Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category

Reliving the Glory Days

Posted on: January 12th, 2025

Have you ever known someone always trying to relive their “glory day?” Maybe they were a star athlete in high school, the number one salesperson at their company, or the “big man on campus” in college. You know the type: Someone always looking at the rearview mirror in life. Have you been one of those people?

Christians can make the mistake of thinking their best days are behind them. They look back to when church membership was booming, and their mission was being well-regarded and accepted in the community. Restorations and baptisms abounded. And then the bottom fell out. The work got harder, and fewer people wanted to listen to the message, and they began to be looked upon as fanatics and fundamentalists. And they think back to those “glory days” and pine for what once was. The Hebrew writer reminds his audience that looking back is not necessarily bad if it propels you to the future. The Hebrew recipients’ glory days were days of suffering and persecution. They banded together and joyfully counted their hardships as a reminder that they longed for something far better. They were a church on the move: Dynamic, undaunted by opposition, and active for the gospel. The lookback was intended to bolster their confidence and renew their resolve to carry on stronger than ever.

When you think back to the church’s “glory days,” what’s different?

The message hasn’t changed.

People’s need for it hasn’t changed.

Your responsibility to it hasn’t changed.

But maybe what’s changed is your attitude toward it. Once, you were enthusiastic and zealous about sharing the life-changing truth, but now you’ve shrunk back and become complacent, hoping someone else will do it.

What was true for the Hebrew writer’s audience is true for us: We need confidence and endurance not only for ourselves but for the sake of many we could reach out to.

Read Hebrews 10:32-39, then take a look back. Then, look ahead.

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Zeke Flores

Sleeping Saints

Posted on: January 5th, 2025

Preachers have always had to put up with those saints who sleep during services. Eutychus, who fell out of the window in Acts 20, is probably the best known. While in Troas, Paul preached in a upper room where the church had gathered together. Luke tells us that “in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9). I have met a few folks who had a habit of “sinking into a deep sleep” during periods of “worship.”

Have you ever wondered why these people decide to catch up on their sleep while the gospel is being preached? It could be the preacher is boring. However, it has been my observation that “sleeping saints” don’t really care who is preaching they’re going to sleep regardless. Let me offer a few suggestions as to why they sleep:

The Late Show

Those who stay up Saturday night to watch the late, late show usually can’t keep their eyes open on Sunday morning. Their problem is one of priorities. The gospel of Christ rates well below reruns of World War II movies and the latest slasher films.

Medication

I’ve known several brethren who could not stay awake because of their medication. This is not their fault, they try their best to participate and I admire them for attending in spite of physical infirmities.

Lack Of Interest

Here is the major cause of “sleeping sickness.” If someone were to lecture on how to make a million dollars in real estate, these folks would find a way to stay awake, even if they had to put toothpicks in their eyelids to keep them open.

Working The Midnight Shift

I truly admire those who put in a full nights work and get home just in time to get ready for morning services. Many people would stay home and sleep, but these brethren really want to worship God. They show their family and their brethren where their true priorities are.
What should we do with “sleeping saints”? When I lived in Evansville, Indiana we had one man who was a perpetual embarrassment, not only because he slept during services, but sometimes he even snored. One Sunday he slept through all of the sermon, the invitation song and the closing prayer as well. Someone woke him up as we were leaving the building. One lady suggested we should have just turned out the lights and left him there. I had another idea, but it involved the use of Crazy Glue, and some thought it was not appropriate.
If a person sleeps during periods of “worship” those who sit near them need to find out why. Those who sleep during services are a hindrance and detriment to the growth of any congregation. Visitors and our own children can see their lack of commitment to the Lord.
David Padfield

It Wont Wash Off!

Posted on: December 29th, 2024

This early Friday morning finds it a perplexed governor that has come to sit on the judgment-seat just outside the Praetorium. Having already examined Jesus, Pilate has found him to be innocent. Now, he must face a hostile and prejudiced mob who wants to hear this innocent man declared guilty. Not only has Pilate found no crime in Jesus, he knows that for envy they had delivered him up (Matt. 27:18). And, with all this weighing on his conscience, his wife sends unto him saying, Have thou nothing to do with this righteous man (v.19). Pilate represented a powerful government that prided itself in its good laws and their equitable enforcement. For an honorable and just judge, the verdict should have been easy in this case. But placative Pilate was on the spot. And he responds by ignoring his wife, his conscience and
justice to become historys best known coward.

