Bert Craft Personal Blog

MINISTRY STRATEGY: Focusing Our Ministry On Those Whose Hearts Are Prepared By God

Bert Craft — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:36:00 GMT

In his little book, The Master Plan Of Discipleship, Robert Coleman shows something amazing. In the Book of Acts, evangelistic strategy seems to mainly focus on people who have been prepared in some way by God to be receptive. God is the great Evangelist. He is the one who prepares and persuades. He awakens sinners (Ephesians 2:5), opens their hearts (Acts 16:14), draws them (John 6:44), empowers the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 3:1), and calls the lost (1 Corinthians 1:24). It is not surprising then that our part in evangelism would be to join with God as fellow workers in what He is doing. The Book of Acts points in this direction. For example:

The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost unleashed the Gospel on a host of spiritually sensitive Jews who had come from at least fifteen different nations to worship the God of the Old Testament.
The next big harvest came in Samaria (Acts 8:4-25), where Jesus earlier had laid a foundation by His witness (John 4:4-42).
The Holy Spirit sent Philip to an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the scroll of Isaiah and was puzzling over who chapter 53 was talking about (Acts 8:26-39).
The evangelistic breakthrough with Gentiles outside Jerusalem came with Cornelius, who feared God and gave alms and prayed and had a vision of God's messenger (Acts 10).
When Paul launched his missionary career, he followed the pattern of going first to the synagogue in search of some receptive Jews or God-fearing Gentiles (Acts 13:5,14,42f; 14:1; 17:1f,10,17, 18:4,7,19,26, 19:8).
On his second missionary journey, Paul's planning was checked twice by the Lord. The Holy Spirit forbade him (for the moment) to speak the Word in Asia (Acts 16:6), and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go to Bithynia (Acts 16:7). Instead, Paul saw a vision with a man saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9). The focus again was on the spiritually receptive.
In Philippi there was no synagogue. So Paul found a place where women prayed outside the city and joined them, where one was converted (Acts 16:12-14).

Of course, there were times when Paul simply "argued.....in the market place every day with those who chanced to be there" (Acts 17:17 RSV). Yet there does seem to be enough of a pattern to encourage us in our own evangelism, as Coleman says, "to look for those who want to move for Christ. Life is too short to expend excessive time and energy upon apathetic people."

This seems right to me, not that we ignore the spiritually callous, but that we focus mainly on the ones who seem to be groping for God. It's true that God's purpose in world missions demands that we go to all peoples, including the most resistant, since they are to be part of the glorious mosaic of all nations who will be represented in heaven (Revelation 5:9, 7:9). Nevertheless, as Coleman says, "Even in penetrating unreached peoples the principle applies. Ministry to the larger community will disclose those sensitive to the message of Christ. These persons then can receive more cultivation and teaching."

To put it another way, we are partners with the Holy Spirit, and we should be alert to those who are beginning to be awakened by His grace. Seek out those who are on the stretch for God and concentrate energy on their development Coleman is no doubt right when he says, "I am convinced that a few such persons are within the influence of every Christian."

--Taken from "A Godward Life" by John Piper (Devotion 45)

THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL

Bert Craft — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:28:00 GMT

According to a recent article in the USA Today entitled, "Many Beliefs, Many Paths To Heaven," American Evangelical Christianity, perhaps better-termed, "American Evangelical Churchianity", is incredibly confused about Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Most people have reduced the Gospel down, as the article mentions, to "those who accept Christ as their Savior." The Gospel is NOT accepting Christ as your personal Savior. This article is a tragic commentary on modern day Evangelical preachers and churches. American Evangelical preachers and churches do not know the true Gospel. Shamefully, America is a Gospel ignorant nation.

What should we expect from a generation of Americans that have been influenced by such national figures and false prophets as Billy Graham, Luis Palau, Jack Hyles, Curtis Hutson, Pat Robertson, Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch, Joel Osteen, Oral Roberts, Robert Schuller, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Hagin, Tony Campolo, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, John Wimber, and an innumerable host of other spiritual gurus who are preaching a false gospel.

We have a deep heart burden to preach the Gospel in its unadulterated purity. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. There is no salvation in a false gospel. There is no peace in a false gospel. There is no joy in a false gospel. There is no freedom from sin in a false gospel. There is no true worship of God in a false gospel. There is only eternal remorse, regret and damnation in a false gospel! Make no mistake about it, according to God's inspired and inerrant Word, every gospel that is not absolutely Biblical is an abominable message hated and cursed by God (Galatians 1:6-9). That is an unbelievable harsh statement in a world of pluralistic toleration and acceptation. To many, it sounds obnoxious and odious. In reality, it is the truth, and yes, the truth hurts.

This twelve page booklet entitled, "THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL," may be your last wake-up call to know the absolute truth of the true, divine, and everlasting Gospel. Please click on the icon below to read or download this message. May it please our Almighty Lord to bless this message to your heart and grant you repentance to reject all false gospels and embrace the the only saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The preaching of the Gospel is the preaching of Christ. The word “Gospel” signifies “good news.” The Gospel encompasses all that is related to the good news of the person, life, and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in favor of sinful men who are justly condemned under the holy wrath of Almighty God their Creator.

Although the Gospel embraces all that is related to Jesus Christ, its primary focus is the death and resurrection of Christ. These two aspects of Christ’s life and work comprise THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The indisputable proof of the death of Christ was His burial (Matthew 12:39-40). The indisputable proof of His resurrection was His bodily appearance to well over 500 witnesses (Acts 1:3). The Book of Romans manifests the two heart aspects of the Gospel: “...Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

The Gospel is muddled and misunderstood by many today. The Gospel has been shamefully diluted and not clearly defined. It has been mixed with many religious dogmas, with human works, with baptism, with man’s self-righteousness, and with other evangelically accepted additions as a sure way for man to be saved from the wrath to come. However, sinful man is only saved by the true Gospel of God without human effort, human works, or human merit. In the Word of God, we see the following very beautiful aspects of the Gospel:

The Gospel is eternal (Revelation 14:6).
The Gospel is unique (Galatians 1:6-9).
The Gospel is powerful (Romans 1:16-17).
The Gospel is of grace (Acts 20:24).
The Gospel is truth (Ephesians 1:13).
The Gospel is of God (Romans 1:1)
The Gospel is unto salvation (Ephesians 1:13).
The Gospel brings peace (Ephesians 6:15).
The Gospel brings hope (Colossians 1:23).

Through the Gospel--the death and resurrection of Christ--the thrice holy God, the Hater of all sin, the Purest of eyes that cannot look upon sin, and the perfectly just Judge that demands death as the only payment of sin, was wholly appeased by the bloody death of His beloved Son on the cross of Calvary. In order to redeem fallen and sinful man, it was absolutely necessary that Christ die. Christ satisfied divine justice through death and enabled God to forgive the sinner of all his offenses without being unjust Himself. God declares the guilty sinner righteous by faith alone in the Gospel of Christ’s redemptive work. Therefore, in a very real sense, Christ died for His Father’s sake, to satisfy and appease His holy wrath against sin.

At the very same time, Christ died for sinners to redeem them from their iniquities and transgressions. It is of utmost importance that you know the Gospel in truth and that you embrace it as your only hope of eternal life. There is only one saving Gospel. There is only one divine Gospel that you must believe and receive with your whole heart. It is urgent that you study the central and heart truths of the Gospel of the grace of God until they are written on your heart by the Spirit of God, and they have become the conviction and delight of your soul.

JESUS CHRIST THE ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE--The Lord Jesus Christ should be proclaimed as the acceptable sacrifice, because He alone was without sin and blemish. Because God the Father required a perfect sacrifice, it would have to be divine. That is, God Himself would have to be made a sacrifice to redeem fallen, sinful man. For this reason, God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem.

The prophet Isaiah declared that Christ did “no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). The writer of the book of Hebrews states that Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Later, the same writer penned: “For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). The Apostle Peter proclaimed: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). And the Apostle John added: “And ye know that He was manifest to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).

JESUS CHRIST THE VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE--The voluntary sacrifice of God in the giving of His Son and the voluntary offering of the body of the Son of God on the cross of Calvary highlight two very important things: the love of God and His grace. If the sacrifices of the Father and Son were voluntary, then we must recognize that, in the truest sense, if they had not been willing to make those sacrifices, there would be no salvation whatsoever for sinful men. Without their voluntary sacrifice, we would be destined to the sure damnation of eternal hell fire (Matthew 25:41). The disposition of God to give His Son as a sacrifice clearly demonstrates that God is the God of all grace (1 John 5:10). The disposition of the Son to offer His body on the cruel cross exemplifies that salvation is entirely of divine grace and not according to human decision or merit (John 1:13; 2 Timothy 1:9).

The voluntary sacrifice of the Father and the Son also emphasizes the love of God in all of its purity and perfection. Of His own free will, Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice. Of His own volition, Christ subjected Himself to all of the vilest intentions of wicked men, and at the same time, to all of the holy and judgmental wrath of the Father. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again” (John 10:17). “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18). “As Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2). “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

The most indisputable proof of selfless, true love is the laying down of one’s life for another (1 John 3:16). Christ voluntarily laid down His life for His friends on the cross of Calvary (John 15:13). By His sacrifice, He demonstrated the great unconditional and inexplicable love of God for a people that only deserve to be eternally judged in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.

JESUS CHRIST THE SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE--The sacrificial death of Christ was made in the place of a particular people. Christ was the substitute for a definite people. Jesus Christ
did not die generally for everyone, but He died particularly for a people determined by God. The particular and substitutionary sacrifice of Christ is prophetically revealed in the ministry of the high priest of the Old Testament every year when the Day of Atonement was celebrated on the tenth
day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (Leviticus 23:26-32). In the annual celebration of the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies in representation of the people of Israel to symbolically atone for their sins.

