The Need of Grace

"I find it extremely difficult in this age to minister to people, especially when you get in a more social setting. The more social it gets and the farther from this local assembly I get, the more I try to hide behind the "X-Mass" tree and make sure they can't find me, when it comes time to say the blessing. Really, to tell you the truth, I just don't go anymore. I really don't hide behind the Christmas tree, I just stay home and don't go anymore. Why? Because at no other time of the year do people want somebody religious around them speak of (how) holy they are, to speak (of how) blessed are they, and say everybody's all right. Well, everybody is not all right! Grace is not to everybody, and peace is not to everybody. As bad as I hate it, friend, it isn't even to those that I have a tenderness in my heart for that may be related to me physically but have no understanding of Christ and the gospel. And there's not a thing I can do about it. I'm going to tell you something about your kids, and I'm gonna talk about mine. I'll tell you about my family. There is not a one of them that is going to heaven and every last one of them is going to go to hell if they don't bow to King Jesus and repent of their sin. I'm still going to give them a Christmas present. If they need food, I'll give it to them. If they need a place to sleep, I'll give it to them. I'll take care of them and do all I can for them, but I have no idea at all in my head that a single one of us shall see heaven except by grace, and that by faith. Dear soul, my kids and yours too may wind up as alcoholics in an insane asylum having wasted their lives, and become wretches, if God doesn't do something about it. If they don't do something about their sin, everyone I know is a candidate for hell, and a candidate for the nut house, and will not have a moment's peace in their life. They will drive you crazy with them, if they can, except they have the peace of God that passes understanding and that by grace through faith. That's the gospel. That's the gospel."

From a sermon preached by Pastor Gene Breed of the Grace Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ga. Titled, "The Grace of Christ - A Gospel Message - Galatians 1:1-5".

The Church Prayer Meeting, Its Decline and Revival, Part 2

This is the conclusion of the notes of G. Chewter of an address at a meeting for ministers and printed in the splendid Gospel Tidings edited by P.M. Rowell, Chapel House, Forest Fold, Crowborough, UK.

2. IMPROVING THE PRAYER MEETING.

1. First and foremost we must recognise our continual need of the gracious influence and utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit. To quote again Rom. 8.5, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities. How much we need that help! The Apostle Paul says: What is it then? I will pray, with the Spirit and with the understanding also, 1 Cor.14.15. In Eph. 6.18 Paul exhorts us to praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Again and again we need to be anointed with fresh oil (Psalm 92.10).

2. From time to time we must emphasize to our people the importance of meeting together to pray. It may be a rather hackneyed expression but there is truth in it: 'Those who pray together, stay together'. Spurgeon called the prayer meeting: 'the powerhouse of the church'. If the engine room is out of action then the whole mill will grind to a halt. We cannot expect blessing if we do not ask. It may seem a rather simple diagnosis but it may apply in some cases: Ye have not, because ye ask not, James 4.2.

3. The need for unity - After the resurrection we read of the disciples in the upper room: These all continued with one accord in prayer and in supplication, with the women, Acts 1.14. The words of John Newton's hymn are appropriate here: 'The force of their united cries, no power could long withstand, for Jesus helps them from the skies with his almighty hand'. Some of the best prayer meetings are those where there is one heart and one desire for the blessing of God to accompany the preaching of the Gospel and for the extension of the kingdom of Christ. It is an abuse of the prayer meeting for a member to deliberately contradict or try to 'correct' another's prayer when they themselves are called on to pray.

4. The need for focus - In Acts 1.14 they were not only united in prayer but their meetings had a focal point - the fulfillment of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. That focus can also be ours. We urgently need the Lord to come again in power to His people in a way of revival and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 4 the disciples under threat from the authorities gathered to pray, v23 states that they lifted up their voice with one accord. And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together, v31, the focal point being a desire for strength not to buckle under the pressure, but, Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, v29. Acts 12 records for us that the central purpose of the prayer meeting in the home of Mary at Jerusalem was for the well-being and deliverance of Peter. I believe it is far better, if possible, to pray for people by name in their particular circumstances rather than petitions couched in vague and general terms such as: 'we pray for the afflicted', 'we pray for the aged', 'we pray for the missionaries'. Who have we actually prayed for? While we need to be sensitive to people's feelings especially relating to personal problems, yet I believe the more specific we can be the better.

On a practical note, a regular church prayer meeting consisting of members only can prove to be a useful opportunity for individuals to share in confidence their concerns, enabling those who pray to do so in an intelligent and informed way. This brings the added benefit of mutual understanding, sympathy and support. A very moving account of a prayer meeting at Tyre is given in Acts 21 where after seven days' fellowship, men with their wives and children knelt down on the shore and prayed, the central focus being concern for Paul's welfare and safety, as he was determined to preach at Jerusalem. The previous chapter records a similarly moving account of Paul praying with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus, resulting in the people being moved to tears at the thought of his departure. By the way, though emotion should not be deliberately encouraged, yet I do not think tears should be despised or discouraged. Prayer meetings are moving where there is a longing desire and yearning for answers from heaven. So, in all these cases the meetings for prayer had a focal point. To this end it may be helpful to regularly bring to the meeting items of particular concern, which need to be prayed for.

