Life is Short

Posted on November 28, 2014 by brothershawn

Sandemanian_graveyard,_Gayle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1383761“Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” Job 14:1-2

This passage reminds us that life is short. We are all marching toward the grave. To some this brings an unbelievable terror. But to the Christian this brings a mixture of emotions. The Christian knows that to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord. The believer has a hope, an anchor.

Those outside of Christ are without hope. Those who have rejected Christ and belittled the God of the Bible are also going to the grave and into eternity…A hopeless, Christless eternity.

We are born, as the book of Job says, to a lifetime of trouble and then we are cut down like the flowers of the field. Surely this thought should give pause to the most cynical scoffer.

Isn’t it strange how people hold onto and fight for the very last breath of this life yet make no preparation for the next?

Maybe they suppose that this life is all there is. But in their inmost being they know better.

Our Lord said there is a Hell to shun and a Heaven to gain.

Your never dying soul hangs in the balance.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Mark 8:36-37

“The Lord shuts us up to hopelessness and helplessness, in order that He may come as a God of Grace and display His abounding Mercy! All our hope lies in Him, and all other hopes are delusions! The great work in Conversion is not to make people better, so that they may come to God on a good footing—it is to strip them completely, and lay them low so that God may come to them when they are on a bad footing, or rather on no footing at all, but down in the dust at His feet!” – C. H. Spurgeon

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Parson Who Was Converted by His Own Sermon.

Posted on November 15, 2014 by brothershawn

1046-SouthDoorofStoneChurch-357x500This is an interesting account of a preacher who was converted in his pulpit while preaching. It is from the book, From Death To Life: Twenty Years Of My Ministry by Rev. William Haslam, 1886

“So I went up into the pulpit and gave out my text. I took it from the gospel of the day—”What think ye of Christ?” (Matt. 22:42).

As I went on to explain the passage, I saw that the Pharisees and scribes did not know that Christ was the Son of God, or that He was come to save them. They were looking for a king, the son of David, to reign over them as they were. Something was telling me, all the time, “You are no better than the Pharisees yourself-you do not believe that He is the Son of God, and that He is come to save you, any more than they did.” I do not remember all I said, but I felt a wonderful light and joy coming into my soul, and I was beginning to see what the Pharisees did not.

Whether it was something in my words, or my manner, or my look, I know not; but all of a sudden a local preacher, who happened to be in the congregation, stood up, and putting up his arms, shouted out in a Cornish manner, “The parson is converted! The parson is converted! Hallelujah!” and in another moment his voice was lost in the shouts and praises of three or four hundred of the congregation. Instead of rebuking this extraordinary “brawling,” as I should have done in a former time, I joined in the outburst of praise; and to make it more orderly, I gave out the Doxology—”Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”—and the people sang it with heart and voice, over and over again. My Churchmen were dismayed, and many of them fled precipitately from the place. Still the voice of praise went on, and was swelled by numbers of passers-by, who came into the church, greatly surprised to hear and see what was going on.

When this subsided, I found at least twenty people crying for mercy, whose voices had not been heard in the excitement and noise of thanksgiving. They all professed to find peace and joy in believing. Amongst this number there were three from my own house; and we returned home praising God.

The news spread in all directions that “the parson was converted,” and that by his own sermon, in his own pulpit to. The church would not hold the crowds who came in the evening. I cannot exactly remember what I preached about on that occasion; but one thing I said was, “that if I had died last week I should have been lost for ever.” I felt it was true. So clear and vivid was the conviction through which I had passed, and so distinct was the light into which the Lord had brought me, that I knew and was sure that He had “brought me up out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and put a new song into my mouth” (Ps. 40). He had “quickened” me, who was before “dead in trespasses and sins,” (Eph. 2:1).”

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/14578/pg14578.html

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Break Up Your Fallow Ground

Posted on October 13, 2014 by brothershawn

Sow to you104_6370rselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. Hosea 10:12-13

In this passage God tells His people to break up their fallow ground. Fallow means to be unplowed or uncultivated. It describes a field that has been let go or neglected. Spiritually it describes a heart that has become complacent and unbroken.

