The Prophet Cries Aloud
The following was a post by Jack Woodard on Facebook. It is so true:
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.” [Isaiah 58:1]
“Preach the Word; be instant (diligent) in season, out of season…” [2 Timothy 4:2]True Prophets never wait to be asked for a comment when it comes to the sins of their people and their Nation, they are quick to make sure the Lord’s Authoritative Voice is heard. America should not be waiting on a Prophet to cry out against the open and blatant sins and sinners among us. There is no more pitiful sight than to see our Nation overrun with Bold Sinners and our Pulpits filled with Timid Preachers.
~Jack Woodard
Preach it Jack.
T.A.
The Sin Offering
The following is from BibleGateway.com
‘If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish, unto the Lord for a sin offering.’ Leviticus 4:3
Those who would preach Christ, but not Christ crucified, miss the very soul and essence of our holy faith. ‘Let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him,’ is the Unitarian cry. Anything but a crucified God. But there, indeed, lies the secret of that mystery, and the very core and kernel of our confidence. A reigning Saviour I do rejoice in: the thought of the splendour yet to come makes glad our eyes; but after all, it is a bleeding Saviour that is the sinner’s hope. It is to the cross, the centre of misery, that the sinner turns his eyes for comfort rather than to the stars of Bethlehem, or to the blazing sun of the millennial kingdom. I remember one joining this church, who said, ‘Sir, I had faith once in Christ glorified, but it never gave me comfort: I have now come to a faith in Christ crucified, and I have peace.’ At Calvary there is the comfort, and there only. That Jesus lives is delightful; but the basis of the delight is, ‘He lives who once was slain.’ That he will reign for ever is a most precious doctrine of our faith, but that the hand that wields the silver sceptre, once was pierced, is the great secret of the joy. O beloved, abide not in any place from which your eye cannot behold the cross of Christ. When you are thinking of the doctrines of the gospel, or the precepts of the Word, or studying the prophecies of Scripture, never let your mind relinquish the study of the cross. The cross was the place of your spiritual birth; it must ever be the spot for renewing your health, for it is the sanatorium of every sin-sick soul. The blood is the true balm of Gilead; it is the only catholicon [remedy] which heals every spiritual disease.
From a sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle #739, March 10 (1867)
Preacher, we ought always preach the cross of Christ.
-T.A.
A Challenge to Pastors
It is, I believe, a very important thing that we as pastors lead our people to know God through knowing His Word. There is far too much ignorance of Scripture in our churches; and some of that responsibility lies on the steps of her leadership.
Do you read the Bible daily, or do you just study it to prepare for sermons? I can tell you that if you do not spend time reading to learn the word; your preaching will not matter much; for you or your people.
My challenge is this. Start today, or as soon as possible to endeavor to read through the Bible in 90 days. You can do it by reading 14 chapters per day, leaving you some room for being short of time a few days. It will bless your life, your ministry and your preaching.
If you want to know God; you must begin by hearing His Word. Begin in Genesis and read through Revelation in 90 days.
Join me.
-T.A.
Ignorant Preachers
It is a shame that professing Christians are ignorant of God’s Word. Sometimes it amazes me how ignorant some preachers are concerning the Word of God. I do not mean to belittle or be derogatory with them, or toward them, but come on men; what do we preach? Our ignorance of Scripture is a personal detriment; as well as great harm to those we lead. There is no shame in ignorance, just in choosing to remain ignorant. That is stupidity.
-Tim A. Blankenship
What the Preacher has to Say
There are some who have much to say but say little biblically. There are some who build up the hearts of men with their words, but build not up the heart of God with His Word. Then, there are those who are like Jeremiah who heard the LORD speak,
“Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Jeremiah 1:7
Consider this before you enter the sacred desk next time.
What does the preacher have to say? Only the Word of God; nothing else.
-T.A.
Preachers; Particularly Baptist Preachers
Be careful not to water down the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same blood of Jesus that was shed on His cross, that saved then, still saves today. The Gospel, nor the Word of God has changed one dot or tittle since the day it was given.
“Preach the Word. Be instant; in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”. 2 Timothy 4:2
-T.A.
Jesus: In The Beginning
Jesus: In the Beginning
John 1:1-5
There are a lot of voices today saying things concerning Jesus; and many of them don’t know the real Jesus. To many Jesus was only a good teacher, a prophet, a good man, or a good example to follow. To others he never really existed; he is kind of like the legend of king Arthur; leaving a question or questions of like, “Did he really exist, or is he just folklore and legend?”
According to many scholars, historians, archeologists and others there is more evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, His life, death, burial, and resurrection; than there is for the existence of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The purpose of this message is not to present these evidences, but to just take what John the apostle wrote as fact, and present it as truth, the truth of God; and let God speak for Himself.
INTRODUCTION -
The writer of the notes in the PILGRIM STUDY BIBLE says, “Words reveal thoughts and character; and just so the Lord Jesus expressed God’s thought and showed us what God is like.”
Jesus is introduced to us in the beginning of John’s Gospel as the Word. We are told by John that “the Word became flesh and dwelt amon us…” In chapter 12:20-21 there were some Greeks who had come to a feast of Israel. They came to Phillip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” That is what I pray we get from this message from the Gospel of John.