So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it (Matt. 27:24). What justice! The innocent man is scourged and delivered to be crucified (v.26) while the man who decrees it declares himself innocent! Pilate wasnt on trial. Yet, he feels compelled to vindicate himself by washing his hands and saying in effect, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE!– even when no one cared. Pilate should have known that responsibility is not a disposable commodity. It cannot be transferred; it wont wash off. Yet, many before and since have imitated Pilates wash-pan ethics. Even in Eden we can see signs of this unwillingness to face up to responsibility. Adam says, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat Eve says, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat (Gen. 3:12,12). Like Pilate, each was saying, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE! Their son Cain was saying the same thing in asking, Am I my brothers keeper? (Gen. 4:9). We see the Pilate problem in Aaron; we see it in King Saul; we even see it in the slothful one-talent man (Matt. 25:24). The Pilates of modern society blame guns, laws, poverty, affluence, heredity, environment–they are never without some kind of a wash pan with which to declare themselves NOT RESPONSIBLE!– not even in the spiritual realm where men need most to see self guilt and face responsibility.

No man is without responsibility to God. Free-moral agency says it; stewardship says it (1 Cor. 4:2); knowledge says it (Jas. 4:17); redemption says it (1 Pet. 1:1S-19) and certainly, judgment says that all have responsibilities that are inescapable. Like Pilates, they cant be washed off. Neither can they be blamed off; palmed off; regretted off; or ignored off! For the follower of Christ, it is a responsibility of freedom. We are saved to serve — even if only with one talent. How inconsistent then, for Christians to stand where Pilate stood! — excusing ourselves when we ought to be facing-up and steadfastly doing those things we know to be right. As elders, preachers, teachers, parents, and concerned Christians may God help us to see and say: I AM RESPONSIBLE!
Dan S. Shipley

Young King Josiah

Posted on: December 22nd, 2024

Think about it: An eight-year-old boy takes the reins of a country but doesn’t shrink back in intimidation. Instead, young Josiah goes head-first into serving his God personally, then nationally. By the time he’s 26, Josiah is leading a full-blown revival not seen since the days of his great-granddaddy Hezekiah. Idols came down, and God’s temple was built up.
We need the same revival today. Too many cultural “idols” have weakened the church and distracted God’s people. Just as it took workmen in Josiah’s time to repair the neglected temple, it will take workmen today to restore the unattended church. A local church must need, value, and appreciate all of her members because it takes all of her members to step up to the work and worship that God intends for each local church.
“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statues will all his heart and all his would, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant” (II Kings 23:3).
Zeke Flores

Prioritizing What Is Important

Posted on: December 8th, 2024

How Will I Prioritize My Time and What Can I Achieve Today?

At this precise moment, I am sitting at my desk, trying to figure out the best words to communicate my thoughts about time and success. After all, God is the one who gives us precious time in His Creation. Consider the very first verse in the Bible, “In the beginning (refers to time) God Created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen.1`:1)

We do so many things with our time, such as sleep, being with our family, going to work, playing and relaxing. None of these are inherently evil. In fact, they are simply a part of everyday living if we keep them in a proper perspective.

If we want to spend our time wisely, then God must be our priority in all that we do. Colossians 3:2 NKJV  “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The sad reality is, most people have no desire to focus their attention on God. It’s just not that important because the here and now is what controls them. “Live and let live” we are told.

Remember the words of Hebrews 3:12-13 NKJV  “Beware, 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 “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

What can I achieve today? Well, that depends on my character and service to God. I am reminded of what Paul told the young man Timothy, 2 Timothy 3:14-15 NKJV  “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,  (15)  and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

I can achieve a greater spiritual understanding and growth today if I apply my self. My faith and conviction can become stronger if I have the right heart and determination.

Well, by the time I finished this article a whole bunch of moments passed by. I will never get them back. The good news is, I benefited from writing the article and I hope you get some benefit by reading the article.
Terry Starling

Unstructured Worship

Posted on: December 1st, 2024

UNSTRUCTURED worship is “in” again. Someone awakens to the need for something more “spiritual” and “truly worshipful” than the traditional three songs and a prayer; and sets out to unstructure the “service.” If strongly into the “Spirit thing” (as one reformer put it) we may be told genuine worship must spring spontaneously from each individual’s heart — so if any “hath a psalm,” “hath a doctrine,” let him speak forth. Paul missed a golden opportunity to encourage such (1 Cor. 14:26-40) when he actually commanded some order in the public worship — even among those who truly had miraculous spiritual gifts.

