Truth Or Consequences

 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” - Psalm 11:3

Bob Barker will always be known for the decades he hosted the TV game show, “The Price Is Right.” Older folks (like myself) may also remember him hosting another game show called, “Truth Or Consequences.” Personally, I saw it only in syndication. To the best of recollection, contestants were brought on stage and asked a trivia question. They had just 2 seconds to respond. Usually, the question was nearly impossible to answer … or a punch line to a really bad joke. Failing to provide the “truth” in response to the trivia question, they now must face the consequences, which was typically some kind of hilarious stunt.

It would be nice if life were so simple, but it isn't. The “truth” is not a matter of answering a trivia question or giving a correct answer to some riddle. To make things worse, failing to embrace the truth has dire consequences.

Despite everything you see on the news or read on the internet, the real battle going on in our country is not political or philosophical. It is a spiritual warfare. The main issue under attack is the subject of truth.

Our nation was built upon the foundation of truth. The preamble of the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (emphasis added). Even though truth is a foundation of our nation's freedom, this foundation is being systematically destroyed by those in the highest offices of government, supported by many Americans.

Sadly, truth is only important at select times these days. People complain when politicians lie. They are hurt when people lie to them. But they are not hesitant to fudge an expense report or tell a convenient lie.

When politicians debate or make speeches, there are reporters who claim to “fact-check” their claims. Of course, the same reporters don't appreciate it when others do a fact-check of their reporting.

Isaiah 5:20-21 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” These condemning words are certainly applicable for America right now. Many in our nation call the truth a lie and a lie the truth.

Furthermore, manipulation is being used as part of the evil agenda to brainwash our people. Any person who publicly declares what the Bible says about homosexuality is harshly condemned for being judgmental and may soon be arrested for hate speech. Stating the Bible's opposition to the transgender lifestyle is met with open hostility and anger. Christians are being manipulated into remaining silent while sin is running rampant in our land. Ultimately, we are headed for a lawless society where the only crime will be Christianity.

Despite the overt hypocrisy about truth, our nation continues its rebellious and arrogant decent toward judgment. Some argue that judgment has already arrived in America. Sodom was on the brink of destruction when God mercifully delivered righteous Lot and his daughters. I am looking for the Lord to soon deliver us from this sin-infested world.

Truth may be unpopular today, but everyone will soon be judged by the very truth they are seeking to obliterate. The Bible says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Our nation is sowing wickedly. Very soon it will be harvest time and reaping will occur. Those who hate and reject the truth will soon find that the greatest lie is the one they have told themselves. Those who reject the truth will soon face the consequences.

Although it will not be sung from the halls of Congress these days, Julia Ward Howe's famous chorus is certainly true:

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on!

Restoring Evangelism To Our Churches

 “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” - Psalm 126:6

Even a casual reader of the book of Acts would have to admit that the early Church was very evangelistic. The contrasts between the early Church today's American church is very startling. In the book of Acts, spreading the Gospel was a vital part of Christian living. Today, we consider this work to be just a for a very select few who probably have Bible school training. This flawed thinking has resulted in evangelistic anemia and a sharp decline in our churches.

I think most of us would agree that there needs to be a greater emphasis placed upon evangelism. So many are facing eternity without God. Apart from salvation, they will face eternity in an awful place called hell.

Evangelism, at its core, is simply sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and leaving the results up to Him. Some refer to evangelism as “soul winning.” Regardless of the terminology, there is a dire need for this vital work to be done.

While we may agree that evangelism is needed, most us would prefer to say, “evangelism needs to be done … by others.” Too many expect the pastor or church staff to do this job. For many church members, it is unthinkable that evangelism should be done by them.

I don't consider myself to be an expert on anything, especially evangelism. Even though I may not be an expert on the subject, I try to be very intentional about this work. Let me share some basic aspects of evangelism. I'm trusting that God will challenge you to actively participate in this exciting venture.

1. KNOW

First of all, before you can be used by the Lord, it is important that you know a few things. First of all, you need to know you are saved yourself. You can't lead someone to go where you've never been. You can't share what you don't possess. You need to be assured of your own salvation.