5. Careful thought as to the location - If the prayer meeting attendance is usually small it may be helpful to meet in a vestry or some other suitable room where a sense of 'togetherness' will be created, enabling those more hard of hearing to follow, rather than six or seven people dotted about in a chapel designed to seat 150 or more people.

6. Brevity (again!) - If there are few who publicly participate it may be argued that if each prayed for only 3-4 minutes then the prayer meeting would soon be over! To this I would reply by suggesting that each are encouraged to be brief and given the opportunity to pray more than once during the meeting. This concept may sound rather foreign to some, but it can work well.

7. Take it home! - Maybe we have all been at fault at times, in praying for certain matters publicly and neglecting to do so privately. How good if the members of the church take up the burden of the church, continuing to carry the church affairs to the Lord when alone on their knees. A truly praying church will be made up of members who pray much at home. C. H. Spurgeon claimed that: 'Neglect of private prayer is the locust that devours the strength of the church'.

CONCLUSION

We have a powerful adversary who would love to exploit all our weaknesses and infirmities in prayer, but we have an almighty and merciful God, who waits to be gracious and has promised for the sake of His Son to hear the cries of His people.

'The one concern of the devil is to keep the saint from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray' (Samuel Chadwick).

Whether as churches or individuals we need to hear again the exhortation of the Apostle that we might be encouraged afresh: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Heb. 4.16.

The Church Prayer Meeting, Its Decline and Revival, Part 1

These are notes of G. Chewter of an address at a meeting for ministers and printed in the splendid Gospel Tidings edited by P.M. Rowell, Chapel House, Forest Fold, Crowborough, UK.

1. PRAYER MEETINGS CAN EASILY DEGENERATE.

Some of the reasons for this are:

1. Wrong attitude - Many may be happy to come and join in regular worship services but in regard to meeting for prayer the thought may be, 'It's only a prayer meeting'. In many churches the prayer meeting is left to the 'faithful few'. Bill Hughes, one time pastor in Glasgow had a rule that if a member did not attend the prayer meeting they were not permitted to come to the business meeting of the church. If they were not prepared to pray with the church why should they have the privilege of participating in its decisions? When things are at a low ebb in a church the prayer meeting is often first to be dropped. The story is told of a certain chapel where many years ago the people, having lost heart in public prayer meetings, decided to give them up. But one old lady strongly disagreed. So on the usual prayer meeting night, dressed in her weatherproofs, she braved the storm, unlocked the chapel and taking her usual place, sat down to pray. On the way home she decided to call at one of the members' homes. 'Where have you been on a night like this?' was the inquiry. 'I've been to the prayer meeting.' 'O, I thought they had been discontinued; were any others there?' 'Yes,' said the faithful old lady, 'there were four of us - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and me, and it was a special time.' Through the old sister's perseverance the church was shamed into gathering again at the time of prayer.

2. Excessive length of each prayer - This is an old, old problem. The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak. Long prayers often become a weariness to the flesh, making it hard for those listening to spiritually participate and keep up concentration, especially if it is an evening meeting. This problem often has to be addressed and pastors down the years have had their own ways of dealing with persistent 'offenders'. It is reported of the late Henry Popham of Eastbourne that he would sometimes say before calling any of the brethren to the front, 'If you're too long in prayer, I will pull your coat tails!' Alternatively, he would deliberately drop a hymnbook!
Short prayers help to retain freshness. Besides, most prayers in the Scriptures are brief and to the point. 'Some pray me into the spirit and others pray me out of it by undue length,' Spurgeon complained. It has been said: 'Short prayers sink deep'. 'It is strength, not length,' said Spurgeon. 'The worth of a prayer is not gauged by its dimensions,' - M'Cheyne. Thomas Boston said: 'Lay no weight on the quantity of your prayers; that is to say, how long or how many they are. These things avail nothing with God, by whom prayers are not measured, but weighed.' To quote Spurgeon again: 'It is necessary to draw near unto God, but it is not required of you to prolong your speech till everyone is longing to hear the word "Amen"'. The only exception I believe is if a spirit of prayer and supplication is poured out upon one member in a special way. They will know, and every spiritually-minded person will know, and will lose sight of the time. J. C. Philpot's advice was that on such occasions we should make the most of it and spread the sails, as it were, to catch those heavenly breezes.

3. Formality - We are creatures of habit and routine. We all tend to have our own phrases and manner of approach to the Lord. It is therefore easy for prayer to become so predictable. Interestingly, John Newton used this observation as an argument in favour of the use of written prayers in public worship. In most extemporaneous prayers, he maintained, you recognised the beginning, could discern the middle and you knew when it was coming to an end, so why not use written ones, was his conclusion. The problem of excessive length and formality was dealt with very succinctly by D. L. Moody when he said: 'Some people's prayers need to be cut off at both ends and set on fire in the middle.'

4. Vagueness or being unspecific - Although prayer involves communion with the Lord and a worshipping frame of mind yet we are to make requests. The story is told of a prayer meeting where one brother seemed to be preaching rather than praying. One sister felt especially troubled by this, so she interrupted by calling out: 'Ask for something!'

5. Prayers that are unduly personal - very little prayer or desire may be expressed for the conversion of sinners and the furtherance of the gospel: instead, the time is spent in an introspective rehearsing of numerous personal doubts and fears. One preacher described it as 'hanging out the dirty washing for all to see'.