We frequently write on public worship (See V.10, N.3, p.4-5; 15-2-7; 16-11-4) and acknowledge the error of ritualistic, sacramental, liturgical “services” — which we may unwittingly approach by rigidly traditional patterns of song, prayer, preach, etc. Changing the order of our services may help avoid these errors: have the Lord’s Supper before preaching, or after, if this is a change. We may have more songs, less songs, change the time of contribution, change even the emphasis of some services (make a genuine prayer service, for example); BUT — change for change’s sake is gendered by the same wrong concept that makes ritual an error. AND — no amount of changing order can produce true spirituality or make the gathering more “worshipful.” Frequently — and I do mean frequently — changes made without full preparation of the worshipers, and without their being well informed of the why and wherefore, will confuse, disorientate, and will destroy the worship once there.

We have no right to say members do not sincerely worship in their familiar three songs and a prayer; and it is rank folly to think that jolting them with a prayer and two songs will prostrate their hearts before God. A reformer may have adequate knowledge of God’s word but abysmal ignorance of human nature, and the patient nurture and instructions necessary to lead people to new and better ways.

No doubt there are new and better ways of implementing public worship and work — expedients wholly within scriptural authority. We do tend to follow traditional patterns — which may be the best way, long tested. But such changes as we make must be with the consent of the worshipers, must be thoroughly understood so all can follow without confusion, must “be done decently and in order.” Attempts to “organize an unorganized service-structure an unstructured worship” become mechanical devices, manipulating the people outside, but doing no good for the heart where it really counts.
Robert F. Turner

Be Careful Little Eyes….

Posted on: November 24th, 2024

A popular children’s song emphasizes the importance of being careful as to what our children see, hear and say. The point driven home in the song for such focus is that there is the Father up above looking down from heaven above. He is aware of all that we do, and we should desire to please him in every facet of our lives.

A recent Rand survey gives us another reason for paying attention to the words of this song. A total of 1, 762 adolescents between the years of 12-17 old were asked about their sexual experiences and their television viewing habits. One year later they were interviewed again. The results showed that those who saw the most sex on television were twice as likely to initiate sexual intercourse within the next year compared to those who saw the least sex on television.

The survey confirms what the Bible and our common sense tells us. We all, especially our children, are influenced by what we see. Emphasizing the horrors of hell, Jesus warns us that our eyes can cause us to stumble (Mark 9:47). Knowing that our eyes are the windows to our minds and the initial step to affecting our actions, Jesus says, “…every one that looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The committed will to engage in sex, even before the physical contact is possible, is firmly in place due to the lustful thoughts brought about initially by what we see. Job was careful as to what he allowed his eyes to look upon. He attests, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin?” (Job 31:1).

The results also showed that “talk” about sex on television had “virtually the same effect on teen behavior as depictions of sexual activity.” Exposure to verbal expressions of sexual desires, planning for sex, or descriptions of past sexual encounters are just
as powerful in their effect upon sexual activity. In the context of saying that fornication, uncleanness and covetousness should not be part of our lives, Paul adds, “. . .nor foolish talking, or jesting which are not befitting. . .” (Ephesians 5:4). Do I sense the need to remind ourselves and our children to also “be careful little ears what you hear”?

One of the factors revealed in decreasing pre-marital sexual encounters of teens involved the role of parents. There was a decrease when two parents were in the home, who also disapproved of pre-marital sex; who were religious and monitored children’s viewing habits. The survey concluded: “Most of these characteristics were also related to how much sex teens saw on television; however, viewing sexual content on TV was related in advances in sexual behavior even after these other factors were taken into account” Parents, just because you are religious and your child knows you disapprove of teenage pre-marital sex, if you do not actually engage in governing what your children see and hear on television, these factors of who you are probably will not overcome the effects of what your children see and hear.

The devil approaches us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life (I John 2:16). He approaches our teenage children regarding sexual relations through all three avenues. Be vigilant and proactive.
Jerry Fite

Evil Surmising

Posted on: November 17th, 2024

It is thinking the worst of somebody. That is a pretty good way to define evil surmising in everyday language. The lexicons define surmise as “to suppose, conjecture, suspect” (Vine, I:284; Thayer, 644; Moulton, 418). The Greek-English Interlinear by George R. Berry translates the word huponoia in 1 Timothy 6:4 as “wicked suspicions” (the NKJV translates it, “evil suspicions”). It is conjuring up, by way of conjecture, evil and injurious suspicions against another person. According to 1 Timothy 6:4 evil surmising is the product of pride and obsession over disputes and arguments. Its companions are envy, strife, reviling and wrangling (1 Tim 6:4-5). Without question, evil surmising is a divisive and destructive sin.

