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VOLUME XXVII I FEBRUARY 23, 2009 #08
“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” (Eph. 4:19 NIV)
What a perfect description of those who make so many of our TV programs today and those who are addicted to them! “Lost all sensitivity! Given to sensuality! Indulging in every kind of impurity! Continually lusting for more!” One might think this was written in 2009 rather than so long ago! What a barren wasteland is so much of TV programming! What cesspools of filth so many of the sitcoms! What a tragedy that such a wonderful means of communication has been so largely misused for evil!
“Can Christians own and watch TV?” Some entire denominations forbid it, as do many individual pastors and evangelists. But one would be hard put to find a “Thus saith the Lord” in the Bible for the wholesale elimination of TV. But that being said, one does not have to stretch for scriptures which would warn believers away from much shown on TV. Consider for instance:
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them… Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” (Eph. 5:3-7, 11-12 NIV)
What we feed our eyes and minds with is what we eventually become. We cannot sit watching hours of unmitigated corruption without being affected by it. To patronize filthy programs and movies is to “be partners with” those who write them, speak them, and act them out—and that is something God forbids us to do! With such things we are to have nothing to do! We are not only not to indulge our eyes, minds, and imaginations in them, we are commanded not even to mention them!
As TV programming (commercials included!) continues to deteriorate morally we disciples of Jesus must become more selective in what we watch and allow in our homes! After all, we are “God’s holy people!”
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
“GOOD COMMUNICATION!”
“Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.”
(II Timothy 4:2)
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!... Let these words sink down into your ears…” (Luke 8:8, 9:44)
When it comes to Bible preaching there are two responsibilities, one belonging to the preacher and one to those listening.
There is a popular way of preaching and there is a better way. Some preachers read their sermons verbatim in the pulpit, but is that effective?
The story is told of a beginning preacher in a rural Scottish church. After the morning message an old farmer bluntly said to the young man, “I didn’t like your sermon for three reasons. In the first place, your read your sermon, and I don’t like read sermons. In the second place, you didn’t read it well, and if I must have a read sermon, I like it to be well read. In the third place, there wasn’t nothing worth reading in it anyway!”
The perfectly natural way for a message to be delivered is in a forthright, eye-to-eye, hear-to-heart extemporaneous manner. Let the Gospel be proclaimed with enthusiasm, sincerity, and proper decorum. Let it be stated in as fresh and original way as possible. Let the messenger leave self out of sight, be humble, but unapologetic. He represents the Lord!
The entire burden of communication does not rest upon the speaker. Those in the congregation have a duty to listen attentively, thoughtfully, and respectfully. Jesus urges us to “let His words sink down into our ears”, i.e., to listen deeply, intelligently. How many of us do? How easy it is to simply drift off in a dozen different directions during a bible School lesson or the Sunday sermon!—and then go home unmoved and unhelped, or complaining about a boring speaker! Wouldn’t things go differently if we prayerfully prepare and carefully concentrate when God’s precious Word is read and expounded?
The Word of God deserves our best!—Our best delivery when we teach or preach it!—Our best attention as we listen to it! May we give it!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
(II Timothy 4:2)
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!... Let these words sink down into your ears…” (Luke 8:8, 9:44)
When it comes to Bible preaching there are two responsibilities, one belonging to the preacher and one to those listening.
There is a popular way of preaching and there is a better way. Some preachers read their sermons verbatim in the pulpit, but is that effective?
The story is told of a beginning preacher in a rural Scottish church. After the morning message an old farmer bluntly said to the young man, “I didn’t like your sermon for three reasons. In the first place, your read your sermon, and I don’t like read sermons. In the second place, you didn’t read it well, and if I must have a read sermon, I like it to be well read. In the third place, there wasn’t nothing worth reading in it anyway!”
The perfectly natural way for a message to be delivered is in a forthright, eye-to-eye, hear-to-heart extemporaneous manner. Let the Gospel be proclaimed with enthusiasm, sincerity, and proper decorum. Let it be stated in as fresh and original way as possible. Let the messenger leave self out of sight, be humble, but unapologetic. He represents the Lord!
