June 5, 2003
FROM A PASTOR’S HEART

HOPE, THE GREATEST NEED!

No one will have a satisfactory life who thinks that they were put here simply to enjoy life for a while and then die. If we believe there is no hope of life after the grave, we will develop the philosophy that we might as well eat, drink, and be merry. The only people who can live this present life to its fullest will be those who know there is an eternal and glorious life after they leave here. What makes life worthwhile for a Christian is the hope of a new resurrection body and eternal life. This is not a wishful thinking. It is a fact not yet realized.

All who have this hope will change their attitudes, characters, and lives. If our major goal in life is to hear our Lord and King say to us, “Well done thou good and faithful servant,” our lives can will have meaning. What would you tell a group of slaves who had no chance of ever having freedom, owning a house, having a family, or going to school? Is there any way they could enjoy life?

Yes! If they have hope, they can have meaningful lives here and now. If God could expect a group of slaves to have meaningful and productive lives, how much more will he expect us to have productive lives? We are told how we are to live whether we are slaves or the employee of some business in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

When a person has the hope that Jesus will give reward him and give him a great inheritance, whether he is a slave or an employee of a prominent business, he can serve his master as he would the Lord. He must realize that it is the Lord he is working for. Since it is the Lord who will reward us, we never have to feel trapped in some bad situation.

This is why disillusioned and disheartened people can be transformed from a people ready for the mental ward to radiant and useful Christians. Once a person becomes a Christian, he has a hope along with a purpose in this life. He no longer has to come to the end of his life as many people do and realize that their life counted for nothing!

Many people do feel trapped in situations and think things can get no better. They cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel. These people may have had long illnesses like the woman with the issue of blood or the man born blind. Only Jesus can give these people hope. Some people are overcome with fears or problems that they think of committing suicide. They need hope that will transform them so that they can enjoy the life God has given them. Older people go through many changes such as retirement, losing friends by death, sickness, and loneliness. The Christian’s hope can and will transform their lives.

Have you heard of people having nervous breakdowns? What happened? Did their nerves break down? No! What broke down was the foundation of their outlook on life. They have stumbled from one unsatisfying experience to another. They have unsolved problems with no hope of things getting better, and they feel trapped. What they need is hope! When a person exhausts all their resources and realize that the problems are still there, they feel like the man who painted himself in a corner.

This can lead to what is called nervous break downs and depression. In both conditions, there is a failure to function correctly in normal daily activities. These people must be brought to a new hope that things can be better. Then they must be shown how it is to be done. Romans 15:4 tells us where this kind of hope comes from, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” The knowledge of God, His will and direction in life comes through knowing the scriptures. These promises of God will give anyone hope.

Our hope is the knowledge of the fact that Jesus is coming again to give to us a resurrection body like His. There will be no more pain, suffering, heartaches, and tears. This is the hope of a Christian. This is not simply pie in the sky by and by. This is pie that we can start slicing and enjoying right now. Every person who knows Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior can have an abundant, happy, fulfilled, contented life right here and now on this earth regardless of his circumstances.

This kind of abundant living will come when a person changes the kingdom he lives in. There are two kingdoms existing side by side right now. There is the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan and his demons. There is the kingdom of God ruled by Jesus Christ. You must change your citizenship. This is done by the new birth. Just as you were born into the kingdom of darkness by a physical birth, you must be born into the kingdom of God by a spiritual birth.

This comes when you are willing to submit to Jesus Christ as your new Lord and King. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” When you ask Jesus for the new birth and salvation, He has promised to give it. Just believe Him. Faith is simply believing what God has said. Then you can have hope. This hope will completely change your life. You will have the nature of God in you with Jesus as your high priest interceding for you. This is why Jesus said you must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

Second Peter 1:3 tells us how to live this new life, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” We receive all we need as we learn about Jesus which comes through his Word. Get in a church where the word of God is taught and preached. Then you can truly say, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Whether a slave or a prince, we have been given all we need for an abundant life now and hope for a glorious future!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
June 12, 2003

WHAT’S WRONG WITH COMPLAINING

People complain all the time and most people think little about it. It is an almost everyday occurrence, but we would change our minds about this terrible sin if we knew what God said about it. Numbers 11:1 reveal God’s feeling about complainers, “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”

When a person begins to complain, it becomes part of his personality. He will be described as a complainer. How did these people develop the habit of complaining? The same way people today develop the habit of complaining. Notice where these people were. They were in the uttermost part of the camp.

