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Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
THE PULPIT: PULLING MEN FROM THE PIT
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
As a preacher, my greatest fear is dying and having won too few souls to the Lord. As Christians, I believe our unwillingness to reach for the loss will be taken much more serious by God than what we think.
Think about it like this: Let's say you and I have been friends for 40 years. During that space of time your grandmother, grandfather, mother, and dad all died of cancer. Let's say I was there at the hospital and funeral homes each time, grieving over your loss. But then you found out that I had known the cure to cancer all along, but did not share it with you or anyone else. What if you found out that I knew the cure to cancer while I stood over the death bed of your mother and cried with you? How would that make you feel about me? Well, we have the answer to this wicked world's disease! His name is Jesus. It is a sad day when Christians carry around the only known cure for sin, yet are too proud or lazy to tell the world about it! Judgment will not befriend a man who either doesn't count Christ a valuable enough asset, or doesn't love the world enough to share Him with them.
WHAT IS THE PULPIT OTHER THAN A PLACE WHERE WE PULL MEN FROM THE PIT?
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
We must get busy winning souls. That was the primary thing on Jesus' mind!
Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Paul, too!
1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
A friend of mine was delivered from a gross false dotrine that teaches that faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is not sufficient to save a sinner from hell. (Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.) He was told by a preacher that is still imprisoned by that doctrine that he knew he was coming out because he had started to preach Jesus and was trying to get people saved! Well, my friend isn't the only one to think the message of Jesus is the most imortant subject known to man:
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Let it be said of me that I was a man who preached Jesus and tried to get souls saved!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
America's Final Countdown
I write today because my heart carries a heavy burden. I will be brief, but straight to the point.
We are in the home stretch now. You and I are the generation that will see the coming of the Lord. For some, that is a glorious thing, but for the vast majority, that should be the most frightening thing that could be said because they are not ready for what is about to take place in America.
Eschatologically, I lean toward the pretribulation rapture doctrine. This is the idea that the church will be called out of this world into heaven with Christ before the last 7 year period of tribulation and wrath described by Daniel and John the Revelator happens. But this doctrine has seemingly caused men to rest, to be at ease in Zion. They seem to think that nothing tragic can happen in this country. That we will live life in the fast lane and be raptured out of our paradise into God's paradise. This merely reflects the image of their spiritual condition: loose, fast, and not concerned with the eternal. 2000 years ago our Christ told us to lift our heads, watching and praying for His coming, that we would not enter into temptation! Paul, John, and James wrote in a manner that lets us know that they were expecting the Lord to return at anytime. But the vast majority of people today are not watching and praying for His coming. They are so consumed and have such a love affair with this world, they would probably be disappointed if Christ were to actually take them to heaven to be with Him.
Please, read the words of the Apostle Paul:
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that LOVE HIS APPEARING. (stress added by author)
I want to warn you, if you are not loving, looking, and praying for His appearing, you will be caught off guard. The crown is laid up exclusively for those that "love His appearing".
A dear friend of mine, a very humble man of God, told me the following occurence. He and his family are much like myself, they travel from church to church preaching the gospel, trying to stir the hearts of God's people, and trying to bring lost men to Christ. They were staying at a church that had an evangelist's quarter and were sleeping there instead of their RV. About two or three that morning, the Spirit woke him, impressing upon his heart the need to go out to his RV and pray. As he knelt, the Spirit came upon him--he was not sure if it was a dream or a vision. When he came to himself, he heard the voice of the Lord saying, "The church is not ready for what is coming upon America".
On September 15th, I was told the following story. Months ago, David Tolbert prophesied four things. First, the exact date of B. H. Clendennen's (the founder of the School of Christ) death. Secondly, he prophesied that the School of Christ would be split up into three divisions. Thirdly, that Darrell Turner would be offered the oversight of one of those three divisions. Fourthly, he prophesied that seventeen months after B. H. Clendennen's death, great destruction would come upon America; that we would be taken back to the horse and buggy age. Three of the four prophesies have come to pass exactly as he said.
