“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)

It helps me to think of myself as standing on a mechanical platform that can be raised or lowered.  This platform is located in a room with a ceiling.  At times I may want the platform to be raised further, but my head would hit the ceiling.  By crouching down, I accommodate more room for the platform to raise me higher.  If I try to raise myself up without first humbling myself, my head will encounter immediate resistance from the ceiling.  So too, God resists the proud.

It is powerful to remember that there is a difference between me humbling myself and God doing it for me.  The repeated promise of Scripture is that if I humble myself, God will lift me up.  However if God humbles me, there is no such expectation.  Knowing that God resists the proud and abases the self-exalted confirms to me that I will be humbled one way or another.  I must choose to humble myself if I hope for any usefulness for God to come out of my moment of humbling.

Pastor Paul Gibbesh

Somehow, though, things went sideways.  Saul got too big for his britches, and before he knew it he had burst an embarrassing seam.  I’m talking about the Amalekites.  Saul had made his share of messes before, but this was the worst yet.  God had told Saul to destroy the Amalekites.  He even commanded the destruction of all they owned.  If you know the story, you remember that Saul didn’t do what he was told.  First mistake?  God said to utterly destroy them all, but Saul decided that he could revise the battle plan.  There were captives to be taken, and great spoil that only needed to be carried home.  So he did.

Do you know what Saul’s biggest problem was?  He had a pet.  I call it the five-eyed-monster: pride.  Saul started to think that he was something special.  He thought that nobody could or should dictate to him how he should rule the kingdom.  After all, he had everything under control, didn’t he?  Perhaps Saul’s raging pride problem can be best seen in his statement about the praise David received.  The ladies sang “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  Saul responded, “What can he have more but the kingdom.” (1 Samuel 18:7-8)  The most important thing in his life was his position, and the second thing was that people sing songs about how wonderful he was.  Have you ever had someone write a song about your exploits?  No?  Me neither.

Saul’s situation came to a head when the prophet Samuel arrived after the battle with the Amalekites and rebuked him for his disobedience.  The message was this: “The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.” (1 Samuel 15:28)  Saul thought he was God’s gift to Israel, but that day he found out that he was not irreplaceable.  In fact, in spite of his exalted view of himself, God said that He had somebody better to take his place.

But what about us?  Do we ever get to the place in our lives and ministries that we start to think that things will fall apart without us?  Do we think that everything depends on our personal strength and charisma?  Let us remember that nobody is a bigshot to God.  Keep in mind that nobody is so much of a bigshot that they cannot be replaced.  Truly, the more we become a bigshot, the more we need to be replaced.

“… God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”  James 4:6

Pastor Paul Gibbesh

As I read the Gospel records of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am often struck by the way our Lord responded to the questions and teachings of the Pharisees.  I find them one of the most striking groups in the time of Christ’s ministry.  I sometimes wonder how we would see them if they existed in our day under a more respectable moniker.

It fascinates me that the people in that day who had a reputation for knowing and revering the Scriptures above anyone else were the ones whom Jesus most virulently condemned.  These were the people who had the highest standard of behaviour among God’s people, Israel.  They would be viewed as the ultra-conservative.  Fundamentalist Jews, if you will.  They were passionate about standards of behaviour, dress, and cleanliness.  They expended great efforts in proselytizing even if it was only to have one convert who would join them.  And having accomplished that, they would succeed also in reshaping his life into the same respectable standard that they espoused.  What great energy exerted in fashioning their lives into a nearly flawless image!

Yet Christ warned His disciples not to be like them.  Imagine a Christian who looked like they never did anything wrong, dressed right, acted right, and went to great lengths to bring people to church.  We’d be shocked if Christ showed up and said, “Watch out for that guy!  Do not be like him.”  Yet there is a huge danger in conformity instead of conversion.  The adorning of our outwardness is not as vital as the hidden man of the heart.  Many of the things the Pharisees were doing were outwardly good, but inwardly vile because of a wrong heart.  Don’t think you’re so special just because everybody else does!  Let us come to God and say “search… and see if there be any wicked way in me.”  O Lord, when you look deep inside may my inner man not show Pharisee, but a disciple!

Pastor Paul Gibbesh

-Nathan D. Jones, Rankin Inlet, NU, Canada

As a fellow church planter/missionary, I agree wholeheartedly with Bro. Jones.  We also have felt the need and seen the benefits of doing it the Bible way.  Consider it!  YOU could be his answer to prayer!