At times we are tempted to think badly of others. We know we should not do it. But, we judge a person’s motives, charge him with evil purposes and impugn his character – merely on the basis of conjecture and suspicion. “Evil surmising” names that sin. It is assuming an evil motive, attitude and/or character upon a person without sufficient evidence or accurate information. “Why did she say that?” and “Why did he do that?” can be heard, and before we know it, we answer ourselves and unjustly assign an evil intention to the person. We must abstain from this evil (1 Ths 5:22).

Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (Jno 7:24). We must be careful not to make a judgment about a person, thing or event unless and until we have the proper information from which to make a “righteous judgment”.

So, the next time you wonder why someone said or did something, instead of letting evil suspicion form your judgment about that person, do what Jesus commands and judge righteously.

If it involves a personal issue between you and another, go directly to that person to verify the facts and resolve every sin and disagreement in a godly way. Reconcile and if necessary, warn and admonish him of his sin (Matt 5:21-26; Matt 18:15; Gal 5:13-15).
If it is a public matter, get the correct information and if necessary, withstand the sinner to his face to save him and others (Gal 2:11-14).

By all means, do not carry around in your heart wicked suspicions of others. To do so betrays prideful arrogance that damages your relationship with God and with the one you ought to love as yourself (Gal 5:14). Bitterness of heart will result from evil suspicions (Eph 4:31-32).

Give others the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. Such is an action of love that overcomes the sin of evil surmising (1 Cor 13:5).
Joe R. Price

Poor Mr Or Trust In The Lord

Posted on: November 10th, 2024

I wish my mind was as clear today as it was thirty-five years ago. Back then, my memory was stronger than it is today and it was just easier to put the puzzle pieces of information together. Now, things like balancing the checkbook, reading and understanding instructions, or being able to make a quick and sensible response can be quite challenging.
POOR ME!

You know what, I would really like for my body to be as strong and vibrant right now as it was when I was twenty. Playing tennis, running up and down a basketball court, playing in a baseball tournament when it is 108o outside. But now, anything that involves real running is pretty much out. I can’t even keep up with my two year old granddaughter.
POOR ME!

Nothing seems to go well in my life. I’ve been passed over for a promotion three times over the last two years. People don’t like me, I am not included when they get together and if I do get lucky and someone invites me, they act as if I have the plague.
POOR ME!

How can anyone possibly have a good, happy, and fulfilled life with the mindset described above? Yes, there are times when life seems unfair because of how others treat us or the unforeseen events that happen to us all. I get that. But please realize we determine our outlook and how we will react in all circumstances.

Remember:
David said…I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
(Psalms 34:1 ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:19 ESV)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
(James 1:12 ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

If you want to rise above self-pity, If you want to rise above blaming others, and if you want the best life possible, then count your many blessings. Put your trust in God.
Terry Starling

Trophy For Sale

Posted on: November 3rd, 2024

One day last summer I was on my way to lunch when I drove by a house that was having a rummage sale. Even though I did not stop for the sale, I could not help but notice the display closest to the street—what caught my eye was a table filled with old trophies that were now for sale on someone’s driveway.

I had to wonder why anyone would be interested in purchasing a used trophy. What could they possibly do with it? The trophies for sale probably had the name of the recipient engraved on it, along with a brief description of their meritorious actions. Who would want to put someone else’s trophy on their mantle?

Later, I began to wonder why the seller wanted to get rid of their old trophies in the first place. I am sure that at one time those trophies held a lot of value, or at least some emotional attachment. Trophies usually signify some accomplishment—they serve to remind us of some success in our business or personal life. Maybe a bowling trophy loses its luster when one stops bowling. That trophy from a winning high school football season might not seem as important thirty years later when your own children are in college. What we value today might wind up in the trash or on a table at a rummage sale tomorrow.

The truth of the matter is that there is nothing in this life we can carry with us into the next. The trinkets and knick-knacks we treasure here on earth will be of no value in eternity. This being so, it makes one wonder why we spend so much time acquiring earthly possessions, but so little time preparing for the life which is to come.

Suppose you gained all that this world has to offer—what would you really have? A handful of tinsel? Jesus told His disciples: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24–26).

David Padfield