A Prayer for Missions

Lord, You have said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Please provide the right kind of men and women to meet the need. The fields are white, and the laborers are few. Provide the workers, Lord.

We pray for the missionaries who have already gone out. Make missionaries what they ought to be. Don't let us neglect to pray for them continually. Don't let us fail them. Provide what the workers need, Lord.

We pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the mission fields. Hear our prayer for revival and answer us, Lord.

We pray for the converts in the mission fields. The obstacles to faith are many and large, but You can overcome them all, Lord. Help those who are striving to live the new life in Christ.

We pray for the churches in the mission fields. Increase their effectiveness in equiping the saints for service and worship of You.

We pray for those who organize the mission fields. Grant them the wisdom and skills needed to plan wisely.

We pray for money. Many of the mission boards and societies are hurting for funds. Help us to answer the call from our own pockets.

Lord, we pray for You to bring blessing and victory to Your missions. In Jesus' name, amen.

Notes from SBTC

I bring you news from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention 2012.  This happened in the awe-inspiring city of San Antonio—Castle Hills to be more precise.  The First Baptist Church of Castle Hills hosted the event which included a day and a half of worship, biblical preaching, and prayer leading up to the start of the Convention proper.

Allow me to begin with the Bible Conference, which commenced at 6:00 PM on November 11^th and went through 4:00 PM on the 12^th.  The theme was Forged By Fire, and Isaiah 43:2 was the theme verse: “You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.”

Musically, we were blessed with the talents of the choirs and praise teams of FBC Castle Hills and FBC New Braunfels.  Paul Smith was also there.  He used to sing with the Imperials.  They all did a great job at joining our hearts and voices together in praise and worship of our Lord.

I remember praying, “Dear God, speak to our hearts.  Give the preachers Your message for us to hear.”  God answered that prayer!

The first preacher was Dr. Rudy Gonzalez.  Dr. Gonzalez, who I remember from my time at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, currently serves as Professor of New Testament and Dean of the William R. Marshall Center of Theological Studies.  Dr. Gonzalez preached from Mark 9:43-49, and he told us that our ordeals do not take God by surprise.  The ordeals we face bring us to moments of clarity.  The moment of clarity allows or enables us to do incredible things.  We were reminded that we will all “be salted with fire.”  God wants, not to hurt us, but to equip us for ministry.  We are to do four things: 1) Embrace the sacrificial fire quickly because we are susceptible to stumbling; 2) Do it decisively because Hell is eternal; 3) Do it desperately because we really are not living without that reality; and 4) Do it joyfully because we are fruitless without them.  Hell is eternal.  Our trials do not last forever, but Hell does.  There is no healing in Hell.  Fire is the reality of life.  Quit thinking that you can make it through life without feeling the heat.  Embrace the salty fires of God to really live for God.  Live life ruled by God.  Allow God to burn away all the stuff that we do not need so we can fly higher.

The second preacher was Dr. Danny Forshee who serves as Pastor of the Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin.  Dr. Forshee preached from 1 Peter 1:6-9 about “So Great a Salvation.”  He told us that we tend to forget how awesome God is.  He exhorted us to be faithful and preach the Word of God.  Christian faith is to be enjoyed.  The Lord is our joy.  His salvation has brought us joy.  We rejoice because of Christ, but if we are not careful we can lose our joy.  Trials and difficulties are part of the Christian life.  Our trials are brief.  They are not unending.  They will cease.  Either God is going to take care of it or He is going to take care of it.  God will batter and bruise us so that He can bless someone through us.  Testify to the grace of God.  Keep praying.  Keep preaching the Gospel.  Keep giving God’s message.  You have not failed if you are still in the game.  Sometimes we do not understand the trial until later.  Your greatest moment often comes in the darkest hour.  It is all for Jesus that we preach.  It is all for Him that we serve.  Our salvation is rooted in Jesus Christ.  We are not home yet!  Be faithful!

The third preacher was Dr. Robert Webb.  He serves as Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Kaufman.  Dr. Webb preached from 2 Corinthians 4:6-11, where God compares us to pottery.  But God is not giving an insult.  He has chosen us in our weaknesses to serve a higher purpose.  God alone gets glory.  The cross is not a burden; it is a summons to death.  Suffering is necessary.  Our desire is to be God’s go-to tool—His favorite hammer.  We need to suffer so that we can know that our faith is genuine.  Some lessons can only be learned through suffering.  How you live in difficulties speaks to the world about your faith and about the grace of God.  Go one more round!