• Let your supreme motive be to increase your own popularity — then, of course, your preaching will be suited for that purpose, and not to convert souls to Christ.

• Avoid preaching doctrines that are offensive to the carnal mind, lest they should say to you, as they did to Christ, “This is a hard saying, who can hear it?”

• Make no distinct points, and do not disturb the consciences of your hearers, lest they become alarmed about their souls.

• Avoid all illustrations, repetitions, and emphatic sentences that may compel your people to remember what you say.

• Avoid all heat and earnestness in your delivery, lest you make the impression that you really believe what you say.

• Address the emotions, and not the conscience, of your hearers.

• Be careful not to testify from your own experiences of the power of the Gospel, lest you should produce the conviction upon your hearers that you have something which they need.

• Do not awaken uncomfortable memories by reminding your listeners of their past sins.

• Denounce sin in general, but make no reference to the specific sins of your present audience.

• Do not make the impression that God commands your listeners here and now to obey the truth.  Do not let them think that you expect them to commit themselves right on the spot to give their hearts to God.

• Leave the impression that they are expected to go away in their sins, and to consider the matter at their convenience.

• Dwell much upon their inability to obey, and leave the impression that they must wait for God to change their natures.

• Preach salvation by grace, but ignore the condemned and lost condition of the sinner, lest he should understand what you mean by grace, and feel his need of it.

• Preach the Gospel as a remedy, but conceal or ignore the fatal disease of the sinner.

• Do not speak of the spirituality of God’s holy law (by which comes the knowledge of sin), lest the sinner should see his lost condition and flee from the wrath to come.

• Make no appeals to the fears of sinners, but leave the impression that they have no reason to fear.

• Preach Christ as an infinite amiable and good-natured being, but ignore those scathing rebukes of sinners and hypocrites which so often made his hearers tremble.

• Admit, either obviously or casually, that all men have some moral goodness in them, lest sinners should understand that they need a radical change of heart, from sin to holiness.

• Say so little of hell that your people will think that you do not believe in its existence yourself.

• Make the impression that, if God is as good as you are, He could not send anyone to hell.

• Make no disagreeable references to the teachings of self denial, cross bearing, and crucifixion to the world, lest you should convict and convert some of your church members.

• Do not rebuke the worldly tendencies of the church, lest you should hurt their feelings, and finally convert some of them.

• Do not rebuke extravagance in dress, lest you should make an uncomfortable impression on your vain and worldly church members.

• Encourage lots of church socials, and attend them yourself.

• Make it your great aim to be personally popular with all classes of your hearers.

• Aim to make your hearers pleased with themselves and pleased with you, and be careful especially not to wound the feelings of anyone.

• Especially avoid preaching to those who are present.  Preach about sinners, but not to them.  Say “they,” and not “you,” lest anyone should take your subject personally and apply it to their own life, securing the salvation of their soul.

(With thanks to David Harness Jr.  Nice Find!)

1. A fire needs dry wood suitable for burning.  It is difficult to burn green, unseasoned wood.  Likewise, it is difficult for a church to be warm toward each other and God without a certain amount of Christian maturity. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul tells the church at Corinth that they were carnal, baby Christians whose lack of maturity was shown in their divisions and lack of love one toward another.   1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2. A fire needs a solid base.  One of the most effective means of starting fires is to use several larger sticks as a base.  This provides insulation from cold or wet ground, and serves as a reflector to intensify the heat. Colossians 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
3. Fires need progressively larger fuel.  It is imperative as a church that we never forget that the grand doctrines are built on simple faith, and simple facts.  It is also essential that we not forget the new Christians, who often follow Christ quickly but burn out without assistance from others.  Yet at the same time, we must keep learning. Hebrews 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Are we growing, or are we content with where we are?
4. Fires need wood in close proximity to each other.  To burn properly, firewood must be close to each other.  In practice, sticks need to be laid about one inch apart.  That way, the fire warms several sticks at the same time, and as one starts to burn, it intensifies the burning of its neighbour.  In our personal relationships, how close are we to other members of the church?  Are we trying to keep a fire hot on our own, or are we getting involved in other’s lives, helping them to burn brighter?  1 Corinthians 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. It is imperative that members of a church are involved in each other’s lives on a regular basis.  Interaction at services is NOT enough!  We need to emulate the disciples in Acts 2:44-46, who were visiting each other, eating together, and sharing all things.  Build relationships beyond the pews.
5. A fire must have an adequate air supply. Just as a fire must have sufficient air, so the Christian and the church must have great quantities of the Spirit of God.   We can become so concerned with external forms that we quench the Spirit of God.  Standards, order, and structure are important, yet without the moving of “God’s breath”, the fire will smoke and smother itself.
6. The best campfires are built within reflecting walls.  Without stretching the analogy too much, the best heart-fires are built within the walls of the church.  Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