The substitutionary nature of the intercessory ministry of the high priest is clearly seen when we understand for whom he was fulfilling his priestly duties (the high priest symbolized the Lord Jesus Christ who would be our eternal Great High Priest and who would make one sacrifice forever by the sacrifice of Himself according to Hebrews 9:24-28). The high priest was commanded by God to wear an ephod. The ephod was a holy garment used exclusively by the high priest in the performing of his tabernacle service. There was an onyx stone on each of the shoulder pieces engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel--six names on one shoulder, and six names on the other (Exodus 28:6-12). Furthermore, connected to the ephod with chains of pure gold was the breastplate which included twelve precious stones. Each individual stone bore the engraving of one of the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:15-21).

These specific names testified that the high priest was fulfilling his priestly duties substitutionally on behalf of those whose names were engraved in the stones on his shoulders and on the breastplate close to his heart. The mediatorial work of the high priest was not general in nature, but rather particular, namely on behalf of the people of Israel. His labors were performed on behalf of a particular people who were identified by God Himself. The high priest was never free to make the holy sacrifice for whomever he desired, but only for those whom God determined would be the beneficiaries. The all-wise God decided who the high priest would substitutionally represent. God determined for whom the expiatory sacrifice would be offered every year on the Day of Atonement. The beneficiaries of the substitutionary death and the application of the shed blood were entirely established by God.

In the very same way, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest performed His mediatorial and redemptive work on the cross of Calvary. His faithful, substitutionary work was in favor of a particular people determined beforehand by God the Father. Jesus Christ did not come to do His own will, but the will of His Father. Jesus Christ did not die capriciously for those of His own choosing, but rather He died for the ones whom the Father had chosen to be the beneficiaries of His redemptive work. God the Father established the ones for whom Christ would die and for whose sins He would atone by the shedding of His blood.

Moreover, the substitutionary nature of the sacrifice offered by the high priest every year on the Day of Atonement displayed clearly its particular nature. The Israelites presented two male goats on the Day of Atonement. One male goat would have to die substitutionally to declare prophetically the expiatory aspect of the death of Christ. The other goat, also called the scapegoat, represented the second aspect of the redemptive work of Christ, which is the removal of sin forever from the presence of God. According to Leviticus 16:16-34, both the expiatory sacrifice of the first male goat and the liberation of the scapegoat in the desert were substitutionary. They were offered for “the uncleanness of the children of Israel” (16:16,19), for “all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins” (16:21), “for himself and for the people” (16:24), “for you....and all your sins before the Lord” (16:30), “for all the people of the congregation” (16:33), and “for the children of Israel” (16:34).

The sacrificed male goat and the liberated scapegoat on the Day of Atonement were not offered for the whole world of the gentiles; rather, they were offered particularly for the people of Israel. On the Day of Atonement, the sacrifice was put to death for a particular people, for particular sins, for particular transgressions, for particular iniquities, and for particular uncleanness.

In the same fashion, the death of Christ and His redemptive sacrifice on the cross were not made for everyone but rather for a particular and definite people. Christ died substitutionally for all who would truly believe in Him (John 3:16). Christ died substitutionally for all who would come to Him (John 6:37-39). Christ died substitutionally for all of His sheep (John 10:11,14-15). Christ died substitutionally for His people (Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:6,8,11-12). Christ died substitutionally for His brethren (Hebrews 2:9-12,17). Christ died substitutionally for all those that the Father gave to Him in the covenant of grace from eternity past (Hebrews 2:13-17; John 10:27-29, 17:2). Once for all by the sacrifice of Himself, Christ paid for and put away all the sins of all His people in all the world throughout all time (Hebrews 10:10-14, 9:11-12,28, 7:23-28).

JESUS CHRIST THE SIN-BEARING SACRIFICE--The satisfaction of the infinite holiness and righteousness of God required that all the sins of God’s chosen people be atoned for and punished. Therefore, it was necessary that Christ take upon Himself their sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). There on the cross of Calvary, God the Father laid upon Christ all the sins of all the people for whom He died (Isaiah 53:6,8). Every sin had to be addressed. Every sin had to be atoned for. Every sin had to be punished. Every sin had to be judged. God could not overlook even one sin of His people whom He would save.

Therefore on that old rugged wooden cross, God imputed to His Son all the sins of His people, from those of Adam, the first redeemed sinner in the Garden of Eden, unto those of the last sinner who will be saved before the end of the world. All the sins of all His people were laid upon Christ: all their wicked thoughts, all their idolatrous and abominable, false worship, all their heinous and blasphemous words, all their self-glorifying and diabolical motives, all their sinister plans, and all their rebellious and depraved acts. The Bible declares that Christ was made sin for His people (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:3). The Lord Jesus Christ, without any personal sin or guilt, took upon Himself our griefs. He bore our sins and sorrows. He was wounded and bruised; yea, He was chastised for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:4-5). Christ was the sin-bearer of all the sins of all His people on the cross of Calvary.

JESUS CHRIST THE PENAL SACRIFICE--Having borne all the sin of His people, it was absolutely necessary that divine judgment be meted out, fall upon, and crush Christ on the cross. The redemption of sinners demanded that the wages of sin be fully paid before sinful man could be redeemed.

What are the wages of sin? The only Biblical answer is death (Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4,20; Deuteronomy 27:26). Every sin, whether it be flagrant or insignificant before the eyes of man, must be atoned and punished with death. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). This is the very reason that it was necessary that Christ suffer and die (Luke 24:46). The redemption of God’s people required that Christ die in their place. Christ had to make a payment to ransom His people. Christ had to satisfy the required penal punishment that was demanded by the perfect justice of His Father (Galatians 4:4-5). God the Father sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to vindicate His righteousness and holiness through His death on the cross of Calvary (Romans 3:24-26).

God the Father made Jesus Christ a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10). As a propitiation, Christ was a sacrifice provided and punished by God. Christ’s death placated divine justice and the holy wrath of God against sinners. Thanks be unto God that Christ was our penal sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The Father poured out upon His Son all of His anger, fury, judgment, and holy wrath because of our sins. Christ paid what we justly should have paid.

Christ was made a curse for His people. The holy Father cursed His only Son on the cross to the end that the eternal curse would not come upon true believers in Christ in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Galatians 3:13). The incredible weight of sin was placed upon Christ, obligating the Father to righteously judge His Son due to our heinous and abominable sins. The anguish and distress of Christ was so great that He verbally cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Christ was made a penal sacrifice to satisfy the perfect righteousness of God, and at the same time, atone for all the sins of His people. The Apostle Paul explained the penal sacrifice of Christ with these words: “...that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

JESUS CHRIST THE EFFECTUAL SACRIFICE--The sacrifice of Christ was effectual. In other words, Christ achieved all of the divine goals set for Him in His redemptive work. Christ did not fail in any point or at any moment. The vocabulary of the New Testament declares that our salvation is a finished work accomplished in time past, that is, on the cross of Calvary. We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:14-16). Christ made our peace through His shed blood on the cross (Colossians 1:20). Christ delivered us from the fear and bondage of death by His death on the cross (Hebrews 2:14-15). Christ delivered us from this present evil world by giving Himself for our sins (Galatians 1:4). Our sins were put away once for all by His sacrifice (Hebrews 9:26,28). We were bought with the price of His shed blood on Calvary’s cross (1 Corinthians 6:20).
The efficacy of the death of Christ is seen in the very words of the Redeemer: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:37-39). “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12).

The efficacy of the death of Christ is that He perfectly fulfilled all that the Father required of Him (John 17:4). He accomplished all that the Father desired of Him, and consequently, He will enjoy all of the benefits obtained through His death (Isaiah 53:11-12). Everyone for whom Christ died and whose sins were effectually atoned for on Calvary’s cross will ultimately be quickened by the Holy Spirit and converted through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

JESUS CHRIST THE APPROVED SACRIFICE--Was the sacrifice of Christ accepted by God the Father? Was God satisfied with the bloody and seemingly impotent death of His Son at the hands of cruel and wicked men? Were all the conditions and demands of God’s eternally perfect character fully met by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross? The unequivocal and emphatic answer is an affirmative “YES,” without a shadow of a doubt.

How can we be so completely sure and confident that God was wholly gratified with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? How can we be so dogmatic that Christ was fully accepted as the penal substitute of His people? Is it not true that many people doubted regarding the person of Christ, His mission,
and His plan of redemption? On the third day after His death, being the first day of the week (Sunday), God the Father gave the clearest, plainest, and most public approbation of His total acceptance of what Christ did on the cross of Calvary. God approved Christ’s sacrifice by resurrecting Him from among the dead so that He would never die again. Just as fire descended from heaven upon the divinely accepted and approved sacrifices of Old Testament saints, God’s resurrection of His Son was the permanent testimony that Christ’s redemptive work was entirely pleasing to and accepted by Him. Christ’s redeeming sacrifice was totally approved by His Father by the undeniably empty tomb where He had been buried on the day of His death.

The New Testament saints clearly understood the glorious reality of God’s approbation of the death of His Son. Christ’s suffering and death were completely accepted by the Father through the resurrection. All that are in Christ by faith will be equally accepted, approved, and granted full, eternal privileges in the presence of God (Acts 2:22-36, 3:13-15; 1 Peter 2:21; Romans 6:4,9).

Christ was declared to be the approved sacrifice, not only by His resurrection from the dead, but also by His ascension to glory to sit down at the right hand of God the Father (Isaiah 52:13). God the Father was totally satisfied with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one can come to the Father, but by Him (John 14:6).

