Broad River Baptist Church of NE Georgia

Web Site for New Church - Grace Covenant Baptist Church

2011-08-23T16:30:00.002-04:00

Please visit the website for Grace especially if you are in the Gainesville, GA. area.

Beginning in August 14th - time change for Sunday Morning worship

2011-07-27T11:00:00.001-04:00

We will be having Sunday Morning services beginning at 9am 'til about 10:15 or so. This will take affect on August 14th. This allows us to accommodate the new church in Gainesville beginning their services at 11am. For more about the new plant called Grace Covenant Baptist Church, see http://chplantgainesville.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your prayers and support as we minister in both ministries.

The Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services will not change.

Sunday evenings will be the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 6pm. We meet usually at the pastor's house.

Wednesday evenings will be the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7pm usually at a members house.

Call pastor Steve at 706-778-9374 for more.

Piper and Warren

2011-06-01T21:38:00.000-04:00

I am troubled with both Piper and Warren. Both have made some very bad moves in recent years with the kinds of guest speakers that they both have and are having that give the impression that theology is one thing and practice is another. Warren still has his name on 'A Common Word' where Muslims are tickling the ears of evangelicals. He still subscribes to the Manhattan Declaration which is the practical outworking of ECT (The ECT in the 90's dealt with the doctrine extensively; the Manhattan basically assumes the united doctrine). Warren endorses Brian Maclaren, the Tony Blair's interfaith agenda and Rob Bell (http://apprising.org/2011/05/22/saddleback-church-of-rick-warren-using-rob-bell-teachings/).

Warren's ecumenism is obvious (“Now I don’t agree with everything in everybody’s denomination, including my own. I don’t agree with everything that Catholics do or Pentecostals do, but what binds us together is so much stronger than what divides us,” he said. “I really do feel that these people are brothers and sisters in God’s family. I am looking to build bridges with the Orthodox Church, looking to build bridges with the Catholic Church,….” [http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5265]); Piper's is sadly growing (see http://oxgoad.ca/category/issues/ecumenism/ and http://apprising.org/2011/01/10/more-questions-concerning-dr-john-piper/).

May the Lord give us grace not to look to man but to Jesus of the Scriptures.

May the Lord give repentance to both men for being part of the confusion that is so prevalent in our world today.

Tumor Update

2011-05-26T17:44:00.001-04:00

Psalm 28:6-9 6 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. 8 The LORD is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. 9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

I praise the Lord for His great mercy to me. Praise Him with me.

Great News indeed: Just got off the phone with my DR. who just got off the phone with the radiologist who did my PET/CT on my brain to determine my tumor size and activity. The radiologist said that normal brain uptake of glucose is a factor between 8-12. With gliomas the normal uptake are factors up to 20. According to the radiologist, the uptake factor with my tumor was 0. This means that my tumor is dead! Or at least, non-detectably alive. This means that the tumor will not grow under these current conditions. So, the goal is to keep the tumor good and dead and decaying so that the body will continue to deal with dead cells in a detoxifying environment. My treatments will continue as we have been so we can continue to get the mass to shrink. This way it will relieve my seizure symptoms which I do still have. Praise the Lord Jesus! May He help me and heal me completely. Thanks for your prayers and loving support.

God Never Sends His Word in Vain

2011-04-19T15:32:00.002-04:00

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isa. 55:11-12)

"In some cases, the Word takes effect another day. One faithful man of God labored in his parish for many a long year; and though greatly blessed elsewhere, yet died without, I believe, knowing one of his people brought to the knowledge of the Saviour. Another servant now stands in his room; and souls have been gathered in in crowds, every one declaring that it is the word of their departed minister that comes up into their heart, and makes them flee. Ah! God is a faithful God. He will not let any of his words fall to the ground.

The excellent John Flavel was minister of Dartmouth, in England. One day he preached from these words: " If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha." The discourse was unusually solemn, particularly the explanation of the curse. At the conclusion, when Mr. Flavel rose to pronounce the blessing, he paused, and said, "How shall I bless this whole assembly, when every person in it who loves not the Lord Jesus is anathema maranatha?" The solemnity of this address deeply affected the audience. In the congregation was a lad named Luke Short, about fifteen years old, a native of Dartmouth. Shortly after he went to sea, and sailed to America, where he passed the rest of his life. His life was lengthened far beyond the usual term. When a hundred years old, he was able to work on his farm, and his mind was not at all impaired. He had lived all this time in carelessness and sin; he was a sinner a hundred years old, and ready to die accursed. One day, as he set in his field, he busied himself in reflecting on his past life. He thought of the days of his youth. His memory fixed on Mr. Flavel's sermon, a considerable part of which he remembered. The earnestness of the minister, the truths spoken, the effect on the people, all came fresh to his mind. He felt that he had not loved the Lord Jesus; he feared the dreadful anathema; he was deeply convinced of sin, was brought to the blood of sprinkling. He lived to his one hundred and sixteenth year, giving every evidence of being born again. Ah! how faithful God is to his word. He did let none of his words fall to the ground.

Be of good cheer, Christian mothers, who weep over your unawakened children. They may be going far from you, perhaps across the seas, and you tremble for their souls. Remember God can reach them everywhere. A believing mother never prayed in vain. Be instant in prayer. God will not forget his word. He will let none of his words fall to the ground.

God's Glory; God's Will

2011-04-16T16:54:00.000-04:00

We want God's glory above all our personal concerns lest we be found reprobate and in need of true conversion. God's glory must always come first above all else, even our most prized possessions, above all relations, above all health concerns, above all financial concerns – God's glory ought to be and must be our chiefest concern.

Whether you eat or drink and whatever you do – do all – to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things – to Him be glory now and forever Amen (Rom. 11:36).

We are saved for God's glory and if we live without God's glory our chiefest concern - how can we possibly say we are His child who have the new heart – that honors the Lord for who He is? Let us examine ourselves and be truly honest – Is God my chiefest concern or am I? Is your concern about putting God and His interests first in your life? Is it your aim to please God in all matters by faith? Is Jesus really your Lord – and you His servant? Are you a servant of Jesus Christ? Are you glad to be owned by Him? Or are you simply glad to go to Heaven on His robe's coat tails while you enjoy your freedom to do as you please – since we are not under law but under grace?

We must have God's glory – God's name and kingdom and will as our chiefest concern!

Let us make one more point about the petition: Thy will be done. We said that this refers to our resignation to doing and performing the revealed will of God. But it also includes are resigning to the Lord's afflicting providences in our lives. We must let God have His way with us so that we resign ourselves to His will and way being best in our lives even when our will would have our circumstances differently.

I willed not for my tumor. I willed not for my job to end and my ability to drive. God willed it so – to afflict me for my good and His glory – and I must will to have His will and way without complaining, whining, or full of distemper. My will must be submissive and even joyful not for the pain of it but for the outcomes that the affliction will produce.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (complete) and complete (intact, all together), lacking nothing (missing no parts).

In other words, we as believers are not whole persons in character; we lack parts, various sorts of character; and, the Lord has ordained that we go through trials so that we by those trials may become more and more of a complete character – picking up along the way those pieces of our character that need to be part of who we need to be in Christ.

Let us call on the Lord for wisdom and grace to resign our wills to His so that we will sweetly be changed from one point of glory to the next – all by faith until the Lord of glory returns from glory changing our vile bodies into His the likeness of His glorious body.

Two-Age Scheme to the Last Days pt 1

2011-04-02T17:37:00.000-04:00

Preached at BR

As we look at the Lord's prayer and in particular the second petition – Thy Kingdom Come, we have paused to consider a few clarifying points about what this petition is addressing.

As we noted last time, the subject of the petition: 'thy kingdom' seems obvious to understand at first glance; yet, what is our Father's kingdom? Is it the spiritual kingdom whereby we are asking the Lord to have his dominion and rule in us; in other words, is this prayer similar to how a lost person would pray? O Jesus, be my Lord and Savior; king me, rule my life, make me your servant forever? Or is this subject referring to the physical Kingdom, the Kingdom of David to be fully established on Earth to bring in a universal and eternal peace?

Well, it does seem that Jesus is truly calling us to pray concerning this physical kingdom to come; yet, it does seem logical and reasonable to conclude that if one does not have the Father for His king spiritually then there the kingdom to come is only a matter of personal destruction.

So, I would suggest that kingdom would include both spiritual and physical aspects but the physical kingdom is the primary focus since this was the hope of Israel who were longing to rid themselves of their enemies; yea, the Romans – and the Lord had promised Abraham and David that the seed to come would advance His kingdom over the Earth. You can see this in Gen. 12; 15; 17 and 2Sam. 7 and compare these with Rom 4 and 2pet 3 and Rev. 19.

The predicate of the petition – 'come' is a humble request for the Father's kingdom to come which raised the question: Is this a personal, spiritual coming or a universal, physical coming? And is it an immediate coming or a coming in the near future? In other words, are we praying: Father, bring your kingdom spiritually now to my heart, to our church or, Father, bring your kingdom physically to conquer all your enemies soon to this world of evil?

Well, it seems that to pray either would be appropriate since we need the Father to be our King now in the present in order to enjoy His kingdom in the future. Yet, again, the prayer does focus more on the universal physical earthly aspect of the kingdom.

Now, this sets the stage for further discussion about the nature of the kingdom and about our hope. Just what did Jesus do at the cross and resurrection? Where is Jesus seated presently? Is the kingdom in heaven now or is the kingdom on hold until the day the Lord returns? Theologically, when we entertain such questions we are dealing with questions pertaining to eschatology which is a fancy term for the study of the last days, the end times. Jesus is calling us to pray in regards to eschatology. For to pray that the Father's kingdom come we are calling on the Father to fulfill His divine plan of His kingdom – to fulfull the end times, eschatology.

We stated last time that as we look at the OT – this is exactly what the Father is planning – He is planning to fulfill His promise first given in the garden to crush the head of the serpent through the seed of the woman.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,

and between thy seed and her seed;

it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The Lord God speaks to the serpent and makes three points, three promises:

First, there will be hatred between the serpent and the woman – this is both a singular reality as well as a representative reality – for the woman is the mother of all living and it is by her that all the human race is derived. It is with this woman and all who are in her loins that will have enmity with the serpent and all those he represents. Obviously, the serpent has no offspring other than those who he labors to capture into his fold.

This then brings us to the second promise that indeed there will be an offspring – a seed coming from both the serpent and the woman. This seed is both a singular and plural reality. We will get back to this in a moment.

The third promise is that this seed, this offspring will crush the head of the serpent though the serpent may indeed crush the heel of the man. Though satan may have some advantage over the man in his subtle bites; the man will ultimately have the victory.

Well now, who is this seed?

First, Satan does have a seed and it is not just the fallen angels with him. It refers to all those who are under his sway – who do His bidding whether religiously or not. But one passage points out that even among religionsists Satan can have his seed. See John 8:44. John the Baptist and Jesus both called the pharisees and religious authorities of his day – vipers, snakes a brood of vipers. Also, in Mat. 13: Jesus gives his parable of the good seed and the weeds and how that though the farmer sows the good seed and enemy comes and sows his seeds. Jesus explains: Matthew 13:37-39 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.

Second, the seed does indeed refer to a singular seed, the seed of the woman who is truly the Son of man the Son of God Jesus Christ the righteous who took on flesh to destroy the Devil with all his works.

Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Could we not pray – Oh Father, come and manifest your Kingly rule in my life in such a way as to crush, destroy the works of the flesh, the works of Satan's devices against my soul. O, give us overcoming victory!

Paul states that it was at the cross, the circumcision of Christ that...

Colossians 2:13-15 God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

As the ancients would ride in triumph through there city with the conquered ones trailing behind them, so our Savior has put to open shame his conquered foes for all world to fear.

O, let us see by faith our conquered foes and see the light of victory on the horizon as the breaking dawn of day.

Jesus took the bite of Satan on the cross at the heel but in doing so – Jesus crushed the serpent's head; yet, not altogether --- Because the seed of the woman also has a plural aspect in that it refers to all those who are in Christ.

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The church will have her day with Satan and his minions at that Last Day, the final victory which will come when Jesus casts the evil one in the Lake of fire.

Revelation 20:9-10 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

So, we see that the promise of God beginning with Gen. That He plans for victory; He plans to be King over all, the absolute ruler through His vice-regent Jesus Christ who God the Father used to bring the final blow to the enemy of God for the sake of His Kingdom.

This is our prayer. 'Come, Father, bring this victory, Cause your kingdom to have full sway.

A Visit to Rick Warren’s Health Seminar – The Unfolding of a Global New Age Plan by Jennifer Pekich

2011-03-25T22:05:00.001-04:00

A great blog post that should cause us to once again shudder at Warren. Then to think that Piper and Warren are friends and exchanging pulpits is very troubling at best. Let us beware lest we too fall prey to the pits of compromise all around us.

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=5636

A radio show for more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BskPtjZxCTc

Blessings,

Steve

A Good Site

2011-03-07T00:10:00.001-05:00

Take a look: http://apprising.org/endorsements/

Please keep your ear to the train rails of our times. Much confusion; much new age philosophy; much watered down theology in our churches; much watered down music; so, we need to be far more clear in our worship, preaching, music and theology so that we are truly clear about what we believe and what we do not believe.

Blessings,

Steve

Sinner Do not Rebel

2011-02-12T15:52:00.001-05:00

The sinner, under the afflictive hand of divine providence, is always made better or worse. If sickness and pain and the death of friends do not wean him from the world and drive him to God, they harden his heart. This is the effect of all the judgments of heaven and of all the calamities and miseries of human life. This is strikingly illustrated in the case of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Thus despising the riches of divine goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads him to repentance, after his hardness and impenitent heart and with a stiff neck, he perseveres in his course of rebellion, treasuring up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:4,5)."

--Asahel Nettleton

What a Wonder of Prayer

2011-02-12T15:47:00.001-05:00

Luke 11:2 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven,

Jesus is providing us with a wonderful gift – the gift of prayer, the gift of communion with our Holy Lord.

We as believers often need to be reminded that pray is not just a duty – It is a high privilege. In fact it is the highest of all privileges – to speak with the king of the universe directly, singularly, without any human mediator or charms or ritual or even animal sacrifices. Because of our wonderful Savior, our only mediator, we have access to the Lord of all Creation – and faith in Jesus grants us the awesome privilege to call upon our Creator as our Father.

Think about this privilege: When was the last you spoke with your governor in a private meeting let alone through some sort of private communications such as a letter or so? Now, how about your President? Most of us, if not all of us, will never have the privilege to speak one on one with any high official – let alone the President of the United States, who is the most powerful figure head in the world.

