Praying For A New Tongue?
Praying For A New Tongue?
Most Folks Can’t Handle The One They’ve Got!
When a prophet named Balaam was headed somewhere the Lord didn’t want him to go God sent an angel to block his way. The beast on which Balaam rode was apparently more sensitive to spiritual things than he was. Because the animal kept turning out of the way to avoid the angel, Balaam became frustrated and started beating her.
“And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Num 22:28)
Notice first of all (1) something is speaking that shouldn’t be. 2Peter 2:16 says this “dumb (mute) ass” was speaking “with a man’s voice.” This is not the 1st time you find an animal speaking in the Bible (the serpent spoke to Eve in the Garden) but this is interesting. Notice also, Balaam’s ass was a ‘she’. In the average charismatic church, I’d say, women do 90% of the tongues speaking. Paul was dealing expressly with the gift of tongues when the Holy Ghost moved him to write:
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (1Co 14:34-35)
Paul knew it was the will of God for the “women to keep silence in the churches” when it came to the matter of tongues. But Paul was also a realist. He knew that people do not like being told what they can and can’t do. Paul knew that later on liberal scholars would rise up out of the crevices of Hell and downplay what he had just written. Accordingly, some argue that the prohibition against women speaking in tongues here in 1Corinthians 14 and the qualifications of a pastor in 1Timothy 3 are all just Paul’s “opinion.” Paul anticipated all of this and wrote verse 37 for everyone who tries to justify their charismatic grandma or one of their friends who happens to be a woman preacher. In an almost sarcastic manner, he says:
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1Co 14:37) 
Paul knew many folks don’t care what the Bible says. So he writes in verse 38: “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” (1Co 14:38)
Secondly, (2) this unnatural behaviour didn’t appear strange to Balaam. Any sane person would have found this event beyond bizarre. But remember, Balaam is not right with God. People who are out of fellowship with the Lord are frequently and strangely comfortable in unusual circumstances. For instance, when Jonah was running from God, the Lord sent a storm that nearly destroyed the ship he was in. The heathen sailors were calling on every god they could think of! (It’s just natural to pray when you’re going thru a storm.) “…But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.” (Jon 1:5) In his backslid condition Jonah seemed immune to his problematic surroundings. If you have the slightest knowledge of the Bible you should know the Holy Ghost won’t make you act like a complete fool. If you see nothing wrong with men and women foaming at the mouth and babbling on like idiots, then there’s something wrong with you (you’re spiritually retarded).
The Mosaic Law demanded that God’s people (the Jews) abstain from unclean meats. Many of the Jews continued to observe these dietary laws even after they were converted. They did this more out of habit than necessity. But, in their defense, there was no verse in the Old Testament that said, “After you become a Christian you can eat whatever you want.” So in their minds, certain things like pork were still taboo. When Gentiles started getting saved, because of their eating habits, many of the believing Jews were uncertain whether or not they should fellowship with them. (It was hard for them to believe God would bless someone who ate bacon.) On one occasion, because of this mindset, God revealed to the Jewish companions of Peter that He did indeed pour out His spirit upon Jew and Gentile alike.
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,” (Ac 10:44-46)
Again the Bible says they spoke with “tongues” (plural) and not with an “unknown tongue” (singular). Tongues were necessary since, as 1Cor 1:22 says, “The Jews require a sign.” Until the New Testament scriptures were complete, the sign gifts were necessary for unbelieving Jews. Mark 16:20 indicates the Apostles had been commissioned to confirm (authenticate, backup, or validate) the Gospel with signs. The purpose of tongues was to confirm that God had indeed stretched out His saving arm to the Gentiles.
The word ‘tongue’ in Scripture refers to either: a language or an actual part of the body known as the tongue. As far as the Bible is concerned, the gift of tongues was the supernatural ability to speak in a language not previously learned. For instance if I was suddenly endowed by God with the ability to speak and understand Japanese, that would be similar to the gift on Pentecost. 1Corinthians 14 gives instruction concerning the utilization of this gift. Many of these rules are violated and completely disregarded in charismatic circles. However, the utter confusion, which “they” refer to as ‘speaking in tongues,’ is NOT that gift described in the Bible. Tongues, such as in Acts 2 and 10, were known languages and not ecstatic, unintelligible, gibberish.
