What a great week it has been at Ekron Baptist.   Perhaps the most exciting event was having International Mission Board missionary Bart Gibbs with us for both services and discipleship training.

In the morning he preached from Esther 4:14 where Esther learns that perhaps her entire life was created for a time to save her people.

What is your ministry?  What is your calling? How are you being a missionary right where God has you?

 

As we talked with Bart, we can see that the entire world is now seeing unprecedented growth of the Muslim faith.  This photo was taken in Louisville, of a store that caters to the dietary requirements of those following Islam.  The effect of Islam is not only predominate in Europe and parts of southeast Asia, it is a reality in the United States.  Those following this belief are in our schools, governments, neighborhoods, and commerce.  And as Bart said, “They are not they enemy, they are the objective.”  As Christ has loved us while we were yet sinners, we need to love all people and work to share the good news of Christ.

We need to become educated in how to share our faith with Muslim people.  To do so, this list will help you find books and videos to get started.

If there is enough interest, we will have a series of classes on reaching our Muslim neighbors.

 

Books on Islam, Muslims Converting to Christianity and Other Resources

   https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Muslims-Encouragement-Christ-Confidence/dp/0802471110/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484576488&sr=1-6&keywords=thabiti+anyabwile

https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Allah-Finding-Jesus-Christianity/dp/0310527236/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0310527236&pd_rd_r=ZYEENNCFBXFHCB2XHCJ0&pd_rd_w=B6wYK&pd_rd_wg=fRE9P&psc=1&refRID=ZYEENNCFBXFHCB2XHCJ0

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/DREAMS-VISIONS-Jesus-Awakening-Muslim/dp/0849947200/ref=pd_sim_14_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0849947200&pd_rd_r=GYTY89Q9VS3BGKX71XZT&pd_rd_w=aBGdC&pd_rd_wg=tPv9q&psc=1&refRID=GYTY89Q9VS3BGKX71XZT

 

  https://www.amazon.com/Am-Inspiring-Stories-Christians-Extremists/dp/1434709876/ref=pd_sim_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1434709876&pd_rd_r=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S&pd_rd_w=bqo6c&pd_rd_wg=QshQk&psc=1&refRID=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S

 

    https://www.amazon.com/Insanity-God-Story-Faith-Resurrected/dp/1433673088/ref=pd_sim_14_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1433673088&pd_rd_r=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S&pd_rd_w=bqo6c&pd_rd_wg=QshQk&psc=1&refRID=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S

 

   https://www.amazon.com/Land-Blue-Burqas-Kate-McCord/dp/0802408141/ref=pd_sim_14_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0802408141&pd_rd_r=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S&pd_rd_w=bqo6c&pd_rd_wg=QshQk&psc=1&refRID=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S

 

 

 https://www.amazon.com/Every-Christian-Needs-About-Quran/dp/0764209760/ref=pd_sim_14_14?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0764209760&pd_rd_r=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S&pd_rd_w=bqo6c&pd_rd_wg=QshQk&psc=1&refRID=BBF8S4FCA8SZY5ADQV2S

 

 

International Mission Board Resources

https://www.imb.org/2016/09/06/20160906islam-101-zane-pratt/

https://www.imb.org/2017/01/13/walking-with-the-spirit-in-dark-places/

https://www.imb.org/2016/09/01/get-involved-with-global-missions-now/

https://www.imb.org/2016/08/31/2016083120160831reach-chinas-muslims/

https://www.imb.org/2016/12/16/how-to-explain-the-incarnation-to-muslims/

https://www.imb.org/2016/12/15/discipling-new-believers-in-church-involvement/

To help you be On Misssion, we have developed a great new resource.  At the entrances of the church you will find our new invite cards.  You can use these as a step towards inviting the people you meet to come and hear the Gospel.  Pick some up every time you come to church and put them into action by inviting folks to Ekron Baptist.

 

On Sunday nights, we are just getting started with two new discipleships.   At 6:30, I am leading Shepherding a child’s Heart.  This is a great study for using the Bible to make a life changing impact on our kids, grand kids, and anyone whom you may disciple.  Too often, we parent with behavior in mind.  But a quick read of the Bible will reveal that God looks at the heart, ans we should too.  Drop in anytime to be a pert of this study.

