Lately Father...

Lately Father, I find it comforting that I can’t get You off my mind. You are in my thoughts, even when I am relaxed and not wound tight, when I do the little things that don’t matter much in life, I find myself looking for Your face. I constantly wonder if You are happy with me, am I pleasing You, are You smiling with me – crying with me? I find myself thanking You for even the most trivial events in my day, and praising You for all those big things that make life - Life. I guess it has been a gradual thing – but lately events have made me more aware and conscious of Your presents. So I found myself asking this morning – why is it that I love You so and what brought me here?

Dear Father, here is what I came up with, which I know is no surprise to You. Your Spirit, which You gave me as a gift to comfort me has convinced my heart gently but firmly of my inability to see You or get to You without petitions to Your Son. He gently prompts my heart to read and listen to your word. I find myself thanking You many times a week for placing me where You have, and providing and placing a loving Pastor that taught and mentored in Your will. The Holy Spirit has shown me that without that which You first gave me, I am a condemned man, without excuse. That even in the presence of Your precious Gift and Blessings – I am but a worm dwelling in the rotten apple we call reality.

The man I thought I was – now looks back at me from what seems to be a distant past. He taunts me over the things that are different, but when I look back through straining eyes I find it harder to recognize that image of the past. Today, I realized that because You have taught me how to love You, that image I strain to see is no longer the man that You see. You have placed people in my life to remind me of that old pit once in awhile, but I feel You leading me more into the new creation You are teaching me to rejoice in. I find myself sitting in the quiet of my study, peaceful and content to rest in Your arms. The truth of Your word coming alive off the pages and speaking to my heart – it is Your voice I hear. I yearn so much to seek Your face, to be with You, to walk with You – this is a love that You are teaching me.

This man You gave me as my earthly father has sought You father and You speak to him as well. Praise You for answering prayer, thank You for touching hearts that were once cold, glory to You for 1st choosing us when we were yet still in our wretchedness. Father, You have shown me Yourself in the eyes of this man I call Dad. You have shown me tenderness through the heart of this man that I once thought was heartless. I once heard that a man’s perception of You is directly correlated to the relationship he has with his earthly father. With me – You proved the opposite, if we don’t first honor our relationship with You; we can never fully enjoy the relationship with the earthly father You gave us. Praise be to You Father, for working a good work in my heart, and showing my dad and I the best You have to offer – in your Son Jesus Christ.

Why do I love you so? Because I am compelled to – because as part of that transaction @ the cross, you gave me a cleanly washed heart to seek you out – and wonder in Your love – unconditional and unbridled to those that truly seek Your face. Thank You Father, for all the Godly Fathers through the ages, Abraham, Issac, Moses, as well as those in my linage – Robert Tormey, John Hall & Byron Hall. Thank You Father, for the role models that you have placed in our lives, Joseph, Joshua, Peter, Paul and today’s role models like Stephen Burns, Marvin Apple & all the Godly Pastor's that love your people and sacrifice for them.

Praise Your Holy Name - I Love You Father!

Forever Thankful For His Forgiveness

These last few weeks I have been buffeted quite a bit...  Trials have been over abundant, and I haved made a few bad choices.  Conviction is a wonderful thing, and reassuring that His Spirit still works in the hearts of men...

I pray that my testimony has not been bruised, He knows my heart and knows that I am forever Thankful for His undying Love, Mercy, Grace and Forgiveness...

Remembering, when you ask to dawn the "The Full Armor of God", be prepared to do battle.

Stand Strong in the Truth and Stand Firm in the Faith - He will take care of the rest...

What's On Your Task List?

Hello Fellow Saints in our Dear Lord Jesus...

Well, since May 21st has come and gone, what remains on your personal task list for the time we have left here to serve the Risen Christ?

Here is what mine looks like:

1)   Share the Gospel with those seeking the Truth.

2)   Pray constantly for Mercy, Grace, Love and Faith to continue.

3)   Work at showing Mercy, Grace, Love and Faith to those He places on my path.

4)   Pray for the Holy Spirit to help me in dawning the full armor of God, then stand firm in this Spiritual Battle.

5)   Learn to make Him larger in my ministry - while making myself smaller.  Point to Him, while fading into the back ground, dying to self and the pride I carry.

6)   Pray for the Lost, the Suffering, and help where I have the means and resources to do so.

7)   Watch and Listen for that Trump to sound, for His calling to the Marriage Feast.

Folks - my Bible tells me that there are several major events to occur yet for this old world.  When God is ready to close the door of Grace (the Church Age), He will send His Son to the earth to call out His Children, those names that are written in the Lambs book of Life.  Those that live for Christ, seeking God's face in their life, and seeking righteousness, those that the Holy Spirit has begun a work in the heart and True Change is manifested in them.  Those dear folks, those dear Saints in Christ both Dead and Alive will be caught up  with Him in the clouds and whisked off to a Marriage Feast.

The next event (maybe simultaneously) the Anti-Christ will rise to power, and promise peace, but it will be short lived.  Three and a half years into his reign, this person will turn on the world, and bring his power down on our Dear, Dear Israel...  He will seek to destroy her, while defiling all that is Righteous and Pure, but GOD will not allow this to happen.

Just 7 short years after Christ took away the True Church, he will return to the earth for the 2nd time.  When he touches down on the Mount of Olives, His Power and Wrath will split the Mount.  He will then destroy the defiance of the Anti-Christ and bind him.  Christ will then take His Rightful place on the Throne of Israel and the world and rule for a 1000 years.

There is more to this story, but, you will have to read, and learn those truths on your own.  This very brief and unsophisticated summary of the events to come, is meant to be an encouragement to those that Truly Know Christ.  Also, this is meant to be a warning to those that scoff, or even those that have decieved themselves into believing they are alright.  They do their church thing on Sundays, or on Easter or on Christmas - so they are OK...  Could not be further from the truth...  

If you are still walking the way of the world and there is no Change in your life, if your sin does not make you ill, if there is not love for all man kind in your heart - you are just fooling yourself into a false sense of security.

Christ paid the price for our sin nature, He calls to all men, to come out away from the ways of this world, to wrap our selves in His Righteousness, and seek to be Holy and Sanctified unto Him.  HE does the saving, not men, not preachers, not pastors nor the likes.  When True confession occurs, and True Repentence and Turning from our own way is the result, He saves.  Christ sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of His Own, He Knows them, and they Know Him.

Faith in Christ, is the only road to True Salvation and a Life Eternal in the Light of God's Love and Peace.  Christ Himself told us - there is NO other way...  None...  We either pass through His work on Calvary to get to God and Heavens reward, or we remain eternally damned and imprisoned in hell.