My children and grandchildren will reap the iniquity and the “fruit of lies” that several generations of complacent Christians have allowed this nation to sow. I sometimes find it hard to believe how far our nation has plunged. Because of the indoctrination of our school system and the steady corrupting influence of the media most people cannot even discern right from wrong.

“It is time to seek the Lord” Like the people in Hosea’s day we have “plowed wickedness” and then act like we are shocked when we reap iniquity. We have trusted in our own way instead of seeking the Lord.

A.W. Tozer said concerning this passage;

“The fallow field is smug, contented, protected from the shock of the plow and the agitation of the harrow. Safe and undisturbed, it sprawls lazily in the sunshine, the picture of sleepy contentment… But it is paying a terrible price for its tranquility; never does it feel the motions of mounting life, nor see the wonders of bursting seed, nor the beauty of ripening grain. FRUIT IT CAN NEVER KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS AFRAID OF THE PLOW AND THE HARROW… In direct opposite to this, the cultivated field has yielded itself to the adventure of living. The protecting fence has opened to admit the plow, and the plow has come as plows always come, practical, cruel, business-like and in a hurry. Peace has been shattered by the shouting farmer and the rattle of machinery. The field has felt the travail of change; it has been upset, turned over, bruised and broken.” 

We have been complacent long enough. We have avoided the plow for too long. Our smug faces need to be washed with tears. Many church doors will close…it is just a matter of time. A lot of churches are just a couple funerals away from extinction.

We need to beg God to plow our hearts. It is true that God will always have a remnant. He will always have His churches. He will always have a people on this earth until He returns…they just may not be here in America. {Some statistics say that 4000 churches shut their doors in America every year}

I had heard several years ago that some countries in the “far east” were preparing to send Christian missionaries to America. A walk through any mall or shopping center reveals how heathen we have become.

Do you really want God to pour out His Spirit on your church, in your community?  Are you prepared for the plow to run through the middle of your undisturbed heart? Do you really want God to plow your fallow ground?

“Lord, prepare my heart to receive thy word, that it may be like the good ground, or I shall be undone for ever. Let my heart be broken up and prepared by thy plough. That I may have a good, an upright and sincere heart.” – Benjamin Keach, Baptist Preacher, Horse-lie-down, Southwark, London {1640-1704}

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Looking for the Perfect Church

Posted on September 1, 2014 by brothershawn

Appletons_32_pg113Ephesians 4:1-3

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

I want to state right at the beginning that looking for a perfect church is a ridiculous endeavor.

It is a hopeless endeavor.

It is an unrealistic endeavor.

You may as well be looking for Shangri-La or the Fountain of Youth.

Any church can be picked apart.

Any preacher can be run down.

Any preacher’s wife or family can be criticized.

No congregation is beyond reproach.

Once you start down that road of looking for a perfect church, if you do not detour somewhere along the way, you will spend a lifetime on that road…and the road leads to nowhere. {except possibly to bitterness and regret}

I am not saying that all churches are the same.

I am not saying that all churches are right.

I am not saying that all churches are good places to attend.

I am simply saying…

Read my lips… “There is no such thing as a perfect church.”

Or as one poet wrote,

“If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don’t join that church;
You’d spoil the atmosphere.”

You are a unique individual and no one believes or thinks just like you do.

No one is going to dress just like you dress.

No one is going to speak just like you speak.

No one is going to like just what you like.

Churches have problems.

I have recently been studying the Church at Corinth and I have written down many of the negative aspects of that particular church…

Divisions

Contentions

Carnality

Immaturity

Envy

Strife

Pride

Puffed up

Fornication

Suing one another

Incest

Idolatry

Heresies

Abusing the Lords Supper

Abusing the gifts of the Spirit

Ridiculing the Apostle Paul

This is not a complete or comprehensive list of problems in that particular church but you get the idea.

