Preparing My Heart for a Sermon
No Selah
If you expected to see another “Selah” post this morning, I apologize. I really did want to have the next one finished for this morning, but I was unable to do it. However, I did preach on the subject of the next verse, and so I know it is a good one.
So, next week’s study through the “selah’s” of Psalms will be on Psalm 9:16. Look it up and see what you come up with, and then we can compare notes. Hint: there’s a very unique word which will play a big part.
Preparing
Tomorrow morning (Sunday) I am going to be preaching a sermon on a very difficult subject – Hell. I know that some of you may have a different take on the place Jesus mentioned far more than heaven, but it’s something that needs to be preached.
Today I’ve been listening to some old sermons by some great preachers of the past. One was an audio version of Charles Spurgeon preaching a sermon called “Heaven and Hell.” Another was a 1985 recording of a sermon entitled “Hell Has No Exits,” by Leonard Ravenhill. In addition to my own notes, I wanted to hear what others had said, and the way they said it.
And, oh, how my heart was not only stirred, but greatly burdened!
My father used to tell me when I was young, “Son, never get behind the pulpit unless your mad, sad, or glad.” In other words, get up to preach with the appropriate emotion for the subject at hand – don’t be dull, drab, or apathetic. After hearing the above sermons, in addition to my recent study on Hell, my heart is breaking…not just for the lost, but for the rest of us who have forgotten what those without Jesus will one day face.
Just a Glimpse
Folks, if we could only catch a glimpse of Hell – forget Heaven! If we could just see for a second that horrible place! If we could only for a second comprehend the terror of our friends and loved ones that moment before they are “cast” into eternity.
Everything Heaven is, Hell will be the opposite (I’ll save that for a future post). Just ponder that for a moment! Everything you look forward to in Heaven, the opposite will be what the lost will endure.
Leonard Ravenhill said in his sermon that much of us think what’s wrong with America is that so many people don’t believe in hell anymore. He said [quoting loosely], “I’ve got news for you! YOU don’t believe in Hell! If you did, you’d live differently, preach differently, pray differently, and worship differently!”
Pray for Me
So, would you take a moment and pray for me? Pray that God would speak through me in the morning. Pray that His power would fill me. Pray that my heart and my mouth might be prepared in such a way that those who hear the sermon will respond appropriately to the Spirit’s leading.
Most importantly, pray for that soul who might be present in the morning; that soul who is lost. Pray that he/she/they might feel the same convicting power which flooded over those when Jonathan Edwards preached. May they cry out before the sermon is over, “What must I do to be saved??”
God bless. Y’all go to church somewhere on the Lord’s Day, you hear?
Filed under Church, Life/Death, Preaching
A Dad’s Vent about Virtue and Purity
No graphics. No fancy fonts. Just words.
Tonight my youngest daughter is going to her “homeschool” prom. Yes, home-educated kids DO have lives and opportunities for socialization. The dress she chose is a beautiful, long, white gown worthy of a princess – of which she is.
This morning I mentioned to my wife how that after all she’s been put through…all she’s had to endure…white was an appropriate choice. My wife replied, “Because Jesus makes us clean.”
Then, like a flood, all of the vitriolic comments from writers, bloggers, columnists, celebrities, and even so-called Christian youth ministers came washing over my mind. Look them up, if you like, but I’m not going to give them the courtesy of a link on my blog.
Oh, but what the heck. Here’s just two names: Selena Gomez (done with the purity ring); Rachel Held Evans (“Christians idolize virginity”). You have to go look ’em up yourself.
They condemn parents and preachers like me within the fast-dwindling conservative subculture called “right-wing” Christianity, for seemingly elevating “purity” and “virginity” to an iconic, or even sacramental level. They lash out at us for celebrating sexual abstinence and purity before marriage. They say we put too many pressures on young girls and then devalue them once they make a mistake.
News Flash: It doesn’t matter what my daughters do… You mess with them and you’ll find out how valuable they are to me. Don’t count on grace. That is NOT hyperbole.
Here’s the thing, though. Do you want to know why so many social liberals – the same kind who now want my little girl to share a shower stall with a man, should he decide that day he’s a woman – want to denigrate, degrade, and devalue purity, chastity, and virtue? It’s pretty hellaciously simple.
The desires of the flesh, pure and damned (literal context) simple.