Also on Sunday nights, and a repeat on Wednesday nights, is our Men’s Study, The Cross and Everyday Life.  This video driven study is led by Jimmy Busby on Sunday nights, and Mark Zweifel on Wednesdays.

 

Don’t forget, this Saturday at 7:00am is our quarterly Men’s Prayer Breakfast.  Come for Food, Faith, and Fellowship. Our guest speaker is Rev. Christ Wilson of Payneville Baptist.  Men of all ages are welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

On March 3^rd of 2017 a screen adaptation of The Shack, by William Paul Young will be released.  It breaks my heart to be writing this.  For the book, itself is blaspheme.  I tried reading it once, as several in my church recommended it to me, but I could not stomach the text.  That being said, what I read and what I have researched from credible sources, comes with enough concern for me to advise you to be prepared to talk about the book, but do not be given into the sin of making God in your own image.

Through a loose allegory, God is perceived, by Young in ways that were never meant to be.  God is portrayed in man’s own image or at least fanciful imagination.  Young makes God out as he desires God to be, and none of it is solidly rooted in scripture, but by twisted interpretation.

At the risk of perking a curiosity, and in a need to bring about information that will help you in conversations with those who will inevitably discuss the movie and book, I want to share two articles that were written in years past analyzing the poor theology of this tome.

The first article, The Missing Art of Evangelical Discernment, by Al Mohler deals with how we so often lack the necessary discernment to guard our hearts.

The second article is of the same era, “The Shack by WIlliam P. Young,” by Tim Challies.  It is a lengthier article, focusing more on the content of the book itself.

Many times, people hold to a story or idea because it pulls at the heartstrings.  But this should cause us to remember, Satan himself uses this tactic, and we are warned explicitly in scripture that

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2Ti 4:3-4)

Remember, God gave us His word as our first source for discerning truth from falsehood.  The Bible was written that we can know God.  We do not need the help of Mr. Young to do this.  It is the sheep of God who hear His voice and discern it form the voice of others.  Pray for those who may be led astray by The Shack.  Pray that they may come to the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

However, the problem at hand is more than false teachers teaching falsehood.  That has been around since before the birth of Christ.  The real underlying problem is rather deeper.  It is that too many professing Christians do not know their God well enough to tell the difference between what is clearly in the bible and what is counterfeit.

So, let us learn from the Berean brethren; let us comparing everything we hear with the bible we already have.

 

2 Funerals

I would like to ask the Ekron Baptist family to remain in prayer for the Biddle and Matthews families.

On November 16, we saw Herb Elroy Biddle go on to be with Jesus.  He and Verna were married for 64 great years.  His life was a real testimony to the grace and glory of God.

Then, on November we lost Mike Matthews, Henry’s son, and Nellie’s stepson.  Mike was well known and loved by many of us here.  For years, he played softball and participated in activities of our church.  Please pray for the Matthews family and for Mikes girlfriend Terri in this loss.

We are comforted that these men claimed Christ as their Savior.  However, let us also bear one another’s burdens in the days ahead. Please consider sending a card, making a call, or expressing your love for them through some tangible means.

 

Decorated for Christmas

I want to give a big shout out of thanks to all those who helped decorate the Christian Life Center for Christmas.  Everyone who participated is appreciated, from the youth who hauled boxes to the volunteers who came in on Monday.  A big special thanks also goes to Lisa Frankie and Tina Lewis for heading up the projects.

 

Lottie Moon

This week we also kicked off our Lottie Moon Christmas offering campaign.  When you give to this annual offering you help to support our Southern Baptist missionaries to reach the 7.125 Billion people of the world.  As it stands, we are currently reaching 896 people groups with 3,667 missionaries.  That leaves 3.060 people groups still without any gospel witness.

Our church goal is $6,000.  For each $100 given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, a gold cross will be hung on the Christmas tree next to the platform.  Please, prayerfully consider what part you will play in reaching the world for Christ.

To find more information, please visit IMB.Org.

 

Deacon Ordination

Sunday we ordained Mike Cummins and Paul McRae for the deacon ministry.  As well we also installed Mark Zweifel  as a current deacon.  It is an honor to serve with these men.  In future days, be watching this blog for my personal interview with these men so that you may get to know more about them.

