Monday, April 30, 2012

The Next Generation


As Solomon looked at life under the sun, he observed that "One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever" (Eccl. 1:4). With the passing of each generation, knowledge, values and even faith are handed down from the older to the younger. Paul thanked God for the "genuine faith" of Timothy, which he says, "dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5).

Sometimes the older generation does not do a good job of transmitting what it should to the generation that follows. Sometimes the younger generation refuses to receive what was left them by their forefathers. When this occurs, the consequences are almost always negative.

British anthropologist John D. Unwin conducted an in-depth study of eighty civilizations that have come and gone over a period of some four thousand years. He discovered that a common thread ran through all of them. In each instance, they started out with a conservative mind-set with strong moral values and a heavy emphasis on family. Over a period of time, the conservative mind-set became more and more liberal, moral values declined, and the family suffered. In each instance, as the family deteriorated, the civilization itself started to come apart; and in all eighty cases the fall of the nation was related to the fall of the family. In most cases, that civilization fell within one generation of the fall of the family unit. (from Zig Zeiglar)

The effectiveness of one generation in bringing along the next generation not only has ramifications for families and nations, it also has great ramifications for God's people. The reality is that the error that one generation accepts in moderation, the next will accept in excess. In this way, standards of personal morality, decisions regarding the work of the church, and doctrinal soundness can degrade tremendously from one generation to the next. There are churches which were once faithful that have changed so drastically from what they were a generation ago, that if someone from the previous generation rose from the dead and visited, they would think they had walked in on the worship assembly of a completely different religion.

The Psalms have a lot to say to us about the need to faithfully transmit God's truth from one generation to the next (cf. Psalm 22:30; 71:18; 78:4-6; 145:3-4). There is an especially poignant passage in Psalm 48:12-14, where faithful Israelites are instructed to "Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; {13} Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. {14} For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death." Just as the Israelites needed to know exactly how everything was to be in Zion so that they could pass the information on to the next generation, the older generation of today needs to know exactly how things are to be in the church in order to pass that information on to the next generation.

What will ypur church at be like a generation from now? Much will depend on the job we do today of passing down truth, helping the young develop their abilities, and being examples of diligent laborers ourselves.

Effective Discipline

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6). This verse, along with others, teaches the necessity of proper teaching of children. The are to be brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:1-4). While many parents recognize their duty of training their children, some of them have a difficult time in effectively training or disciplining their children. Some parents throw up their hands in despair over even small children, normal children, saying, "I just can't do anything with him!"

This article, by no means a proclamation that it's author can solve all problems, is intended to be a "how to" article, setting forth some practical principles that are, in my judgment, basic and essential to effective discipline. Please examine these thoughts carefully, and if they can help you, use them to the developing of good lives for your children.

1. Discipline Begins In Infancy: -- Waiting till a child is 4 or more years old to begin some of the basics of discipline creates severe problems.

2. Discipline Must Be Impartial: -- Consider the problems caused by Jacob's apparent favoritism among his sons (Gen. 37). While one child may have a more appealing manner, parents must not allow such to excuse his misbehavior, while punishing other children for the same misdeed.

3. Effective Discipline Must Be Consistent: -- This seems to be one of the greatest weaknesses with some parents. It is confusing to a child's sense of obedience to punish him one day for doing what he is allowed to do on other days. Our "no's" and "yes'es" should be as consistent as we can make them. Parents who fluctuate between severity and laxity with their children will have problems with their behavior.

4. Effective Discipline Should Contain Incentives: -- Though it is not always possible or necessary, children should be given an understanding, whenever possible, of the values and goals of doing assigned tasks or behaving in a prescribed manner. This gives them something to work for, a desirable thing to accomplish.

5. Effective Discipline Must Be Authoritative: -- When a parent gives a command, he should expect proper compliance, and the child should clearly understand that he is expected to obey. When parents command and allow children to ignore those commands, they are actually teaching their children that obedience is not necessary. This applies to minor instructions like "Pick up your shoes," as well as to weightier matters. Parents, mean what you say, and back it up with the corrective measures necessary to enforce it.

6. Effective Discipline Must Begin With Self: -- Parents who do not discipline themselves are in no position to effectively train their children. How can one teach his children the ruinous nature of bad habits while he indulges in them himself? How can he teach his children obedience to the law when he habitually violates laws? Self-control is essential for parents to effectively teach their children.