The choice is yours...  So really, what is on your task list while waiting, maybe you should re-prioritize your list and hit your knees.

For at one point or another in your eternal existence you will bow your head and bend your knee beneath His Authority...  Either you do it now in the light of His Mercy and Grace, with Joy of Service...  Or you will do it on Judgment day by force and in fear... If I were you - I would check that list...

In Christian Love and Concern,

Your Friend,

RC


  

Resurrection Day… This is Your Choice!

From the Word Of GOD, the Story of Salvation...

He rode into town to a Kings welcome and fanfare, the crowd was ecstatic to see Him, they hailed and praised Him. It was a wonderful and glorious scene, they appeared to Love this Man, wanting Him to be their King… My goodness, how the hearts of men and woman can be swayed, for by the end of the week, this wonderful blessed man was beaten bloody, kicked, spat upon and mocked.

It started when a few of unscrupulous men in Religious Power, a group called Pharisees,  the Sanhedrin, decided that this young man’s miracles, good deeds, and love for the people challenged their own influence. They were afraid that this man had a great impact on “multitudes” of people through His preaching and teaching and was gaining great favor with the people. He on more than one occasion called these Pharisees a “brood of vipers”,  “hypocrites” and “serpents”; he called them out as untrustworthy or deceitful leaders in front of the very people they were to lead.

He had sternly, intentionally, and authoritatively overturned tables of moneychangers, and sellers of wares and doves in a court of the religious temple of this town. He recognized the false teachers, corrupt religious leaders, scam artist and evil of all kinds, and called them such. Leaving in His wake, a growing number of unrighteous enemies, all of whom would want to see Him destroyed.

Then, one from His own circle sold his loyalty to the Religious Leaders of this town that feared the power and influence this man was building. So it was settled, His friend would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver. The mode of identification on that fateful night would be that of a “kiss” on the cheek of The One they feared. He was then kidnapped and falsely accused by the Religious Foot Soldiers and taken off to a Religious Council held in the dark of night.

This was a plot, a conspiracy of great proportion and they knew it must be carried out with great precision… For the people truly liked this man, so they decided not to kill him themselves, for this may truly turn the people against them, instead they must influence others to do their dirty deed. For it is told, in Matthew 26:4 of the Holy Scriptures “Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him". This indeed was a plot, and Caiaphas was at the center and knew how to play events to keep above the ripples. The record shows that they had decided not to kill Him “during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people”. They painted this man as a blasphemer of Almighty God that ultimately deserved death.  Knowing that Rome agreed to honor their Religious Laws, and that blasphemy brought a death sentence, they would use Roman authorities to do their dirty evil deed...

In the Gospel of Matthew we see that when Jesus the Christ was brought to the Sanhedrin, “The Chief Priest, the elders, and the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death” (26: 59-61), and found several. Jesus’ own words were found sufficient to condemn Him to death. For, in the morning, “...all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death” (27:1). Later, when Pilate tried to release Jesus, they fervently insisted He had to be crucified, and the angry crowd that was present, as well as the priests, finally prevailed (Luke 23: 23). Based on the scene at hand, our knowledge of the corrupt lengths these men would go to get their way, the angered crowed was probably handpicked.

So it was settled, this wonderful, kind, righteous, holy, perfect man would be destroyed at the hands of the Religious Right of the day. That this man, the TRUE SON of GOD, was to be crucified over the fear of losing power! It is this writer’s belief that Caiaphas carried out this deed with his eyes wide open. His heart was not of GOD! Yet, it is the writer’s belief that He knew this was the Christ, but just as Satan is under the delusion that he will overthrow God’s people – Caiaphas thought He could destroy the Son of God and retain his power and influence over the Jews.

Those of us that claim HIM as our own, and have received the Holy Spirit as His Comforter and guiding influence, know that HE is raised this day - HE  IS  ALIVE !!!  He has conquered both sin and death on our behalf. He now sits at the right hand of Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, poised to stand and come quietly and take His Bride to the Father, for a long awaited Wedding and Feast… For the Church – The Bride of Christ is waiting and watching for His return. For Faith come by Hearing, and Hearing by the WORD of GOD. That FAITH is even a gift of GOD, and He Freely gives it to those He Calls out from among this sin laden world. If you have heard His Voice, the tug on the heart by His Spirit, then separate yourself from the ways of the world. Follow Christ, take up His Cross, and share the Good News with those that are seeking. Time is short, He will soon come to take His own, and there will be no other opportunities. For once He takes His Church away, the age of Grace is over, and all that is left is Judgment and Damnation.

God Is! He Is! He created all that you see; all that you know was formed by Him. Even YOU! The first step to salvation is to recognize GOD! He is Righteous, Holy, Sovereign and all powerful. He as the Creator created man, to walk and commune with Him in the cool of the evening. He gave us free reign over all that He laid before us with one exception. One thing was forbidden, the rest was ours for enjoyment and learning. BUT, an evil one cursed through the ages influenced that first couple in the Garden. The woman was deceived, and her husband, disobeyed the Heavenly Father with his eyes wide open. For he knew it was wrong, and he decided to disobey regardless of the outcome.

God, found them naked in their sins, and cursed the action as well as the earth. At that moment their Spiritual Lives were snuffed out, and while God had designed them to live eternally with Him their physical bodies would now die. Through the ages, God gave the decedents of that first couple numerous opportunities to walk righteous and holy lives, but they continually chose not to. God then sent His Son, this young man named Jesus, the Christ that you read about previously. He came to earth with one simple purpose, to tell of His Heavenly Father, to show the people the path to the Father and Righteousness. For He told them and us, that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him, would have everlasting life” (John 3:16). That “gave” is the Gift of His Life for ours, a payment for the sin that we on our own are not capable of providing. “For the wages of sin is death (physically and eternally); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:32). Christ told us, there are not many ways to God, unlike what the world wants you to believe today. There is but one way to God… “For I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto to the Father but by me” (John 14:6)!

Dear readers – the choice is yours, and it is a choice – that you make voluntarily. Remember one last thing “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved”. It is God’s will for you to choose Him over the offerings of this corrupt, cruel and dying world. Please make the right choice, before it’s too late!

HE IS...

HE IS...

The Alpha,

The Omega,

The Beginning,

The End...

HE IS...

The Creator of ALL that IS,

The Light of the World,

The Sum of ALL that ever was...

HE IS...

Savior, Redeemer, Comforter and Lord...

WE Will...

Bend our knee & bow our head now in Humble Loving Obedience... Or...

We Will Bend our knee then by force in Fear and Trepidation under HIS Judgment... Upon raising to our feet we will be sentenced to eternity apart from HIM and banished to Hell for ever and ever...

The Choice is ours, while we stand in the midst of His Grace, and realize HE IS our only way to God and Eternal Salvation!!!