6. Pride - a desire to be seen and heard. The heart being uplifted at the thought of an opportunity to show others one's 'gift in prayer'. This was the downfall of the Pharisees: they wished to be seen of men. To quote the theologian, Robert Reymond: 'When you pray, remember whose attention you wish to gain.'
In these and other ways prayer meetings can easily degenerate.

So what can be done?

To be continued in Part 2, "Improving the Prayer Meeting".

The Conversion of Ann "Nancy" Hasseltine

To her father she was a joy. She was described as cheerful and lively, seemed to have no fear and was a good student and an avid reader. She was given to the entertainment of the day. "I soon began to attend balls and parties of pleasure and found my mind completely occupied with what I daily heard were ‘innocent amusements'...I was surrounded with associates, wild and volatile like myself, and often thought myself one of the happiest creatures on earth." Of course, she had been carefully taught by her mother to pray, not to lie, not to steal, not to disobey her parents. If she met these requirements, she believed she, "should at death, escape that dreadful hell, the thought of which filled me with alarm and terror." So, like the good girl she was, she always said her prayers night and morning and left off playing on Sunday, "not doubting but what such a course of conduct would ensure my salvation." In her teens, however, she began to backslide. She stopped saying her prayers and reading her Bible when she returned at night from a party. At times her conscience disturbed her, but she consoled herself "by thinking, that as I was old enough to attend balls, I was surely too old to say prayers."

But her conscience insisted on asserting itself. The more feverish her activity, and the more successful she was in denying it during the day, the more it filled her with anxiety and foreboding during the quiet moments of the night.

She felt torn apart by her inner conflict. She did not see how she could be a Christian "in the midst of my gay companions," but she did not want to give them up. Her behavior was as contradictory as her feelings. At the (revival) meetings she would sit in the most remote corner of the room so that no one could see her tears. Yet afterwards she would pretend a lightness of heart she did not feel.

Such a masquerade could not be kept up forever. In a little while she had "lost all relish for amusements." She could not evade facing the fact, as it appeared to her, that she "must obtain a new heart, or perish forever."

On a Sunday morning when she was dressing for church, on her dresser lay a copy of Hannah More's popular book Strictures on Female Education. As she idly opened the book one italicized sentence caught her eye: "She that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth." The line jumped out at her so startling that she felt as if an invisible power had brought it to her attention. Though the effect of the warning wore off after a while, she did not forget it. A few months later, reading Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress she was struck by the final impression it left, "that Christian, because he adhered to the narrow path, was carried safely through all his trials, and at last admitted into heaven."

This time Nancy promptly went to her room and prayed for help in leading a religious life. But after the prayer she had no more idea than before what to do to be saved. She finally decided that the correct conduct was to stay away from parties "and be reserved and serious in the presence of other scholars."

But lighthearted Nancy was incapable of keeping any such resolution. The very next day she went to a party. "My religious plans were forgotten; I joined with the rest - was one of the gayest of the gay - and thought no more of the new life I had just begun."

When she returned home her conscience began to reproach her and she knew she would break her resolutions again and since she could not reform, she might as well try to suppress her conscience. "I scarcely spent a rational hour. My studies were sightly attended to, and my time was mostly occupied by preparing my dress, and in contriving amusements for the evening, which portion of my time was wholly spent in vanity and trifling."

On one visit with a professor of the Bradford Academy, who often visited the Hasseltine home, the discussion turned to the manner in which the Holy Spirit works on the hearts of sinners. This was a subject Nancy had never thought about. One thing Satan does, the preceptor remarked, "Is tempt us to conceal our feelings from others, lest our conviction should increase."

All at once Nancy saw how this statement applied to her. Quietly she left the room and went into the garden, where she began to weep uncontrollably. She felt that she was a captive of Satan, who was leading her wherever he wanted.

Later, in reading to an aunt who "was reputed to be strongly religious" she broke down and burst into tears and could no longer hide what was in her mind. She confessed her agony to her aunt and her aunt told her that "if she trifled with impressions which were evidently made by the Holy Spirit she should be left to hardness of heart and blindness of mind."

Having made her confession at last, Nancy's spirits began to rise, "I felt resolved to give up every thing, and seek to be reconciled to God. That fear, which I had ever felt, that others would know I was serious, now vanished away, and I was willing that the whole universe should know that I felt myself to be a lost and perishing sinner."

For the next two or three weeks she secluded herself in her room reading and crying for mercy." To her surprise and resentment she felt worse at the end than when she began. She began to blame God for not giving her peace of mind, and, now that she thought of it, found some additional things to blame Him for, "I could not endure the thought that he was a sovereign God and had a right to call one and leave another to perish."

After a few days in this hostile frame of mind, however, her feelings began to alter as she considered the character of Jesus. She began to think that "God could be just, in saving sinners through him."

She realized that she was beginning to have feelings and desires which were new to her and gradually had a hope that she "had passed from death unto life."

In a short time she had changed completely, "I earnestly strove to avoid sinning, not merely because I was afraid of hell, but because I feared to displease God, and grieve His Holy Spirit. I attended to my studies in school, with far different feelings and different motives, from what I had ever done before. I felt my obligations to improve all I had to the glory of God; and since He in His providence had favored me with advantages for improving my mind, I felt that I should be like the slothful servant if I neglected them. I, therefore, diligently employed all my hours in school in acquiring useful knowledge, and spent my evening and part of the night in spiritual enjoyment." With her conversion, Nancy quickly put on maturity.