While I am not saying anything new, we as the beloved of the Lord need to meditate on the wonder of it all – just to think that we have direct access to our Creator-Father 24/7 because of Jesus Christ who died to tear down the wall, the veil that separated us from our Holy God because of our sin.

Let us pray to our wonderful heavenly Father in the name of our glorious Savior running from our sin and to our only refuge.

I love Katrina

2010-12-16T15:20:00.000-05:00

What a blessing! May we raise her for the Lord!

Katrina is Here

2010-12-16T14:22:00.000-05:00

Thanks for your prayers.

How shall we inherit Eternal Life according to the Law?

2010-11-29T16:31:00.000-05:00

Per my message on Sunday, Nov. 28.

We are studying the Gospel of Luke – the good news of Luke about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – who is LORD – He is YHWH, as we shall see

And according to the Law of Moses – we must love Jesus, we must love the Father and the Holy Spirit - the incomprehensible mysterious triune God

This is what Luke 10:25-28 tells us:
Luke 10:25-28 25 ¶ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

This lawer, master teacher of the law - gives us the primal, most fundamental Action required of us individuals. This action is not to work hard, it is not to til the ground, make sweet music, etc. etc. Nay, rather, the Lawer gives us the one and only requirement that is fundamental to all other actions of humanity. In fact, if you and I do this one action, then all others will naturally flow and follow.

The action is constant, continual, unending, uninterrupted, never diminishing - Love

In other words, the law requires: thou shalt constantly be devoted to, to cherish, to treasure and delight in and be loyal to and be content with ONE – and only ONE.
Thou shalt love in such a way as to actively give - with the entirety of the person - affection and devotion for one AND to actively refrain and abhor all others. There is no pure love for the Lord while loving your pleasures and treasures.

The Lawyer gives us the Object of such love

'The Lord thy God' – This is yahweh the creator and covenant keeping Lord.
Yahweh is the everlasting One, the ever present One, the Almighty, the absolute True and Holy One who never changes and always keeps His promises.

This Yahweh is the all existent One needing nothing or noone for His existence. He is the most pure and absolute being and His being IS - with no increase with no diminishing having no need of help from anyone.

Yahweh needs no air to live, needs no eyes to see, needs no ears to hear, needs no feet to walk because wherever we may go, Yahweh is totally and altogether there, and here and everywhere – altogether in the past, altogether in the present and altogether in the future. How is this so? I do not know; I do not understand but this is the LORD – the ego eimi (I AM).

The Lord, YHWH, is the the everlasting ever present all sufficient being and the sovereign cause of all other beings and entities of existence. Yahweh is the master being in sovereign control of eternity and in sovereign control of all other existence - having no body, having no physical substance.

Yet, how inconceivable is it - it is utterly unutterable to conceive that this Mighty Master of all existence would then come to this planet and robe Himself with humanity and human flesh.

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with (face to face with) God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men

14 ¶ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
and thy neighbour as thyself.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (ego eimi).

John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am (ego eimi) you will die in your sins."

Oh, to believe in the Lord, Yahweh, is to believe in Jesus. If we do not – we are utterly doomed – doomed in our sins and under the Lord's curse of destruction.

Jesus tolerates no rivals – Jesus must exalt Himself – for He is the LORD who calls us to bow to no other.

Jesus was more than just a man – He was God – the Lord Yahweh, who is come in the flesh. He is the great I Am that Moses saw - the great master of eternity who destroyed Egypt and displaced the might red sea. Jesus is He of whom Moses spoke – 'See the Salvation of the LORD'.

his same Jesus will be coming soon to judge the living and the dead and if we are not found loving Jesus and loving His Father with constant and contented devotion, then we are not one of His and He will cut us off; He will turn us upside down (Psa. 146).

We are to live to love the LORD.

Now, the Lawer gives us the Measure of our love:

With all of our heart, with all thy soul, strength and mind:

Adam Clarke, (1715-1832), states the following about this love for the Lord:

'But what is implied in loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, strength, etc., and when may a man be said to do this?
1. 'He loves God with all his heart, who loves nothing in comparison of him, and nothing but in reference to him: - who is ready to give up, do, or suffer any thing in order to please and glorify him: - who has in his heart neither love nor hatred, hope nor fear, inclination, nor aversion, desire, nor delight, but as they relate to God, and are regulated by him.
2. 'He loves God with all his soul, or rather, εν ολη τη ψυχη, with all his life, who is ready to give up life for his sake - to endure all sorts of torments, and to be deprived of all kinds of comforts, rather than dishonor God: - who employs life with all its comforts, and conveniences, to glorify God in, by, and through all: - to whom life and death are nothing, but as they come from and lead to God, From this Divine principle sprang the blood of the martyrs, which became the seed of the Church. They overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and loved not their lives unto the death. See Rev_12:11.
3. 'He loves God with all his strength (Mar_12:30; Luk_10:27) who exerts all the powers of his body and soul in the service of God: - who, for the glory of his Maker, spares neither labor nor cost - who sacrifices his time, body, health, ease, for the honor of God his Divine Master: - who employs in his service all his goods, his talents, his power, credit, authority, and influence.
4.He loves God with all his mind (intellect - διανοια) who applies himself only to know God, and his holy will:
- who receives with submission, gratitude, and pleasure, the sacred truths which God has revealed to man:
- who studies no art nor science but as far as it is necessary for the service of God, and uses it at all times to promote his glory
- who forms no projects nor designs but in reference to God and the interests of mankind:
- who banishes from his understanding and memory every useless, foolish, and dangerous thought, together with every idea which has any tendency to defile his soul, or turn it for a moment from the center of eternal repose.
In a word, he who sees God in all things - thinks of him at all times - having his mind continually fixed upon God, acknowledging him in all his ways - who begins, continues, and ends all his thoughts, words, and works, to the glory of his name:
- this is the person who loves God with all his heart, life, strength, and intellect.
'He is crucified to the world, and the world to him: he lives, yet not he, but Christ lives in him. He beholds as in a glass the glory of the Lord, and is changed into the same image from glory to glory.

'Simply and constantly looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of his faith, he receives continual supplies of enlightening and sanctifying grace, and is thus fitted for every good word and work.'

Psalm 31:23 23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

The Contemporary Christian Music

2010-11-11T21:32:00.000-05:00

I appreciate Geoff Thomas finding this comment by a popular spokesman for CCM:

John Fischer is a lecturer and musician who has a monthly column in an American trade publication called Contemporary Christian Music Magazine. In one of his columns during the past year he has written: 'I've been spending some time with some of the grand old hymns of the faith lately. After a diet of more popular contemporary worship music, walking into one of these great hymns is like boarding the Queen Mary and setting out to sea after rowing around the harbour for some time in a one-man kayak.

'One sentiment in particular that I keep encountering in the old hymns (that has all but dropped out of the current scene) is the shock and gratitude of the guilty undeserving sinner who surprisingly finds himself a most unlikely recipient of the gift of God's grace. As part of this revealing self-portrait, there seems to be no difficulty at all in his describing himself in the most incriminating way possible: "Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?" ... That saved a wretch like me" ... "Foul I to the fountain fly" ... "The wonders of his glorious love And my own worthlessness" ... "Depth of mercy! Can there be Mercy still reserved for me?" ... "Out of my bondage sorrow and night" ... "Show pity Lord; O Lord forgive, Let a repenting rebel live!"

'You don't hear much of that sinner-talk today from our music-or from our pulpits for that matter ... Jesus dying for me these days is more like God getting a good deal rather than a sinner being redeemed. The cross is often used as proof of our worth, that is, God saw us as being so valuable that he sent Christ to die for us and considered the blood of his Son a reasonable price for what he was getting. We would indeed be hard-pressed to get an Isaac Watts or a Charles Wesley to swallow this perception.

'When we write about loving God and being loved by him (which we do a lot of), our messages need to be bathed in the gospel. They need to echo the perspective of many of those age old hymns as theme songs of the undeserving, forgiven sinner. Otherwise the gospel will sound to this culture no different from any other love af f air. We've merely fallen in love one more time, only this time it's with Jesus. And to the person who finds nothing planning in that last sentence, I would suggest that perhaps it's time to consider a nice long cruise on that gospel ship.' On that vessel alone you will find spiritual songs about suffering, creation and a trembling hope, notably absent from those who paddle their one-man kayaks.

Examine your Faith

2010-11-08T13:52:00.000-05:00

If you are not praying and earnestly seeking the Lord in His Word Then you just might be headed to hell because you care less about the Lord.
Oh, but I have gone to church all these years!
Oh, but I made a profession of faith back – I have been baptiszed

Notice what Hebrews tells us:
Hebrews 3:6 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 3:12-14 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
The author of Hebrews warns us believers not to be like those Israelites –
Yes who were delivered from Egypt,
yes who were brought through the Sea –
Yes who were provided for
but who nevertheless were faithless
Matthew Henry states ....“Look about you; be upon your guard against enemies both within and without; be circumspect. You see what kept many of your forefathers out of Canaan, and made their carcasses fall in the wilderness; take heed lest you fall into the same sin and snare and dreadful sentence.
For you see Christ is head of the church, a much greater person than Moses,
and your contempt of him must be a greater sin than their contempt of Moses;
and so you are in danger of falling under a severer sentence than they.”

Oh, let us believe and bow to our great Savior today.
Let us confess Him as our Lord and Master today
Let us run to Him to find mercy today as well as every day lest we be found faithless, loveless and bound to eternal hell.
Be sure that your faith is a faith that Christ authored – for if He authored your faith, then He will finish it all the way to glory.
But if your faith is a mere mental assent or an emotional 'I do not want to go to Hell' kind of faith then be sure – that faith will not persevere – soon it will dry up.
That is why I ask if you are loving Christ today, if you are praying and reading the Word with zeal and eagerness. If you are not then your faith is dead and worthless and soon it will be shriveled up even though you go through the outward religious motions.

Be sure your faith is true and alive.

Returning to the Old Paths - by Thomas Ascol

2010-10-14T21:13:00.000-04:00

Returning to the Old Paths

................

Not Just Any Doctrine
Early Southern Baptists were not content to believe just any ol' doctrine. They were concerned with sound doctrine. There was from the beginning widespread doctrinal agreement among them. The consensus was built around the great salvation doctrines which were commonly referred to as the "doctrines of grace." James Boyce, founder and first president of Southern Seminary, described these doctrines in 1874 as being part of the "prevailing principles" which had guided the denomination to that point .... Forty-four years later in 1918 the second edition of The New Convention Normal Manual made the same claim by declaring, "nearly all Baptists believe what are usually termed the `doctrines of grace.'"

What are these "doctrines of grace?" Specifically, they are those truths of God's Word which reveal His sovereign majesty in salvation. Historically, these doctrines have also been nicknamed "Calvinism," not because John Calvin invented them, but because he very proficiently explained them in a systematic fashion. "Calvinism" has been badly abused as a descriptive theological term. Many people use it pejoratively to refer to fatalism and falsely say that it is opposed to evangelism. Nothing could be further from the truth ....

The biblical understanding of Calvinism may be summarized as follows: All men are totally depraved because of sin. Everyone is born into the world, therefore, without spiritual ability to save himself and is deserving of God's wrath (Rom. 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3). Secondly, God is not willing to let the whole human race go to hell and has, from before the foundation of the world, chosen individual sinners to be saved. This choice is not based on any merit or justification found in the individual but is sovereignly exercised by God solely out of His grace and love (John 17:6; Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13). Thirdly, those who are elected by God were given to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world so that He should redeem them from sin (Matt. 1:21; John 6:37-40; 10:11, 14, 15, cf. 26-28). This He did in His earthly ministry by offering Himself as a substitute in His people's place. His death on the cross actually accomplished their redemption (Heb. 9:12, 24ff.). Though His death has some benefit for everyone, it does not actually redeem everyone. Fourthly, God effectively applies to all of His elect that redemption which His Son secured on the cross. He does this by drawing and effectually calling these by the gospel so that they freely come to repent of sin and believe in Christ (Rom 8:30; 2 Tim 1:9). Fifthly, those who have been so chosen, redeemed and reborn will persevere in the faith and thus are eternally secure (Philip. 1:6; John 10:28-29).

...(T)hese doctrines comprised the common understanding of the gospel among Southern Baptists during their first seventy-five years of existence. They are clearly stated and defended in the writings of former convention leaders such as Boyce, Dagg, Broadus, W.B. Johnson, R.B.C. Howell, Basil Manly, Sr., Basil Manly, Jr., Patrick H. Mell, Richard Fuller, and Richard Furman, to name just a few.

Call it what you will--Calvinism, reformed theology, the doctrines of grace--these truths are nothing less than historic Southern Baptist orthodoxy. This is the theology which gave rise to the formation and early development of the great missionary and evangelistic enterprise which we know as the Southern Baptist Convention. This is what our forefathers believed to be the true teaching of Scripture. These are the doctrines on which they built their churches and which undergirded their ministries. And if these doctrines were true then, they are still true today, because the Bible has not changed, God has not changed, and truth does not change.

If we hope to see a renewal in our churches (how we live), then we must be willing to seek a renewal in our theology (what we believe). Our doctrinal heritage can be very helpful as it challenges our thinking and points us forward into a renewed understanding of God's Holy Word.

It is a wonderful providence that the sesquicentennial anniversary of our convention comes at a time when there is a growing recognition of our deep need for revival and reformation. We should take this opportunity to remember the rock from whence we are hewn and listen to those who have gone before us, on whose shoulders we stand-those former faithful servants who, though being dead, yet speak.

Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.

Salvation is of the Lord Spurgeon M&E Feb. 26 Morning

2010-10-12T20:51:00.000-04:00

"Salvation is of the Lord."-Jonah 2:9

Salvation is the work of God. It is He alone who quickens the soul "dead in trespasses and sins," and it is He also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both "Alpha and Omega." "Salvation is of the Lord." If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God's gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because He upholds me with His hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God Himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord's strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God's Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God's chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink? Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven's hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in Him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: "Salvation is of the Lord."

Fickle Evangelism produces Fickle Converts

2010-10-04T23:01:00.001-04:00

Spurgeon states in his sermon 'Fickle Followers': Now, as the Church hastily counts up her numbers and says, “So many were converted,” the world has another register and counts up the apostates, the backsliders, the wanderers!" His text was Luke 9:57-62 where three would-be followers though outwardly committed failed to be true followers for their half-hearted, stilted faith. Spurgeon's quote above makes the point that we need to be ready and willing to receive all but cautiously, carefully so as not to encourage false confessions and false conversions.

Let me add. Let us be very leery of mass conversions, mass assemblies with a mass invitation system because, the system of manipulation on the emotions of the people
tend to produce a mass of false, deceived converts. Billy Graham stated this about the results of his crusades: “I've always thought that in any group that comes forward, a fourth of them will be there in five years from now.” The Billy Graham Association admits of figures much lower than that of Billy. Yet, the mass evangelism continues especially with his son Franklin.

