Loyalty, Who Deserves It?

As we study scripture, lets remember that we are to embrace the truth of scripture and our loyalties do not belong to the church, our friends, or our denomination. Our loyalty is to be too God first. If our loyalty to God is correct, then we will choose the right church, the right friends, and yes the most biblical of denominations.

When we place loyalty to a man, method, church, creed or dogma, we are essentially setting up ourselves for failure. We are also become susceptible to ushering in a cult like atmosphere within the local church. When we have loyalty in our relationship with God then we truly understand it's meaning and have developed a proper respect of Him.

"Our loyalties must start with God, and end with God!!!"

If our relationship to God isn't where it should be, then everything else in your life will ultimately fall apart. Our opportunity or position should never determine our loyalty.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Notice that the Bible says we must be approved unto God. Not ourselves or those we choose to read after or fellowship with.

Phillipians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that whichis through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

It's so important for us to remember that regardless of the circumstances, we are to allow the whatevers of life to draw us closer to god in that we may know him. The apostle Paul had a powerful ministry because His desire was to know God, not just know about God.

It's not easy to have the touch of God on your life in the society we live in today. If it were, everybody would be doing it.

One of the hardest lines to be drawn out by the believer in todays day and age is that which divides our personal separation and persecution.

#1 Don't let your separation divide you too far from those who need the gospel.

There is no doubt that the Word of God teaches separation. In fact it is one of those sub-doctrines that some folks either completely ignore...or major on depending upon to which camp you belong. Yet we need to remain vigilant and watchful that our separation doesn't become the ultimate defining factor in our lives.

The defining factor of our lives out to be that we know Him, not our separation. Our separation will only matter if we are living lives that are defined by Christ and Him crucified. We are called to make an impact upon todays culture, and not let the culture define us.

For most of us, Matthew 28:18-20 is known as the great commission. We are called to go into all the world- teach all nations. That's not just the country, We are to go to all people groups that are within the nation.

The word nation comes from the greek word, ethnos. It's the root word where our English word ethnicity comes from.

When we see a persons ethnicity, we not only see which country or region of the world they may have come from, we can recognize the prevailing or pre-dominant culture they adhere too.

So we look at todays culture in America, what do we see?

Easy access to sin and lasciviousness.

A growing handout mentality amongst the youth.

Anger at the establishment, which coincidentally they want to take care of them.

What is shocking is that the worlds philosophy and the predominant culture of today is slowly and methodically creeping into the church?

It's marketed as church growth methods or a catalyst or new seeker sensitive method of reaching the world by bringing the world into the church. It becomes appealing to the world because it appeals to their flesh.

Yet what our culture needs today isn't the world creeping into the church and hybrid form of worship. The world is desiring authenticity. The reason why people are so wrapped up in reality television is because their own personal reality has become lifeless and dull. We've become experts at living vicariously through those in the entertainment. If you ask me, personally I believe America needs a reality slap and it starts in the church house!!!

#2 The local church needs to focus on their Jerusalem.

We as believers will never make an impact on the world if we don't begin by making one in our own backyards. I often wonder if our missions giving is based on a bit of pride rather concern of reaching the lost.

Our Jerusalem will be impacted by sharing the gospel to each person. Not picketing or radical and extreme forms of separation. I'm not going to fight another preacher who is spreading the gospel in a Bible way.

Nothing changes hearts more than the gospel and nothing can unite the fellowship of the local church with other local churches than a common goal of winning the lost to Christ.

Its so easy to focus on the greener pastures in somebody else's area Perhaps when we are contemplating another churches greener pastures, it's the Holy Spirit telling us to water our own pasture. Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed , shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with Him.

No where in the aforementioned verses does it mention that the man has a burden before going. First he goes, then he weeps, then he reaps. It's a simple biblical way of reaching the world. You don't need a burden to reach your community. You only need to be obedient and realize folks are headed to a devils hell if we don't win them.

#3 Principle driven not purpose driven church

Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are we are supposed to be and fully embracing who God called us to be.

