So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. — 1 Thessalonians 1:7 (KJV)

What were they ensamples of? According to the preceding verse, they were ensamples because:

1. They were followers of Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus.
2. They were followers of the Lord.
3. They received the word in much affliction.
4. Even in affliction they did it with joy.

The church of the Thessalonians were a model of imitation of how to receive the word of God, even in affliction, and in how to follow the Lord. Receive the word with joy, even in affliction. Be a follower of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Be an ensample to others.

God bless, Mike

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. — Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

We are told to make all our requests to God. It is through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving that we are to make our requests. Worship the Lord in making your requests unto God. Make earnest petitions before the God of all creation.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

God will give you peace and keep you.

God bless, Mike

I found this an inspiring book. I recommend that you read it in small pieces and then meditate and pray over what you have read.  This is easier said than done!  It is a book that you will want to read from cover to cover! It is worth it to reflect on what you read in order to get the spiritual benefit from this story.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

“Hey, holy man!” It was the man on the top bunk beside me again. I turned my head toward him.

“Come closer.” He was almost whispering. “I have a question for you. What is your name?”

“Mikhail Khorev.”

His next question was a strange one. “Who gave you your name?”

“Why, my father and mother.” I puzzled over such a query.

“What were you doing when you were on your knees?”

“I was praying.”

“Who taught you to pray?”

“Yes.”

“So your parents gave you your name, huh?”

Again, I answered, “Yes.”

There was a space of silence. The noises from the rest of the inmates were dying down somewhat.

“I wish I had parents who named me!” I could hear despair in the man’s voice.

I did not know how old he was. Perhaps in his late twenties, I guessed.

“They told me I was only eight days old when I was abandoned at the police station. They took me inside and filed a report on me. Since there was no name, they called me Nicolai, after the policeman who found me. That was my first name. In order for me to have a middle name, they named me Petrovich, after another policeman who was there. And for my surname, they decided on November, since that was the month they found me.” He gave a maniacal laugh. “Nicolai Petrovich November.”

Was he mad? His voice had turned grim and menacing.

Twenty-five years old, no parents, named after some stupid policemen who didn’t give a hoot about me.” His voice was no longer quiet. I knew the other men in the bunks were listening to our conversation.

“Now, you tell me, holy man! Why does your God favor some people above others? Why did you have parents who taught you to pray, but me, I had no one to even name me? Is a God like that fair? If there is a God, is he not unfair to let some have a good life and others have a rotten life? Tell me!”

As a Christian, you sometimes get asked hard questions like those from this excerpt. Perhaps this book will help you answer them with wisdom. That is just one example of the spiritual lessons contained in this book. I thank God for the life of Mikhail Khorev. He is still teaching and encouraging believers today.

]]> http://closetojesus.org/john316/2010/02/a-small-price-to-pay/feed/ 4 http://closetojesus.org/john316/2010/02/filthy-rags/ http://closetojesus.org/john316/2010/02/filthy-rags/#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:12:04 +0000 Mike http://closetojesus.org/john316/?p=180 I was remembering a church service from several years ago.  Something happened in that service that proved to me the importance of having the pure word of God. It was near the beginning of worship when a man stood up and read the following verse from his Bible.

For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
take us away.

Isaiah 64:6 (NASB)

My family is sitting with me in the same row. It was all the children could do to keep from laughing when they heard the phrase “like a filthy garment” in this verse.  You see, they were all following along in their Bibles. Here is what they were reading.

But we are all as an unclean thing
and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away.

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)

They heard the phrase “like a filthy garment” but they were reading the phrase “as filthy rags.” They instantly realized the absurdity of the words that were spoken. (It nearly made us all laugh!)  I see this as a sad thing in that Isaiah 64:6 expresses the futility of the human condition without the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. “Filthy rags” is a very different picture than “a filthy garment.”

To be certain, I discussed this with my family when we got home. I had already spent much time studying what Bible version we would use in my household and had decided on the King James Bible. I am convinced that it is the pure word of God for English-speaking people. All the rest of the versions are bible babble.