Let Them Go (by Alistair Begg and Truth for Life)

Let them Go

Jesus answered . . . 'So, if you seek me, let these men go.'
John 18:8

Mark, my soul, the care that Jesus displayed even in His hour of trial toward his precious sheep! The ruling passion is strong in death. He resigns Himself to the enemy, but He interposes a word of power to set His disciples free. As to Himself, like a sheep before her shearers He is dumb and opens not His mouth, but for His disciples' sake He speaks with almighty energy. Herein is love--constant, self-forgetting, faithful love. But is there not far more here than is immediately apparent? Do we not have the very soul and spirit of the atonement in these words?

The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep and pleads that they must therefore go free. The Surety is bound, and justice demands that those for whom He stands as substitute should go free. In the middle of Egypt's bondage, the voice rang out with power, "Let these men go." Out of slavery of sin and Satan the redeemed must come. In every cell of the dungeons of Despair, the sound is echoed, "Let these men go," and out come Despondency and Fearful. Satan hears the well-known voice and lifts his foot from the neck of the fallen; and Death hears it, and the grave opens her gates to let the dead arise.

These men go the way of progress, holiness, triumph, glory, and none shall dare to keep them from it. No lion shall hinder their progress, and no fierce opponent shall prevent them. The Lord Jesus has drawn the cruel hunters upon Himself, making the most timid of His followers to discover perfect peace in His unbounded love. The thundercloud has burst over the cross of Calvary, and the pilgrims of Zion shall never be smitten by the bolts of vengeance. Come, my heart, rejoice in the immunity that your Redeemer has secured for you, and bless His name all day and every day.

written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg


Many men in Christian and Secular Leadership forget the passion of what made them Great... Our Churches, Companies and Washington DC, have all lost sight of the Big Picture... We have learned nothing, history repeats itself, for the hearts of men are both self reliant and self centered, rendering them both Godless and Hopeless. So went the Roman empire, as too those little harlots that follow after her lusts... We threw God and Christ out of our Government, our Schools, our Companies and now our Churches, and now wonder why the world looks so dark. The world and this country are a reflection of the darkened hearts of men... When all we see is ourselves and lust to aquire all the world has to offer, self deceit devours our capacity to Love... I learned these things through the Discipleship of a Godly man, and the Mentorship of kind and gracious business man that I once knew.

Pursue the ways of the world, and your heart will belong to the world and all it has to offer today, perishing eternally. Pursue the ways of God our Creator, then through His Son's finished work, your heart will belong to Him and all He has for eternity. Yield & Submit. Simply - Bend the knee and bow the head now voluntarily, or do so on the day of Judgment by force, the choice is yours... However; don't tell me your belongs to the King, and not show His Love and Compassion for your neighbor... We are to love & care for all people of the world, period, then hate the sin that separates those dear people from God... Christ said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Read His Word, Pray, Meditate, Share, Act, Disciple and Lead, it's really simple once the priorities are Right!

God Bless

Never Forget To Be Thankful...

I am another year older, and find myself reflecting more over the passing of time, than in my younger years. I am reminded that we should never be forgetful of the many Blessings that our Dear Father showers us with each day. As Dear Children of the Heavenly Father, we must have a Thankful Heart!

Remembering those Godly showers of Blessings is a small step in this walk of Faith, in the Light of HIS Dear Son and the sacrificial gift He brought for us. Never Forget, the sacrifice He made to purchase our sin laden souls. Humility in Spirit is born of a heart that is aware of our position in Christ, and the transaction that took place at the Cross. A thankful heart remembers that we cannot achieve anything outside the will of God.

THIS past year I have been made aware all the more of HIS Mercy through the Holy Scriptures shinning a sharp and bright light on my sinful soul. Making me all the more knowledgeable of just how short we fall of HIS Glory and Righteousness on our own. That it is only through the redemptive work on that old Tree that we can be made right and whole before the throne of GOD.

Thank YOU Dear Father for the gift of Eternal life, continue to cleanse this old human heart of all unrighteousness, please forgive any un-confessed or unrealized sin in my life. Never let me lose sight of YOUR Deity and Sovereignty, give me the strength and will to yield and submit to YOUR authority in my life.

Father, give me the boldness and wisdom to speak YOUR Word when YOU call upon me to share with a soul searching for Truth. Thank YOU Father, for the Spiritual Heritage, and the shoulders of family Saints that have gone on before that I now stand on. Thank YOU Father for their earnest and unending prayers for me; that only now are being realized to the depths they were offered and answered Dear Lord. Thank YOU for all the Saints of our Church Lord that have paved the way and provided testimony for us to follow. Thank YOU for the Pastor, HIS Family, the Church and the folks that serve therein. Thank YOU for Godly Church Leadership, that wants YOUR Will, and believe in and strive for Spiritual unity in the Local Body of Christ.

Thank YOU for a Godly, Loving, Sacrificial Wife that honors YOU with her life and testimony. Thank YOU Father for Christian Parents, the blessing they provide in our visits and the encouragement they are to me. Thank YOU for Christian Friends, that seek the Face of God, help us be an encouragement to each other, and accountable to each other. Thank YOU Father, for a Family that wants to follow YOU, but Father, give them the strength and desire to Yield and Submit to YOUR Will! Those family members that are not walking with YOU Father give no peace or rest until they repent and lay their lives down and take up YOUR Cross. Thank YOU for providing a work place where quiet time with YOU at lunch time is not deterred. Please continue to Bless this company and help them maintain a moral integrity that is above all others in the area.

Thank YOU Father for the Mercy that I in no way deserve, for the Grace and Light of YOUR Word that Lights the path on which YOU have place me. May I never, ever forget my sinful past, the condition of the un-generate heart that YOU found me, nor the consequences of sin and the bond thusly broken by YOUR Son’s Sacrifice. Never let me forget what I am outside YOUR Mercy and Grace, that it is YOU and YOU alone that provides redemption, that there is NOTHING I can do or provide to work my way to YOU, that the gate is closed and sealed. Never let me forget that the only way to YOU Father is through YOUR Son’s Shed Blood and Redemptive Work on the Cross. That even then, our Faith comes of YOU, that the regenerated Heart is of YOU and our Works in the Spirit are of YOU – lest any man boast. May I always crave for, and have a burning in my heart the desire of learning more, while growing closer to YOU through Christ. Father, create in my mind and heart the habit and desire to start and end my day with YOU… Place in me that same heart that David had, to always seek YOUR Face.

These prayers and petitions of Love and Thankfulness, I boldly bring to YOUR Throne, while wrapped in YOUR Son’s Righteousness. May all that I say and do bring Honor, Glory and Praise to YOU Dear Father, In Christ’s Name I Pray… Amen…

Life Lessons in God's Authority...