Later, when formally requested by Adoniram Judson to "commence an acquaintianship" which meant he formally declared his intentions as a suitor, she wrote in her journal whether she would be able to commit herself "entirely to God, to be disposed of, according to His pleasure," and decided, "Yes, I feel willing to be placed in this situation, in which I can do most good, though it were to carry the Gospel to the distant, benighted heathen."

Excerpted from the book, To the Golden Shore, The Life of Adoniram Judson, by Courtney Anderson, Zondervan 1972, Chapter IX.

Compassion For Souls

Pastor Erik Raymond had an interesting post regarding his (and often our) frequent "ups and downs" when it comes to evangelizing. I was convicted by his quotation from Alex Montoya's book, Preaching with Passion. Montoya is a professor at The Master's Seminary in Sun Valley, CA.

Montoya writing in the context of losing compassion for people:

"That is when I retreat to a small taco stand in the barrio of East Los Angeles, to a place where real people live. I order a cup of coffee and sit with my back against the wall. Then I watch, I observe, I read, and I listen intently for the heart cry. A group of gang-bangers come in for a snack—one in four will die before the age of eighteen; two of the others will end up in prison. All are doomed to a hard life. A young mother comes in with her brood of youngsters. It is obvious they are poor. They share drinks. They live in poverty; some will never see a forest or snow. An old drunk staggers in, begging for a meal. He is quickly thrown out. That was somebody's baby boy. A mother at one time cradled that man and nursed him….I look, I listen until I hear their cries, until their souls cry out to me, "Please help, I'm perishing!" until the tears pour forth from my melted heart! I am in love with humanity once again."

I encourage you to read his entire post at www.irishcalvinist.com

The Wages of Sin

I'm writing this as my family gets ready to bury my dad. He passed away last week in the hospital trying to overcome several complications such as pneumonia, old age, etc. The pastor faithfully visited him as time permitted and dad appreciated his visits. I saw him almost every day the past two weeks of his life and was with him only a couple of hours before his death.

He was one of two boys in his family born during the depression; in our part of the country it seems that during those early years of the past century the depression had no beginning or end. His grandfather, my great-grandfather, was an immigrant from Switzerland arriving in the U.S.A. in the 1880's and purchased homesteading acreage and moved into our area about 1892. The land consisted of swamp and stumps although the land sales brochure showed rich farmland with mature trees ready to be harvested (not unlike today's land sellers eh?). My grandfather and my father were born into the hardships of trying to grub a farm out of those 160 acres. My grandfather was successful in farming the original homestead plus another 160 acres and handmilked over 30 cows. The work ethic of my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father have been passed down to me and I observe it in my children. Back then they called them hard working men. Today they call us "workaholics". We're only trying to provide for our families and do the best job possible as did he.

When dad died the hospital staff allowed his body to remain in the room for any of the family to view prior to its removal to the funeral home. As I sat in the room with his body in the bed the text from Romans 6:23 repeated itself in my mind, "The wages of sin is death.....". Not only that doctrinal truth dealing with spiritual death but the death of the body.

I recall reading an article by a medical doctor (it may have been Dr. Lloyd-Jones) who commented that on every death certificate is an area that the medical staff complete indicating the cause of death of the deceased. The doctor stated that every death certificate should indicate the three letters S. I. N. - for the wages of sin is death. If it wasn't for sin we would not only not die physically but would have remained perfectly suited to commune and walk with God as Adam did. But for reasons I don't comprehend (but I know is for the ultimate Glory of God) Adam did sin and we reap the tragedy of his disobedience - death. Yes, the wages of sin is death....but finish the Word from God, the text says "BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". There is hope IN HIM.

My dad wasn't a great talker. He loved creation; the woods, deer, bear, etc. Later on in life he missed his walks in the woods. The majority of his life was spent in the outdoors. He had habits and vices that by the Grace of God and His Divine Intervention was stripped from me. I don't know his eternal state. But for all that I loved him for who he was - my father and one of the last patriarch's of the area. I appreciate how God used him to enrich my life and give me the work ethic that God uses for the building up of His Church.

I'm already missing him.

The Gospel-Less Evangelist

The following are excerpts from an article titled "Signs of the Times" by Arthur W. Pink from his magazine "Studies in the Scriptures", written in December 1937. Fifty years ago! and yet, what a warning to this generation of "evangelists", so called, and those who promote their 'gospel-less' ministries. You can read the entire article at: pbministries.

"It is generally recognized that spirituality is at a low ebb in Christendom, and not a few perceive that sound doctrine is rapidly on the wane, yet many of the Lord's people take comfort from supposing that the Gospel is still being widely preached and that large numbers are being saved thereby. Alas, their optimistic supposition is ill-founded and grounded in sand. If the "message" now being delivered in Mission Halls be examined, if the "tracts" which are scattered among the unchurched masses be scrutinized, if the "open air" speakers be carefully listened to, if the "sermons" or "addresses" of a "Soul-winning campaign" be analyzed; in short, if modern "Evangelism" be weighed in the balances of Holy Writ, it will be found wanting—lacking that which is vital to a genuine conversion, lacking what is essential if sinners are to be shown their need of a Saviour, lacking that which will produce the transfigured lives of new creatures in Christ Jesus.