Secondly, you need to know the message of the Gospel so you may share it with others. Evangelism does not always require a long, detailed message. Sometimes just a brief word will be sufficient. Regardless of the length of the conversation, the believer should be familiar with the Gospel message to the point he is able to share as much as the situation allows.

2. GO

Secondly, we need to go into the harvest field and work. The first word in the Great Commission is, “go,” (see Matthew 28:19). Well-meaning Christians pray for God to use them but they never really intend to leave their recliner. A fisherman knows that a major key to his success is found in going where the fish are at and begin fishing there. In a similar token, we are called to be fishers of men. In order to communicate with the lost, we must get close to the lost.

3. SOW

Finally, we need to sow the Gospel seed. When Jesus gave us the parable of the sower, He explained the parable by saying that the seed is the Word of God. Sow this seed regularly. Sow it abundantly. Sow it expectantly. The Bible says, “... in due season, we shall reap if we faint not.” The more you sow, the greater the harvest. The less you sow, the less the harvest. Sow the Gospel seed.

Be aware that it isn't our job to make the seed grow. God gives the increase. He is the only One who can cause a seed to grow. Let's depend on Him as we sow daily.

Evangelism is sharing the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results up to God. While a preacher may present the Gospel on Sunday morning, we should be faithful in making the Gospel known throughout the week, wherever we go.

Know. Go. Sow. It may be you are one conversation away from seeing a spiritual harvest today!

Restoring Preaching To Our Churches

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” - 2 Timothy 4:2

It may seem strange that preaching needs to be restored to our churches. In most churches, the preaching of the Word is of utmost importance. Still, I make a claim that there are certain churches that are in dire need of good preaching.

The temptation of this age is for preachers to alter the church service to be more politically correct. Some are doing this already. Rather than preaching, the pastor merely gives a “talk,” or a “life lesson.”

Let me be clear. A pastor is not a CEO, a life coach or a motivational speaker. He is a preacher of the Gospel. It is time for us to be unashamed of this calling.

Let me be clear about the kind of preaching that needs to be restored to the American church.

1.  BIBLICAL

First of all, all preaching should be Biblical in nature. Paul encouraged Timothy to “Preach the word.” We are not to preach newspaper articles or the latest copy of Sports Illustrated. A preacher needs to preach the Scriptures. Sermons should come straight from the Bible. I am a firm believer in expository preaching. Preach verse-by-verse, line-by line, word-by-word. The congregation does not need to be informed about the preacher's philosophy or political preferences. The congregation needs to hear what God has to say and this can only be done when the Word is preached. The people need to hear, “Thus saith the Lord.” In this critical hour, people need to hear the truth of God's Word.

2.  PASSIONATE

Secondly, good preaching should be delivered with some spiritual fire. Martyn Lloyd Jones once defined preaching as “logic on fire.” If a preacher is not passionate about his message, how can the congregation get passionate about it? In some circles, the word, “anointed,” is used to describe the special touch of God on a sermon. While some may wish to debate the descriptive terminology, the absence of God's blessing on a preacher and his sermon is obvious.

3.  EVANGELISTIC

Regardless of the text, every preacher should never fail to proclaim Jesus Christ to his congregation. Although a typical Sunday service should be designed to engage believers in worship, the preacher should never fail to make the Gospel known to his hearers. Even if his sermon isn't specifically about the Gospel, he should make it a point to present the Gospel for the sake of any unbeliever present. Basically, evangelistic preaching is Christ-focused, God-exalting preaching.

While it may be more popular to give lectures or a pep talk to a congregation weekly, spiritual hunger can only be satisfied with strong, Biblical preaching. We need this restored to all of our churches.

Each week, spiritually hungry people fill the pews of churches, yearning to be fed spiritual food. May God raise up pastors who will spend quality time in the spiritual kitchen so that a hot, nourishing meal may be served each week.