You see, it’s not about standards being too high. It’s not about restricting a person’s rights to have fun. No, it’s all about hating God’s plan for waiting till marriage and wanting everything now … with no regrets, no condemnation, and no consequences.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read and listened to the complaints from women who say we put too much of a premium on virtue, on sexual purity. I’ve heard so many, frankly, that the fleshly, sinful part of my nature begs me to let it punch one of them! Yet, what are they really saying when they cry for loosening the reigns, relaxing the standards, providing the condoms and clean sheets, and accepting the casual oat-sowing that dating has become?
This is what they are actually saying, and a lot more…
- I know better than God.
- My sexual passions are more important than my spiritual fulfilment.
- Who cares about marriage? That’s later; this is now.
- My spouse? Who gives a flip what baggage he/she will have to deal with 20 years from now? Take it or leave it.
- I have no concept of, nor do I care to understand the “greater mystery” of marriage.
- I will never have to answer to God for what I do. And if I do, He will understand, so I’m not going to worry.
- Parents, why don’t you leave your children alone?
For those of you out there who might like to leave a nasty comment, well, that’s up to you. However, I, for one, refuse to condone your Corinthian perversion of what God designed. I refuse to lower my standards.
My desire is for every little girl and boy to grow up and experience God’s perfect design for marriage. Unfortunately, none will … and none of us have … because we’ve all sinned since Eden. Nevertheless, virtue and purity are the ideals for which we should strive! By doing so we honor God’s creation and expose the lies of the Enemy who only wants to steal, kill, and destroy.
So, I like the white dress. I like what it symbolizes, whether Haley realizes it or not.
But who am I? I’m just a dad. And I love my daughter.
Filed under Culture Wars, current events, Marriage, Parenting
Just a Thought
Maybe it’s not the culture, the activists, or the agenda-driven erotics forcing this whole male/female/wishy-washy restroom controversy.
Maybe it’s nothing more than a passive-aggressive, unacknowledged jealousy of one group by another. One wishes she could drown a fly; the other wishes he could be invited to.
Filed under America, Culture Wars, current events
Letter to an Average Disgruntled Church Member
Dear Disgruntled:
I noticed that coming to church has become something of a dying habit for you (well, to call it a habit might be stretching it a bit; habits do require some sort of consistency). Yes, from what I’ve heard, you’ve become disheartened and disillusioned with the whole church “thing.”
Is that true? If it is, my heart breaks for you. Believe me, there’s not a single heartbreak or disappointment I haven’t already endured. However, there is something you can do to help turn things around.
What you need to do is develop a Christ-like love for your brothers and sisters, then even the worst of disappointments will have a hard time turning your heart cold. “Because He first loved me…” is something you may find yourself repeating over and over, but loving others – because He first loved you – will turn those tears of disappointment into healing streams of grace.
Then, if you’ll just keep your worship more vertically oriented and less horizontally irritated, there’ll be a lot less things to complain about.
God be with you,
An average Pastor without a jet
Filed under Christian Unity, Church, Struggles and Trials, worship
Arguments for Eternal Security
My last post – the one about not having excuses not to go to church – certainly stirred up some comments, didn’t it? When you have the time, why not peruse them for some additional pondering material.
This post, being written as I am recovering from a 24+ hour stomach virus, may prove to be even more comment stimulating.
By the way, did you know one can lose 7 pounds in just 24 hours?
My Outline
The following is the outline I took to with me to the pulpit Sunday morning. It starts off with some arguments against the “once-saved-always-saved” position. The next part lists six basic arguments in favor of the eternal security of the believer.
Of course, this is only an outline, not the sermon. But just looking at the outline, what are your thoughts?
“Eternal Security”
Arguments Against “Once Saved, Always Saved”
- Observational – How people live that believe it.
- Free Will – We are created with a will; we’re not slaves.
- Scriptural (Hebrews 6; 1 John 3:9; 5:18)
Arguments FOR “Eternal Security”
- Creational Argument: We are New Creations (2 Cor. 5:17)
- It took a supernatural act to change us
- We can’t act supernaturally to change us back
- New Birth Argument: We are Born Again (John 3:7,16)
- By the Spirit – Jn 3:6
- By the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:23
- We are not God, so we must remain “born again”
- Children of God Argument
- Born that way – 1 John 5:1; 1 Peter 1:23
- Adopted – Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5
- Abba – Gal. 4:1-7
- The Possession Argument – We belong to Christ
- Purchased – 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23 (Bought with a Price)
- Given by the Father – Jn. 6:37-40; 10:28-30
- Will never be separated – Rom. 8:35-39
- Romans 14:8 – For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
- He can keep what is His – 2 Tim. 1:12 “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” See also: 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- The Marriage Argument
- Ephesians 5:25-28, 31-32 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- He is faithful, even when we are not.