B. H. Clendennen died on December 13, 2009. If this man's prophesy is true, we have only four months to prepare.
David Wilkerson (founder of Teen Challenge) has been prophesying the destruction of America for years. The following is a quote from one of those prophesies:
"AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US. For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago. There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath."
Just today, I read a report that Porter Stansberry, founder of Stansberry and Associates Investment Research firm (one of the world's largest), put together (www.endofamerica22.com). He warned investors to avoid Fannie and Freddie, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and General Motors years before each of them went bankrupt. Their research firm also, with pinpoint accuracy, predicted the financial crisis of 2008. Stansberry is now predicting a complete financial collapse of the United States monetary system. He is predicting that looting and rioting will take place in major cities. He believes there will be arrests on an unprecedented scale, and marshal law, enforced by the U.S. military. We will be taken back to the horse and buggy days!
These are just a few of the many prophesies that have been given concerning America over the past few years.
Brothers and sisters, I am nothing. I am a nobody straight out of no where, but I must warn you. God has revealed to me that a great darkness is coming upon this country. A day like we've never seen before and 99% of the church is not ready for it; they will be caught off guard.
It will require more than living an external standard of Christianity. It will require more than going to church and shouting and dancing and leaping in the aisles. We must repent of our sins. We must put off the world. We must come out from among it and be separate (2Co 6:17). We must burn the mid-night oil. We must fast like never before. We must pray that God rend the heavens and come down. We must see revival. Preachers, you must become the gospel you preach! You must be the man of God! You preach as a dying man to dying men! We must live in the light of the Lord's coming.
Until a year ago, Eschatology was simply a doctrinal study for me. I talked about end-times, I preached some on the last days, but it wasn't a pressing issue. Today, I live in the light of the Lord's coming. It went from being a point of doctrine that is good to talk about, to a living reality that keeps my eyes on the eastern sky, watching and praying for His coming.
Now, before I move forward let’s talk about the word "rapture". Here is a word that I was basically taught was a religious cuss word. Over and over people would say, “Well, the word rapture isn’t in the Bible.” The problem with that argument is the word “Bible” isn’t in the Bible either. Do I have to preach in King James English, or even worse, in Greek and Hebrew because that’s what the Bible was originally written in. There are many non-Biblical words that we use to describe Biblical principles. Simply because they aren’t in the Bible doesn’t make them un-Biblical.
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
“Caught up” is the Greek word Harpazo-which means “To seize, or catch away”. And the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" that’s found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. So the Latin word rapturo and the English words “caught up” have the exact same meaning. So, you can call it the “pre-tribulation rapture,” the “pre-trib rapturo,” or the “pre-trib caught up” - it's all the same thing. It simply means “a catching away”. That’s what the rapture means. So, the question is does the Bible teach that we are going to be caught away? According to Paul we are! And that’s all the word “rapture” means: to be caught up or away!
I’m not going into all the finer details of the doctrine here, but I want to show you what Jesus and the early church’s understanding of the Lord’s coming was.
Jesus
Jesus said in:
Mt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Daniel also taught that the 7 year period will begin when the Anti-Christ signs a treaty with Israel. That means you would know the exact day the Lord was coming.
Why would Jesus tells His disciples; why would Jesus tell us to watch for His coming if He couldn’t come back now?
Re 3:11 Behold, I come quickly:
Why would Jesus say such a thing if He couldn’t come back right then? Why would He say such a thing except to produce the feeling of imminence in His people? Why would Christ say “watch” if there was nothing to expect?
What does Jesus say about those that believe He can’t come tonight?
Mt 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is the danger of not looking for His coming.
2. The Early Church Expected the Lord to Come At Anytime
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Why would Paul tell these people, 2,000 years ago, to wait for the Son of God in heaven.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
C. Escaping These Things
Lu 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
D. Maranatha
1Co 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Anathema: Let him be accursed!
Maranatha: Our Lord, doth come!
It is well understood that when the saints in the early chuch met each other, they, without fail, said, "Maranatha" to one another! Everytime they met! Regardless of the persecution! Regardless of the situation! Regardless of the affliction! Maranatha! The Lord is coming! He will right all the wrongs! He will take us to a safe place! Marantha!