They were not close to the godly leaders. They were like Peter when he was “following from afar.” These people were on the outside edges of the camp. At one time they were excited about what God was doing, but they had drifted to the outside edges where the conversation was about how hot the weather was.

We are molded by our thought life. What we think and meditate on will transform us. Second Corinthians 3:18 tells us, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” As we read, meditate, and obey the word of God, the Holy Spirit molds us into the image of the Lord. The person who is thinking about the Lord, His work, and His will for his life will be changed into the image of Christ.

A person who gets in a cult and studies that literature and associates with those people and thinks about those evil things will be transformed into the image those things produce. This is a moral law of God. If you think about yourself most of the time, you become selfish. If you think about others and how you can be used of God to help them and meet their needs, you become generous and godly.

The Israelites had no reason to complain. They had been delivered from Egypt by the mighty power of God. They had seen the supernatural plagues God used to deliver them and God’s protection when the death angel passed over and spared those who had the blood on their door. They had seen the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptians. They saw God’s presence in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night as well as receiving manna from heaven. They were under divine guidance.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Verse 6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” These people had plenty of evidence to know that God was there delivering, protecting, and providing for them. There was no reason to doubt nor to complain against God. The same is true today. God wants us to have faith in Him, and He gives plenty of evidence for us to have that kind of faith.

Then why did these people complain so much that God sent fire and consumed those who were in the uttermost part of the camp? Simply because this was not a one time complaint. They were complainers in the midst of over whelming evidence of the love, power, and provision of God. These people were selfish. Their thinking had gotten so perverted that they wished to go back to Egypt to a life of slavery rather than trusting God who brought them out.

They found something bad in everything that God did or allowed. They didn’t like the manna. They didn’t like moving around. They didn’t like the leadership of Moses and complained against him. We need to learn something about the mercy of God. It has a limit! In this situation, God was so displeased with these complainers that He wiped them off the face of the earth.

If we allow our minds to think too much about our own self, we will become complainers. That is the reason we must be in God’s word and hear what He has to say. We need to be attend a Bible preaching church so we can get to know the mind and will of God and let His truth consume our thoughts rather than being consumed with our self. Selfish people are complainers!

To complain and murmur is to distrust God. It is God who either allows or brings every situation. He is complete control. We must keep our minds filled with His word and practice trusting Him. Whatever fills our minds controls our thoughts and behavior. If not thinking about holy things, we can fall into the same sin Aaron and Miriam did. They said about God’s servant Moses in Numbers 12:2, “...Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath He not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.”

When the Lord heard it, He was not pleased. They were complaining about the way God was doing His business just like those who were consumed by the fire. In verse eight, God tells them that Moses is His servant and, “With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

God said, “Moses is my servant. I will speak through him. If you complain and rebel against Him, it is the same as you complaining and rebelling against Me. Why are you not afraid to do that?” As a result, Miriam, Moses sister, was struck immediately with leprosy from head to toe. Does that give an idea of what God thinks about complaining?

When we complain against our situation or circumstance, it is the same as complaining against our God who is the supreme authority over the universe. We don’t need to complain. We need to pray and be thankful “IN” all things and seek God’s will for our lives. This brings deliverance, peace and God’s grace.

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
June 19, 2003

THE GREATEST FATHER!

Two activities a Christian should be engaged in all the time are the study of the Word and prayer. It is so important that the apostles said in Acts 6:4, "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Bible study is God talking to people. Prayer is people talking to God. It is sad that most people consider prayer to be like a parachute. They are glad it is there, but hope they don't have to use it. It is also tragic that God, who spoke this world into existence, invites His people to come before the throne to talk to Him, but many are too busy with other things.

There is a proper way to study the Bible and there is a proper way to pray. Jesus disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. His teaching to them is given to us in what we call the Disciples Prayer in Matthew 6. Verse nine begins," After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." This shows us one facet of our relationship with God. If you are a Christian, God is your heavenly father. He is creator of all, but He is father only to those who have put their faith and trust in him as their Lord and Savior.

We live in a world that is falling apart, but we have a Father who is in total control of all things and will work all things for good to those who love him according to Romans 8:28. How can we be lonely when we have a Father who is a friend who sticks closer than a brother? How can we worry when our Father owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills? Since he is "OUR" father, if we are to have His blessings, we are to obey him. He is the best father. He will teach, train, protect, and keep us on the right path in life.