The reason I feel that the above example is so powerful is that even the children saw the clear difference and they realized which one was superior. The people of the Church do err greatly when they don’t place their trust in the pure word of God.

God bless, Mike

In the appendix are excerpts from letters received after Dr. Goforth went to Heaven. One of these excerpts contained Jonathan Goforth’s seven rules for daily living. These were made by Dr. Goforth in 1894 and were written in the fly-leaf of his Bible.

1. Seek to give much – expect nothing.
2. Put the very best construction on the actions of others.
3. Never let a day pass without at least a quarter of an hours spent in the study of the Bible.
4. Never omit daily morning and evening private prayer and devotion.
5. In all things seek to know God’s will and when known obey at any cost.
6. Seek to cultivate a quiet prayerful spirit.
7. Seek each day to do or say something to further Christianity among the heathen.

These seven rules for daily living are certainly worth following for our King.

God bless, Mike

I live in a rural setting on a small farm. There is a quality to farm work that gives you a lot of “think time.” I like to work outside. Sometimes I’m alone when I work and sometimes I am with my wife or children. The times that I am working alone provide especially good time to talk with God and meditate on His Word. Sadly, I don’t always take advantage of that time. Other thoughts creep into my mind. It can be hard to put down those other thoughts.

In the movie Beyond the Next Mountain, Chawnga came to faith in Christ through the efforts of a British Missionary. Although the missionary’s time with the Hmar people was short, he did leave them with God’s Word. (Chawnga was the father of Rochnga Pudaite who translated the Bible into the Hmar people’s language.) I mention the movie, because Chawnga would go to a field on the mountainside to pray. He would kneel downhill, which put his head as low as possible before God and seek the Lord. The fruit of his life is a testament to how faithful God is to talk with His children and answer prayer. He not only used his time to seek God but sought time and place to do this!

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; – Ephesians 5:15-20 (KJV)

In Ephesians, Chapter 5, Paul teaches us about “speaking to yourself.” He begins by telling us to walk in such a way as to be watchful on all sides. We are told this so that we will go through life as wise people and not as fools. He tells us to be “redeeming the time” as we walk through life. Redeeming is an interesting word. It means to pay a ransom. Another way to put it is to provide a payment equivalent to that which you are suffering. When this ransom is paid, you are delivered from that which has held you in bondage. Paul wants you to redeem your time so that you are no longer in bondage to evil.

So much time is wasted on wrong thoughts and activities. Paul likens it to a drunkard. A drunkard will spend his life seeking drunkenness. At the worst end of the spectrum, the drunkard will forsake even his family and own life to be drunk. I have seen alcoholic bums come into the drug store where I worked as a teenager, to buy rubbing alcohol to drink even though it is killing them. (Don’t worry, we would refuse the sale.) What activities do you occupy your time and mind with that numb your life in a way like the drunkard?

Our Lord Jesus Christ also warns us.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. – Luke 21:34 (KJV)

Paul tells us to not be drunk, “but be filled with the Spirit.” Then he gives us the key.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; – Ephesians 5:19-20(KJV)

My daughters give a great example of doing this. They sing while they work. They sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” It is a joy to hear them! What kind of songs go through your head? What melodies occupy you mind? I know that I struggle with all the bad songs I put into my head as a youth. I know the words and the tunes to these songs, but struggle to recall “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” The damage I did is truly catastrophic!

I am concerned for the children of today. Try this sometime. Walk through the toy section of a store. What images are our boys getting from most of the toys? What I see there is evil. What images are our girls getting from most of the the toys? What I see there is materialism and prostitution. It is not even subtle anymore! (I haven’t even mentioned television, video games, books, and music.) If you are a parent, you must take care to control the influences that your children are exposed to. It will shape their thinking! They will have horrible and evil images in their “quiet thoughts” and these will haunt them for all their life. The worst of it will be if they grow up and don’t even consider these thoughts to be wrong.