Let's live in the light of the Lord's coming, even as the early church did!
God bless you.
Your servant,
David Lamb
We are in the home stretch now. You and I are the generation that will see the coming of the Lord. For some, that is a glorious thing, but for the vast majority, that should be the most frightening thing that could be said because they are not ready for what is about to take place in America.
Eschatologically, I lean toward the pretribulation rapture doctrine. This is the idea that the church will be called out of this world into heaven with Christ before the last 7 year period of tribulation and wrath described by Daniel and John the Revelator happens. But this doctrine has seemingly caused men to rest, to be at ease in Zion. They seem to think that nothing tragic can happen in this country. That we will live life in the fast lane and be raptured out of our paradise into God's paradise. This merely reflects the image of their spiritual condition: loose, fast, and not concerned with the eternal. 2000 years ago our Christ told us to lift our heads, watching and praying for His coming, that we would not enter into temptation! Paul, John, and James wrote in a manner that lets us know that they were expecting the Lord to return at anytime. But the vast majority of people today are not watching and praying for His coming. They are so consumed and have such a love affair with this world, they would probably be disappointed if Christ were to actually take them to heaven to be with Him.
Please, read the words of the Apostle Paul:
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that LOVE HIS APPEARING. (stress added by author)
I want to warn you, if you are not loving, looking, and praying for His appearing, you will be caught off guard. The crown is laid up exclusively for those that "love His appearing".
A dear friend of mine, a very humble man of God, told me the following occurence. He and his family are much like myself, they travel from church to church preaching the gospel, trying to stir the hearts of God's people, and trying to bring lost men to Christ. They were staying at a church that had an evangelist's quarter and were sleeping there instead of their RV. About two or three that morning, the Spirit woke him, impressing upon his heart the need to go out to his RV and pray. As he knelt, the Spirit came upon him--he was not sure if it was a dream or a vision. When he came to himself, he heard the voice of the Lord saying, "The church is not ready for what is coming upon America".
On September 15th, I was told the following story. Months ago, David Tolbert prophesied four things. First, the exact date of B. H. Clendennen's (the founder of the School of Christ) death. Secondly, he prophesied that the School of Christ would be split up into three divisions. Thirdly, that Darrell Turner would be offered the oversight of one of those three divisions. Fourthly, he prophesied that seventeen months after B. H. Clendennen's death, great destruction would come upon America; that we would be taken back to the horse and buggy age. Three of the four prophesies have come to pass exactly as he said.
B. H. Clendennen died on December 13, 2009. If this man's prophesy is true, we have only four months to prepare.
David Wilkerson (founder of Teen Challenge) has been prophesying the destruction of America for years. The following is a quote from one of those prophesies:
"AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US. For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago. There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath."
Just today, I read a report that Porter Stansberry, founder of Stansberry and Associates Investment Research firm (one of the world's largest), put together (www.endofamerica22.com). He warned investors to avoid Fannie and Freddie, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and General Motors years before each of them went bankrupt. Their research firm also, with pinpoint accuracy, predicted the financial crisis of 2008. Stansberry is now predicting a complete financial collapse of the United States monetary system. He is predicting that looting and rioting will take place in major cities. He believes there will be arrests on an unprecedented scale, and marshal law, enforced by the U.S. military. We will be taken back to the horse and buggy days!
These are just a few of the many prophesies that have been given concerning America over the past few years.
Brothers and sisters, I am nothing. I am a nobody straight out of no where, but I must warn you. God has revealed to me that a great darkness is coming upon this country. A day like we've never seen before and 99% of the church is not ready for it; they will be caught off guard.
It will require more than living an external standard of Christianity. It will require more than going to church and shouting and dancing and leaping in the aisles. We must repent of our sins. We must put off the world. We must come out from among it and be separate (2Co 6:17). We must burn the mid-night oil. We must fast like never before. We must pray that God rend the heavens and come down. We must see revival. Preachers, you must become the gospel you preach! You must be the man of God! You preach as a dying man to dying men! We must live in the light of the Lord's coming.