7. Effective Discipline Must Be Based On Good Judgment And Common Sense: -- Do not the Scriptures stress wisdom, discretion, and reasonableness? Technical know-how must be tempered and used with sensibility. Extremism begets extreme behavior. If one wants his children to behave calmly, to have level dispositions, he must not be explosive and violent himself.

8. Love Is The Bond Of Perfectness: -- All the efforts of discipline should be motivated by a healthy, godly love, as children are taught the love of God and man. Thus they should learn that obedience is a demonstration of love, just as proper discipline is a demonstration of love.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Should We Read The Bible?


Some people would tell us the Bible will only confuse us unless there is some Clergy to explain what we have read. Others would say we can’t understand the Bible alike. While yet others would say it doesn’t really matter whether we read it or not, just as long as we are honest and sincere in what we are doing.

Somehow in my seven years of preaching and studying God’s word, I have never found these things taught therein. As a matter of fact, when we say that we can’t understand the Bible alike, we are pointing a finger at God, and accusing Him of being the cause for religious division in the world today. Not only is this so, but we are casting a shadow of doubt upon the Holy Scriptures.

Paul said that God made known unto him by revelation, “the mystery; (as I wrote afore in a few words; whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” (Eph. 3:3-5). Evidently Paul didn’t know the Bible would only confuse people when they read it. He said when we read it we can understand. He told Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15). Peter says we are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts and always be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of our hope (1 Pet. 3:15). The word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our pathway. (Psa. 119:105).

It isn’t the Bible that confuses man, but man’s lack of study of it. It is man’s doctrines that confuse. We can read the Bible and all agree on what it says, but where the problem arises is when man says, “I know that is what the Bible says but...”. Usually this means, sure, I know that is what it says but I am going to do what I want to do.

Friends, when we one day stand before the Son of God in judgment and hear Him say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you”, it will not be because the Bible couldn’t be understood or because God is the author of confusion, but because we didn’t read the Bible to see what God would have us to do. If we are lost, we can’t blame anyone but ourselves. God sent His Son to the world. Jesus gave His life on the cross. The Holy Spirit came to the apostles and guided them in the writing of the New Testament. It has been printed in almost every language and priced within the range of us all. God doesn’t give us the knowledge of the Bible, this is up to us. If you want to know what God expects of you, read your Bible and it will tell you.

The New Testament is the last will and testament of the Son of God. This is the law that we are under today and the law we will be judged by in the judgment. It isn’t a very large book and it isn’t all that hard to read. I suggest that you start with the book of Matthew and each day read a few chapters. Before you know it, you will have completed the entire New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. Try it! I believe you will find it to be very informative and enlightening instead of confusing.

Those Were The Days

I was reading some religious journals from the 60’s and found numerous times that debates were mentioned either as had happened or were being planned. There are few people today in any religious circle that remember what a debate was. Fewer still were part of those debates. Decades ago debates were quite frequent and varied from place to place. Some debates would have crowds of up to 600 to 800 people a night. One such debate spoke of nearly 1000 people in attendance. I am sure there were other debates of various sizes but the debates happened often.

The focus of the debates would examine doctrinal differences between religious groups and for many years well known men were renowned for their prowess on the debating stage. In the ones that I read after it was also noted how that each participate in the debate was cordial and respectful as they argued their position in favor or against the established point of difference. Debates would challenge Baptist, Methodist, Christian Church and so forth on a field of discussions ranging from the means of salvation, instruments of music, church work and benevolence and a host of topics appealing to the minds of the religious community.

It is painfully clear that debates have fallen by the wayside. Trying to imagine a debate between two parties discussing the issues of salvation in a public venue; attended by 600-800 people each night – is truly a thing of the past. Revivals and gospel meetings rarely attain that level of interest. There seem to be some root causes for the demise of debates and public interest.

Religion is no longer a subject that people want to discuss. It either offends them to have challenges to their faith or they have become so satisfied in their system of faith they will not discuss it. It is harder still to find many people who are interested in having a study in their home. Religion has become the manna of over satisfied self-absorbed individuals who have little time to talk about what they believe in. "You believe what you believe and I will believe what I believe" is the clarion call of the religion of convenience.