Children Preform at The Park

A HUGE shout out to our church children and the children’s ministries teams.  Our Youth puppet team also needs recognition.  Last Saturday both groups preformed at the park for the annual Brandenburg Christmas by the River Lighting Ceremony.  The songs, and puppet act were a huge hit to the point that the kids have been asked to return next year.  We praise God for this opportunity to shine a light to our community.

Please use this even in your conversation this week to invite people to Ekron Baptist.  The kids will be preforming on December 11^th at 7:15 in the evening.  Invite anyone who missed it to attend the evening service,

 

 

 

Welcome Jeb Adams

Sunday November 27^th Jeb Adams safely arrived!  Angela had to be hospitalized on Wednesday with restricted bedrest. But on Sunday, God blessed the family with a healthy birth.  She and Lance are great parents, and I ask that you continue to pray for them and the family.  Jeb came in at 6lbs and 13 ounces. 19.5 inches long.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart= A Class for Parents

Have you ever been frustrated with parenting your Children?  Do the things kids do baffle you?  Do you long for your children to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Beginning Sunday, January 8^th, Bro. Wes will be teaching a discipleship class for parents from the book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. Classes will run from 6:30 till 7:15 on Sunday evenings. You will need to purchase a copy of the book, and read the chapters for each class as this will be a group discussion session. If you purchase the book from Lifeway, please know that they will do price matching, even with online stores.

 

Last night was a wonderful opportunity at our church.  Our annual Fall Festival once again proved to be a great way to get involved to reach the community.  I was excited to see the booths and costumes come together.  Every year I anticipate the Cross family group theme.  Lance and Angela tickled me as a chicken and cow. The energy of the kitchen crew always humbles me as to how they just can’t seem to stop serving with joy.

   

I thank God for so much that was achieved in our event.  We had at least a thousand people come through. Several guests expressed to me thankfulness for the effort we put out to provide a fun and family friendly ministry.

I love our church.  It’s easy to do. The saints of Ekron are unlike any other church I know.  Even though it has been Pastor Appreciation Month, this pastor appreciates all of you. Every member, every committee, and every soul who has helped build our legacy. We all have much to be thankful for around here. So, in thinking of last night, I like to share a top ten list of things I was thankful for last night.

10. I am overwhelmed at the participation of those who served last night in setting up games, booths, and welcoming folks. The creativity of our families helps to spark a little awe over the various costumes and themes for as one person put it “Track or Treat.  We always wonder if we are going to pull the event off.  However, God has always provided successfully.

  

9. Our kitchen crew once again proved to be awesome. Big thanks to Rachel and her ministry team for getting the job done. They served up 15 gallons of tea, 15 gallons of lemonade, 776 hot dogs, 3 gallons of cheese with nachos, and 42 cups of coffee.  This all involved set up, cooking , cleaning and cleaning some more.  They even cleaned the dishes that people brought in with sup and chili.

 

8 Speaking of cleaning a big shout out of thanks to sue and her cleaning crew.  Having over 1,000 guests creates quite a mess.  Week after week Sue and her team work behind the scenes to have God’s house clean and ready to go for service.  They clean spilt coffee, unclog toilets, and knock down countless spider webs, over and over again. It is often a thankless ministry, but we thank you all for taking care of our worship facility.  And as a note, Darrel C ought to be thanked also for caring for the lawn and the tedious work of the cemetery.

7 I am also filled with joy over those who were able to help set up and stayed late after the party was over.  Jenny, Karen, Lance, several youth, and many others both took extra time on Sunday to get every game, basket, and goodies ready to begin the night, and they also stayed after most left in order to get us back into shape.  Than you all for your ongoing service in our church.  Time and again y’all have been instrumental in our outreaches.

In cleaning, last night, we found all sorts of wrappers, food, and mystery goo.  Thank you all for getting dirty so that the gospel could be lived out and shared.  I believe the efforts we quite worth it all as I can attest to connecting your love through the outreach with hurting people looking for a church that would love them.