But serious indeed as is the above indictment, it is only half of it—the negative side, that which is lacking. Worse still is that which is being retailed by the cheap-jerk evangelists of the day. The positive content of their message is nothing but a throwing of dust in the eyes of the sinner. His soul is put to sleep by the Devil's opiate, ministered in a most unsuspecting form. Those who really receive the "message" which is now being given out from most of the "orthodox" pulpits and platforms today are being fatally deceived. It is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but unless God sovereignly intervenes by a miracle of grace, all who follow it will surely find that the ends thereof are the ways of death. Tens of thousands who confidently imagine they are bound for Heaven will get a terrible disillusionment when they awake in Hell.

What is the Gospel? Is it a message of glad tidings from Heaven to make God-defying rebels at ease in their wickedness? Is it given for the purpose of assuring the pleasure-crazy young people that, providing they only "believe" there is nothing for them to fear in the future? One would certainly think so from the way in which the Gospel is presented—or rather perverted—by most of the "evangelists," and the more so when we look at the lives of their "converts." Surely those with any degree of spiritual discernment must perceive that to assure such that God loves them and His Son died for them, and that a full pardon for all their sins (past, present, and future) can be obtained by simply "accepting Christ as their personal Saviour," is but a casting of pearls before swine.

The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day "evangelist." He announces a Saviour from Hell, rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of Fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness. The very first thing said of Him in the New Testament is, "thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people (not "from the wrath to come," but) from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Christ is a Saviour for those realizing something of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, who felt the awful burden of it on their conscience, so loathe themselves for it, who long to be freed from its terrible dominion; and a Saviour for no others. Were He to "save from Hell" those who were still in love with sin, He would be the Minister of sin, condoning their wickedness and siding with them against God. What an unspeakably horrible and blasphemous thing with which to charge the Holy One!

The way of salvation is falsely defined. In most instances the modern "evangelist" assures his congregation that all any sinner has to do in order to escape Hell and make sure of Heaven is to "receive Christ as his personal Saviour." But such teaching is utterly misleading. No one can receive Christ as Saviour while he rejects Him as Lord. It is true the preacher adds that the one who accepts Christ should also surrender to Him as Lord, but he at once spoils it by asserting that though the convert fails to do so, nevertheless Heaven is sure to him. That is one of the Devil's lies. Only those who are spiritually blind would declare that Christ will save any who despise His authority and refuse His yoke: why, my reader, that would not be grace but a disgrace—charging Christ with placing a premium on lawlessness.

Alas, alas, God's "way of salvation" is almost entirely unknown today. The nature of Christ's salvation is almost universally misunderstood, and the terms of His salvation misrepresented on every hand. The "Gospel" which is now being proclaimed is, in nine cases out of every ten, but a perversion of the Truth, and tens of thousands, assured they are bound for Heaven, are now hastening to Hell, as fast as time can take them. Things are far, far worse in Christendom than even the "pessimist" and the "alarmist" suppose. We are not a prophet, nor shall we indulge in any speculation of what Biblical prophecy forecasts—wiser men than the writer have often made fools of themselves by so doing. We are frank to say that we know not what God is about to do. Religious conditions were much worse, even in England, one hundred and fifty years ago. But this we greatly fear; unless God is pleased to grant a real revival, it will not be long ere "the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people" (Isa. 60:2), for the light of the true Gospel is rapidly disappearing. Modern "Evangelism" constitutes, in our judgment, the most solemn of all the "signs of the times."

God's Wisdom in His Purpose

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Our belief in God's wisdom supposes and necessitates that He has a settled purpose and plan in the work of salvation. What would creation have been without His design? Is there a fish in the sea or a bird in the air that was formed by chance? No; in every bone, joint, and muscle, sinew, gland, and blood-vessel, you see the presence of a God working everything according to the design of infinite wisdom. And will God be present in creation, ruling over all, but not in grace? Shall the new creation have the fickle genius of free will to preside over it when divine counsel rules the old creation? Look at providence! We know that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. God weighs the mountains of our grief in scales, and the hills of our tribulation in balances. And shall there be a God in providence and not in grace? Shall the shell be ordained by wisdom and the kernel left to blind chance? No; He knows the end from the beginning. He sees in its appointed place not merely the cornerstone that He has laid in fair colors, in the blood of His dear Son, but He sees each of the chosen stones taken out of the quarry of nature, placed in their ordained position, and polished by His grace. He sees the whole from corner to cornice, from base to roof, from foundation to pinnacle. In His mind he has a clear knowledge of every stone that will be put in its prepared space, and how vast the structure will be when the capstone is set in place with shouts of "Grace! Grace!" In the end it will be clearly seen that in every child of God, Jehovah did as He planned with His own; and in every part of the work of grace He accomplished His purpose and glorified His own name.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Special Events

The Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Ladysmith will be hosting two special speakers.

On August 24th, Pastor Tom Henry, Associate Pastor of Bible Baptist Church, St.Louis, Missouri, will be preaching at both the Sunday morning and evening services. Pastor Henry is also the past Chairman of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship and involved in teaching at the Sovereign Grace Baptist Seminary, the alma mater of Pastor Mantl. Pastor Henry will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Northwoods Baptist Church family camp and conference held at Camp Nicolet north of Eagle River, Wisconsin.