One of the most awesome things in life is that the God who created the universe invites us to come into His throne room to have fellowship with him. He wants to guide, provide, and protect us. Never forget that when we pray, we are to pray to our Father. But remember also, he is more than our father. He is God! This means He is to be worshiped. He is also the King, which means he is to be served and obeyed. He is the Savior who is to be loved and adored.

This is why the next part of prayer is “hallowing” his name. His “name" means all that He is. His name includes His character, attributes, personality, desires, plans and purposes. God has many names in the Bible and each one tells us something about his character. The greatest name of God in the Bible is "Lord Jesus Christ." This means the Lord, Savior, King. He is the bread of life, the Good Shepherd, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, and the Prince of Peace.

As we come to God as our Father, we are to Hallow his name. We hallow his name by believing in Him. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." You cannot hallow his name without knowing that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him. Many people believe that He is, but do not seek him. A failure to seek God is to fail to treat Him as holy and desirable. People do not seek what they do not desire!

Every false thought about God does irreverence to Him. If your knowledge about God is not correct, you attribute things to his character and nature which are not true. Even Job said, "Thou art cruel to me." This was before Job knew God as he should have. When you doubt God, disbelieve, or question Him, you do not hallow his name. Our country is now under the judgment of God because it does not hallow His name. Proverbs 14:34 tells us, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.” If we obey God, He will exalt us. If we disobey and sin, we will be reproached by Him.

We understand the "unsaved" and the “ignorant” doing those things, but what about a Christian who neglects the Word of God, Church, and prayer? By his actions, he is not hallowing the name of God. When we say, “It is God who gives life, but we make laws to allow doctors to take the life of a child, we invite the wrath of our Holy God.

We hallow his name when we are constantly aware of his presence. Psalm 16:8 says, "I have set the LORD always before me." The Lord is always "at hand." He is always present, but we do not always live like He is. When we practice the presence of God in our life, we hallow His name. Jesus sees our every act and knows our every thought. When we live like this is true, it hallows His name.

The single most important thing we do to hallow the name of God is to obey Him. When we fail to obey what we know God has commanded in his word, we do Him irreverence. We are saying, "I know better than God does about this issue." Disobedience to His known will is to reveal that “self” is on the throne of your life. All unsaved people live in constant rebellion to their creator, but a child of God does not have to. Sin is a tragedy of a child of God disobeys his heavenly father .

The Bible says we are to pray about everything and to pray without ceasing. This is practicing the presence of God in our lives. But remember when we approach God, we are to come to Him as our heavenly father all the while remembering that He is more. He is the creator of this universe. He is to have his name hallowed in our lives as we learn about his character and attributes. We hallow his name by seeking to know Him, His will, purposes, and desires. We hallow him most by receiving Him as our Savior and confessing Him as Lord of our lives. If we do not submit to Him as Lord, it follows that we will obey him.

If we hallow his name, we put God on display to those around us. People will make a judgment about God based on what they see in those who say they are his children. If we glorify God in our lives, others will be drawn to him. As they see the love, peace, joy, and contentment in our lives, they know we have something they do not. Why should we expect Him to answer our prayers while we are being disobedient? Most parents know that they do their child great harm to grant his requests while he is living in disobedience to them. If we approach God as our Father all the while hallowing his name, we can be assured of Him hearing us.

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH; Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
June 26, 2003

DEALING WITH HABITUAL SINS!

If a runner showed up for a race with an over coat and combat boots on, he would not be disqualified, but he sure would be prevented from doing his best. The overcoat and combat boots would be hindrances, but they are not illegal. If the same runner came to a race with traces of illegal drugs in his body, he would be disqualified. The drugs are illegal and would prevent him from running at all.

The same is true in life. There are some things in our life that slow us down and prevent us from doing our best. There are other things that will put us out of the race God has put us in. Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

The weights in life are those things which are not sinful, but they slow us down. The sin in our life will trip us up so that we do even get the opportunity to run. It would not be a sin for a pastor to wear a leather jacket and ride a motorcycle on visitation, but it would not do a lot to promote the church. That would be a weight that would slow him down. Sin in his life can put him out of the ministry.

There are certain sins the Bible calls “besetting” sins. These are sins that easily capture us. These are sins that we commit, confess, and end up committing again. Each person can have his own besetting sins which are more difficult for him to deal with than others.
These sins appeal to us and exert strong influence on our will and emotions. Galatians 5:17 explains this, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” These besetting sins are so dangerous because they are so close to us. They are in our flesh. They appeal to our fallen nature. They continually look for opportunities to manifest themselves and do us harm.