  

6 And while I list behind the scenes people, let it be known that Angela as secretary and Daryl as trustee are both quite active in behind the scenes accomplishments.  Some may only notice if things do not get done, but day in and day out they serve well above the description of their position.  I know Angela gets calls at all hours during the week.  I have seen Daryl here as early as 5 am checking on problems and finding efficient solutions.  Truly, I could not do my job without them.

 

5 I am thankful that last night several guests came to me  expressing the joy they had at being able to bring their kids to a family friendly environment.  For some we have become an annual event. During the evening, I met folks that were looking for a church, some were struggling with life, some welled up with almost tears, as you all  treated them with compassion.  I had the impression from these, that they had been rejected by churches in the past or felt unwanted by “Church people.”  One father even shared how his blended family had been told to leave a church before.  Gladly, I assured him that at Ekron, his whole family would be loved and encouraged to worship with us.

 

4 I am thankful we met a need. A hungry family came.  Speaking to a parent last night, I learned of their poverty.  Often they go without enough food to last the month.   To some of us, a simple hot dog and chips are what we make when we just do not want to cook.  To this family, it was a grand feast.  I thank God for showing me how much I have received and that opportunities exist right here to make a difference.

3 We could not pull this off without financial support.  I am thankful for those who give to the ministries of Ekron Baptist. Ministry is about people. With the resources your tithes have provided, we directly connected with people last night and do so week after week to show them the glory of God.

Yesterday, I had at least three families ask me about the free biblical counseling that we offer.  This is a gateway of evangelism and adding to the Kingdom. Just as much, let me remind you that our gifts minister locally and throughout the world. So thank you givers, for helping to spread the gospel.

 

2  With as much as we work around here, I am reminded of how much does go unnoticed behind the scenes.

Rarely do you see how much the deacons really do, and its huge. They get all sorts of requests for various helps and advice.  They stop gossip and care for the needy.  They pray and pray without ceasing. Visitors are contacted each week, and loose ends tied up.  With great wisdom, they have often helped me to make good decisions and avoid treacherous ones.

We have so many teams of ministry that I cannot possibly mention them all.  When you think of all the teachers, nursery workers, committees; such a decorating, children’s ministries, social event planning, education, and others our church simply amazes me.  I am stilled by wondering at the magnitude of the prayer ministry and serving of Bob and Betty and how we all are better off.

Truly, I hate to leave anyone out.  And when I do, I appreciate how thoughtfully forgiving y’all are.  When you think about it, it is often the quietest servants that have the most meaningful impact.

But let me mention or praise team, and various choirs.  Missy McRae is a master of talent.  Repeatedly she prays about and strives to help us worship.  Touching each life in a way that inspires us towards God each week is not at all easy, and in some ways is harder than preaching a text of Scripture.  Being thankful for her and her crew of choir members, musicians, technology wizards and the like, we can agree that have been blessed.

 

1              Truly, a church requires a team effort. Again, the saints of Ekron, the body of Christ that worships here is a great family.  I love every one of you. I thank God for you. Week after week, I am thrilled to see us doing life with one another in a way that brings the practicality of Scripture to the needs of living.  I love how we operate as a church, loving, forgiving, teaching, equipping, gladly serving, weeping with those who week and rejoicing with those who rejoice.  Getting involved in lives is a messy business.  But, there is no better example of what Christ has done for us.  Let’s continue to love God and love others.

 

Please excuse the rough outline of the sermon notes.  These notes are as I had prepared them for the morning message.  Audio of the actual sermon can be found at Ekronbaptistchurch.com.

Recap of last week….

I.   Last week we looked at Luke 12:13-34

• Who by being anxious can add a single hour to their life?
• Instead of anxiety ”Seek the Kingdom.”
• Fear not.
• Rather than store up possessions, sell them(v33) give to the needy, provide moneybags that do not grow old, put your treasure in Heaven.
• Anxiety is a heart issue.
• Anxiety is a twisted form of the original emotion of watchfulness.
• Watchfulness/vigilance is a concern for the wellbeing of others, a concern for God’s kingdom.
• Anxiety is vigilance without faith in God. It is an overload of self-seeking vigilance.  It lacks faith in the sovereignty of God.
• Anxiety reveals the treasure of your heart.