Tonight I had my eyes open to God's authority through a real life lesson...

The Lord God has provided many Blessings and Opportunities for me over the last few years. I have been teaching a Teen / College Age Class, as well as Bible Study Wednesday nights with the senior adults in our Church. Through that ministry, I have had the most awesome opportunity to deliver an accelerated expositional study through the book of Joshua, the Old Testament Book and Hero by which my eldest Son is named.

The book of Joshua lays out for us the Power, Might, Sovereignty, Righteousness, Mercy, Grace and yes His Ultimate Authority over all things in and of creation. Tonight through a few innocent acts, The Holy Spirit opened my eyes so that I could connect some points of learning. He showed me a critical point in unconditional love, and how that character attribute in our heart is a building block for submission and yielding to authority. Trust and Faith don’t come easy for many in this culture, because so many of us have abused and tarnished it. God never fails, He never lies, He never breaks promises, His Word is True and Eternal, and He has modeled True Leadership for us.

God had shown Love, Mercy and Grace numerous times to the Israelites, yet they continually murmured and complained. Thusly; He purged their ranks by allowing them to wonder in the Wilderness to 40 years. While Moses was on Mount Sinai, and the Israelites proceeded to sin greatly against their Lord and God, Moses' plea and prayer to Almighty God appealed to His Heart, and He showed Mercy and held His Hand of Judgment from destroying Israel.

The point being made, is both one of the prayer and submission of a Righteous and Godly man, is heard and has moved the heart of Almighty God... But to get to that point, Moses had to have a relationship with the Father! There was a healthy fear, respect, submission to His Authority and an understanding of position and relationship. Because Moses had seen firsthand the Might and Power of the Lord God, there was also a constant state of reverence and acknowledgment of His Holiness.

The family was originally designed to be a model of God's union of the Trinity, as well as a model of His Authority and our submission. However; today's culture has watered down the intended family design to where most families today are Biblically dysfunctional at most levels... The media has portrayed Men as bumbling fools, afraid of their own shadows, indecisive, indifferent and spineless to take their God given place in the marriage and in the home.

The fact is, men are to model Christ... They need to step up to the plate and show the Love and Compassion of Christ, willing to sacrifice it all, for the Spiritual lives of their families and their Churches. Sacrifice in its purest sense; is a word that is losing both meaning and visibility these days. When is the last time you knew a man that sacrificed a day's meals so that another could eat? When is the last time you saw a man give up something he truly loved for someone he didn't know? When is the last time you knew a man, to sell everything he had in the world, and went to serve the Lord, regardless of what his family and friends said? Chances are you don't know many - if any!

This brings me to a key point! Men, we don't submit ourselves to God's authority, nor do we sacrifice to serve Him... So, is it any wonder that our families can't get it right? Head of Household has to mean something to them, for them to Honor it and Submit and Yield to it. The "do as I say, not as I do" mentality has got to be thrown out. We must live out our Faith in Almighty God, every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day, of every week, of every month, of every year consistently throughout our lives. It must be on display in all of our routines, habits and lifestyle. They must see the Love, Grace, Meekness and Authority of Christ in us at every moment. We cannot serve God with a slothful Spiritual condition, it is all about choices! Those choices must be God centered, bathed in Prayer, with both Joy and Conviction of the Heart.

For those of you that have not taken your role in the home seriously, hit your knees, pray to Almighty God to give you the courage and strength to draw a line in the sand, and hold that line... Don't give an inch to Satan, he wants you to be a weak Leader, he wants you to be weak spiritually - he wants our families to be weak and dysfunctional.

Remember Brothers, God will not honor a heart that is not submitted to His Authority. Just as God withheld Blessing and Victory from Joshua and Israel at Ai, because of one man's sin and covetousness, He too withholds Spiritual Victory from us when we make the wrong choices!

When Israel remained focused on God, the Lord continued to provide Victory after Victory throughout Canaan. Time and time again, Israel physically saw God's Power and Might in their victories... Yet, they consistently had to be reminded. Joshua, was victorious because of his Faith in God, and because he understood the relationship.

Do you remember the passage in Joshua 7 verses 18 thru 26? When Joshua confronted Achan, this man made an interesting, intriguing, and in the end a damning statement. In Achan's confession to Joshua, he basically said "I saw these fine clothes and these precious metals, I wanted them, and so I took them"! Now as we well know, God said not to take anything... Achan chose not to Honor and Obey God's sovereign authority, and in the end it cost him, his life, the life of his wife, children and cattle. God takes His authority and Word seriously, yet most men calling themselves Christians today yield their God given authority to their wives and children. They coast, don't want any waves, just want to be happy and do what they want to do, when they want to do it without any thought to the Spiritual consequences.

There will be a Judgment in Heaven men! We Will Give an Account for how we submitted to God's Authority, and how we used the authority he gave us in our homes! So tell me men, are you working on your spiritual bank roll? Do you care? If you care, are you concerned about what you will have to defend? Are you honoring God in your homes, in your marriages, in your families?

Does your wife see your undying love for her; does she see your sacrifices for her, so that she may grow in Christ? Have you sacrificed time, or resources to give her opportunity to recharge her spiritual batteries? Do you encourage her, build her up, and talk her up in front of friends, co-workers and family. Do you rush to her aide when she is challenged, threatened, fearful or doubting? Do you know how to say I am sorry, and she knows it is coming from the core of your soul? Do you rush to offer forgiveness if she has offended you? Do you take time to communicate to her - engaged at the level she wants you to or needs you to? Your authority in the home is not negotiable, it is commanded by God, but it is to be throttled and controlled by and in His Love, Mercy, Grace, Meekness, Compassion and Sacrifice!

God's Word provides the only author you need to be the Head of Household... If you wield it as an offensive weapon to bruise and bully those which God has blessed you with to call your own, you will bear the burning - scorching fire of Christ's Bema Light at that Day of Judgment. But, if you tenderly exercise that authority, to teach, guide, nurture and a tool of Love and Provision, you will reap rewards both here and in Heaven.

Wives, do you Love Christ enough, to honor Him through yielding your will to Him, giving yourself and your will to your husband as Christ gave himself to the Church. Christ yielded to the authority of the Father just by coming to the earth in the first place. It took all the more submission and discipline to give Himself to be brutally beaten, bruised, cursed, mocked, humiliated and then sacrificed for His Church - the Bride of Christ. Do you look for signs of Christ in your husband’s? Do you offer support and encouragement to him in his Spiritual endeavors? Do you show him Unconditional Love before your children, family and friends? Do you come to his aide when he is tired, down and beaten by the world? Does he see Christ's eyes when he looks into yours? Do you reinforce his authority in your home, do your children see a biblical submission in your heart, or is your submission that of obligation and requirement? There is a difference, and that difference is a matter of the Heart.