Until a year ago, Eschatology was simply a doctrinal study for me. I talked about end-times, I preached some on the last days, but it wasn't a pressing issue. Today, I live in the light of the Lord's coming. It went from being a point of doctrine that is good to talk about, to a living reality that keeps my eyes on the eastern sky, watching and praying for His coming.
Now, before I move forward let’s talk about the word "rapture". Here is a word that I was basically taught was a religious cuss word. Over and over people would say, “Well, the word rapture isn’t in the Bible.” The problem with that argument is the word “Bible” isn’t in the Bible either. Do I have to preach in King James English, or even worse, in Greek and Hebrew because that’s what the Bible was originally written in. There are many non-Biblical words that we use to describe Biblical principles. Simply because they aren’t in the Bible doesn’t make them un-Biblical.
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
“Caught up” is the Greek word Harpazo-which means “To seize, or catch away”. And the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" that’s found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. So the Latin word rapturo and the English words “caught up” have the exact same meaning. So, you can call it the “pre-tribulation rapture,” the “pre-trib rapturo,” or the “pre-trib caught up” - it's all the same thing. It simply means “a catching away”. That’s what the rapture means. So, the question is does the Bible teach that we are going to be caught away? According to Paul we are! And that’s all the word “rapture” means: to be caught up or away!
I’m not going into all the finer details of the doctrine here, but I want to show you what Jesus and the early church’s understanding of the Lord’s coming was.
Jesus
Jesus said in:
Mt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Daniel also taught that the 7 year period will begin when the Anti-Christ signs a treaty with Israel. That means you would know the exact day the Lord was coming.
Why would Jesus tells His disciples; why would Jesus tell us to watch for His coming if He couldn’t come back now?
Re 3:11 Behold, I come quickly:
Why would Jesus say such a thing if He couldn’t come back right then? Why would He say such a thing except to produce the feeling of imminence in His people? Why would Christ say “watch” if there was nothing to expect?
What does Jesus say about those that believe He can’t come tonight?
Mt 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is the danger of not looking for His coming.
2. The Early Church Expected the Lord to Come At Anytime
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Why would Paul tell these people, 2,000 years ago, to wait for the Son of God in heaven.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
C. Escaping These Things
Lu 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
D. Maranatha
1Co 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Anathema: Let him be accursed!
Maranatha: Our Lord, doth come!
It is well understood that when the saints in the early chuch met each other, they, without fail, said, "Maranatha" to one another! Everytime they met! Regardless of the persecution! Regardless of the situation! Regardless of the affliction! Maranatha! The Lord is coming! He will right all the wrongs! He will take us to a safe place! Marantha!
Let's live in the light of the Lord's coming, even as the early church did!
God bless you.
Your servant,
David Lamb
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Do I Have Enough Religion to Love?
Some people have enough religion to make them hate, but not enough to make them love.
Love should be the driving force of every Christian. In fact, without love we're not Christians.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We must love God:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
But if we do not love men, we cannot say that we love God:
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Being a preacher, demonstrating the love of God is an absolute necessity. If I do not, I have no business preaching in Christ's stead. And that does not mean that the theological subject has to be the love of God, it means that everything taught and preached must be saturated with it. It means that the manner in which I shake the people's hands, hugs their necks, the manner in which I listen to their problems (serious or trifle), must be sincere and with the compassion of Christ. God is love and His people are loving.
One of our major problems is pride. I've found myself pushing doctrines because I wanted to be right, not because I wanted men to be saved. The messages were not motivated by love for God and people; they were motivated by a love for myself. May God smite me, and every preacher, when we use the sword as a threshing tool and not a razor sharp instrument of life.
One of the hardest things I had to learn was that those who were trying to convert me over to their false understanding of the Bible were often doing it because they loved me and truly felt I was deceived. So, although they were doctrinally wrong, their motive was right. It softened my heart toward them and made me realize I was attacking people that loved me.