As I watched the video I began to notice less and less of the song, and more and more of the situation of its performance. I saw that those who were in attendance at that concert were a large multitude. I would venture to guess that there were quite likely tens of thousands of people. As I watched this vast host they sang along with the song, and many seemed to have a great deal of enthusiasm. In their excitement many were jumping and waving their arms; all were on their feet.

I looked at this mass of people with their voices and bodies shouting of the power and passion of our God. I began to think of the power of influence such a group of people could have for Christ if their passion for God was expressed in actions. I have no desire to decipher their motives or judge their hearts. As a man I only look on the outward appearance, while the Lord looks on their hearts. But if I had even a thousand Christians who had absolutely, unreservedly sold themselves as bondslaves to Christ, I could not begin to imagine what might be done. Why is it that so many people in our churches today manage so much enthusiasm in church while we live day-to-day in such spiritual barrenness? How is it that we as Christians can justify receiving God’s blessings when we do so little with them? Do we have a real relationship or are we just trying to “fake it until we make it?” If we are going to talk it, we should walk it! If we are going to sing it, we should bring it! If we are going to say it, we should pay it! Talk is cheap, and faith without works is dead. My heart is greatly burdened by the full mouths and empty lives I so often see. Are we living in faith expressed in action, or is it just false fire that we have laid on the altar instead?

Pastor Paul Gibbesh

Ezekiel 22:30  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

To those who study the sorry state of Christianity in this land, these verses are painfully appropriate.   The news in Christian circles is constantly full of leaders who have fallen.  Almost daily I read the sad news of some fellow-soldier who has weakened, to say nothing of the hundreds who never make the news, or the thousands of Christians who daily lay down their arms and retreat from the fight.  As a fellow soldier of the Cross, I feel compelled to ask you to stay in the fight for these reasons.

We are in a war. To most Christians, spiritual battle is about as real as the war in Afghanistan.  We read about it, but have never truly experienced it.  But to those who will surrender their wills and fully enlist in God’s service, the battle is intense and constant.  Hebrews 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. We are in a bloody battle, don’t forget it. The only way out is surrender or victory!

War requires sacrifice. I am reminded of the battle recorded in 1Sam 14, where there Jonathan attacks the Philistines on his own.  But there were also 600 men doing nothing(v.2 Lazy), Hebrews fighting on the Philistine’s side (v.21 Traitors),  and men hiding in the mountain (v.22 Cowards).  Out of thousands of men, only Jonathan and his armour-bearer were willing to sacrifice their lives to win.  It is much the same today.  There are many who claim Christ, but few who bear His cross.  There are many who will sing, but few who will serve.  And there are many who have surrendered to the enemy, but almost no one who will sacrifice for Christ.  Christian, what class are you in? Traitor, coward, lazy, or Sacrificial Servant? If you are not the latter, repent and join in the fight!

War’s require reinforcement. Casualties are a fact of war, and in the spiritual war, there are always soldiers who go AWOL, have self-inflicted wounds, or are ambushed by Satan.  And as the ranks thin, the pressure on those remaining increases.  There is an ever present and always increasing need for skilled, sacrificing servants of God to join the battle.  I beg you; let nothing deter you from putting on the whole armour of God.  Let nothing stop your service for Christ.  Decide right now that you will be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3-4  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Christian, the gap is widening.  Will you step into the fight?

Pastor Charles Hollingsworth

And what is it about Calvinism that is so attractive? Interesting to note that the ESV is Calvinist “Flavoured”.  Since when do we flavour Bibles?!!  Oh, right… since about 1881.

Try flavouring your life with the Scripture, and what happens then!