Restoring Worship To Our Churches

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” - Psalm 95:6

When it comes to church, “worship,” means different things to different people. Some refer to the Sunday morning service as a “worship service.” Others think of music as being worship. It is not uncommon for the music director of a church to be titled, “Worship Minister.” There is a particular genre of Christian music that is called, “Worship Music.”

A. W. Tozer once wrote that worship is the missing jewel of the evangelical church. While we talk about worship, very little worship actually occurs in many churches. Although the Bible has much to say about public worship, most verses about worship actually refers to personal worship. For the Christian, there is a need for both personal and public worship. One does not negate the need for the other.

What is worship? Simply put, worship is the adoration of God. To put another way, worship is our exaltation, admiration and appreciation of God Himself. When we offer thanksgiving to God, we are voicing our appreciation for His gifts. When we worship, we admire God for Himself.

Worship requires us to have a proper understanding of God. How can you worship God if you know nothing of Him? The more we learn about God, the deeper our worship should be. Reading the Scriptures and hearing solid Biblical teaching and preaching enhances our worship because these things are used to broaden our knowledge of God.

The question is not whether you worship or not. The issue is whether God is the One you are worshiping.

Many worship athletes, movie stars and musicians. Others worship fame and fortune. Often people worship family members. Even worse, most people worship themselves. So many have created a god of their own design. These forms of worship fall under the category of “idolatry.” An idol is a God-substitute.

The only One worthy of worship is God. We should be actively worshiping our perfect, glorious and holy Lord.

There are many ways to express worship. In the Bible, worship is often demonstrated by a person kneeling before God. This is what the wise men did when they found the child, Jesus. Kneeling in submission to Him is an act of worship.

Also, we may express our worship by lifting our hands to Him. This is an act of worship that often occurs churches, but should often be done in our personal worship as well.

Meditation is another way to worship God. In solitude, we concentrate upon the Lord Himself as an act of worship. Meditating on God's attributes, His promises and His kindness are powerful ways to worship Him.

Singing is another meaningful way to worship God. While it is certainly not the only way to worship the Lord, singing can be a loving way to express your feelings to Him. Listening to music can be a means of worship also, but singing is the preferred mode of worship. Singing requires verbal effort and thought.

Responding to God's Word may be another act of worship. When you read the Bible or hear a sermon, your response of obedience can be an act of worship and devotion.

Of course, worship may be experienced through prayer. Often our prayers are monopolized with requests. We should spend time in adoration of God. Tell the Lord you love Him. Share with Him how important He is to you.

These are just a few of many ways we can worship the Lord. Worship is more than enduring an hour-long church service. Worship is a matter of the heart. Worship is the expression of love, devotion and admiration of God.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” Notice the Father seeks worshipers, but our worship must be “in spirit and in truth.” Worship has a spiritual component and a doctrinal component. We worship God in the power of the Spirit, based upon the truth of God's Word.

Worship God personally and publicly.

He is worthy.

Restoring Prayer To Our Churches

“...prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” - Acts 12:5

Last week, I wrote about restoring doctrine to our churches. Today, I want to concentrate on a basic need in our churches. We need to restore prayer to our churches. Most would argue that this isn't necessary for their own congregation. Don't most churches have a segment of the service dedicated to prayer? Sadly, the time of prayer is just a small part of the average service and has lost its power.

There's a difference between a church that prays and a praying church. The first is more popular, the latter is more effective. A church that prays has prayer as another notation in the order of service, but a praying church has prayer as its lifeline.

Our emphasis on prayer reflects our dependence on God and our utter desperation for His help. The fact is that the American church has somehow shifted the emphasis from God to man. Rather than exalting God, we are promoting self-help and self-image. Instead of recognizing that we can't do anything without God, we seem to come up with new and creative ways to do church, as if they are substitutes for prayer. While there is a place of creativity, it cannot replace the blessing of God. We don't need to be more “hip,” “cool,” or “relevant.” We need the power of God! The power and presence of God is not achieved in a church board room, it is received in the prayer closet.

