I Am a Soldier!

Author Unknown

I am a soldier in the army of my God!

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer!

The Bible is my code of conduct!

Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare!

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire!

I am a  volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity!

I will either retire from this army at the rapture or die in this army, but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out! 

I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable!

If my God needs me, I am there!

What Do You Want from God?

After his father David died, Solomon became the king of Israel. He was probably around twenty years old. On a day after Solomon had offered a thousand burnt offerings to the LORD, God appeared to Solomon that night and said to him, "Ask what I shall give thee."

Solomon was in his early twenties. What kinds of things are on the minds of most people that age? Well, I myself am twenty so I think I have a pretty good idea. Many young people my age are concerned with very trivial things. They believe their status depends on having the best and being the best -- the most stylish clothes, the greatest car, the best "friends," having the best ability in brawn, beauty, even brains, and enjoying as much of the other overrated pleasures this world has to offer as they can. Those things are not wrong, but they must be kept in their place and we must not become consumed with them. We need to focus more upon the underrated treasures of life: our family, our relationship with the Lord, our church, the Bible, and the simple blessings God gives us each day. Those are the things that really matter. We need to realize how rich we really are, live Godly lives, and be content.

Other young people my age are thinking about the decisions they are required to make during this period of their lives. What is foremost in my own mind is being in God's will each and every day. I am constantly thinking about the changes that are approaching in my life and I am concerned that I make only the one right choice in each situation.

What was on Solomon's mind during this intense period of his life? He was only twenty years old and the king of an entire country. He had everything. He had access to all of those overrated pleasures life has to offer to every young person. And God was offering him more! Whatever his heart desired, he had only to ask God and he would get it. Nothing would be withheld from him. What would you ask for if you were in his place? Think about it. What matters most to you? What would your immediate request be?

10 Ways to Read the Bible

Thoughtfully

Don't read absent-mindedly but read with purpose, intention and thoughtful consideration.

Repeatedly

Read a particular verse or passage several times over to gain a better understanding of it. If following a yearly plan, begin in Genesis 1 again on January 1!

Patiently

Be faithful in Bible study when it is not especially interesting or when you do not understand.

Selectively

Select portions of Scripture to read during a time of distress for comfort, for counsel on life-decisions, etc.

Prayerfully

Always seek guidance and enlightenment from the Holy Spirit before you open God's Word. Have a spirit of communion with God as you read His Word to you.

Imaginatively

Use imagination when reading of Daniel in the den of lions, of Sarah when she overheard that she would bear a child in her old age, and other instances. Place yourself in their situation. Understand their fear, surprise, faith, etc.

Meditatively

Contemplate. Revolve a Biblical truth around your the mind. "Chew" on a portion of Scripture for a long period of time until you get all the "juice" out of it.

Purposefully

Make careful intention to study the Bible, have direction in thought, and make application of God's Word to your life.

Acquisitively

Search out and study and retain what you learn. Make it a personal possession, a real fact in your life.

Telescopically

Read small portions of the Bible in light of the whole. Don't lose context of one verse but apply it to an entire passage of Scripture. Don't break down the Bible into fragments of what you will and will not accept, but view the Bible as the whole Word of God.

God's Wonderful Word

Music by Patti Vaillant 

Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me.

I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried.
Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
I have kept thy precepts: for all my ways are before thee.

Let my cry come near before thee: give me understanding.
I have longed for thy salvation; and thy law is my delight.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Psalm 119:129-132, 145-148, 165-169, 174, 175, 172

In the photo: Flowers on a bush of the Penstemon genus, covered in lovely dew.

The Blessings of Bible Study

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 

I Timothy 4:15

Reading and studying the Word of God is essential to the life of a Christian. What food and water are to the body, Bible study and prayer are to the inner man. Job realized his need for the Word of God so completely that he declared, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips, for I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 32:12)

Although Bible study is so integral to our living as Christians, failure in this area is all too regular for most believers. Fitting Bible study into one’s schedule is considered to be a problem. However, the true problem is viewing it as a problem. Making time for God’s Word is, in fact, the solution to this and every other problem that we face in life.