Since sin is in our flesh, we can do something that is wrong and really think we are doing good. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us why, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” No one can know what is in the heart apart from the truth of God’s word. Few people believe that the fallen flesh in them has the ability to do vile and wicked things. The reason people do not see their need for salvation is because of a deceptive heart.

These besetting sins do not stay in our flesh. They will mingle in our motives and behavior. They get so entangled in every fabric of our thought life, behavior, purposes, and plans that they are difficult to separate. This is why Paul cried out in Romans 7:24, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Sometimes our best deeds can have bits of self righteousness and pride mingled into it.

Second Corinthians 7:1 gives the best advice on how to deal with these sins in our lives, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Because of all that God has done and promised us, we are to actively kill, put to death, and cleanse ourselves from every filthy thing in both our flesh and our spirit. That would take care of the problem, but how do we do that?

We have neither the power nor the ability to cleanse ourselves of the sin in us, but God has given us a way to do it. It is not in our ability, but in His mighty power. Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Walking in the Spirit means we learn what is the mind and will of the Spirit and then we obey. You cannot obey the Spirit and the flesh at the same time. It sounds simple, but there are some things that prevent us from “walking in the Spirit.”

The first problem is that we underestimate the seriousness of our sin. We fail to see what sin does to us, others, and the church. Sin steals our joy, peace, contentment, ruins our fellowship with God, destroys our usefulness in this life, steals our rewards in the life to come, diminishes fruitfulness, destroys evangelism, hinders our prayers, and brings the chastening of God.

One man said, “There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest misery.” All of us do all we can to avoid the miseries in life, but we tend to be tolerant of our sin. We must learn that sin will cause us more damage to our mind, happiness, joy, and health than all the calamities put together. If we are to deal with sin in us, we must learn to look at sin as God does. Sin dishonors God, abuses mercy, despises grace, and defiles worship and fellowship.

If we are to deal with sin in us, we must strongly purpose and vow to God that we will not sin. Psalm 119:106 says, “I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.” What if we fail? We will fail, but we will not fail as much as the person who never makes the vow and promise. God knows our weakness. That is why He put 1 John 1:9 in the Bible.

If we are to deal with sin, we must do as Jude 1:21 says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” There is an area of life where His love is continually revealed. This is the area where love, fear, reverence, and obedience will be found. Don’t stray away from the love of God. Scripture says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). These principles will help us to deal with the sins in our lives. We must learn to destroy sin or sin will destroy us! Psalm 119:9 gives us a good way to deal with the destruction of sin, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word.”

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH; Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
May 1, 2003

CHARACTER OF A HEALTHY CHURCH

We are very concerned about our physical bodies, but our Lord is more concerned about our spiritual bodies. If we are to be healthy spiritually, we must have healthy teaching going into our minds which will produce healthy behavior. False teachers give diseased doctrine which produces diseased living. Titus 1:16 describes the false teachers, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Titus 2:1 says, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” For a Christian or a church to be healthy, there must be sound doctrine, but that alone is not enough. There must also be a “living out” of the sound doctrine that is taught. Doctrine and duty always go together. Romans chapters 1-11 contain a lot of doctrine and truths. Beginning with Romans 12 there are the duties we are to do because of the truths in the first 11 chapters. The Lord wants us to know truth and then have that truth influence the way we live.

What value does truth have if it does not change the way we live our lives? What good is it doing people to go to church for years but not have their lives changed? We are told to be holy as our Lord is holy. If the truths of God are not transforming us more into the image of Christ, something is wrong with the doctrine or there is disobedience in the people hearing it.

Titus 2:15 says, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Scripture is not a book of suggestions! It is a Book of commands from our Lord! We are to continually speak these truths and exhort people to live in accordance to them. Our Lord wants a healthy church produced by healthy teaching and a call to live according to that truth.

We know obedience to God’s word brings personal blessings to us, but it also has a great impact on the lives of other people. Titus 2:5 says to women, “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” When these women live in obedience to God’s word, the word of God is not blasphemed. If they live in rebellion to Scripture, God’s word and His church will be blasphemed.

The way a Christian lives will make Christianity either appealing or appalling. Our lives as believers will attract people to our faith or cause them to turn away from it. How we live will determine how others feel about the Lord, His Word, and His Church. The world does not judge us by our theology. It judges us by our behavior. They judge the validity of Scripture by how we act. A professed Christian who does not live a godly life brings reproach on God. Why should people think Scripture can change a person’s life if it has not changed yours?

