration that “such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:9-11) Notice the tense of the statement it is past. No striker – he must not be a man that lashes out instinctively or looks to settle things with violence. Having said that, there may come a time when this man must become physical in order to protect God’s flock. He may have to “comfort” someone with his rod and staff right out the front door. This is not his first thought of course; he will attempt to be kind, merciful, slow to anger, logical and of good behaviour however when all else fails “with all that lieth in you live peaceable with all men.”  Greediness and covetous are big disqualifiers.
• He has his own home in order.
• Not a beginner – satan loves to embarrass the church by overpowering and bullying a new believer. This is one reason why a new believer should be left alone with God and the Word and not put to “service” right away.
• A good report of those outside of Christ – The unsaved may not agree with his doctrine or holiness but they cannot point out anything that would disqualify him from ministry.

These qualifications come from the Word of God and they must be taken seriously and not overlooked or replaced by sentiment. The Word of God is our Authority on this earth; the Word dethrones self, man, sentiment, opinion, likes/dislikes, wishes and wants, etc. etc. etc.

A few more qualifications I might add and these come form experience and common spiritual sense. This experience and common sense does not make itself equal to the Word it only aligns with the Word.

• A minister is a man that can be told anything in confidence. He will not judge or sermonize; instead he will understand that we are all in the same ship tossed to and fro at different time and in different ways. He knows that it is the same Christ that will give grace and hear confessions and forgive sins because He is faithful and just. This man will help as much as he can while remaining loyal to Christ.
• This man should desire God’s Company more than your’s. In other words he would rather be with God than with you or anyone (Acts 20:13).
• This man should know that nice does not = holy or good; nor does sober = mean. Sometimes what is considered “mean” is holy and good (2 Cor. 10:10-11 & all of 3 John).
• This man must be willing to disallow the Lord’s Supper to some or to many (1 Cor. 11) [John Calvin was exiled for his jealousy (love and protectiveness) over the Lord’s Supper].
• This man should, for your sake, understand the relationship between God’s grace and the Christian’s liberty in Christ (Gal. 5:1).
• This man should not be afraid to say, “I’m not really sure but let’s find out and learn together.”
• Numbers cannot be a golden calf to this man, see last posting and more importantly 1 Chronicles 21.
• This man’s ministry must be “95% inspiration and 5% perspiration.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          To summarize: the man that is fit to be minister is the man that loves God above all else which includes his family, his health, his wealth and his life which is not his own for he has been purchased by Another at a staggering Cost; he knows this, loves this and embraces this with all he is and with all he ever will be.

Grace be with thee.

I (John) wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18) among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth…. 3 John v.9&10.

If any man teach [by word or deed]….that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Timothy 6:3-5

When we were young we had as a pet the King snake. This snake was not poisonous nor was she temperamental. She was around (3) three feet long and (1.5-2.0) an inch and a half to two inches in width. There is one characteristic however that causes the King snake to stand out. The King snake is immune to the bite of other poisonous snakes and it will eat other snakes, whole. They kill by the method of constriction.

What could the title, the verse references, and the King snake have in common? Let us see.

By the title and the verse you might gather that there is such a time to leave a church or for a preacher to be excused. You could also gather that many times it is because of a preacher that one must withdraw themselves and their family. Now onto the King snake.  In the description it was pointed out that the K. snake is immune to the poison of other snakes and it will eat the venomous opponent. This is true of God’s chosen and empowered prophets/servants.

As you study God’s Word you will find that many of God’s prophets came up against lying prophets and it was their job to expose the lie and the false prophet. There is much written in the Word about false prophets, teachers, preachers, and how to recognize and deal with them. Every inspired holy man wrote on the topic or dealt with the enemy in real time.

Each God-called prophet is to point out, call out, and to cast out the false prophets because they are a clear and very present danger to the little flock of Christ and the God called and God centered prophet will not apologize, candy coat or soften his blows.

Some of these men should be obvious to an exercised believer. Men like Joel Osteen, the majority of preachers on T.V. channels like TBN, the “name it and claim it” types are obvious, the prosperity preachers are easily recognized. Those preachers in high places ministering to wicked men can be dangerous (not a slight against Graham; he is faithful to God). What about those that are not so easily spotted? Here are some marks of preachers that should be watched closely. We must be careful here because some of these traits may show up in all ministers at different times, as they should, but if they are ever present then they are the ever present witness against the minister. An example of what I mean about being careful. If one attends a church for the first time and the minister is speaking about giving, one should not walk out at the end of the service and label him as a money hungry preacher. A minister must at times deal with the topic of giving and the blessings that come to a generous spirit. If this minister speaks on giving the next week and the next and the next then you know.

Traits or statements to be weary of (and again be careful when making judgments).

1. “Serving God is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration.”  This is very telling. The man that believes this does not have a healthy prayer life and much or most, if not all, of his ministry is of the flesh.
2. If a minister ever makes the statement that preaching is the same for him every week instead of recognizing that the Power of God or the Presence of God is stronger at different times. This man is again of the flesh and you did not receive a message from God but a lecture from an empty man.
3. When a minister examines his ministry and he bases its worth on the number of people that have raised hands, been baptized, etc. one must be weary. He is measuring godliness by gain. If you were to read 1 Chron. 21 you will find David counting his people, against Joab’s sound counsel, in preparation for war and he was severely chastened by God for this act.  In fact, in verse 1 you will be startled to see that satan influenced him. Every preacher knows of this record or should, yet they still continue to count, count, count. Upon meeting a fellow preacher the first question is usually “how many did you have” or “how many were saved.”  This is a satanic and worldly trait.
4. The “every eye closed; every head bowed” type is extremely dangerous. Why? Because they are again counting and giving false hope to many. We will be like the magician that reveals the tricks of the trade only we will not wear a mask. Some preachers will ask for all heads bowed and all eyes closed and will ask for the hands of those that have said a stale, practiced prayer and if there are no hands being raised he will bear false witness and say “I see that hand” then hand start to be raised and he starts to count. This type is very dangerous. Christ always called men openly.
5. Those that rarely speak on holiness, repentance or even the Very Son of God are to be steered clear of.
6. If the preacher fails to rebuke open sin in a persons life he is to be prayed for and confronted by a more mature believer. This preacher is not doing his job faithfully. If a preacher allows someone in open sin to take part in the Lord’s Supper he is weak and needs encouragement, or he may need to be excused.