The easiest way to live an authentic life has nothing to do with being a Baptist, having a large fleet of buses the size of your church staff and the amount of money put in the plate each Sunday am.

Living an authentic life is based upon our actions, and most importantly our reactions.

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil things against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

We don't have to be perfect, but we do have to be real. Bible Christianity is unpopular. Christ taught His disciples that they would be persecuted, beaten, robbed, and left for dead. And many times to be right with God, it means you have to be wrong with man.

Who is going to stand in your pastors place when he gets arrested for preaching the gospel?

Who is going to openly profess their savior when they are facing the gallows?

Hebrews 13:3-Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Perhaps we need to get ready for the days of persecution by remembering those who are being persecuted today.

Countless Christians in muslim countries are being martyred for their faith as we enjoy the fat of the land in America. Yet we wont even go to our neighbor with the gospel. We must begin to expect the persecution if we are living as God wants us to live. However, we shouldn't be getting persecuted because of our foolishness and disobedience.

John 15:8-9 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.. If ye were of the world, the world love it's own: but because ye are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The world is at enmity with the things of God. But we don't, run and hide. We don't go around looking for a fight either. I often contemplate that one of the reasons why the world doesn't act right, is that it's b church doesn't act right.

#4 The average church doesn't act right, because the average church doesn't believe right.

Over the past thirty years the growing trend has been to focus on the methods and trends, not

the fundamentals of the faith. The fundamentals are what strengthens the believers faith, not the growth of a ministry.

My loyalty is based upon the God I serve. If the God I serve says I'm supposed to believe and worship Him a certain way, then I need to worship and obey in that certain way. If the God I serve tells me not to fellowship with certain individuals due to their false religion and sinful ideals, then I do not fellowship with them.

I'm a fan of the local church that is God ordained and God equipped according to the scriptures . They deserve my loyalty, not a denomination or fellowship gathering of preachers.

In closing let me remind you once again, if your loyalty to God is where it should be according to His Word, then the rest of your loyalties will fall into place.

- Evangelist Steve Livingston

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To learn more about our ministry or to schedule a conference call: 812-844-5802.

5 Questions You Must Answer Concerning Revival

We as believers must recognize that their is a major difference between a spiritual awakening and a spiritual panic. Bible Christianity which truly is Fundamentalism, is on spiritual life support. Don't believe me, compare the crowd size to Sunday morning and the midweek prayer service.

If the size and decorations within the sanctuary mattered, we would of seen revival by now. If the size and distinguished credibility of our pastoral staff and their education had anything to do with revival, we would of seen it by now. If the size of our church budgets mattered, we would of seen revival by now.

Beloved, we have gotten it backwards. When concerning a man who exclaimed that he would follow Christ wherever he went, Christ responded by saying, The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.

I wonder if the development of a multi-million dollar church campus impresses Christ as much as our humble submission before Him, considering their is a major epidemic of heroin and meth in our country and child prostitution is scattered abroad.

I'm all for being educated and I believe that our clergy should have some common sense as well as a sure and strong Bible foundation. Yet lets not forget what the Apostle Paul said in

1 Corinthians 2:15 And I brethren came not with excellency of speech or of t=wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear and much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of Mans wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and Power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Why are we holding onto the victories of the past when we should be picking up our Sword and shield today? Doctrinal purity, the King James Bible, holiness, righteousness, soul winning and the power of prayer need to be fought for harder today than they ever been fought for before.

1 Peter 3:15- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be always ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

#1 What good does it do for you to desire revival, but you truly don't fear God?

Real, lasting repentance is centered upon you turning away from your sin. Does your idolatry only bring you a bit of remorse or does it drop you to your knees in subjection and humility, begging God for forgiveness. Does your repentance drive you to a pure and undefiled obedience? Charles Finney said Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance- followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God- it is giving up ones will to God in deep humility.

Humility is the trademark of a person who lacks pride. If you wont or refuse to repent, it's due to your pride and lack of fear for the things of God. We've become experts on everything concerning our traditions, standards and convictions. However, we have failed at being what God wants us to be. Davis said in the Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit; a broken and a contrite heart thou wilt not despise.