To make matters worse, the growing tradition among the Graham (both Billy and Franklin) crusades is to not proselytize Catholics. "Writing in the Catholic Spirit, Archbishop John C. Nienstedt begins by stating, "I have been contacted by representatives of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who inform me that they are sponsoring four events this summer in cities along the Mississippi River, called Rock the River Tour." He then goes on to give details of the events, including that they are "aimed at junior and senior high school students.

This appeal comes with the reassurance Priest Nienstedt was given from Franklin and Co.: "I have been assured that there will be no attempt to proselytize young people into an evangelical church. Each person will be encouraged to make contact with his or her church affiliation, whether current or lapsed. . . . They state they are not coming to take from our religious communities, but to invest in our youth."" (http://www.pccmonroe.org/Ecumenism/2009.05.22.htm)

I guess the clear gospel of faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone is not a worthy investment. So, instead of the Grahams taking a stand like Christ for the sake of true conversion and true discipleship, the Grahams would rather befriend the false churches and promote a false gospel for the sake of the youth under the guise of a so-called unity, which is no unity but treason to the Name of Christ.

Down with such methods of contortion and charades.

May the Lord grant our faithful gospel preachers to stand in the gap and be counted for Christ regardless of the cost. It would be better to have an insignificant church with an insignificant name for the cause of the purity of the truth of the gospel of Christ than to compromise the gospel and favor the cause of Satan.

The Baptist Faith and Message and the New Hampshire Confession

2010-10-02T14:56:00.001-04:00

Be alert! Pay attention to history! The Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention is based upon the New Hampshire Confession of 1833 (http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/nh_conf.htm) which is a calvinistic confession of faith. Calvinism is just a fancy name for what is better understood as the doctrines of grace which teach the gospel of God's omnipotent electing grace to save lost sinners who are totally unable to save themselves. This grace is bestowed upon chosen sinners because of the definite and particular atonement of Jesus Christ. This atonement for chosen sinners is guaranteed and energized by the power of the Spirit through faith. It is this same sovereign Spirit who changes the elect from one point of glory to the next until they reach glory and glorification.

Here is a portion of the NHC:

9. Of God's Purpose of Grace
We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.

Notice the words election, sovereignty, infinitely free, unchangeable.

We rejoice in the Baptist heritage of our reformed brethren who were not ashamed to declare their inability to come to God nor the fact that their coming to Christ is all due to the overcoming power of their sovereign God.

Jesus tells the lame man who is unable to walks: Rise up and walk! By the power of God to overcome our lame hearts just as the lame man got up and walked so the elect of God hear the Shepherd, believe and follow - all because of grace, sovereign grace.

Luke 5:23-24 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Gospel-Driven Parenting - Bring Your Children to Christ

2010-10-01T18:24:00.000-04:00

Preaching on Luke 9:37-39 (37 ¶ And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.), I said the following:

So here is a desperate child that has epilepsy given to deafness and dumbness according to Mark - all due to demon takeover. Epilepsy is not demon possession
but the demons can have their way through such weakness of the flesh.

i.What a tragic heartache both for the boy and his father.
Of course, there is no mention of the mother or other relatives. Is this father a widower? Is this Father far from other relatives? Is the Father alone to care for this child for years?

Mark 9:21-22 21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.

What desperation! What agony! What frustration!

Can you imagine the heartache? Can you imagine the seeming lost dreams, let alone the loss of income trying to care for this sick one of his? Is there hope?

Mark 9: 22 “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

The father turns to Jesus, the best source of help. Our problem is sin which is evident in our diseases, sicknesses and weaknesses – sin is at the root cause and there is no cure but atonement of Christ. Our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren need Christ – they need His cure because they are sick. They are spiritually sick. Jere.17:9 Desperately sick – how sick? So sick are our children that no one can know it, understand it, fathom it.

You say, 'oh, but they are not sick – certainly not like this Father's child'.
Yes, your child may not be sick like this Father's; yet, is it NOT only a matter of time? The sickness of death knows no age, knows no celebrity or amount of wealth, or names of renown. The sickness of death will come to your children then the judgment. Just because they can run today, play today, make baskets today, be the prettiest of all - today - does not guarantee that for them tomorrow. Take your sin sick child to Christ today because without Christ – they will die and they will spend eternity without Him.

But 'Oh, my child is a good child - my child will never be rejected by the Lord'. The Bible says that there is none good no not one, there is none righteous. And only the righteous will go to Heaven. So there is the problem!
There is none righteous,
and only the righteous will go to heaven
therefore, no one will go to Heaven.

Unless, someone lives that righteous life for your child and pays the penalty of death for your child. This is the glorious gospel of Christ.

This Father was dealing with a most despicable child with a despicable debilitating disease – which mirrors the child's despicable, uncontrolled and uncontrollable nature. The child was just as needy spiritually as he was physically.

It is grace that our God allows our children to be as well and handsome as they are for as long as they are. The same can be said of all of us. It was God's grace to keep Adam alive at the moment he first rebelled. 'In the Day you eat of the tree - you shall surely die. The wages of sin is death'.

But remember, eventually, the sin in them, in our children, will eventually make them rot. The precious beauties in the world will eventually rot. That is not such a nice thought – but it is true, horribly true.

Who is to blame?

All we like sheep have gone astray with our Father – Adam. In Adam we all sinned and thus in Adam we all die. But thanks be to God that in Christ all will be made alive - all who come to Christ in all of their despicableness, in all their deformity and disease and disgust. All who come to Christ in faith will be transformed.

The Father turns to Jesus - the best source of help – the only source to overcome our most fundamental problem which is sin and to overcome our most fundamental enemy, Satan and his minions. Here the child has been overcome by demons who takes control of him. Many children today are under the same influence of Satan but in different forms, mannerisms and by means of different substances.

In fact, before God saves us – Paul testifies to the Ephesians in Eph. 2:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Let us turn to our God realizing that our children - our cute, healthy, seemingly good children - are sick and in desperate need of Christ to save them. To presume that our children our not is the biggest failure in parenting ever. See not the skin of your children. See their souls. See their silly, sick hearts. May the Lord turn our hearts toward our children so that we take them daily to Christ and to His cross for redemption and transformation.

Boyce of the Southern Baptist Convention Catechism

2010-10-01T15:27:00.000-04:00

BIBLE DOCTRINE
by
JAMES P. BOYCE, D. D.
Professor of Systematic and Polemic
in Theology
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
PREFACE
The author of this brief Doctrinal Catechism knows of no work of the kind in circulation among Baptists. Keach's Catechism, generally called the "Baptist Catechism", is scarcely used at all. No reason can be assigned for this, except that it is too difficult for children. In the present work, an attempt has been made to simplify, as far as possible, without sacrificing important truth. The teacher may have to give some further aid, by explaining a few words here and there. The aim has been to bring the truth taught within the comprehension of children of ten to twelve years old and upwards. The desire has been felt to promote catechetical instruction in the family and the Sunday School. It is believed that there are many who appreciate its value as a means of teaching the truth of God. To the attention of such, this little work is commended, with the hope that it may meet their wants. At the same time, Pastors of churches, Superintendents and Teachers of Sunday Schools, and pious parents, are urged to consider how far a partial recourse at least to catechetical instruction may tend to restore the vigorous piety of bygone days.
THE BIBLE
1. What book have we that teaches about God?
The Bible.
2. By what other name is it known?
The Scriptures.
3. Into what two parts is it divided?
Into the Old and New Testaments.
4. How came it to be written?
God inspired holy men to write it.
5. Did they write it exactly as God wished?
Yes; as much as if he had written every word himself.
6. Ought it, therefore, to be believed and obeyed?
Yes; as much so as though God had spoken directly to us.
7. Does it teach us every thing about God?
It does not; no language could teach us the full glory of God, nor could we ever comprehend it.
8. How much does it teach us?
It teaches us all that is necessary about God, our duty to Him, our condition as sinners, and the way of salvation.

The Making of a Gospel-Driven Parent, pt. 2

2010-09-15T17:08:00.000-04:00

Being a Gospel Driven Parent means that you understand the gospel for yourself and that you have applied the gospel to yourself and that you are living everyday on the basis of the Gospel.

The good news that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners means that you as a parent are such a person for which Jesus Christ came into the world. You are a sinner. You have broken the law of God. It means that as a sinner you will not pass the bar of God's judgment on judgment day according to Romans 2:6-13. God will judge according to works on the last day and you will fail. You will be cast out into everlasting darkness to experience the wrath of God - forever. And, you will know that you deserve such a punishment. Is this you, parent? Are you such a sinner that you will be cast out of glory forever ever because of your rebel heart and life?

The Gospel-Driven Parent knows truly what it means to be a rebel child of the Creator. If you do not know this, then you are not a gospel-driven Parent. In fact, you need to the gospel. Actually, you need to understand what it means to be under sin as Paul states in Romans 3:9ff:

Romans 3:9-12 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

More later...

The Mount of Transfiguration Luke 9:28-36 and our prayer lives

2010-09-11T14:52:00.000-04:00

We are on a journey to get a written glimpse of Jesus' glory in the book of Luke.

Well, last week we began our journey in Luke 9:28 where Jesus takes his disciples on a unique prayer trip – a pray trip that they would never forget. Jesus takes the disciples – Peter, James and John – up a mountain probably near the north west side of Galilee – to pray. As Jesus prays – the disciples fall to sleep. Matthew Henry states:

Either it was late, or they were weary, or had been disturbed in their rest the night before; or perhaps a charming composing air, or some sweet and melodious sounds, which disposed them to soft and gentle slumbers, were a preface to the vision; or perhaps it was owing to a sinful carelessness: when Christ was at prayer with them, they did not regard his prayer as they should have done,
and, to punish them for that, they were left to sleep on now, when he began to be transfigured, and so lost an opportunity of seeing how that work of wonder was wrought.

Footnote: how many blessings have we forfeited because of our laziness

Henry continues:

These three were now asleep, when Christ was in his glory, as afterwards they were, when he was in his agony; see the weakness and frailty of human nature, even in the best, and what need they have of the grace of God. Nothing could be more affecting to these disciples, one would think, than the glories and the agonies of their Master, and both in the highest degree; and yet neither the one nor the other would serve to keep them awake. What need have we to pray to God for quickening grace, to make us not only alive, but lively!

Yes - We may look at the disciples here with some level of scorn. 'Who do you think you are? How in the world could you sleep during prayer meeting? You guys were so full of yourselves!' And probably So! Yet, in pointing our finger at the disciples, do we not also have to point a finger at ourselves: who are we to cast the first stone who have come to worship half-asleep ourselves; have we not found prayer boring; have we not been more interested in ourselves than the God of the Universe? Have we not given way to our lazy natures - to our love for pleasure, rest or earthly excitements; have we not been disinterested in the things of God, the things of Christ, the communion of our God?

I dare say – that this week past has been filled with times that you and I were more interested in our pleasures – what will please our ear, what will please our eyes, what will please our taste buds - than the pleasures of communion with the Lord.

How we need the Spirit! How we need revival! How we need a change of heart!

Glenn Beck received a Doctorate at Liberty University - Shame!

2010-09-01T14:58:00.001-04:00

Glenn Beck is a traitor of Jesus Christ with his Mormon faith and high sounding words that often sound so good but are filled with lies - postmodern lies. Listen to his speech at Liberty's commencement then cry to the Lord of Heaven and Earth for true revival in our land; for it is being filled with lies, lies, lies: http://www.therightscoop.com/video-glenn-becks-liberty-university-commencement-address.

The words sound one thing but the words are given with a new meaning. He mentions God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, faith, atonement; but what does he mean as a Mormon? Do not follow him; he will lead you to error. He constantly talks about human endeavor, creative power; then he uses blasphemy with the use of 'I am that I am' - Beck uses this phrase as a phrase of self identity (at 24 minutes into his speech) - which is false; it fits Mormon doctrine of becoming gods.

Further one liners:

'We are meant to be happy' - Read the Psalms and see if this statement is true. James calls the proud to:

James 4:8-10 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

'Forgiveness is divine' - What does that mean?

'The atonement is real; you are worthy' - This is trash talk and it dishonors the Lord of the Word!

'Hell is an eternity of regret - not being able to forgive yourself mainly' - Is this what Jesus taught?

'People are good; they want to do the right thing but they just do not know how'

He ends his talk with the audacity that leaves these words in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen!

What blasphemy!

Do not give in to his crying sad words. Do not follow his emotional traps.

Check out the following link:

http://hereiblog.com/liberty-university-glenn-beck-gospel/

Take a look at what Mormons really believes. The following comes from HereIblog.com

Brief Comparison between Mormonism and Christianity

Mormonism

God
More than one god. God the father is an exalted man who was as we are now and has a body of flesh and bones.

Christianity

God
There is only one God who is spirit and eternal.

Mormonism:

Trinity
The father, son and holy spirit are three gods separate and distinct from each other.

Christianity:

Trinity
One God Who exists in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Mormonism:

Jesus
Spirit brother of Lucifer, a literal off-spring of god the father.

Chr.:

Jesus
Eternal Son of God, second person of the Trinity.

Mor.:

Holy Spirit
A distinct god from father and son, a spirit man and a spirit son of God the Father.

Chr.:

Holy Spirit
The third eternal person of the Trinity.

Mor.:

Salvation
By presenting our best efforts and obedience to god’s commands and then by grace. Man can become a god.

Chr.:

Salvation
A free gift from God received by grace alone through faith alone and not by works.

The Making of a Gospel-Driven Parent

2010-08-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

The problem today is the downgrade of evangelical Gospel faith in our churches and this effects our witness to the world as well as to the families and parents of our churches. The gospel is being confused with so many false gospels. With the advancement of technology comes the advancement of all kinds of news and information at lightning speed. This only breeds confusion among the masses; thus, unbelief and thus disarray in the church and home.

Proposition: The Making of a Gospel-Driven Parent involves five crucial steps:

First, to be a gospel-driven parent one needs to learn of the gospel. Understanding the gospel seems to be an obvious first step, but it may seem like an necessary first step; for, is not the gospel a rather simple concept that most Christians already know? Strangely, with all the churches, books, internet sites, etc. one would think that the gospel is fairly easy to understand. Yet, with all the information available there is much mis-information available; this mis-information through whatever form and media has produced much confusion and lack of clarity on the gospel.

Let us learn the gospel so that we may love and live the gospel.

Annie-Ruth Wilbanks

2010-07-23T13:51:00.001-04:00

We are sad for our dear Ms. Annie-Ruth who went to be with her Lord and Savior early July 22, 2010. We hope to be a blessing to the family during this time of loss. For Christians, we know that this time of loss is only temporary. We shall see her again not as we saw her just before she passed away but as our glorified sister in the Lord.