Let us weigh our motives. Why am I saying what I'm saying? Am I trying to prove a point? Will this actually build the kingdom of God? Even if I'm right, will this destroy the weak? Is this the proper venue for such a message? If the love of God and His kingdom are the motivating factor, check yourself again, and then love the people.
Love should be the driving force of every Christian. In fact, without love we're not Christians.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We must love God:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
But if we do not love men, we cannot say that we love God:
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Being a preacher, demonstrating the love of God is an absolute necessity. If I do not, I have no business preaching in Christ's stead. And that does not mean that the theological subject has to be the love of God, it means that everything taught and preached must be saturated with it. It means that the manner in which I shake the people's hands, hugs their necks, the manner in which I listen to their problems (serious or trifle), must be sincere and with the compassion of Christ. God is love and His people are loving.
One of our major problems is pride. I've found myself pushing doctrines because I wanted to be right, not because I wanted men to be saved. The messages were not motivated by love for God and people; they were motivated by a love for myself. May God smite me, and every preacher, when we use the sword as a threshing tool and not a razor sharp instrument of life.
One of the hardest things I had to learn was that those who were trying to convert me over to their false understanding of the Bible were often doing it because they loved me and truly felt I was deceived. So, although they were doctrinally wrong, their motive was right. It softened my heart toward them and made me realize I was attacking people that loved me.
Let us weigh our motives. Why am I saying what I'm saying? Am I trying to prove a point? Will this actually build the kingdom of God? Even if I'm right, will this destroy the weak? Is this the proper venue for such a message? If the love of God and His kingdom are the motivating factor, check yourself again, and then love the people.
Monday, January 17, 2011
You Can Make It!
Over and over we tell people "You Can Make It"!
But their lives are rich and full, nothing forsaken.
They have houses, cars and friends who love 'em.
They claim to have God's Spirit, to be full of Him.
They suffer no persecution for the Savior's sake.
They stir up no devils, his kingdom they don't shake.
To the ceiling are piles of toys they've bought.
So, I'm forced to ask, "Make it through what?"
The uncrucified flesh, the world's wicked pull?
The air conditioned house, a stomach that's full?
You can make it to Sunday without going back?
You can make it through flat tires and zero lack?
So, if you're one who doesn't pray or read the Bible.
If you never intercede, never pray for revival.
If you don't sell out, becoming a genuine disciple;
Your life will always be a day to day survival.
Let us remember Jesus and the early church.
They lived victoriously regardless of the hurt.
The more they suffered the stronger they got.
The harder the battle the harder they fought.
Their walk with God, circumstances did not alter!
In the face of poverty their faith did not falter.
This is the faith once delivered to the saints.
And, yes, we, too, can make, if we don't faint!
But their lives are rich and full, nothing forsaken.
They have houses, cars and friends who love 'em.
They claim to have God's Spirit, to be full of Him.
They suffer no persecution for the Savior's sake.
They stir up no devils, his kingdom they don't shake.
To the ceiling are piles of toys they've bought.
So, I'm forced to ask, "Make it through what?"
The uncrucified flesh, the world's wicked pull?
The air conditioned house, a stomach that's full?
You can make it to Sunday without going back?
You can make it through flat tires and zero lack?
So, if you're one who doesn't pray or read the Bible.
If you never intercede, never pray for revival.
If you don't sell out, becoming a genuine disciple;
Your life will always be a day to day survival.
Let us remember Jesus and the early church.
They lived victoriously regardless of the hurt.
The more they suffered the stronger they got.
The harder the battle the harder they fought.
Their walk with God, circumstances did not alter!
In the face of poverty their faith did not falter.
This is the faith once delivered to the saints.
And, yes, we, too, can make, if we don't faint!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Disappointment: Overcoming the Troas' of Life
Disappointment is something that all of us have encountered one time or another. I think that I would be safe in saying that some of you are battling it right now. We dream and we hope and we set our hearts on certain goals. Then the time comes when we realize that our dreams are not coming true. This is an experience that happens eventually to every person.