You may say that if a preacher followed these guide lines the church would be very small. It may be small, but it would be healthy and on the narrow way. In closing, we would encourage, or rather we would challenge thee to compare the minister mentioned above and compare him with the apostles and ministers in the Word of God, with the reformers or with the puritans. I mention those groups because it was during their times that the church was at her best.

Grace and peace be with thee,

As one sits still and knows God or communes with Him upon one’s bed many things and thoughts will present themselves as may God. Some of these things may be answers to Biblical or spiritual inquiries (though, for me, this type normally comes while driving). The Lord may give instruction, direction, or command during these times. [Allow me to inject a note here; notice from the above all that is missed by not being still and communing with God]

I would like to share a couple of lessons I have learned from my almost two decades (humanly speaking; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:3-4) of walking with Him. These (2) two lessons have multiple sub-lessons inherent within them. These sub-lessons are learned only by one’s growing understanding of the original (2) lessons, and this growing understanding may take years or, for some, only moments.(D.V.)

These (2) two lessons have become the foundation to my ministry.  That does not mean I preach or teach only a set of hobby-horse doctrines. What it does mean is this; all of my teaching, preaching, and for that matter, Christian living is founded upon these (2) two lessons or principles.

#1. God is absolutely sovereign in and over all. Yes, all things.                                                                                                 #2. To endure this, to persevere in, or to live this life wherein God has so graciously called us to live, it is essential that one must walk with God on a moment by moment basis.

For all of life’s little scattered pieces to line up one must know that God is sovereign. To understand and accept hardships or losses one must know God is sovereign. I know a man that lost his wife in a fire. Within days of losing his wife he stood behind a pulpit and said, “If I didn’t know that God is sovereign I couldn’t handle this.” [Another interjection, if you will; this church did, not nor does it, teach this doctrine. God allowed this writer to teach this blessed man the doctrine of sovereignty.] If one is to face down one’s fears one must know God is sovereign.

[ At this point let the writer introduce a sub-lesson. The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ is the Weapon and Armour of the believer. The “Name” is Power and Authority. If one is ever faced with one of satan’s (he does not get a capital s) minions, one is not to fear! With the faith of Christ one must speak the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and charge the enemy to depart. Remember, the Lord Jesus is, in fact, his Lord and Master too. Take with you the whole armour of God; put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those two orders are concealed and carried in the Name of …The..Lord…Jesus Christ.]

Richard Sandlin preached a message one called “Saved Soul but Lost Life.” If one would have both a saved soul and a saved life one must know God is sovereign. Lost life? The lost life is the life that is not lived in the light of God’s sovereignty. One cannot truly rest in Christ lest one knows that God is sovereign. One cannot take steps or risks, in and with faith, lest one knows God is sovereign. I can make bold this statement; there is nothing in this life that causes me to fear..no man…no gov’t, no demon, no failings… no-thing. Does this sound arrogant? It is not. It is not because it has anything to do with my strength or might. I can say that I am fearless because of Christ, Who has said over and over; again and again through the centuries, “Fear not; only believe,”  “Be not afraid,”  “Fear not their faces,” etc. It has been said that in various forms God has said, “Fear not” (365) three hundred and sixty-five times. That would mean God has given us a command to “fear not”  for everyday of our lives!!!!

#2. Walking with God. This doctrine can be stated in different ways. For example, David said, “I am continually with Thee”. Paul exhorts us to, “Pray without ceasing”  and “Pray[ing] always.”  David, again, declares “Thou understandest my thought afar off”, and Paul blesses us with this; ” …[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think...” How does one do this in this life when one is pulled in every direction; when everyone needs something?

* Desire His Presence above all else and above all others (Psalm 42:1; 73:25; Matt 10:37)                                                     *. See God everywhere and your thoughts will default back to Him. For example, when the wind blows think of the Holy Spirit and His power, love, and comfort (John 3:8). As you sit at a red traffic light think of the Power of Christ’s Blood and all that it has done and does for thee. When you look up (do this often) and see the clouds, remember they declare God’s Glory. When you wash your hands remember and thank Him because you have been washed by the Word and the Blood. When you rise in the morning and stretch, think of the Resurrection of Christ and that all that you are is in Him. As you bite into your meal and you taste, think “Taste and see that the Lord is Good”. Tell Him often, “Thank you”;  “I love You”;  “Without Thee, I am nothing”; “I belong to Thee”; “Thou art the Love of my life”                                                                       *. One should know that long prayers do not equal holiness. Consider the prayers in Scripture. Some are long and glorious like Solomon’s and Christ’s in John 17, yet most are short and to a point. To enter into ceaseless prayer is to walk in the attitude or essence of prayer. Once you are in His Presence…remain there. That’s it. Stay there. Sometimes prayer takes the form of a sigh or a cry that is directed toward God. Sometime the best prayer is to sit silently in His Divine Presence.

Walking with God in this very real way may not come quickly and it will require practice, but, Beloved, He is worth it.