Some say that “speaking in tongues” is evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost. Some go even further, saying that you’re not even saved if you don’t speak in tongues. I strongly disagree. Take Jesus for example. Can you think of anyone more sanctified and Holy than the Lord Jesus Christ? None would ever accuse Him of not being Spirit filled. Yet in my Bible, I never find a single instance where Jesus ever spoke in tongues. If “tongues” is the evidence of having the “baptism of the Holy Ghost“, why did the Lord not leave us that example in His life as He did with water baptism and communion? Moving on…
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” (1Cor 4:2)
The word “spirit“ in this verse is lowercase. It refers to our spirit and not God’s Holy Spirit. Notice, the word “unknown’ here is italicized, and the word ‘tongue’ is singular. ‘Unknown tongue’ refers to any language not understood by others. We are told not to forbid people to speak with ‘tongues’ (plural) in 1Cor 14:39. However, the Bible does NOT say “Forbid not to speak in the unknown tongue” (singular) this is Bible Doctrine, not merely my opinion.
And as Forest Gump once said, “That’s all I got to say about that.”
“Where was God when my boy died?”
A year or two ago a young couple lost their two-month-old son. They had him in bed with them and one of them must have rolled over on him in the night because when they woke up in the morning their beautiful baby boy was dead. A pastor friend of mine and I went over to their house that night. You talk about heartache! The boy’s daddy, a young fella, kept wallowing in the floor saying “God is judging me – God is judging me!” The pastor was trying to show them some scriptures when the mother blurted out: “I just don’t see how there can be a God.”And before you criticize her, you just wait till you wake up beside your dead baby.
I said “Ma’am my heart goes out to you – I won’t try to say I know what you’re going through because I don’t. But I was reading a story this afternoon about a lady who had lost her baby boy too. She went to her pastor and said “Where was God when my boy died?”
He was stunned by the question like we all would be but he thought for a moment and said “Ma’am, God was in the same place He was when His Son died 2000 years ago.” And I’m telling you there’s a God in heaven that knows what it’s like to lose a baby boy. He knows what it’s like to lose a loved one and He can sympathize with your pain.
On top of that, I believe the grace of God takes care of little children and that baby’s in Heaven right now. And if mama and daddy are Christians – they might have to spend 40, 50, or even 60 years apart from their child and I know that sounds like such a long time. But looking back, 10,000 years from now, it won’t seem like that long at all.
Jails to Jesus
MY TESTIMONY
By: Jason W. Elder
My name is Jason Elder and on October 29th 1980 I was born right here in Gaffney South Carolina. I know many people who blame their shortcomings on their parents but I can’t do that. I have some of the best parents in the world. My dad was a Highway Patrolman for 14 years and then the Chief of Police in Blacksburg for several more. My mom worked at Hamrick’s for a number of years and currently runs her own business.
My mom brought me to church a lot when I was younger. I went forward after service once and talked to the pastor about getting “baptized.” We prayed a prayer and I was baptized not long afterward. I’m sure he did everything he could to point me in the right direction but looking back, I just didn’t get it.
Yes, in the beginning I had an interest in church like never before, but it just didn’t last. The whole experience reminds me of the parable Jesus told about the seed that fell on stony ground. It was so quick to spring up but when the Sun was risen it withered away just as quickly because it had no root.[1]
I’ve always been an introvert and shy by nature but that was okay with me. I didn’t really care what other people thought about me anyhow. In fact, I didn’t even start combing my hair until seventh grade. But as a teenager I became more and more concerned with what people thought of me.
Truth be known, that’s probably the biggest appeal drugs and alcohol had for me: they took away my inhibitions.
The first time I ever smoked marijuana was in the 10th grade. And while I liked getting high, I didn’t like the smell of it. If any of you ever been around someone smoking pot (and some of you look like you have) it has a very strong odor and knowing I had to come home to a house full of cops that always made me a little bit paranoid. Just by walking through the door I was subjecting myself to a sobriety test. I guess that’s why started messing around with pills: Xanax, Lortab, methadone etc. I even started selling a few here and there. It started out being just for fun but pretty soon I was addicted not just to the pills but to the lifestyle of a drug dealer.
I kinda liked it when people would notice that my beeper was blowing up. I was hanging out with some of the most popular kids in school. I knew they really didn’t care a thing about me, but hey, everybody likes to feel needed.
Around my senior year in high school a young man brought me a sample of something his dad had cooked up at home called meth.
I didn’t know it at the time, but he’d just introduced me to something 10 times worse than all the pills I’d ever taken. By the end of that summer I was using every day: smoking, snorting, and even shooting it up. After I got in good with the cook I started selling it but unlike the pills I sold just for the heck of it, I was selling meth to support my own habit. I can’t tell you how many hundreds of dollars worth of powder I went through but I gave Johnson & Johnson a run for their money. That’s just what I used, God only knows how much I sold.