The fourth preacher was Dr. Tony Mathews, who serves as Pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship.  Dr. Matthews preached from Matthew 9:9-13 about how to deal with destructive criticism.  Do not let the critics crush you.  Jesus is our role model in how to handle harmful criticism.  We are more than conquerors.  1) Be able to recognize the timing of destructive criticism.  It comes when we are doing what the Lord called us to do.  It comes when we are getting results.  There will always be “piranhas on the pew, snakes on the staff, and demoniacs on the deacon board.”  2) Be able to identify the characteristics of destructive critics.  They watch your every move.  They are waiting for a time to trap you.  They criticize you behind your back.  Every pastor needs some disciples who will not cave to the criticism.  They try to cause division within your team.  They will criticize you at the point of your strength.  3) Develop skills to counter the destructive criticism.  A tough time is part of our calling.  Address the criticism with your critics in a Christ-like way.  Challenge them to learn something about your ministry.  Know what you are called to do.  Love them.  Forgive them.  Do not change to appease the critics.  When the criticism comes, serve harder, love deeper, and pray harder.  Be Christ-like in all that we do.

The fifth preacher was Dr. Tom Pennington, who serves as Pastor of Countryside Bible Church in Southlake.  I did not make it to this session in time to hear Dr. Pennington’s message, so I do not have any notes on it.

The sixth and final preacher of the Bible Conference was Dr. Ronnie Floyd.  He serves as Pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas.  Dr. Floyd preached from Luke 7:18-30.  Ministry can offend you if you do not keep your heart clean before the Lord.  We must have a forgiving spirit.  Being offended goes back to our expectations not being met.  Expectations + Let Down = Offended.  Expectations + Let Down + Gospel = Unoffended.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the key that makes the difference.  John the Baptist was seemingly confused.  Things did not happen the way John the Baptist expected.  Do not be offended in life when things do not go your way.  Do not be offended by people and their ways.  People are tough, mean, and moody.  They have high expectations they expect to be met.  People will embarrass you.  They may abuse you.  They might lie about you.  They may attack you.  Choose to remain unoffended.  Keep God’s perspective.  Live what you preach.  Do not be offended at life and its experiences.  The world is fallen and will conduct itself accordingly.  We will reap what we sow.  What one person does can affect a lot of people.  Be true to the Word of God.  Rely on the power of God.  Our God is sovereign and He is in control of all events in our lives.  Do not be offended at God and His ways.  A lot of people are angry at God.  Why?  Because they are disappointed.  God knows what is best!  Do not be mad, be anointed.  Do not walk around angry and offended.  Let it go!  Will you trust God, or will you be offended?  Read Genesis 37-50.  Joseph chose to remain unoffended.

I should also mention that during lunch on the 12^th, there was a Ministry Café, during which Ronnie Floyd talked about the fires of criticism, Mike Smith talked about the fires of conflict, and Chris Moody talked about the fires of change.

Now I come to the SBTC Annual Meeting.  It ran from the evening of the 12^th to the night of the 13^th.  It was filled to the brim with ministry reports, votes, testimonies, prayers, music, and great preaching.  SBTC President Terry Turner was reelected to a second term.

The first preacher was Dr. George Harris, who is a former President of the SBTC.  He preached from James 1:18-25 about surviving religion.  We should answer three questions: 1) Is your foundation trustworthy?;  2) Is your formula proven?;  and 3) Is your decision definite?  A faith that is faulty at the first will fizzle.  Is your foundation built on Jesus?  Trust the Word.  Be a survivor.