Jesus Christ is the only pleasing and divinely provided sacrifice by God for the salvation of sinners. If you do not come to God by way of Christ and His Gospel, you will never enter into His presence. If you place your trust and confidence in anything other than the consummated redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be lost and condemned forever. As God’s humble servant, I beseech you in Jesus’ name to repent of your sin and come to Christ by trusting in His death and resurrection. God’s acceptance of you does not depend upon your good works, but rather upon Christ’s perfect work. The salvation of sinners is through Christ’s redemptive work, not through the sinner’s religious works. God will save eternally and securely all that come to Christ in repentance and faith.

--written by Elder Bert Craft, Baptist Missionary in Oaxaca, Mexico

MY YEAR-END RITUAL: SAYING GOODBYE TO 2008 AND EMBRACING 2009

Bert Craft — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:54:00 GMT

The last days of an expiring year are very important to me. They are important because it is a time when I take inventory of my life. It is a time when I apply the three "R's": Remember, wRite, and Refocus.

REMEMBER: I must bring to my mind anew the special providences of God during the expiring year. I need to remember, meditate upon, and list on paper all of the circumstances, lessons, provisions, and demonstrations of the parental love of my heavenly Father to me throughout each of the past twelve months. I must get them down on paper for present and future profit. I am shamefully forgetful of past multiplied benefits and blessings. My natural tendency is, after having recognized them in praise and gratitude to God in the moment, to allow them to pass so easily and permanently into oblivion. The Bible admonishes us, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..." (Psalm 103:2). When I cross reference this verse, I see many Bible exhortations that remind me to remember systematically and perpetually the Lord's goodness and providence in my life:

"Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth" (Psalm 105:5).
"Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea" (Psalm 106:7).
"They forgat God their Savior, which had done great things in Egypt" (Psalm 106:21).
"And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deuteronomy 8:2-3).
"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:11-13).

When I shared this exercise with my family, one of my children piped up, "Daddy, does that also include the bad providences?" Yes, we recognize that God's sovereign hand reaches into every circumstance of our life....be that positive or negative in man's eyes. However, the Spirit and the Scriptures have taught us that in the life of the Spirit-regenerate child of God, there does not exist "bad providence." According to the faithful promise of Romans 8:28, every and all circumstances in the life of God's people are heaven-tailored for our spiritual profit and God's great glory. This does not mean that life's circumstances do not hurt. In spite of temporal anguish and difficulty, there is a calm confidence and an enduring peace that passes all understanding that our heavenly Father will bring lasting benefit through each earthly trial.

During the "Remember" phase, I scour our monthly calendars, our agendas, our appointment books, our personal journals, and whatever other resource I can lay my hands on to piece together chronologically and specifically the history of God's providence in my life throughout the past year. This exercise is so important. It fills my heart with awe, reverence, and thanksgiving before my heavenly Father. It reminds me of His faithfulness, goodness, mercy, patience, and grace. It enables me to envision more clearly the sustaining hand of God. It also lets me see that there are times seemingly richer and fuller and other times that are leaner and more mundane. This exercise makes me more of a student of God's providence and teaches me discernment.

After having established these year-end guiding principles in my life two years ago, I am more prone to take note of God's workings in my life. Knowing there will come a day when I have to "remember" all of these providences in a specific way, I begin in January with more diligence, frequency, and accuracy to make note of them. I have become more of a journaler of God's providence in my busy and full life.

The last aspect of the "Remember" phase is the making of two more lists. First, I list all of my lifetime mentors. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, "What hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). My mentors are those who have left an indelible and permanent mark on my life, my world view, and my person. They have left an enduring footprint on the sand of my heart. I cannot escape from their teaching and influence. It goes with me everywhere I go and makes me think and be the person that I am. For me, this list starts with my parents. After them, there are pastors, missionaries, men that have discipled me, deceased and living authors, and even a radio talk show host (Dave Ramsey).

Lastly, I list on paper those who have been used of the Lord to bless my life in a special way during the past year. In the last few days, I have made a list of over 20 individuals for the year 2008. Some have given into my bosom. Some have taught me. One has rebuked me in brotherly love as a true friend. Some have helped me in a special way in time of trial and trouble. Some have given me an opportunity to serve and be used of the Lord. Others have encouraged me in an unusual way. All these have been like angels ministering to me in ways that have caused me to bless and glorify God.

WRITE: In the first exercise of "Remembering," my heart has been ministered unto. Now, in the second phase of "wRiting," I minister to those who have blessed and ministered to me. I write letters, numerous letters. In each letter to my mentors and to those who have particularly blessed me, I relate to them how God has used them to be a blessing to me. Undoubtedly, this is an encouragement. To know that God has used me in some beneficial way during the last year is a strong encouragement to be faithful, persevere, and give of myself in the coming year. To let others know of their influence on my life blesses them greatly. It lets them know that all that I achieve and accomplish is partially credited to their impact on my life.

REFOCUS: Focus is very important to our individual accomplishments and success in the new year. Those without goals are vagabonds in life. They exist, but they do not grow and thrive. The lack of focus results in an overwhelming disorientation and confusion. To live without focus is like taking an expensive trip without predetermining where you want to go and how you are going to get there. To live without focus is to be an irresponsible steward of the time and talents with which God has so wonderfully blessed you.

The "Refocus" phase for me, includes clarifying and evaluating old goals and setting new ones in six areas of my life:

Personal: personal development, reading goals, learn instrument, new language, or other skill
Spiritual: Bible reading, study, and memorization, prayer life, church life, witnessing, service to others
Health: exercise, weight lifting, weight loss, diet, supplements
Financial: get out of debt, emergency fund, savings, budgeting, giving
Family: marital goals to sweeten marriage, child training, family altar, family reading goals
Career (Ministry): further education, increased income, start own business

In each of these areas, I set specific, written goals that will govern my life during the new year. This must be done on paper on purpose. Afterward, I break each yearly goal down into twelve month segments. These one month goals are broken down into four one week goals. Lastly, I break each goal down into some daily goal. Each day and week of the year, I am actively working toward my yearly goals. This gives incredible clear direction and focus for the coming year. Through this plan, I am now not a reactor to life's circumstances. With focus, goals, and a plan, I am proactive determining where I am going and how I am going to get there. I am now a man with a plan. I have planned my work, now it is time to work my plan. This is what I do during the last several days of every year. Won't you join me in being a (wo)man with a plan?

ABSOLUTE BIBLICAL ORDER IN BAPTISM

Bert Craft — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:52:00 GMT

God is not the author of confusion, but of definite, particular order. That order is divine order. That is order is Biblical order. That order is to be obeyed by all of God's regenerate people. ALL things are to be done decently and in Bible order (1Corinthians 14:33-40). Although the application of that truth may not have reached all areas of our lives, we still must believe that God's order must be respected, honored, and submitted to.

Biblical order in the ordinance of baptism is of serious importance. The Biblical requisites must be met if one's baptism is to be according to Biblical, divine order. Any baptism that does not fulfill Biblical order is defective, alien, and not God-honoring. Defective baptism is baptism of man: recognized, respected, and accepted of men......but not of God. "The baptism of John, was if from heaven or of men? Answer me" (Mark 11:30). At the same time remembering the words of our Lord Jesus, "....for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). Our approbation and acceptance must come from God and that will only take place when we do things according to His dictates and order, not our own (2Corinthians 10:18). Biblical order concerning baptism has four essential, Bible-based points:

1. CORRECT CANDIDATE--A Spirit-wrought, regenerate, believing disciple of Jesus Christ evidenced by spiritual, palpable fruit.

2. CORRECT MODE--The complete and total immersion in much water symbolically and accurately declaring the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. CORRECT MOTIVE--The proper motive is not for salvation or the obtaining of the pardon of sin, but rather to declare publicly and pictorially Christ's redemptive work and the true Gospel, to declare one's death to sin and resurrection unto righteousness, and to unite or be added to a New Testament church.

4. CORRECT AUTHORITY--The only Biblically-authorized administrator of the ordinance of baptism is a properly constituted church that holds to the apostolic faith and practice.

In the case of the pastors that I referred to in the state of XXXXXX, the one was baptized under a false Gospel by a church that I am unaware of. The other was baptized by a church that baptizes unconverted people....adults, not children.....with the hope that they will be converted at a later time.

The prostitution of the ordinance by the church in XXXXXX, XXXXX, was something that was done for expediency sake. For personal benefit and gain, they deemed unimportant the baptism of the members they received. They did not follow Biblical order and thereby became disorderly themselves.

I hope that this short explanation will satisfy your understanding. As we have talked extensively in time past, historic Baptists are a zealous people for divine truth and Bible order. In that the ordinances are symbolic of Christ, His person, and His redemptive work, to modify or alter them, as the Catholics and Protestants have freely done, is to declare an impure Gospel at best or at worst declare a gospel that is totally perverted.

***This was a portion of an answer to a question that I received via email concerning our practice of baptism on the mission field. The "XXXXX" are the intentional blotting out of proper names in respect of the involved parties. I trust that my sharing of this email correspondence will bring blessing to others and eternal glory to the Lord Jesus Christ!

FAULTY AND DESTRUCTIVE MISSIONARY PRACTICES

Bert Craft — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:22:00 GMT

A MISSIONARY DILEMMA

--this article was written by Fred Nimmo, former Baptist missionary to Alaska: "This paper is written at the request of many pastors, friends, and missionaries. It is not meant to be a complete work covering all mission fields. It is, however, my observations from several years in Alaska, and it does not necessarily reflect other mission fields.

I am not criticizing because I have made most of these mistakes myself and have learned by experience. However, after talking with other missionaries and pastors, and consulting many books, I find that some of the same problems are true in other areas as well."

