Volunteer Fire Fighters

 VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS

“Quench not the Spirit.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:19

For the first twelve years of my life, I lived in the small town of Mullens, West Virginia. At the time, the Wyoming Hotel was still open. Occasionally, we would hear a long, extensive siren blare from the top of that hotel. It was the fire whistle. It notified volunteer firemen that the station was being called out for a fire.

After a few minutes, the sirens of fire trucks could be heard as the firemen raced towards the fire. Even though I don't live in Mullens any longer, I know the fire siren is no longer being used there. The hotel has been closed for many years. These days, firemen are notified by modern means when the station is being called out. I think they may even have a fireman staying at the station.

Rural towns and communities rely on volunteer firemen to respond to fires and emergency calls. These unsung heroes do this work without compensation, yet they give of their time to serve, often risking their lives.

There is another time of volunteer fire fighter that we rarely think about. To your surprise, you may be a volunteer fire fighter yourself.

In his first epistle to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul wrote the tiny verse: “Quench not the Spirit.” Literally this is translated to mean, don't put out the Spirit's fire.

What has happened to the Spirit's fire in our churches? Why have our churches become so lukewarm and ineffective? Could it be that we have been putting out the Spirit's fire?

The sad fact is that most churches have no spiritual fire in their services. As Vance Havner once said, “Most church services begin at eleven o'clock sharp and end at twelve o'clock dull.” In an effort to avoid strange fire, we extinguish every fire.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "We never say, ‘Amen,’ or ‘Glory!’ now. We have grown to be so frozenly proper that we never interrupt a service in any way. God send us a season of glorious disorder.”

By the way, what ever happened to shouting in our churches?

When we resist the Spirit's leading, we pour water on the Spirit's fire. We may act more dignified and organized, but we've become lukewarm in the process.

We don't need this kind of volunteer fire fighters in our churches. Certainly we want our worship to stay within the boundaries set forth in Scripture, but we also don't want to be responsible for pouring water on the Spirit's fire.

Without sounding judgmental, I suspect that nearly everyone reading this has been guilty of being a spiritual volunteer fire fighter at one time or another. We have volunteered for this work, because God certainly didn't call us to it. There have been times we were led to say AMEN during a sermon, but didn't utter a word. There have been times we were nudged to witness to someone, but remained silent. We tend to accuse others of being volunteer fire fighters, but if we're honest, we'd have to admit that there have had times we poured water on the Spirit's fire. Even worse, some have nearly become professionals at this work.

The tragic state of the American church can be blamed, in part, on the internal problem of volunteer fire fighters. This would be a good time to turn in our resignation and surrender anew and afresh to the Spirit's work. Yes, we should resist false doctrine, heresy and unbiblical practices. But at the same time, God is calling us to be led by the Spirit. Your life will never be set aflame with revival fire if you continually have a fire extinguisher in your hand, ready to douse any flame.

The real problem is the issue of disobedience. Most of us are apprehensive about surrendering everything to the Spirit's control. We don't like relinquishing our own control. Also, we fear what the Spirit may lead us to do. We don't want to do anything that makes us feel uncomfortable. We don't want the Spirit to ruin our reputation. We don't want others to see us as weird --- even in the church. Since the Holy Spirit is God, we need to realize that when we resist the Spirit, we are resisting God.

Whether we are in church, at home or on the job, we need to heed the Spirit's leading. If there has ever been a time that we need the Spirit's fire to engulf our lives and spread like wildfire to others, it is right now. Quit being a volunteer fire fighter.

Quench not the Spirit.

Are You On Fire?

 ARE YOU ON FIRE?

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” - Jeremiah 20:9

In the Bible, the word, “fire,” is used as a metaphor for different things. Last week, I wrote about how Jude described sin and judgment as being like fire. Today, we are going to look at fire as a metaphor for spiritual passion and vitality.

Jeremiah was a prophet who had gotten discouraged. His ministry seemed to yield little positive results. As a result, he wanted to quit. He had made the decision to resign from the ministry. In spite of his resignation, something stirred in his heart. Although he wanted to quit, there was a spiritual fire within that kept burning. The fire kept growing. The flames of spiritual passion eventually consumed him to the point he couldn't hold it in any longer. He went back to preaching.