Phil 3 is the straining toward Christ, forgetting the past, with Joy by a man who is in prison for his faith.

Our citizenship is in Heaven

II. And so we begin with Philippians 4:1-13

1. Stand Firm
2. Stand firm- make plans ahead of time, know Scripture.
3. Dealing with two workers who have disagreements.
4. Problems do come- Gospel together instead.

III.      Rejoice in the Lord (v4-13)

V6 Be anxious?

What makes us anxious?

Why are we anxious?

What removes anxiety?

Prayer and supplication are to be made unto God.

With Thanksgiving, make requests.

This leads to peace. (Heart focus)

Most often we do not pray right, we are focused on the stuff we want to happen, rather than the person of God.

When we come to worship we often are focused on stuff rather than God Himself.  The result is, we miss God and are more troubled than before.

Guard heart and mind, your emotions and reason, which are two roots of anxiety.

Christians are called to battle the root of the problem, not the multitude of symptoms.

V8 True, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellence, worthy of praise, Let your mind dwell on these things.  We are to meditate upon such things.  We are to constantly be orienting our lives to God.

V11 Learn contentment.

Humble means/prosperity, filled/hungry, abundance/suffering.

V13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This is not a work out slogan.  It is not a twisting to personal strength.

This verse is about keeping your heart at peace despite circumstances. It is about the strength of God keeping up Christ focused.

It is about hope. Hope in what is hopeful.  Hope in Christ.

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Php 2:5-7)

(This is a reprint from my former blog)

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to be the sexton of the church as our regular team, a husband and wife, were on vacation.  I was glad to get the opportunity as years ago, while in seminary, I had a short stint cleaning a church.

When you clean the church you have a lot of time to think, much akin to the thinking you do when mowing the lawn.  Also, when cleaning the church you often find surprises.  Sometimes, the surprises are messes of careless living.  At other times, they may be lost jewelry, drawings children have created, or just a simple amusement, such as an intricate spider web.  Cleaning the church also reveals where all the activity takes place.

Thus, as I began my work God reminded me that the messes, spills, and wear from use of the building were all positive signs of His blessing.  It was good to see dirty diapers in the pail and cookie crumbs from a small child.  The senior adults had their obligatory Styrofoam cups of coffee.  The youth has all sorts of snack wrappers.  I found where in forgetfulness, I had left a pile of bulletins, scribbled notes, and my coat.

Some of the messes were a mystery to me as to why they would have been made in the first place.  But God was reminding me of what it is to be a servant.  A servant is one who often serves others in obscurity.  A servant never sets the agenda, but takes their lead from the master.  A servant rarely hears praise for the ingenuity of a task well done, more often they only gain another duty.  At one point, after nearly having the entire building ready for Sunday, a funeral was put on the agenda.  Thus all the previous work would need to be redone.  (This was a blessing however to the funeral family, they had a clean church at their disposal)

In the grand scheme of the weekend, it was a blessing to go through what another person experiences in ministry on a weekly basis.  Too often I can become routine in my duties, and here I benefited from the viewpoint of another co-laborer.

This has served as a reminder that often, the work of many is overlooked. But without their efforts a noticeable disparity would affect all.  Thus, the body of believers, when each one does their part, may not get noticed for the little things, but without everyone’s involvement we all suffer.

To the Reader

From time to time I hope to publish in this blog notes from the Sunday sermon. Please be aware that these notes may differ greatly from the actual spoken message.  They may also have typographical errors and truncated sentences.

Audio recordings of my sermons may be found at Ekronbaptistchurch.com or can be requested in CD format by contacting musicdirector@ekronbaptistchurch.com.  There is no charge for pick up at the church campus, a small fee is charged for mailing.

Notes for this message.  

Much of what was spoken in this message is not in the notes.  I want to encourage you to attend our church or at a minimum look for next weeks installment for a practical walk through of the scriptures to battle anxiety.

As a trained biblical counselor, I do not want you to live in anxiety.  Ekron Baptist offers FREE biblical counseling as a ministry of the gospel. Appointments can be made by calling our office (270) 828-3454 or by email at seniorpastor@ekronbaptistchurchcom

Sermon Notes from Sunday October 16th, 2016

Anxiety

Luke 12:13-31

Anxiety is a twisted form of an emotion that God intended to be for our good.