But all that “fun” took me to the same place most junkies find themselves…jail! I was facing Federal and local charges and my life was in a mess. Sometime during this process I picked up a Bible and read through it in less than 8 weeks. I couldn’t believe it was actually interesting! When I was released, I was placed on house arrest. The Federal Government thought so much of me they gave me a cute little ankle bracelet to wear! For six months I was allowed to go to church only once on Sunday morning. I could go to all the Narcotics Anonymous meetings I wanted to, but Church only once a week.
The church my family was going to at the time was a cold, dead, liberal, Southern Baptist Church (as the picture represents). The pastor was a Calvinist and it showed in his preaching. I thought if this is all Church has to offer I’d be better off not going.
But then, one of my friends overdosed on painkillers. Michael Williams laid in a coma for about week and died just after Christmas. Still on the ankle monitor I went to the funeral home where they were receiving friends. Among the mourners I spotted a familiar older gentleman in the crowd, it was Pastor Lewis Batchelor from Open Door Baptist Church.
Several years prior, I had dated a girl that attended his church. As two lost young teenagers, one day, we were sitting on the second pew from the front. We were holding hands and passing little notes to each other. We didn’t have a care in the world. But all that would soon end! Before I could get my thoughts together, in front of God and everybody, that old gray-haired man came out from behind the pulpit, jumped off the platform, straddled the pew in front of us, looked me dead in the eyes, and said, “Are you saved son?” Before I could get the lump out of my throat, he looked down and saw we were holding hands. He physically separated our hands that day and after scolding us both for being too close for his liking, he briefly lectured the young lady why she should never date anyone that’s lost. I didn’t have enough hide left to close my eyes! But even as a lost teenager I appreciated someone that had enough guts to tell me what was right!
Anyway, at the funeral, I talked to Pastor Batchelor briefly then spoke with Michael’s dad and step-mom. I was doing a good job at keeping back the tears, but I couldn’t do it much longer. I left off talking with his parents and headed for the door. But somebody stopped me before I left!
It was Preacher Batchelor! 
When I broke down weeping he hugged me and tried to comfort me. I don’t remember what he said to me, I just remember he was there when I needed him. When Sunday rolled around, I started thinking about that little old church on the other side of town. I remembered the friendly people and the plain preaching. I literally begged my mom and dad to take me to Open Door Baptist Church. I don’t remember whether mom or dad went with me. All I remember is how happy everyone was that I came.
For six months I went to Church every Sunday morning but one. I was saved, born again, on a Wednesday night in March 2001. Not long after that, my dad got saved! We were both baptized on Easter Sunday! I was so overwhelmed by the grace of God that brought me salvation that I took all my ambitions, my plans, and my life and with joy placed them at the Master’s disposal.
Much has transpired since that day. The Lord has been so good that I cannot possibly list all the blessings He has sent my way. I only wish to encourage you not to give up hope on a loved one or friend who may be struggling with the same things I did. There’s a God in heaven Who specializes in lost causes. If He can save me He can save anybody.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17)
Jason W. Elder
Assistant Pastor
Gaffney SC
[1] “And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.” (Mark 4:5-6)
Interracial Marriage
Interracial Marriage
Is It Ok?
Seeing that our new president is the product of an interracial relationship questions about the subject have once again come to the forefront. Whether you speak from a Christian or secular viewpoint, I want your input; so feel free to leave a comment.
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:7
Most, if not all commentators suggest that “strange flesh” really means “same sex.” In these last days, there sure is a lot of that going on. But is that what the writer meant? If we had no more to go on that the names Sodom and Gomorrha, that’s certainly a conclusion you would come to. However, according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary “Strange” means (1.) Foreign; belonging to another country.
I’m no Greek scholar, but I did look up the term on my computer. Strong says “strange” comes from the Greek term heteros (as in heterosexual). A form of that word, meaning “other” or “different,” appears nearly 100 times. Now, I said it came from heteros but the exact form of the word in Jude 1:7 (“strange flesh”) is heteras which occurs only twice. The only other place is found in Heb 7:13 – “For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.”
I would also like to point out all the warnings the Book of Proverbs gives concerning “strange women.” (Pr 2:16; 5:3,20; 6:24; 7:5; 20:16; 23:27; 27:13) I’m aware of the spiritual application there, but I certainly wouldn’t fault a person for applying it literally and not “spiritualizing” it.