If the world could get a clear picture of Jesus, and follow Him, it would help us all. The following story gives us the wisdom of a child;
“One day a father was sitting in his easy chair enjoying reading the daily paper. His young daughter came up to him saying, ‘Daddy will you play house with me?’ He would say, ‘Not now sweetheart. I am reading the paper rightenow. Please go a play without me.’ His daughter was persistent, though and kept coming back. Finally, after seveal approaches by the girl the father took a page of the peaper with a picture of the world on it, tore it into several pieces and gave it to her saying, ‘Here, see how long it takes you to put the pieces of the world together like a puzzle.’ She took that page and was gone a very short time, and returned to her father, and said, ‘Daddy, I got it all put together.’ He looked at the page, and asked her, ‘You finished so quickly. How did you do that?’ Her response was one that really should have an influence on us all. ‘Daddy’, she said, ‘There is a picture of Jesus on the back of the page, and when I got Jesus together the world came together too.”
John has some favorite words – “Life”, “love”, “witness”, “believe”, “truth, “know”, “light”, “darkness”, “world”, and “flesh”. you will notice these words in the reading of the gospel and his other writings.
“Jesus Christ as the Eternal Word is a revelation of God to man.” KJV BIBLE COMMENTARY
None of the Gospels are more clear on the Deity of Jesus Christ than is John’s Gospel.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:1-5 (KJV)
OUTLINE:
I. JESUS IS THE IMAGE AND REPRESENTATION OF GOD (v. 1; Hebrews 1:3).
II. JESUS IS THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD (v. 2; Colossians 2:9).
III. JESUS IS THE LIFE AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD (v. 3-4, 3:19; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:1-3).
IV. JESUS IS THAT LIGHT WHICH DISPELLS THE DARKNESS (v. 5; 8:12; 12:46; Ephesians 5:8)
JESUS IS THE IMAGE OF AND REPRESENTATION OF GOD.
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)
He as the Living Word was creating from the beginning of all things (Genesis 1:1). A person’s words reveal their character, their hearts, their thoughts. You can trust God’s Word. In God’s case His Word is His character.
Jesus as the Living Word is revealed seven times in the first chapter of Genesis. In verses 3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, and 26 it reads, “And God said…”. What God said was His Word was going forth creating. All things that are were made by His Word – the Word who “was made flesh”.
Let’s hear what Jesus said of Himself;
“Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.” John 8:19 (KJV)
“Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:57-58 (KJV),
and who is “I Am”?
“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:13-14 (KJV)
JESUS IS THE FULNESS OF ALL THE GODHEAD – SO HE WAS WITH HIM AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN WITH HIM.
“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9).
The Scriptures tell us that “God is Spirit” meaning, basically, that we cannot see God. “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)
God in His love revealed Himself to us through His Son Jesus who is the Living Word. When we see Jesus we see the Father. When we hear the words of Jesus we hear the words of the Father. When we trust Jesus we trust the Father.
JESUS IS THE LIFE AND LIGHT TO THE WORLD. The implication is that the world is in darkness and in need of light. In the beginning God gave light for the earth. Where did the light come from? God is the light of the world. Jesus later said, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5) The light was divided from darkness. One thing we must realize is, that, where there is light is no darkness at all.
Darkness is a way of hiding all that is evil and evil evidently does not realize that nothing is hid from God.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19 (KJV)
Jesus is the light that shines in darkness, and darkness cannot overcome His light. The world and the devil may think He is defeated. We hear reports of Christianity slipping in growth, yet those who genuinely trust Jesus Christ are growing and the Body of Christ is still strong, and growing in faith; knowing that the return of Jesus Christ is soon.
The devil, that ole serpent, knows he has been defeated; but has many convinced that the battle has not yet been decided. Anyone believing that is a fool, and pawn of evil. The cross of Christ and His resurrection is the sure sign that the battle for the souls of men, has been won, and Jesus Christ is the Victor. Light has overcome the darkness.
JESUS IS THAT LIGHT WHICH DISPELLS DARKNESS – HE DRIVES IT AWAY. Who ever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness, but in the light.
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12 (KJV)
People who walk with Jesus will not abide in darkness – we are of the light, because He is the Light.
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46 (KJV)
When you are trusting Jesus, walking with Him, He drives all the darkness away; or will walk with you through it (Psalm 23:4). If you are having a dark moment in your life, just look to Jesus, the One who endured the darkness of the cross for all our sin. Paul tells us to walk as children of the light.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…” Ephesians 5:8 (KJV)
SUMMARY -
i. To see God just look upon Jesus.
ii. Everything God is; Jesus is: Everything Jesus is God is.
iii. Where Jesus is there is no darkness at all.
iv. In the presence of Jesus there is no need for fear, unless you are on the wrong end of his judgment.
-T.A.
This is a sermon outline preached by Tim A. Blankenship at Carr Lane Baptist Church on October 02, 2011
Enemies of the Cross
Enemies of the Cross
Philippians 3:17-21
1. Paul addresses the brethren of Phillipi.
2. Paul as a “pattern” in example.
3. Weeping for the enemies of the cross.
4. Heavenly citizenship.
5. The enemy will be conquered.
I. THE BRETHREN ARE TO FOLLOW PAUL’S EXAMPLE (v. 17).
II. BEWARE THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST AND WEEP (vv. 18-19).
III. OUR EARTHLY AND OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIPS (v. 20).
IV. A TRANSFORMATION AND CONFORMATION (v. 21)
i. We are to be an example for those who will come after us;
ii. Let us be defenders of the cross, living for Christ;
iii. Live as citizens of Heaven;
iv. Live as though the Kingdom is already come.
-T.A.
This is the sermon outline for the Sunday morning message at Carr Lane Baptist Church on 09/25/11.