The original emotion of watchfulness or vigilance, was so that a person would be watchful for the wonders of God and to look out for the care of others; such as a mother to her child.

However, when sin entered the picture so did selfishness.  This led to anxiety, a watchfulness overload.

Anxiety is vigilance without faith in God.  It is a turning to self.

Anxiety is not looking to God but looking to the strength of your own abilities.  It fears loss.  Fear, that accompanies anxiety, is our response when we are uncertain about our future and/or our supply of resources to meet a need.  Often, it looks at the danger of the situation, rather than looking at God and His promises.  This is a lack of faith.

Some people struggle with anxiety after severe or ongoing causes; battle in war, traffic accidents, growing up in abusive homes, and the like.  Some folks, resort to anxiety as a means of at exerting at least some control over a situation. We need to be gentle with each person as an individual rather than using a blanket remedy to say read the Bible and pray.  Real help comes when we care and walk with an individual who is struggling.  God helps those with anxiety through the discipleship of the church, using Scripture and through the Holy Spirit, to grow in faith, thus finding God rather than reasons to fear.

The more we know God and have lived, abiding in Him by His word, and having come through trials and temptations, the less we will experience anxiety.  Because of this, greater growth occurs, enabling us to be faithful to persevere, having our joy in Him.

Turning to the scriptures…..

20 laying up treasure for God vs self

22 Therefore, do not be anxious about your life.  James 2

Eat= food

Body= health, fitness

Put on= appearance, fashion, style

24 Consider ravens, God feeds them

25 Who, by being anxious can add a single hour?  (It only ruins many hours)

26 God calls it a small thing to lengthen life.

27 Consider Lillys of the field

29 Do not seek- food or drink or be worried

31 Instead seek His Kingdom

32 Fear Not. Little Flock (Compassion, tenderness)

33 Converse of store up= sell your possessions

Give to the needy

Provide moneybags that do not grow old

Treasure in Heaven

No their or moth or rust

Anxiety is a heart issue.

Pills do not cure the real problem, they only minimize symptoms

We are a nation addicted to prescriptions

Medicines can help.  No one should ever abandon medication without a doctor’s approval.

Anxiety is a faith issue- Knowing God

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the world of God.

• Context of application
• Application comes through doing what the Word says with our problems
• Perseverance factor

Problems are an opportunity to apply the Word of God and grow.

By that we gain experiential knowledge of God. He does what He says He will do.

What is the treasure of your heart?  It will not find peace or joy unless it is in the Kingdom of God.

God speaks to anxiety.

• Red sea experience
• Jerico
• David pursued by Saul
• God speaks of the Kingdom

These two are related, success/joy/value/ eternity are all wrapped up in our abiding in Christ.

 

 

As God is Holy, only He deserves prayer.  When we pray we exercise faith, we come to know Him.  As we know Him we are able to worship Him, and in that worship through prayer we will find our greatest joys.  Our soul will be filled with streams of living water.  We will be satisfied in Him.

• Real prayer, the kind that is in Jesus name, is an exercise in abiding in the will of God.

• Prayer is God’s will, it renews the mind (Romans 12:1&2)

• Is it any wonder that when baby Jesus was brought to the Temple for dedication in Luke 2 that the family was met by two people who had given their lives to prayer?

• Prayer of course is the only thing the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them. They saw what it did in His life.  Prayer makes us like Jesus.

Here are a few simple essentials of the framework of what God seeks in our prayers.  Just as the stud walls support a house and lay out the floor plan, this model lets us have direction.  Then from the heart we may decorate and make it distinctive from our lives.

(Mat 6:5)  “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

True prayer will not have the flashy words that so many think they need to have to publically pray.  I love to hear children and new Christians pray.  Its great to hear the heart, and it’s from the heart the relationship to God really grows.  This is what is the reward, simply relating to God.

(Mat 6:6)  “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Times do exist for public prayer.  But one who prays publically must first have a private prayer life.  Prayer is character for the Christian.  This fashion of prayer is abiding, humble, and pleasing to God, It is intimate, it is what Jesus did and thus found the holy commune with His Father.  We are commanded to likewise pray.