Joshua Loved the Lord his God and yielded to HIS Authority! Joshua loved Israel! Joshua's authority was not questioned, and all of Israel honored, respected and yielded to Joshua's authority. Joshua's Faith and Trust in God, was the anchor that held all of Israel in the storms. He was loving, just, and compassionate and his life was accounted unto Righteousness before the Lord. Joshua lead all of Israel to many victories, through his leadership and God's Providence and Promise, Israel in a very real way got to see and inhabit their "Promised Land".

Men of God, are you leading your wives, children, neighbors, co-workers and Churches to the new Promised Land (Heaven)? Do those around you see Christ in you and your actions and deeds? Do they want to follow your lead? Are you praying for them, for God to work in their hearts and yours? Men, God gave you the very best he had, how can you dare to give any less - than the best you have - giving of yourself until it hurts! See men, if there is no pain, there is no sacrifice... I have seen my dear wife give until it hurt, she give of herself to her family, to friends and to coworkers while enduring physical, emotional and financial pain. God has shown me in a very real way, how to live a sacrificial life – by reading His Word and watching my wife.

Men, Be the Leader He wants you to be and God will provide the hearts to follow. His Word and Work will not return void. If you place God in His rightful place in your life, He will honor your submission. Those around you will respond to your Godly attitude, the respect and honor you are wired for will occur through a Spiritual bond that can only be explained through Christ.

Yes, God provided me a little practical illustration tonight concerning a man's authority in his home. God requires our submission to his authority in our lives. That is achieved through tracing His hand and Knowing His Heart, which is converted into Faith and Trust.

As we learn more about our God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, that Faith and Trust in God's Character, Ability, and Love for us, will grow and spread to those we love. In the times when we know and understand His direction through His Word the walk is easy. However; in the times that we don't quite understand the purpose or reason, it is then that our Love for Him, our Experience with Him tells our hearts to continue to obey his authority! It is then that we see our Faith and Trust in Him is real and genuine! He has proven Himself to us, and we can trust His judgment and deliverance through our yielding and submitting to His will and authority.

Men, Husbands, Fathers, it is the same principal, through your undying love for your family, through your Godly living and teaching, your family will honor your Authority... Even in the times when they don't totally understand or see your logic, they will exercise Faith and Trust in your Authority. If they don't, examine your own heart and practices, if God gives you peace, continue to pray for unity in the Family, and for God to work in the hearts of those struggling. While raising children, we discipline them to teach obedience. As they grow, right thru the teen years, we look for that obedience out of Love and Respect of our authority. Where they learn to yield and submit to the authority God has placed over them, just as Israel submitted to Joshua. Men, if your family is struggling to Honor God in their own hearts and lives, chances are they will struggle and be challenged to follow your leadership.

Sanctification is a process that occurs in the heart of a Spirit filled, God seeking individual. It is a process that may have some hills and valleys, but the trend will be, and must be, constantly upward. Until we learn to fill our minds and hearts with Spiritual things on a consistent basis, the devil will still have a foot in the door. The old timers understood that principal, and were faithful and devoted to seeking God's Face at every opportunity. Read your Bibles and Pray to get closer to Him and get to know Him. If “your devotions” are only a mechanical reading and prayer to do your God thing, then you will never really get to where He wants you to be.

God loves you, He sent Christ to show you that, and Christ sent the Holy Spirit to minister to you and reveal Himself to you through His Word. If you truly have a "Saving Knowledge" of Christ, use that knowledge to gain more, dive into His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. If you are truly seeking Him, He will rejoice in opening His Word to you, growing you and as you yield to His Will & Authority, he will make all things new, and sanctify you unto Himself.

The Joy in Christ is real, His Yoke is easy, and when you engage in the spiritual battle, it is exciting and rewarding. So, get in the race, and then run to win... Anything less & you are fooling yourself!

God Bless and I hope to see you at the finish line!

THE Church - The Purified Bride of Christ?

Brother Dunkel and I went to a Pastor’s conference earlier this week, and I heard some powerful teaching and preaching… Some of the material in today’s message was drawn from notes I took at that conference

I want you all to Remember and Think about Your Wedding Day…. The smiles and the Tears, we are going to talk about it for a few moments…

a. American Dating being flawed as it is, tell me about how you met your spouse

b. What was the Courtship like?

c. Tell me about the Engagement time?

d. How did the wedding plans go?

e. Tell me all about the Wedding Day – Right through the Reception.

f. How about the 1st year?

g. What’s Marriage look like now?

This line of questioning all has a point, and we will eventually get to that point – but for now….

Let’s take a look at a few passages of scripture; our 1st stop will be Galatians 5:21 thru 32… Would anyone like to read this passage for me?

Galatians 5:

21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Hmmm, maybe some context is needed here… Chapter 5 Verse 1 & 2, Paul states “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in Love, as Christ hath also loved us, and hath given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to GOD”.

We are to be FOLLOWERS of GOD, as DEAR Children… Not as rambunctious kids, not as little children – AS DEAR CHILDREN… Why do you suppose we followers are referred to here as Dear Children?

How many of you have adult children, maybe even with their own families? (wait for hands and comments) Are they any less “dear” to you today; then they were when they were little? In some cases aren’t those relationships with your children different and maybe even sweeter than previously.

They are adults, responsible for their own actions, and in many cases are following your footsteps in Faith. When you ponder on it long enough, it tears the eyes – these Children of ours are DEAR to us. Is the Spirit of God any less Paternal than we? That’s absurd we say, of course not, He is our Heavenly Father – Right? He is the Creator of all that is, men and women included, thusly our Father none the less as Creator. But – Through Christ He is all the More – HE IS OUR FATHER!!! We, those filled and sealed with HIS Spirit are HIS Dear Children… Remember that, we may need that later…

Back to our passage, and continuing to understand context… Verse 3 thru 20, Paul explains what being a follower of GOD looks like in deed and conduct. So we understand the foundation that he has laid before us. So, just for a second – lets zero in on verse 21…

In verse one Paul said to be followers of God as dear children, then in verse 21 he says, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God”. So, What I am getting here is that We must develop and have a heart that is “Submissive” to follow this “direction” from Paul. Please Forgive Me… Let me slightly digress just for a moment… See we are an established Church of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Son of the Living God, so we have established that CHRIST is the Head and Ultimate Authority in this body of believers – RIGHT? So tell then, is Paul suggesting that we be submissive? Is he leading us to be submissive? NO, he is telling us to, he is directing us to, and he is commanding us to - in Christ’s authority…