I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul DID NOT say;

“Okay all you ‘good’ Christians leave and start or join another church because this one is a mess.”

I think rather than jumping around from church to church maybe we should, in all lowliness and meekness and with longsuffering, forbear one another in love and endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Lowliness and meekness is the opposite of pride.

Please do not misunderstand me…

You should look for a good church.

You should find a church that teaches and preaches the Bible.

You should look for a church that most reflects what you believe.

But do not waste your time looking for a perfect church. You will only make you and your family miserable in the process.

Recommended reading: A Tale of Three Kings and Letters to a Devastated Christian: Healing for the Brokenhearted both by Gene Edwards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We Have A Job To Do

Posted on June 28, 2014 by brothershawn

 

 

Appletons_32_pg113

Matthew 28:18-19

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…”

It is easy to find the statistic that between 4000 and 7000 churches a year close their doors in this country.

The situation is worse in the United Kingdom. Some in the secular press are predicting that the “church” is dead.

I have some news for you…churches are dying and many have died but Jesus Christ will always have a New Testament Church on this earth.

{It is also noteworthy that while in this country churches are closing their doors there has been a 74% increase in the building and opening of mosques in this country since 2000… Some in the very church buildings that have been abandoned.}

In the 18th century, Voltaire, the French philosopher, announced, “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker.”

One hundred years later Voltaire was dead and his own press and house were being used to print and store Bibles by the British & Foreign Bible Society.

God’s will have His churches on this earth.

They may persecuted and be run underground.

They may meet in barns and in the woods like our Baptist forefathers had to do.

But I believe that there will always be a remnant until the Lord returns.

I hope you are not so naive as to think persecution will not come to Bible believing Baptist in this country…You may be in for a shock if the Lord tarries.

We must admit we live in a different day. We are not living in the days of our grandparents or even our parents.

Almost twenty years ago the late Judge Robert Bork wrote a book entitled ‘Slouching Toward Gomorrah’… Today our nation is not slouching… it is moving at a breakneck speed toward Gomorrah.

If there was ever a day that we needed some strong churches with some strong pastors today is that day.

The man and the churches that stand today and says, “thus saith the Lord” is going to have a big red target on their back.

But God has not changed and His Word hasn’t changed. We still have a job to do.

And He has all power.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Battle is the Lord’s

Posted on May 20, 2014 by brothershawn

g1Sa1750Dore_DavidAndGoliathI Samuel 17:32-47

“This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” {vs.46-47}

 

Today our churches seem feeble and cowering like Saul’s army while the devil takes the field and curses our God and mocks our Saviour?

Everyday the headlines read like a true Bible believer’s worst nightmare.

Our Christian forefathers could have never envisioned the day in which we live.

Our nation’s founding fathers {even the deist and unbelievers among them} would think our present circumstances as bedlam.

The churches today seem to be retreating or holed up in their buildings instead of going to battle.

The silence is deafening.

While the armies of the living God {the churches and their pastors} hide in their tents and quake in their boots, I too must ask with David…IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?

The Bible says that David was, “…but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.” {vs.42}

David didn’t look like much …but the victory was not dependent upon David.

God doesn’t need our strength,

God told the Apostle Paul “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul said “when I am weak then I am strong”

God is not looking for a strong person.

God doesn’t need mans methods nor did David need Saul’s armor.

The men of Israel and their king were walking by sight.

If I understand this book aright, God does not use men or churches who are walking by sight.

Because Saul and his army were looking out instead of up all they could see was Goliath.

We have a tendency to leave God out of the equation and to put anything else in His place.

God seems prone to use those whom the world would never choose.

“…God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” {I Cor. 1:27}

Will you speak up?

Will you trust in God?

Or will you be a coward?

David’s God is my God and the battle is still the Lord’s.