Whatever is most important to us is what we will give the greatest time and effort to. The matter of Bible study is a matter of priorities. If we are to make it a practice to study the Word of God, we must make our relationship with the Lord more important than anything else in our lives. More important than sleep, more important than an activity, more important than our tight schedules, more important than personal comfort and pleasure. When God’s Word becomes a priority to us, we won't allow anything keep us from devoting to it the time that we should. We will make every effort to study it with faithful diligence.

When we come to the realization of just how precious and essential the Word of God is to our lives, everything will change. We will become passionate about reading it daily, memorizing it deep into our hearts, meditating upon it through our days, and living it as a way of life. Each new truth we learn as we sit under preaching and study for ourselves becomes ours, a personal possession, one we should guard jealously lest Satan snatch it away.

Bible truths are built into our lives as the framework of all that we are. Without these truths, we would collapse. What a hopeless mess our lives would be without the Word of God! We would have nowhere to go to find hope and truth. But we do have the Bible, and we need to read it like our lives depend upon it -- as our lives most certainly do. We need God's Word. It is vital. We cannot do without it! It is everything.

How do we reach the point where we, as Job, sense our spirit’s great need for the Word of God? We must gain a spiritual appetite for the Bible. We have to want the Word of God like we want anything else we crave. Jesus gave a wonderful promise in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” To be hungry and thirsty to know God is to be blessed. That empty, aching void in our spirits is a blessing because it drives us on to seek after God. And He promised that He will never fail to supply what we need. He will fill us if we will only earnestly seek Him.

People have many excuses for their failure to read and study the Bible. A lack of basic knowledge, limited time, and plain ol' laziness are a few things which hinder a Christian’s study of the Bible. Some problems which people face are very real. However, no excuse or problem is so great that the Word of God does not have the solution for it.

What Is Submission?

Warning! If you're a normal, thinking woman you will not enjoy this blog post. You might even dislike ME halfway into reading it! Perhaps you will grow red with indignation; maybe your stomach will even churn. (chuckle) But be brave! Press on and read to the end. And please pray that God would create a work in your soul that you are unable to do yourself.

It is with an earnest desire that God would work in the hearts of His dear ladies that I have written this entry and have chosen to share it publicly. It is a work we desperately need Him to do, for the evidence of our need is written plainly on the epistles of our hearts, known and read of all men. Humble yourself as a little child and please let Him do it, for you will be so richly blessed. I can say that because I know. Oh, I know!

Lovingly,

Naomi

We teach little ones the verse, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." (Eph. 6:1) We want them to grow up loving and obeying Daddy and Mommy. Parents tell their children to do this and that, and not to do this and that because they want their children to be happy and safe. The methods of discipline chosen by parents are not pleasant but the goal in mind is good. When a child comes to realize the good purpose of spankings and other forms of discipline, that knowledge will instill in the child a desire and a willingness to obey. The child understands the truth of God's Word: "for this is right." It transforms that child's heart and attitude completely. Happy submission to Daddy and Mommy becomes his response to instruction.

When God established the first institution, the family, He designed it according to a very specific structure. Just as a contractor builds a house according to a well-thought-out plan, God created the home according to how it would best function and endure. We see in chapters five and six of Ephesians that God's structure for the family is God: Christ: husband: wife: children. It only works one way. This structure of authority does not equal various levels of superiority and inferiority, but simply different levels of "say-so."

Girls, what is your heart like? When a situation arises between you and your parents and you disagree with them, what is your response? Are disagreeable words the first thing out of your mouth? Do you resist their counsel and instruction? Is your attitude, "But I'm right; they're so unreasonable; they don't understand"?

As I have grown up, I have struggled with arguing. I have not always seen it as arguing, but my dad is more perceptive than me. =) My logic was that if I did not speak disrespectfully or have a saucy look in my eye, that constituted not arguing, regardless of my disagreeing with him and voicing those opinions. (Ha! Hardly.) I am thankful that whenever we have had a disagreement about something, he has firmly but quietly told me, "Don't argue." Ouch! I would close my mouth at once, but in my heart I would continue arguing. My simmering rebellion evidenced itself in the "silent treatment." Sure, I knew better than to act disrespectful. As I entered my teens I made a commitment to never speak to or treat my parents disrespectfully, and though I have had my failures God by His grace has helped me keep my commitment. But I soon came to learn that disrespect goes far deeper than how you merely treat and respond to your authorities. I finally realized this truth and how it helped me! God started creating a change in my silent rebellious spirit. But there was one thing I still needed to learn.