How did Jesus view this self-inflicted wound of religious pride? In Matthew 23 the Lord said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (vv2-3). Did the Son of God suggest that it did not matter what you believed as long as you believed in God? Did Jesus Christ ever challenge the religious groups of His day? "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Mathew 23:15).

The apostle Paul went into the Jewish synagogues to discuss the scriptures on a frequent basis (Acts 13; 14:1; 17; 18; 19:8 for three months). He would find few recipients today interested in debating the scriptures. Satan has dulled our senses with the frivolities of the world. Conviction has given way to convenience. Self-indulgence hearts are guided by carnal desires. Who has time to talk of the Bible? “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6). These are those days.







Monday, April 16, 2012

The Preacher And His Work




What is a "preacher"? What are the duties of a preacher? What exactly is a preacher supposed to do? Most everyone has a notion or opinion and will readily give it, but what does God say?

The Lord's Herald

There are three terms in the New Testament that describe God's worker known as a preacher. These words are not only descriptive of the worker, but the work God expects of him. These terms are: minister, preacher and evangelist.

"Minister" (Gr. diakonos), means one who serves, a servant. A preacher is a minister or servant of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 4:6). His work is to serve the Lord's Word, the Gospel to all men (Acts 6:4; Rom. 15:16). A "good minister of Jesus Christ" must also "put the brethren in remembrance of these things..." (1 Tim. 4:6). A preacher is to "take heed to the ministry which (he) hast received in the Lord, that (he) fulfill(s) it" (Col. 4:17).

The word "preacher" (Gr. kerux) which means a herald, a public proclaimer from the king who authoritatively declares the king's law to the people which must be obeyed. The Lord authorized (1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11) and sent out His preachers or "heralds" into all the world (Rom. 10:14-18). Their sole work is to proclaim His message, the gospel (2 Tim. 2:1-7; 4:1-5) and only His message (Rom. 10:15; 15:19; Gal. 1:6-10; 1 Thess. 2:9).

An "evangelist" (Gr. euangelistes) is a messenger of good. Christ gave evangelists (Eph. 4:11-12) to bear His good message, the "gospel" which means "good news." Paul warned preachers to "do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (1 Tim. 4:5). A preacher is to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2).

Diverting the Lord's Heralds

The work of a preacher is short and simple in its description, but large and vital in its scope. Men dissatisfied with God's simple work, have devised many other roles and work for their "preachers." By this device, Satan delays, distracts and diverts the important work of the King's royal heralds into a thousand channels. Simply preaching the Word is not sufficient work for preachers, according to some men. As churches have expanded their work and mission beyond what the Lord gave, they have expanded the "job description" a preacher. Preachers are to be pastors or "shepherds" and counselors busy visiting, overseeing and guiding "the flock."

Some want preachers to be caretakers and superintendents, managing and supervising the church building and facilities. This man-made work has become so bloated that in recent years it has been divided up among several specialties: the "Youth Minister," the "Singles Minister," the "Outreach Minister," the "Pulpit Minister" and more.

A gospel preacher is not a "pastor," shepherd, elder or counselor. A pastor is a shepherd, the office of an elder, bishop or overseer. This is a different worker for the Lord with a different work. A pastor's work is to shepherd and oversee the flock, watching for their souls (Acts 20: 17, 28; Heb. 13:17). A preacher appoints men qualified to do the work of a shepherd, he does not do their work, as he has sufficient of his own (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7).

A gospel preacher is not a caretaker of the church property or work. A preacher is not to leave the Word to serve tables, but give himself continually to prayer and serving the Word (Acts 6:1-4).

The Preacher And The Church

Much of the error concerning preachers and their work comes from a wrong view of the relationship of the preacher and the local church. Many consider the preacher as an employee of the church. As such the church is an employer that determines the scope and duties of his work. This view is expressed in the statement: "We pay the preacher and we tell him what to do."

The Lord's command to pay preachers for preaching (1 Cor. 9:14) does not make them church employees. Such support is compared to that of God's priests (1 Cor. 9:13-14). The priests were supported by the people's offerings to the Lord as the Lord's servants, not the peoples' hirelings (Num. 18:1-20).

