Articles by Paul

Let Them Hear

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Seven times in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation the concluding words of our Lord are recorded to the local churches with this phrase; “let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

What excuse will you be leaning on this coming Lord’s day for why you will not gather with a local church to hear what the Spirit says? There may be times when it will be unavoidable and you will not be able to gather; but for most, every excuse used will prove that there is another god to worship. And that god you will worship is the god you have made up for yourself.

Not every church that has the word ‘church’ in it is the kind of church Jesus is referring to in the book of Revelation. He’s writing to His church. Look for a local church that belongs to the Lord Jesus. It will not be a perfect church, but don’t gather for any other reason but to hear what the Spirit says to the church.

You are a professing follower of Christ? Then do all that you can to hear.

I Prefer to Speak to the Almighty

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“But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. (Job 5:8-9 NASB)

Naghmeh Abedini

Join me on Sunday, May 19 as believers across the world place our cause before God. Asking again for ‘great and unsearchable things’.

As I’m sure, many of you have heard of the situation of a pastor from Boise, Idaho who is in prison in Iran. Saeed Abedini, is facing eight years in prison for gospel work. There is no surprise that this is common treatment of those who do gospel work at home and abroad. This pastor, and thousands of other gospel proclaiming heralds around the world face this kind of hardship every day.

There are many in Idaho who pray for brother Abedini every day. Many Americans voice their outrage to government agencies. But for me, I prefer to speak to the almighty. Because this treatment of believers is spoken of in Scripture, this is a spiritual matter that is best handled by the church to the LORD.

There is no comparison to my days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. But may I say… The only reason release came was because of the Lord’s doing ‘great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.’ The U.S. government was paralyzed  by politics, Southern Baptists were struck with fear of how association with us would effect the work, and 10 Americans (and our families) were brought to the end of our ropes seeking God and placing our cause and case before God.

Join me on Sunday, May, 19, 2013 as we speak to the Almighty for brother Saeed Abedini’s enduring strength to speak the gospel in this difficult day.

Worthless Fellows

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“…worthless fellows gathered themselves about Jephthah, and they went out with him.” (Judges 11:3 NASB)

Maybe you should take a look around you today and see who is gathered around you. Unconverted and worthless are not the same. Unconverted people are those who are responding to the gospel… worthless people are arrogant, stiff-necked  and dangerous to your well being.

this poses two thoughts…

  1. who has gathered themselves around you?
  2. are you with these ‘worthless’ fellows while doing the work of God.

these thoughts require careful attention…

  1. give attention to who is gathered around you. This type of worthlessness is not around you because they want your goodness to rub off on them. They are around you because they see they can drag you in with them.
  2. if, while you are doing the work of God, you take them with you, they will be a hindrance and distraction to your completing the work God has for you today. If you take them with you it actually shows a lack of spiritual discernment.

1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at sin ,
But among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his.
15 The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
But happy is he who is gracious to the poor .
22 Will they not go astray who devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous .
26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
9 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick -tempered exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing ,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the hearts of fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, 
But sin is a disgrace to people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully. (Prov 14:1-35 NASB)

the Master’s Plan for Fatherhood

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the Master's Plan for Fatherhood

This fall, Eastside Baptist Church (204 Eastland Drive North, Twin Falls, Idaho) will host our first Fatherhood Academy. Consider joining me on Friday and Saturday ~ September 13-14, 2013, for the Master’s Plan for Fatherhood. I want all men and sons to join me as Scott Brown from Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina examines Scripture in detail on the doctrine and practice of fatherhood.

This in depth, exegetical examination of fatherhood, will give a father a timeless biblical roadmap he can use to calibrate his life as a father. Further, it will give pastors an arsenal of expository ammunition for teaching biblical fatherhood in their churches. (more information here)

Chunky Monkey

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chunkyMonkey

It only took me two days with multiple trips to the grocery store to finally remember to gather all of the necessary items for fruit smoothies. But it was tonight’s stop that made it worth it.

As I was examining the frozen yogurt options (I didn’t know there could be so many options) I overheard a disturbing conversation between a husband and wife. They had three children with them, the youngest was a newborn. The conversation was worth a second read of the ingredients on my frozen yogurt so I could finish the conversation. It went down like this…

(the names have been changed to protect the poor innocent children.)

wife: Remember when I was pregnant with Marcy?
husband: How could I forget?
wife: Remember how I would send you to the store to get chunky monkey ice cream?
husband: (laughing) I do… (more laughter)
wife: We would get it and dig down into the ice cream to get the biggest chunks and then you would suck the ice cream off and give me the chunks.