The Truth & Goodness of God

Recently I have been listening to some excellent sermons preached by Bro. Tom Sooter. (Visit his website at SooterSpiritualWarfare.com) Brother Sooter is a preacher who deals with topics such as spiritual warfare, the lies of Satan, and bitterness. I have been so helped by his preaching. Every new message gives me a new truth to cling to.

Satan's lies are so subtle and become such a part of our lives that it is impossible for us to recognize them for the lies that they truly are. The Lord Jesus said that Satan is the father of lies. "There is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." (John 8:44-45) Once the devil can get us to accept one lie as truth, countless other lies descend from it. Once those lies sink their teeth into us, we believe that those lies are truth, and we reject God's Word as truth. By the way, I believe that is exactly why so many people get mad at the preacher when he preaches the truth and leave the church in a fit. Satan has sold them a lie, clothed in truth, and they reject God's Word as Truth. "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."

Satan is subtle with his lies because he knows how it works. He is slow and sneaky, feeding us one "chocolate-coated" lie at a time. Do you think we would so readily accept his lies if he startled us with them? I don't think so. His subtle deception worked on Eve and it works the same on us, only our enemy has had 6,000 years to improve his tactics.

We must go to the Lord to show us the real, changeless Truth of God and make us free. When I realized this and did some honest soul-searching before my God, I was amazed at the things He opened my eyes to. Things I had struggled and fought and wrestled with. Things I blamed on others. Things I had given up hope of ever resolving. But then, as I prayed and the Lord removed the devil's blindfold from my eyes, I could see! I could see the truth about myself. I could see the lies for what they were. Lies so simple and unassuming, they masqueraded as truth.

What Is the Fear of the LORD?

The fear of the Lord is having a Biblical understanding of who and what God is. It is the knowledge of His character and His ways. The fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom, and wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. If we fail to fear God we can never find wisdom. Wisdom is gained only by knowing God. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

When we know God, a desire to obey His Word begins in us. However, we will never understand the expectations and commands God makes until we have a right understanding of God Himself. A fool rejects instruction and counsel because he has no desire to know God. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Prov. 1:7)

A lack of the fear of the Lord is the fruit springing from the root of wrong beliefs about the character of God. For example, God is a loving God. He is merciful and long-suffering. However, God is also a just and righteous God and condemns the guilty. If we do not understand that all of God's attributes are one, we have a wrong view of God. If we see God only as a God of love, our concept of God will tell us that we can do anything we want and get away with it. On the other hand, if we see God only as a God of justice and devoid of mercy, nothing will compel us to draw near to Him. 

This is a "misunderstanding" of the Holy; this is a lack of the fear of the Lord. A wrong view of the character of God results in a rebellious spirit. It creates in us an unwillingness to obey the Word of God.

Those who do not have the fear of the Lord in their lives are missing so much. They have no true desire to know and serve the God of Heaven. They may strive to know Him, but what they refuse to do is where they must begin. Instead, they are deceived and led astray. Because they fail to fear and obey God, they lack a firm foundation and strong convictions to guard and guide their lives.

The fear of the Lord affects every part of our lives. Without a fear of God, we will be ruined. We cannot endure without fearing God and obeying His Word to us. "And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure." (Isa. 33:6)

The fear of the Lord compels us to depart from sin. Job 28:28 tells us, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." God calls His children to live holy lives because He is the Holy God. When we understand who and what God is, we will be compelled to live a life that honors Him.

The fear of the Lord produces in us a heart to obey Him. "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." (Ps. 111:10) Understanding comes to us not before we obey, but after we obey. "The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." (Ps. 19:8) The commandments of God do nothing for us until we obey them.

Having a right understanding of the Lord and His commands also makes it easier for us to obey the authorities He places in our lives. When we fear the Lord, we come to realize their purpose in our lives and the value of their correction and guidance.

The fear of the Lord teaches us that keeping His commandments is always to our benefit. "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deut. 10:12-13) God desires to bless us, and the wonderful thing is that He requires only one thing from us in order for His blessing to be ours: that we fear Him. When we live in the fear of God, we are in the position for Him to make our lives rich with His goodness. The fear of God is progressive, as we see in the verses above: when we fear God, we learn to walk in His ways, then to love Him, to serve Him with all our heart and soul, and finally we understand so fully that obeying God's commandments is for our good.