A preacher is not an employee of any church, but a servant of the Lord (1 Tim. 4:6). He is accountable to the Lord, entrusted to do the Lord's work and not "entangle himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:3-4).

The Scriptural relationship between a preacher and the Christians that support him is that of fellow-workers in the Lord. The Lord commands the preacher to preach the gospel and those who hear him to support him in his work. Together they have "fellowship in the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:6-14; Phil. 1:5-7).



Thursday, April 12, 2012

Think on these things

To have God in our life, doesn't mean sailing on a boat with no storms, it means having a boat that no storm can sink!


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Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be famous; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth.

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Don’t pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.

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Ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.

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A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

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If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.

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One slip does not make a person forever a failure anymore than one good deed makes him a saint forever.





Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Preversion of Romans 14


Preaching the gospel for seven years, I have heard many perversions of Romans Chapter 14. It is a serious thing to pervert any part of the gospel of Christ. Some in the churches of Galatia were perverting the gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:7). Paul warned of the serious consequences of preaching another gospel, other than the one which he preached (Gal. 1:8, 9). We need be careful lest we be accursed for preaching another gospel, other than the one Paul preached in Romans 14.

A Serious Examination Of What He Taught

We are taught to receive the weak brother (Rom. 14:1). This does not mean we are to receive every weak brother. Some weak brethren are to be rejected (Tit. 1:9-14; Tit. 3:10, 11). Others are to be “marked” and “avoided” (Rom. 16:17). The weak brother we are to receive is not a false teacher. He just simply does not understand that we may eat meat (Rom. 14:2). He does not understand that there are some days that may be regarded to the Lord, without sinning; while at the same time it it not necessary to regard these days to the Lord (Rom. 14:5, 6). These are matters of indifference! God does not care one way, or the other. It does not matter with God whether you eat meat or not. God does not care if you want to be a vegetarian, and reject meat altogether. Neither does God care if you want to eat a pork chop, ham, bacon, catfish, or rabbit (I Tim. 4:4, 5). It was wrong under the law of Moses to eat certain meats (Lev. 11). But under the law of Christ, it does not matter. “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17).

We are not to receive the weak brother to “doubtful disputations” (Rom. 14:1). This would mean we are to receive him without disputing with him about things he has doubt about, which doesn’t matter one way or another. If he doubts that he should eat meat, we are not to dispute with him, trying to persuade him to eat meat. There is no need to convert him to our way of thinking, because God doesn’t care whether he eats meat or not. This does not mean we should not dispute with him about things which matter with God, even though he is weak, and has doubts about things. The strong brother, who can eat meat, should not despise the weak brother, who cannot eat meat with a clear conscience (Rom. 14:3). The weak brother, who cannot eat meat with a clear conscience, should not judge (condemn) the strong brother, who can eat meat (Rom. 14:3). He should not condemn him, because “God hath received him” (Rom. 14:3). This principle will apply to any incidental matter. It will apply to any situation where God does not care one way or the other. If God receives and endorses what someone does, I have no right to judge (condemn) that person. I have no right to condemn another person’s servant if his master, or employer, receives him, and does not condemn what he is doing (Rom. 14:4). Therefore, I have no right to condemn a fellow Christian, if God accepts him. However, if God refuses to accept what he is doing, I have not only the right, but the responsibility to condemn him. Paul judged and called upon the Corinthians to judge the brother who had his father’s wife (I Cor. 5:1-5). God receives a man who eats meat, therefore you have no right to judge him. God rejects fornicators, therefore you have a right, and the responsibility to judge them.

We are not to judge and set at nought our brother (Rom. 14:10), because we are all going to stand before the judgement seat of Christ. This statement is to be understood in light of the context in which it is found. This statement applies only to matters that are incidental, where God doesn’t care one way or the other. A man is not to judge, or set at nought a brother for eating meat, or regarding days that God does not care whether you regard or not. However, we should judge a brother for fornication (I Cor. 5), because God cares about whether you commit fornication or not. In verse 13 where Paul says, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way”, he is talking about incidental matters. He is talking about things where God does not care one way or the other. God does not care whether I eat pork or not. Therefore, I should not condemn those who eat pork. Those who eat pork should not despise me for not eating pork. Those who eat pork should not influence the weak brother, who cannot eat pork with a clear conscience, to eat pork, and thus violate his conscience. This would be putting a stumbling block in the weak brother’s way. The weak brother would not be eating with faith, but with doubt (Rom. 14:23), and he that doubts is damned if he eat.