The next message I heard came from Rev. Terry Turner, Pastor of the Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church.  He also serves currently as the President of the SBTC.  He preached from Matthew 5:13-16.  He issued a call to preserve the faith and to glorify God.  We do not preserve ourselves, God preserves us.  Have some salt about yourself.  Rejoice.  We have to go through some stuff sometimes.  We have to be defenders of the faith.  Take a stand somewhere.  Political correctness is the order of the day in our society, and this is not good.  Politics controls religion, and this is not good.  We have to call things as they really are.  We have to be salty.  When the world sees us standing in the wrong places and not standing for right all the time, we lose our effectiveness.  We must be salty in our culture.  The Bible says what it says and it means what it means.  Keep the faith pure.  Keep it holy.  We are caught up with the wrong things.  We must protect the unborn!  We must protect marriage—traditional, biblical marriage!  Learn to be salty Christians.  Do not tolerate racism!  How can one piece of dirt think it is better than another piece of dirt?  We have to stand against racism.  We have to learn to fellowship with one another.  SBTC is leading the way!  Be the prophet Elijah in your culture.  Live right, walk right, and talk right.  People are looking for holiness.  We have forgotten about church discipline.  Glorify God.

There were many other testimonies, prayers, and preaching.  The convention was concluded by a message from Dr. Charles F. Stanley, Pastor of FBC Atlanta, Georgia.  Dr. Stanley basically shared his testimony with us.  His mother knelt beside him and prayed every night.  Read Joshua 1:9.  Whatever God is going to do in your life, He is going to do it in proportion to your faith and time spent in prayer.  Read Isaiah 55.  You fight your battles on your knees.  Everything they say and do to you, see it as coming from God.  Read Romans 8:28.  Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.  Learn to be sensitive when God is speaking to you.  All of life is really a matter of trusting God.  God is totally adequate for everything He calls us to do.  Our God is an awesome God!

                I thoroughly enjoyed the Bible Conference and Convention.  These were my notes and thoughts from what the preachers said.   I look forward to next year!

Some Thoughts from Hebrews 10

Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Jesus came to do the will of God through being sacrificed on the cross.  Hebrews 10:10 says, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  In the old sacrificial system, people would bring bulls and goats to be sacrificed at the temple for their sins.  However, Hebrews 10:4 says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”  Those sacrifices pointed to the ultimate sacrifice—the one that would count.  Hebrews 10:18 tells us that there is no longer any need for a sacrifice because Christ was and remains our sacrifice.

Then we come to Hebrews 10:19-25.

“Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another; all the more, as you see the day drawing near” (NASB).

Because Christ paid the price for our sins and made the way for a relationship with God, we are invited into the very Holy of Holies, so to speak, to develop that relationship through prayer and worship of God almighty.  When we come together for worship, we are told to “draw near with a sincere heart.”  Oops!  Do we always do that?  Do we go to church with sincere hearts?

We’re told in Hebrews 10:23 to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”  “Hold fast” means whatever you do, don’t let go!  Our hope is in Christ, and He is faithful.  The “confession” includes our word, for sure, but it is mainly about your life.  What are you confessing with your life or lifestyle?  Are you wavering in your walk with Christ?

What do we do if we are?  We encourage one another, not with a false assurance, but with the truth assurance that even when we are unfaithful, Christ remains faithful (see 2 Timothy 2:13).  We are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  Don’t give up!

And let us not forsake “our own assembling together, as is the habit of some.”  Church attendance is not a new problem.  The early church had to deal with it, too.  If we truly believe that Christ is Lord, I can’t imagine why we would approach Him in worship so flippantly, even to the point of not worshiping with fellow believers.  Now, I know sickness (the serious or contagious kinds) and other special travels come up, and you simply can’t be with your home church, but we shouldn’t ever look for reasons or excuses to miss church.  Church attendance is important to your spiritual health and the health of the church.  The fact is we need each other.

Be certain of this: if you haven’t been attending church regularly, you certainly have been missed.  Church is where we get encouragement and stimulation “to love and good deeds.”  Won’t you bless God and the church by going to a Bible-teaching church this Sunday?  You’ll be glad you did!

Disappointed?

Disappointed?  I am.  But the reelection of President Obama is just indicative of where our country is now, and just how far we have fallen morally.  This is not about one man, but about a nation.  Lincoln and Tocqueville were prophetic in their statements.

 “At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” – Abraham Lincoln

 “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” ― Alexis de Tocqueville

 Now, I realize that things certainly aren’t as bad as they could be, but the times certainly aren’t good.  What is disheartening is that so many in the nation now call evil “good” and good “evil.”