 

The fear of the Lord constrains us to serve Him. As the Lord reveals His character to us, the more we love Him and rejoice in the wonderful God that He is. As we learn the attributes of His character, we understand that He is for us (Rom. 8:31). The fear of God creates in us a love for God. This love constrains us to serve Him. We are not forced against our will to obey, but His love leads us to obedience as we willingly submit to our gracious Heavenly Father.

The fear of the Lord reveals to us that God desires for us to know Him personally in a real, enduring relationship. It shows us that God wants so much to be Shepherd, Hiding Place and Friend to us, to reveal Himself truly as Emmanuel, God with us. It shows us how much He longs to be near us. It shows us that He delights in us. This is one of my favorite verses that tells me how much God loves us: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." (Zeph. 3:17) God's rejoicing over us make Him sing. Oh, is that not wondrous?

The fear of the Lord is a wonderful, amazing thing. Every man, woman and child that learns to fear God finds it the source of the richest blessing. Why? Because the fear of the Lord leads us to the knowledge of the Holy in such fullness that we cannot fathom.

The fear of the Lord will endure forever. (Ps. 19:9) When we stand before God's throne one glorious day, we will know truly what it is to fear the LORD. We will know what it is to fear Him because we will know Him as we have never known Him before, for "we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2)

The fear of the Lord is not something to dread, but to embrace.

Music and Praise

Why Music Is Not Amoral, Part 1

How somber our lives would be if the Creator had not placed music in the earth.  The fact that the Lord enjoys music is made apparent to me every time I hear a bird’s exultant song.  I can easily imagine the same notes blending with the rich harmony of a gentle wind, caressing a dense forest, with all united by a clear brook’s rhythmic gurgling. I do not believe any music mankind can create could rival such rich, melodious harmony. The Lord must love us very much indeed to fill His earth with such beauty for us to enjoy. But, more importantly, we must realize He created it for His pleasure. The Lord loves beautiful music. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. 4:11)

With sounds so melodious and sweet ringing through the air, one could nigh believe that all nature sings to the Lord His due praises. However, no soul participates in the rapturous sounds of the earth, and therefore God cannot possibly receive glory from such. The duty of praising the Lord with music belongs solely to those He has redeemed.

Songs of praise are a natural product of Christian growth. The singing of spiritual songs from a full heart is but one of the many evidences of a soul marvelously saved and transformed by Christ’s atoning blood. Music is one of the few forms of worship we can take part in on earth which will be in Heaven also. By worshiping the Lord in accordance to His Word, we can catch a glimpse of the exceeding great glory that awaits us in the heavenly courts.

The Christmas Story of the Lamb

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

I John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

As I have pondered Christ's birth in my heart this Christmastime, what keeps returning to me is the richness of God's mercy to a dark, hopeless world. The Father sent His precious, only begotton Son from His throne of glory for one purpose--to die! The first breath that filled the lungs of the Baby Lord Jesus signified not life, but death. What awe must have filled the hearts of Mary and Joseph as they gazed upon the Lamb of God, wrapped in swaddling clothes, a very symbol of His eminent sacrifice.

I Am a Scripturalist

Devotional by Evangelist Tim Green

II Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

"A what?" Don't worry; you read it right. I am a scripturalist. No, I am not starting a new denomination or fellowship. We have a plethora of those already.

"What is a scripturalist?" It's what I want to be. It's the inner urging of my redeemed soul and transformed mind. (My flesh isn't too interested.) A scripturalist, according to Webster's 1828 dictionary, is "one who adheres literally to the Scriptures and makes them the foundation of all philosophy." That's it! I want--I intend--to adhere to "thus saith the LORD." The King James Bible, the one I hold in my hand, will be the Book that forms the bedrock of my belief, the touchstone of my thinking, the foundation of my faith and the cornerstone of my convictions. I long to live a life consistent with God's written Word. Yes, I am a scripturalist!