“…God’s people are strangers and pilgrims in this world and the world hates them, as it did their Lord, because they testify of it that its works are evil (John 7:7). This ungodly generation is more likely to break our necks than fall on our necks in love and appreciation.” – Vance Havner

May God help us to speak the truth even if it kills us.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Great Gain

Posted on April 5, 2014 by brothershawn

RoyalG_45_Pg86“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I Timothy 6:6-8

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says to be discontented means – “Want of content; uneasiness or inquietude of mind; dissatisfaction at any present state of things.”

I have been thinking a lot on contentment the past few days.

God’s word says, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”

There is something in man {a sinful, fallen something} that causes him to always be restless and discontented.

We somehow think if we only had _________ {you fill in the blank} we would be happy.

“C.H. Spurgeon said, “… The mind of man is like the daughters of the horseleech, which cry for ever, “Give, give.”

This is an indication of our rebellion and willful ignorance of His Word.

God has told us that “godliness with contentment is great gain”

“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” {Psalm 37:16} In our hearts we often reject what God says in His word.

Matthew Henry stated, “…all truly godly people have learned with Paul, in whatever state they are, to be therewith content, They are content with what God allots for them, well knowing that this is best for them. Let us all then endeavour after godliness with contentment.”

Jeremiah Burroughs in his little booklet, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment defines contentment thus, “Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”

He went on to say; “Oh, that we could but convince men and women that a murmuring spirit is a greater evil than any affliction, whatever the affliction!”  – ibid

Often times we think that if we had more of this worlds goods we would be happy.

A fine preacher by the name of Earl Hughes used to jokingly say, “Money can’t buy happiness but it sure can drive misery away”

If we would only use our spiritual common sense we would notice that those who live in luxury are not always happy.

In his book No Holiness, No Heaven!, Dr. Richard Alderson said, “God calls us, not to happiness, but to holiness. Of course, to be holy is of necessity also to be happy, but we are to seek after holiness…. If we seek happiness we shall get neither that {happiness} nor holiness” ([Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1986], p. 74).

I am not saying we should not try to improve ourselves or our situation. I am saying we should be content wherever God has placed us.

As a preacher friend of mine said years ago “Bloom where you’re planted”.

I couldn’t help wondering how the Apostle Paul might think of our incessant whining and discontentment. He had learned that whatsoever state he was in, therewith to be content. {Philippians 4:11-13}

Very often we complain about everything. Our house, our church, our car, our spouse, our kids, our job…never satisfied or as Webster put it, “dissatisfaction at any present state of things”                                                                                                                                            

We have a tendency to be a restless lot.

And unthankful.

I am afraid I still have a lot to learn.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The New Birth…A Startling Revelation

Posted on March 3, 2014 by brothershawn

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3b

“The new birth is revelation, it is just a great a wonder when a sinner feels his sins pardoned and feels for the first time that God is his Father – it is just as great a marvel and revelation to him as if a new Bible had been created and dropped down from the skies. It is revelation. He may have read the thing in a book. He may have heard many a sermon. He may have seen people profess to be converted, but the new birth is a startling revelation to everyone who experiences it.” “It is so far as you are concerned , a new world, a new Bible, a new atonement, a new marvel; and so far as you are concerned in that experience, it is just as new as if the cross and the atonement and salvation had just been made, right on the spot, for your benefit”–  G. D. Watson {1845-1924}

How many people have really experienced the new birth? When reading the above description given by G.D. Watson I cannot help but wonder. The old Methodist preacher gives some interesting insights to what it means to be born again.

The sinner feels his sins pardoned.

The sinner feels that God is truly his Father.

The Bible seems like a new book.

The sinner may have read many books and heard many sermons but the “new birth is a startling revelation”

The world seems new.

The Bible seems new.

The atonement becomes personal.

God turns peoples lives upside down.

Salvation is life changing.

It is as radical as anything known to man.

The new birth is a miracle.

The hymn writer stated it thus,

“Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.” – George Wade Robinson

1838-1877

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I Hope I am Wrong. Mark Driscoll and Christianity.