Please be kind to be kind to us, Lord. Show Your glory. Stir us up to follow our sister's faith as she followed Christ. Thank you for her endurance all through her 97 years on this earth. We bless you for her and for the gift of faith you gave her. Your gift to her was a gift to us as she evidenced her faith in so many ways to us. Please draw those who need salvation and new birth. Please answer her prayers as she wept for them. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Mae-mae's baptism site

2010-06-02T15:32:00.000-04:00

Spurgeon and Church Planting

2010-06-02T14:34:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Tom Ascol: http://www.founders.org/blog/

This is from the Sword and Trowel, the magazine edited by Charles Spurgeon during his 19th century ministry in London. It is taken from an article by Edward Leach that appeared in the June 1869 issue.

We honor the men who, subsisting on scanty and humble fare, battling with adversity, and living down prejudice, are seeking to the best of their ability to plant new churches in apparently unhopeful districts. With the accent of conviction on their lips, the truth of God in their hearts, and undying perseverance leading them on, they must succeed in breaking the dreary monotony of a sinful village life. Their preaching may not please the highly cultured; their methods of working may not suit this decorous age; their unambitious lives may fall flat upon the feverish world; but their faithfulness to God, and persistency in his service, shall be rewarded with the divine "Well done, good and faithful." We know no greater heroes than these sufferers of contumely and hatred, who so gloriously bear up and strike dismay into the enemy's camp. Their imperfections are not worthy to be weighed with their virtues. If England is to be evangelized, it must be by such men. Fit them, train them to as great a degree of perfection as mortal man can bear--no standard is too high for God's ministers but let not culture destroy Christian simplicity (it does not in the truly great); let not learning quench earnestness and enthusiasm; let not supercilious affectation snub them, or selfishness despise them.

Come Away!

2010-05-14T16:29:00.000-04:00

Spurgeon Morning and Evening

APRIL 25 — AM "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." — Song of
Solomon 2:10

Lo, I hear the voice of my Beloved! He speaks to me! Fair weather is
smiling upon the face of the earth, and He would not have me
spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her
winter's rest. He bids me "Rise up," and well He may, for I have long
enough been lying among the pots of worldliness. He is risen, I am
risen in Him, why then should I cleave unto the dust? From lower
loves, desires, pursuits, and aspirations, I would rise towards Him.
He calls me by the sweet title of "My love," and counts me fair; this
is a good argument for my rising. If He has thus exalted me, and
thinks me thus comely, how can I linger in the tents of Kedar and find
congenial associates among the sons of men? He bids me "Come away."
Further and further from everything selfish, grovelling, worldly,
sinful, He calls me; yea, from the outwardly religious world which
knows Him not, and has no sympathy with the mystery of the higher
life, He calls me. "Come away" has no harsh sound in it to my ear, for
what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity and sin? O my
Lord, would that I could come away, but I am taken among the thorns,
and cannot escape from them as I would. I would, if it were possible,
have neither eyes, nor ears, nor heart for sin. Thou callest me to
Thyself by saying "Come away," and this is a melodious call indeed. To
come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the
raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal
of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone
rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise
me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle
sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I
leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away.

Manhattan Follow-up Gary Gilley

2010-04-26T16:13:00.000-04:00

The Manhattan Declaration
Written by Gary Gilley

(February/March 2010 - Volume 16, Issue 1)

The Christian village is all abuzz these days about The Manhattan Declaration, yet another brainchild of Charles Colson (along with Timothy George and Robert George) in his ever vigilant attempts at societal improvement and ecumenical unity. In his earlier efforts, in particular the Evangelicals and Catholics Together documents, Colson and Roman Catholic priest John Neuhaus attempted, with some apparent success, to convince Christendom that their two separate traditions held far more in common than it realized and it was time for both sides to lay down their arms and unite against liberal Christianity and secular ideology for the good of society. While admitting that strong differences still remained, Colson, Neuhaus and their supporters tried to maintain that the two communities were preaching essentially the same gospel message and therefore it was time to join forces against their greater enemies. The Manhattan Declaration addresses a similar theme but focuses more on remedying morally corrupting influences in America than on the nature of the gospel. While there are a great number of social evils that need attention this document zeros in on what the authors would consider the big three: abortion, homosexual marriage and religious liberties. These are important matters bout which all true Christians, and many others, are concerned.

Therefore it should not surprise us that over four hundred thousand individuals have signed the Declaration as of the date of this writing. Whether it is the better part of wisdom to sign this document, and the original drafters encourage everyone to do so, is further complicated by a strong difference of opinion among highly respected evangelical leaders who are recognized for their discernment. We are not startled to find the signatures of those known for softer sentiments toward ecumenism and leanings toward outward shows of unity such as Ravi Zacharias, Ron Sider, J. I. Packer, Leith Anderson, Ken Boa, James Dobson, Jerry Jenkins, Tim Keller, Joseph Stowell, Kay Arthur, Jonathan Falwell, Wayne Grudem, Josh McDowell and anyone connected with Christianity Today. A bit more surprising are Mark Bailey, Randy Alcorn, Bryan Chapell, Joni Eareckson Tada, Michael Easley, Michael Youssef, and in particular Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Joining this roster of evangelicals are numerous Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox priests and bishops. Vocal opponents include R. C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Michael Horton and Alistair Begg.

In order to determine what our reaction to The Manhattan Declaration should be, we will take a brief look at some of the highlights of the manifesto, examine some written responses, pro and con, and then subject the document to the scrutiny of Scripture.

For More: http://www.svchapel.org/resources/articles/22-contemporary-issues/653-the-manhattan-declaration

Ryle on Child Rearing

2010-04-22T23:45:00.001-04:00

Remember children are born with a decided bias towards evil, and therefore if you let them choose for themselves, they are certain to choose wrong.

The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be,tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish he may be any of these things or not; it is all uncertain. But one thing the mother can say with certainty: he will have a corrupt and sinful heart. It is natural to us to do wrong. Foolishness, says Solomon, is bound in the heart of a child (Prov. 22:15). A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame (Prov. 29:15). Our hearts are like the earth on which we tread; let it alone, and it is sure to bear weeds.

The Duties of Parents
by J.C. Ryle

What was wrong with the Rich Young Ruler?

2010-04-22T23:29:00.000-04:00

From Grace Gems: http://gracegems.org/

What was wrong with him?

(Arthur Pink)

"One thing you lack" Mark 10:21

Those words addressed by our Lord to the rich young ruler who had approached Him with such apparent eagerness and earnestness, and in whom there were some admirable qualities which are rarely found in young men, especially those of affluence.

Yet there was a fatal defect, for the sequel informs us that he turned from Christ, and "went away sad" (Mark 10:22). What was wrong with him? "'One thing you lack--Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.' At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Mark 10:21-22).

There was a struggle between his convictions and his corruptions; he desired to serve two masters--God and mammon; and when Christ told him that was impossible, he was chagrined.

His fatal deficiency may be described in a variety of ways. He had no conviction that he was a ruined, lost and Hell-deserving sinner, no consciousness that he was a spiritual leper in the sight of God, no realization of his utter helplessness to better his condition. Though religious, he was still in nature's darkness, and therefore, his affections were not raised above the vanities of this world. There was no love for God within him; and consequently, he was unwilling to deny himself, abandon his idols, and give God His rightful place in his life--serving, pleasing, and enjoying Him. He lacked a real and unreserved surrender of his heart to God.

Is that the case with you, dear reader?

O think upon your dignity!

2010-04-17T19:05:00.000-04:00

Oh for grace to trust in Christ's blood and now God's perspective. Christ's blood cleanses us of all sin and provides the righteousness of absolute perfection for entrance into glory. Now, from God's perspective, the child of God is of royal stock. I just thought today that we as God's people are to treat one another from God's perspective instead of our perspective. When the children of God disappoint us we tend to focus on one another's sin. Under the blood of Christ, let us view one another as God does. He sees us clean, forgiven and worthy of being heirs with Christ. May this humble us and put us to shame as we contemplate this real reality even though we often are so prone to focus on our depravity and become downcast.

Blessed God - oh for grace to think on the riches we have in Christ. We are kings and priests now. Oh for grace to live as we are and treat one another as who we are - the temple of our God.
_____________________

O think upon your dignity!

(Thomas Sherman, "Divine Breathings; Or, a Pious Soul Thirsting after Christ")

Christian! You are a child of God's love, an heir of His glory, and reckoned among His favorites! O think upon your dignity, and consider:

Will an Emperor live like a beggar?

Is it befitting for those who are clothed in scarlet--to wallow in the mire?

Am I born of God--and shall I live like a beast?

Has God raised my soul to the purest excellencies--and shall I stain my dignity with the world's filth?

May I feed upon Christ--and shall I feed upon empty vanities?

Shall I who am to judge the world--be a drudge to the world?

Has Christ prepared for me a mansion in the heavens--and shall I be groveling in earthly mire?

Am I a child of light--and shall I commit the works of darkness?

No! I am born to greater and higher things--than to be a slave to lust, and a drudge to the world!

________________________

The Soul's Three-fold Estate.

O precious saint! Three questions call for your answer:

1. What were you?
2. What are you?
3. What shall you be?

1. What were you?
Dead in your transgressions and sins,
a rebel to your God,
a prodigal to your Father,
a slave to your lust,
the devil's captive,
on the highway to hell.

2. What are you?
Redeemed by Christ,
a royal child of God,
the spouse of Christ,
the temple of the Holy Spirit,
the heir of a priceless eternal inheritance!

3. What shall you be?
A glorious saint,
a companion of angels,
a triumphant victor,
a crowned king,
an attendant on the Lamb,
a participant in those soul-ravishing and ineffable excellencies that are in God! You shall behold the King of Glory face to face, and enjoy immediate communion with Jesus Christ!

Nay more, you are made one with Him:
clothed with His excellencies,
enthroned with His glories,
crowned with His eternity,
and filled with His felicity!

"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard, and
no mind has imagined . . .
what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9

O stand amazed at His free grace—and render all the glory to God!

For More: http://gracegems.org/C/Sherman_divine_breathings.htm

Gospel-Driven Parenting Conference

2010-04-10T21:01:00.000-04:00

Keep July 17-18 open for your calendars to attend our church's parenting conference. If you can't attend, please be in prayer for us.

We are calling it the 'Gospel-Driven Parenting Conference.' Four pastors from North GA. will be speaking to engage our minds and hearts on how the gospel of Jesus Christ ought to drive our parenting. We are filled with gospel-absent morality in our churches, on 'Christian' radio, throughout the internet and certainly on our TVs. Morality without Christ is damnable and it sets our children up for either frustration since they will fail to reach the standards and/or pride as it promotes self-achievement and self-aggrandizement.

Lord willing, we will provide you with some quotes and updates about the Gospel-Driven parenting and the conference.

May the Lord of all grace attend to your hearts and relieve your guilt as you look to Christ whose blood washes away our sin.

Pastor Steve

Piper and Warren

2010-04-09T23:32:00.000-04:00

John Piper has invited Rick Warren to the next Desiring God conference. Piper argues for Warren here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlxRKLXk1WE

The controversy is about what one says he believes and how one behaves. Though Warren says he believes alot like Piper, Piper is overlooking Warren's practice of compromise after compromise.

Warren is either soft on the gospel at best or a betrayer of the truth at worst when it comes to his audiences such as the Muslims, homosexuals, Mormons and general public.

I found Phil Johnson's review of this most recent controversy helpful. You can find it here:
http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010/04/on-piper-warren-connection.html.

For more go here:
http://apprising.org/2010/04/01/the-inadequate-gospel-of-rick-warren/

You are a filthy pauper!

2010-04-08T22:17:00.000-04:00

(Arthur Pink, "Identification of the Godly")

"For this is what the high and lofty One says--He who lives forever, whose name is holy: I live in a high and holy place--but also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit." Isaiah 57:15

A humble spirit or heart, is an infallible sign of regeneration; for the unregenerate are proud, self-satisfied, self-righteous.

Yet the very mention of the word "humility" seems to cut off many Christians. As they examine themselves, they discover so much pride at work within, that they are quite unable to persuade themselves that they have a humble heart. It seems to them--that humility is one thing they most evidently lack. Now it will no doubt be a startling statement--but we unhesitatingly affirm that the great majority of God's people are far more humble than they suppose!

FIRST, that the Christian reader possesses a humble heart, is plain from the fact that he confesses himself to be a Hell-deserving sinner. We do not have in mind what you say of yourself when in the company of your fellows--but rather what you feel and say of yourself when alone with God. Whatever pretenses you are guilty of before men--when in the presence of the Omniscient One--you are real, sincere, and genuine.

Now, dear reader, be honest with yourself: When on your knees before the Throne of Grace, do you freely and frankly acknowledge that if you received your lawful due, you would--even now--be suffering the dreadful fires of Hell? If so, a miracle of grace must have been wrought within you. No unregenerate person will or can honestly make such a confession to God--for he does not feel he has done anything deserving of eternal punishment.

SECOND, if you own that "all your righteous acts are like filthy rags," that is proof you possess a humble heart. Of course, we mean much more than your merely uttering those words as a parrot might, or even singing then during some religious service. We mean that when you are in the presence of the Lord--which is always the surest test--you personally realize that you have not a single meritorious deed of your own to commend you to His favorable regard.

We mean that, when bowed in His presence, in the calmness and quietness of your prayer-closet, you own without any qualification, that your best performances are defiled by sin--and that in yourself, you are a filthy pauper!

If that is indeed your language before God--it most certainly issues from a humble heart. The heart of the natural man thinks and feels the very opposite, and can no more loathe himself--than transform himself into a holy angel.

THIRD, if you receive everything in the Scriptures as a little child--that is another proof that a miracle of grace has been wrought within you and that you now possess a humble heart. By nature, all are "wise and prudent" in their own esteem.

The enmity of the proud carnal mind rises up against the sovereignty of God--making one vessel to honor and another to dishonor; against the spirituality and strictness of the Divine Law--which curses all who deviate the slightest from its holy demands; and against the endless punishment of all dying out of Christ. But the regenerate, though there is much they do not understand, accept without murmur or question--all that is revealed in the Word. If you do, that is proof that your pride has been abased before God.

How thankful we should be that Scripture does not say that God dwells only in those who have complete victory over sin, or those who enjoy unbroken and unclouded communion with Him. Had those been the distinguishing features named--then every one of us might well despair!

But every regenerate person has a humble heart. And if you, my reader, measuring yourself by what has been pointed out above, can discern such fruits and evidences of humility--then so far from its being presumptuous for you to look upon yourself as one saved and indwelt by God--it would be most wicked presumption for you to do otherwise.