I trust that all of us will abide by the Bible and earnestly endeavor to live our lives according to God's Book. This old world doesn't deserve it (Heb. 11:36-38), but instead of being dim, flickering lights all but out in this dark world, may we be blazing torches in a blackened sky to help lead the blind to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Know What You Believe

Prior to reading this post, please read the article "Is Your Church Going Purpose Driven?"

2 Corinthians 11:3, 13-15 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ... For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Our adversary the devil has an improved tactic. His methods are much the same: love and nice feelings, ear-tickling, the dilution of God's holy Word. All unobtrusive, harmless, unoffensive. Anyone who says anything derogatory about modern methods of Christianity is simply narrow-minded and legalistic.

I suppose that's exactly what this young lady is: narrow-minded and legalistic. Why? I stand on the holy Word of my holy God.

I had heard some things about Purpose Driven, but I did not know the details of what these people are teaching. My family received the before-mentioned article in the mail a few weeks ago. They were being distributed by a concerned person, unknown to us, sensing the need to warn other KJV churches of what she had experienced. Her church was affected by Church Transitions. I was shocked upon reading her testimony. The enclosed article (below) stated that "the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference", and that is exactly what happened to her church. Her almost-unbelievable account was saddening to say the very least. This is scary, folks!

"To start a Purpose Driven Church or change to one with the full knowledge and consent of the membership is one thing, but to practically steal a church from Christians who have given and served to build it without their knowledge or consent is quite another."

Is Your Church Going Purpose Driven?

Article by SWR Ministries

How Can You Tell?

In the past ten years a large percentage of churches in America, and in other countries, have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, many with sorrowful results.

Contrary to Purpose Driven Church proponents, millions have been leaving their churches after the change occurred.

It is important that every church member know if their church is targeted for a Purpose Driven Church takeover. Initially, a small clique of church staff, possibly including the pastor or a new pastor, plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership.

Church Transitions, an associate of Saddleback Church in California, trains the clique initiating the change in eight published steps. The church membership is not to be informed of the transition until the fourth step. After the sixth step in the process of change, if there are some in the church who voice concerns, the following is suggested:

1. Identify those who are resisting the changes;

2. Assess the effectiveness of their opposition;

3. Befriend those who are undecided about the changes;

4. Marginalize more persistent resisters;

5. Vilify those who stay and fight;

6. Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.

This means the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference. In other words the members either accept the changes, or leave the church, which they may have served and given to build.

Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life has stated: “When you reveal the vision to the church, the old pillars are going to leave. But let them leave... they only hold things up.”

Needed: Righteousness

Devotional by Pastor Tim Luchon; from Baptist Bread

Psalm 18:24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

I have heard many professing believers, when brought to task about their outward sins, say, "Well, God knows my heart!" To their attempt to excuse their sin I have said, "Yes, He does know your heart. But He also saw your hands do the wrong."

There is a principle that is many times overlooked, which is the principle of practical righteousness in the sight of God and men. A Bible believer understands that there are four types of righteousness in the Bible.

1. The righteousness of Jesus Christ--Revelation 16:5
2. Our own righteousness--Isaiah 64:6
3. Imputed righteousness--Romans 4:6-7
4. Practical righteousness--Psalm 18:24

As born-again believers, we have a responsibility to do that which is right in the sight of God and in the sight of men. This kind of righteousness is to be included in all of our attitudes, actions and our appearance before the God who sees all, and all who see us.

Our verse teaches that we can be blessed of God as a believer, but our level of blessing will be in direct proportion to how much we purpose to live practical righteousness in the sight of our Savior.

Let's make sure we do not forget that what our hands do in this world is to be witness of a heart surrendered to a Holy God!

The Worshiping Church

Devotional by Dr. Keith Gomez; from Baptist Bread

John 4:23 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.

A real church glorifies God. Most of the liberal churches in America glorify man in the flesh. You can tell by their music, their preaching, their dress, and their attitude. It has nothing to do with the spirit of God. It has everything to do with the fact that they are glorifying man. But the real church glorifies God.

Not only does a real church glorify God, but a real church worships God. We have been taught that we have worship services. The Word of God does not talk about a worship service. You'll find what we do described as a preaching service, but you'll not find a worship service. We come to worship. It is not a ritual. Worship is a "choice communion" with God. Worship in a real church is a wonderful thing. Worship is giving to God, not taking from God. When we worship God, we sing unto Him, and we sing His praises. A real church worships God.