I know this topic is highly controversial and that is why I posted it. Men and women from both sides of this issue are seeking help and spiritual guidance on this issue. For that reason I speak plainly.
I do not know whether God is always opposed to Gentiles marrying outside of their respective races. I know it would be sin for me. If I came home with a Nubian Goddess, mom and dad would have a heart attack and needless to say, that would go against Matthew 19:19 “Honour thy father and thy mother…”
But Interracial or not, a couple who won’t honor God and their parents during the courtship, has no reason to expect the blessings of God during their marriage.
For those on the fence, I would have to advise you to marry within your own race because, frankly, we live in a cruel world. Even among churchgoing folk, racial bigotry and stereotypes run rampant.
But if you’re already married interracially, don’t let the devil beat you up about it. No, you won’t be accepted everywhere and that’s just a fact you will have to live with. But I promise you one thing; God’s people will love you.
I’m looking forward to any comments on the subject and especially on Jude 1:7.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren…” (1John 3:14)
The Gaffney Serial Killer
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The Gaffney Serial Killer of 1968
These are the autopsy photos of Gaffney’s most infamous serial killer; Leroy Martin. Martin killed 4 women over a 10 day period in 1968.
On February 8, 1968, he contacted a local newspaper editor, telling him where two of his victims could be located, and then threatened to kill even more women until he was “shot down like the dog I am.”[1]
[1]AP http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/07/04/2009-07-04_serial_killer_on_the_loose_in_rural_south_caroline_residents_.html
When caught, Martin received four life sentences (if I’m not mistaken). He was killed in prison and lies here in the morgue with an eerie smile upon his face.
Unfortunately recent events have resurrected memories of Martin for many residents.
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The community of Gaffney South Carolina has been rocked by a series of murders beginning Saturday with the death of local farmer Kline Cash.
Victim 1
(June 27, 2009)
Cash’s wife is believed to have been the intended target of what Sheriff Bill Blanton calls a serial killer. The unknown perpetrator and coward took the lives of two more Cherokee County residents, reportedly during the funeral services for Mr. Cash.
Victims 2-3
(July 1, 2009)
83-year-old Hazel Linder and her daughter 50-year-old Gina Linder Parker were found a little after 3 PM Wednesday, bound and shot to death in the mother’s home.
Victims 4-5
(July 2, 2009)
Stephen Tyler, owner of Tyler Home Center, and his daughter 15-year-old Abby Tyler were the next victims of this man’s murderous rampage. While her father was pronounced dead at the scene, the younger Tyler was airlifted and later died in the hospital.
What kind of man does this? What kind of person could kill so seemingly indiscriminate of age or gender? “Surely the serial killer can’t be a father,” someone said to me at church.
Their point was that a person with kids of their own couldn’t possibly be so heartless as to take the life of this young girl. But these are the days in which we live. These are the “perilous times” the apostle Paul spoke of in 2Timothy 3. Men are “Without natural affection…incontinent, fierce,” and “despisers of those that are good.”
And I’d like to give you a word of encouragement at this point but there are none. This world is doomed. “…Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse…” (2Timothy 3:13) Jesus promised, “In the world ye SHALL have tribulation…” BUT, He said, “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
I don’t know any of the families personally but my heart goes out to them. I can’t imagine all the waves of emotion that must be sweeping over each one of them. So, I must commend them to the Master of the sea. If there’s anyone Who can calm one of life’s storms its Jesus! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus. If not for the Savior I would’ve lost my mind a long time ago. I don’t know how people make it without Him.
Police have released sketches of what they believe the killer looks like [As it turns out, the sketch looks nothing like the actual killer].
WANTED
“…Their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
(Deuteronomy 32:35)
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If you have information regarding this person’s whereabouts please contact CRIMESTOPPERS at (864) 489-2746 or call 911.
There is a reward for his capture.
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THE KING JAMES BIBLE – The Word of The King
“Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” (Eccl 8:1-4)
There are many things in life that we can’t be sure of, but there’s one place you can go to and rejoice in the fact that every verse, every chapter, every jot and every tittle is pure, unadulterated, Truth! (I know we don’t have jots and tittles in English, but the chapter divisions and italicized words don’t even bother me). And that, my friends, is the King James Bible. I’m not a Greek scholar; I’m not an intellectual by any stretch of the imagination. My goal tonight is not to woo you or charm you with my wisdom. I have a simple mind and a simple faith. But though my faith is simple, it’s sure and steadfast. And that’s because men of God filled with the Spirit of God have taken the Word of God and taught me the things of God.