Jesus Christ was a church builder. So was Paul and all his team. Christ died for the churches as we read in Acts 20:28. If this be so, then all of his present-day missionaries should be doing the same. How did Christ build his first ekklesia? We must find this out and duplicate His methods.

As we look at present-day missionary methods, we can see that so little is happening around the world; and especially in North America. There are hundreds of missionaries, but it seems that indigenous churches can be counted on one hand after 250 to 300 years of Gospel ministry. I began to ask myself, "Why?" I wondered why my ministry was not any more productive than the ministry of those of the past. After much careful research and a restudy of the Bible, I have come to the conclusion that there are so many things that have become a hindrance to building indigenous churches. It is no wonder that there are virtually none among the native inhabitants in this part of the world. Below, I hope to enumerate some of them.

There is a basic change that takes place from the classroom to the foreign field. It is subtle. I suppose all the Bible schools teach the missionary methods of Paul; but they are not practiced on the field. I believe I know why this happens.

1. There is a definite lack of trust of the native people and native Christians on the part of the missionary, and the missionary society. (It is not a lack of love, concern, or zeal for his soul.) This causes them to keep the native people, Christian and non-Christian alike, at a distance.

2. There is usually a lack of understanding of the people to be reached.

3. There is a failure to treat them as an equal, or to properly respect them. There is a failure to recognize the good qualities of their culture. We can learn so much from them.

4. A missionary almost without fail, goes in among the people independent of them rather than being dependent on them. The missionary and the people are almost invariably worlds apart financially. By this I mean that he goes in fully supported, buys his goods, food, clothes, etc., from the outside world and brings in loads of items which makes him look super-rich in the eyes of the people. This results in building a "little America" in a foreign land. It may be a necessity to protect the family, but it is a hindrance in the long run. When crisis comes, he leaves. Always his strong permanent ties are with home and family elsewhere. This makes the native people feel uncomfortable. It says to the native man, "You don't like my food. You don't like my clothes. You don't like my way of life. You don't like my country; therefore you don't like me." "Therefore, I don't like you, I hope you get out of my land!"

5. There is a lack on the part of the missionary of understanding that he is in a foreign land, even though he might be in Alaska, Navajo land, Canada or Greenland, etc. The missionary should learn to play down his own culture.

6. Feeling sorry for them, because of their background, culture, or economics.

7. Becoming an over-indulging parent to the people. This results in oversupplying their needs, and actually perpetuating a covert type of rejection. The people can feel this but are not able to explain it. They know that it is there. This is paternalism.

8. Never permitting them to stand on their own two feet. This cheats them out of exercising the faith God has given to them, even as you and me. This creates a dependency factor in the people and causes them to look to the missionary, society, and the U.S. in an improper fashion. This keeps them babes in Christ and denies them many basic tenets of the Bible. This causes the missionary to be the Christ, instead of Christ being the Provider as He said He would do. All the missionary has to do is supposedly say a prayer to God, write home in his monthly letters, state numerous needs, get the churches and pastors to provide them, and the people don't have to do a thing. The new reading of Philippians 4:19 is "But my missionary shall supply all my needs according to his riches in the headquarters by the mission board." Then we wonder why they say it is the "white man's religion."

In this instance, it is. It surely is not his own. He has made no investment into it. The missionary handles the offerings, signs all the checks, handles all the legal papers, so he becomes the boss, pays all the bills, pays men to preach for him, doles out the food, clothes, medicine, and other services. He becomes the religious welfare agent. What is almost universally practiced in Alaska and the north, is a Christianized, Socialistic, Religious Welfare System. I can see no basic difference in this and what the government is doing. Overgiving and destroying their initiative is the end result. The people should handle their own finances, and the missionary should put his tithes and offerings in his home church that sent him out. This would eliminate loads of problems and financial difficulties on the foreign field if this method were practiced.

9. As you can see, all the foregoing sets up a foreign element in the city or village, and also a foreign religion. Naturally the people resent this. I can understand and sympathize with their feelings. Of course, this requires a foreign agent to handle all of its affairs.

10. Another problem is that the church that is started in this manner is never their own. It is always controlled by a source outside the city or village; whether it be controlled by a bishop, another country, or a religious organization. They are never independent and on their own. This sets up an episcopal type of church government instead of the Theocratic and congregational type. This is something Baptists have always rejected, but somehow they enthusiastically support it on the foreign field. How many times have you heard someone say, "I have so many churches that I oversee." "They are in my care," says the modern missionary. Is this what the Bible teaches? Is there a double standard?- one for independent churches in the U.S. and another for the foreign field?

11. Calling in another missionary when he leaves, or goes on furlough, thus telling the people that they are not capable of handling their own affairs or making decisions for their future. The native people reject this.

12. Never commending them to the Lord on whom they believe. See: Acts 14:21-23. Commend means to take them out of the care or bank account of the starting church and missionary, and depositing the new baby church into the account of God who alone is able to take care of them. Then the missionary's job becomes one of encouraging, praying for, writing letters to, visiting them occasionally and building them up in the faith.

This makes a church indigenous, or self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating. Because Christ is now its head, it has a pastor from the native people and they can pray directly to God. He is all they need. Just as we feel here in the states and sing the song "He's
All I Need;" so can they. We never permit churches on the foreign field to become Bible Believing Baptist churches making their own decisions. There is one native church in Alaska that has made their own decision concerning buying and selling land by the natives themselves and a purchase of a $600.00 printing set. Not a dime was asked, expected, or received from the missionary. They are also considering a Bible school and sending out missionaries themselves.

13. Not leaving at God's appointed time. A missionary should go into a place with the people expecting him to leave shortly. They are immediately geared to the idea that they must take over, and that the missionary won't be there to do it for him. Many missionaries stay on and on, and thus become the added element (or cancer) that hinders or possibly destroys the church he started by never turning it over to native leadership.

14. This point is closely related to point 13. Many missionaries consider never leaving their field, or going with the philosophy that I will die there. God never intended this; for if we follow the plan of the apostle Paul; he went on to other cities preaching the Word. So the missionary of God must move on to other places.

15. Owning the property of the church on the foreign field is a great hindrance to them. They have a built-in resentment of this. We have disdain for the financial institutions who hold the mortgages of properties in our country. It is multiplied in the minds of the native baby Christians in other lands of someone in the U.S. owns and has legal title to their property.

It means that if that new church doesn't go along with the owners at home they can be evicted from their churches. That is why we have the independent Baptist movement. This actually happens all the time among the Indians and Eskimos of North America. Some headquarters, somewhere, thousands of miles from the native people own what the native people should own. The churches on the field should pay for, build, and operate their own buildings. But the hangup comes when the property is owned by a foreign missionary society; then the outside element has to pay for the building. The native people will not and do not see the need of paying for or taking care of someone else's building. Another great hindrance is overbuilding.

The money is raised in the states and pays for "their" building; which is usually too large, too elaborate, too much of a western style and not fitting into their own background and the type they could and would care for.

16. Therefore, I believe one of the best things we can do for a new native church in a foreign culture, is to operate on the "don't give them a dime" theory. This way, they expect no handouts and immediately become dependent on Christ and not on the missionary. This builds a self respect which is so badly needed among the native of North America.

17. Building a church on a denomination, idea, philosophy and/or on the missionary instead of on Christ and the Bible. I Corinthians 3:11.

18. Pushing a system on the people that they do not want. They usually get more than the gospel. They get provincialisms from all parts of the states and Europe: holidays, christmas trees, traditions, dogs, cats, bugs, hangups, diseases and ideas they don't need; all in the name of Christianity.

HAVE MODERN CHURCHES BECOME A DEN OF THIEVES: Robbing Christ's Headship

Bert Craft — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:34:00 GMT

We continue with our series on "Have Modern Churches Become A Den Of Thieves." According to our first article, we believe that some modern churches have become a den of thieves because, from the pulpit to the pew, they have robbed God of His matchless glory. They have taken what rightly and exclusively belongs to God and heaped it upon themselves or other men, or in some cases, on their programs, their methodology, or other aspects of their ministry. These have been accredited for their results and success. The Scriptures speak clearly to this abominable human thought in 2Corinthians 5:18 when it states that "ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD" so that all of the glory will be completely His. Success is never due to human instrumentality or ingenuity, for God alone is truly the one that gives the increase (1Corinthians 3:7).

We also believe that many modern churches have become a den of thieves because they have robbed Christ of His headship. We firmly believe that Christ and Christ alone is the only head of all true, Biblically-constituted, divinely-ordered, doctrinally and practically sound, New Testament churches. He is the only head because He has been so designated by the heavenly Father. He is not head over some falsely-interpreted, Protestant-contrived, nebulous, universal, and invisible body called the "universal, invisible church," but rather Christ is the active, governing, overseeing, and administrative head over all of His local churches throughout the whole world. As in holy matrimony, every man is the only head over his own wife, so Christ is the only head over each one of His local, visible churches (Ephesians 5:23-24).

Ephesians 1:20-22: "Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places....and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church."
Colossians 1:18-19: "And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell."

As head over the church, Christ is the final determinater of all that is done in a New Testament church. Christ is subject to no one. Christ's will cannot be checked or called into question. He has the final say in all matters. He is the only, absolute authority in a church. Christ is the only boss. No pastor, counsel of elders, or denominational hierarchy outside the confines of the local church are to take the place of or usurp Christ's sole headship and government in the New Testament church. All who would do so, are thieves robbing Christ of His headship.