Christ’s authority; in which we have previously, nearly 30 years ago, agreed is the only authority in this Church and in our lives to obey and follow – Right? OK – Just wanted to make sure I am on the right path here…

OK back on course, “We are to submit ourselves to each other in the fear of GOD”… So Paul is telling me, that I am to have a heart that is submitted to GOD, given to me by God through His Mercy and Grace. With that submitted heart, I am to submit myself to YOU, and YOU, and YOU. Not only submit to you, but do it in the Fear of Almighty GOD… Doesn’t sound like a suggestion does it, nope doesn’t sound like a suggestion…

So, we have just established the facts in these commands; that we are to submit ourselves both to God and to one another, we are to do so in fear of God, and as Dear Children…

Do we all agree with my assessment? Great, then we are of one accord!  So, what’s the deal with remembering our wedding day? ? ? ? Great, I am so glad you asked…

At our Pastor’s Conference down in Lansdale, Brother Dunkel and I heard a new perspective on Paul’s letter to Colossi… David Doran, Pastor of Inter-City Baptist Church in Allen Park Michigan, offered this insight to Paul’s message in Colossians 1 verses 24 thru 29, please turn there and read with me.

24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

FOLKS – HERE IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL FOR SUNDAY, the 27th of February 2011… Pastor Burns & Pastor Killian will present you to Christ the King of Kings as His Bride!!! When we look at the Greek text for this passage, a little research will help you see a more refined interpretation for us here in America… It would read that these two men will present us to Christ as a “perfected and pure Virgin” to be His Eternal Bride…

Galatians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Galatians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

Paul is working to present the church to Christ as a pure Bride! There is a sense of accountability here - that those Pastors and Teachers that teach and preach to us, will be presenting us to Christ at the Bema Seat. Thusly, Pastors will answer for the purity of the bride that they present to him.

A little illustration, if you had a congregation of 500 members, and only have 100 standing before Christ on that day of Judgment, there will be an accounting for that. So a question that begs to be asked here - Will the fruit of this ministry be complete?

God saves men to make them like His Son, we are predestined to be made like His Son, to be transformed into HIS image!!!

The Pastor's mission is not just to get them in the life boat! He is to follow the convert, and nourish them, to assure that they are a new creation in Christ... Pastors must cultivate the conversion into the likeness of Christ...

Some Pastors in this Country today have become men servers, letting the culture of the day slide through our Church doors… Some of these Pastors are pleasing men over being servants of God. They need to be working their Ministries to be the tool of God to work towards the purification of the Church....

GOD expects everyone in the Church to have a God focus, and anything less is falling short of God's mission for the Pastor and the Church...

So What? What’s that to do with the Bible Baptist Church of Warriors Mark? This brings me back to the original questions when I opened this morning about your relationships with your spouse before and after the Wedding… Where are we now, is He really still our First Love? Are we truly being Faithful?

 

ARE YOU TOTALLY SUBMITTED??? See, we, the congregation must also stand at that Bema Seat as well, and my dear friend there will be an accounting! Oh my yes, there will be an accounting to Christ. We will not account for our Sin, for He paid the total and complete ransom in our place. That Sin is GONE to be remembered no more. But, you will account for this life, and the Gifts He gave you. You will account for how you used them to serve Him. You will account for those you came in contact with every day. How you used the Joy He placed in your Heart to impact the lives of those around you.

A powerful statement I heard at this Conference, “if the Walk doesn’t last, chances are it was never real”. A Pastor’s heart is to be for Christ’s Bride, GOD’s Dear Children. His energy is to be focused on Discipleship, growing the Saints, to grow new Saints…

Did you get that!?!? MEN – Did you hear that!?!? Pastors are to look for Godly men to grow into Strong God Fearing Disciples to LEAD in the Church, to LEAD in the Community, to LEAD in the Work Place… YOU Men of God, the men that we just looked at over the last few weeks, that I referred to as the Corner Stone in a Rock Solid Christian Family. These same men are also to be the building blocks in this Church – GOD’s Church to be presented to HIS Son as a Perfect – Pure Virgin… We are to be unblemished by the wears and tears of the World. We are to be un-touched by the cultures hands, Clean, Separate, Pure, and Perfected as by fire. Men, we are to grow new Disciples behind us… We are to be strong fearful of nothing apart from Almighty God.

WE – The men in Christ in this Church are to teach our Children. Men, we are to teach these young men coming up behind us. We are to BE THE CHRIST That they see in our families and in this Church…

Not Just The Pastor… Not Just The Deacons… Not Just The Teachers… Not Just The AWANA Workers, But, EVERY MAN SITTING IN THIS CONGREGATION TODAY…

Galatians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT… WE too, are to GIVE ourselves to Him in service. We are to give ourselves to the Ministry of this Church.

Men, when is the last time we gave of ourselves for anything? Seriously men, what have we as men in our homes, at work, in our neighborhoods, in our communities and more importantly here in our Church, what have we sacrificed for? What has caused us effort or pain to serve HIM?

I ask myself this question this morning, “what have I, Robert Hall sacrificed on the Alter, of myself, to further the cause of Christ?” What time have I marked for and given to HIM, Where in this day, or in this last week have I showed HIM my love for HIM, other than a routine mechanical devotion…

Folks, we can’t tell people we are a Christians, and not be willing to get up an hour early and give someone a ride to Church, or give someone a ride to the Hospital, or a neighbor a ride to work… See, if there is no Christ Actions rushing to get out of the heart and to the aid and help of our fellow man, and Christian brothers, all we have are empty words.

I want you to listen to this statement I brought back from the Pastor’s conference in my notes this week…

Congregation – “what you believe, or what you think you believe is reflected in how you live your life!!! If Christ is the center of your life, he can be seen in you and your actions from every angle... Paul said, “Don’t be just hearers of the Word, but be Doers of the Word”. People around you, should see the glory of Christ in you. Everything about you and your proclamation of Him should point to Christ!!! Anything else will, any other attitude, any other profession will, trip up those around you!!!

Pastors, Elder Saints, Teachers – Men of God, we are to grow Disciples and send them to grow others in the Name of our Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Listen to this - “BEING must always precede DOING”!

We must be in HIM in Spirit, before we can ever truly do anything in HIM physically! My Dad would call this – “a gut check”…

Folks just being busy for Jesus is not a real testimony of what is in the heart! We are to look for and work towards completeness. See there are some folks in Christian Circles that sometimes just don’t get it, yet they want to be a part of the local assembly. When they lack the Christ likeness, we, the Men of God, must be ready and willing to approach them in Love, and challenge them, encourage them, teach them, keeping the Gospel ready to present at all times. Not everyone that claims then Name of Christ, Possesses Christ’s Spirit. We must be ready to speak the Truth, when our Likeness to Him draws them close and yields their hearts. Christ will draw them to repentance, but you must be ready and willing to share the milk of the word to help them grow.