If we aren't willing to sacrifice an extra dollar or two for tithes and offerings to give above what we are commanded, why would God bless? If we aren't willing to sacrifice an extra day a week for soul winning or prayer meeting, why should God anoint us?

#2 What good does it do if you own a Bible if it doesn't own you?

Each year thousands of books are printed in defense of Christianity, or about Christ. every state has a seminary, and every decent size city has at least one not-so- Christian book store.

However Bible literacy is down, and the average person in the pew and pulpit as well couldn't recite the Ten Commandments if they tried. The only way to be consumed with the absolute perfect mind of God is to be absolutely consumed with His perfect Word.

We need to begin treating the Bible as a gold mine of spiritual treasure. the deeper we dig, the more spiritual treasures we will consume and the richer we get.

Why should the we Let the Bible own us? I suggest you open up Psalm 119 and study it for a while. Let the Word of God speak to you and drive you into a desire for it's hidden riches.

#3 What good does it for you to go to church when your heart isn't prepared to go?

The great psalmist and King of Israel David said in Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

• What does your church mean to you?

• Is it just another building where you and your Sunday service friends show up? Or is this God's house where your real family is?

• Do you come to each and every service in hopes and expectations of seeing God move, or is your hand out expecting receive. but never willing to lay your all on the altar during the services?

I hope your desire is to see souls saved and added to Gods Kingdom. What a great responsibility we have as believers to win the lost and see lives transformed through discipleship. We should never play the part of church member just because it is expected of us.

Hebrews 10:24-25- And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

When you refuse to attend services, your essentially leaving the other church members on the battlefield to fight alone without your sword and shield handy.

America is in a spiritual downslide, and we need a spiritual awakening that this world hasn't seen since the book of Acts. Yet it's up to you too make the decision that as if the whole battle is up to you alone and this church alone. If Revival is going to come, it has to start somewhere.

#4 What good does it do to pray, but not enter into Gods presence?

Hebrews 4:14-16-Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all ways tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I wonder, what ever happened to weeks of prayer and fasting?

I've actually heard preachers say that their was no need for fasting and prayer, though Christ himself even said When ye fast..... It's expected of us.

What has happened to being a prayer warrior and an intecessor on behalf of your friends, neighbors, church and family?

Do you want fresh oil?

What has happened to coming to the altar as a church and simply crying out. Have we become to rigid in our services for the Holy Spirit? Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know notwhat we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he searcheththe hearts and knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God are the called according to his purpose.

You should be scared to death of a Christianity that limits the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer. I'm afraid we have focused too much on vs 28 of the aforementioned scripture and not enough upon vs's 26-27.

#5 What does it do to look the part, but not be real?

Beloved, there is a major difference between being religious and being saved. Being religious means you know all the answers and have the rules and regulations down to a science. yet you've never eternalized it. you've never trusted Christ as your savior. Many good religious people fill our pews and have a for of godliness about them. They are trusting their baptism, church membership and goodness to send them to heaven.

Are you one of those that the Apostle Paul warned young Timothy about in 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Coming to church week in and week out and blatantly ignoring the gospel call of Christ is just as wicked as the apostates who preach a false doctrine. The only difference is that your promoting it with your lifestyle and not your words and ideology.

Harsh words and tough questions that must be answered by you and other Christians in order for us too see another great awakening.

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For more information about our ministry please call 812-844-5802

#revival #5questionsyoumustanswer

Cultivating A Thankful Heart - Part 1

Cultivating a Thankful Heart Psalm 95:1-11

Nothing is sweeter for a person to say or write on a little note than the two small words of thank you. It really only takes a little bit of time to pick up a phone or actually mail a handwritten note to express our gratitude.

Being thankful not only opens the heart to the person giving thanks, but it reassures those to whom we give our thanks that we are indeed humbled and grateful by their acts of service and how they have blessed us and help to fill our needs.

Lets always remember that people choose to be our friends. People choose to attend our churches. People choose to bless us and they choose to move and minister upon Gods behalf.