This brings us to a sacred cow of many: namely that the church is a democracy. The idea that the church is a democracy robs Christ of His headship. In a democracy, the majority rule and their will is carried out. As Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president and author of the Declaration of Independence, stated: "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." To the outsider, yes, the internal workings of a New Testament church appear to be a democracy as each member has a vote in the church's business meeting. But to those of us who know the yoke of Christ, and His absolute and sovereign right to rule, we do not deem the church to be a democracy, but rather a theocracy....God ruling over His people by Christ and His Word. Furthermore, the late J.R. Rushdooney stated that a democracy is the enemy of theocracy, the rule of God. A New Testament church is not to be mob ruled, but Christ ruled. Christ's rule is the rule of God through the Word and a democracy form of church government is the enemy of divine headship. Let us not be found to be a den of thieves robbing Christ of His headship.

The church's business meeting is a time when the church members unite their hearts and minds to discern the will of Christ over His church. The church business meetings does not serve as a sounding board for personal opinions, personal bias, and personal preferences, but rather is a concerted, disciplined, and spiritual exercise to determine the will of the church's Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. The accompanying vote is not a vote of the expression of my personal desire or will, but rather a time to manifest my agreement with the expressed and discerned will of Christ, to promote a sense of submission to Christ, and also to solidify a sense of unity with others who heartily love Christ, His church and His perfect will.

Let's be honest, most of us know so little about this kind of humble spirit and practice. Most of us want to be heard and taken into consideration. Many of us want to have preeminence. Many of us, through pride, fight with the spirit of Diotrephes, if not with his practice. We have too long been robbers of Christ's sovereign headship in His church. In many churches, there are no business meetings to discern Christ's Word and will in church matters. If there are church business meetings, they are often dominated by schisms, disunity, and divisions. Some pastors and elder-rule assemblies do not involve the church membership in the process of church matters. How many have grossly robbed Christ of His headship in His own church. Old fashioned, God-fearing, family men do not like when someone tries to interfere with their headship in their home and their divinely-appointed responsibility to govern their family for Christ's glory. Christ is infinitely more zealous of His heavenly Father-appointed responsibility to be the head over all things in the church.

We are not against elder leadership and pastoral rule in a New Testament church. Spiritual leadership, guidance, wisdom, experience, and godly counsel is a great blessing. In the New Testament, the passages that refer to the ruling elders of the church use the Greek word "proistemi" which consistently signifies to preside over, to watch for, or to be vigilant in care of. Wise elders of a New Testament church will be diligent to watch over and care for the souls that are under their spiritual jurisdiction. Similarly, the godly husband is equally exhorted in the Scriptures that he rule his house and children, not as a Lord, master, or boss; but rather as an exemplary, spiritual guide, watching and caring for each one's needs, education, training, and spiritual instruction.

Spiritual elders, centered on Christ and His Word, will encourage Christ-centerdness in the church and a consuming passion for the glory of God through the seeking out and fulfillment of His will. This is a great need in our day: spiritually, Christ-consumed men who live the blessed motto of John the Baptist: "He must increase, but I must decrease," and promote this same spirit within their congregations so that Christ rules over His people effectually for the glory of God and is evermore recognized as the only governing Head in the New Testament church.

May the Holy Spirit grant repentance to the acknowledging of the truth in this matter of robbing Christ's headship. To God alone be all the honor and glory forevermore is my most earnest prayer!

HAVE MODERN CHURCHES BECOME A DEN OF THIEVES: Robbing God's Glory

Bert Craft — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:24:00 GMT

By way of my missionary travels, I have been in, or in contact with, probably more than a thousand churches in the last twenty-five years. These churches have been in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Chile, Cuba, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Spain, Canada, and, of course, the United States of America. It has been my privilege, in the providence of God, to meet some of the most godly men and spiritual churches upon the face of the earth. My personal life, my family, and the ministry to which the Lord has called me, have been greatly enriched by these experiences.

However, in my travels and ministry, I have been awakened to a number of churches, ministries, and pastors, who instead of being the salt and light of the earth, are more like a "den of thieves" as Jesus coined the term. Jesus referred to these evil men as He made His way into Jerusalem and the temple in the final days of His life. Upon seeing those who bought and sold and misused the temple as a way to obtain personal gain, He zealously overthrew their tables and chairs. He drove them out, declaring, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves."

I have often wondered if Jesus were to come to modern day churches, what would be His reaction? Would He see modern day churches, like those of the first century, praying, beseeching, fasting, and interceding? Would He find them ever conforming to and obeying the commands and purposes of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or would He find them to be a den of thieves? I believe there are modern day churches that are a den of thieves. They have altered the purpose for the house of God. They have modified the original intent of the church of God. Whether in ignorance or willful intent, they have robbed God.

As I write this, I hear the murmuring criticism of some, like in the days of Malachi, who question: "Wherein have we robbed Thee?" What have we stolen from Thee? Wherein have we defrauded Thee? These questions strike deeply at the spiritual ignorance and rebellion of our day. We are ignorant of our sins, because we are ignorant of God and His Word! We are ignorant of our imperfections, because we are ignorant of His perfections! May God grant us grace to recognize how we as modern day churches have robbed God and become a den of thieves.

We have robbed God and become a den of thieves because we have stolen His glory. All glory, without exception, belongs to God. "Unto HIM be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages" (Ephesians 3:21). "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). "Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

God does not share His glory with anybody or anything. "I am the Lord: that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8). "...I will not give my glory unto another" (Isaiah 48:11). God is eternally zealous concerning His own glory. He will not permit another to receive the glory that only belongs to Him. In fact, God curses those who will not glorify Him solely and exclusively. "If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings, yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart" (Malachi 2:2).

How rare to find a modern church that breathes, exists, and pants after the glory of God. A church that prays for God's glory. A church that longs to see God exalted and Christ magnified. A church that denies itself personal comfort and ease so that God will be glorified. We have stolen God's glory by time watching during the sermons, and by our many personal demands and exigencies. We have turned our churches into man-centered and man-praising institutions. We are quick to give the praise and honor to a man rather than to God. We pat ourselves on the back as if we have done it, not recognizing the font from Whom all blessings flow. Yes, sadly we have robbed God of His glory.

We have sung the praises of men so long, that we do even remember how to properly from the heart praise God and give Him all the glory. We have lauded men with honorary doctorates and so many different worldly-esteemed titles, that we fail to recognize that without God, we can do nothing. We have overlooked the reality that God has chosen the foolish things of this world, the weak things, the base things, the despised things, and the things that are not, to destroy the wisdom of this world, to remove all vain glory and boasting, and to promote the glory of God. We glory in our pastors, in our programs, and in our ministerial success to the point that God is just an afterthought. We sing, "To God Be The Glory," but we in turn give all the verbal praise and recognition to men. We have forgotten the apostolic admonition, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1Corinthians 10:31).

Man's ego is always in competition with the glory of God. Spiritual politics, ladder climbing, and religious hierarchy is always a disastrous threat to the glory of God. Where men are considered of utmost importance and value, where men are placed upon pedestals, where there is spiritual jockeying for position, fame, or opportunity, you can be sure that God's glory has been trampled upon and, almost, totally forgotten. These are abominable practices of our modern churches that rob God of His eternal glory. It has well been said that success has ruined more in the ministry than hardship and difficulty. Why? Because men have tried to take credit for what has been done. God will not share His glory with anyone, not even a big-named, famous, and successful preacher or church!

Many of our strong, local church, Historic Baptist men, have stooped so low as to glory in the church rather than in the church's Lord. We have gloried in her unbroken perpetuity without giving praise to Him who preserves her in utmost faithfulness through every storm and trial from Palestine to the present. We have caused men to admire the church and her virtues instead of her Head and Saviour from whom she obtains her reflected beauty. What is the church apart from Christ? What beauty does she have apart from Christ? What perpetuity does she have apart from Christ? What lasting impact upon our world does she have apart from Christ? What privileges does she have apart from Christ? What eternal glory as the bride does she distinctly possess apart from Christ? The church is nothing, absolutely nothing, an eternal nothing without the particular, redeeming, and sanctifying love and purpose of her Lord and Saviour! We must not glory in that which He created, even if it is created with great honor, but we must glory in Christ alone. He alone is all in all. We are complete in Him. We are saved and redeemed by Him.

In following, I hope to suggest some Biblical counsels, I trust, based on the Scriptures alone, for making a church a God-glorifying institution:

1. Make all aspects of the church Christ-centered, Christ-preeminent, Christ-focused, and Christ-exalting. Eliminate anything that draws attention away from Christ, from His character, His will, His work, His Word, His glory, His honor, and His praise. The church was never founded so that we might admire and glory in the apostles or other godly men. The church was founded so that in ALL things Christ might have the preeminence. The church was not founded to honor heroes, military men, missionaries, pastors, or any other human beings. The church was not founded to honor the state, state officials, or local authorities. The church was founded to honor and glorify Christ alone. Who has the right to introduce into church worship of the Lord Jesus Christ a practice that was not started by Christ in His earthly ministry?

2. Develop the church with a complete equality amongst men and women, rich and poor, master and slaves, and educated and ignorant. The church must truly not have any respect of persons. All men must be seen and accepted as equals. Christ is the only Head and Legislator. While men honor, esteem and promote one another, Christ will never have His rightful place. Only as men humbly submit one to another as equal brethren, will there be the capacity for Christ alone to be glorified and have the preeminence.

3. Establish the church so that it is identified with Christ alone and not with some human personality. By that, I mean, a church should not be known by a "Diotrephes" (3John 1:9), by a "Jezebel" (Revelation 2:20), or by some other famous singer, preacher, or other important public personality. The church should never be recognized as the church of the Apostle John, or the Apostle Paul, or of Dr. Hot Stuff. The church should publicly and privately be identified with Christ.