God’s word is scandalized when people say they believe it, but do not live by it! The credibility of the Gospel is tied to the integrity of those who claim it. King David is an illustration of this. He lusted, committed adultery and had Bathsheba’s husband killed. After being found out, David said, “I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die” (2 Sam 12:13-14).

King David was forgiven, but because of his ungodly behavior, not only was a family destroyed and a child died, but he had given the enemies of the Lord a reason to blaspheme God. It was because of the bad behavior of the whole nation of Israel the our Lord said in Romans 2:24, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.” They were to be a witness for the Lord so that His name would be glorified, but because of bad behavior, it was blasphemed.

Our Lord tells us in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our light shines as we do good works that others can see. When that happens, our Lord is glorified. When there are no works or the works are bad, our Lord is blasphemed. Our behavior has a great impact on others as they observe us.

If we do live godly lives, we can count on others saying evil things about us, but we are to make sure that when people say bad things that it is not true. Don’t give any reason for them to slander you. First Peter 2:12 tells us why, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

How can God get glory in the day of visitation? The answer is that when someone hears the Gospel and receives the Lord Jesus as Savior, God is glorified. When a person who has criticized you sees your life of faith, which is learning and obeying God’s word, their criticism will be turned to curiosity. As they learn the Gospel, your holy life will be a tool God uses to turn the curiosity into conversion.

That is the reason we are to live holy and godly lives. We are not to be a stumbling block to people being saved but a stepping stone.
May all Christians live in such a way that God is not blasphemed. If you are criticized, make sure it is unjust. Why? “That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:10). We are to live in such a way that Scripture is attractive to others. God is our Savior. We must live like we have “saved” lives. Lives characterized by purity, holiness, joy, and peace adorn the gospel!

What we believe is linked to how we live and how we live is directly linked to people getting saved. If we are going to have an impact on this world, it will because of God’s truth going into our minds and living it out in righteous behavior!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART

May 8, 2003

PROFILE OF A GODLY MOTHER!

Motherhood is exalted by God, but in years we have seen battered children, increase in divorce, and millions of children slaughtered in the womb of their mothers. Our feelings about motherhood may change, but God's does not. God has planned that women exert a tremendous influence on the character of a society. The more godly women are, the more godly children will be.

Hannah lived in a tragic time. Sampson was dead and the nation was impotent against its enemies because of their rebellion to God. A special man was needed to call the nation back to God; therefore, God had a special lady to rear that child. Hannah had a right relationship with her husband which is the environment in which godly children will develop. They worshiped the Lord together (1 Samuel 1). Hannah married a man who loved the Lord. Ladies, you can still be a godly mother with an imperfect husband. Hannah's husband had another wife besides Hannah, but this did not prevent Hannah from loving him.

People who look for a perfect mate will be looking for a long time. If they think they have found one, it won’t be long after marriage that they realize they made a mistake. There is no such creature as a perfect mate. There will be problems in any marriage, but problems can be stepping stones to a strong relationship when handled God’s way. Believers are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. When a saved person dates or marries the unsaved, he will suffer many self inflicted storms in his life because of violating God’s commands. Our country is in a sad shape spiritually primarily because of a failure of God's people. Our problems today are not because of drugs, politics, or education. Scripture tells us what is needed to get back on the right road, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chr 7:14). God will heal our land when His people get right with him.

Hannah's husband saw her weeping, but he knew there was nothing he could do. She wanted a child, but her womb had been closed by God. She was very sorrowful, but she took her problem to the one who could do something about it. It is tragic that a husband or wife expects their mate to do for them what only God can do. There has never been a woman who could make a man happy, nor a man who could make a woman happy. Why? Because that is something only God can do. It is being very unfair to our mate to want them to do for us what only God can do.

Hannah was filled with sorrow, but she maintained a character of humility. She did not lash out at her "adversary" in verse 6. She did not make her husband's life miserable. She was still lovable even though sorrowful. Too many times when a person has sorrow, it so fills them that they make everyone around them miserable. Her humility was revealed when she was rebuked by Eli the high priest. He thought she was drunk. Instead of rebuking him for his mistake, she revealed a submissive spirit and showed the utmost respect to this aged high priest.

When you read her prayer, you know she was no stranger to praying to God. Hannah became a mother by faith. Verse 17 says, "Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him." She walked away from there and "her countenance was no more sad." She believed God had heard her prayer. The next verse proved that He did. She got Samuel from the Lord and she lived to rear that boy for God. She had a purpose in mind and she worked toward that purpose.