Remember – we are HIS Dear Children, HE first loved us, and Gave His Son for us. What exactly is it that we are giving back… What crowns are you storing up in heaven? What jewels of the Faith are you storing up in Heaven for those Crowns.

We can’t be and should not be content with members of this Congregation that are content with coasting Spiritually… This is another topic for another Sunday, but Paul also talks quite emphatically and strongly concerning a “slothful” approach to this Faith.

I have come to the conclusion that Pastor Kilian, Terry Varner, Myself and any other Teachers we have here at this Church, can teach and preach the Doctrinal Truth of the Scripture! BUT we will not see one seed reaped if we follow the Politically Correctness of the American Culture and the World outside these four walls. We are called, to come out and apart and away from the world. Our ways are to be His ways, which should CLEARLY be different than the world.

I can teach you and even help you memorize Matthew 5, Galatians 5, and a whole host of other scriptures that depicts “Christian Behavior”. BUT, if it doesn’t come from within, and if you don’t believe it, our growth collectively & corporately will be stifled. As Tim Dunkel and I heard first hand this week, “Spiritual deception is NOT just somewhere out there, Spiritual deception is right here in Churches all over America… yes, even in the Churches once considered Rock Solid”. Men Deceiving Men to believe they are alright with God, when their hearts belong to the things of this world. Pastors, becoming men pleasers, deceiving souls from there pulpits to think they are fine with God, while partaking in all that the world and this well blessed country.

I want to offer some questions for you to answer quietly to yourselves this morning and over the next few days…

They are not rhetorical, nor are they empty, they are meant to prick your heart into action!

Do you really KNOW Christ?

Are you truly submitting to His Authority?

Do you Really BELIEVE in what you say you Believe?

Just what exactly is it about Christ that You believe; and can you defend it?

Do you look for opportunities to share HIM with others?

Do you truly love your neighbor; and are you willing to show him or her with your actions and good deeds?

If the Deacons secretly followed you around for a week, what of Christ would they see in your activities and conversations?

Husbands, do you pray with your wives and children?

Do they see God’s Man, Christ’s Love, and the Spirit’s comfort in you and the Role God placed you in?

Wives, do you pray for your husbands, and God’s purpose for their lives?

Do your families see your undying love and commitment to the Spiritual success of your husband and his authority in the home?

Teens – Do you truly yield yourselves to Christ, and to the authority of your parents in your home, even in front of your friends?

As I have asked my Teens before, is Christ the first person you think of in the Morning, and the last person you think of before you pillow your head at night?

You see dear friends; the Church is to be made up of GOD’s People, sacrificed on the Alter of SELF.

The Body of Christ is to be purged – free from open sin, free from self pride, free from outside influence. The Church MUST be a Spiritual Transformation of men and women by GOD Almighty, through His Power, His Mercy, His Grace – for His SON… The Real Child of God can’t be mimicked, can’t be forged, and most certainly can’t be explained away. For it is a miracle provided to us by the Father, through His indwelling Spirit.

May I please have the liberty to explain it as a transaction, a unique occurrence, that upon a total understanding of our depravity and sinful condition, that outside of God there is NO Hope for our Souls? Hence we understand that we are sinners and lost!

Upon recognizing our Sin condition, we instantly realize we need Help, we cannot reach the Creator without Help. We need Redemption, we need a Savior. Someone shares the Gospel with us, and we see that in God’s wonderful Mercy, He shows us and we see the Cross, a real tree that held the Son of God while paying the only acceptable payment for our Bond to Satan. That, in His Pain, in His Suffering, in His Humility, He took our names from the bond document of slavery to that old Devil, and presented it to His Father somewhere in God’s economy of time and eternity.

Those names of His Saints were then written in the Lambs Book of Life, and marked, Sin Debt – PAID IN FULL. Upon, reading the Divorce decree from the Bond of Sin, we are instantly handed Adoption Papers, listing us now as the Dear Children of God the Heavenly Father – Not just bought with His Son’s Blood, but Justified in that precious blood to Stand Whole and Complete before the Father, OUR Heavenly – Abba Father.

The Father sent forth the Holy Spirit to each and every “Dear Child” of His, to help them dawn the Armor of God, to walk prepared and yielded to His Son’s Authority. That Spirit brings with Him, Strength and Might that turns average men, into courageous giants in the world of fear and condemnation. The Holy Spirit uses the trials and tests of the world to purge and purify the Father’s Dear Children. On that Great Day, when the Father calls for the Trumpet to Sound, His Dear, Loving Children, will be Called Home, to stand, presented to the King of Kings, the True Christ as HIS Perfect Pure Bride. To be taken to be HIS own for all Eternity… The Transaction, A Divorce from Sin, An Adoption sealed by the Spirit, and A Marriage sealing the Honor of Serving and Reigning with Christ for all of Eternity.

We are to see our Marriages as a Model of God’s Family Structure. Men loving their wives as Christ loved the Church – willing to die that they might spiritually live. Women that love their husbands to the point of selfless and total submission to his authority – that he may in return reflect that undying love and devotion. Children, nurtured by this loving couple, for they are as Dear to these Godly Parents as all the Saints are to Almighty God. These Children raised in the Light of Christ, and reflect back total submission to the parents in Honor and Respect. The Godly Family is the Model of the Father’s Love for the Son, and for Us. The old is made new!

Folks after Salvation; there is NO OLD NATURE! We are NEW CREATIONS… Sin is no longer a part of our Nature… It is simply relegated to a Choice! How will choose this week? Will we choose to be the Dear Child of God that we are? Or will we choose to be a reflection of our ugly sin past, that which we were before we knew Christ, and His payment for us to walk free from Sin? With Christ, we are no longer compelled to be a part of this world; we choose to be a part and partaker of it!

Let’s close with prayer…

Where Have All The Godly Men Gone?

Good Morning Dear Folks,

I have been working on this post off and on for over 6 weeks. The Lord has burdened my heart to address Christian men in this country. This burden includes Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Teachers, Ushers, Church Office Workers and yes the men in the congregations of every local Church in America. I want to offer a word of encouragement, and offer a little insight as to how to maintain a strong and powerful Godly influence with those around you.