We need to remember that the Church was born at a prayer meeting. Prayer was so vital to the early Church because their need was so great. Persecution brought pain and concern to the early Church. As a result, they turned to God. They didn't turn to politicians, action committees or the business community. Neither did they use slick promotional campaigns or seek legal relief. Instead, the church sought God in prayer. The early church had nothing but the Spirit of God and prayer. We have many more resources and are doing far less than they did.

There's a lesson to be learned in all this. The Church is not a business or a club. It is an organism created by God, empowered by God for the glory of God. Without God, our churches are nothing but worthless relics.

What ever happened to prayer meetings? What ever happened to all-night prayer meetings? We need to realize our desperate need for God and bring prayer back to our churches.

Nearly every revival in the Bible or church history can usually be traced to a handful of believers on their knees in prayer. The only way to have a praying church is for its members to be praying Christians. After I became a Christian, I was troubled to learn that most Christians weren't passionate about prayer. Yes, they wanted God to move. They longed to see the church grow. They had a desire to see people saved. Yet they had little or no passion to seek God themselves. They wanted the product of revival without investing in the process of revival.

What about your church? Is your church a praying church … or just a church that has prayer in the order of service? Let me be more direct. What about you? Are you passionate about prayer? Are you seeking God daily? Are you standing in the gap for your family, your church and your community? Are you a praying Christian … or just a Christian who prays occasionally?

It is time that we quit looking for others to change. We need to be changed ourselves. Perhaps you complain about the condition of your church or its lack of growth. The temptation is to blame the pastor or a deacon. Instead, just look in the mirror and you'll probably see the main person to blame. If you're not a passionate person of prayer, you're part of the problem.

We need to quit looking around for answers and start looking up. We need to restore prayer to our churches. Most of all, prayer needs to be restored to our lives.

Restoring The "D" Word To Our Churches

 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” - Titus 2:1

There's no need to panic. By such a suggestive blog title, I am not suggesting that we allow profanity in our churches. Instead, the “D” word I am referring to in the blog title is the word, “doctrine.” I use “D” word in describing doctrine because many churches and Christians act as if “doctrine,” is a dirty word. It isn't. In fact, we have greatly devalued doctrine. Doctrine is not bad for churches. Bible doctrine is the backbone of our faith. Without doctrine, churches get weaker and vulnerable to the enemy.

We need to restore Bible doctrine to our churches. We need appreciate the value and virtue of Bible doctrine.

The word, “doctrine,” literally means, “teaching.” The Bible is full of great information about our Lord, ourselves, heaven, hell and so much more. This information is what we refer to as doctrine. A person is speaking gibberish when he says that he loves Jesus but hates doctrine. If a woman says, “I love Jesus and want to learn more about Him, I just don't want to hear any doctrine,” be sure that she has no clue what she is talking about.

Without sound doctrine, individuals may “worship,” a figment of their imagination rather than the true God. Of course, this is idolatry. Without doctrine how can a person properly understand the nature of God? Without doctrine, some will struggle to properly define who Jesus is.

These days some wish to fellowship with anyone who believes in Jesus. Yet there is a problem with this. Not everyone believes in the same Jesus. For instance, cults reject the divinity of Christ. One prominent “minister” was being interviewed on a talk show. He was asked if he believed that members of a particular cult were Christians. He response was that they believed in Jesus, so yes, they were Christians. Yet that cult rejects the divinity of Christ and has bizarre teachings about Jesus, not to mention other subjects. It would come as no surprise that this “minister” is popular, but flawed in his theology.

Cults often use the same theological terms we do, but attach different meanings to the words. A pastor needs to guard his flock against such dangers. That is why doctrine is so important.

Sadly, many ministers are nothing more than polished motivation speakers. They only teach on subjects they get pumped up about. They don't declare the whole counsel of God. If you're not attending a church where the Word of God is being regularly preached, you may want to start looking for another church. I believe in expository preaching. People don't need to hear what a preacher thinks or feels. They need to hear what the Lord says in His Word.

