“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults”
- Psalm 19:12
Did you know you have sins in your life you don’t know about? Don’t worry, everyone does. We all have undetected weaknesses like the earth has undetected faults from which massive earthquakes erupt. How we respond to these weaknesses is what builds spiritual […]
And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. - 2 Samuel 24:24
The Purpose and Power of the “Amen”, or, Offsetting Political Correctness
1 Corinthians 14:8, 16 (8) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? …..(16) Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
The word “Amen” is a Hebrew word which means sure, most assuredly, firm, or truth. It is a word used 78 times in the Word of God. It is used in the Bible as a person’s approval to a statement and the affirmation to a prayer.
The term “Political Correctness” has very little to do with the Democrats or Republicans. Merriam-Webster Dictionary dates the origin of the term back to 1936.
They also write the term means:
“conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend should be eliminated.”
In other words, if the Bible clearly addresses a wrong action of people and it “offends” them, then the wishes of created humanity, takes precedence over the will of the Creator, God.
Political Correctness says many things which oppose the Word of God and vice versa, but let us as the people of God who serve as the salt of the earth and the light unto the world never waiver from two facts,
Notice the connection between the “Amen” and “Political Correctness”. When the word of God is heard by the unlearned there will be things expressed that will be strange to their ears.
If God says, and He does, mankind is a sinner, or, all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, or, any other portion of Scripture that “steps on my toes”, we are forced to answer a question to ourselves. That question is, “Do I need to change to conform to God, or, does God need to rewrite His Book and conform to me?”
The “Amen” confirms to the world what is being said is true and sure; it says, we are in agreement with the message; it also says to the world, you would do well to heed the message. The pulpit preaching the Word of God accompanied by the “Amen”, prayers from the pews, with the presence of the unquenched and ungrieved Holy Spirit of God will have a very powerful effect.
Notice what will happen in the following verses of the same text: 24-25, …and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Isn’t that what we are attempting to achieve?
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
For any child of God who has been active in the Lord’s service for any length of time, we could site cases of people who “used to be.” They “used to be” a preacher, they “used to be” a teacher, they “used to be” in the choir, they “used to be” at church every time the doors were open. The examples of “used to be” people could continue almost endlessly.
In recent years, we have seen an increase of people who come and go before some of us have even come to know them. The Bible speaks of a falling away from many aspects and informs us that as we near the Second Coming of Christ there will be an increase of people “falling away”.
While we should not be surprised, we should still be concerned. Additionally, we should guard our own hearts so we don’t become part of the group spoken of by Christ in Matthew 24:12. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Our utmost focus on Christ and His Word are two very crucial things which will enable us to remain active in His service, and although the Word of God should be motivation enough to remain faithful, the history of our Baptist forefathers also serves as an example.
The following is an excerpt from Baptist Succession, by D.B. Ray:
“One important object in pointing out our denominational history is to stimulate the zeal of modern Baptists by the heroic examples of our ancient brethren and sisters, who sealed their testimony with their blood, by showing that they suffered the loss of all things earthly for the same principles which distinguish us as a denomination. In other words, our principles have been handed down to us at the cost of the lives of millions of our brethren and sisters who loved the Church of Christ more than life itself. Like Abel, being dead, they yet speak to us of the glorious things concerning the kingdom of Christ, and still continue to bear witness against every form of Antichrist.”
Post Auhor: Sherri Schaefer Bagby
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
- Matthew 14:23
While enjoying a rare time of complete privacy, it occurred to me how valuable such time is and how unwise it is that we spend so little time alone. We might think it a terrible waste of time for the Lord to be totally separated from all company. We tend to think that the Lord’s every waking moment would be better spent in teaching or healing; and surely if any man should ever live without time to himself, it would be our Savior.
Perhaps we consider our time wasted if we are not engaged in some activities which promote something to our profit or entertainment. We live life in the fast lane; after all it’s the 21st century. We justify ourselves by thinking that we don’t have time to think slowly and methodically.
Thousands of decisions are made every day, and sadly most of them are made without any thought. It is impossible to give due consideration to anything without this precious alone time. Peter committed a grave error of which he considered himself incapable, and it was not until he thought thereon that he saw his deeds in their true perspective and wept - Mark 14:72.
King David said I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies - Psalms 119:59. How different things would be if we took time alone for prayerful thought such as Jesus did. Our Lord was not a hermit and neither are His people. He went about everywhere doing good - Matthew 4:23, and tirelessly conducted His Father’s business saying, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work - John 9:4.
We also have business to attend to, but how we ought to prize, as He did, the opportunity to commune with His Father in heaven. We enjoy worshiping publicly, but more private worship would greatly improve our public worship. It was when Jacob was left alone, Genesis 34:24 that he met the Son of God and was never the same again.
We hear of the precious Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His priceless blood to wash us from our sins, yet how seldom do we quietly meditate upon His Person and grace without distraction or interruption and sweetly commune with Him? Surely He is worthy of our alone time, and we are our own enemy if we neglect the thing that will enrich all other hours.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