Where are the people with such fervor? Where are the men and women who have a spiritual fire raging in their hearts? More to the point, are you such a person? Are you on fire for God?

Let's be honest. Many believers are in a rut. Their Christian experience started with a life-changing experience of grace, but slowly, over time, the inner fire has dwindled down to embers. At one time, the Christian-life was an exciting experience. Now it is a ritual. Does this sound like your life?

Do you long to have a life engulfed with the flame of spiritual revival? I believe the same One who started the fire within at salvation can revive the flame in your heart again.

It is important to note that there is not a 3-step plan to experience revival fire. Instead, this is a work of God. He, alone, is the One who placed the fire within to begin with and He, alone, can raise up a flame from the embers of your heart.

I do want to recommend something to you. SEEK THE LORD INSTEAD OF THE FIRE. The temptation is treat God as a means to an end. It is easy to think of God as the way to a spiritual experience. We need to avoid such thinking. God is not a means to an end. He is the end. Rather than seeking an event, we need to seek the Lord. Instead of seeking an experience, we need to seek God Himself. If you seek the fire rather than the Lord, you'll end up with neither. If you seek the Lord instead of the fire, there is a good chance you may enjoy both. So seek the Lord today.

First of all, we need to seek God with desperation. Leonard Ravenhill once said, “The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it.” The reason many people live for years without much of a spiritual fire is because they can get along without it. At least they think so. Yet they never consider how worldly and carnal they've become. They never consider that they have little or no spiritual influence. They fail to comprehend how deceived and dry they've become. O, may believers seek God today with a true sense of desperation!

Secondly, we need to seek God with determination. We need to seek Him with the whole heart. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Don't settle for substitutes, regards of how religious or holy they may seem to be. Don't settle for anything less than renewed fellowship and closeness to Jesus.

Leonard Ravenhill also said, “My goal is GOD HIMSELF. Not joy, not peace, not even blessing but HIMSELF...my GOD.” No wonder he had a fire in his heart!

Jeremiah had a fire burning within his bones. His life was on fire for the Lord.

Don't be satisfied with anything less yourself.

The House Is On Fire!

 THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” - Jude 22, 23

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a fireman. I think this desire was impacted by watching several seasons of “Emergency!” on television. I loved to see fire trucks. Anytime our family would pass a fire house, I hoped that the garage doors would be open so I could see the fire engines. When a fire truck would pass by on the highway, either on a call or not, it got my undivided attention. One of the highlights of my elementary school years was the field trip we made to the local fire station --- and riding back to school on a pumper truck!!!

My potential career as a firefighter came to a halt when I was in the sixth grade. My parents went to visit someone from church. While they were gone, my brother and I gathered in the living room to watch, “Baa, Baa Black Sheep.” A few minutes into the show, I noticed some bright orange and red colors flickering behind the living room curtain. When I opened the curtain, I saw that the house next door was on fire. I went into panic mode. I tried to call the fire department, but didn't know the phone number (this was before 911 was available in the area). Since the house next door was extremely close our home, we decided to get out of the house … just in case. Fortunately, the local volunteer fire department was having a meeting that night and came quickly and extinguished the fire. The whole experience scared me and ruined my career plans.

A few years ago, a popular Christian entertainer was quoted as saying, “Love the sinner, hate the sin? How about: Love the sinner, hate your own sin! I don't have time to hate your sin. There are too many of you! Hating my sin is a full-time job. How about you hate your sin, I'll hate my sin and let's just love each other!” This quote quickly circulated like wild-fire, but is it accurate? If I understand the premise of this quote, Christians should mind their own business and never approach another person about their sin. Yet wasn't this the kind of response that Cain gave to the Lord when he said, “Am I my brother's keeper?”

Some things are not my business. What a man does in his home is his business. If my neighbor has a home in need of a fresh coat of paint, that is certainly his business. If he wants to have purple carpet in his living room, that is up to him. If he wants to eat meat loaf every night, that is his choice.

But what if my neighbor's house is on fire? Do I refuse to get involved because his home is none of my business? Shouldn't I call the fire department? Shouldn't I make an effort to see that everyone made it out safely? What if he is still inside, do I simply mind my own business and let him perish?