4. Make the church so that she is recognized as having only one Head and Legislator. To say this is a convention church, an associational church, or a certain fellowship church is to rob God of His glory and His headship and authority over His own church. The church must be recognized as having only one Head in all things.

5. Make the church so that there is no competition in titles, responsibilities, or in spiritual gifts. God has sovereignly granted to each member his spiritual capacity and participation in the body. There should be a zealous effort made to make each member recognize this fact so as to avoid all jealousy and envy. As Paul stated, "I am what I am by the grace of God." Each member participates in the church body life as God has sovereignly gifted him. Each member should be wholly thankful for His own gifts and ministry, and equally thankful for the spiritual gifts and ministry of others.

6. Teach the church constantly that the supreme motive in all things is the glory of God. The glory of God is more important than mens' reputations, pastoral careers, numerical growth, and the applause and accolades of men. The church body must be taught the first point of the Baptist Catechism: "What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

May this article cause us to reevaluate our church life, bring repentance to where there is sinful deviation from God's will, and instill in our hearts a renewed love and appreciation for the great and eternal glory of God who alone is worthy of all honor and praise. To Him alone be all the glory now and forevermore. AMEN!

WHY GOD ALLOWS SICKNESS & WEAKNESS IN HIS MINISTERS

Bert Craft — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:39:00 GMT

Mysterious are the visitations of sickness. When the Lord is using a man for His glory, it is remarkable that He should suddenly smite him down and suspend his usefulness. It must be right, but the reason for it does not lie near the surface.

The sinner whose every act pollutes the society in which he moves is frequently permitted year after year to spend unabating vigor infecting all who approach him. No sickness removes him even for an hour from his deadly ministry. He is always at his post, energetic in his mission of destruction.

How is it that a heart eager for the welfare of men and the glory of God should find itself hampered by a sickly frame, and limited from its best usefulness by attacks of painful disease? We may ask the question (as long as we do so without murmuring), but who shall answer it for us?

Would it be good for us to have all things so ordered by God that we could see the reason for His every arrangement? Could the scheme of divine love be so supremely, infinitely, wise if we could measure it with our limited powers of reasoning? And would we not be as foolish and conceited as spoiled and over-petted children, if all things were arranged according to our judgment of what would be right and proper?

Ah, it is good to be thrown out of our depth and made to swim in the sweet waters of mighty love! We know that it is supremely blessed to be compelled to cease from self, to surrender both desire and judgment, and to lie passive in the hands of God.

It is of the utmost importance to us to be kept humble. Self-consciousness and self-importance make a hateful delusion, but one into which we fall as naturally as weeds grow on a dunghill. We cannot be used of the Lord, but that we also dream of personal greatness. We think ourselves almost indispensable to the church; pillars of the cause, and foundations of the temple of God!

We are nothings and nobodies, but that we think otherwise is very evident, for as soon as we are put on the shelf, we begin anxiously to enquire, 'How will the work go on without me?' The fly on the coach wheel may just as well enquire, 'How will the mails be carried without me?'

Far better men have been laid in the grave without the Lord's work having been brought to a standstill, and shall we fume and fret, because for a short season, we must lie upon the bed of languishing? If we were laid aside only when it was obvious that our services could be spared, then there would be no jolt to our pride, but to weaken our strength at the precise moment when our presence seems most needed is the surest way to teach us that we are not essential to God's work, and that even when we are most needed, He can easily do without us. If this be the practical lesson, the rough schooling may be easily endured, for surely it is desirable beyond all things that self should be kept low and the Lord alone magnified.

May not severe discipline fall to the lot of some to qualify them for their office of under-shepherds? How can we speak with consoling authority to a situation which we have never known? The complete pastor's life will be an epitome of the lives of his people, and they will turn to his preaching, as men do to David's psalms, to see themselves and their sorrows, as in a mirror. Their needs will be the reason for his griefs.

As in the case of the Lord Himself, perfect equipment for His work came only through suffering, and so must it be for those who are called to follow Him in binding up the broken-hearted, and loosing the prisoners.

Souls still remain in our churches to whose deep and dark experiences we shall never be able to minister till we also have been plunged in the abyss where all Jehovah's waves roll over our heads. If this be the fact - and we are sure it is - then may we heartily welcome anything which will make us fitter channels of blessing. For the elect's sake, it shall be joy to endure all things, and to bear a part of - 'that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church'.

It may be, alas, that there are different and far more humiliating causes for our bodily afflictions! The Lord may see in us that which grieves Him and provokes Him to use the rod. 'Show me wherefore Thou contendest with me', should be the prompt petition of the believer's heart. 'Is there not a cause?'

It can never be superfluous to humble ourselves and institute self-examination, for even if we walk in our integrity and can lift up our face without shame in this matter concerning great sin, yet our shortcomings and omissions must cause us to blush. How much holier we out to have been, and might have been! How much more prevalently we might have prayed! With how much more unction we might have preached! Here is endless room for tender confession before the Lord.

Yet it is not good to attribute each sickness and trial to some actual fault, as though we were under the law, or could be punished again for those sins which Jesus bore in His own body on the tree. It would be ungenerous to others if we looked upon the greatest sufferer as necessarily the greatest sinner. Everyone knows that it would be unjust so to judge our fellow-Christians, and therefore we shall be very unwise if we apply so erroneous a rule to ourselves and morbidly condemn ourselves when God condemns not.

Just now, when anguish fills the heart, and the spirits are bruised with sore pain and travail, it is not the best time for forming a candid judgment of our own condition, or of anything else. Let the judging faculty yield to good sense, and let us with tears of loving confession throw ourselves upon our Father's bosom, and looking up into His face believe that He loves us with all His infinite heart. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,' shall be our one unvarying determination, and may the eternal Spirit work in us a perfect acquiescence in the whole will of God, whatever that may be.

--by C.H. Spurgeon, edited by Bert Craft, taken from an article entitled, "Laid Aside--Why?," out of the book, "The Suffering Letters of C.H. Spurgeon," published by Wakeman Trust, London.

DYING TESTIMONY OF A PRESENT DAY BAPTIST PREACHER

Bert Craft — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:32:00 GMT

I recently received the following email from an Independent Baptist pastor that I met several years ago while vacationing with my elderly parents in South Carolina. Since then, I have received frequent emails from him sharing dying testimonies of saints and sinners, and also devotional readings by C.H. Spurgeon. I thought you might find blessing in his faith as he confronts a very imminent death and makes preparations. Please pray for him and his family as God puts them on your heart.

Dear Friends,
    There are times in our lives that we experience new things that bring us great pleasure and satisfaction. Sometimes it is something we have learned or accomplished that fills us with exceeding great joy and or happiness. I wish to share some wonderful news with you. I hope you will rejoice with me.
    For 36 years now I have been deeply interested in the next life. I am speaking about the life of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; the Christian. I have read hundreds of stories that tell of the experiences of people as they are dying. It is clear that there is a spiritual world around us that we do not see until the very last.
    I have been fascinated with the thought of Heaven ever since Christ saved me in 1971. My Daddy asked me to promise him that I would meet him in heaven just a few days before he died in 1964. I was a 14 year old boy and I made the promise, but I didn't know how to go to heaven until Pastor Glenn Hill explained it to me in 1971. It was on a Wednesday night, February 3 that the Lord Jesus Christ saved me and changed my life. For the first time in my life I experienced real abiding joy and peace. God gave me a reason to live and called me to preach His Gospel. For several years now I have had an intense desire to go to heaven. I cannot explain it, but my wife will back up my words that I have been telling her I had a gut knowledge that my departure time was drawing near.
    I got back home from the VA Hospital in Charleston, SC on Friday. I have several malignant tumors in my brain. They say I have from three months to a year to live, but they are not in charge; God owns every ounce of me and when He says time is up I will leave this world and not until then. Please pray that the pain will go away and stay away. Also, please ask the Dear Lord Jesus to give me grace to face this trial like a good soldier. I want Him to receive glory and honor out of this, because He deserves it. I am the blessed one. I get to go to heaven and live with God in a place that is as perfect as God could make it. It is going to be so good and Christ has paid for everything. I love you, my dear friends. It will not be long before our Heavenly Father will gather all of us together and we will never have to say good-bye again.
    I am not afraid; Jesus has given me great peace. This is going to be the greatest experience of my life. I will be with Jesus and it doesn't get any better than that. Please pray for my wife and family because this is going to hurt them immensely. If you really want to do something to help me, then please help my wife to get by emotionally and financially. Some of you have already helped and I do thank you from the bottom of my heart. Those of you who have helped in the church services will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ.


    ~Pastor George W. Ray~
    Friendship Baptist Church
          October 29, 2007

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, February 20, 2008, I received my monthly mail package from my home church in which was included a "Thank You" card postmarked January 25, 2008, from the wife of Pastor George Ray. The following is the entire handwritten contents of the "Thank You" card:

"Mr. and Mrs. Craft,

I am writing to say thanks for the book and check. I have to tell you that Pastor Ray went to heaven on January 13th. I miss him very much but I know he is happy and wouldn't come back if he could...like the book says "All Things For Good." I know God has a reason for everything. Please keep me in your prayers. I will read the book. Thanks a lot.

Mrs. Ray"

PREACHERS SHOULD BE SONS OF THUNDER

Bert Craft — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:06:00 GMT

"When men don't preach much about the danger of damnation, there is want of good preaching...If sinners don't hear often of Judgment and Damnation, few will be converted...Ministers should be sons of thunder: men had need have storms in their hearts, before they will betake themselves to Christ for refuge....If they be but thoroughly convinced of their danger, that will make them go to God and take pains."