Hannah started motherhood right. She prayed to God for a child. She then committed that child to the Lord and promised to rear him for the Lord's use. We need to know that a child is given by God to parents and is to be reared for Him. She had an objective in mind for Samuel. He was going to be a man of God and that was the way she raised him. This ought to be the objective of every parent today. Every child should be committed to the Lord and then the parents should commit themselves to the Lord for rearing that child.

Titus 2 says that the older women are to teach the younger to be chaste, keepers at home, lovers of their husbands, and trainers of their children. The more godly, virtuous, pure, and prayerful we are, the less the things of the world will have a hold on us. It is sad that most children today are being trained, not by godly mothers, but by the ungodly T.V.

We have a brand of children who are "Hollywood Raised." They spend more time in front of the T.V. than in front of their parents. The Bible says that the rod and reproof will give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. Hannah did a tremendous job in training Samuel. Hannah kept her promise to God. She took Samuel to Eli but in reality, turned him over to the Lord.

It was difficult to leave that little boy with Eli, but she had reared him for that purpose. How did Hannah feel? "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord" (1 Sam 2:1). She did not rejoice in Samuel, but in God who gave her Samuel.
The contrast to Samuel is given by the sons of Eli, "Now the sons of Eli were son of Belial: they knew not the Lord" (1 Sam 2:12) They were priests, but they did not know God. They led Israel astray. They had the first religious con game going on in the temple. How could that have happened to the sons of the high priest? Chapter 3:13 tells why God had to destroy those two wicked boys, "For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."

Since the sons of Eli had never been saved, their old nature controlled them and produced lying, stealing, fornication, and rebellion to authority. The Bible says foolishness is bound in the heart of a child. This requires parents who loves the Lord and who knows His word to train those children in the way they should go. God told Eli that he, "honorest thy sons above me" (I Sam. 2:29). When God tells us something, but we decide to do something else, we are putting that above God.

Hannah was right with her husband and right with God. She wanted a child and then reared that child for the Lord. He became a mighty man of God. May we have more mothers like Hannah who produce mores sons like Samuel!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
May 15, 2003

WHY WE LOSE OUR APPEAL!

The true church of the Lord Jesus is the most important organization on earth. It is there that people learn about God, get saved, and then learn God’s plan for their lives. The church gives fellowship, love, comfort, and meaning to life. The church is where we can learn to live fulfilling lives that count for time and for eternity. Why is it then that people neglect the very institution that Jesus came and died for? Why has the church lost some of its appeal?

Titus 2 has the answer. Here we are told how church members are to behave. Verse 10 gives the reason why, “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” When Christians live in the way described in Titus 2, they will “adorn” the doctrine of God. Adorn means to make attractive or to appeal to. When we fail to live like this, we become a stumbling block rather than a stepping stone to people becoming Christians.

The church that appeals must teach the right doctrine. Titus 2:1 says, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” Sound means healthy. We are to speak and teach healthy doctrine which is opposite of what the false teachers are doing. Healthy doctrine leads to healthy living. False or unhealthy doctrine leads to unhealthy living.

The next verses describe how each group in the church is to behave. Verse 2 says of the older men, “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” The older men are to be sober which means they are to have their priorities in life right. They have lived long enough to realize the mistakes they have made. They have gained experience and wisdom and made the adjustments. They are to be serious minded and show self restraint. They are to be sound in the faith, which means they learn and obey the Scripture.

The older men are to be sound in their charity. Charity is love in action.

Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Letting our light shine is doing good works that others see which result in God getting glory by our lives.

The next verse instructs older women, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things” (Titus 2:3). The older women are to be “priestlike” or holy in behavior, refrain from gossiping, and are to teach good things. What are the good things they are to teach and to whom are they to teach them?
Verses 4-5 gives the answers, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” The older women are to teach the younger women these things because they are not known nor practiced naturally.

Older women are to teach younger women to be sober. This means to develop a right set of priorities. Older women have learned from their mistakes and now have their priorities right. What an advantage a young woman has who has a godly woman to instruct her. Many mistakes in life can be avoided like this.

They are to teach the younger women God’s plan for their lives which will fulfill their created purpose, make them a blessing to the world, bring joy to their life now, and bring honor to God. They are to teach them to love their husbands. This does not come naturally. Society teaches them to love whoever they want and fulfill their lust and desires and farm their children out to others to rear.

When young women are taught to love their husbands and be a “one man woman,” they avoid much trouble in life. As they learn to invest time, energy and effort in their husband, they will find their emotions follow their efforts. Matthew 6:21 tells us, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” One reason marriages fail is that the woman or man begins to invest their time and energies else where and the love they should have for their mate is dwindles. Whoever we invest our time, energy and efforts in will be where our hearts are.