Lessons from Daniel

2010-04-08T19:14:00.000-04:00

Daniel, 'God is Judge', is a wonderful exilic book considered to be part of the 'Kethubhim' or writings in the Hebrew Scriptures. Daniel is the main character, an Israelite probably of royal descent. Daniel was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. to be among those who had greater potential for learning and service of the royal courts. Having arrived in Babylon, Daniel's name was changed to Belteshazzar or Belti-shar-usar, 'Belti, protect the King'.

Along with Daniel were his three close companions: Hannaniah (Yah. is gracious) changed to Shadrach(I am fearful of God), Mishael (who is what God is?) changed to Meshach (Who is like Aku [moon god]) and Azariah (Yah. is a helper) changed to Abednego (servant of the shining one [Nebo: the god of wisdom and writing, son of Marduke]).

All four of these men were of nobility and/or royalty (1:3), youths who of no physical blemish and had the capacity for learning and leadership. It is the Lord's grace that of all the men of Israel these men were chosen. How many men were both men of faith and men of this kind of stature in the land of Israel? We are thankful for the Lord's providence to put into the king's presence such men of faith and faithfulness.

Let us pray the Lord would be pleased to bring before our President such men.

Fw: This Earth Day Screen The Mysterious Islands in Your Community!

2010-04-05T17:55:00.000-04:00

Friends,

In light of Earth Day, please be encouraged to consider the Lord's perspective on His earth. The earth is the Lord's: "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1) The earth is the creation separate from but belonging to our transcendent, sovereign, personal, revealed (in the coming of Jesus Christ) and triune (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) Lord: "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD (YHWH, singular noun) He is God (Elohim, plural noun) in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." (Deuteronomy 4:39) So many people and religions are forsaking the Lord of creation for the sake of creation or the gods of creation. This is nothing new. The apostle Paul faced this reality and looks forward to what now is.

Please consider Paul says in Romans 1 about God both His salvation and His wrath. Consider the text in light of our times. Please read carefully each line. Ask the Lord for truth. This is a most sobering text because it speaks that which is not in accord with our pleasure-seeking self-worshiping times we live in.

Romans 1:16-21 16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 ¶ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

For more, take a look at the following links:

http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/news_and_reports/earth_day_a_creationist_perspe.aspx

http://www.visionforumministries.org/events/cre/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worship-the-Creator-Not-the-Creation/310373106746?v=wall

Blessings to you,

Steve Loeffler

Happy Resurrection Day

2010-04-03T13:21:00.000-04:00

Sunday is the normal day we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

This Sunday is the day we celebrate the actual day Jesus rose from the day. It is the 16th day of Nisan, the day of the feast of firstfruits. The 14th of Nisan was the day of passover, the day of God's deliverance of Israel by the passover lamb whose blood was applied the blood on the door posts of each house. The 15th day was the day that began the feast of unleavened bread. It was during this day that all leaven was removed from the houses of Israel. The 15th was the day of Christ's burial. (See Lev. 23:4-21)

Nisan 16 was the day of firstfruits of the harvest. It is the first and best of the harvest to be presented before the Lord as wave offering. This day is the very day Jesus rose from the dead. Of course, Jesus is called the firstfruits from the dead:

1 Corinthians 15:20 20 ¶ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:23-24 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

May the Lord bless you as you believe with joy in Jesus - the risen Savior!

John Owen and the Horrors of Adding to the worship of God

2010-03-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

John Owen, a renown British preacher and theologian, once commented on the importance of following the Scripture regarding worship:

"The principle that the church hath power to institute any thing or ceremony belonging to the worship of God, either as to matter or manner, beyond the observance of such circumstances as necessarily attend such ordinances as Christ himself hath instituted, lies at the bottom of all the horrible superstition and idolatry, of all the confusion, blood, persecution and wars that have for so long a season spread themselves over the face of the Christian world."

May the people of God resist the flesh to add to God's worship what is pleasing only to self rather than to the pleasure and holiness of God.

Let man be bored and God be praised in truth and spirit.

Consider Paul and His love for the Gospel

2010-03-22T22:14:00.000-04:00

On one hand, Paul was willing to be severed from Christ for the sake of his lost Jewish brethren: " I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. " (Romans 9:1-5).

On the other hand, Paul was willing to die to himself and to be severed from his dearest friends for the cause of the gospel: "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?" (Galatians 2:11-14)

Let us follow the likes of Paul. Let us be willing to die for the salvation of souls or be willing to severe any relationship that compromises the gospel for the sake of the gospel.

May the pastors of our land who have such influence through their speaking engagements, books, etc. be willing to follow Paul's example of strict, zealous, sober, passionate, compassionate gospel-centeredness.

Lord, give this to me.

Steve Loeffler

Contemplating God's greatness!

2010-03-22T22:01:00.000-04:00

From Spurgeon's sermon, "Fear Not"

Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the work of God's
fingers-- behold the sun guided in his daily march;
go forth at midnight, and behold the heavens;
consider the stars and the moon; look upon these works of
God's hands, and if you be men of sense, and your souls are
attuned to the high music of the spheres, you will say,
"What is man that you are mindful of him?"

My God! when I survey the boundless fields of ether,
and see those ponderous orbs rolling therein,
when I consider how vast are your dominions-
so wide that an angel's wing might flap to all eternity
and never reach a boundary- I marvel that you
should look on insects so obscure as man.

I am so little that I shrink into nothingness when I behold the
Almightiness of Jehovah- so little, that the difference between the
molecule and man dwindles into nothing, when compared with
the infinite chasm between God and man.

Let your mind rove upon the great doctrines of the Godhead;
consider the existence of God from before the foundations
of the world; behold Him who is, and was, and is to come,
the Almighty.

Let your soul comprehend as much as it can of the Infinite,
and grasp as much as possible of the Eternal,
and I am sure if you have minds at all, they will shrink with awe.

The tall archangel bows himself before his Master's throne,
and we shall cast ourselves into the lowest dust when we feel
what base nothings, what insignificant specks we are when
compared with our all-adorable Creator.

Labor, O soul, to know your nothingness, and learn it by
contemplating God's greatness.

Preachers and the Theatre

2010-03-06T16:58:00.000-05:00

What do we make of Spurgeon who said the following in 1887 while discussing issues of the downgrade?

"The same newspaper thus deals with our mention of theater-going preachers. Let the reader note what a fine mouthful of words it is, and how unwittingly it admits, with a guarded commendation, that which we remarked upon with censure:— "As for theatres, while we should be much surprised to learn that many ministers of the gospel take a view of life which would permit them to spend much time there, yet, remembering that men of unquestionable piety do find recreation for themselves and their families in the drama, we are not content to see a great branch of art placed under a ban, as if it were no more than an agency of evil." Let it never be forgotten that even irreligious men, who themselves enjoy the amusements of the theater, lose all respect for ministers when they see them in the play-house. Their common sense tells them that men of such an order are unfit to be their guides in spiritual things. But we will not debate the point: the fact that it is debated is to us sufficient evidence that spiritual religion is at a low ebb in such quarters."

May the Lord of holiness protect and guard our hearts from every form of frivolity and time wasters. May the Lord Jesus forgive me of my waste let alone my enjoyments of filth, false doctrine and flakiness.

Justification

2010-02-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

Compare The Nature of Justification between catholics and evangelicals. Adapted from Sam Storms.

Take the lists below and compare them as if side to side from one another.

Roman Catholicism

Intrinsic
Inherent - righteousness that God accepts is part of our character
Subjective (to/in us)
Progressive - not fully complete at the time of inception.
Experiential
Transformative - Justification causes a transforming character.
Impartation
Justification is Sanctification
Being
Becoming Righteous

Evangelicalism

Extrinsic
Alien
Objective (for us)
Punctiliar - immediate and at one time
Forensic
Declarative
Imputation
Justification motivates Sanctification
Status
Reckoned as Righteous

The first and last commands

2010-02-19T18:56:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed the connection between the first and last commands of the Ten Commandments? The first command is 'do no have idols'. The last command is 'do not covet'. How does covetousness relate to idolatry? Paul clearly makes the connection in Eph. 5:5. "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." To covet other things is to put other things before Christ; and, to put other things before Christ is to not love Christ but other things. Paul in 5:2-3 shows the contrast between walking in love to God, as Christ did, and living as a fornicator, unclean or covetous person. Christ loved His Father by giving Himself as a sacrifice for God's people to save them. Christ shows the way of love to God as His dear children by giving ourselves for the needs of God's people. To see people in light of what they can provide for us is nothing short of covetousness which is nothing short of idolatry.

Covetousness is the seeking of what others should provide us rather than what we can provide to others. If we love God then we will seek to be a blessing.

"Lord, forgive us of our covetous, self-seeking ways. May we seek to love You by seeking to be a blessing to others rather than seeking to fill our greed from what others can give to us."

Thank you

2010-01-28T17:13:00.002-05:00

For all who are praying to me, pastor Steve Loeffler, a hearty thank you. We are progressing well. We are hopeful to shrink my tumor or infection with nutritional therapy. We will rescan, Lord willing, by the end of May for another look. How great the Lord is to give us some time!

The Lord is in charge. He can do with us as He deems best. His will is good and for our good and for His glory. May the Lord give us hope and endurance. We think of Christ who set His hope on His future joy. This is how He endured the cross (Heb. 12:2-3).

May we as those who believe on the Lord Jesus ever look to our Savior and press on, stay the course, hope on.

Christmas and abortion

2009-12-22T16:36:00.000-05:00

Brethren, family and friends,

As we celebrate Christmas, remember the children who will never see Christmas because AMERICANS are butchering them under legal protection of our present government. Nothing new - but Oh, watch and weep! Weep! Tis the season, yes, for joy because of the everlasting mercy of our Savior - His patience is sooooo long - for He has not treated us as we deserve.

Oh, the untold hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds

I weep!

Upon thousands upon thousands upon thousands

I weep again - I can not keep typing

Upon tens of thousands upon tens of thousands

OF BABIES - live babies are being butchered.

EVERY YEAR.

View and weep!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk5YoumaX6I

Now, Let us do our part. God help us!

Oh, Lord Jesus, forgive my betrayal of the children.

Come on! Let's call our Nation to repentance. Come on! Fearlessly and boldly proclaim the gospel and call on our leaders to repent and beg Christ for mercy for our merciless betrayal of the children and mothers because of abortion.

Let us do good works by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and on behalf of His Name.

Find the names of representatives send them a bold message with the video above and call them to bow to Jesus who died to save us from, from, from our sin - all our sin - murder and the approval of murder (Rom. 1).

Let us use our technology for gospel good - Do not stop. Little by little. email after email. Let us preach the gospel while standing up for the butchered.

Why not? Why not?

Love you Keith Doster for your good work. I weep with joy and grief.

the Manhattan Declaration: Hear Spurgeon: "To pursue union at the expe nse of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus."

2009-11-29T22:06:00.000-05:00

Concerning the Manhattan Declaration! Hear Spurgeon: "To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus." DG34

Let us not sign and participate with our friends who need our example and our preaching of the gospel, i.e., those of false gospel traditions! Let us not compromise the gospel which is a greater evil then all the evils we conservatives all oppose. Why should we be surprised about the evils our world tolerates? Let us be shocked and abhorrent at the compromise of the gospel, even more than the abhorrence of abortion or homosexuality!

Let us resolve not to let Satan have his divisive way among us. As Spurgeon once said: "There is nothing in Scripture which says, "Endeavouring to keep up your ecclesiastical arrangements for centralization;" but the exhortation runs thus: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit."
(607.3 : http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/c3.htm#denominations)

Let us use this occasion concerning this document to further refine us, prune us, energize us for the sake of greater clarity, greater purity and greater dignity of Christ, His sufficient work and gospel. What fellowship do we have with Rome (2Cor. 6:14ff)? If we were in the same room with these signers, would we call them all brothers in Christ? Would we have at least a nagging concern about the state of their soul as they ware their rosary beads and such?

This document is representative of many congregations, many confessions and traditions. Giving charity to all the signers and their constituents (for fear that we are unjustly judging regenerate souls) is not the same as giving charity to our own congregations or to a fellowship of churches that share the same gospel. Again, the signers represent many confessions, traditions and heresies. Signing such a document with them only breeds confusion in the minds of those who have been under these various representative traditions and have since renounced them for the sake of Christ and His gospel. Now we are joining hands with devils and calling them brothers! This can only lead to confusion at best and greater offenses (leading the simple away from the truth into error) at worst. Let us not be found hypocrites in signing a document one week that states our agreement with Rome as fellow Christians and then try to preach against her heresies the next!

As for signing as an individual, since when can we do anything apart from our vocation as Christians on one hand and as leaders (husbands, Fathers, church leaders, etc.) on the other? All our followers will learn from our example regardless of what we pretend to do just as individuals. Since when is the body of Christ made up of detached parts having no influence on the rest of the body? What we do as leaders does impact our constituents.

Therefore, let us sign our names to that Galatian Declaration (as Steve Camp mentioned) for the souls of those Catholics and Orthodox people who need to be free from their damning doctrines of demons; because, they may stand against abortion and every other evil in the world only to loose their own souls. Why should we encourage their traditions and doctrines by signing a supposed Christian document with them? Again, why do we hold hands with devils and call them brothers?! Chuck Colson said that this document is from the 'American Church'. Can you agree with him, him who signed the ECT?

Come on! Let's go! Let's stand! Let's call all our brothers out from this document for a better more pure, more clear, more dignified gospel document!

Let's pray! Then, Let's call, email, write to our brothers and sisters and help lift their ink to a better document. Why not?

Then, let's preach as if all our Catholic and Orthodox friends were in the audience - Amen! Preach the Word! Preach Christ! Preach justification by faith alone apart from the works of the Law! Preach free grace, free forgiveness, free and eternal life in Christ - who is our salvation, our righteousness, our wisdom, our sanctification - our all-in-all. Through Him, we are more than conquerors.

Trust in the Lord and not man, not some human craft, not some paper and ink! Trust the Lord Jesus who can raise the dead to raise the dead and by our gospel and by our clarity and by our purity we will as opportunity arises in our back yards defend the defenseless, deliver the attic and fornicator, etc.