The offering is another opportunity to worship God. It's a type of worship, and a real church worships God. When we pass the offering plate, it is an act of worship and it is right to do. I thank God that real churches are worshiping churches. A worshiping church will say "AMEN!" right there!

Patrick Stood upon the Rock

Patrick of Ireland. He is most famous in our society today for being a Catholic saint who did good things in Ireland. His name is associated with the color green (for being Irish, supposedly) and four-leaf clovers. Most people, curious about the holiday on their calendars which rolls around each year, have sought out factual information about who he really was and what he really did. Most people, however, have not learned the entire historical truth about this great man of God.

For centuries of history, the Roman Empire struggled to conquer the Celtic people of the British Isles. Eventually, the teachings of Christianity were established in this land and the evil Druid religion, which once tightly gripped Celtic society, lost its power over the lives of the people. The historian Tertullian gave an account that Christianity accomplished what the Roman Empire could not.

Because the British Isles were separated from mainland Europe, the British were not greatly impacted by affairs which rampaged in Europe. Consequently, only one Roman persecution upon the Christian church reached them during this period of history, and while the church and state were being united under Emperor Constantine, the Celtic churches remained independent. Until the seventh century, churches of various religions in Britain were unaffected by Roman Catholicism. Although separate churches held their own doctrinal positions, some contrary to Scripture, the beliefs and practices of baptismal regeneration, infant baptism, salvation by church membership, and an organized priesthood were not even conceived in the churches before Roman Catholicism's military conquest of the British Isles.

The man we know as Patrick of Ireland was born Succat of England in the late 4th century A.D. His father was deacon of a church which was, of course, independent. Although he grew up in a Christian home, as a teenager Patrick was rebellious toward Christianity. It was when Patrick was sixteen years old that he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold into slavery. 

Their Rock Is Not Our Rock

Devotional by Evangelist Tim Green

I Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

In Ireland, a street preacher was preaching of Christ, the Rock of our salvation. A heckler began to cry out, "What about shamrock? What about shamrock?" To the delight of the serious listeners, the faithful orator cried out in reply, "On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other rocks are sham rocks!" How true!

If you are trusting or standing on anything but the Rock Christ Jesus today, you are relying on sham rock. Your feet are in the quicksand of confusion or the miry clay of misplaced hope. Jesus Christ is not the best foothold to stand upon--He is the only one! "I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name."

Our faith should be firmly placed in the Rock of Ages, the Stone cut out without hands, the Rock upon which the church was built. Join in chorus with the Irish street preacher as he leads his pedestrian congregation and shuts the mouths of his gainsayers: "On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other rocks are sham rocks."

Mule Skinners

Devotional by Evangelist Tim Green

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

George Whitefield said, "I love the voice that thunders forth the Word. The whole Christian world is asleep, and only a loud voice can awaken it."

When I was a young Christian, the rough, loud, leather-lunged preachers that came by our church were affectionately called "mule skinners." They called sin SIN and preached Hell HOT! You didn't need a dictionary to know what they meant; they were plainspoken. They were not mean; they just meant what they said, and you knew what they meant.

They preached that the road to Calvary went by Sinai. They knew that conviction by the law meant conversion by the grace of the Gospel. They preached loud and long, emotionally and effectively, soundly and soberly. They were mule skinners!

They were not affected by psychology and philosophy, but by the Spirit of God and the prophets. They were not always homiletically correct, but they were holy and had convictions. They were mule skinners!

Beneath all their rough exterior and gruff accoutrements, you knew they loved Jesus--and you. They were kind, courteous, compassionate men who bathed their sermons in prayer and trusted God for converts. They sought and often found genuine revival and converts who bore fruit. They were mule skinners!

May God resurrect and increase their kind!

A thought to ponder: The Christian's walk ought to be so aggressive that the Devil will look forward to the rapture.

The Plan of Salvation

My Friend: I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”

In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell.

“ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22).

“ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.

My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ ”

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.

Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”

Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.

If His plan is not perfectly clear, read this tract over and over, without laying it down, until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.

God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:

• Pray--you talk to God.
• Read your Bible--God talks to you.
• Witness--you talk for God.

You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8)

“Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

Copyright: Robert Ford Porter, 1991