They are to be taught to love their children. This means they are taught to do what is right by your children. Those parents who sued the school for suspending their children for misbehavior are not loving their children. They are not teaching them respect for authority and that behavior has consequences. They are not modeling what a godly parent should be. How are these young people going to act when they get older? Just like their ungodly parents! That is how they have been taught. They must be taught what Scriptures says about rearing their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

They are to be taught to be keepers at home and to be obedient to their husbands. This is about as opposite as you can get from what society is trying to teach young women. Each must decide if they want to be godly or worldly. If you want to be a godly person, you will submit to the teaching of God’s word.

Philippians 2 tells us to look on the things of others as more important than our things. Verse 3 says, “but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” We are told to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us. If we are to do these things, surely a man ought to be able to love his wife as Christ loved the church and a woman ought to love her husband and be obedient to him as Scripture commands!

These are commands from God to his people. As men and women of God, we decide to be obedient or to be disobedient. When we obey, we adorn the gospel and attract people to the Lord and His church. When we are disobedient and live like the rest of the world, we are responsible for the word of God being blasphemed because of our behavior!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
May 22, 2003

ATTITUDE FOR MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is celebrated the last Monday in May in remembrance of our dead service men of all our wars. If we don’t set aside a time to remember important things, we will forget. It is so natural to begin to take the blessings of God or of people for granted. This is especially true now as we think about the war we had in Afghanistan and Iraq. God was so good to give us quick victories and so few deaths. We must remember the sacrifices made.

There is an attitude we need to have now and the rest of the year so that our thinking remains right. It is the attitude of thanksgiving. There are many Christians who struggle with their contentment and joy in life. They seem to be in the dumps most of the time but do not know why. One reason for this is because of a lack of thanksgiving. We know we cannot be happy, content, and satisfied if we are in rebellion to our Creator. We certainly won’t remember what other people do for us if we forget what God has done! We are told, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thess 5:18). If we are not giving thanks in everything, we are in violation of God’s command and we will not remember what we should.

The rich farmer in Luke 12 through giving thanks was unnecessary. He thought he deserved what he had and was looking forward to future prosperity, but he was ungrateful what God and others had done for him.
Since he was not thankful to his fellow man or God, he devised a selfish plan. He said, “I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:19-21).

Since he was not thankful to God, he forgot whose land the crops had been grown on and who sent the rain. He failed to realize that “every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights.” How many of us commit the same sin he did. None of us have power to protect our lives against accidents, disease, heartache, or death. Our life, health, protection, and all we have comes from God, but do we thank Him for his abundant grace? How would we feel if we provided many gifts to someone and they took them, used them, but never thanked us for them? We probably would stop giving them, right?

When we fail to give God thanks, it is not only the sin of ingratitude, it is also the sin of unbelief. To live a thankless life is to live like the pagans. They do not recognize God for all the good He does for them. Sure, we know God is there, but do we acknowledge Him and give Him the thanks He deserves? To fail in thanksgiving is to live like the foolish farmer.

Anyone who goes day after day without thanking God for all His blessings is acting like the unsaved. If we fail to give thanks, we reveal that we are quenching the Holy Spirit who leads us to thank and praise God. Unthankful people are selfish people. We can’t be filled with joy, peace and contentment if we are not filled with the Spirit who is the one who brings these attitudes.

The Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12 demonstrates the thanksgiving of a hypocrite, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” He is acting like he is in his house giving himself praise and thanks rather than in God’s house praising and thanking Him. This is not the kind of thanksgiving we are to have.

The right attitude about thanksgiving is illustrated by one of the ten lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17. All ten lepers were healed of their dreadful disease, but only one came back to give Jesus thanks. All ten received bodily healing, but only the one who came back to give thanks received spiritual healing and eternal life. That leper illustrates the thanksgiving that pleases God.

John 4:23-24 reveals that God seeks people to worship Him, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is honored when we worship correctly. Part of the correct way to worship is by knowing how we are to come before Him. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

Ephesians 5:20 tells us when, for what, how, and to whom thanks is to be given, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” When are we to give thanks? Always! Regardless of what comes our way, we are to recognize God’s control of our lives to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. If bad things happen and we get upset or lose our joy, it shows that we have forgotten our Creator’s leadership in our lives.