Id like to take those two little words....thank you, and help you in your walk with God to help you design a life that truly glorifies God. I'm going to take us down a road that I'm sure many of us have considered, but never truly put it into practice as earnestly as we should.

#1 Work…yep it matters

Let me start off by saying that burnout is in fact a real issue in the life of a believer, especially those who are in the ministry full time. You can’t do everything all of the time, but you can at least do something most of the time.

I've seen some of the most busiest pastors seemingly toil sunup to sundown tire out within a couple of years and work themselves right out of the ministry. How?

They have forgotten that they are supposed to work the fields and trust God to bless with a harvest that he sees fit. When we don't like the harvest, naturally we work harder and plow deeper and add more fertilizer, look for a new seed to sow. All of which the natural man loves to do.

Yet have we forgotten 2 Corinthians 5:17-Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away: behold all things are become new.

It's not just our walking and talking and standard of living and personal convictions that need to change, but our way of sowing and reaping that must conform to Christ's as well.

As I type this, the majority of the pipes are either frozen or broken under our house. This old salt shaker farm house was built in the 1890s so I kind of expected it with the cold winter season coming on. But, we have water at the well so we just gather it a couple times a day in a 16 gallon milk jug we use for milking. The cows, goats and chickens are still being fed and watered. In fact they get taken care of first thing in the morning and in the last thing in the evening. Proverbs 27:23-Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

Excellent thought from Solomon isn’t it. Simple, yet profound, as most Bible promises and commandments are. However, we as believers miss the mark when we go chasing after the latest and greatest methodology or new version of theology which promises a deeper understanding into Gods Word or church growth or spiritual fulfillment.

How hard is this verse to follow? Proverbs 20:4-The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing. It’s not hard to understand, but it is a brutal truth which so badly needs to be put forth in today’s society. You’ll always be hungry if you don’t want to work….or at least you should be but the welfare state we are moving towards is a whole different topic.

Whether it’s a financial hunger, a spiritual hunger, or an actual hunger for food…..if you don’t plow the fields, you can’t expect to get a harvest. And without a harvest, you’ll never be thankful for what it is your beginning to eat or partake in. It’s a vicious cycle that ends with believers leaving our churches, children leaving the home as soon as they turn 18, and even folks rioting in the streets because ….fill in the blank.

Have you ever noticed how every few months a new method or program seems to come out that promises us how to get wealthy. It seems that everybody has a new pill, potion or lotion or a book we can read that guarantees riches. Of course the writer of the book and maker of the product is the only person getting wealthy.

The reason most people never see true success is that it normally starts with a pair of work books and overalls and gets up with the rooster. The absolute beginning of thankfulness starts with a work ethic that rivals anything and everything your peers have ever seen.

Where we own our farm here in Southern Indiana is in the middle of a small but thriving Amish community. For a brief moment, let me take you here.

Each and every morning at 5 am I get up and grab my first cup of steaming black coffee, drop two ice cubes in it and let Max and Harley our two blue heelers outside for the day. Ill walk the fence line and pray for a bit to stretch my legs and get my body and spirit moving for the day. Then at once from the neighbor house at 5:15 am you can hear the faint ringing of a wound up alarm clock. Moments later, the coal oil lamps are lit and you begin to see lamps going through the yard to the animal houses.

If we look in any other direction, I promise you that you will see the exact same sight and hear the exact same sounds at every Amish house. Usually the men and boys are getting the cows and goats milked, and the women and girls are preparing breakfast and getting lunches made for the men if they work in town at a building site.

Trust me when I say that the work and busyness of the Amish doesn’t ever seem to end. I envy their work ethic actually, because if they don’t work, they don’t eat. They do not collect welfare, they do not have workmans compensation, and they all must pull their own weight as well as work together within their church community as well to live, thrive and survive.

Yes I understand that they work out their salvation as part of their religion. However if they can work as hard as they do without all of the modern amenities we have, shouldn't we as believers be able to something big and bold for the things of God?