Now let's think spiritually. What if my neighbor is living in habitual, unrepentant, rebellious sin, shouldn't I be concerned? If my neighbor is lost, shouldn't I be troubled about this? Metaphorically, his house is on fire. He needs to get out. He needs to flee the flames.

Yes, I hate my sins. Ongoing sanctification is part of my Christian life. Repentance is a daily practice for me. But is ridiculous to say that I shouldn't hate the sins of others. In our society, I hate murder, rape, and all forms of violence & abuse. So if my neighbor is lost, spiritually his house is on fire and I hate it. The flames of sin are devouring everything.

Jude wrote, “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude challenges believers to hate sin and, like a fire fighter, care enough to pull people out of the fire.

Those who know me will admit that I tend to mind my own business. But the devil has successfully duped believers into remaining silent while people perish all around us. It is time for silent saints to speak up. We can't make people repent, but we should care enough to warn them to flee from the wrath to come.

We have been too concerned about our image. We have tried too long to be popular. We have been too concerned about “running sinners off.” We don't want to be called “judgmental.” In the meantime, souls are going to hell.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

Wake up believers, your neighbors, friends and loves ones are perishing. Soon it will be too late. With urgency, let's warn them while we can.

Their house is on fire!

Deep Waters

DEEP WATERS

“Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” - Psalm 69:1-2

Several years ago, I was baptizing a lady on a Sunday afternoon. At the time, our church did not have an indoor baptistry, so I was baptizing her in a creek. While I was wading out in the river, I realized that I was going in too deep. The river was notorious for its undercurrent, so my heart began to race. I didn't go any deeper. Everything turned out fine. The lady was baptized and everyone rejoiced.

In life, sometimes it may feel like we've waded in too deep. At other times, a flash flood of adversity seizes us unannounced. In a flash, we feel overwhelmed. The temptation is to panic. Deep, rushing waters can sweep a person away.

When we feel like we've waded into deep waters, it is good to know that others have gone through similar experiences. Sometimes the only way to reach a desired destination is to go through deep waters. We are never promised that life will be spent only in the shallow waters. Most fishermen will tell you that fish are caught in the deep waters rather than the shallow. Shallow waters seem safer, but it is difficult to do much in shallow waters.

Jesus once told Peter, “Launch out into the deep.” Peter could have kept his boat in the shallow waters, but he was specifically called to go into the deep waters. It was there in the deep waters the nets broke because of the abundance of fish that was caught. There in the deep waters, Peter had a life-changing experience of grace. Deep waters may be scary, but the Lord may do His greatest work while you abide there.

The psalmist felt like he was drowning in deep waters. He prayed, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” Perhaps you feel that way yourself right now. Here are three things to comfort you in your current situation.

First of all, the Lord knows your situation. He sees you and your circumstances. He is aware of the stress and challenges you are going through.

Secondly, the Lord is with you in the deep waters. The Lord is there with you. You are not going through deep waters alone. We need to realize that God is present with us during our tough days as well as the good days. Whether we stand on river bank, wade shallow waters or navigate the deep waters, the Lord is there with us. When Peter began walking on the water, the Lord was there. When Peter began to sink, the Lord was there for him as well and brought him out safely.

Finally, the Lord helps you while you're in deep waters. The only reason that that raging waters have not swept you away is because the Lord has provided the grace you need for the overwhelming situation you are in. The One who causes storms and winds to cease at His command can certainly lead you through the deep waters. Trust Him in your crisis. Lean on Him during this time of adversity. The waters may seem too deep for you, but they aren't too deep for Him. Israel once faced the deep waters of the Red Sea, but God made a way for them. He will provide a way for you, too.

We aren't promised a life free of deep waters. Some rarely visit deep waters while others seem to live there. In either case, Jesus is Lord of all. Live in obedience. Trust Him. Look to Him for support. 

One day, we'll cross the river of death. No river gets any deeper than that final river. Yet our Lord will lead us through this river. When we cross to the other side, we'll find that there will be no deep rivers to cross in heaven. The river of life will be in glory, but it will not be a dangerous river that threatens to sweep us away.

We will not wade in deep waters there.