There will be some bad things that happen to us for which we cannot be thankful, but we can still look to God who has promised in Romans 8:28 to turn everything into something good for us. It is easy to be thankful when we are blessed. It requires spiritual maturity to be thankful in all things.

A second level of thanksgiving is to be thankful for some victory we hope will come. This is in anticipation of something and requires more maturity and faith. The third level of thanksgiving is the hardest. This it to thank God while you are in a battle and do not know how it will turn out! Daniel illustrates this by the way he continued to pray even though it looked like it would cost him a trip to the lion’s den. We are to give thanks always and for all things. How? In the name of Jesus. To whom are we to be thankful? God the Father. If God is our Father and He is all powerful, if we trust in Him, we are able to give thanks continually.

As we think about Memorial Day this year, may we do so with great thanksgiving to our God who has protected us and blessed us with a great land and great protection. Think about God and thank Him. Think about those who have served and given their lives so we could be free to live and to worship God.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)

FROM A PASTOR’S HEART
May 29, 2003

CHRISTIAN WORKER’S BEHAVIOR

One reason Christianity has little appeal to many people is because of the bad behavior of many Christians, especially in the work place. Everyone would want what Christianity professes to give, but how do they know it is real if they do not see it being lived out in the lives of those who profess to have it. We know our God is a saving God who transforms people’s lives, but if we do not reveal transformed lives to the unsaved, they will not believe what we say.

Titus 1:16 describes many professed believes today, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Many say they are believers, but are disobedient to the authority over them and do not produce good works. These people make a claim of Christianity, but do not reveal it in their lives; therefore, what they say about Christ or His church falls on deaf ears.

Jesus tells us how to live and how to bring glory to God in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Letting our light shine is doing good works. This is true in every situation, but especially in the work place.

Scripture has much to say about the behavior of believers. Philippians 2:14-15 tell us, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” We are to be a light to the lost, but if we are murmuring or complaining when things do not go our way, we reveal that we are no different than they are. Why would they listen to us when we tell them about a saving and transforming God?

Scripture tells us how to behave where we work, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Col 3:22-23).

A Christian employee’s mission field is his work place; therefore, he must act according to Scripture. This is why he is to work the same when the boss is not there as when he is. The reason is that he fears the Lord and wants to please Him. He knows that what he does on the job is to be done as unto the Lord. This means that he is to work as if Jesus were his boss. The informed believer knows that the reward he gets is from the Lord, not his boss. What a difference this would make in the way we think about our job!
A Christian must be obedient to the authority over him. His boss is his authority. Romans 13:1 says “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” When we are obedient to our boss, it is the same as being obedient to our Lord.

God is a God of order. In the home, church, business, or government, God has established a chain of command. When we line up under any authority over us and are submitted to them, we are being submitted to our Lord. Rebellion to the authority over us is rebellion to our Lord.

A Christian may ask, “What if your boss is overbearing and abusive?” Scripture tells us what to do, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward” (1 Peter 2:18). We must be submitted even to a bad boss. Why? The Lord says so!

Ephesians 6:5 tell us “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.” They are to obey with a fear in their heart that they could behave in such a way as to bring dishonor to His Lord or His church. The way we act at work should be as unto the Lord. We are to work as if the Lord Himself were our boss. The fact is, He is! He sees all we do and knows all we think.

Titus 2:9 tells us, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again.” We are to be obedient to our bosses and we are to work with excellence for them. As we do a good job and please our boss, we are pleasing the Lord who gave these commands.

Titus 2:9 says, “not answering again.” This means to talk back or argue. If you want to get on the bosses bad list, argue or talk back to him! If there is a means to offer suggestions, do it, but always with the attitude that whatever the boss says is what you will do, even if you know a better way. The issue is not that you know a better way or that he may be wrong in the way he acts. The issue is that you are to be obedient to the Lord who says to be obedient, reverent, loyal, and work with excellence for your boss.

Our Lord knows that there must be order. All of us know that anything with two heads is a freak. Anytime a person gets angry or talks back to his boss is because he either does not know what Scripture says or he is trying to manipulate the situation. That is a sure way of making the boss and other employees think that there is nothing special about you.

Our Lord gives another attitude we are to have in Titus 2:10, “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” Purloining mean to steal. Stealing may be in the form of coming in a few minutes late or leaving a few minutes early or using the company telephone for personal business. Either one is stealing from your employer.
Why are Christian employees to be honest, submissive, loyal, and good workers? So that the gospel will not be blasphemed. The way the unsaved world thinks about you and the gospel depends on how you behave, especially at work!

(IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Pastor, Arnold Martin)