- 2 Timothy 2:11-13 “…if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful…”
- He is God, not man! – Hosea 11:7-9
- It’s a Gift
- 2:8-9 Gift of God, by grace
- Romans 11:29 KJV – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance (irrevocable)
Click on the link below to listen to the audio. As you might be able to tell by the opening remarks, I believe it was a sermon we needed, but the devil was opposing. Nevertheless, hearts were encouraged.
https://riversidesermons.sermon.net/main/main/20657994
Filed under Bible Study, Preaching, salvation
9 Excuses You Don’t Have to Miss Church
It’s not too early… You would have already been at work.
You’re not too tired… You’d find a way to make it to something else.
You have enough time… You waste more than enough time watching reality TV.
It’s not boring… Try someplace else if they can’t get excited about Jesus. And, you know, it might not be the preacher, or the worship; it might be your heart.
They don’t want your money… If in doubt, just go where the pastor drives a used car (which are most).
You can dress decently… No, you’re not going to Wal-Mart, but you never complain about wearing clean clothes a party.
The seats are not that uncomfortable… Good grief, you sat in bleachers for 3 hours at a ball game – and sweat the whole time!
The people are not a bunch of hypocrites… To be honest, there are just as many or more at a ball game or the office. For that matter, are there skeletons in your closet? Do you wear makeup? Ever feel like you have to wear a mask? Then what are you complaining about?
It’s NOT optional as a Christian… “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:25 NLT
Filed under Christian Living, Church, worship
Just Stomp Me. Selah.
“Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.” – Psalm 7:5
Selah. A musical notation calling us to pause, to rest for moment and consider what has just been said. In this verse David asks God to let his enemy “persecute” him and essentially pound him into the earth! Why? Let’s think about it.
Out of Context
Should we read this verse as a stand-alone statement, apart from the context in which it was written, David would appear to have some serious mental problems. Is that what he is telling us to think about?
In this one verse there are three separate actions for which David is asking God to allow.
- Let the enemy persecute and take my soul.
- Let the enemy tread down (walk all over and stomp on) my life.
- Let the enemy lay my honour in the dust.
Why would David ask God to allow these things? Was he crazy? Not hardly.
In Proper Context
When we examine the full context of Psalm 7, what we see is David crying out to God for deliverance from another one of his enemies, Cush the Benjamite. Evidently Cush had made some serious accusations concerning David’s actions, accusing him of some very bad things.
“O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause…” – Psalm 7:3-4 NKJV
Iniquity…doing evil to the one with whom he was at peace…plundering his enemy without cause… What in the world did Cush think David did? We may never know.
However, David was so confident that whatever Cush was accusing him of was a fabrication – a lie – that he was willing to suggest his own destruction should the accusation be true.
Making Application
Are you living in such a way that you could pray with confidence: “Lord, let my enemy destroy me, even drag my soul to hell, should I actually be guilty of whatever he’s accusing me of.”
If not, then maybe we should pray another prayer, one in which David asked God to show him anything that needed changing.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24 KJV
I’d say it’s far better to let God do a work on us before our enemy does a number on us.
Filed under Christian Living, God, Selah, Theology, worship
Preaching to the Lions
Bryan College
Earlier this month I had the awesome opportunity and tremendous honor to speak/preach to the student body at Bryan College in Dayton, TN (where one of our daughters attends). What a great university where Christ is “Above All.”
I was given the task of finishing a four-part study through the book of Colossians. I was told it didn’t matter what I preached, just as long as it was from the fourth chapter. Therefore, I felt led to address “Five Watches” in Colossians 4.
A Room of Lions
Daniel had to face the lions, but nothing like these – these “lions” were college students! Looking out at them made me feel a little bit like red meat. Just imagine hundreds of young, up-and-coming professionals staring at you!
Oh, but it was a blast! I even got to tease my daughter a little, making her think I was going to show one of her “baby in the bathtub” pictures on the big screen behind me 🙂 Instead, I had them put up a picture of Baby (her dog) in the bathtub.
Sometimes it’s just fun being a dad 😉
So, what are you doing with your time?
Filed under Preaching, the future
A Warning from Bugs
When I first saw this beautiful picture taken by my daughter, Katie Marie, the first thought that came to mind was what Bugs Bunny said as he ran back down the stairs he previously ran up in an attempt to escape a monster… “Don’t go up there! It’s dark!”