Posted on January 1, 2014 by brothershawn

Appletons_32_pg113Luke 6:44-46

“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

I want to issue a warning concerning Pastor Mark Driscoll. I cannot fully document his shenanigans in this short blog but I can provide links so that someone may explore further if they so desire. The Bible states that Jesus came to save or deliver His people from their sins. {Matthew 1:21}That has been my experience. He has transformed my life and continues to work on me every minute of every day. The very things that Mark Driscoll “glories” in, Jesus delivered me from. I am sure he could say as another pastor famously stated; “We have more people in our restrooms than you have in your congregation”. But the size of the congregation does not indicate that a church or ministry is Biblical. Many who read this will not understand why I even make mention of this man. I wrote a small piece about him in May of 2013. Many people do not see the trend that is growing among the young people in our churches. Many may say “he is a Calvinist,  that’s what is wrong with him”. He is an antinomian but the fact that he is a “Calvinist” is pretty much irrelevant  to the facts I am presenting. I hope this small article will encourage its readers to think about the future of Christianity.

To cut to the chase I will give you some quotes and links to substantiate them.

I am of the opinion that MANY young “church people” have been so influenced by the world that they would label me a “prude” and agree with Driscoll’s way of thinking…I hope I am wrong about that.

* “Jesus Christ is going to have a tattoo—Revelation says on his second coming. It says that down his right leg will be written King of Kings and Lord of Lords, which will be really freakish for all for the fundamentalists to see Jesus all tattooed up. I can’t wait for that day… Make sure you go to a good tattoo parlour, two of the best in Seattle are actually members of Mars Hill…” {He also is a promoter of the use of alcohol}

* Mark Driscoll states his barber {a flamboyant transsexual} provides “the finest selection of waiting area pornography in our city.” 

* Mark Driscoll claims to be clairvoyant, “Some people actually see things. This may be gift of discernment. On occasion, I see things. I see things.” {see link to read more concerning his “visions”}

* He is very vulgar and explicit in his speech, even when preaching. His sermons are R-rated and his nickname is the “Cussing Pastor” {Warning Very Unnecessary crude vulgar talk – the sermons and quotes in these links are crude and sexual in nature. I only provide them so that people may know the exact truth.}

As my old history teacher, Mr. King used to say, “ to be forewarned is to be forearmed” and “a word to the wise is sufficient”

http://www.driscollcontroversy.com/?page_id=126

http://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2011/11/mark-driscoll-not-qualified-as-pastor.html

http://apprising.org/2011/08/09/mark-driscoll-has-personal-revelations-from-jesus/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13XI1e1zW1–7aX3t8n7uzFr3XylWcGKcEmaeQ7_55nw/edit?pli=1

https://christianexcavator.com/2013/05/26/they-allure-through-the-lust-of-the-flesh/

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Be Not Deceived…Now Isn’t That Just Ducky.

Posted on December 22, 2013 by brothershawn

I Corinthians 6:9

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

I have often felt that if there was a portion of scripture that needed to be shouted across this nation of ours it is the one given above. Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson has managed to do just that.  Let me preface this article by stating I have never watched one episode of Duck Dynasty. As a matter of fact I have never watched so much as a minute of the show. I have heard that the show is clean and funny but mostly stupid. I guess two out of three isn’t bad.

I would think it rather cutting that this is the man who has brought this passage to the limelight. Where are the well known TV and radio ministers on this subject?  Why haven’t they publicly proclaimed the warnings from this passage of scripture?  Regardless of what I might think of the Duck Dynasty people or their lifestyle or their doctrines, I am glad that the man stated the truth concerning I Corinthians chapter six. {Philippians 1:15-18}

It is interesting to note that the Apostle Paul made similar statements concerning those who would not be in Heaven in several of His other epistles. {Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5-6, Colossians 3:5-6}

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” {Ephesians 5:4-6}

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment