Last week’s Proverb was a beautiful exhortation to obedience. This week, we take a peek at the underbelly – the ego of man – that forever stands in the way of true fellowship with God, and meaningful spiritual growth. Proverbs 3: 7-8, is one of the most well known and beloved of all the Proverbs.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
What a barrier man’s ego is! Think of all the nations of the world, the religions of the world, all people – everywhere – completely, 100%, full of themselves. How did the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, handle the ego problem? This is especially important, because Paul, by anyone’s standards, would have had something to preen about. Paul was educated by Gamaliel, a preeminent Rabbi, one of only seven in history, and the very first to be dignified with the title – “Rabban.”
The title “Rabban,” which, in the learned hierarchy until post-Hadrianic times, was borne only by presidents of the highest religious council, was. first prefixed to the name of Gamaliel.
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2: 1-5
There are copious statistics demonstrating the benefits of strong Christian faith and its health benefits. Certainly, many followers of Christ have met an early death through religious persecution. But the facts are clear – those that follow the wisdom of God are healthier than those that follow the wisdom of the world. The statistics relating to sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, and substance and alcohol abuse are evidence enough.
Man second guesses God all the time. When presented with the Word – they respond – “Well, I don’t know about that.”
Or – “To me, God isn’t like that.”
How about – “Well, I believe this part of the Bible, but I don’t go for that other stuff. That’s not the God I believe in.”
There’s a sardonic saying out there – “I’m just not that into you.” Perhaps a more appropriate expression would be – “I’m really into myself.”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Daniel Iverson
Daniel Iverson (b. Brunswick, GA, 1890; d. Asheville, NC, 1977) wrote the first stanza and tune of this hymn after hearing a sermon on the Holy Spirit during an evangelism crusade by the George Stephans Evangelistic Team in Orlando, Florida, 1926. The hymn was sung at the crusade and then printed in leaflets for use at other services. Published anonymously in Robert H. Coleman’s Revival Songs (1929) with alterations in the tune, this short hymn gained much popularity by the middle of the century. Since the 1960s it has again been properly credited to Iverson. Iverson studied at the University of Georgia, Moody Bible Institute, Columbia Theological Seminary, and the University of South Carolina. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 1914
Groan . . . the Proverbs 31 woman. Did any woman ever achieve what Solomon so glowingly describes as the “virtuous woman?” It is important at the outset – to fully recognize that Proverbs 31 describes the entirety of all the phases of a woman’s life. The young children at home phase, is different than the older lady volunteer stage. Proverbs 31 covers all, and I mean ALL stages of a woman’s life, and should not intimidate you, nor prevent you from striving to become a Proverbs 31 woman. A little at a time!
The particular focus of this article, really affects me personally. Most people who don’t know me very well, would scoff at the notion that I could ever be idle. Here is my confession. I like to be idle. Far too frequently, as a matter of fact. When I sense that people are trying to pressure me into doing something (usually perform) that I don’t really want to do, my sinful sense of self preservation looms up, and tells me to withhold, and not do anything.
Here are all the lyrics to my theme song, written by the genius, Irving Berlin:
[1st verse:] Every time I see a puppy upon a summer’s day A puppy dog at play My heart is filled with envy That’s because My heart is yearning to pass the time away Like that pup ‘Cause I’m all fed up And tho’ it’s wrong to be I long to be
[chorus:] Lazy I want to be lazy I want to be out in the sun With no work to be done Under that awning They call the sky Stretching and yawning And let the world go drifting by I want to peep Through the deep Tangled wildwood Counting sheep ‘Til I sleep Like a child would With a great big valise full Of books to read where it’s peaceful While I’m Killing time Being lazy
[2nd verse:] Life is short And getting shorter with each day that goes by And how the time does fly Before you know, it’s over That’s why I’m In such a hurry to pack my things and fly To a spot Where it’s nice and hot And hear the birdies sing While I’m being lazy.
Yes, that’s me. I would rather read all day, then engage with people. When my children were young, I used to lock them out, and take a long hot bath every night, and read.
Is there any hope for idlers like me? Like you? Yes, there is.
Get and use a planner. So what if it’s not the beginning of the year. Start one anyway. Having things written down, helps you keep track of where you are wasting time. Write everything in there. Bonus – planners for this year are still available – and are greatly reduced in price now!
Use a timer! Mine is on my phone, if your phone doesn’t have one, get a small digital one and keep it on you. Time how long you do your particular idling – like for me – limit daily reading to 1 1/2 hours. If yours is TV, do the same thing. When the timer beeps – turn it off, close the book, shut down your computer – whatever is stealing your time – obey the timer!
Every time you hear yourself say – I deserve this – make an attempt to check mate that thought process, and substitute – is this pleasing to the Lord? Trust me – you will get the answer to that question.
It came as a cold, hard, fact to me, that my idleness, was in reality – escapism. Escape from all kinds of things. Things that annoy, frustrate, irritate, and bring on feelings of impatience. ESCAPE!! That’s what TV, internet, books, or any activity we substitute for what we should be doing really is. Escapism. That’s not to suggest that you don’t need rest and relaxation. I’m sure there’s enough of you reading this post who understand what I’m talking about. Idleness is deliberately choosing to do other than what is needed.
Sometimes, a great many people need my help. And, often, I just don’t want to. No fancy analysis needed. I’m idle. I like to do, what I like to do, when I like to do it. This is not the service life – it is the selfish life.
There is hope for idlers, the same hope there is for everyone. The closer we walk to the Lord, the more we will become like Him, and we will feel less and less like escaping from everything. Truly, He can cure every ill, even our self created ones.
My very favorite Bible Verse:
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
Last Friday’s Proverb stressed the tendency of mankind to put their trust in man’s wisdom rather than in the Lord’s wisdom. The inherent sinful pride of people causes them to think highly of their own intellect and logic, which only leads to misery. This week the focus is fear of the wicked, and the proper Christian response to it.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
It does not say if the desolation of the wicked comes. It says when it comes. Avoiding the truth will cause people to be blindsided by the tactics of the evil one. Choosing to rely on our own resources will allow fear to overcome us when the desolation of the wicked comes. But verse 25 is an imperative for believers. “Be not afraid.” It does not say if you are afraid. Fear should never enter into the hearts of the faithful. When our hearts are filled with the Holy Spirit – there is no room for fear.
26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3: 25-26
Satan and the media he controls, love to instill fear in the hearts of Christians. He wants us to fear him. When we fear him and what he does, it gives him power over us. He will use this fear to cause us to stumble, the same as he uses every weakness he can find to spoil the Christian’s testimony and undermine the work of the Church in spreading the Gospel.
If the Lord is our confidence – we will not stumble. Period.
The New Testament opens our understanding even further . . .
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Peter 3: 13-14
And from the Psalms. . .
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
3 Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psalm 91: 2-5
So as we watch the news, troll the internet, and read the paper, it would serve us well to remember who the media is in service to. They work steadfastly with one goal in their collective mind – to bring forth the kingdom of anti-Christ. We as believers should be just as single-minded, with Christ Jesus as our only Sustainer. Remember when Peter went out onto the sea, to meet the Lord as He walked upon the water. Peter too, could walk on the water as long as his vision was completely filled with Jesus Christ. It was only when he took his eyes off of the Lord, that he began to sink. . .
This is a series which is installed every Friday, focusing on the Proverbs. Undertaken for another blog, I intend to re-post these – ultimately finishing what was begun. The beginning of Proverbs explains their purpose – starting with the greeting:
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
The next five verses lay out the purpose:
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The essence of the Book of Proverbs is the teaching of moral and ethical principals. The peculiarity of this Book is that it is largely given over to teaching by contrasts. It has 31 chapters, 915 verses, 15,043 words.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverb 1:7
One can possess great intelligence – yet still be completely lacking in wisdom. IQ is an inherited ability, but wisdom comes from God. Without the fear of God – there can be no great wisdom – only man’s corruptible wisdom. Those that do what is right in their own eyes – are bereft of wisdom, because they do not fear God. God is not our buddy, nor our “co-pilot.” He is the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Sovereign King, Holy and Righteous Judge, Beautiful Savior, and Creator of the Universe.
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.Psalm 111:10
Can we think too much about what we say? Not according to the Book of Proverbs. Almost from start to finish, the Proverbs contend that our words have great ability to do harm or good. I think of parents who speak unguardedly in their children’s presence, and then are shocked when later, the little ones repeat verbatim EVERYTHING their parents said!
Well, it’s not just children who record our words – our every thought and word is recorded in heaven. Thankfully – if we are saved under the Blood of Christ – we will not have to pay for our verbal refuse. But that does not give us license to say whatever pops into our heads.
I beseech you to have the mind of Christ – and filter everything you say and do through the Bible. And you can only do that by being immersed (baptized) in His Word to the point that His Word becomes a part of you. You are what you eat – after all!
Proverbs 10:20-21
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver:the heart of the wicked is little worth.
Indeed – the Pharisee and the Publican are an exemplary picture of this Proverb. As Christ said – the Publican was “justified.” That means his humble words were – “as choice silver.” The Pharisee’s self aggrandizing was of very “little worth.”
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Certainly, Paul is our master example of Christian speech and behavior. His written words, authored by the Holy Spirit, have “fed many.” Just with his Epistles, we can lead a sinner to a saving knowledge of Christ. Think how remarkable that is. In China – people are happy just to have one page out of the Book of Romans! They are known to sleep with it, love it, and memorize it so they can pass it on to another. Are the words of Mohammed, or Joseph Smith, revered in such a fashion? Hardly. Those who feed on the words of false shepherds will “die for lack of wisdom.” And that death will be ETERNAL DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!
Which brings to mind what the work of a believer is. To spread the Gospel of Christ to the whole world. It is not righteous or wise to keep it to yourself. If you are reading this, and you do not know what it means to be “saved,” please read the following:
(1). Admit you are a sinner (have disobeyed God).
Sin separates man from God. Imperfect man cannot come into the presence of a perfect God.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” -1 John 1:8
(2). Repent (be sorry for and turn from your sins, to a new life in Christ).
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”-Acts 3:19
(3). Salvation is available only through Jesus Christ.
“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” -John14:6
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” -1 Timothy 2:5
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12
(4). Accept the free gift of eternal life through Christ.
You cannot earn salvation by your own efforts.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 6:23
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” -Ephesians 2:8,9
“That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” -Romans 10: 9,10
(5). Do it now.
“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” -II Corinthians 6:2
(Jesus said) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” -Revelation 3:20
Did you ever feel that every time something good happens – something bad follows? There is a reason behind that – and his name is Satan. Since the beginning, he has mustered a response for every movement the Lord has made. A close examination of the church ages, shows Satan made a counter attack at each significant uprising of the church. The same thing happens in individual lives, and in the national and international arena.
Proverbs 11:11
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:
In every instance, even following the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings – Satan has launched a counter attack almost immediately. What was the evil one’s response to the Age of Missions, Great Awakenings, and the Philadelphia Church Age? False philosophies, and cults. Higher “criticism,” Darwinism, progressive education, and Freudian psychology. On top of those four philosophies, which have infiltrated the education system – the major cults also rose during this time. Mormonism, 7th Day Adventism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, Unitarianism, and Armstrongism. Every single one – still active and growing in this time.
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
We should not be disheartened or discouraged when the president vetoes the bill we want passed, or a judge overturns a pro-life, or pro-traditional marriage bill. A close study of the Bible and secular history reveals that the tide of evil will always thwart the upright, and will continue to do so until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to set things right. This is why beloveds – the evil one is working so hard, because he knows his time is short! Liberals and progressives may be riding high now – but I would not want to be in their shoes for anything in the world. Their victory is only temporary. Very temporary.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing; To God and to the Lamb, I will sing. To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”; While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing; While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be; And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; And through eternity, I’ll sing on.
“What Wondrous Love Is This” is a Christianfolk hymn, sometimes described as a “white spiritual“, from the American South.[1] Its text was first published in 1811, during the Second Great Awakening, and its melody derived that of from an English popular ballad. Today it is a widely known hymn included in hymnals of many Christian denominations.[2]
The hymn’s lyrics were first published in Lynchburg, Virginia in the c. 1811 camp meeting songbook A General Selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs Now in Use.[3] The lyrics may also have been printed, in a slightly different form, in the 1811 book Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected published in Lexington, Kentucky.[4] (It was included in the third edition of this text published in 1818, but all copies of the first edition have been lost.[4]) In most early printings, the hymn’s text was attributed to an anonymous author, though the 1848 hymnal The Hesperian Harp attributes the text to a Methodist pastor from Oxford, Georgia named Alexander Means.[5]
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The Vine Vigil wishes all of our followers to know the greatest gift and love that can be had at any price. The free gift of eternal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. No greater love hath man than this – and He did lay down His life for His friends.
As believers, our natural inborn tendency leans towards works of self-indulgence, rather than works of righteousness. The struggle within us, mirrors the twins (Esau and Jacob) wrestling within their mother, Rebekah. It is a continuous battle between our flesh, and God’s Holy Spirit. The strength of one over the other, depends entirely on what we feed them. If we indulge our flesh with worldly fare, the Spirit will become weaker. These Proverb studies, and other such materials, are intended to feed the Spirit of true believers.
Proverbs 11:23
The desire of the righteous is only good:
As born-again Christians, we have the Righteousness of Christ within us. We Have no righteousness of our own. The holy righteousness living inside you, desires only good. If the Holy Spirit is your dominant “twin” you will desire only good. On the other-hand, if the flesh is the dominant twin, you will desire the opposite of what is good.
For example, when pondering the evil antics of worldly politicians and other leaders, do you sometimes fantasize that a lightening bolt, or some other act of God, would strike them down, and put them out of your misery? If someone has wronged you – do you long for them to “get what’s coming to them”?
Beloveds – that kind of attitude is your flesh talking. The best thing to do is rebuke it, and turn to the Lord in prayer. Rather than wishing for revenge, or “inexorable justice” on the workers of iniquity, why not pray for them? Pray for the most evil of them. Yes, it is true, that some individuals are beyond redemption, but that is not for us to determine. It is for us to pray, and pray, and pray.
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The lost have a truly bleak future in eternity. As the children of God, we should not desire that for anyone. Though your prayers for the wicked may seem like they go unanswered, it is a fact, that if your heart is right with the Lord, He hears all your prayers, even if you are praying for the worst miscreant in the world. We should desire their good, and the only good for them, is salvation in Jesus Christ. It is a terrible, awful, thing – when someone dies in their sins. And when you pray for that lost soul – make sure you mean it.
1 Timothy 2:1-3
2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
Please reread verse 2 again – do you see what that says? It is conditional. If we don’t pray for those in authority over us – we will have persecution! Obviously, the Body of Christ has dropped the ball on this one.
We will begin by first looking at the definition of the theme words of this Proverb study.
FRO’WARD, adjective [Latin versus:turned or looking from.]
Perverse, that is, turning from, with aversion or reluctance; not willing to yield or comply with what is required; unyielding; ungovernable; refractory; disobedient; peevish; as a froward child.
ABOMINA’TION, noun
1. Extreme hatred; detestation.
2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.
3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination
Proverbs 11:20
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord:
This image is of Nadab and Abihu, the priestly sons of the first High Priest – Aaron. Their story is well known. As priests of the Most High God – they offered “strange fire,” before the Lord. Whereupon the Lord sent out fire from heaven and consumed them.
The significance of this event should not be overlooked. What should the Christian take away from this? Quite simply, that our God is very, very Holy, and we can not offer “strange fire” to Him. Rock music, back beats, sensualized “praise teams,” speaking in gibberish, being “slain in the spirit,” – these and many other offerings and worship practices are strange fire. They do not conform to the Scriptural outlines for worshiping the Almighty Creator of the Universe.
The Charismatic movement is creeping into even the most conservative churches via the music. Make no mistake – this is “strange fire.” Country, CCM, and Southern Gospel music is inherently sensuous. And God will, in fact, rain down fire again on the apostate church, only this time, instead of the two sons of Aaron, it will be worldwide and they will “die before the Lord.” True worship music is reverent and respectful. It should not give you the sensation that you “really worshiped God!!!!” Rather, it should put you in a place of adoration and humility before your Savior, and convict your soul.
but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
Heads bowed, and sincere prayer are His delight. Before you “lift up holy hands,” be sure that your hands are indeed holy! I never feel that mine are. Not even for a second. I am too proud of what I can do with my hands. It is also important to realize, that at the beginning of this country, the Pilgrims allowed no musical instruments into the congregation. Why? Because of the natural tendency of musicians to “spice things up.” In the same fashion that a good cook will enliven what they make, a musician will do the same thing with music.
The pop preachers of today, speak loud and clearly that “you can’t grow a church with the old ways.” Well, that’s not what the Lord God of Heaven and earth has to say. We are no different than the Jews of the Old Testament. We, in our sinful flesh, desire and lust after the “leeks and onions” of Egypt. We desire to feed the flesh rather than the spirit.
Jeremiah 6:15-17
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed
abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.
16 Thus saith the Lord,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Mature Christians rarely need to be reminded to show mercy. Young believers, on the other hand, can lapse into their flesh more easily. This Friday Proverb study is devoted to our young brothers and sisters in Christ, who are growing and learning in all the doctrines of God. As young Christians, you also need to know, that we were also young once, and can recall with vivid clarity how impulsive and unwise we could be in those early days of our earthly sojourn.
Proverbs 11:17-19
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Animal shelters unite pets with owners. Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
This study by secular scientists agrees with what the Word of God has said all along. Kindness is a boon to your health. Those who are saved under the Blood of Christ, do not need a scientific study to tell them anything. The King James Bible is all sufficient for every life question you will ever have. Mean spirited people, will reap such nastiness in their own flesh. Our Lord in the Beatitudes said:
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Psychologists like to tell us that everything we do is a reaction to things that other people did to us. While this may be true for the flesh, it is not so for those who have been made free in Christ Jesus. The flesh tells us to justify what we do – because so and so did that to us. The flesh tells us to hold grudges and get revenge. This Proverb tells us that those kinds of machinations are wicked and deceitful!
My wife gained a lot of weight during pregnancy. She’s tired all the time, and doesn’t take care of herself. That’s not what I wanted from marriage. I think it’s OK for me to look at porn, because I’m not hurting anyone, and I need some kind of outlet.
My husband doesn’t give me any attention. I feel like eating because it makes me feel better. I also like to buy things I don’t need, because it’s self medicating for me.
My employer doesn’t pay enough for this terrible job. I’m not going to kill myself working for nothing. The company has enough money. They should give me some.
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life:
Make no mistake about it. Satan hates you. He will try everything in his substantial bag of tricks, to cause you to kill yourself before you can get saved, or, if you are saved, before you can lead any others to God’s salvation. Let’s look at the short list in Satan’s suicidal bag of evil. All of these will lead to death – eventually. Some sooner rather than later.
risky behavior (too numerous to list – including sodomy and drug use)
alcohol (Christians should not drink alcohol under any circumstances)
These behaviors are evil, and also appear evil to the unsaved world. They know in their hearts that it is wrong. All ungodly and fleshly desires are different forms of the sin of lust. We are to be separate and sanctified.
so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
This song, has a lot of “bounce,” but it is not syncopated. The tempo is even, at a quick march beat, known as a “quick-step.” A real “foot stomper!” The offering for today was inspired by Terry Dawson’s testimony, wherein he was saved at “an old fashioned tent meeting.” The words to this hymn are outstanding – especially verses 3 and 4!
The Complete 1922 Lyrics to the song: The Old Fashioned Meeting, By Herbert Buffman
Verse 1: Oh how well I remember in the old fashioned days, When some old fashioned people had some old fashioned ways In the old fashioned meetings, as they tarried there In the old fashioned manner, how God answered their prayer.
Chorus: ‘Twas an old fashiomed meeting, In an old fashioned place Where some old fashioned people, had some old fashion grace As an old fashioned sinner, I began to pray, And God heard me and answered in the old fashioned way
Verse 2: There was singing, such singing, of those old fashioned airs! There was power, such power, in those old fashioned prayers An old fashioned conviction made the sinner pray And the Lord heard and saved him in the old fashioned way.
Repeat Chorus:
Verse 3: Well, They say it is better, ” Things have changed, don’t you know!” And the people in general seem to think it is so And they call me old fashioned when I dare to say That I like it far better in the old fashioned way.
Repeat Chorus:
Verse 4: If the Lord never changes, as the fashion of men, If He’s always the same, why, He is old fashioned then! As an old fashioned sinner saved through old time grace, Oh, I’m sure He will take me to an old fashioned place.
Repeat Chorus:
Short Name: Herbert Buffum
Full Name: Buffum, Herbert, 1879-1939
Birth Year: 1879
Death Year: 1939
Born: November 13, 1879, Lafayette, Illinois. Died: October 9, 1939, Los Angeles, California. Buried: Valhalla Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California. His epitaph reads “I have fought a good fight.”
After moving with his family to California and being converted to Christ at age 18, Buffum felt a call to the ministry. He held ministerial credentials with the Church of the Nazarene, and was a Holiness/Pentecostal evangelist. He was also a prolific song writer, with many songs inspired by personal experience; He had 10,000 Songs to his credit, 1,000 actually published. Ripley’s “Believe It Or Not” claimed He once wrote 12 songs in an hour. Though a talented musician, Buffum received no musical training. He sold most of his songs for five dollars or less. When he died, the Los Angeles Times called him “the king of Gospel song writers. http://www.hymnary.org/text/o_how_well_i_remember
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
I love you, Lord And I lift my voice To worship You Oh, my soul, rejoice!
Take joy my King In what You hear Let it be a sweet, sweet sound In Your ear
I love you, Lord (I love you, Lord) And I lift my voice (And I lift my voice) To worship You (To worship You) Oh, my soul, rejoice! (Oh, my soul)
Take joy my King (Take joy my King) In what You hear (In what You hear) Let it be a sweet, sweet sound (Let it be a sweet sound) In Your ear
I love you, Lord And I lift my voice To worship You Oh, my soul, rejoice!
Take joy my King In what You hear Let it be a sweet, sweet sound In Your ear
I love you, Lord (I love you, Lord) I love you, Lord (I love you, Lord) (And I lift my voice)
I love you, Lord (Take joy my King) (Take joy my King)
I love you, Lord (I love you, Lord) I love you, Lord (Let it be a sweet, sweet sound)
Words and music by Laurie B. Klein
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love Thee because Thou has first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
William Ralph Featherstone Writes a Legacy of Love that Becomes My Jesus I Love Thee
The lives of most people are not captured in the history books. Memories are left to the hearts and minds of family and friends, and then all too soon fade into the tapestry of times past. And so it was with William Ralph Featherstone. He was born without fanfare on July 24, 1846, in Montreal Canada, and he died in the same city, just before his 27th birthday. Little else is known of his short life except for the fact that some time during his 16th year of life William put pen to paper to record a love poem. The love he expressed was deep and true. The words of that poem have lasted more than a century beyond Featherstone’s life and death.
In 1876, three years after Featherstone’s passing, Adoniram Gordon put music to this love poem and added it to a hymnal which was published that same year. Featherstone’s poem My Jesus I Love Thee has since been recorded in most evangelical hymnals of the past 130 years, and is loved and sung by millions of Christians yet today.
Psalm 116:1
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Perhaps not many view the Proverbs and Psalms as being prophetic. After so many decades of Bible study, I see Prophecy in almost every line of the Bible. As is understood, the Lord reveals things to us in stages. Most often, Old Testament events and poetry, describe an actual event such as Passover – which is a picture of something far more dramatic in the future. Such is the case with this Proverb. At face value, it does not seem to reveal much to the casual reader – but we are here to see what it really says.
Proverbs 11:8
The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
Only those who are truly born-again of the Holy Spirit of God, will be delivered – because only the truly born-again – are considered righteous. When we repent, and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we obtain His righteousness – which guarantees our deliverance. None of the troubles, trials and tribulations of this present life and time, can compare to the Great Tribulation, and the judgments that will befall everyone on earth at that time.
Please do not allow the recent crop of preterists to worm their way into your faith in the deliverance promised to you by God in His Holy Book. It is described over and over again – even in this short Proverb. Every Word of the King James Bible is true – and you can trust it implicitly. Read it literally, and with faith.
and the wicked cometh in his stead.
That’s right. As soon as the church is taken up – The Wicked One will swoop in. Just as a vacuum needs to be filled – this will happen in such a way – that it will not be readily apparent to those who are not alert. Since mankind always seeks to worship something or someone they can see, it will happen all too easily. The Holy Spirit that is indwelling believers here on earth, will leave along with the righteous that are being delivered. Once this happens, the only thing that was restraining the power of anti-christ will be gone! It will happen, but, we will NOT BE HERE TO SEE IT!
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.
The sky shall unfold Preparing His entrance The stars shall applaud Him With thunders of praise
The sweet light in His eyes Shall enhance those awaiting And we shall behold Him Then face to face
O, we shall behold Him We shall behold Him Face to face in all of His glory
O, we shall behold Him Yes, we shall behold Him Face to face, our Savior and Lord
The angel shall sound The shout of His coming And the sleeping shall rise From their slumbering place
And those who remain Shall be changed in a moment And we shall behold Him Then face to face
We shall behold Him O yes we shall behold Him Face to face in all of His glory
We shall behold Him Yes, we shall behold Him Face to face
Our Savior and Lord And we shall behold Him Our Savior and Lord Savior and Lord
Southern Gospel legend Dottie Rambo died on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008 when her tour bus ran off the highway and struck an embankment in Missouri. Dottie was on her way to North Richland Hills, Texas to perform a Mother’s Day show with Lulu Roman & Naomi Sego. Dottie was 74 at the time of her death and had spent 62 years of her life writing music and singing about her Savior.
Seven other people on the bus, including her manager Larry Ferguson and his wife and two children, were injured in the accident. They were hospitalized in Springfield, Missouri with moderate to severe injuries, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Representatives from her recording label confirmed that Dottie was asleep at the time of the accident.
Dottie Rambo, born Joyce Reba Lutrell in Madison, Kentucky on March 2, 1934, started writing songs at the age of 8 while sitting by a creek near her family home. By age 10 she was playing guitar and singing on local country radio. Her father dreamed of the day that young Dottie become a singer on Nashville’s WSM Grand Ole Opry. When Dottie gave her life to Christ at the age of 12, changing her path from country music to gospel, her father did not agree with the decision, fearing that she would spend her life singing in backwood churches for little or no pay. He gave her an ultimatum; either stop the Christian singing or leave his house. Dottie chose the path that Christ had laid in front of her and was taken to the bus stop by her mother with all of her belongings in a cardboard suitcase and her name and address on a tag around her neck in case she got lost.
By the 1950s she had married Buck Rambo and had her daughter, Reba. Dottie and Buck traveled across the region singing her songs in small churches. Other gospel groups, like the Happy Goodman Family, heard her songs and started singing them. The then- governor of Louisiana, Jimmy Davis, heard her music and flew her and her family to the governor’s mansion so that she could sing her songs for him. Governor Davis paid Dottie to publish her songs and soon after, Warner Brothers Records signed Dottie and her group, The Gospel Echoes, to a two-record deal. When they wanted Dottie and her group to move to folk and start singing Rhythm and Blues, Dottie declined.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them:
Hmm. Easier said than done – right? Not really. Of course, it is nigh impossible if one relies on their own righteousness, but the Bible implicitly states in many places, that only God is righteous, and that we, miserable sinners that we are, may receive His righteousness through faith in the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His perfect righteousness is given to us, by Grace.
And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
We are delivered from death and judgment only by recognizing and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. He saves us from eternal death in the Lake of Fire, and promises us an eternity with Him.
but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
Just as naughty children never think they will be found out – the sinner in rebellion refuses to acknowledge what needs to be done. They willfully choose the darkness of this world, and the Proverb states they will be taken in their own naughtiness. Not the misdeeds of another – but their very own misdeeds. Sinners in rebellion will not be able to blame anyone (as is the popular trend today) because the Word says the blame will be squarely laid at their own feet.
In the universities and satanically controlled media, herculean effort is made to convince the lost that their condition is not sin and damnation, but that their misery is caused by others. Hence, the creation of the blame game. The evil one does not want man to repent, and he will do everything in his considerable power to cause the sinner to either kill themselves before they can get saved – or contrive to bedazzle the sinner with psychology and fleshly enticements. But God, in His mercy, has given us a narrow pathway of escape. . .
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.
Though I may wonder, I still will follow; Though I may wonder, I still will follow; Though I may wonder, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.
Singh was raised a member of the Sikh religion. Prior to his conversion, Sundar attended a primary school run by the American Presbyterian Mission where the New Testament was read daily as a “textbook.” Sundar “refused to read the Bible at the daily lessons…To some extent the teaching of the Gospel on the love of God attracted me, but I still thought it was false.”
In the midst of such confusion and while only fourteen years old, his mother died, and Sundar underwent a crisis of faith. His mother was a loving saintly woman and they were very close. In his anger, Sundar burned a copy of one of the Gospels in public. Within three days Sundar Singh could bear his misery no longer. Late one night in December 1903, he rose from bed and prayed that God reveal himself to him if he really existed. Otherwise — “I planned to throw myself in front of the train which passed by our house.” For seven hours Sundar Singh prayed. “O God, if there is a God, reveal thyself to me tonight.” The next train was due at five o’clock in the morning. The hours passed. Suddenly the room filled with a glow. A man appeared before him. Sundar Singh heard a voice say, “How long will you deny me? I died for you; I have given my life for you.” He saw the man’s hands, pierced by nails.
Amazed that his vision had taken the unexpected form of Jesus, Sundar was convinced in his heart that Jesus was the true Savior, and that He was alive. Sundar fell on his knees before Him and experienced an astonishing peacefulness which he had never felt before. The vision disappeared, but peace and joy lingered within him.
Despite his family’s pleas, bribes, and threats, Sundar wanted to be baptized in the Christian faith. After his father spoke words of official rejection over him, Sundar became an outcast from his people. He cut off the hair he had worn long like every Sikh man. Against great opposition, he was baptized on his birthday in 1905, in an English church in Simla.
Conventional Indian churches were willing to grant him a pulpit, but their rules were foreign to his spirit. Indeed, he felt that a key reason the gospel was not accepted in India was because it came in a garb foreign to Indians. He decided to become a sadhu, so that he could dedicate himself to the Lord Jesus. He was convinced that this was the best way to introduce the Gospel to his people since it was the only way which his people were accustomed to. As a sadhu, he wore a yellow robe, lived on the charity of others, abandoned all possession and maintained celibacy. In this lifestyle, he was free to devote himself to the Lord. Dressed in his thin yellow robe, Sundar Singh took to the road and began a life of spreading the simple message of love and peace and rebirth through Jesus. He carried no money or other possessions, only a New Testament.
Sundar journeyed much. He traveled all over India and Ceylon. Between 1918-1919, he visited Malaysia, Japan and China. Between 1920-1922 he went to Western Europe, Australia and Israel. He preached in many cities; Jerusalem, Lima, Berlin and Amsterdam among others. Despite his growing fame, Sundar retained a modest nature, desiring only to follow Jesus’ example: to repay evil with kindness and to win over his enemies by love.
He was quite independent of outward Church authority in all his religious life, thought, and work. He dropped out of a Christian seminary that he briefly attended. Neither did he attach much importance to public worship because in his experience the heart prays better in solitude than in a congregation.
He traveled in India and Tibet, as well as the rest of the world, with the message that the modern interpretation of Jesus was sadly watered down. Sundar visited Tibet every summer and in 1929, he visited there and was never seen again.
The story of the song is covered in the Book by Dr. P.P. Job and Indian preacher in His book “Why God Why”
An excerpt from the book is given below:About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales, England. As a result of this, many missionaries came from England and Germany to North-East India to spread the Gospel. At the time, north-east India was not divided into many states as it is today. The region was known as Assam and comprised hundreds of tribes. The tribal communities were quite primitive and aggressive by nature. The tribals were also called head-hunters because of a social custom which required the male members of the community to collect as many heads as possible. A man’s strength and ability to protect his wife was assessed by the number of heads he had collected. Therefore, a youth of marriageable age would try and collect as many heads as possible and hang them on the walls of his house. The more heads a man had, the more eligible he was considered. Into this hostile and aggressive community, came a group of Welsh missionaries spreading the message of love, peace and hope of Jesus Christ. Naturally, they were not welcomed. One Welsh missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity. Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song which became famous down the years. He sang:
I have decided to follow Jesus. (3 times) No turning back, no turning back.
Enraged at the refusal of the man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children. As both boys lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both your children. You will lose your wife too.”
But the man sang these words in reply:
Though no one joins me, still I will follow. (3 times) No turning back, no turning back.
The chief was beside himself with fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down. In a moment she joined her two children in death. Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.”
In the face of death the man sang the final memorable lines:
The cross before me, the world behind me. (3 times) No turning back, no turning back.
He was shot dead like the rest of his family. But with their deaths, a miracle took place. The chief who had ordered the killings was moved by the faith of the man. He wondered, “Why should this man, his wife and two children die for a Man who lived in a far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago? There must be some supernatural power behind the family, and I too want that supernatural power.”
In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole village accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is the power of [God in] demonstration.
John 12:26
If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.
A great many articles are written about the underground bunkers of the elites and super-rich. These fortresses amount to vast underground cities, with every comfort known to man. Even the not-so-rich, have succumbed to the notion, that they can “ride-out” Armageddon. Bible believers should know, that those who are truly born again – will not need to “hide out,” because they won’t be here. Not only that – but it would be impossible to do so. This is not to say that you should not be prepared for natural disasters, and not so natural ones like losing your job. What is being discussed here is the Day of Wrath.
Revelation 6:16-17
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord‘s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
but righteousness delivereth from death.
It is of utmost importance to understand, that you have no righteousness of your own. ZERO. When you are born again – you can possess His righteousness, and it is overflowing and enough! The good works and deeds you do after being saved, will gain you rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. And that is a wonderful thing to work for.
Philippians 3:9
And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Revelation 16:7
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments.
James 5:1-8
5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.
Refrain
Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever I am.
Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me doth continually dwell.
Refrain
I think of my blessèd Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long: I sing, for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song.
Refrain
I know there’s a crown that is waiting, In yonder bright mansion for me, And soon, with the spirits made perfect, At home with the Lord I shall be.
Refrain
“Oh, what a happy child I am,
although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world,
contented I will be!”
Fanny Crosby, (March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915)
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
: the quality or state of being complete or undivided :completeness
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright shall guide them:
It is sad, but true. Not many find their way onto the narrow path. Blinded by the god of this world, sheeple are drawn to darkness, and in turn, the darkness envelopes them and ultimately destroys them. They believe they have enlightenment, but the light that is guiding them, is the false light of the evil one, the deceiver. He leads the lost to eternal destruction.
While we are still in our flesh, we are incapable of possessing true integrity of ourselves. When we are born again, of the Holy Spirit, we can possess His integrity in our new natures – the only true and completely sound integrity that there is to be had, despite what secular humanists preach. For the new nature in Christ is incorruptible, and when we surrender our bodies and souls to Him, we can live righteously through His power. We can be whole, sound, and complete in Him.
We must daily repent and confess our sins, so that we can stay in close fellowship with Him, and live uprightly. May we be beacons of the true light of Christ – and outshine the perverted, false light of the destroyer!
but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
If you feed your new nature with the Word of God, more than you feed the old nature, with the world, the flesh, and the devil – you will gain more and more of His integrity, and find greater strength to resist all the wiles of the devil. Let Jesus Christ dominate your thoughts, and the devil will not be able to get a foothold.
Verse1: Far dearer than all that the world can impart Was the message came to my heart. How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone, And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all, My past with its sin and stain; My guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there, And Calvary covers it all.
Verse 2: The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore Told His mercy and lover evermore And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name, And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all, My past with its sin and stain; My guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there, And Calvary covers it all.
Verse 3: How matchless the grace, when I looked in the face Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord; My redemption complete I then found at His feet, And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all, My past with its sin and stain; My guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there, And Calvary covers it all.
Verse 4: How blessed the thought, that my soul by Him bought, Shall be His in the glory on high; Where with gladness and song, I’ll be one of the throng And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all, My past with its sin and stain; My guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there, And Calvary covers it all.
Note: There is little information available on this fine song, written in 1934, or its author, but it’s worthy of consideration both for how it came to be written, and for the aptness of its message. The full story is found in Al Smith’s Hymn Histories (pp. 125-127).
The song relates to a dancer named Walter “Happy Mac” MacDonald, whom comedian Eddie Cantor said had the fastest feet in the world. Mac was talented, but he was also in bondage to sin, and addicted to alcohol. One night in the early 1930′s he stumbled into a meeting in the Pacific Garden Mission, in Chicago. When an invitation was given for those present to trust in Christ as Saviour, Mac did not respond. But, as he returned, night after night, workers gradually came to know more about him.
Directing the mission in those days (1918-1936) were Walter Grand Taylor and his wife Ethelwyn, affectionately known as Pa and Ma Taylor. Ethel Taylor watched Mac, and her heart went out to him. She prayed, “Dear Lord, please help us say and do the right things, so that we may win Mac to Thee.” Finally, MacDonald did seek counseling, and Ma Taylor listened as he struggled with his past. “You don’t understand,” he prayed. “You don’t know how bad I am, Lord. Really I’m the worst man in the world. You can’t save me; I’m too bad.”
Mrs. Taylor recalled a message she had heard weeks before. Evangelist Percy Crawford had been a rebel in his youth. But one day he accepted Christ as his Saviour. The theme of Crawford’s testimony was, “Calvary covers it all,” and Ethel Taylor shared those words with MacDonald.
He asked her to repeat them, and suddenly the light dawned. “Oh! Mrs. Taylor, I’m so glad it’s true, and you told me. Calvary does cover it all! My whole past of sin and shame.” The former entertainer trusted in the Saviour that night in 1934, and lived to become an outstanding servant of Christ.
A brother in Christ from the Philippines, once related to me, how rice was sold in the poor village he was raised in. The rice merchant would first measure the rice into a large scoop – hold it up for the buyer to be reassured they were receiving full measure – and then, as he was lowering the scoop to pour the rice into their bag, he would subtly pour a small amount of the rice back into the large bin. This slight shaving resulted in more profit for him, since he did it to everyone.
SINCE MANKIND IS INHERENTLY EVIL< THIS STORY SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US. BUT< IT SHOULD SADDEN US.
We must admit, that we all “shave off,” here and there in our dealings with our fellow man, and with respect to honoring the Lord. Do we give “full measure?” Or, do we hold back somewhat? Just a little here and there? Does He have our whole heart? Or have we kept back a portion for the world? Do we cut corners in our worship and service?
DON’T SHVE OFF OR CUT CORNERS IN YOUR WORSHIP AND WITNESSING, FOR HE HAS GIVEN US THIS PROMISE –
Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. . . ye shall be as gods. . .
Genesis 3:4
James Hughes Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, is a bioethicist and sociologist at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut where he teaches health policy and serves as Director of Institutional Research and Planning. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he also taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Dr. Hughes is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future , and is working on a second book tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha. Since 1999 he has produced a syndicated weekly radio program, Changesurfer Radio.
As transhuman possibilities increasingly develop, the compatibilities of metaphysics, theodicy, soteriology and eschatology between the transhumanist and religious worldviews will be built upon to create new “trans-spiritualities.” In this future religious landscape there will be bioconservative and transhumanist wings within all the world’s faiths, and probably new religious traditions inspired by the transhumanist project. We will create new religious rituals and meanings around biotechnological and cybernetic and cybernetic capabilities, just as we did around fire, the wheel, healing plants, and the book.
James J. Hughes, The Compatibility of Religious and Transhumanism Views of Metaphysics, Suffering, Virtue, and Transcendence in an Enhanced Future
In the Caltech experiments, the researchers stripped an HIV virus of its disease-causing elements and used it to virally infect single-cell embryos of mice with a gene from a jellyfish.
Any number of different genes could have been selected. For the purpose of the studies, the researchers chose a specific jellyfish gene that could serve as a “marker” to indicate whether the gene transfer was successful. The gene produces a protein that gives the jellyfish a green fluorescence.
When the mice were born, they carried the jellyfish gene in their own genes. Under fluorescent light, all their major tissues and organs—including skin, bones, muscles, lungs, liver, kidney, stomach, brain, and retina—emitted a green glow.
The trait became a permanent feature of the mice genome and was passed along to many of their offspring. (National Geographic)
This has gone much, much farther than glow mice. This description of the fearsome locusts in Revelation 9: 6-12 does not sound all that incredible in light of this.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. Revelation 9:6-12
Come, ye sinners, lost and hopeless, Jesus’ blood can make you free; For He saved the worst among you, When He saved a wretch like me.
Refrain:And I know, yes, I knowJesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean,And I know, yes, I knowJesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean.
To the faint He giveth power,Through the mountains makes a way;Findeth water in the desert,Turns the night to golden day.
In temptation He is near thee,Holds the pow’rs of hell at bay;Guides you to the path of safety,Gives you grace for every day.
He will keep thee while the agesRoll throughout eternity;Though earth hinders and hell rages,All must work for good to thee.
We only know that the wonderful words and music to this hymn were written by a lady name Anna W. Waterman, in 1920. . .
From a home with one brother and one sister, Charles Waterman’s urge was to see the country. This took him to hitchhiking on the railroad to California. He was influenced by the worldly crowd and gave himself to become an alcoholic. Even as such, he worked his way up to become an engineer on the steam locomotive. He married Anna, who had a Christian background and did what she could to keep the testimony before him. Anna was discouraged at the path her husband followed because it was causing him to miss work on some of his hangovers. So she asked a lady in her town in California to meet with her and help her pray for Charles to be saved. His wild life went on for three or more years and one night he became frightened while under the influence and when he finally arrived at home, he told Anna he wanted to be saved. She immediately called her friend who came over to their home and they led him to the Lord. He begged the Lord for forgiveness and to clean up his life, which the Lord did. The happiness that followed caused Anna to write this song. A book with over 30 other songs was collected and published. They visited in Lodi, Fountain County, Indiana, and at the Baptist Church, later named Waterman Baptist Church. http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/y/e/s/yesiknow.htm
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Proverbs 10:27
While the Word of God does not guarantee a long earthly life to truly born again believers, it does follow reason that those who fear Him, and forsake sinful lifestyles will have better health and greater joy in life. While we are in our flesh – we long to be with Him, and having the knowledge of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence will prevent us from taking a detour into the dark side.
Living the Holy Spirit filled life is a matter of surrendering our wills to His will. It is a matter of getting rid of our household gods and fleshly desires, and allowing the Holy Spirit to completely fill us. And while it seems that the wicked are holding sway at this moment in time – remember – that to God – there is no time! Time only exists here on earth – it is not a part of the heavenly realm.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Proverbs 10:28
Yes – we must fear our Creator – but we must also hope in Him. One need only see the hard, brittle, look in the eyes of the abrasive atheists when they are attacking the Bible and Bible believers. It is a cold, dead expression – void of hope. And if the eyes truly are the window to the soul – what does that tell us? There is death where there is no hope – spiritual death. And then in the not so far off future – eternal death in the Lake of Fire.
We can be truly glad of heart, and take joy in the fact that our futures are already secure, and written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. There is no reason to fret over evil doers – because their future is already determined if they remain unrepentant. What a terrible thought.
The next time you hear news of murders, corruptions, and all the sundry evils that satan has in his arsenal, it would be wise to think where your hope is. It is not here! not in America, not in anything other than our blessed savior – Jesus Christ.
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
[Forgive me. I so wanted to post a video with the classic hymn – “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” but was unable to find one without a sensuous back-beat.]
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole; I want Thee forever to live in my soul. Break down every idol, cast out every foe; Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain, Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain; To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego— Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, And help me to make a complete sacrifice. I give up myself, and whatever I know, Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat, I wait, blessèd Lord, at Thy crucified feet. By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow, Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait, Come now, and within me a new heart create; To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst No, Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
The blessing by faith, I receive from above; O glory! my soul is made perfect in love; My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know, The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.
Refrain
This hymn was written in 1872 by James Nicholson, who lived in Washington D. C. He was a dedicated Christian and was active in the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church as a Sunday school and evangelistic worker.
The tune was written by Philadelphia musician named William Gustavus Fischer who was a popular song leader for revival meetings. He also composed the tune for “I love to tell the story”.
The hymn is based on Ps51:7 – “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
This beautiful hymn tells the salvation story from start to finish. It contains all three elements of true repentance:
change of mind
change of heart
change of will
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to get right with the Lord. In all sincerity – there is no better time than right now.
If you will only let God guide you, And hope in Him through all your ways, Whatever comes, He’ll stand beside you, To bear you through the evil days; Who trusts in God’s unchanging love Builds on the Rock that cannot move.
Only be still, and wait His leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content To take whatever the Father’s pleasure And all discerning love have sent; Nor doubt our inmost wants are known To Him Who chose us for His own.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways, But do your part in conscience true; Trust His rich promises of grace, So shall they be fulfilled in you; God hears the call of those in need, The souls that trust in Him indeed.
Winkworth’s original translation:
If thou but suffer God to guide thee And hope in Him through all thy ways, He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee, And bear thee through the evil days. Who trust in God’s unchanging love Builds on the rock that naught can move.
What can these anxious cares avail thee These never ceasing moans and sighs? What can it help if thou bewail thee O’er each dark moment as it flies? Our cross and trials do but press The heavier for our bitterness.
Be patient and await His leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content To take whatever thy Father’s pleasure And His discerning love hath sent, Nor doubt our inmost want are known To Him who chose us for His own.
God knows full well when time of gladness Shall be the needful thing for thee. When He has tried thy soul with sadness And from all guile has found thee free, He comes to thee all unaware And makes thee own His loving care.
Nor think amid the fiery trial That God hath cast thee off unheard, That he whose hopes meet no denial Must surely be of God preferred. Time passes and much change doth bring And set a bound to everything.
All are alike before the Highest: ’Tis easy for our God, We know, To raise thee up, though low thou liest, To make the rich man poor and low. True wonders still by Him are wrought Who setteth up and brings to naught.
Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, Perform thy duties faithfully, And trust His Word: though undeserving, Thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need The soul that trusted Him indeed.
Words:Georg Neumark, 1641 (Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten); first published in his Fortgepflantzer musikalisch-poetischer Lustwald (Jena, Germany: 1657). Catherine Winkworth translated the words from German to English in 1855, and published them in the Chorale Book for England, 1863.
Music: Neumark, Georg Neumark, 1641 (MIDI, score). The tune is said to have been used for 400 different hymns.
Things appeared desperate for Georg Neumark. Walking cross country in the early Autumn of 1641 to begin his studies at the University of Konigsberg, the young German scholar was robbed of virtually everything he owned. With no money left to pay for food or classes, George had to drop out of college and look for work. He was hungry, poorly clothed, forced to take whatever shelter he could find as the cold weather came on.
He went back to Magdeburg but could find no work there. However, he made friends easily, and they pointed him to different cities. But he had no more success in the next three cities he tried: Luneburg, Winsen or Hamburg. He passed on to Keil. The chief pastor of Keil, Nicolaus Becker took an interest in Georg. Like Georg, he was from Thuringia. However, he could find him no immediate work. It was now December. What was Georg to do?
At this darkest moment, a miracle happened. A tutor in a prominent family fell into disgrace and fled. Nicolaus Becker recommended Georg for the position and he was hired. Georg’s response was to burst into a hymn of praise, “on that very day.”
If thou but suffer God to guide thee And hope in Him through all thy ways, He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee, And bear thee through the evil days…. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, Perform thy duties faithfully, And trust His Word: though undeserving, Thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need The soul that trusted Him indeed.
We remember George Neumark mainly because of that one hymn and the tune he composed for it. For two years he worked and saved his money, finally getting together enough to enter University. In 1646 he again lost everything he owned, this time to a fire.
However, he was able to complete his studies and return to his homeland. There Duke Wilhelm II of Sachse-Weimar recognized his merits and gave him a trusted position.
Georg went blind shortly before he died, but the court allowed him to keep his jobs with their badly-needed income right to the end. He died on this day, July 18, 1681, having turned 60 shortly before. He had performed his part faithfully and God did not forsake him, bearing him through the evil days.
Bibliography:
Covert, William Chalmers and Laufer, Calvin Weiss, editors. Handbook to the Hymnal. (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, 1936).
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The Vine Vigil 