A little over a year ago, our Pastor of 30 years had decided it was time to retire, he was a very loved man, and led by example. He walked Faith, he exercised Trust, he showed Forgiveness, he practiced Compassion, but more than all those wonderful attributes – he was a man of his Word!  If he told you something, you could take to the bank, his Word was solid. He poured his heart into our Church, and on many occasions sacrificed personally to keep things afloat. He taught his congregants the Love of Christ, the doctrinal truths of the bible while disconnecting us from the religiosity developing in many churches today. This Pastor dedicated his entire life to Christ, and devoted much of his waking hours to the Church, building folks up in the Faith. Pastor Burns taught and preached the Word of God, with conviction, with power and without excuse.

There is a very dear lady in our Church that once was part of the Billy Graham Ministry Team. She once told me that when Mr. Graham was out and about, he never had less than two men with him. A Godly Man, he put the full armor of God on, and worked at and protected his testimony. What the world saw, was a Godly, Righteous man that lived and practiced what he taught around the world.

My Grand Fathers were both strong Godly Christian men. Both of them walked that which they spoke, their lives were above reproach. Both men were deeply active in their respective Churches. Grand Dad Hall was a Christian from a young age, and stood on the Spiritual shoulders of his Father. Grand Dad Hall was an ordained “old time” Methodist Preacher, that eventually started a Baptist Church in his hometown. What a Spiritual Giant! He knew the Bible inside out, upside down, and loved his Lord with all that he was. You could set your watch by his morning devotions, and evening Bible studies. He served as a Deacon and Adult Sunday School Teacher in that Baptist Church, where he was a "prayer warrior". He challenged the Pastors that served in that Church and truly enjoyed Theological discussions and debate. He too was a man of his word, and truly Trusted and Waited on GOD. Grand Dad Hall once thought that I would be a Pastor someday, but due to my own arrogance and playing Church through my 20’s, he never realized that dream. But, God did hear his prayers, and I am active in several ministries today, using some of his old studies and notes.

Grand Dad Tormey was saved later in life, one of those miraculous conversions that if you didn’t see – you have a hard time grasping it. My Grand Dad Tormey, was an alcoholic, smoked many packs of cigarettes each day, and was somewhat abusive to his family. My Grand Mother Tormey coaxed him to an old tent revival meeting one night, and Christ laid his hand upon him, and he accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord. Like a light switch being turned on, he gave all that up that night, he was a “new creation” all the old vices and abuses ceased. I only knew Grand Dad Tormey as a fine and upright Christian man. He was a great outdoorsman, and he taught me to fish for food, and through his life for Christ, I now know how to fish for men.

A question in my mind that begs to be answered. Where have all these GODLY men gone? Are they passing with that generation of Reverend Billy Graham, my Grand Dads and my former Pastor of 30 years? I want to believe that there are still seminaries that are turning out great Godly men.  But… Unfortunately, the Head Lines and news stories don’t seem to confirm that thought. What GODLY men of the past once believed with all their hearts, and taught as foundational Truth, is now called to question. Life Choices that are clearly highlighted in the Bible as an “abomination to GOD” are now freely being accepted as normal and politically correct – even in the old rock solid Churches of my youth. The Bible clearly tells us to “love the sinner as Christ loved him, but hate the sin and the damnation that it will bring”. Where have all the GODLY men gone?

Just a little over a year ago, we called a new Pastor to replace our retiring Pastor. This man had a Testimony similar in some ways to that of Grand Dad Tormey. Saved later in his life, being rescued from a few vices. A few years my junior, he seems to know his Bible well, and teaches a good lesson. Due to other commitments, he isn’t a 100% full time Pastor yet, so he does not yet have the luxury of devoting the time and energy the previous Pastor did. He answered the call of our Church and God to lead us into the next level of Glory in service to our Precious Christ and the Father. There are folks in the Church watching, wanting to see those same wonderful Godly characteristics in this Pastor. Due to previous employment commitments he didn’t start his preaching ministry in our Church until mid March of last year. In those 9 short months, I see the heart of a servant of God. His messages were strong and pointed, addressing issues of the day in our Church and many Churches today.

In his Sunday Morning messages, he has addressed the “luke warm spiritual condition of many”. The lack of commitment and devotion to our Lord, and in turn the lack of commitment to the brothers and sisters in the Church. He has taught us of Christ’s words, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no”. He has taught us to serve with conviction, devotion, and all sincerity. He has taught us to put Christ first, then to exercise our belief, by totally and completely Trusting in Him, and have the Faith that HE will meet our needs.  He also teaches the Scripture without reservation or excuse.

This is our Encouragement for this day! That if men, take up the cross of Christ and lean on Him, not relying on their own means to survive, but on Him – it is then that we will reclaim our Spiritual Heritage. Pulling ourselves out of the Church of Laodicea, and being on fire for the Lord, making a difference in the lives around us – starting with our own families. Men, I just heard a statistic this very morning on Christian Radio. That if family men turn to Christ, allow HIM to change their lives and live good Godly examples, that statically better than 90% of those families will follow his footsteps toward Christ.

Remember those wonderful Godly men I referred to earlier. You must be a man that practices what you PREACH! You must show your family Love and Encouragement. You need to read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. These are not suggestions, these are Truths brought to us through Christ’s own words and the pen of Paul. If we are Truly saved, if we are serious about living a life for Christ, then get up men, put your faith into action.

Start by keeping your word when you give it. Then live out your Faith by Trusting in God, the power of His Grace, and the ability that Christ has given you to stand before the very throne of GOD!!! Don’t rely on your own means to succeed, put all of who you are in your Trust in Christ’s ability to save you and provide for you. IF – God is who we say we “Believe He Is”, then we must put feet to that faith men. Pray that He will provide opportunity to serve, have a Godly Christian man, Pastor or Deacon help you realize your Spiritual Gifts. Then – put them to work! In your home. In your office or place of work. In your Church. In your neighborhood. “Don’t just be hearers of the Word – be Doers of the Word”.

Take time to think about your answers to peoples questions, then say what you mean – and – mean what you say. Build a reputation of Honor, Godliness, Holiness, Righteousness and work out your Faith in the eyes of God and men. Don’t give Satan and temptation an inch, draw a line in the sand, and never cross it. Live a life that is beyond reproach, be a man that can be trusted, counted on and looked up to as a man of God. These will be the Spiritual Shoulders our children stand on in a world that becomes more Godless every day. Remember men, your weakest or lowest level of Spiritual Growth, will be the next generations highest level of Spiritual Growth.

Seek God’s Face, reach for Christ, pray without ceasing, desire a double portion of the Holy Spirit; then Walk the Walk! Holding your head with all humility, walk the faith, share the Gospel to all that will listen and devote yourself to His Cross and His cause. He came here to die, He gave it all for mankind. If we claim His Name, and Possess His Spirit, how can we possibly not give it all for Him? The Right, the True answer is, “we can’t give Him any less”.

Philippians 4: Verses 4 though 13

(4) Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (10) But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. (11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.