“Giving thanks always” is a key thought-activity, too. How easy is it to fall into a thankless attitude! When things don’t go as you planned, do you thank God? When a tragedy happens in your life, do you thank God? When something wonderful happens, do you thank God? Paul teaches us to be “giving thanks always for all things.” It is the heart attitude of thankfulness that God wants us to have.

I encourage you to be like Chawnga. Live your life following God’s word. Make it possible to have a mind for the Lord. Use your time wisely. Don’t waste it on the cares and evil of the world. Pray and give thanks always. Have songs in your heart that worship the Lord.

God bless, Mike

As I write this entry, I am about halfway through this edition of the book. I am struck by the following words spoken by Dr. Robert Barnes before being burned as an heretic, along with two others, for his faith.

“I believe in the blessed Trinity, three Persons and one God, that created the world, and that this blessed Trinity sent down the second person, Jesus Christ, into the womb of the Virgin Mary. I believe that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and took flesh of her, and that he suffered hunger, thirst, cold, and other passions of our body, sin excepted, according to the saying of St. Peter, ‘He was made in all things like to his bretheren, yet without sin.’ And I believe that this his death and passion was the sufficient ransom for sin. And I believe that through his death he overcame sin, death, and hell, and that there is none other satisfaction unto the Father, but this his death and passion only; and that no work of man did deserve anything of God, but his passion only as touching our justification, for I know the best work that ever I performed is impure and imperfect.” And with this he cast abroad his hands, and desired God to forgive him his trespasses: — “Wherefore I beseech thee, O Lord, not to enter into judgment with me, according to the saying of the prophet David. Wherefore, I trust in no good work that ever I did, but only in the death of Christ. I do not doubt but through him to inherit the kingdom of heaven. But imagine not that I speak against good works, for they are to be done, and verily they that do them not shall never come into the kingdom of God. We must do them, because they are commanded us of God, to show and set forth our profession, not to deserve or merit, for that is only by the death of Christ.”

Another edition, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, William Byron Forbush, Editor, is currently in print.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. — Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

There is a great danger in our media-saturated world. Many in our generation grew up on television and radio. How many hours were spent watching TV or listening to top 40 radio? I expect the answer would be countless. How many hours were spent with God in prayer and studying his word? I believe this answer would be much less. I suspect that how our time was spent had a great influence on our thinking. We are conditioned to follow.

Do you remember the movie E.T.? It was groundbreaking in many ways. This is the movie where product placement caught everyone’s attention. In 1998, BusinessWeek featured a Product Placement Hall Of Fame that included the Reeses Pieces in E.T. (sales shot up by 65% after these candies appeared in the movie itself). Ever since then, the role of product placement in all kinds of mass media has become so important that companies pay large sums of money to ensure that their product gets in.

What does this have to do with Christians? In case you haven’t noticed it, niche marketing is hot, and niche marketing to Christians is very hot. A market that used to be made up of small, locally-owned Christian bookstores, is now dominated by big business. In fact, there are very few Christian publishing houses any more. The largest Bible publisher, Zondervan, is owned by HarperMorrow, which is owned by News Corporation. If you are not familiar with News Corporation, it is a multinational media giant that includes 20th Century Fox, Fox Broadcasting Company and DIRECTV.

We are warned by God.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. — 2 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

The phrase, make merchandise of you, is one that we must especially heed today. Many wares that the modern “christian” marketeer pitches has been designed to sell through deception. It looks good at first glance. There are Bible verses in the book or song. It may be only a sprinkling, with much of it being taken out of context. Perhaps the author picks the perfect verse from a myriad of versions in order to express just what he wants to say. The marketing of these products is effective and dangerous.

I remember noticing in a local Christian bookstore, a “christian” version of the Goosebumps series. These are horror stories written for children and this store had a line of books that looked remarkably similar. The same thing happens with music. Much of modern “christian” music is indistinguishable from secular music. Do you think there might be deception at work here?