 

(Mat 6:7)  “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

Mantras mean nothing.  Repetitive words to not wear out or entice God to become a vending machine.  Prayer here is seen as simple meaningful words.  Your words should come for a heart that recognizes who God is.  As the relationship grows so will the prayer life.  Quite often they are proportionate.

(Mat 6:8)  “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Again, We must first recognize things about Whom we are addressing.  We insult God when we think of Him as the man made gods are thought of. Things such as repetition, deal making, sacrificing for appeasement; characterizing Him as unknowing, unloving, and one me must first impress, all fail to rightly relate to Him.

(Mat 6:9)  “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

First recognize who He is.  Do look at what He does, but it is imperative to see the character and natural of God.  Why is He this way?  What character traits alone does He possess?  Holy His name, make the things of God holy, allow Him that holy set apart place in your life.

To hallow His name is to hold Him with holy regard. Have you worshiped God this week, or are you running now to Him having ignored His presence and influence all the while?  How we treat God Monday through Saturday has an impact on Sunday.

(Mat 6:10)  ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Resolve in your heart to surrender every aspect to His will.  Let Him reign in your life as He does in the heavens.

(Mat 6:11)  ‘Give us this day our daily bread.

As you present your requests and needs, are you seeking how they fit in His graceful loving best for you?  Have you considered the nature of the request?  At this point many people fail to truly pray, all because the first two directives of prayer are askew.

Work to have a Heavenly Kingdom mindset. Seek to abide in Christ in what you ask for. Realize also, that whatever you ask, God will work in ways you do not expect.  Pray to have your eyes open to His activity.

(Mat 6:12)  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

If we regard sin in our heart, God will not hear us.  If we are against someone we are not counting the precious blood of Christ as valuable and thus invalidate our praying relationship.  Those who have been forgiven much love much.   Our audience with God is based upon the cross.  To be unforgiving is to be in opposition to that saving work and against the nature of God.

(Mat 6:13)  ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’

Jesus once warned the disciples to watch and pray.  Just as we have asked forgiveness, we should be seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us in a repentant heart state to choose Christ and not sin.  We do not ask forgiveness to avoid punishment.  We seek it that we may be repentant, living in the way of Christ.

(Mat 6:14-15)  “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

That verse alone ought to bring us to our knees in understanding the relationship we are to have with God.  For if we fail to forgive, do not expect forgiveness. The first commandment is to Love God with all our heart soul and mind.  The second is also loving God by loving our neighbor.  If your prayer life is stagnant, see if you need to forgive.

My thoughts this week have often been about King David up on the rooftop when he fell into devastating sin.  He had drifted from being where he should, to standing where he should not.  Once he drifted it became easy to justify his actions that followed.  Don’t find yourself on the rooftop.  Keep engaged in the war.  Prayer is the battle that keeps us from falling into temptation.

Today in our final installment of J C Ryle and Evangelism.  It is my hope that you will love the writing of Ryle as much as I do, but moresoe, that you share the gospel with those in need.

Part 7

As we continue investigating J C Ryle’s critique of evangelism and easy believism, we will often consider this to be written recently.  The truth is that the 1880’s saw such pleading for numbers and liberalism that we are reaping the results still.  Church growth experts are not new.  They have long taught “If you want numbers you must appeal to the masses”.  The full council of God is for the few who find it.

 

Bishop Ryle states…

. (1) Let “all the counsel of God be taught” in Scriptural proportion; and let not two or three precious doctrines of the Gospel be allowed to overshadow all other truths. (2) Let repentance be taught fully as well as faith, and not thrust completely into the background. Our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Paul always taught both.

 

Pet doctrines abound.  One particular preacher teaches with great consistency on the end times.  His entire ministry is built upon speculation and fascination.  Others tend to grip the Love of God and fail to characterize it in light of wrath and sin.  These are pure disservice to the discipleship of the body.  Still another church is representing a man made God so well that the difficult texts are thrown out, because “it doesn’t fit our opinion of who God is to us”.

 

This is the point, by not teaching the whole counsel of God we tend to make God in our own image.  We can thus have a God that looks just like the world and the world’s ways and values are therefore acceptable.