Let us agree with Spurgeon who said the following:

To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus. DG34

It is thought to be mere bigotry to protest against the mad spirit which is now loose
among us. Pan-indifferentism is rising like the tide; who can hinder it? We are all to
be as one, even though we agree in next to nothing. It is a breach of brotherly love to
denounce error. Hail, holy charity! Black is white; and white is black. The false is
true; the true is false; the true and the false are one. DG51

Complicity with error will take from the best of men the power to enter any
successful protest against it. DG66
http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/c3.htm#compromise

I question if hell can find a more fitting instrument within its infernal lake than the
Church of Rome is for the cause of mischief. And your church will in its measure, be
the same if bereft of the Spirit. 649.510

Did the apostles preach the sacrifice of Christ?—the devil's apostles preached the
sacrifice of the mass. Did the saints uplift the cross?—the devil's servants upheld the
crucifix. Did God's ministers speak of Jesus as the one infallible Head of the
Church?—the devil's servants proclaimed the false priest of Rome as standing in the
self-same place. Romanism is a most ingenious imitation of the gospel: it is the
magicians "doing do with their enchantments." 657.604

We would as soon worship cats with the Egyptians, as popes with the Romanists: we
see no difference between the people whose gods grew in their gardens and the sect
whose deity is made by their baker. 1023.664
http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/c.htm#catholicism

Do men really believe that there is a gospel for each century? Or a religion for each
fifty years? Will there be in heaven saints saved according to a score sorts of gospel?
Will these agree together to sing the same song? And what will the song be? Saved on
different footings, and believing different doctrines, will they enjoy eternal concord,
or will heaven itself be only a new arena for disputation between varieties of faiths? DG50
http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/g2.htm#gospel

Let us provoke one another to good works.

With love and prayer for all of us,

Steve Loeffler

PS - I needed the encouragement of Alistair Begg, John MacArthur, Steve Camp and the like. Thank you for your provocation to faithful obedience to Christ and His gospel.

http://broadriverbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/

Manhattan Declaration: http://manhattandeclaration.org/

2009-11-26T02:40:00.002-05:00

Dear All,

To the Point and for the love of Jesus Christ and His Gospel to sinners by faith alone:

Please know that 1) I love the life of every baby and hate the murder of all babies in the womb from conception onward (Psalm 139; Exodus 20). 2) I love marriage between one man and one woman for life and I hate all fornicating relationships outside Biblical marriage (1Thess. 4; Heb. 13). 3) I love the freedom to worship as our God requires and pray against all oppressive governments and oppose them without the use of the sword (1Tim. 2; Rom. 13).

Therefore, I say yes to the following statements in the Manhattan Declaration:

"While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions."

"Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's."

Beyond all these crucial beliefs and stands, there is one belief and stand that rises above the rest: it is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for which we must earnestly contend (Jude v. 3). The good news is that Christ died for the ungodly and that sinners are saved and justified forever by faith alone in the bloody cross work of Jesus Christ apart from all other human acts of ritual, observances, sacraments, etc. (Rom. 3, 4, 5, 10; Eph. 2; Gal. 1-4; Phil 3). For this good news I take my stand against all compromises and call all other gospels as under the anathama of God according to our good and gracious and loving and forgiving and bold and honorable apostle Paul who faithfully represents Jesus Christ under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galations 1:6-9. [I classify Paul in such a light to remind us all that He is God's Apostle to us all for our ear and provocation]

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Therefore, I take my stand with all those who take their stand against the murder of children, against false marriages, against oppressive governments and against all compromises to the gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for God's glory alone as revealed in the Scriptures alone.

So, because of this stand and since the Manhattan Declaration compromises the gospel of Jesus Christ with its broad stroke of calling the Orthodox and Catholic communities as Christian, as to those communities who are holding and embracing the same gospel together (both Orthodox and Catholic communities embrace a faith-plus-works-for-salvation teaching in contradiction to Paul's teaching in Galatians 1--4), I cannot and will not sign the declaration (Chuck Colson calls it a covenantal Document and production of the American Church [http://www.breakpoint.org/commentaries/13534-the-manhattan-declaration // http://wwww.examiner.com/x-13905-Little-Rock-Evangelical-Examiner~y2009m11d24-Mike-Huckabee-interviews-Chuck-Colson-about-Manhattan-Declaration]).

Beyond this, all who have signed this document who names the Name of Jesus Christ ought to take their names off this religious, ecumenical document and sign a non-religious, non-theological, non-christian document that takes a similar position in opposition to the evils mentioned in the MD.

I stand with all Americans who stand against the evils mentioned in the MD; I do so as an American citizen who happens to be a believer in Jesus Christ. I do not stand with those who call themselves Christians only to betray Christ with the embrace of a false gospel. Follow Paul's charge in Galatians 1 and 2.

I stand with

John MacArthur: https://www.shepherdsfellowship.org/pulpit/Posts.aspx?ID=4444

James White: http://aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3638

Steve Camp: http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/

I love what Steve says:

IOW beloved, in this hour in our nations history may I propose a simple mandate: it is time for the church to be the church.

Gospel-driven Worship:

Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Gospel-driven Welfare:

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Gospel-driven Witness:

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Frank Turk: http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/11/i-respectfully-decline/

Dave Doran of Detroit Theological Seminary: http://gloryandgrace.dbts.edu/?p=177

For the sake of the gospel,

Steve Loeffler

broadriverbaptistchurch.blogspot.com

Flattery

2009-10-03T09:47:00.002-04:00

Colossians 3:9 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

Believers are so prone to lie, deceive and to speak with a double heart. Notice Psalm 12 and the day of deception that David had to endure, even from his own King, Saul, who tried to pretend to love David but in his own heart he despised David.

Psalm 12:1 To the Chief Musician. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. 2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things, 4 Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us?" 5 "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." 6 The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. 7 You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. 8 The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Believers are to be on the alert of a double heart, a double tongue, yea, flattery. Flattery is the naming of someone with titles and words of honor intent on masking their true feelings about that person. Flattery is a cover-up of true impressions. One may say, 'I love you, Precious', but in the heart this person may have hatred for 'Precious'.

The Kingdom of God is only for truth-tellers, those who speak the truth from their hearts. Psalm 15 depicts one who may ascend the hill of the Lord, the one who will be with the Lord forever, as the one who 'speaks the truth in his heart...who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend....' (vv. 2-3)

Let us not be found a deceiver with our tongues. May we from the heart honor the Lord of truth, who is pure and holy; and, let us trust in Christ, the righteous One, to purge our impure and deceiving hearts. Let us love the brethren from a pure and undivided heart. Let us lip our hearts. If our hearts are speaking evil, then let us seek the Lord to purge us of evil so that we are not found liars.

On Translations - The KJV is Not the Only Valuable Translation

2009-09-22T15:05:00.001-04:00

THE INSPIRATION AND TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
By Dr. John Gill

John Gill (1697-1771), was a Particular Baptist of great learning and spiritual perception, who was in spiritual line of eminent servants of God. Gill was an indefatigable preacher and scribe, writing more than many people could read, and two years before his death he completed his final work A Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity. In Book1, Chap.2, Sec.1, (pp.13-14) Gill addresses the subject of the inspiration and translation of Holy Scripture as follows:-

"Fourthly, This [inspiration] is to be understood of the Scriptures, as in the original languages in which they were written, and not of translations; unless it could be thought, that the translators of the Bible into the several languages of the nations into which it has been translated, were under divine inspiration also in translating, and were directed of God in the use of words they have rendered the original by; but this is not reasonable to suppose. The books of the Old Testament were written chiefly in the Hebrew language, unless some few passages in Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezra, and Esther in the Chaldee language; and the New Testament in Greek: in which languages they can only be reckoned canonical and authentic; for this is like the charters and diplomas of princes; the wills or testaments of men; or any deeds made by them; only the exemplar is authentic; and not translations, and transcriptions, and copies of them, though ever so perfect: and to the Bible, in its original languages, is every translation to be brought, and judged, and to be corrected and amended; and if this was not the case, we should have no certain and infallible rule to go by; for it must be either all the translations together, or some one of them; not all of them, because they agree not in all things: not one; for then the contest would be between one nation and another which it should be, whether English, Dutch, French, &c. and could one be agreed upon, it could not be read and understood by all: so the papists, they plead for their vulgate Latin version; which has been decreed authentic by the council of Trent; though it abounds with innumerable errors and mistakes; nay, so far do they carry this affair, that they even assert that the Scriptures, in their originals, ought to submit to, and be corrected by their version; which is absurd and ridiculous. Let not now any be uneasy in their minds about translations on this account, because they are not upon an equality with the original text, and especially about our own; for as it has been the will of God, and appears absolutely necessary that so it should be, that the Bible should be translated into different languages, that all may read it, and some particularly may receive benefit of it; he has taken care, in his providence, to raise up men capable of such a performance, in various nations, and particularly in ours; for whenever a set of men have been engaged in this work, as were in our nation, men well skilled in the languages, and partakers of the grace of God; of sound principles, and of integrity and faithfulness, having the fear of God before their eyes; they have never failed of producing a translation worthy of acceptance; and in which, though they have mistook some words and phrases, and erred in some lesser and lighter matters; yet not so as to affect any momentous article of faith or practice; and therefore such translations as ours may be regarded as the rule of faith. And if any scruple should remain on the minds of any on this account, it will be sufficient to remove it, when it observed, that the Scriptures, in our English translation, have been blessed of God, either by reading them in it, or by explaining them according to it, for the conversion, comfort, and edification of thousands and thousands. And the same may be said of all others, so far as they agree with the original, that they are the rule of faith and practice, and alike useful.

"Here I cannot but observe the amazing ignorance and stupidity of some persons, who take it into their heads to decry learning and learned men; for what would they have done for a Bible, had it not been for them as instruments? and if they had it, so as to have been capable of reading it, God must have wrought a miracle for them; and continued that miracle in every nation, in every age, and to every individual; I mean the gift of tongues, in a supernatural way, as he bestowed upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost; which there is no reason in the world ever to have expected. Bless God, therefore, and be thankful that God has, in his providence, raised up such men to translate the Bible into the mother-tongue of every nation, and particularly ours; and that he still continues to raise up such who are able to defend the translations made, against erroneous persons, and enemies of the truth; and to correct and amend it in lesser matters, in which it may have failed, and clear and illustrate it by their learned notes."

On Translations - The KJV is Not the Only Valuable Translation

2009-09-22T15:05:00.000-04:00

THE INSPIRATION AND TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
By Dr. John Gill

Hide in Jesus from the Coming Storm

2009-09-12T23:29:00.000-04:00

Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

FEBRUARY 25 — AM "The wrath to come." — Matthew 3:7

How terrible to await the dread advance of a hurricane — such as occurs, sometimes, in the tropics — to wait in terrible apprehension till the wind shall rush forth in fury, tearing up trees from their roots, forcing rocks from their pedestals, and hurling down all the dwelling-places of man! And yet, sinner, this is your present position.
No hot drops have as yet fallen, but a shower of fire is coming. No terrible winds howl around you, but God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. As yet the water-floods are dammed up by mercy, but the flood-gates shall soon be opened: the thunderbolts of God are yet in His storehouse, but lo! the tempest hastens, and how awful shall that moment be when God, robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury! Where, where, where, O sinner, wilt thou hide thy head, or whither wilt thou flee? O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ! He is freely set before you in the gospel: His riven side is the rock of shelter. Thou knowest thy need of Him; believe in Him, cast thyself upon Him, and then the fury shall be overpast for ever.

Jesus Shares His Kingship with His Brothers in the Faith

2009-09-03T00:04:00.000-04:00

Can you imagine our President doing what Jesus will do?

He not only makes them kings

(William Dyer, "Christ's Famous Titles")

"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne!" Revelation 3:21

Jesus Christ is an ENTHRONED King! But, beloved, this is not all; Christ not only sits there Himself--but He has promised that all who overcome, shall sit down with Him upon His throne!

Now, I wonder where there is any king but Christ, who allows his subjects to sit upon his throne with him. Alas! this would be treason for a man to attempt it!

Oh, what a glorious King is Jesus! Every one of His poor subjects shall sit upon the throne with Him! One would think this very promise would draw the whole world after Christ! Oh! what great offers, and privileges, and honors Christ bestows upon all His poor followers! He not only makes them kings--but He brings them to sit upon His very throne with Him!

O believer, you say that it would be an honor indeed, if could you but look into heaven, and merely to see Christ sit upon His throne! But this honor have all His saints; yes, much more--He makes them all kings, and grants to them to sit down with Him upon His throne!

Fw: He makes all His subjects kings!

2009-09-02T04:48:00.000-04:00

The Abortion Evangelist

2009-08-26T15:39:00.001-04:00

May we pray against this doctor and for his soul which is filled with bitterness toward the Lord. Doing exploits of gospel prayer is our greatest weapon.

'Lord Jesus, King of the Universe, please bring this doctor down; please turn the hearts of the women who go to see this doctor; turn this doctor's heart; cause him to quake for his ruthless terrorism against so many innocent, 'viable' babies. May the gospel of Jesus Christ ring in this doctor's ear crushing his pride and rebellion towards you. Turn his clinic into a refuge for women who are considering abortion. Turn his clinic into a gospel clinic with him or without him. Turn his efforts upon his own head and cause his counsel to other doctors to come to naught.

'O, give more love for Your holiness and wrath against such rebellion. Forgive our hardness of hearts regarding the poor and defenseless.

'Come Lord Jesus and take vengeance on all who refuse to bow to your Lordship beginning with our leaders who refuse to take up the sword against murderers as Your law demands.

'Have mercy and cleanse my heart of any bitterness (Psa. 139:19-24).

Revelation 6:9-11 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

_____________________________________________________

http://www.newsweek.com/id/212017/output/print

Newsweek Print This
The Abortion Evangelist
LeRoy Carhart is determined to train as many late-term-abortion providers as possible—or the practice just might die with him.

By Sarah Kliff | NEWSWEEK

Published Aug 15, 2009

From the magazine issue dated Aug 31, 2009

Leroy Carhart was at his abortion clinic near Omaha when he got the phone call. It was Sunday morning, a little after 10, and the doctor was in surgery. He felt his cell phone vibrate. Carhart ignored it, finishing the abortion before checking his phone.

Thank You Bob Jones Music Team

2009-07-29T12:05:00.002-04:00

We were glad to have Bob Jones Music Team with us for an evening of excitement, singing, preaching, testimony and fellowship. We had a power outage in the middle of our worship, but God had brought a visiting family from Florida who had a generator on their RV. We hardly 'skipped a beat' since we were able to provide some electricity through the generator.

We are thankful for BJU coming and granting us an evening of worship. Christ and His salvation was beautifully put on display. Eric Brown brought us an encouraging word from Habakkuk by calling on God's people to trust the Lord even in the most severe loss and disappointment. We can trust our Sovereign God.

Our evening was finished in our fellowship hall over some good food and fellowship.

Thanks to all for a delightful evening.

The Lord bless Eric Brown and his team.

Broad River - Prayer and help

2009-06-24T16:50:00.000-04:00

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Greetings All,

This is a broad cast e-mail concerning our little, needy church: Broad River Baptist Church of Baldwin, GA. (http://broadriverbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/). I am emailing you for any Christian, gospel help you may be called to provide.