A large portion of what is marketed to Christians today does not contain sound doctrine. It is not grounded on the truth of God’s word. Rather, it caters to psychological or emotional needs. It is designed to make you feel better. It will lead you in the wrong way.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. — 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)

Are there some good books and music? Yes, there are some. Be cautious and prove everything!

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. — Acts 17:11 (KJV)

Do you take what was taught you and search the scriptures to see if it is true? Do you do this with the music you listen to, or the books you read? Do you question the teaching to make sure it is solid? How could the Bereans do it so well as to be commended. Can we not do that too? Yes we can do it! God’s word is plain for our understanding and the Holy Spirit is there to teach us its meaning.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. — 1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV)

God has not left us without a Helper to discern the meaning of scripture and the times that we live in. Oh, that we would walk with God and prove every teacher. Search the scriptures daily and test it for truth, whether it is from a book, in music, or taught from the pulpit.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. — Matthew 7:15 (KJV)

God bless, Mike

Following God is not always the easiest thing to do.

Think of what God told Hosea to do.

The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. — Hosea 1:2 (KJV)

As I read on in the book of Hosea, it was clear that God had a specific purpose in what He told Hosea to do. God wanted to make a public example, using Hosea’s marriage, to the people of Israel. He wanted to show Israel what they were doing and of the coming judgment of God.

God’s example of Hosea marrying Gomer was to demonstrate that Israel, too, had married the harlot. Israel had gone after the ways of the world and had forsaken the ways of God. In fact, because of Israel’s unfaithfulness, God told them He would give what was theirs to the Gentiles.

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. — Hosea 2:23 (KJV)

Imagine if Hosea lived today, and he was the member of a church. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. What would the church do? Now I know that this is an extreme example to imagine, but what would be the likely outcome? Hosea is certain that he is following God. He is faithful in being obedient. However, is it likely that the church would approve? Would they hear his message? Look at what Jesus said to the church at Ephesus.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. — Revelation 2:4 (KJV)

Have any of us, who make up the Body of Christ, lost our first love? What about the church you are a member of? Have we fallen victim to the seduction of the world? Are we in need of repentance?

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Let’s move to apply this to homeschooling our children. Do you remember why you decided to homeschool in the first place? You may have started for many reasons. You might have started out with your children in public school and you didn’t like what your children were learning. It could be that you wanted your children to get a better education. Perhaps you were being obedient to God with the desire to train your children up in the way they should go. Maybe Deuteronomy 6:4-9 made such an impression on you that you decided you must teach your children at home.

The reasons to homeschool could be many. How is your conviction holding up? Do you sometimes feel persecuted? Does pressure from family, friends, and even other church members get to you? What if the laws of the land changed so that it was now required for your children to attend the government school? What would you risk for your convictions?

I heard a radio talk show host speaking about homeschooling his children. When asked about homeschooling through high school, he wavered. He gave the answer, something to the effect, that someday his children will need to face the world and give their own witness. While there is truth in that statement, I don’t believe that most children will be able to do that. As children, younger or older, they still need the protection and guidance that God gives them through their parents. They can face the world and give witness when they are an adult.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. — 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (KJV)

Stand by your convictions by the power of God. Seek the Lord for strength at all times. Hold fast the course that God has set before you. Please God and not man. In all things, give praise, honor, and glory unto God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God bless, Mike

Let’s look briefly at the lives of George Mueller, Jonathan Goforth, and Robert LeTourneau. Three men who trusted God. Three men who had extraordinary faith that lifted them to heights of spiritual blessings in their lives and the lives of the people they touched. How did they do it? It is through the power of God. They let Christ live through them, as ready vessels unto good works.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. — Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

George Mueller (1805-1898) was a man who waited on the Lord to answer prayer. He did this to be a witness, to the people around him, that God does indeed care about us and will not forsake our needs, if we only ask him. George Mueller never asked anyone for money, although, by the end of his life he was responsible for the care of thousands of orphans. Besides the orphans, support flowed to missionaries around the world, and thousands more were educated at the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. ₁ He was trusted with over $8 million, although his own worldly possessions were valued at about $800 upon his death. ₂ On top of this, he was a pastor for all these years.