--Samuel Stoddard, predecessor of Jonathon Edwards, Northhampton, Massachusettes, 1723, as quoted in "Daniel Rowland And The Great Evangelical Awakening In Wales," by Eifion Evans

CONVERSION IS MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE OF DOCTRINE

Bert Craft — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:57:00 GMT

"With the heart man believes to salvation. Although a man has believed some body of divinity, unless those principles which he has believed in his head have taken root in his heart so that he loves God's Son, rejoices in His salvation, denies himself, takes up his cross, follows the Lamb through all manner of reproach, his knowledge only makes him boast. He is blind and cannot see far. He has never felt the authority of God's grace within, and how can such a person love the Saviour of the World?"

--taken from "Daniel Rowland And The Great Evangelical Awakening In Wales" by Eifion Evans

THE MOST EFFECTUAL AND IMPACTING MINISTRY EXALTS CHRIST

Bert Craft — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:49:00 GMT

"It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all remembrance, that the ministry which exalts Christ crucified most, is the ministry which produces most lasting effects." --J.C. Ryle

TRUE, EFFECTUAL PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF DANIEL--The Proper Spirit In Prayer

Bert Craft — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:02:00 GMT

Having defined proper and Biblical motivations for prayer, exemplified in the life of Daniel, I now turn to the proper spirit that must be maintained for true, effectual prayer. We cannot enter into God's presence flippantly. We must not be presumptuous. However, on the other hand, we must not be timid. We must seek to cultivate a proper spirit in prayer that is pleasing to God, that is not offensive to His nature and attributes, and that will be conducive to a favorable, divine answer. Daniel modeled a proper spirit in prayer as manifested by Daniel 9:3-4:

"And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments."

In regards to a proper spirit in prayer, first, I would manifest that there is a need for a spirit of joyful recognition and submission to the sovereignty of God and His will. In prayer, Daniel directed himself to the "Lord God" which literally in Hebrew is "Adonai Elohim." Verbalizing his prayer, he said, "O Lord (this is the divine name Adonai), the great and dreadful God...." The word "Adonai" is taken from a Hebrew root word that means to rule. The divine name, Adonai, is God's self-declaration that He is the absolute ruler over all things. God sovereignly declares the end from the beginning which means He brings to pass by His omnipotence all that He determined and declared He would to do from eternity past; and by this ability, distinguishes Himself as superior to all other gods and all of creation (Isaiah 46:9-11). God sovereignly acts according to the good pleasure of His will, according to that which He has purposed in Himself, and according to the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:5,9,11). God is sovereign in heaven, on earth, and in hell (Psalm 135:6). God sovereignly rules over all (Psalm 103:19). He rules over the angels, the wickedly heinous devil, and the hideous demons. He rules over nations, kings, and civil authorities. He rules over depraved, unregenerate men, His people, and His churches. He rules over all earthly circumstances without exception and governs in all the affairs of men. He sovereignly rules all of creation, visible and invisible, and there is none that can thwart, delay, obstruct, or impede the fulfilling of His sovereign, omnipotent, and all-wise will (Daniel 4:35).

Daniel sought the face of God in prayer with his heart set upon the Sovereign God and His immutable will. Prayer must never be AGAINST the will of God, but always in ACCORDANCE to His eternal, sovereign will. It has been said, "Prayer changes things." Yes, how gloriously true! Yet, prayer has never changed God, His eternal purpose, or His immutable will. Daniel's prayer to God was not that He would change His eternally-determined purpose toward His people, toward His beloved city, Jerusalem, or toward the glorious, Solomon-built temple where God in time past was truly worshiped according to the dictates of the Mosaic law. Daniel's pleading was according to the revealed, sovereign will of God as he read and studied in the book of Jeremiah 29:10-14.

God's people must seek God's face resting and trusting in Him: in His sovereignty, in His omnipotence, in His goodness, in His wisdom, and in His right to do and govern, to save and to destroy, to raise up and humble, to make rich and poor, and to give or withhold. The spirit of joyful submission to the sovereignty of God is not through lip service or saying certain words before the Lord in prayer. Rather, the spirit of joyful recognition and submission to the Sovereign God is birthed out of a God-wrought, Bible-instilled passion to seek the majestic glory of God in all aspects of life. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do ALL to the glory of God" (1Corinthians 10:31). Daniel's heart was set on God's glory, not his personal relief, comfort, or well-being.

Secondly, in regards to a proper spirit in effectual prayer, we must learn to cultivate a spirit of earnestness and fervency in prayer. Daniel set his face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Prayer in Daniel's life, was a not a passive, nonchalant activity, but one for which he prepared his heart and soul. True, effectual prayer is not read, said, memorized, or emptily repeated. True, effectual prayer comes forth from the heart...not just any heart, but a heart that is inflamed with God, with His will, and with His glory. This is one of the great errors of modern, American Christianity--its lack of earnestness, fervency, and wholeheartedness. There is little heart preparation to seek the Lord. There is virtually no passion for the things of God. There is little self-humbling before the Lord. There is little earnestness in our intimate communion with God. There is little earnestness in the confession of our sins. There is little earnestness in our discerning God's will. There is little earnestness in the heart-exaltation of Christ. There is little earnestness in our worship. There is little earnestness in our praying. There is little earnestness in our preaching. There is little earnestness in our evangelism. There is little earnestness in our service. Our lives are not consumed with God and it shows in most areas of our lives and especially in our praying. May God grant us wholehearted and life-changing repentance!

Daniel's fervency and earnestness in prayer are revealed in what accompanied his prayers, namely, his fasting, his covering with sackcloth, and sitting in ashes. Many of the Old and New Testament saints exemplified an earnest spirit in prayer with varying accompaniments. Their prayers were often accompanied with:

Shaving the head (Job 1:20-21)
Sitting in ashes (Job 2:8)
Sprinkle dust upon the head (Job 2:12; Joshua 7:6)
Wearing sackcloth (2Kings 19:1)
Tearing or renting garments (2Samuel 13:31)
Fasting (Deuteronomy 9:18)
Bitter crying (1Samuel 1:10)
Making a vow (1Samuel 1:11)
Strong crying and tears (Hebrews 5:7)
Smiting the breast (Luke 18:13)
Rending the heart (Lamentations 2:19)
Sweating profusely (Luke 22:44)

These accompanying acts to prayer did not give any more favor to their prayers before God. Remember that answered prayer does not depend upon personal merit, but on the merits of Christ. All of the spiritual blessings that we have and receive through prayer are in and because of Christ (Ephesians 1:3). God is impressed with the impeccable merits of His dear Son, not with anything that we could do in the flesh. However, these accompanying acts to their prayers were the manifestation of their sincerity, their wholeheartedness, and their earnestness before God. Prayer was not an afterthought. Prayer consumed their whole being. They were given over to prayer, and God delighted in answering them. This is the spirit we need in prayer today....prayer that consumes us, prayer that is preceded by preparation, prayer that involves our whole being, prayer that is passionate.

Thirdly, in regards to the proper spirit of effectual prayer, I would manifest that we need to cultivate a spirit of humility and contrition. Humility speaks of a proper concept of ourselves before God. Without the knowledge of God, we cannot have knowledge of ourselves. To know God is to know ourselves. As we know God, we are brought to see our finiteness, our unworthiness, our indignity, and our insignificance. "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing" (Daniel 4:35). Without Christ, we can do nothing, we know nothing, we have nothing, and we are nothing (John 15:5). Humility also speaks of an utter dependence upon God. A spirit of self-sufficiency is the opposite of humility. We need God more than we know or understand. To depend upon ourselves is to perish in pride, but to depend upon God wholly is life everlasting. We must be weaned of self-confidence until we are saturated with God-confidence.

Further, a spirit of contrition speaks of brokenness or of being crushed. A broken and contrite heart God will not despise (Psalm 51:17). God works favorably for the one who is of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 34:18). God dwells with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit (Isaiah 57:15). Blessed are they that are poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

Daniel clearly manifests a spirit of humility and contrition by fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, said that he humbled his soul with fasting (Psalm 35:13). In regards to the sackcloth, which was a coarse garment of goat's hair, it was usually worn as a symbol of mourning and grief. Regarding the ashes, it was an ancient custom to put ashes on oneself as a symbol of extreme grief, penitence, humiliation, or sense or worthlessness. Daniel did not have a high or elevated spirit in prayer, rather a lowly, dependent, broken, contrite, and humble spirit.

Lastly, in regards to a proper spirit in true, effectual prayer, I would urge us to seek a spirit of reverence toward God. Intimacy is not contrary to reverence. The Spirit has been shed abroad in our hearts whereby we cry, "Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6). We are to enter His presence boldly (Hebrews 4:16). Our familiarity with God and our intimacy with Him should never cause us to seek Him without a reverential respect. Daniel prayed demonstrating tremendous respect for Jehovah: "O Lord (Adonai),....the great and dreadful God....the Keeper of the covenant....the Possessor of mercy and forgiveness...the God of righteousness" (Daniel 9:4,7,9,14). He exalted the character and attributes of God as he humbly took his proper place before Him. Our prayers should be saturated with reverence and exaltation of God, His nature, character and His glorious perfections. As we exalt Him, we humble ourselves. As we praise Him, we show ourselves unworthy of praise. As we glorify Him, we show forth our own indignity. As we manifest His bigness, we declare our littleness. As we justify Him in all that He does, we accept responsibility for our sins and their consequences. May God grant us an ever-growing concept of His greatness, His majesty, His eternality, His incomparability, and His infinite holiness and righteousness, so that we might reverence His holy name now and forevermore.

True, effectual, life-changing prayer must have Biblical motivation along with a proper Biblical spirit. May God teach us to approach His throne in prayer with the proper, God-glorifying spirit (Jeremiah 30:21). Having learned how to approach Him in effectual prayer, may all the honor and glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ alone. LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!!!!!!!!