Whether you are near to us or far away, you can help.
Whether you are able to spend one minute or one year, you can help.

Any help from believers in Christ would be of great encouragement to us.

As many of you know, Broad River is a handful of folk who desire to see God work revival in our midst and reestablish this church to be a bright Christ-centered, gospel light. Ray Rhodes of Nourished in the Word Ministries (http://www.nourishedintheword.org/) and Major Kevin Jarrard have been elders of Broad River for some time. They are planting their own church in Dawsonville, GA. besides being as much of a help to us as possible.

Broad River is a FIRE friendly, Founders Friendly, 9Marks friendly, Desiring God friendly, sovereign grace Baptist church.

Would you be willing to help us? Do you know someone who may be willing to help us?

Here are some suggestions for you to prayerfully consider, talk to your family, friends, pastor, etc.

1. Can you pray for us? We need God, His Word, His Spirit to bring wisdom, humility, conviction of sin, the conversion of souls and sanctification.

Can you add us to your prayer list for each day, each week, or once a month? Thank you for any of your prayers.

2. Can you help us with publications? We need help with web site design and document formulation of all sorts - such as flyers, posters, tri-folds, etc. We are really basic designers.

3. Do you know someone who is looking to pioneer with us for a day, week, month, year for the sake of church outreach, church leadership, church planting, etc. We need godly men and women who love God's sovereign grace to come and give of themselves for the souls in our area. Lisa and I saw the need for a sovereign grace church in this area so we packed up and moved to GA., got a job, and have been plowing ever since. We would love to pray with anyone willing to make the missionary sacrifice to join our cause for NE GA. Our plan is simple - preach, teach, win souls, disciple, train, grow and start other churches.

4. Can you help with counsel, wisdom, outreach ideas?

5. Can you broad cast our web site and need?

6. If you are preacher, can you come and preach; if you are a singer, can you come and sing; if you are an instrumentalist, can you come and bless us with your music?

7. Can you help in others ways? Maybe you can give of yourself in another way that we have not listed. Let us know. We are open to what God may have you do.

There are so many needs all over the world. So many ministries, good ones, are clamoring for our attention. I do not mean to burden you unnecessarily with yet another burden. Nevertheless, may the Lord provoke you to do only as He wills you to do.

Thank you for your attention.

Steve Loeffler
preaching elder of Broad River

PS - If you do not want any further notifications about Broad River, please let me know.

Twilight

2009-05-13T23:52:00.000-04:00

May we take a good hard stand against any glorification of evil. Nice vampires are vampires. They represent evil no matter how handsome they may appear, no matter how lovely they seem, no matter how benevolent they may present to the audience. Vampires are evil and to glorify vampires, witches, goblins, etc. is evil. Satan will always appear angelic. Humanity is bent on disguising our evil ways with good looks, cheap gimmicks, fancy clothes, emotionally charged music and dazzling pictures. May the movies, books, music, etc. of the Harry Potters and Twilights of the world be crushed under the feet of Jesus soon. It all will be soon enough. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus! And may all who have ears let them hear and repent and trust Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior - the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world through His awesome sacrifice of love on the cross.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Romans 16:20 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Leviticus 19:26 "You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.

Leviticus 19:31 "Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.

Revelation 21:8 But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death."

http://broadriverbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/

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How we need revival

2009-04-25T12:23:00.000-04:00

We have been looking at Jonah over the last few weeks. It is striking that the Lord used Jonah, a rebellious prejudiced prophet, to preach and see hundreds of thousands bend their knee to Jehovah God. If the Lord was pleased to use Jonah, may He be pleased to use us who are just as weak and prone to hypocrisy as Jonah was.

We are thankful for our great antitype, Jesus Christ, who is the greater than Jonah and who died not for His own sin but the sin of us, was buried, and rose again to victory to bring all His sheep into His fold.

I am thankful for the Lord's mercy to us gentiles.

Jonah

2009-04-07T14:42:00.002-04:00

The Scriptures are full of wonders. Its wisdom is supassing; its scope covers all important topics of life; Its literature is exceedingly exemplary. On the point of literature, notice the structure of Jonah 1:4-16 as pointed out by David Dorsey of Evangelical Theological Seminary (Wesleyan).

Jonah 1:4-16 Structural Analysis
Adapted from Dorsey, “The Literary Structure of the Old Testament”

Match up and compare a with a', b with b', c with c' etc.

a The Lord hurl's a great wind into the sea
Jonah 1 4 ¶ But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on t the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.

b Sailors cry out to their gods
5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god,

c Sailor's vain efforts to save the ship
...and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load.

d Jonah does nothing to save the ship/sailors – sleeps
...But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish."

e Sailor's seek to know what to do – lots
7 ¶ And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us." So
they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

f Sailors demand information from Jonah
8 Then they said to him, "Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country?
And of what people are you?"

Climax: Jonah testifies
9 So he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

f' Sailors know why because of Jonah
10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

e' Sailor's seek to know what they must do
11 ¶ Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?" -- for the sea was growing more tempestuous.

d' Jonah finally reveals how the ship and sailors can be saved
12 And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me."

c' Sailor's vain efforts to save Jonah and ship
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not,
for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them.

b' Sailors cry out to YAHWEH
14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, "We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood;
for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You."

a' Sailors hurl Jonah into the sea
15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

Sailors Fear the Lord, Repent and Vow
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.

Trusting in Christ our King of kings in this election

2008-11-04T00:12:00.004-05:00

To a member of our church in an email response, I noted the following as means of encouragement in a day of uncertainty regarding a most important Presidential election:

Thanks ... for the good point that this email friend makes. The good point that is made is the point that this election is in the hands of a sovereign God who rules the world by Jesus Christ and prayer is the ultimate weapon that we have in this time of severe consequences.

Here are just a couple of reminders that will bolster courage and faith and hope.

1) God is with His people to the end through the thick and thin:

Hebrews 13:5-6 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Remember what these believers had to face? (See chp. 10:32-34)

Even still, the Lord preserves His own: Psalm 37:28 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. ...Psalm 37:17-18 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

+++Psalm 37:12-13 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with

his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

2) Christ's people are to endure tribulation until we enter the kingdom since this is not our home:

Acts 14:21-22 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Philippians 3:20-21 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

3) Christ still reigns and is King of kings even if the worst of leaders are put in place:

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1 Timothy 6:13-16 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

4) God's view and plan is larger than our own since He is the one who appoints our authorities over us:

Romans 13:1-2 For there is no power but of God: --- the powers that be are ordained of God.--- 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Proverbs 21:1 Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

The Lord can withhold a king's evil intent. Amen! The Lord can stop the will of a king: Genesis 20:6 6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

5) God raises up leaders and takes them down:

God raise up Pharaoh -

Exodus 9:16 16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

God brought down proud Herod -

Acts 12:21-24 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 ¶ But the word of God grew and multiplied.

So, let the proud go on their merry way; if they do not repent, they will come to their end soon enough. For, what shall it profit a king if he gain the whole world and loose his soul. The same goes for all in leadership as well as any of us. (Mark 8:36)

6) It may be that the Lord will have various leaders rise up against the church only for Him to overthrow them in judgment; for, we know that often when the city of God is surrounded by her enemies then God will come to avenge and protect her (see 2Chr. 20 and cf. Rev. 20:9).

7) Remember, God often uses persecution and affliction to be the vary means by which many are converted:

Acts 8:1 ¶ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. ... 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. ...

Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

8) We pray trusting in God to save our leaders for yet more time of peace as 1Timothy 2:1-5 tells us.

May we stand for purity, righteousness, and life with our eyes gazing on heaven with a glance toward earth. We trust in Christ no matter who gets into office though we vote and pray for a righteous and God-fearing man according to Scriptural principles.

May we pray with John Piper:

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1475_a_prayer_for_the_election/

May the Lord bless us with greater resolve and wisdom to follow Christ, our Captain,

through the mist and maze of these trying times.

Steve

PS:

Psalm 146:3-5 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God

Christians Need the Gospel - Always

2008-10-13T13:41:00.002-04:00

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Ten Ways to Destroy the Church Let alone our Children

2008-10-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

Why not complain and grumble?

2008-09-19T14:55:00.012-04:00

Philippians 2:14 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

We are not to grumble and complain because to do so creates a blemish on our character. To be complainers as God's children is a major contradiction. If we are God's children, the king's children; yea, the pure and godly children of the righteous King; yea, the united and peaceful people of the good king, Then grumbling and complaining does not fit.

Complaining as children of God is like a big mud spot on a perfectly white dress or suit.
A child of God who murmers against God or the other children of God promotes faction, disruption, dissention, distrust, disagreements and arguments, and battle. Disunity to the family of God.
Complaining sends a message to the world that God is really not all that good and fair and not that much of a blessing to His children.
Complaining sends a message to the world that the other children of God are not nice, not worthy to be part of the family, not to be trusted, not to be loved
Complaining as the children of God sends the message of wrong doing that God and/or His children have not been good, have done wrong.
Complaining sends a message to the world that this kingdom, the kingdom of God, is not all that it proclaims to be and not worthy of the world's consideration - for it is no different than the world's kingdom of darkness.
Complianing and murmuring sends the message that the Lord does not know how to control His own kingdom.
Complain and murmuring distorts the glory of God.

Let us depend on the Lord Jesus to keep us from complaining and from being discontent with each other and from finding fault. May the Lord forgive us for being and doing these things. May the grace of God change our hearts to be His gracious children.

Regeneration

2008-09-12T04:58:00.004-04:00

1. What does the NT say about regeneration, baptism, Chr. commitment, and ch. membership?

In an e-mail response about the new birth, I stated the following. May it be a help to you.

The new birth is a miracle in the heart of a person by the act of God whereby God causes an unbeliever to be transformed in his soul in such a way that the sinner sees the kingdom, believes on Christ while turning from his sin (John 3). The new birth is depicted as a new creation having new life (2Cor. 5:17). The new birth is God's act not man's according God's will not man's (John 1:12-13; Titus 3:5). The new birth is God's act on the soul to make it come alive towards God and His Word (Eph. 2 and illustrated in Eze. 37 and 16). The soul is now made sensitive and 'pliable' to receive, accept and apply the grace gifts of God (Eph. 2:8-10 and illustrated by Lydia in Acts 16). New birth is equated with regeneration and the washing of the Word (Titus 3:5 and James 1:17), receiving a new heart and new life (Eze. 16 and 34), blind eyes and hard hearts now opened (Acts 16). The evidence of new birth is 1) faith in the God-man resurrected Christ (1John 5:1), 2) a life of righteousness: love for God and hatred of worldliness (1Jn. 2:29; 3:9ff.), 3) love for the Brethren (1Jn. 4:7), 4) overcoming faith which overcomes the world and Satan (1Jn. 5:4, 18).

From a church's statement of faith:
"We believe that regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renews their whole nature, so that they will begin to love and practice holiness. Regeneration is a work of God's free and special grace alone." Eze. 36:23-32; Joh. 1:12-13; 3:1-8; Act. 16:14; 26:18; Eph. 1:17-18; 2:1-5; 1Jo. 5:1

AUDIO

2008-09-12T04:54:00.002-04:00

We hope to present to our community some audio of our preaching, teaching, reading and misc. material for you. We are glad to serve you. May the Lord be please to use us as He sees fit.

Blessings to you as you rely on the Lord.

Action Plan for Believers

2008-07-23T17:53:00.003-04:00

To synthesize our Christian life, consider the following summary of the Christian life and practice.

Reverence the Lord, Rom. 10:9-10; 1Pet. 3:15;
1. Receive Him, John 1:12
2. Rely on Him, Pro. 3:6-7
3. Relish Him and His Word, Mat. 13:44; Isaiah 33:6; 2Cor. 4:5-7; 1Pet. 2:4; Psa. 119:162
4. Rest on Him, Mat. 11:27-30
5. Request of the Lord His hand, His help, His restoration - Psa. 85
Reevaluate our lives– 1Cor. 11:27-30
Repent, resent, repudiate any sinfulness – Isa. 55:7; 1John 1:7-9; Rev. 2-3.
Remit/ pardon the sins of others – Mat. 6:12
Reconcile with those against whom you have mistreated or done wrong – Mat. 18:15-17
Resist the Devil and His temptations – James 4:1-8
Rekindle the flame and passion of God's glory – 2 Tim 1:6
Respect those who lead you for the glory of God – 1 Thes 5:11-12
Remember and receive God's people – Rom. 12; 15:7

Revive our former works - Acts 2:42ff.; Rev. 2-3; Titus 3:8

Redeem the time – Eph. 5:15-16

Reach-out to those who need Christ – Mat. 5:16; 1 Thes. 1:6-10; 1 Pet. 3:15

May the Lord Jesus give us grace to follow His design for our lives by faith.

How Do I Disagree?

2008-07-02T13:09:00.011-04:00

Let us as pastors and leaders of the church take a cue from Mark Dever of Capital Hill Baptist Church and 9Marks ministries on matters of cooperation among Christians and churches. Read his entire article here.

May we stand for truth firmly, graciously, humbly knowing that true gospel preaching churches and organizations are constantly in need of sanctification no matter how good they may appear. All churches have sinners and many of them have unbelieving members on their roles. All of us still battle the flesh and are in need of constant personal reformation. As we contend for the faith, let us do so with grace to the humble and firm resolution against rebels to gospel truth.

___________

6. HOW CAN CHRISTIANS DISAGREE WELL?

Finally, how can Christians disagree well?

Perhaps you have heard this helpful statement that came out of the German reformation: "In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things, charity (or love)." We must agree on the essentials in order to have unity, which we’ve discussed. And we allow for diversity in non-essentials, which we’ve also discussed. But how do we achieve that daunting command to love in all this?

Roger Nicole has suggested that we answer these two questions:

What do I owe the person who differs from me?
What can I learn from the person who differs from me?

Let’s think about these questions for a moment.

What Do I Owe?

What do I owe the person who differs from me? First, I owe love. We should speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Second, I owe respect. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Matt. 7:12). When you are in a disagreement, make it evident that you care about the person you’re disagreeing with as a person, more than care about winning an argument. Listen carefully to what they’re saying. Clarify anything you haven’t understood. Always go for what people mean, even beyond what they’ve said. One of my theology professors always wrote out the pros and cons of the differing views.

The principle here is that you want to represent the opposite perspective as well as you can, so that the proponents feel satisfied with your presentation. After all, debates tend to harden proponents in their own ideas.

In all of this, consider what goals you share. Can you see what your friend is aiming at in what he’s saying? One way I try to explore differences is to use what I call a "decision tree." I try to begin where we both agree, and then trace out the point at which we diverge and ask why he made one decision while I made the other. Your goal should always be to avoid alienating people, but instead to encourage them. That will usually get farther in persuading them anyway!