 After learning of the president’s reelection, I proceeded to my evening devotions.  Psalm 37 was the text.  In light of that, what’s a Christian to do?

1.       Don’t fret.  Don't worry.  Don't be anxious.

2.       Trust in the Lord.

3.       Do good.

4.       Cultivate faithfulness.

5.       Delight in the Lord.

6.       Commit your way to the Lord.

7.       Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

 I invite you to read and think over Psalm 37 in its entirety.

 Don’t worry if your guy didn’t win the election, and don’t be angry.  Worry and anger only lead to more problems.  Wait patiently for God to make all things right.  There will be a payday someday.  Be humble.  The Lord sees and knows.

 Remember Psalm 37:16: “Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.”

 Also, don’t forget this truth.  No political leader brings salvation.  “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble.”  Our hope is in Christ.  Our hope is Christ.

 As a Christian, it is my duty to pray for the President.  I may not agree with his policies or his ideology, but He is my president.  “Fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

 I’m praying that my president will be blessed in the good things, and that his mind will be changed concerning evil things.  I’m praying that he will “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).  I’m praying for his salvation.

 Won’t you join me?

Through Christ Alone

"For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).

Only in Christ can we draw near to the Father. We draw near to God when we pray. The prayer relationship transforms us into Christ's likeness, because the Spirit is at work in us. Prayer is not really all about getting God to grant us favors.

Did you notice that the Trinity is mentioned here in this verse? I was once told that Paul was not trinitarian, but here you have mention of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13:14 is another good example of Paul including all three members of the Trinity.

Christ is our all in all! He is "the way, and the truth, and the life." Only through Him do we approach God in relationship. Only through Christ do we experience the blessings of heaven and eternal life. The only way we can come boldly before the throne of God in prayer is because we are "in Christ."

Help me, Lord, to have a growing desire to spend more time with You in prayer. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions. Forgive me of my sin against You. Help me to learn from the wise and to be an example to the young. May everyone see Christ in me. I praise You, my God, for all Your mightiness and holiness. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Waiting for the Soul to Ripen

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

Have you ever had a conversation with yourself? Do you ever give yourself instructions? David did. He instructed his soul to wait for God. He faced dangers, toils, and snares all around him, yet David would rely on His God for help. David recognized that only God could provide his salvation. He calls God a "rock" and a "stronghold" (62:2). You should also take notice that, for David, it was personal. He called God "my rock" and my stronghold." Is God your rock? Is He your stronghold? Your defense? Your help in times of trouble? He wants to be; won't you let Him?

David also waited in silence for God. He didn't get loud or pretentious. He simply waited on God to act, for God would act and He did act. Remember that. God will act!

David waited in silence for God only. Many people look to many things for help, only to find that all those things don't help at all. In fact, more times than not, those "helps" only make matters worse. Depend on God alone. He is able! He is trustworthy! Indeed, He is God! David realized that hope, true hope, comes only from God.

How much time do you spend in prayer and Bible study? My hope is that these practices will improve as I continue walking with Christ. May God continue to mature me in Christ through His Word, the Bible, and through prayer. May He use my Bible reading and study to train me to think biblically, like Christ. Continue to ripen me, Lord, for Your glory!

Dear God, thank You for waiting on me. Help me always to wait on You and Your guidance. May I long for You all of my days. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Waiting Is Good

"But I don't want to wait!" We hear this so often. We think this too often. Who really likes to wait?

"When is this pot of water going to boil?" "How long is this redlight?" "Will this take very long?" "Three minutes is too long to wait on this popcorn. I want it now!" We frequently think of waiting in negative terms.

But waiting is also a good thing. Hear the Word of the Lord: "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25).

There is blessings from the Lord in the waiting period. Actually, if we take this verse to heart, the waiting can be more profitable than the thing for which we are waiting. God is good. He is good to those who wait on Him. In waiting on Him, we can seek Him and His desires for our lives.

We might just discover that the thing we desire simply isn't desirable. Seek the Lord! Knowing Him is better than anything else. Seek Him while there is opportunity.

I thank You, Lord, for being good to me by saving me and calling me into Your service. Your blessings overwhelm me. Help me to always wait on You. Encourage me daily to seek you. Forgive me where and when I fail you. In Jesus' name, Amen.