Paul says, “there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean” (Rom. 14:14). He also says, “all things are pure” (Rom. 14:20). The context shows he is talking about meat. He is certainly not saying all things are morally pure and clean. Fornication and homosexuality are not pure and clean, no matter how much a person may esteem them to be. During the Old Testament period certain meats were unclean (Lev. 11). Now, all meats are clean (I Tim. 4:4). However, if you consider certain meats to be unclean, to you they are unclean (Rom. 14:14). If you should eat them, esteeming them to be unclean, you would sin (Rom. 14:23).

The Problem Of Eating Meat In Paul’s Day

The church at Rome was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The Jewish brethren had been taught, all their life, the law of Moses which forbad the eating of certain meats (Lev. 11). It was difficult for them to eat what they considered unclean meats with a clear conscience. The Apostle Peter fell into a trance and saw a vessel let down from heaven with all kinds of unclean creatures in it. There was a voice that came to him, saying “Rise Peter, kill and eat”. Peter responded to this voice by saying, “Not so Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” (Acts 10:10-14). The purpose of this vision was to show Peter that he was to preach to the Gentiles, and that he should not call any man common, or unclean (Acts 10:28). However, God had cleansed meats, and we should not consider any meat unclean (I Tim. 4:3-5). God did not show Peter the vision to convince him to eat meat, because God didn’t care whether Peter ate the unclean animals or not. In fact it would have been wrong for Peter to eat them, because he could not eat them in faith (Rom. 14:23). God was not trying to convince Peter to eat them, and Paul did not dispute with Peter about something Peter had doubt about; trying to convince Peter to eat meats he considered to be unclean. Paul received Peter, but not to doubtful disputation (Rom. 14:1). This is what Romans 14 is about.

Part 2 will be revealed at a later time.





Friday, April 6, 2012

Suggestions For Christian Living


STUDY: -- Upon becoming a Christian we should let God speak to us every day, through His Word. Paul wrote: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." (2 Tim. 2:15).

PRAY: -- Talk to God everyday! Paul wrote: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). Also: "Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:17,18).

BE FAITHFUL: -- It does no good to become a Christian unless one remains a Christian! Jesus said: "...he that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 10:22). Likewise He told the saints at Smyrna, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). Then in Acts 2:42, we learn that the early Christians were steadfast in doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayers. Hence, Christians must be faithful to God in regular worship and in every day life.

BEHAVE: -- In Eph. 4:1 we find Paul imploring church members to: "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called". In other words, Christians must always behave like Christians. One way to accomplish that is by constant and continued self examination. Paul encourages his readers to know themselves. If we will conscientiously judge ourselves we will not be condemned under the judgment of God. (2 Cor. 13:5). He also wrote: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor. 11:31, 32).

ADD TO YOUR FAITH:-- Many have made "shipwreck" of their faith because they did not sustain themselves spiritually after becoming Christians. In thirty years of observation, I have never known an able bodied person, who only attended one service or less per week, who could really be considered faithful! To be faithful is to be active, serving, growing and working. To be faithful is to personally be involved in the spreading of the Gospel, furthering the up building of the church and ever growing as a Christian.

VISIT THE SICK: -- Christian living is a life of love, concern and service to others (Matt. 25:30-34). It is truly more blessed to give than to receive! Jesus went about doing good. And saints are admonished to follow in His footsteps.

ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL: -- (1 Thess. 5:22). In Eph. 5:26,27, we learn that the church is likened unto the bride of Christ. We learn that the bride (the church) is to be glorious, without spot, wrinkle or blemish. The church is made up of Christians. Therefore, if the church is to be pure and without blemish, its members will have to be pure and without blemish. To be a member of the bride of Christ is a great blessing but it carries with it grave responsibilities.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15;58)

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Beating Around The Bush


(A Study of the Excuses of Moses in Exodus 3-4)

A study of Moses' life is fascinating and beneficial, not only by considering his faith, but also by noting his shortcomings. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and commissioned him to go to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom, Moses began to offer up several excuses recorded in Exodus 3-4. These excuses, and God's response, teach valuable lessons for we today who would be tempted to justify ourselves like Moses tried to do. See if any of these sound familiar.

LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. When God instructs Moses of his duty, Moses responds first by asking, "Who am I?" (Exod. 3:11). In effect, Moses was telling God to let someone else take his place. To answer Moses' question, he was the individual to whom God was giving instruction! As we study God's word we need to view His instruction personally, understanding that I have a personal duty before God which cannot be passed off to someone else. Pure and undefiled religion involves my personal attention and faithfulness (James 1:27; 2:14; Gal. 6:10). Many in God's kingdom have been guilty of using this excuse. It didn't impress God when Moses used it. Neither will it when we use it today.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. Moses second excuse to God was, "What shall I say unto them?" (Exod. 3:13-22). In this passage several points are made by God to answer his question. First, Moses was to speak a message of God's authority (vs. 14, 18). He was to speak to God's people, as well as to their enemies (Pharaoh) the commandments of God. All that we say and do today must be by the authority of Christ (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17). Second, Moses was to speak a message of God's deliverance - salvation (vs. 16-17): "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt; and I have said, I will bring you out of the affliction". Our message to sinful man is one of salvation. Today, God will bring man out of the affliction of sin, to which he is in bondage (Rom. 7:24; John 8:32; Mk. 16:16). Third, Moses was to speak a message of duty (vs. 18): "And they shall hearken to thy voice..." His message demanded a response; those who heard had a duty to obey. Christians have a duty to steadfastly labor in God's kingdom (John 9:4; 1 Cor. 15:58). The sinner has a duty to obey the gospel of Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Fourth, Moses was to speak a message of judgment (vs. 19-20): "And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof..." When Paul preached Christ to Felix and Drusilla, he reasoned with them concerning "...the judgment to come" (Acts 24:25). Today, we must warn of God's judgment and the eternal consequences to those unprepared (2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:46). Fifth, Moses was to speak a message of victory (21-22): "And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians ... and ye shall despoil the Egyptians." Because Jesus was victorious over Satan by His resurrection from the dead, He has given us assurance of this same victory (Acts 17:31). Our message to the world is one of victory, as we "show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9). The next time you want to use the excuse, "I don't know what to say," think of Moses.

IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD. Moses said, "they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice" (4:1-9). Moses' problem in pre-judging how others would respond was in the fact that he left God out of the equation. God showed him that His great power would be with him in the miracles he would perform. Today, many are similarly guilty of pre-judging that people will not believe - they are either "too old" or "too young"; "too educated" or "not educated enough"; "too busy" or "too lazy"; etc. We must remember, though we cannot work miracles (1 Cor. 13:8), we have God's power unto salvation in the gospel we preach and teach (Rom. 1:16). To use this excuse is actually a reflection on God. It says that He cannot accomplish with His word what He has purposed. Remember, God's word does not return to Him void (Isa. 55:10-11).

I CAN'T. "I am not eloquent ... I am slow of speech..." (4:10-17). Moses was looking at this all wrong. Accomplishing God's purposes in his life didn't depend on his own strength and abilities, but on God working in him. The unbelief of the ten spies Moses would later send into Canaan illustrates this same problem (Num. 13:25-33). If they had remembered God was with them, like Joshua and Caleb did, it would not have mattered how big the giants were - God is bigger! Paul understood that whatever good accomplished by his service in God's kingdom was not of himself, but by God being with him: "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6). God continues to work through those who trustingly surrender to serve God (Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Thess. 2:13).

The fact that we have limitations, even handicaps, does not mean that God cannot use us. Though Moses had a problem speaking, God gave him his brother Aaron to speak for him. How many today use this excuse because they focus on their weaknesses instead of their strengths. Can't speak? Then give someone a Bible tract or a copy of last Sunday's sermon. Can't go? Then mail someone a tract, cd, Bible correspondence course, or give someone a word of encouragement on the telephone. There is work that we all can do.

In conclusion, remember how Jesus condemned the use of excuses to justify oneself in not doing God's will (Luke 14:15-23). They won't carry any weight on judgment day either (Matt. 7:21-23; 25:44-45). May we have ears to hear.