The following week, on August 31st, Pastor Conrad Murrell of Grace Church of Bentley, Louisiana, an Evangelist, Author, and Director of Grace and Truth Bible Camps will begin a four day speaking engagement at the church. Pastor Murrell has also been a contributor to the Sovereign Grace Messenger, a publication of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship, and a conference and small church speaker. He will speak at both services on Sunday followed by evening services on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Sunday Bible study is at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. Evening services begin at 7:00 p.m.

Everyone is invited to receive a blessing from both these gifted preachers. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Mantl at our website, www.sovereigngracebaptistchurch.net

Storm Damage Photos

The cleanup continues at the Pastor's home after the Sunday windstorm. I thought I'd post a few photos to give you an idea of the damage. The first two are of his home as it was before the storm. The latter photo's indicate the aftermath. The tree rings indicated it was about 80-90 years old. Some of the damage occurred to the roof on the west side of the house when a tree-top struck it breaking three or four roof rafters and damaging the plywood roof sheathing. Repairs will be extensive to that portion of the roof.

The good news; the village work crew assisted in removing the huge pile of branches, etc., to a local landfill.

The bad news; the vehicle is not covered by any insurance and the repair estimate is about $4,000.

Set the Battle in Array!

To sin is one great misery, and then to forget our sins is a misery, too. If in repentance we could set the battle in array, point to every individual sin in the true and praticular times of acting and reacting, O how would our hearts be more broken with shame and sorrow, and how would we adore the richness of the treasure of mercy which must have a multitude in it to pardon the multitude of our infinite errors and sins!

By, Obadiah Sedgwick 1600-1658

Megan & Mandy: Taking A Stand For Christ

The following was posted on July 11, 2008, 0n the website The Rebelution which is defined as "a teenage rebellion against low expectations." It appears to be the brain child of Alex and Brett Harris who state, ..."it's not a rebellion against God-established authority, but against the low expectations of our society." I haven't explored their site "in toto" but have noted that Albert Mohler has given his endorsement....if you need that sort of thing. The Harris' focus on three words, "Do Hard Things" and seek to improve young men and women in character and competence through collaboration, in the context of 2 Timothy 4:12. I encourage you to check them out and read their entire statement of purpose. I shared this with my children hoping they could encourage my grandkids to review it and perhaps it can be an alternative to some of the trash they may currently be immersed in.

I have posted the entire text of the blog... you can get more at their website.


"For some reason Alex and I have a certain penchant for stories about twins doing hard things — so we were very excited this past week when we heard the story of Megan and Mandy Chapman, twin sisters from Russel County, Kentucky. They provide a wonderful example of what it looks like to "take a stand" for Christ.

A Federal Lawsuit Filed by the ACLU

Megan and Mandy were graduating high school on Friday. Megan had been selected to conduct a prayer during the ceremony. Friday morning a federal judge issued an order barring Russell County High School and Megan (she was cited in the order by name) from conducting prayer during commencement.

With graduation just around the corner and her entire life ahead of her, Megan faced a difficult choice. Can you imagine how it would feel to read your name in a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU? As Megan wrestled with her decision, Mandy began to formulate a plan of her own.

Liberty Counsel and The Lord's Prayer

At 4:00 PM, only three hours before the graduation ceremony, Megan received a phone call from Liberty Counsel, an organization devoted to protecting religious freedom. Liberty Counsel founder and chairman, Mat Staver, told Megan they'd be behind her every step of the way and counseled her that God can turn apparent adversity into great opportunity when we're willing to trust and obey Him.

Only a few hours later more than 3,000 people packed into the Russell County High gymnasium to watch 200 seniors graduate. As the principal finished his opening remarks the senior class suddenly stood as one body and began to recite The Lord's Prayer! Before they could finish the audience erupted into thunderous applause. Some students were too overcome with emotion to finish. But the statement had been made. They would not bow down to the ACLU.

A Secular Poem or Her Testimony?

Then, Megan came to the podium prepared to deliver a secular poem, The Road Less Traveled. But when she looked out at the large audience, and at the hundreds of seniors who had just completed The Lord's Prayer, she asked God to give her a message. 'You did not put me here to recite a poem, Lord'.

Putting aside what she prepared, Megan spoke from her heart. She shared how God had led her since she was a child. She spoke of the peace that comes from giving your life to Jesus. And she wished her classmates the same peace through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Again and again the speech was interrupted with applause and punctuated by several standing ovations. The Louisville Courier-Journal reporter covering the event described the evening as having a "revival-like atmosphere," to the complete dismay of the ACLU! In trying to silence a prayer they had sparked a revival!

Fox News and Liberty University

The following morning, Megan received a call from Fox News, and that night shared the story of her personal salvation through Jesus Christ — with millions of viewers!

That same afternoon, Mat Staver spoke with Dr. Jerry Falwell, Founder and then Chancellor of Liberty University, and was authorized to offer Megan full scholarship to join the 2006 freshman class. Upon hearing the good news, Megan was overcome with tearful amazement.

"Are you kidding?" she asked. "I've been praying for several years to be able to attend Liberty University, but I simply could not afford it." But to Mr. Staver's bewilderment, Megan did not immediately accept the offer. He was puzzled.