Verse 4 is my text verse tonight: “Where the word of a king is, there is power…”
Why do we make such a big deal out of the KJB? What’s the big deal about which Bible you use? The most common cop-out I hear is, “Well, my pastor uses such-and-such Bible, so that’s the one I use.” Can I tell you something? That’s the reason why there are so many cults in the world! I believe you should respect the preacher, but the reason so many people are in Hell today is because they listened to what man said and not what God said! Well, I don’t want you to take my word for it; I want to motivate you to do your own study. After all, ignorance will be no excuse at the judgment seat of Christ!
FIRST OF ALL DIFFERENT VERSIONS ARE DIFFERENT:
Scholars criticize the King James only crowd. They try to make us out to be retards and overcritical for knit picking or harping on a few words these modern translations change or leave out People talking about the different versions say, “Well, it says the same thing, just in a different way.” But can you imagine changing one word in the Constitution? Instead of “We the People of the…” What if it read, “We White People of the…”
What if we omitted one word from our First Amendment?
Instead of “Congress shall make NO law…” It would be “Congress shall make law respecting an establishment of religion…
What about our Second Amendment?
Instead of “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” What if we changed that to: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be allowed.” I think it’s obvious that different versions of the Bible say different things, use different words.
SECONDLY, THE KJB ISSUE AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN:
Fruitland Seminary (rhymes with cemetery) has been touted as one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s most conservative schools. (And I’m going to get on Independent Baptist Colleges here in a minute so hold on.) But a young man named Phillip Luther started school at Tabernacle this year (2005?). He had gone to Fruitland the year before and the first thing (I believe it was) his Theology teacher handed out was a sheet of paper titled: “REASONS THE KING JAMES VERSION IS NOT THE BEST TRANSLATION.” His teacher’s name was Dr. Carlisle Sanford. I mention his name because I hope somebody tells him I said he is a LIAR and he’ll give an account one day for misleading those young men and women. Jesus said it’d be better for you to drown like Lacy Peterson, with a millstone around your neck, than to offend one of His little children.
Dr. Sanford’s 1st Lie: “INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OVER THE LAST 400 YEARS CONCERNING THE BIBLICAL WORLD AND THE ORIGINAL HEBREW AND GREEK TEXTS HAVE RENDERED MANY OF THE KJV RENDERINGS OBSOLETE.”
First of all, he’s never seen the “original” Hebrew or Greek because they don’t exist. (So, if “the original Hebrew and Greek texts” are his final authority – then he has no final authority – he has no Bible.) But we do have copies of copies of the original autographs. And 85% of the over 5,000 extant (existing) Mss fall into the Received Text (Textus Receptus) category. In other words, the King James Bible and the Text that underlies it, is supported by more manuscripts (that actually exist), than any modern version that was ever burped up out of Hell.
But I think we’re missing the big picture here! Daddy always told me “Son, follow the money!” The King James Bible isn’t copyrighted and these big publishing companies can’t make any money off it. So they come out with a new version. And when the copyright runs out on their new versions, they come out with a New, New Version. I’m telling you, they’re greedy, of filthy lucre. I Believe I’ll Stay With The Old Time Way. I just like it! I’m not picking up nothing else – if for no other reason – I’m not about to learn John 3:16 all over again.
I realize that the New Testament was written in Greek. But, if Jesus had spoken perfect King James English it wouldn’t add to my faith one bit. God has preserved His Words in English. And if you have a King James Bible, you have a copy of the very Words of God. I do not believe it lost anything in translation and I certainly don’t believe we need another version.
If we laid all the Bible experts end to end they’d still never reach a conclusion. Nothing is wrong studying Greek and Hebrew but I do get upset when a man starts “correcting” my Book. I feel like Billy Sunday, he said “When the latest scholarship says one thing and the Word of God another, the latest scholarship can go plumb to Hell for all I care!” We fuss at Charismatics for speaking in tongues but the average Baptist preacher refers back to the Greek so much, the sign outside might as well say ‘Pentecostal’. And the truth is 99.9% of them couldn’t carry on a conversation in Modern Greek if their lives depended on it. You know they’re just quoting what some egg sucking, pencil pushing, “scholar” says anyhow. But without fail, Sunday after Sunday, congregations are oohed and ahhed by their pastor’s “knowledge” of the Biblical languages!