 

Preaching and discipleship from the bible is to bring sinners to knowledge of God.  To have a true knowledge we need each aspect to support each aspect.  To continue with Rev. Ryle, we must be taught to repent. Repentance should always include a reminder of the holiness of God, the separation we then have, and the result being wrath.  If any doctrine is going to be overlooked, in my opinion it is wrath.  But it is the wrath of God for which Christ died.  When we share with persons that they need to be saved I hope they challenge us to ask “Saved from what?”

 

There is no appreciation for the Savior unless we see the whole council of God and especially our being saved from Hell.  Then the supporting doctrines give a grand picture of God.  He is not bent on wrath and merely appeased by “our decision”.  But He is a great God who has a plan. Who works in sovereignty, who chooses on His on volition out of His love to save.  Let us again see people being led to this God.  He must be represented as who He is, not as man chooses to make Him.

 

We have forgotten how to repent.  Too often faith has been turned into a religion of works.  One of these works is the discomfort felt by being guilty. We think if we are guilty and say we are sorry it is enough.  We attribute our uneasiness due to guilt as punishment enough.  It is precisely this line of reasoning that shows we either do not know God or worldliness has crept in where the whole council of God should be taught.  But as John the Baptist taught, “Repent and then do works in accordance with repentance”.  This only comes by a change of heart.  Outward actions do not carry any weight unless the heart be changed.  Men change actions, but God evidences Himself in change of the heart.

 

To change and not revert back to the old self we need the doctrines of our Lord, from the whole council of scripture to be in a process of sanctification.

 

 

Website:

http://www.anglicanlibrary.org/ryle/holiness/7.htm

 

Part 6

 

As we continue with Rev. Ryle let us now look at the next statement.  Permit me here to get preachy.  For I do agree with him that too often evangelism is watered down and ineffective.

 

On the other side, many graceless people are deluded into thinking they are “converted,” because under the pressure or animal excitement and temporary feelings they arc led to profess themselves Christians. And all this time the thoughtless and ungodly look on with contempt, and rind fresh reasons for neglecting religion altogether. The antidotes to the state of things I deplore are plain and few.

 

I can find no better evidence to support these statements than the parable of Christ known as the seed and the sewer.  I have witnessed many persons “come to faith” only to fall away.  Unfortunately we often give these folks a false sense of security.  My first church claimed to have over 450 members when they first described themselves in the church search process.  Upon my arrival I found that their roles often consisted of simple names with no supporting information that were in a three ring binder.  Several persons were found to be deceased, and even more were only listed by first and last name with no contact information.   When pressed as to how they came to be considered members the reply was “they came forward and we voted on them”.

 

My dear Christian, this is a travesty and mockery of the church.  Here people whom made an emotional decision or one in a time of working a deal with God were nowhere to be found.  You too can surely attest to those who once were a part of the church whom have now fallen away.  Surely the parable thus teaches us that they may give evidence but lack real sustaining root.  These are not disciples.  These are not Christians.

 

People in this state are looked at by the unconverted mockers as “having got religion”.  I can attest that in my Godless days of seeing people “saved” and the mockers commenting that they will soon “get over it”.  Thus we do the name of Christ a disservice by allowing folks to have a get saved quick ability.  True people can be saved in an instant, but what are they saved with or to?  Is it gospel lite?  Is it a pitch that assures better prosperity?  Was their sin ever dealt with by the Holy Spirit?  These are the questions I ask.

 

We are easily given to impulses.  Notice the catchy displays at the cash register in most stores.  How about children., and adults alike, that “need’ a souvenir at some stopping place only to have it as garage sale fodder a year later?  Many people wear Mickey Mouse shirts per capita at Disney world, but go to your average shopping mall and they will exist in very sparse numbers.  Why, it is all because of group mentality.  It is a desire to belong.  But Christ is not Mickey Mouse.  Christ is the atonement and He and his message are the crux of life.

 

I say all this to say that gimmicks and methods that are used to gain a response rarely lead to true conversion.  Our evangelism must be complete in laying out the gospel.  People should not add Christ to their list of mental occupations; they should abandon all these and cling to Him only.