Mr. Staver called her a few days later and voice that sounded just like Megan answered the phone. "Megan?" he asked. "No, this is Mandy, her twin sister," the voice replied. Mandy, he found out, was the one who orchestrated the recitation of The Lord's Prayer — distributing bookmarks with a copy of the prayer on it in case anyone forgot the words (see the bookmarks in this post's header).

Mr. Staver immediately called Dr. Falwell. "Guess what," he said. "Megan has a twin sister!" Dr. Falwell paused briefly, and offered Mandy a full scholarship as well! The twin sisters, who had been planning to attend University of the Cumberlands together, now had an open door to their first choice — Liberty University!

From Liberty Counsel's May 2008 Newsletter

"Almost two years later, Megan and Mandy have completed their sophomore year. Since arriving at Liberty, Megan has been volunteering in the Liberty Counsel office. She now wants to enter law school and eventually work with Liberty Counsel defending our religious freedoms against the ACLU bullies!

But there's even more to the story. When CNN Headline News called wanting to feature Liberty Counsel in their series "God's Warriors," we introduced CNN correspondent Christiane Amenpour to the twins. The story of Megan and Mandy and their faith has now been shown several times around the world in the two hour documentary called "God's Christian Warriors." Megan and Mandy have received emails and notes of appreciation from all over the world!

God loves irony. Megan had a choice — buckle to the pressure of the ACLU or stand up for Christ. Had she buckled, her graduation would have been silent and her life would have taken a different direction. But she stood for Christ, and her witness was heard around the world. She is now at Liberty University and may soon go head-to-head in court with the ACLU as a practicing attorney. She did the right thing, and God honored her."

Closing Thoughts and Application

Of course, taking a stand for Christ doesn't always involved the ACLU — and it doesn't often result in CNN documentaries, and full scholarships to your favorite college. The audience won't always give you a standing ovation.

So what can we learn from Megan and Mandy? Well, I see a God who is in complete control. He brought Megan and Mandy an unwelcome test (via the ACLU), rewarded their obedience almost immediately (via Liberty University), and gave them a platform to spread the Gospel (via Fox News and CNN).

We can look at that story and say, "Wow, God is amazing! We obey Him and He gives us scholarships and fame!" But what if Megan had been booed? What if the ACLU had won? What if Megan and Mandy were made "media-martyrs" for standing up for Christ? Would God be less amazing?

I love stories like Megan and Mandy's because I can see what God was up to. And at those times when it's not so easy to see, I can say, "God, I know that you are in complete control. And even though I don't understand what you are doing, I trust you, because I've seen you work before."

I hope that Megan and Mandy's story will inspire you to take radical stands for Christ, trusting firmly in God's goodness, whatever the outcome might be. My prayer is that our generation would count the cost and stand anyway. That we would be able to stand firm and say with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)"

The Psalm of Praise

Psalm 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

The news media warned of it; the dark and greenish colored skies announced it's coming; the birds at the feeder left in anticipation of it, the rains accompanied it's entrance. And it came.

One of our summer windstorms swept through parts of our area in northern Wisconsin yesterday afternoon. Sixty foot trees were toppled over like sticks, others were snapped at mid-point, some with a thirty inch girth; still others had their tops broken off hurling them as missiles toward the ground. And the result was considerable damage to possessions and homes.

The Pastor's house was not spared. His house is closely bordered on the west side by tall, one hundred year old, white pines - and the wind was from the west. One tree was uprooted leaving a three foot hole in the ground. Two other trees lost their tops sending them crashing onto the roof of his house and doing damage beyond. Branches and debris covered the yard. The electrical service to his house was torn from it's mooring and bent to the ground. Electrical power went out throughout the area.

What a display of God's Sovereign control over the elements. As Dr. Gill commented on the elements fulfilling His Word,

"He (God) creates it, brings it out of his treasures, holds it in his lists, and lets it go out at His pleasure to fulfil His will; either, as at some times in a way of mercy, as to dry up the waters of the flood, to make a way for Israel through the Red sea, to bring quails to them in the wilderness, and rain to the land of Israel in Ahab's time; and sometimes in a way of judgment, to drown Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, to break the ships of Tarshish, to fetch Jonah the disobedient prophet back, and to distress him afterwards (see Psalm 107:25); to do all this is an argument of divine power, and a proof of deity, as it is of our Lord's (Matthew 8:27)."

And perhaps to reveal His Mercy.

As the Pastor recalled the event later he stated that when the storm struck he remembered his car was outside the garage parked in the driveway. He thought it wise to move it into the garage parked a few feet away. As he began to exit the house with car keys in hand a large tree top whizzed over the house and struck the drivers side of his car at the mid-point of the door. The impact shattered the glass sending shards inside the passenger compartment, destroyed the door, and damaged other parts of the vehicle. If he had been but a few seconds faster and was in the car at the moment the tree top struck he could have been seriously injured. But he was spared.

As we discussed the incident during the latter part of the evening our conversation turned to a topic that had been on some young people's minds after the church service that morning; does God intimately and personally control and intervene in His creation or did He create it and let it operate by intrinsic laws? In other words, is deism (the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe, but does not intervene in its normal operation) true? Did God create all things but now withdraws Himself and let it run itself?

The events of yesterday confirm the Word of God. The deist is weighed in the balance and found wanting.

The Scriptures and Christ

My wife and I are reading through A.W. Pink's book "Profiting From The Word" in our evening devotions and one particular reading this past week really impressed me, so I'll share...