The entire burden of communication does not rest upon the speaker. Those in the congregation have a duty to listen attentively, thoughtfully, and respectfully. Jesus urges us to “let His words sink down into our ears”, i.e., to listen deeply, intelligently. How many of us do? How easy it is to simply drift off in a dozen different directions during a bible School lesson or the Sunday sermon!—and then go home unmoved and unhelped, or complaining about a boring speaker! Wouldn’t things go differently if we prayerfully prepare and carefully concentrate when God’s precious Word is read and expounded?
The Word of God deserves our best!—Our best delivery when we teach or preach it!—Our best attention as we listen to it! May we give it!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"THE INDWELLING SPIRIT!"
“But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Roman 8:9).
“Once more we are reminded that to be “in the flesh” does not refer to being in the physical body. It is the contrast with being “in the Spirit.” These are antithetical one to the other. Yet the Spirit does dwell in or abide in the body as in a living organism. “Do you not know that your body is the sanctuary of the indwelling Spirit, and the Spirit is God’s gift to you?” (I Cor. 6:19). We must abide in the body to provide a temple for the Holy Spirit, but we dare not be “in the flesh”, that is, on the lower level of the human nature. That is the plane in which sin rules as a tyrant and moral anarchy is the order of life.
“Thus, the Spirit is said to dwell or abide in us. This is not a brief stay by a passing friend, but tenantry for life, or so long as we permit. The proof that we are living on the higher plane of spiritual existence is the indwelling Spirit. God moves into a meaningful personal relationship with us on the upper level and rules over our life! The dominance of sin is broken! It has no more claim upon the members of our body! We are set free by the grace of God!”
(W. Carl Ketcherside – Adapted).
Through the indwelling of the Spirit of God Jesus Christ comes to live and rule in our lives. The body we lived in before conversion is still the body we live in as Christians. But it must be cleansed, remodeled, and brought into submission and conformity to the will of the new King. If we are to enjoy to the fullest the blessings of faith and the glory of Heaven we will want to be thoroughly new creatures in Christ!
The Spirit of Christ is in us to carry out this great renovation project, the bringing us to completeness, maturity, and perfection. He provides for us, according to the promises of Scripture, the comfort, encouragement, power, joy, incentive, conviction, companionship, love, fellowship, wisdom, and every essential personal quality (“the fruit of the Spirit”) contributing to our perfection and our happiness. As sin is eliminated in us, holiness and godliness replaces it!
What a great gift – the presence of God, the reigning of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit! May we ever cherish it!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
“Once more we are reminded that to be “in the flesh” does not refer to being in the physical body. It is the contrast with being “in the Spirit.” These are antithetical one to the other. Yet the Spirit does dwell in or abide in the body as in a living organism. “Do you not know that your body is the sanctuary of the indwelling Spirit, and the Spirit is God’s gift to you?” (I Cor. 6:19). We must abide in the body to provide a temple for the Holy Spirit, but we dare not be “in the flesh”, that is, on the lower level of the human nature. That is the plane in which sin rules as a tyrant and moral anarchy is the order of life.
“Thus, the Spirit is said to dwell or abide in us. This is not a brief stay by a passing friend, but tenantry for life, or so long as we permit. The proof that we are living on the higher plane of spiritual existence is the indwelling Spirit. God moves into a meaningful personal relationship with us on the upper level and rules over our life! The dominance of sin is broken! It has no more claim upon the members of our body! We are set free by the grace of God!”
(W. Carl Ketcherside – Adapted).
Through the indwelling of the Spirit of God Jesus Christ comes to live and rule in our lives. The body we lived in before conversion is still the body we live in as Christians. But it must be cleansed, remodeled, and brought into submission and conformity to the will of the new King. If we are to enjoy to the fullest the blessings of faith and the glory of Heaven we will want to be thoroughly new creatures in Christ!