Nowadays, seems like every time I turn around they’re coming out with a new Bible of some kind! But after 600+ Bibles in the English language – do we really need another one? I could understand if there were 5 or 6 or maybe even 10 or 20 different English Bibles – but 600? You would have to be a fool to believe that every 1.4 years the English language changes so much that we need a whole new Bible.
Well if Fruitland is among the cream of the crop I’d hate to see the cob they come off of! But, I’ll move on, because the problem isn’t limited to Southern Baptists. One of the books I had to buy and read at the Independent Baptist College I attend(ed) was A General Introduction to the Bible, by Geisler and Nix. On Pg 43 of this textbook, talking about the original Hebrew and Greek texts, it says: “…some errors of copyists have obviously crept into the text.” And in a footnote, the author goes on to list those “obvious” errors.
(I gave the congregation a handout listing the “supposed” contradictions along with a “very simple” explanation of them. I may post that handout later). That made me so mad, I had a hunting knife right beside me, and I stabbed that thing, I tore the pages out, I kicked it across the room – then I remembered I still had homework to do in it. I know that makes me sound like an idiot, but what that textbook implied really and truly bothered me. If there really was a mistake in ONE part of my Bible, then it could be mistaken in other places too! I’d been up till early in the morning trying to prove to myself that those two verses the textbook listed didn’t really contradict each other. And when I found the answer, it was so simple, I was angry with myself!) Now, my heart says, along with the Psalmist, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” (Ps 119:140)
Other required reading I had at Tabernacle Baptist College was Our God-Breathed Book by John R. Rice. I had heard a lot of good things about John R. Rice so when I came to page 376 I was a little disappointed when learned there were no perfect translations. But one encouraging thing about it, on page 382, I learned the American Standard Version could “correct” the “mistakes” in my King James Bible. Isn’t that a blessing? (Sarcasm is just another service I offer.)
The whole problem is Scholars are too quick to assume that the Bible has errors and they aren’t willing approach it out from the standpoint of faith. For instance, they believe we should treat the Bible as any other book in order to show unbelievers it’s really above other books. But by doing that we’re trying to convert unbelievers by the strange method of participating in their unbelief. Even if we’re successful in the end, we’re still justifying the ungodly means. But without faith it’s impossible to please God! Rom 14:23 – “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” If I cannot take the Bible in my hand and by faith say this is the preserved Word of God, then it is sin. My motive is to get you to appreciate what God has done for us in giving us the King James Bible. It should motivate us to engulf ourselves in the pages of Scripture.
REASONS WHY WE NEED OUR BIBLE:
First of all, you can’t even get saved without the pure Word of God! 1Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” In Matthew 13 Jesus told about how a man sowed good seed in his field, but his enemy came in at night and sowed tares.
I studied those tares out. Initially, when they first come up, they look the same as the wheat.
And that’s always been the Devil’s Mode of Operation. – Deception by Imitation! The devil isn’t concerned with destroying the Word of God, half as much as he is replacing the Word of God. But if you want people to get saved, you’ll sow the Good Seed. Secondly, the Bible will keep you from sin. Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.
The Bible will give you Strength. When God led the children of Israel through the wilderness, they would have starved to death out there, but He gave them bread from Heaven. When Israel found this bread on the ground, they took one look at and said to themselves, “Huh?”- and so they named it, “Manna.” “Manna” means “what in the world is this stuff?”
When I talk to some people about the King James Bible, do you know what they say? “Well, I just can’t understand all those words” or “ It’s so hard to read…” But if you’d just spend half as much time reading the Bible, as you do watching television and reading Cosmo; I believe God would open that book up and show you great and mighty things which you know not! Hey! There’s nothing spiritual about being stupid!
Our problem is we’re too much like Israel. They got tired of Bread from Heaven. They said it was “Too old fashioned” for them – but the real problem was they wanted flesh! They were being fed, in fact they were eating the very best God had to offer! Israel just didn’t like what was cooking! If that aint a picture of mankind I don’t know what is! We could care less what’s good for us – Just make us feel good –give us flesh!
You may not like the King James Bible; – it treats you rough, just like life does.
But in it you’ll find sixty-six books of the Power of God. When you open this Bible you’re breaking open the Bread of life! It’ll give you what you need to walk through this desert land. Jesus said, “I AM that bread life!” What can Jesus do? He and He alone can satisfy that hunger you have deep down inside! “O taste and see that the LORD is good…” Psalm 34:8.