Furthermore, let me challenge music leaders about the songs they choose to use on Sundays. Our music needs to be theologically sound. It is one thing to sing a song because it has a great beat, but it is another thing to sing a song rich in truth. These days, I find that most people prefer songs with light lyrics and an up-tempo beat. Some have confused the sway of the beat as a move of the Spirit. Sadly, songs with deep, meaningful lyrics are often cast aside for fluffy tunes. We do not need a concert atmosphere at our churches. We need our people to grow and mature in their faith, which occurs only as the they are exposed to the truth.

While I believe emotions are good in worship, I think emotionalism is dangerous. We must keep in mind that we live by faith, not by feelings. True worship may bring about deep emotions, but our goal should not be the emotions but fellowship with the One we are worshiping. Furthermore, sentiment is good in its place, but we should not confusion sentimentality with spirituality. A deeply sentimental song may drive a person to tears and still not be led of the Spirit.

The bottom line is that truth matters most. God has given us truth through His Word. Doctrine is needed for our worship, our music and our daily lives. If you wish to know more about the Lord, you must study doctrine. If you wish to have a deeper life of worship, doctrine will provide this. If you wish to avoid demonic traps and deceitful cults, get into the Word of God.

We don't need less of the Bible, we need more. While I do not condone emotions that are apart from truth, neither do I believe that truth is void of emotions. At the end of the day, truth is most important. Proper understanding of truth engages our emotions and leads to life-change.

Yes, we need to restore the “D” word (doctrine) to our churches. But we also need it restored to our lives.

God's Other Library

 “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.” - Revelation 20:12

Last week, I wrote about God's library, the Bible. Today I am writing about a different kind of library. This library is being carefully maintained by God Himself. It is God's other library, a library that will be used in judgment.

The final verses of Revelation chapter 20 are very sobering. In this passage, we find people standing before God in judgment. I think we tend to treat this subject too lightly. Few of us truly appreciate the gravity of that situation. Our perception of God has been so greatly diluted by humanism and worldliness that we fail to grasp the truth that God is mighty and awesome … and One to be feared.

Revelation 20:12 says, “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.” It may surprise you that there will be books at the Great White Throne Judgment. Yet we need to note a distinction. The Bible says, “... the books (plural) were opened: and another book (singular) was opened” (parenthesis added). The Bible draws a separation between the books … and another book.

The Bible goes on to say, “...the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Notice that the dead at this judgment were judged according to their personal record, as noted in the books (plural). God is keeping a detailed journal of people's intentions, words and deeds. Notice that they were judged, “according to their works.”

We know that a person can't be saved by works. Apart from Christ, our works condemn us because they are all sinfully flawed. A life apart from Christ is a sinful, wasted life. The only righteousness that a person can have is the righteousness of Christ that is imputed unto them. Thus, the only way for a person to be saved is by grace, not by works. Yet at this judgment, people are judged by their works, as chronicled in the books (plural). The Bible goes on to say in verse 15, “... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Notice that people were cast into the lake of fire if their names were not found, “... written in the book (singular) or life,” (parenthesis added).

The Bible clearly teaches that a person will be cast into the lake of fire if his or her name is not found in the book (singular) of life. But was is the role of the books (plural)? One role is clear. The “works” of these individuals will be revealed and found to be sinful. Without the righteousness of Christ, they stand condemned. The fact that their names aren't found in the book of life clearly demonstrate that they stand guilty before God. It could also be that the works found in the books (plural) may also have a bearing on the degree of punishment ahead for these guilty souls.

It is important to note that no one is specified as being saved at this judgment. What a terrifying fact.

Judgment lies ahead for every person, regardless of his or her spiritual condition. This is a sobering reality that should motivate each of us to examine our lives and make certain of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

For those of us with a saving faith in Christ, let Revelation 20 be a powerful motivation to pray for the lost and share the Gospel with them. Jesus is the only hope they have when this life is over.

What about you? Are you certain that you are ready to stand before God? Death is certain. Judgment is imminent.

Prepare to meet your God!  Repent and believe the Gospel!