"An individual is profited from the Scriptures when they reveal to him his need of Christ. Man in his natural estate deems himself self-sufficient. True, he has a dim perception that all is not quite right between himself and God, yet has he no difficulty in persuading himself that he is able to do that which will propitiate Him. That lies at the foundation of all man’s religion, begun by Cain, in whose "way" (Jude 11) the multitudes still walk. Tell the devout religionist that "they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:8), and he is at once offended. Press upon him the fact that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isa. 64:4), and his hypocritical urbanity at once gives place to anger. So it was when Christ was on earth. The most religious people of all, the Jews, had not sense they were "lost" and in dire need of an almighty Saviour.

"They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick" (Matt. 9:12). It is the peculiar office of the Holy Spirit, by His application of the Scriptures, to convict sinners of their desperate condition, to bring them to see that their state is such that "from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness" in them, but "wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores" (Isa. 1:6). As the Spirit convicts us of our sins—our ingratitude to God, our murmuring against Him, our wanderings from Him—as He presses upon us the claims of God—His right to our love, obedience and adoration—and all our sad failures to render Him His due, then we are made to recognize that Christ is our only hope, and that, except we flee to Him for refuge, the righteous wrath of God will most certainly fall upon us.

Nor is this to be limited to the initial experience of conversion. The more the Spirit deepens His work of grace in the regenerated soul, the more that individual is made conscious of his pollution, his sinfulness and his vileness; and the more does he discover his need of and learn to value that precious, precious blood which cleanses from all sin. The Spirit is here to glorify Christ, and one chief way in which He does so is by opening wider and wider the eyes of those for whom He died, to see how suited Christ is for such wretched, foul, hell-deserving creatures. Yes, the more we are truly profiting from our reading of the Scriptures, the more do we feel our need of Him."

An on-line copy of the book is available at Providence Baptist Ministries; www.pbministries.org

On The Sovereignty of God

My first exposure to A.W. Pink was at the hands of a Christian couple, and my mentors in many ways, who maintained a book store on their farm. I was, and still am, amazed at how Mr. Pink revealed Scripture interprets itself and how intertwined the Scriptures are. Anyway, after the Bible, "The Sovereignty of God" should be required reading for every man, woman or child who claims to be a follower of Christ. (This is in addition to Pilgrims Progress and Foxe's Book of Martyrs.) Comprehending God's Sovereignty would clear up a lot of misconceptions and error currently being promoted and practiced. An on-line copy of the book is available at Providence Baptist Ministries; www.pbministries.org

Tole Lege

The substitution of so-called "practical" preaching for the doctrinal exposition which it has supplanted is the root cause of many of the evil maladies which now afflict the church of God. The reason why there is so little depth, so little intelligence, so little grasp of the fundamental verities of Christianity, is because so few believers have been established in the faith, through hearing expounded and through their own personal study of the doctrines of grace. While the soul is unestablished in the doctrine of the Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures—their full and verbal inspiration— there can be no firm foundation for faith to rest upon. While the soul is ignorant of the doctrine of Justification there can be no real and intelligent assurance of its acceptance in the Beloved. While the soul is unacquainted with the teaching of the Word upon Sanctification it is open to receive all the crudities and errors of the Perfectionists or "Holiness" people. While the soul knows not what Scripture has to say upon the doctrine of the New Birth there can be no proper grasp of the two natures in the believer, and ignorance here inevitably results in loss of peace and joy. And so we might go on right through the list of Christian doctrine. It is ignorance of doctrine that has rendered the professing church helpless to cope with the rising tide of infidelity. It is ignorance of doctrine which is mainly responsible for thousands of professing Christians being captivated by the numerous fallacies of the day. It is because the time has now arrived when the bulk of our churches "will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:3) that they so readily receive false doctrines. Of course it is true that doctrine, like anything else in Scripture, may be studied from a merely cold intellectual viewpoint, and thus approached, doctrinal teaching and doctrinal study will leave the heart untouched, and will naturally be "dry" and profitless. But, doctrine properly received, doctrine studied with an exercised heart, will ever lead into a deeper knowledge of God and of the unsearchable riches of Christ.

The doctrine of God's sovereignty then is no mere metaphysical dogma which is devoid of practical value, but is one that is calculated to produce a powerful effect upon Christian character and the daily walk. The doctrine of God's sovereignty lies at the foundation of Christian theology, and in importance is perhaps second only to the Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures.

It magnifies His grace. Grace is unmerited favor, and because grace is shown to the undeserving and Hell-deserving, to those who have no claim upon God, therefore is grace free and can be manifested toward the chief of sinners. But because grace is exercised toward those who are destitute of worthiness or merit, grace is sovereign; that is to say, God bestows grace upon whom He pleases. Divine sovereignty has ordained that some shall be cast into the Lake of Fire to show that all deserved such a doom. But grace comes in like a drag-net and draws out from a lost humanity a people for God's name, to be throughout all eternity the monuments of His inscrutable favor. Sovereign grace reveals God breaking down the opposition of the human heart, subduing the enmity of the carnal mind, and bringing us to love Him because He first loved us.

An excerpt from "THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD", Chapter 12 - THE VALUE OF THIS DOCTRINE, by A.W. Pink

www.pbministries.org