The word “disappointment” is comprised of 2 parts. First, there is the pre-fix “dis-” which means: reversal, negation or lack, removal or separation. The second part is the word “appointment” which means: an agreement to meet, engagement. So we see the word coming to life. It is a reversal of an appointment. It is a lack of appointment, or a removal of an appointment. Webster says the word means: to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of. So, as you can see, we've all experienced disappointment: having hopes and dreams shattered! And if you're there now, this message is your's!
I am reminded of an occurrence in the life of the greatest Christian preacher that ever lived – the Apostle Paul!
Let’s read Acts 16:7, 8 very carefully:
Ac 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
This verse is simply stating that Paul’s heart was set on going to Bithynia. If you are familiar with his life and the circumstances of this experience, you know this was his dream. Bithynia was the richest province in all of Asia, but somehow circumstances prevented him going there. Instead, he ended up in Troas, a place he despised, had no interest in, and in which he could see no future.
This has happens to a lot of people. We set our minds and hearts on some Bithynia, and then we end up in Troas.
You must understand that God had a perfect plan for Bithynia, Troas, Paul and we can’t leave out Peter. Because, later, Peter would go to Bithynia and bring a great revival. As a matter of fact, the epistle of 1st Peter was addressed to Christians at Bithynia.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
It wasn’t God’s will for Paul to go to Bythinia because he had a greater work and another door open for him in Troas.
He visited Troas at least 3 times. On his second missionary journey to Troas, he saw the vision of a "man of Macedonia," who appeared to him, saying, "Come over, and help us." It was because of this vision in Troas we have the 16th chapter of Acts, which consists of Paul and Silas, the jailer, the earthquake, and its subsequent revival.
At his third recorded visit he tarried only a week; at the close of which he miraculously raised Eutychus from the dead!
Consider the following stories: In Boston, outside of the Old Trinity Church, stands a statue of one of the greatest preachers that ever lived, the Rev. Phillip Brooks. Phillip Brooks always desired to be a school teacher – that was his Bithynia. Though he wanted it bad and tried hard to achieve it, he failed at it miserably. His Bithynia was denied him, but in his Troas he found immortality.
The Citadel, one of the most famous books ever written was wrote by a man named A. J. Cronin. A. J. Cronin was a medical doctor who grew so sick that he had to give up his profession. He ended up in a little town, despondent, defeated, and unhappy. He began to write, but he decided his writing was so poor that he took it and threw it in the garbage can. Later, he reluctantly retrieved the pages he had written and eventually they were published. His Bithynia was the practice of medicine, but had he stayed there, we would never have heard of him. His Troas was writing.
Perhaps some of you have heard of the famous writer Sir Walter Scott. His dream was to be a poet. That was his Bithynia. But if he had succeeded there, we would never have had such novels as Waverly, Ivan Hoe, Kenilworth, Old Mortality, and Rob Roy. Being disappointed as a poet, he was forced to write prose in which he became world renown.
Likewise, Paul’s Troas, his disappointment, brought about the establishment of the Christian faith in Europe. Had he gone to Bithynia, it is very possible we would never have heard of him or his faith.
Finally, I am reminded of the preacher whose church bought him and his wife tickets to go on a luxury cruise. Just a few days before they were scheduled to leave, his wife became deathly sick. At first, he grieved over his wife's sickness, but soon saw the providence of God in it ... he had missed the maiden voyage of the Titanic!
So, if you've been denied your Bythinia, rejoice, your destiny lies in Troas! You can’t wait for Bithynia! You must move on to Troas! There’s a miracle waiting there for you!
God bless!
David Lamb
.
The word “disappointment” is comprised of 2 parts. First, there is the pre-fix “dis-” which means: reversal, negation or lack, removal or separation. The second part is the word “appointment” which means: an agreement to meet, engagement. So we see the word coming to life. It is a reversal of an appointment. It is a lack of appointment, or a removal of an appointment. Webster says the word means: to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of. So, as you can see, we've all experienced disappointment: having hopes and dreams shattered! And if you're there now, this message is your's!
I am reminded of an occurrence in the life of the greatest Christian preacher that ever lived – the Apostle Paul!