Meat and Potatoes

MEAT AND POTATOES

“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” - 1 Corinthians 3:2

I love to eat. Food is necessary for the nourishment and health of the human body. For me, food is more than that. Eating is an enjoyable experience. I must confess that my eating habits are not as healthy as they should be. I love fried chicken. What preacher doesn't? I enjoy biscuits and gravy. Any country boy loves brown beans, homemade cornbread and fried taters (yes, I said taters and not potatoes!). Perhaps that is why I am a man with great girth!

Like most Americans, my eating habits should be more healthy than it is. I should turn down that second helping. Yet the biggest problem facing American Christians is not their physical health, but their spiritual well-being. If you saw a 40 year-old man eating baby food or drinking milk from a baby bottle, you'd think something is wrong. Yet, far too many church members are feasting on spiritual milk and never maturing. One of the evidences of maturity is your diet. As a child grows, he eventually moves from baby food to solid food. Spiritually, there are church members who've been converted for years and never seem to get past spiritual baby food. They only feast on the milk and never touch the meat of the Word. In fact, many are repelled by strong meat.

Our pagan culture has so infiltrated the church that many who attend church expect to be entertained by lively, modern music and a short self-motivating pep talk. When they are exposed to strong preaching, they are easily offended and separate themselves from it.

Part of the problem, of course, is that there are tares among the wheat. Sadly, there are many unsaved church members. Yet the problem does not stop there. There are many genuine believers who are satisfied with spiritual baby food. They only feast on the milk of the Word. They have no desire for solid food. Why is this?

First of all, there is a lack of solid Biblical preaching in some areas. Many churches specialize on creating an entertaining environment each Sunday. The preaching of the Word is weak among some churches. A congregation can only feast on the meal provided from the pulpit. If a pastor refuses to serve the spiritual meat, it shouldn't be shocking that his congregation is stuck in spiritual immaturity. We need more preachers who feed his flock with the meat and potatoes of sound doctrine and Biblical truth. We shouldn't shy away from unpopular topics like sin, repentance and hell.

Also, there is a lack of real spiritual desire among those who occupy the pews. It is one thing to go to church, it is another thing to really desire God Himself. The local church should be a place of worship rather than entertainment. The church is to be a house of prayer, a sanctuary of fellowship and a place where the Word of God is preached. The Bible warns us, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Notice that this famine is not a famine of the preaching of the Word, but “... hearing the words of the Lord.” It used to be that Christians rejoiced to have their “toes stepped on,” during the sermon. Today, if sin is confronted, people get offended and either drop out of church completely or go elsewhere. Professing believers need to grow up. While milk can remain in a diet, there should be a progression towards the meat of the Word.

I love meat and potatoes. I love solid food. Meat and potatoes give me physical strength and they are also enjoyable to eat. Spiritually, we need to cultivate an appetite for the meat and potatoes of God's Word. Don't be content with a diet of baby formula. Move from the milk to the meat. Feast on the good things of God. Read, believe and obey the Word. Receive the full counsel of God, as given to us in the holy Scriptures. “O, taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Pull up a chair to God's table and feast on meat and potatoes today.

Calloused Knees & Worn Bibles

 CALLOUSED KNEES AND WORN BIBLES

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” - John 15:7

There's an important link between prayer and the Scripture. A believer needs to emphasize both in his walk with God. While both the Word of God and prayer are foundational to Christian living, sadly, many believers omit one or both from their daily agenda.

In John 15, Jesus teaches us the importance of abiding in Him. Jesus said that if we abide in Him, we'll bear much fruit (John 15:5). I want to bear much fruit in my remaining days, don't you? In John 15:7, Jesus gives us insight about the fruit-bearing process. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” In this verse, Jesus teaches us the importance of prayer and His Word.

First of all, His words need to abide in us. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you ...” In other words, the Scripture needs to remain in us. We need to live in the Word. We need to stay in the Bible.

Secondly, we need to pray. If we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, “... ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Abiding in Christ and His Word leads to a powerful prayer-life. We need to stay in the Word and in prayer. Paul put it this way, “Pray without ceasing.”