I wonder if they noticed me nearly gagging as I quickly made my way to the checker?

When I came home I shared this encounter with Renee. Her reply was, “I love you and all, but you never get to suck the ice cream off of my chocolate…”

As disturbing as this was and is… I was touched by their fond retelling of their pregnancy days. May the Lord bless them with many more fond stories (and may I never eavesdrop on any more of their conversations.)

What’s your favorite food story of pregnancy cravings? (Don’t make me wish I didn’t asked.)

Even Evil Spirits Obey Him?

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“God sent an evil spirit… so that the violence done to the seventy sons of [Gideon] might come, and their blood might be laid on [all] who killed them…” (Judges 9:23-24 emphasis mine)

It is places like this in Scripture that cause a person to dig deeply and search with the lantern of truth for understanding. What does it say about God if he can send an ‘evil spirit’? Who does he send an ‘evil spirit’ to? Why would God send an ‘evil spirit’?

The short answer to the “who” is the one and only triune God, Yahweh does. Even evil spirits obey him. Does this mean that everything Satan and evil spirits do is under the sovereign control of God?

I’ll address a few things in response to these questions. (This is my sermon text for this coming Sunday and this is my early examinations that raise as many questions as answers.)

First of all… this is not an isolated moment in Scripture. (Judges 9:23, 1 Samuel 16:15, 18:10, 19:9 and I think this is what is implied with Romans 1)

I’ll start with five observations in response to the questions.

1) God can order all of creation to obey him. (“the demons also believe, and shudder.” James 2:19)

2) It is clear that God fights against evil spirits throughout the Bible, and this at least leaves room for consideration that they are at some type of liberty to do as they want within the boundaries God has established. A most important consideration in this is to consider the life of Jesus. Even he had to fight against evil spirits. He commanded them and they obeyed, but they were at least somewhat at liberty to act and torment.

3) The Hebrew word translated “evil” (rah) in these passages seems to be a difficult work of translation. It does not necessarily refer to something morally evil. It could mean “troubling.” So the passages could mean that he sent a ‘troubling’ spirit: that is, a spirit to cause unrest.

4) It would be risky work on our behalf if  we conclude that God always sends evil spirits and even riskier if we conclude that he can’t send an evil spirit. At the least, we can conclude that there are times that he does.

5) Because it is clear that there are at least times that God does send evil, wicked, troubling or tormenting spirits, he does so as punishment for something people have done. God judges people by allowing spirit agents to do what they want to do: namely, torment people. This is at least part of what we learn from a passage like Romans 1:18-25.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever . Amen. (Romans 1:18-25 NASB)

I conclude, there is evidence where God’s interest to punish someone and the desire of fallen spirits to torment people are equally ordered, released and at liberty to do as they please. Thus proving their reprobate nature and arrogance to face the wrath of God without the blood covering work of Christ.

Therefore, repent!

Up For Debate

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Over the weekend Moody Radio aired a healthy discussion on the program “Up For Debate” on the issue of modern youth/children’s ministry and age integration. Listen in as Julie Roys moderates discussion between Scott Brown and Luke MacDonald.

Do churches, with their separate children’s and youth ministries, unwittingly divide the family?

Up For Debate: Listen HERE

 

I Don’t Hate Puppies

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I may be labeled a puppy hater after this post. I will just have to carry that label knowing that it’s not true.

100_2220“There’s no telling what some people will promise you when it comes to choosing the right summer Sunday School curriculum.” I don’t make this stuff up nor do I go looking for this stuff… it comes to my email inbox because it’s attached to our church website or some marketing agency has been selling my email address to publishing house businesses. This video is promoting a summer Sunday School curriculum.

I don’t take issue with a business doing whatever it needs to do to market its product. After all there are people who work for them that depend on a pay check and there is a market share that makes Sunday School and VBS apparently a very competitive field. I’m not opposed to praying for children. I’m just publicly responding to what I think is worthless and reckless behavior. I don’t fault the well meaning actor doing her job, or the camera man for utilizing his skill. I blame this kind of recklessness on executives who utilize this kind of scheme to attract a church staff member. And I blame pastors and churches for apparently buying in to this kind of product. I’m sure that the marketers have done their homework and they are convinced that this sales pitch will be successful. This is tragic.

Public plea to all ‘Christian’ publishing houses: Please exercise discipline and restraint when provide a product to the bride of Christ, the church. We are not a market share to be had.

Public plea to fellow pastors: Please consider writing a kind, but firm letter to the next publishing house that handles the sacred things of God with reckless shenanigans as this. They will continue to treat us as a market share as long as we buy into their advertising gimmicks.

Prepare yourself for the attraction of puppies…

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