Let’s read Acts 16:7, 8 very carefully:
Ac 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
This verse is simply stating that Paul’s heart was set on going to Bithynia. If you are familiar with his life and the circumstances of this experience, you know this was his dream. Bithynia was the richest province in all of Asia, but somehow circumstances prevented him going there. Instead, he ended up in Troas, a place he despised, had no interest in, and in which he could see no future.
This has happens to a lot of people. We set our minds and hearts on some Bithynia, and then we end up in Troas.
You must understand that God had a perfect plan for Bithynia, Troas, Paul and we can’t leave out Peter. Because, later, Peter would go to Bithynia and bring a great revival. As a matter of fact, the epistle of 1st Peter was addressed to Christians at Bithynia.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
It wasn’t God’s will for Paul to go to Bythinia because he had a greater work and another door open for him in Troas.
He visited Troas at least 3 times. On his second missionary journey to Troas, he saw the vision of a "man of Macedonia," who appeared to him, saying, "Come over, and help us." It was because of this vision in Troas we have the 16th chapter of Acts, which consists of Paul and Silas, the jailer, the earthquake, and its subsequent revival.
At his third recorded visit he tarried only a week; at the close of which he miraculously raised Eutychus from the dead!
Consider the following stories: In Boston, outside of the Old Trinity Church, stands a statue of one of the greatest preachers that ever lived, the Rev. Phillip Brooks. Phillip Brooks always desired to be a school teacher – that was his Bithynia. Though he wanted it bad and tried hard to achieve it, he failed at it miserably. His Bithynia was denied him, but in his Troas he found immortality.
The Citadel, one of the most famous books ever written was wrote by a man named A. J. Cronin. A. J. Cronin was a medical doctor who grew so sick that he had to give up his profession. He ended up in a little town, despondent, defeated, and unhappy. He began to write, but he decided his writing was so poor that he took it and threw it in the garbage can. Later, he reluctantly retrieved the pages he had written and eventually they were published. His Bithynia was the practice of medicine, but had he stayed there, we would never have heard of him. His Troas was writing.
Perhaps some of you have heard of the famous writer Sir Walter Scott. His dream was to be a poet. That was his Bithynia. But if he had succeeded there, we would never have had such novels as Waverly, Ivan Hoe, Kenilworth, Old Mortality, and Rob Roy. Being disappointed as a poet, he was forced to write prose in which he became world renown.
Likewise, Paul’s Troas, his disappointment, brought about the establishment of the Christian faith in Europe. Had he gone to Bithynia, it is very possible we would never have heard of him or his faith.
Finally, I am reminded of the preacher whose church bought him and his wife tickets to go on a luxury cruise. Just a few days before they were scheduled to leave, his wife became deathly sick. At first, he grieved over his wife's sickness, but soon saw the providence of God in it ... he had missed the maiden voyage of the Titanic!
So, if you've been denied your Bythinia, rejoice, your destiny lies in Troas! You can’t wait for Bithynia! You must move on to Troas! There’s a miracle waiting there for you!
God bless!
David Lamb
.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Something Changed (My Magnus Opus)
I recently turned 35 years old! Usually, I just move right through my birthdays without much thought, but this one was different than all of the rest. For some reason there was an unusual realization of time. I know I'm not old, but I suddenly understood that I am getting older; that I've lived a lot of life, witnessed and experienced a lot of pain, and cried and laughed and loved and gained and lost a great deal for one man. I noticed the pain in my back and wrinkles on my face haven't gone away. I was startled by the thought that 20 year old young men and women look at me like a father. I gasped at the fact that 35 is half of 70 and that my uncles and aunts are in their 70's and my grandmother died in her 70's and that was 25 years ago. I realized that I don't want my children to grow up anymore; that I want them to stay just like they are. I was shaken by the thought that I want time to stop.
But I also realized there's a good chance that I may have another 35 years; that I may have another 35 years to love and live and heal and cry and forgive and help and hope and give and strengthen and build and pray and preach and listen and care.