“I NEVER REMEMBER, in all my Christian course, a period now (in March, 1895) of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been ALWAYS directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not patiently wait upon God for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the Word of the living God, I made great mistakes.” GEORGE MUELLER ₂

What is our lesson from George Mueller? It is that you can trust God for everything and in doing so you will lack for nothing. Most importantly, that in trusting God for everything, God will be glorified and the faith of the Body will be built up.

Jonathan Goforth (1859-1936) was a pioneer missionary to China. He, along with his wife Rosalind, opened up the interior of China and Manchuria to the Gospel message. He, too, was a man of prayer and faith. I am particularly inspired because he pressed on to do God’s work, even through the loss of three children, violence experienced from some of the Chinese people, and sickness of both himself and his wife. ₃ Below is an account from his life when he was sixty-nine years old.

One evening, as he sat on a broken chair, by the stove, Jonathan was overcome as he thought about the wonderful life he was leading. He turned to Rosalind and said, “Isn’t it grand to be out here opening up such a place to the gospel. I’d rather be right here than in Windsor Castle.” ₄

Their daughter Mary summed up their life as follows:

I. God sustained them even in sickness and in old age.
II. God protected them even from Bandits and Plague.
III. God supplied their needs.
IV. God gave Fruit for their Labors.
V. God rewarded their sacrificial giving.
VI. God helped them make a Permanent Record to His Glory. ₅

Jonathan Goforth had great enthusiasm and joy to be serving the Living God. Should we not have this, too? I believe it is there for the asking.

You may not have heard of Robert LeTourneau (1888-1969). He is described in the biography, God Runs My Business, as Farmhand, Foundry Apprentice, Master Molder, Garage Mechanic, Laborer, Inventor, Manufacturer, Industrialist, Christian Business Man, and Lay Evangelist. Mr. LeTourneau started his life like many of us. He got a job, married, and started a family. When he was 32, sixteen years after becoming a Christian, he came to the realization that he had been living an aimless Christian life.

He knelt and prayed, “Lord, I know my Christian life has been a failure. I haven’t been living for You. I have tried to turn over a new leaf, but it just seems I can’t make the grade. I have been ashamed of You.” He said that, as he knelt there, he realized what a coward he had been. He cried out from the depths of his soul, “Lord, if You will give me a victorious Christian life and put the love in my heart that I know ought to be there and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can witness for You, I’ll do whatever you ask me to do from this day on.” ₆

Mr. LeTourneau then was lead of God to do his best to be God’s business man. He ran his business with God as his partner. Ninety percent of the business earnings were God’s. His motto was, “Not how much of my money do I give to God, but how much of God’s money do I keep for myself.” 7 His aim was not primarily money, but rather, preaching the Gospel. Mr. LeTourneau traveled extensively, to give the Gospel message, regularly speaking to seven different groups on the weekend. It was this desire to see people saved that characterized his life.

These three men all gave their up lives to follow God’s will. More than anything, they did their work for Christ, just as Jesus did his work for the Father. You see, it is Christ living in you, who does the work. We can do nothing in our own power for God. Even as Jesus said:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. — John 15:7-8 (KJV)

I pray that you will bear much fruit.

God bless, Mike

1 George Müeller, The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge, Copyright 1999 by YWAM Publishing
2 Answers to Prayer by George Mueller, Moody Press
3 Jonathan Goforth, An Open Door to China by Janet & Geoff Benge, Copyright 2001 by YWAM Publishing
4 Ibid, p 193
5. Climbing by Rosalind Goforth, Bethel Publishing
6. God Runs my Business by Albert W. Lorimer, Copyright 1941 by Fleming H. Revell Company, pp 40-41
7. Ibid, p 126