What Can I Learn?

The second question to ask yourself in learning to disagree well is, "What can I learn from the person who differs from me?"

After all, perhaps it’s the case that I am wrong. Certainly I can learn something of my own assertiveness, and the temptations I face in discussion. Are we more interested in winning a discussion and safeguarding our reputation, or in discovering truth and leading it to triumph?

A couple of years ago I was reading a biography of John Wesley and I ran across this brief account:

It was customary for the itinerant and local preachers to take breakfast together, on Sunday mornings, at City Road. On one occasion, when Wesley was present, a young man rose and found fault with one of his seniors. The Scotch blood of Thomas Rankin was roused, and he sharply rebuked the juvenile for his impertinence; but, in turn, was as sharply rebuked himself. Wesley instantly replied: ‘I will thank the youngest man among you to tell me of any fault you see in me; in doing so, I shall consider him my best friend.’" (L. Tyerman, Life and Times of Wesley (Harper & Bros; 1872), III.567.)

Now that takes humility! And without humility, we can’t learn. We can’t learn the truth about ourselves or the truth about the Bible. According to the ancient Greeks, the opposite of a friend was not an enemy, but a flatterer. Our pride is our greatest enemy in all this.

Welcome correction as a good enemy of your pride. And appreciate the way in which those who differ with you can sometimes help to fill out or better balance the picture you’re presenting. It can be good to have Christian friends that disagree with us on some things—it gives us the opportunity to learn and to exercise our love.

Church Membership in Baptist News

2008-06-07T22:45:00.002-04:00

Church membership is a debated topic in these last few decades, and especially in the last few days as Southern Baptists seek to purge out from their numbers those whose names are on the church rolls who have no legitimate reason for their absence from church life.

Recently, Mark Kelly of the Baptist Press has reported prof. David Dockery's concern for the disparities found between the church membership rolls and the actual church attendance counts on Sundays. Kelly reports Dockery's questions that need our attention and answers. Here are his questions:

1. What does the NT say about regeneration, baptism, Chr. commitment, and ch. membership?
2. What does our Bap. heritage say about ch. membership?
3. How are we presenting the gospel message?
4. Have we allowed numerical growth and efficiency concerns, perhaps unknowingly and unconsciously, to become higher priorities for us than questions of faithfulness to the NT and to our Bap. heritage?
5. How do we receive and orient new members?
6. What is the relationship of the public invitation to baptism and the ch. membership?
7. What role should the regular practice of the Lord's Supper play in our covenant commitments?
8. How do we encourage discipleship and spiritual maturation?

These are good questions and questions that should be answered. It is hoped that we can make a stab at answering them.

How do you answer these questions? how should you answer these questions?

Ultimately, we want the Scriptures to address these questions and concerns. We test all understanding and thoughts to God's Word and understanding. May we humble ourselves and test ourselves making sure we seek not the world's ways but God's way in matters of church life.

The life of a saint is hard

2008-05-03T07:31:00.003-04:00

Matthew 7:13-14 13 ¶ " Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Some think salvation is 'all' easy. They will say that the gospel is simple, easy, and free. Please do not misunderstand, the gospel is not for high intellectuals, though the gospel far exceeds the greatest of minds. the gospel message is not a message hard to understand. When God's grace is poured out upon a person, it powerfully and easily brings that person into the narrow gate. And, salvation is all free. Forgiveness of sin is free based upon the costly sacrifice of Christ.

Yet, for sinners who love darkness rather than light (John 3:19), who are enslaved to sin and the lusts of the flesh (John 8:34), who set their mind of the things of the flesh and are at war with God and who suppress the truth (Romans 8:5, 7; 1:18), then the gate that leads to heaven is narrow. The gate is singular not plural. The gate is Christ alone, who is the only door of His sheep (John 10). The gate is narrow or thin allowing for only individuals and not masses. The way to life is not entered into by a corporate vote but by individual decision.

The way to life is hard that leads to life. It is a hedge way. A narrow and rough passage way. It is a thorny way with a glorious end. The way to life everlasting is full of troubles and tribulations and agonies and temptations and trials and difficulties. It is a way not for the world whose belly is their god, who love ease and pleasure, who delight in the frolics and follies of this life.

Choosing the narrow way is difficult for most because it requires a decision against the wide and easy way of a worldly amuse-filled life. Choosing the narrow way means that we are not going the wide and easy way. We are choosing not to go the way of the world, the way of the rich and famous, the way of adulterers, the way of hypocrites, the way of self-love, the way of laziness and greed, the way of immodesty and lusty amusements, the way of get-rich-quick schemes, and the way of promiscuous and flirtatious activities, etc.

Trusting in Christ alone and His way of life is narrow in total contrast to following the crowd of sinners who presume that life is wide, easy, free, and diverse.

Jesus said that few find this way. Noah was a few compared to the thousands who lived on the earth. Lot and his family were few in number compared to the hundreds that lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. And Jesus has told us that those who have true faith will be few when He returns. This is implied with His rhetorical question:

Luke 18:8 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Watch out for those who say that you can make a simple prayer or walk an isle or sign a card to enter the narrow gate and not be concerned with the way of repentance, righteousness, and ruggedness.

The worldly way is easy. The righteous way of faith in Christ alone is hard, singular, personal, full of self denial, and self hate. We naturally love ourselves and our thoughts and our desires and our way - which is all naturally corrupt and evil.

As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10-12)

We take are stand for Christ's way and not the way of the world, though we still struggle with our own lusts.

Come join us if this is the way you too desire to take.

The New Atheists

2008-02-21T20:42:00.003-05:00

We live in a day of unbelief. This is nothing new. Unbelievers have filled the land since the fall. What is new or at least new to our generation is a movement of come-outers of those who declare their antipathy towards theism (a belief in God) and in particular mono-theism (the belief in one God), and, even more particular, the belief in Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God.(There have been generations where unbelievers 'came out' so to speak from the hiding or from the closet; for instance, the times of Sodom and the Judges of Israel when the people ran a muck and did what was right in their own eyes.) This movement is a movement of outspoken atheists, yea, secularists, who are committed to the belief that all there is - is matter and the arrangement of atoms, molecules, and chemicals.

Please do yourself a favor to hear Al Mohler (President of Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY.) address the faculty and students of Dallas Theological Seminary about this most disturbing movement of what Dr. Mohler calls the four horsemen of this atheistic rage against God (See Psalm 2 about this rage). Be a good listener because Dr. Mohler gives us a very highly educated talk. He will be difficult to follow at times because of the wealth of information he has to share; yet, to endure will be to your benefit and challenge. To us who trust in Jesus Christ, the God-man, who alone reigns as God and King over all, this talk will at least help us understand with urgency the need to know God in Christ and to stand firmly for Him both unashamedly and lovingly; because, as Dr. Mohler points out, we live in dark and evil and aggressive days.

Dr. Mohler will challenge your listening skills, but in the end He will provide a basis of understanding that will hopefully embolden you to your faith.

Take a look at a couple of sites that will help you on this subject of atheism and secularism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins
http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2229,The-New-Atheist-Movement,Anonymous
http://outcampaign.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

Turning From Worthless Things

2008-02-16T09:53:00.000-05:00

And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart.
For consider what great things he has done for you. (1Sam. 12:21, 24)

Dear believer in Christ, who has been given all that pertains to life and godliness (2Peter 1:3-4), what does the world have to offer you for profit or deliverance but only what is emptiness and vanity for your soul? Is this not a good time to consider what great things the Lord has done for His chosen people through Christ, our Passover Lamb (1Cor. 5:7)? ‘Tis the season, as always, to remember our Lord’s suffering and victory over the grave. ‘Tis the season to remember what Christ has done to secure our salvation, our deliverance from the disease of sin, from the defilement of this world, and from the dangers and darts of the satanic host.

Broad River, please consider and confess the beauty and glory of your bruised and brutalized Savior for your release from the wrath of God. Christ Jesus endured the bruising from not just the hands of sinners who took delight in torturing their victim but from His own Father. Isaiah said of God’s suffering servant: "He was despised and rejected by men…smitten by God, and afflicted….it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief;" (53:3, 4, 10). Our sins were used to puncture, thrash, gash, crush, and kill the Lord of glory.

Yet, as we already know and believe, it was through these pangs, these birth pangs, yea, these inexplicable pains that our Savior gains the inexpressible joy of seeing the fruit of His agonies, the church, the children of the Father. "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and
be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa. 53:11)

Broad River, let us praise the Lord for the victory before us because of the victory of our Savior at His resurrection. Rejoice in your hope even though now for a short season we endure the pangs of this present life (1Pet. 1:3-6).

Are Muslims and Christians Able to Join Hands

2008-01-20T19:40:00.001-05:00

May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised above all human ingenuity at universal peace. Many Muslims around the world have written an open letter for the Pope and many other professing Christians to join hands with them for the sake of unity and peace. Their claim is that Muslims and Christians have the same God and are under the same commands to love God and to love their neighbors. Please consider the following:

http://www.acommonword.com/index.php?lang=en

In contrast to this Muslim assumption, our Lord Himself clearly taught His disciples that if you do not honor Jesus as you do the Father then you do not honor the Father. Notice the following:

Joh 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

It is clear. If you do not honor the Son as you do the Father, then you do not honor the Father. Notice another of John's texts.

1Jn 5:9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.
10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Is this not clear as well? Only those who receive the testimony of Jesus as the Son of God can claim to have received the testimony of the Father. Only those who receive Jesus as the Son of God can know they have eternal life. Muslims do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/slamic_view_of_Jesus

No one who denies the Son His rightful place as equal with the Father (being the Son of God, cf. John 5:18) can think they have life, eternal life. Only those who submit to the Lord Jesus Christ will ever find universal peace when He comes to establish His kingdom (Rev. 20--22; 2Pet. 3). When Jesus comes back all His enemies will be destroyed and the righteous will enter their joyous, righteous, and everlasting kingdom (Rev. 19--20; 2Thess. 1).

Every knee shall bow:

Php 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Php 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Php 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is the exalted king.

1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
1Co 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

May we hold fast to the Word of life given to us (Phil. 2:16). Standfast in the Lord (Phil. 4:1)

Can God Use Us?

2008-01-18T21:27:00.000-05:00

It often comes across the minds of God's children the question of our usefulness and fruitfulness. No matter the position we may hold in the Body of Christ, there can be a nagging wonder whether God is using us. For example, if we look at the history of Abraham, we can see many years of silence between significant events and happenings in their lives. The 20+ years between God's promise of a descendant during Sarah's barrenness and the actual fulfillment is the primary example of silence where Abraham needed to wait on the Lord. Of course, Abraham's faith was not perfect as he caved in to some cultural and sinful contrivances, like the decision to use Hagar as a surrogate for Sarah.

Beyond this time, take a look at Genesis 21: 34, which states: 'And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.' Of course, we do not know how many days but we can assume that it was more than what we often think of many days. During these many days, Abraham's faith had to rise to the occasion and not to give way to hopelessness or despair. Then, on top of this time of silence from the Lord, the Lord bursts into the scene again with a severe charge. Look carefully at Genesis 22:1-3.

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."

He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

What God-given faith on behalf of Abraham! What shame to us who are often so prone to wonder and doubt and even toy with despair about our circumstances and seeming barrenness. Abraham - wandering for many days in a foreign land having to deal with water rites in the land (see Gen. 21:22ff.) and patiently waiting on the Lord during a long time of silence - now faced the hardest trial of his life. Abraham was charged to give up the jewel of God's promise, the treasure of Sarah, the hope of prosperity in the land with many generations of fruitfulness, and the very seed of the coming Messiah (Gen. 17:1-14).

Can you imagine Abraham's immediate thoughts? What was he thinking as he traveled those long three days to sacrifice his beloved son, his only son, the son of promise? We can surmise but I think I might be given to such responses as:

"Well, So much for hope!
"So much for happiness!
"So much for fruitfulness and prosperity!
"Why!!??"

But, as we read further down in the text, what do we see? God's great hand of mercy and blessing. The outcome was great relief and joy for Abraham as he heard the words of His Lord:

'And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven
and said,
"By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."'

May faith in our good Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to take away all our sins and to successfully bring us to God, encourage us that He has a perfect plan for our lives, for our churches, for our good, for our ultimate prosperity --- no matter how we view or feel about these times of barrenness. May faith rise up and state boldly and confidently the words of our beloved Apostle Paul:

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1Cor. 15:57-58)

Gospel for the Overwhelmed

2008-01-12T08:11:00.002-05:00

The Christian gospel is good news from God about God, His kingdom, and His people. The good news is that God is love and has planned to deliver all His rebellious chosen ones from all the curse of sin and from all their woes and from all their cares and from all their confusion, contrivances, conflicts through Jesus Christ the Messiah King . This good news is about God's plan to deliver His kingdom chosen people through the work of Jesus Christ for the purpose of dwelling together with Jesus Christ and enjoying Him forever in perfect peace and harmony.

Update

2007-12-29T14:12:00.000-05:00

We have added some helps below for your information. Our greatest concern is that your soul is healthy by turning to Jesus Christ for His grace to forgive your sin and to bring your soul safely into the arms of God the Father.

What is it worth if we gain all popularity, all treasures of the earth only to leave them for someone else after we die, unless you foolishly believe that you will never die? Is your eternity really that unimportant that you are willing to risk it all for your hasty conclusions about the here and now?

We are here for you. Please contact me for any reason.

Steve Loeffler
706-778-9374

Greetings

2007-12-27T17:10:00.000-05:00

A NEW BEGINNING...
at Broad River Baptist Church (BRBC). BRBC is reformed in doctrine (proclaiming the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace), and evangelical (gospel orientated) in practice. BRBC stands in substantial agreement with the London Baptist Confessions(1644/1646/1689), the New Hampshire Confession of Faith(1833), and the Baptist Faith and Message(1925/1963/2000).

Although currently small, BRBC is trusting the God of all grace to add to its number such as should be saved(Acts 2:47). BRBC prays for those individuals and families whom God would be pleased to stand with us exalting our Holy Savior while abhorring the ungodly trends of our pleasure-seeking culture and the people-pleasing kind of church. BRBC wants to be gracious in demeanor while tenacious in belief and practice, knowing that apostasy and compromise is the wave of the age.

The goal of BRBC is to do all things according to Scripture as an expression of our passion to treasure Jesus Christ, our all-satisfying Savior and King.
If you are part of a gospel preaching church, thank you for your prayers as we co-labor together for the elect’s sake(2Tim. 2:10).

Thank you for your prayerful interest in BRBC.

By His grace and for His glory

Steve Loeffler, pastor