Let me just be plain: you may read the King James Bible and find something that’s wrong. But the defect is not the Bible – there’s something wrong with YOU. If find something wrong, you must be reading the Queen James. I believe I have, the plenary-verbal, inspired, infallible, inerrant, Words of God, preserved in the English language and it’s called the King James Bible. I do not believe the King James is merely a good translation. – It IS the Word of God. I believe the Genesis account of creation was a literal six-day period. I believe that because of sin man is eternally separated from God and already under condemnation. I believe, that though many animal sacrifices were made in the Old Testament, not one single sin was ever purged by the blood of bulls and goats! (Heb 10:4) I believe God is a righteous, thrice-Holy God, Who must execute judgment upon the ungodly. Yet I know that I know that I know, that there is a fountain filled with blood underneath which man can find mercy and shelter from the wrath of God.
I admit, I don’t understand every single verse in the Bible, but I do believe it. And we’re not called to be understanders but believers. If God said it, it doesn’t matter who believes it; that settles it. I’ve never seen Heaven, but I believe there is one. I’ve never seen Hell, but I believe there is one. How do I know that? Because the Bible says so! How do I know I’m saved? Because the Bible says so! But of all the things in this world: the most profound, heart warming, thing in my life is being able to sing – without a doubt in my mind:
“Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
For The Bible Tells Me So!”
In conclusion, let me say this to my crowd: I’m talking to the independent, fundamental, Hell-raising, God honoring, Christ exalting, home-schooled, breastfed, women-don’t-work, King-James-only-and-only-King-James, Bible believing, Baptists. Listen to me! So what if you’re King James only, what difference does it make what Bible you don’t read?
We’ve got all the outward stuff down pat but we must raise the bar. The world has a right to look at us and see an outliving of the indwelling Christ! Unfortunately, many in our ranks carry a King James Bible and live a New American Standard life.
I used to challenge my Sunday School kids – I’d told them “if you’re such big Christians I dare you to carry a Scofield Bible under your arm all day at school.” The very idea seemed to send cold chills up their spines. Well, I used to do that. Nowadays I’m tickled to death if they even bring a Bible to church. But I wonder how many of you parents have even read your Bible since Sunday? How many of you have devotions with your family? Did you know, you prove what you believe by what you do? Why should your kids think you believe the Bible – you never read it? Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. If that’s so, how can you live the Spirit-filled Life, without reading His Words?
Hey most of us don’t have a problem with plenary verbal inspiration. We have a problem with plenary verbal obedience. We can read a newspaper from front to back and never put it down – but if we read two chapters of the Bible we think we’re God-fearing, Christ-honoring Christians. I think we might all need to beg God’s forgiveness for being so lackadaisical when it comes to reading His Word.
The Steps of A Good Man
The Steps of a Good Man
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
Psalm 37:23-24
Solomon Ginsburg, a Polish Jew, became an outstanding evangelist across Europe and South America. In 1911, needing some rest, he decided to head off to America. His route took him to Lisbon where he planned to cross the Bay of Biscay to London, then on to the States. Arriving in Lisbon, Ginsburg found the bulletin boards plastered with weather reports warning of storms raging on the Bay of Biscay. It was dangerous sailing, and he was advised to delay his trip a week. His ticket allowed him to do that, and he prayed about it earnestly.
As he prayed, he turned to his prayer calendar and found the text for that day was Deut 2:7 “For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” The Lord seemed to assure him that his long, worldwide travels were under divine protection. Ginsburg boarded ship at once, crossed without incident, and caught a ship in London. From then on it was smooth sailing. When he arrived in the United States Solomon learned that had he delayed his trip in Lisbon, he would have arrived in London – just in time …… to board the Titanic.
You should know that (1) GOD DOES HAVE A DEFINITE PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
The Bible doesn’t say, “The destinations of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” But the very “steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD” Like Job said, “He knoweth the way that I take!” God’s not worried about where you and I are going to end up. We don’t sing, “If we all get to Heaven!” But “When We All Get To Heaven…” There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll end up at that desired haven. “I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we’ll never grow old!” Even though God is not worried about the Christian’s final destination, He is concerned, with our journey there!
God’s not up in Heaven, chewing Rolaids and drinking Maalox, worried about what’s going to happen next. The Lord didn’t nail 8 pegs to the outside of the ark in hopes that Noah and his family could hang on. We don’t sing, “If we all get to Heaven!” But “When We All Get To Heaven…”
God’s not worried about where you’re going to end up. But God is concerned with the Journey there! And getting there is half the fun. I’m glad God gives us a little bit of heaven to go to Heaven on! It won’t be worth it all one day, its worth it all now!