Can’t we strive together and labor for the gospel tirelessly and in one accord? The church and family that works and prays together, will ultimately stay and grow together.

By the way, let me say just one last time, you can’t do everything all the time, but you can at least do something most of the time.

#2: Today’s bread and everything else as well

As an evangelist, I’m amazed at the goodness of God in His answers to not only my prayers, but the prayers of His people. In fact, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s often more exciting for me to see how God is going to answer my prayers, not necessarily the answer in and of itself.

I’ve personally seen in my few years in the ministry folks who have had their cancers healed, marriages put back together, wayward children come home and local churches experience a pouring out of the Spirit in a way that was both powerful and Biblical in nature.

We have had absolute strangers pay for our fuel at Gas stations and pay for meals that we never met or have seen. Our family has prayed for certain needs privately and have seen those needs met through people and through ways that I honestly could never understand or begin to comprehend.

Trust me when I say that I take absolutely no credit for these instances nor would I ever in any of the situations like those mentioned above. In fact I’ll be honest to say that I’ve spent countless hours and days praying for certain people and situations, only to find that the exact opposite of what I was praying for took place.

Regardless of the outcome, I’m able to say that God always answers prayer!!!!

However I’m worried for our movement as Fundamentalists. I’m not worried about the majority of us and our doctrinal stand. Nor am I overly worried about our musical preferences and our personal convictions and standards. Trust me when I say that I’m so thankful for those churches in America that are desiring to stick to the old paths and what many would call the old time religion.

I am however beginning to see a growing and harmful trend within Fundamentalism as well as what some would call American Christianity. Have you noticed lately that throughout Christendom there seems to be a lack of thankfulness, not only for what the Lord has given us and delivered us from, but in our overall life as well.

I remember as a boy, one Thanksgiving day when we had Ramen noodles and fried bologna sandwiches with mustard and eggs for our meal. It wasn't much and definitely didn't belong in a Norman Rockwell painting. However I was grateful just to be around my family then because a neighbor boy I grew up with was celebrating Thanksgiving day in a foster home due to the relentless abuse of his parents. Another one of my friends’ parents were recently divorced, and yet another friend had no idea where his mother was on that day.

As it so happened to have turned out, that was the last thanksgiving we had with my father. He died three months later after fighting a 15 year battle with Cancer....I was only ten.

We didn’t have much, but we had each other, running water and a roof over our heads.

Now I told that little story to remind you that the single most important key as a believer to living the spirit filled life is developing attitude of gratitude. We need to learn how to cultivate a thankful heart. You’ll never experience the fruit of the Spirit without being thankful for what you have and what you are today.

What if you only woke up today with the things you were thankful for yesterday?

We are commanded to pray to God the Father give us his day our daily bread Matthew 6:11.

We are to pray for our daily bread so we go to him each and every day, not expecting for it to be in the cupboard already, but in expectation knowing that God will and has already provided for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:18-In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my life as a Christian is not to compare myself to or with others. We all have the bumps, bruises, and scars. They just come in different shapes, sizes and flavors Many of us have spent years going through trials and tribulations which may or may not have been brought on because of our own actions. But they don’t reveal who you really are. How you respond to them does!!!

I’m also afraid that our lack of thankfulness as believers has created a handout mentality within the local church. We expect good things from God, yet haven’t fully used or been blessed by what He has already given us. How can or why would God desire to send revival and pour out His Spirit upon His people when we aren’t the least bit thankful that He gave us His Word, or a building to worship in and Godly pastors to lead us?

We literally have within our grasp all we will ever need to reach the world for Christ, but many of us aren't even willing to reach our neighbors or family members, yet take the gospel message to a foreign soil.

When it comes to the point in your life that you realize Jesus is all you really need, then beloved Jesus will be all you really need. We've become over commercialized within the local church, and our homes as well.

Our busyness hasn't equated into effectiveness because we've become busy about the wrong things. Prayer meetings need to be prayer meetings. Revivals need to be centered around the Word of God. Spirit filled preaching ought to edify Christ, not be a rant concerning our current political climate. We seriously need to get back to making the main thing making the main thing the main thing.