TRUE, EFFECTUAL PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF DANIEL--Motivation To Prayer

Bert Craft — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:20:00 GMT

True, effectual, heart-felt, life-changing prayer modeled by Daniel is something rare in America's popular, Christian culture. God's people and churches need to imitate the powerful and practical prayer life of Daniel of old. True Christianity is an absolute and total dependence upon Christ and His promises. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5)! With Him, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13)! Prayer--private or public, verbalized or silent, planned or extemporaneous, with head bowed and eyes closed or walking with head up and eyes open, is the life-blood, the only way that a Christian can truly exist on this earth. Many complain about prayer being removed from American public schools, and yet we find that a similar decree to outlaw prayer was made in the days of Daniel, and he continued praying. You cannot keep a true Christian from prayer. Because if you did, he would die. Our prayer life is not determined by our surrounding circumstances, rather by our union with Christ, our utter dependence upon Him, and our inability to persevere in the Christian walk alone. We need God at all times and in all circumstances. Oh, that our elevated and self-sufficient hearts would learn the reality of this truth. Oh, that our hearts would be humbled before our great and glorious God. Without Him we know nothing, we have nothing, we can do nothing, and we are nothing!

Though Daniel was an aged man (probably about 80 years old), an elderly statesman, a ruling prince, and a wise man in the Scriptures, Daniel was completely dependent upon his God, seeking his face faithfully every evening, morning, and noon (Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:17). A divine vision in Daniel 8 revealing the world dominion of the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and ultimately the Roman empire rule with all of their cruelties toward the Jewish nation, left Daniel troubled, faint, weak, and sick (Daniel 8:27). In Daniel 9, we see Daniel crying out to God for his beloved nation and the answer that God sent him. Though most commentators and commentaries give the major amount of attention to the divine, prophetic answer found in verses 24 through 27, the Spirit of God calls our attention to Daniel and his prayer by devoting virtually five times as many verses to his prayer than to the prophetic answer he received.

Notice carefully what motivated Daniel to seek the Lord in true, effectual prayer. First, he was motivated by the providential circumstances in his life. The Babylonians had been conquered. His Mede and Persian comrades sought to bring false accusation against him with the desire to remove him from his favored place of authority. He also received a new prophetic vision that troubled his heart. These were motivating factors to pray. The providential circumstances in our lives should bring about motivation to pray. You expectantly meet up with a childhood friend...that's motive to pray. Your community or state is hit with a supernatural act of God....that's motive to pray to seek God on behalf of the suffering and that through suffering hearts will be turned to God and His salvation. As the sailors of old read the skies, the child of God needs to read and discern the providence of God on a daily basis. Why has God allowed this to happen? What is God trying to communicate through these unusual circumstances? All of God's providential circumstances ought to move our hearts to true, effectual prayer.

Secondly, Daniel was motivated to effectual prayer through the study of the Word of God. No doubt, he was reading from the inspired writings of Jeremiah: "And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation...." (Jeremiah 25:11-12) "For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you..." (Jeremiah 29:10). All Bible study should lead us to a life of dependence and calling upon God. What we learn in the Scriptures, should be energized by heart-felt, effectual prayer that we may practice that which the Lord teaches us. Bible study reveals sin, unfaithfulness, wrong motives, and incomplete obedience. Bible study teaches us to walk in Christ´s steps, walk in the Spirit and not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, to walk circumspectly, to walk in love, and to walk without offense. Whether Bible study reveals shortcomings in our lives or the necessary steps to spiritual maturity, it ought to drive us to our knees in earnest prayer.

Thirdly, Daniel was motivated to effectual prayer by the promises of God. God promised that the captivity would only last 70 years. God promised to visit His people. God promised to judge the Babylonians. God promised to bring His people once again to their native land. Daniel´s heart was cheered and encouraged by the promises of God. Daniel was praying according to the sovereign will of God in heaven that it would come to pass on the earth (Matthew 6:10). God´s great and precious promises are strong motivators to true, effectual prayer. It gives confidence and earnestness knowing that we are praying not to change God or His will, but we are praying in accordance with them (1John 5:14-15). True, effectual prayer transforms us so that we are completely centered and contented in the will of God and its coming to pass.

Fourthly, Daniel was motivated to effectual prayer by his own inability to change his circumstances to bring them in line with the promises of God. No matter how much we understand concerning God´s will, we are desperately unable to effect the changes necessary by ourselves or in the flesh. Our utter inability should cause to us to fall prostrate before heaven and earth's Potentate and beseech that He would intervene and change our culture, our nation, our family, our circumstances, according to His eternal will and for His glory.

May God motivate our hearts to true, effectual, heart-felt prayer. May we passionately enter into prayer as Daniel did of old. May all of the honor and glory be to Jesus Christ alone for teaching us to pray and to depend on Him more every day!

A PROBLEM POSED FOR BAPTIST PREACHERS

Bert Craft — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:38:00 GMT

There is no logical intermediate between Calvinism and Arminianism that is capable of combining both systems. It is impossible to say:

A. That man is both totally and partially depraved.
B. That election is both conditional and unconditional.
C. That regenerating grace is both irresistible and resistible.
D. That redemption is both limited and unlimited.
E. That perseverance is both certain and uncertain.

Nor can there be a modification of one by the other. One or the other of the above mentioned points must overcome the other. It is impossible to blend the two, which is requisite in order to a modification. History records such efforts in the past, but despite the efforts, the two will not mix, nor can they walk together in peace. Nor can those holding either system, force the other to their own view.

The endeavor by the Arminians in Holland, in the 17th century, to modify the Belgic Calvinistic Creed (the chief spirit of which was Calvin), and of the Calvinists to suppress the Arminian creed by the civil power, resulted in one of the most bitter conflicts in church history, and filled both parties with an unchristian spirit. Had there been no union of Church and State at that time, neither of these two theological divisions would have interfered, by civil and military power, with the doctrine and practice of the other, and mutual respect would have characterized both. Whenever the endeavor is made to mix the unmixable and to fuse two types of theology that exclude each other, hypocrisy and the pretense of being what one is not, are liable to prevail. A Calvinist is a dishonest disorganizer if he poses as an Arminian, and so is an Arminian if he pretends to be a Calvinist.

The above mentioned facts, and they are facts, pose a tremendous problem for Baptist preachers. Whichever system of theology be correct, or the nearest correct, is not my concern as I thus write. Here is the problem: every Confession of Faith of Baptists, all standard books on theology written by Baptists, all doctrinal statements of our schools, without exception (I am informed), confess, proclaim, and expound the great Calvinistic system. At the same time, a Calvinist is not acceptable in Baptist pulpits for the most part.

In both message and method, Baptists are more and more becoming Arminian. My contention is this: In order to be honest, new statements of faith, new confessions of faith, new doctrinal standards for schools, ought to be formulated and published. Baptists ought frankly to be told by their pastors and leaders that our forefathers were wrong and that what Baptists used to believe is just not so. The trouble today is that a present-day Baptist has nowhere to find out what a Baptist believes as to doctrine. If he goes to the books of theology or the old confessions of faith, he soon is informed that they are no longer held to be true.

To add to the dilemma, suppose by accident (?), a Calvinist comes along and preaches what he believes the Bible teaches; a fight is now started at once. The Calvinist is branded as a disturber and a non-Baptist. I know from twenty-five years of holding meetings for Arminian Baptist preachers, whereof I speak.

Is it not time, in all honesty, for Baptist preachers to return to the old paths (doctrinally) or formulate new statements of faith? I respect honesty demands one or the other of these.

It is high time that preachers ceased bragging about not being theologians. It is not a matter to brag about. This generation knows little of the character of the true God, nor of the condition and danger of mankind. We need some preachers who believe something, not just cheerleaders for a program.

I see no discernible hope that Baptist leaders will either come back to the old beliefs or honestly frame new doctrinal beliefs; but as for me, I am a Baptist who still believes in the doctrines and Christ of Sovereign Grace. If I could, I would call my brethren back to them.

We want no new convention or denominations, but we will not apologize for, in however poor way we are able, preaching the grand old truths that Whitfield and Spurgeon preached. If not in Baptist churches now constituted, we will preach them in tents and chapels and new churches. Thus, we earnestly solicit the prayers of every preacher who believes in the old truths once held by and preached by Baptists, and the many hundreds of God's dear sheep who hold membership in an Arminian Baptist church, who long to hear the old truths preached again! We say that such ought to support our small beginning and that without apology. We ought to support and bid Godspeed the preaching of what we believe to be the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.

Bible preaching is not that preaching which mentions a Bible, a cross, a Jesus, a Christ, a Saviour, a salvation; but, Bible preaching is when the Bible, inspired, preserved, and illuminated, is opened to the mind by God's Holy Spirit through the man of God setting forth all that is in the Holy Word and only that which is contained within the Word. Matthew Henry said: "We call it the Holy Book, because it was written by holy men, and indited by the Holy Ghost; it is perfectly pure from all falsehood and corrupt intentions; and the manifest tendency of it is to promote holiness among men. The great things of God's law and Gospel are here written to us, that they might be reduced to a greater certainty, might be spread further, remain longer, and be transmitted to distant places and ages more pure and entire than possibly they could be by report and tradition: and we shall have a great deal to answer for, if these things which belong to our peace, being thus committed to us in black and white, be neglected by us as a strange or foreign thing" (comments on Hosea 8:12).

The Gospel of God's marvelous Grace is presently being presented in thousands of places across our country; may each of God's true messengers take encouragement, for God is raising up His church in a mighty way in our day!

--by Rolfe Barnard (1904-1969)

***To read a brief, but delightful biography of Rolfe Barnard, click HERE.