I realized that there are 5 people (my wife and 4 children) that I'm not expendable to. I realized that my babies are going to grow up and be my best friends tomorrow, so I better cultivate that friendship now, making sure they are indeed my best friends tomorrow. I realized that I actually have some friends that are good and faithful more than they are bad and unfaithful. I realized that I have some people that I can call at midnight. I realized that when they act stupid and forget me, they are important enough to remind them to not forget me anymore. I realized that I have been bad and unfaithful at times. I realized that I have forgotten them sometimes. I realized I had better pick the phone up at midnight when they call.
I realized a smile goes a long way. I realized that I haven't been laughing enough and laughing is fun. I found that I am at my wisest when I'm just listening and shaking my head up and down and saying "uh huh".
I realized people are fallible, very important, but fallible. I realized people are going to lie to me, ignore my wife and I, talk about us, use us, think they're better than us, forget us, and a million other things that fallible people do. And, to my surprise, I realized I didn't mind that as much as I used to; that I've come to expect it and can always forgive them and act like I don't recall all of the bad things they've done to us when they come back around and bless us. And I realized that I want them to come back around ... if they want to. And if they don't want to come back around, I can hope they are happy. I realized they are hurting, too, and that I can choose to heal, even if they do not.
I realized that the pure in heart see God; that all things are working for me and not against me. I realized that God has used every person in my life (family, friend and foe) to make me a better Christian, husband, father, friend, and preacher. I realized pride and selfishness are two of the most deadly things in the world because they build walls and shut life out.
I realized that, that although He wants my best, God knows I'm human and doesn't expect me to be anything but human; that He doesn't expect greatness out of me; He wants me to die, so He can be great through me. I realized that through Christ I can be truly free, liberated from this world.
I also was overcome by the thought that my days are few and that I must make the most of them. So, since I'm blessed enough to have a hand full of people that actually care enough about me to read this little note, I promise you, I am going to love, live, and bless more the second half of my life than I did the first.
(To be continued...)
David Lamb
But I also realized there's a good chance that I may have another 35 years; that I may have another 35 years to love and live and heal and cry and forgive and help and hope and give and strengthen and build and pray and preach and listen and care.
I realized that there are 5 people (my wife and 4 children) that I'm not expendable to. I realized that my babies are going to grow up and be my best friends tomorrow, so I better cultivate that friendship now, making sure they are indeed my best friends tomorrow. I realized that I actually have some friends that are good and faithful more than they are bad and unfaithful. I realized that I have some people that I can call at midnight. I realized that when they act stupid and forget me, they are important enough to remind them to not forget me anymore. I realized that I have been bad and unfaithful at times. I realized that I have forgotten them sometimes. I realized I had better pick the phone up at midnight when they call.
I realized a smile goes a long way. I realized that I haven't been laughing enough and laughing is fun. I found that I am at my wisest when I'm just listening and shaking my head up and down and saying "uh huh".
I realized people are fallible, very important, but fallible. I realized people are going to lie to me, ignore my wife and I, talk about us, use us, think they're better than us, forget us, and a million other things that fallible people do. And, to my surprise, I realized I didn't mind that as much as I used to; that I've come to expect it and can always forgive them and act like I don't recall all of the bad things they've done to us when they come back around and bless us. And I realized that I want them to come back around ... if they want to. And if they don't want to come back around, I can hope they are happy. I realized they are hurting, too, and that I can choose to heal, even if they do not.
I realized that the pure in heart see God; that all things are working for me and not against me. I realized that God has used every person in my life (family, friend and foe) to make me a better Christian, husband, father, friend, and preacher. I realized pride and selfishness are two of the most deadly things in the world because they build walls and shut life out.
I realized that, that although He wants my best, God knows I'm human and doesn't expect me to be anything but human; that He doesn't expect greatness out of me; He wants me to die, so He can be great through me. I realized that through Christ I can be truly free, liberated from this world.
I also was overcome by the thought that my days are few and that I must make the most of them. So, since I'm blessed enough to have a hand full of people that actually care enough about me to read this little note, I promise you, I am going to love, live, and bless more the second half of my life than I did the first.
(To be continued...)
David Lamb
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