The Bible says, “…He delighteth in his way.” Did you know that God’s not out to punish you and make your life miserable? Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Just submit yourself to the will of God – you’ll like it! I tell you what – before I got saved I was into drugs I’d been in jail – but ever since Jesus passed by – I feel like Ruth just walking around in the field picking up handfuls of Grace! I’m not much for T. D. Jakes, but I like what he said: “God can take your mess and turn into a message!”
But though God has a definite plan for your life; I have some bad news! (2) ITS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE EASY. Vs. 24 – “Though he fall”
There’s one thing God is still teaching me – its not to be surprised when I sin I’m not saying we shouldn’t hate sin – and fight it – I’m saying when you sin even after you get it right with God – do you know why you’re still disappointed and defeated? Its because you believed in yourself! But we’re to have no confidence in the flesh – This old nature is just as wicked and carnal and hellish as it ever was! In the OT – Ishmael was a type of the flesh! They never had any problems with him till that promised son came along! And I never had any problems with the flesh before that New Birth either! Until that new man moved in, I did everything the flesh wanted to do; there was no conflict![1]
You say, “I haven’t had a hard time living the Christian life!” Then I don’t know what you’ve been living but it aint the Christian life. Our old nature is so bad that Paul cried out, “O wretched man that I am!” And if Paul had to battle that old nature – God knows we’re going to have to! John wrote saying “Fellows! I don’t want you to sin – its not God’s will for you to sin! But if any man sin – thank God we’ve got an “Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” Yes! A good man may fall – But “a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:” So, what do you do when you get knocked down? You get up – and you get up and go again! There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more or less. Just confess that sin. God’s more willing to forgive than you are to repent.
Come anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest
And say, my beloved is mine.
So God does have a definite will for you life – and no, its not always going to be easy but rest assured (3) YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS! “…For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
In Exodus we find Israel IN THE WILDERNESS. Picture it, a redeemed people making their way thru a dry and thirsty land. They got thirsty and started murmuring. They said, “Moses, you just brought us out here to die!” But where God guides, God provides. And when they were thirsty, God gave them water out of the Rock. When they were hungry, God rained down Bread from Heaven. And when they grew tired of that and wanted flesh to eat, God gave them quail!
Not just that, but God’s presence went with them. When the sun was too hot, God was a pillar cloud during the day. At night, when it got cold, God set that cloud to blazing, and Israel had a pillar of fire by night. God’s people had central heating and air for 40 years in the wilderness. Their shoes didn’t wear out. Their clothes didn’t even age. And the whole time they were murmuring and complaining, they should have just looked up to see the Cloud of God’s presence by day, and the Pillar of Fire by night.
John Wesley was riding one day along a lonely stretch of road when he noticed shadowy forms ahead, forms that vanished behind a hedge almost as his eye took them in. He could not turn back; that was not his way, yet to go on meant danger and possibly death. There was no hope of human help on that deserted road, so John Wesley prayed. Almost at once he heard hoof beats coming up behind him, and he turned in his saddle as another traveler rode up alongside. Wesley gave the newcomer a cheery greeting than silently the two spurred on down the path, on past the place where the robbers lay concealed. Seeing two men instead of one, the robbers let them pass. Wesley then turned to say something to his companion, only to discover that there was nobody there! The mysterious rider had vanished into thin air. John Wesley had received an unusual glimpse of his angel escort along the way.
In Psalm 37:25 David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” To paraphrase – he said, “It might happen, but I’ve never seen it!” So when you feel like you can’t go on any farther, just take one more step! In Your Christian Life You’re Bound To Encounter: Walls that seem impregnable; Foes that seem invincible; and Tasks that seem impossible. Its then you need to remind yourself that not only are the Steps of A Good Man ordered by the Lord – But The STOPS of A Good Man are Ordained of God as well. There IS a time to Walk With The Lord. But there is also a time to Wait On The Lord! For…
“…They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31)
You say, “I’m just a nobody.” But The Patriarchs, the Apostles, the Disciples were all just nobodies who knew Somebody that could do anything! You say, “I don’t have much.” That’s all right, “Little is much when God is in it!”
Preached at Ivy Grove
November 2005
Jason W. Elder
[1] And like Abraham, it was hard to put away that Ishmael – after all he’d been with him longer!
Jason