Take notice to see within the above portion of scripture that in everything, whether good or bad… wanted or unwanted deserves our thanks. I’m sure that many of us have heard that old saying about developing an attitude of gratitude. Well, I’ll be the first to tell you that it works.

Our family has lived a life of faith and absolute trust in God since entering the ministry. I'll give you one of the main reasons why I think God has so greatly blessed us.

Each morning I write down ten things I’m thankful for, and I review them quietly before bed each night. It sounds a bit corny at first, yet in everything whether it’s throwing my back out digging a sewer line or winning someone to Christ, both let me know I’m alive and for that I’m grateful!!!

I call this daily writing my gratitude journal and I've combined it with my prayer journal to use

each morning during my devotions. I'm entirely grateful and humbled by reviewing it every Sunday before I get the opportunity to preach. It reminds me of Gods goodness and His unending faithfulness to me as I trust solely in Him.

You have to treat each and every morning as a new opportunity to see God’s grace and mercy extended to those in need, and to those whom He calls His own. I’ve been in abject poverty with zero food in the house and crying children hungry with only cornmeal mush to eat. I have also been blessed enough to be able to raise my own food to where I’m no longer hungry.

The point I’m trying to make through the death of my father, living in poverty, and working as a farmer/ evangelist is this……I’m thankful for the trials and tribulations which wore me down and weakened me because I have learned that my real strength comes from the God I serve, not the situation I see. Ephesians 6:10 Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might

#3: I want more, but only if He wants it for me.

1 Timothy 6:6- Godliness with contentment is great gain.

A great way to prove your contentment for the things of God is that you become completely satisfied for what God has given you in His Son, yet you always strive to be more, do more, and give more for the glory of God and His kingdom, not our own.

Think-fullness will always produce thankfulness and it will keep you in rememberence of what you once were or could have been except not for the grace of God.

Phillipians 4:8- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if their be any virtue, if their be any praise, think on these things.

Stop for a moment and look around you. Don’t you see how far you’ve come in your walk with God? Be ever mindful of how God can use you in your current situation and how He can use you in the future.

How can God use someone who isn’t thankful? How can God use a church that isn’t willing to testify?

Psalm 95:1-2 O come let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Have you honestly rejoiced lately about your salvation?

Believers who are blood washed, sanctified, justified, and reconciled and no longer condemned to the fiery depths of hell ought to be the most joyful people in the room and community.

One of the saddest testimonies of our movement as Fundamentalists is the stoic look on our faces as we sing the songs of Zion. Shouldn't we be known as Compassionate Christians instead of Fighting Fundamentalists? I'm all for contending for the faith, but how often do we fight amongst ourselves just for the sake of fighting?

If there isn’t any joy in your voice or on your face when you are in the church house or at the camp-meeting, why would anybody want to have the Christ you claim to have?

I honestly worry about folks who are afraid to sing and shout and praise God. Perhaps we forgot how to sing, or maybe we’ve become intimidated by the wickedness of the charismatic movement? Perhaps we lack joy and singing out our praises to God because we have nothing to sing about within our hearts.

Let’s read what David said in Psalm 40:3-And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

Did you notice that it does not mention folks hearing you in that verse, but it does mention them seeing you? I’ve been to a few churches that have been so dead that if a man had a heart attack and died they’d have to check the pulse on a half a dozen people before finding the dead guy. It ought not to ever be that way in our fundamental churches. Don’t let your shout die out.

It would do us well as believers to not only openly witness, but to also openly testify about the faithfulness of the God we serve. A simple 30 minute testimony time within the church can seriously revive the atmosphere of the local congregation. Don't be afraid to move away from the regimented services many in the congregation are used to.

Gods absolute desire is to use you in a mighty and powerful way because He is a mighty and powerful God. In the next posting, we'll consider the Sovereignty of God, His creative works, and His leadership in our lives!!!!

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call me personally at 812-844-5802.

#thankful #psalm951 #gratitudejournal