In these dark days, we need more calloused knees and worn Bibles. We need to have our knees calloused by frequent kneeling in prayer. These days, it seems like many feel too dignified to get on their knees to pray. It is true that a person can pray without kneeling. Personally, I pray while driving, working, walking, and sitting in the recliner. Yet as I get older, I feel the need to kneel more in prayer. Kneeling is an act of humility. Kneeling is a position of submission and surrender. When we kneel in prayer, we demonstrate reverence toward the One we are praying to. I must admit that as I get older, it is getting more difficult to kneel (especially getting up from kneeling). Yet I have a desire to kneel in prayer more and more. Over time, the knees tend to get a little calloused from this position of prayer. We need to get back to prayer!

Secondly, we need more worn Bibles. Cheaper Bibles tend to fall apart rather quickly with use. Even a bonded leather Bible will show its age around the edges. Personally, I use a genuine leather Bible. Yes, it cost more, but it also lasts longer. Regardless of the binding, we need to own Bibles that show wear due to extensive, regular use. Every day, believers need to spend time in the pages of God's Word. We need the Bible for our spiritual growth. We need the Word for guidance and help. The Word of God gives us insight and wisdom. The Scriptures teach us about God, the world and ourselves. Not only does the Word of God contain truth, it IS truth (John 17:17). We need the Scriptures to help us recognize the difference between doctrinal truth and error. The Bible is the spiritual food that our souls need. An unused Bible is a sign of a lean soul. We need to have worn Bibles. Make it a point to have quality time reading the Bible daily.

The Church needs people with calloused knees and worn Bibles. I know that the world will mock such a statement, but their mockery does not change the truth of what I wrote. There are many things to do every day, but the most important thing is to spend time with God in prayer and in His Word.

Have you spent time with Him today?

Mercy and Truth

 MERCY AND TRUTH

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.” - Proverbs 3:3

This is my third attempt at writing this week's message. I wrote an entire message that I have discarded. A second message simply wasn't coming together like it should.

As I write this, I am reading through the book of Proverbs again. Every January I read the book of Proverbs. Proverbs has 31 chapters and January has 31 days, so I read one chapter per day. The book of Proverbs is a source of great, practical information. Proverbs is the wisdom book of the Bible. We need wisdom today!

In Proverbs 3:3, the Bible says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.” Solomon wisely instructs us to embrace both mercy and truth. As I mentioned, I wrote an entire message for this week that I have since pushed aside. The reason I trashed the message is simple. While it had truth, it didn't have much mercy or grace in it.

It is easy to speak truth to others but seek mercy for yourself. For instance, if you encounter an aggressive driver on the highway, you may be prone to smile when you see him pulled over later by a policeman. However, if you are the one who gets pulled over for speeding, you pray that the officer shows mercy and lets you off with just a warning.

In life, we should embrace both mercy and truth. I follow many on Twitter and Facebook. I've listened to many songs and sermons. I've talked with several people. This is what I've learned from it all. Some practice mercy without truth. Others preach truth without showing mercy. Both extremes are harmful.

Many are guilty of showing mercy without truth. While they may have good intensions, they overlook, tolerate or excuse sin in the lives of others. Hoping to avoid confrontation, separation or isolation, they want to only want to emphasize areas of agreement while deliberately avoiding vital issues. Remaining silent over sin may preserve a friendship, but it endangers the friend you claim to care about, while destroying your own credibility.

While many church members pursue mercy at the expense of truth, there are others who proclaim truth while mercy is totally absent from their message. Like many, I believe that the preaching of the law brings about awareness of sin. This is important. But we must also understand that mercy also must be proclaimed. Furthermore, our words and actions need to be patterned by truth, but seasoned with mercy. It is wrong to preach about hell without a broken heart. It is wrong to get on social media and condemn people carelessly. Jerry Vines once said that a Christian does not have the luxury of being unkind. Christians need to live the truth while exhibiting grace. Far too many Christians are quick to condemn, but they show little grace. Both mercy and grace needs to be demonstrated by our lives and declared from our lips.

I am glad that the Lord reached me with the truth and saved me by His mercy and grace.  Mercy and truth changed my life.  While living and proclaiming the truth, we should do so with hearts of mercy.  As recipients of grace, shouldn't we demonstrate grace?  

We should never sacrifice truth on the altar of friendship, neither should we have cold, calloused hearts as we stand for truth.

Let's be people of mercy AND truth!