The Spirit of Christ is in us to carry out this great renovation project, the bringing us to completeness, maturity, and perfection. He provides for us, according to the promises of Scripture, the comfort, encouragement, power, joy, incentive, conviction, companionship, love, fellowship, wisdom, and every essential personal quality (“the fruit of the Spirit”) contributing to our perfection and our happiness. As sin is eliminated in us, holiness and godliness replaces it!
What a great gift – the presence of God, the reigning of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit! May we ever cherish it!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Monday, February 2, 2009
"The Prayer that Would Have Been Prayed..."
“THE PRAYER THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN PRAYED…”
For those who are following the “Roanoke City Council Prayer Controversy” you will recall that I had been invited to give the invocation for the February 2 Roanoke City Council Meeting. But because two other ministers recently prayed “in the Name of the Son of God” and “in the Name of Jesus Christ” (Sherman Lea and Harold Sumner), there was some doubt as to whether the City Council would permit anyone else to pray in Jesus’ Name. I was told by telephone that an official prayer policy was being formulated and all future prayers must conform to it.
The official prayer policy has been put in place. I received a letter from Stephanie Moon, City Clerk (January 22, 2009) stating: “This policy is the result of the city’s commitment to showcase the rich diversity found in Roanoke. Inasmuch as the invocation is an official part of every Council meeting and is listed on the agenda and is delivered as part of the opening ceremony, along with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, all invocations delivered by the clergy must be nonsectarian in nature, and should not be used to advance a particular religion or to disparage another faith or belief, but offer a time of reflection and encouragement.”
I telephoned Stephanie Moon for clarification. I asked her if this meant that the Name of Jesus could not be used in the invocation. She said that is what it means. I then told her that if I could not conscientiously comply with that policy, does that mean my invitation to have the February 2 City Council invocation has been rescinded, taken away and refused? She said, yes, that is the case. I reminded her that this is a denial of my Constitutional Rights of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. She very cheerfully said, yes, she knew that!
Since I had already prepared my prayer thoughts for the City Council invocation (following Sherman Lea’s censure in the media, but before Harold Sumner’s repeat performance), I thought it might be of some interest to share this prayer. Here is “the Prayer That Would Have Been Prayed”.
“O, Lord, there seems to be a lot of controversy lately about whether it is right for Christians to pray to you, the Christian’s God, for our government leaders. But actually, we have been commanded by You to do just that in the words of the inspired Apostle Paul: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2).
“So therefore we do today pray for these who lead our city, that You will bless them each one and their families with good health and long life, and that You will grant them the wisdom, self-control, and patient endurance to conduct the affairs of this city and its citizens in a right, fair, and honest way. Our forefathers and –mothers, those
who established this nation, these states and cities, called upon You and acknowledged Your divine leading in this great experiment in democracy and freedom, and we believe it is right for us to do so, also.
“Dear Heavenly Father, You have heard the question raised by some of whether it is right for Christians to pray publicly in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; but we can only reply to those who would silence us as did the First Century believers when commanded not to speak in the Name of Jesus, who said, “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, You judge… We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 4:19; 5:29).
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Stephanie Moon stated in our conversation that the city will be sued at law if Jesus’ Name appears in any more City Council invocations. Of course, there is always a “bottom line”!
Fortunately we do not have to have a City Council Meeting in order to pray for our city officials! We can always do so privately and in our Churches (so far). Let us do so! And, following our Lord’s commands, let us also pray for those who have made us their enemies for His sake—the A.C.L.U., the atheists, humanists, pagans, cults, false Christians, and those who put money before principle!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
WOULD HAVE BEEN PRAYED…”
For those who are following the “Roanoke City Council Prayer Controversy” you will recall that I had been invited to give the invocation for the February 2 Roanoke City Council Meeting. But because two other ministers recently prayed “in the Name of the Son of God” and “in the Name of Jesus Christ” (Sherman Lea and Harold Sumner), there was some doubt as to whether the City Council would permit anyone else to pray in Jesus’ Name. I was told by telephone that an official prayer policy was being formulated and all future prayers must conform to it.
The official prayer policy has been put in place. I received a letter from Stephanie Moon, City Clerk (January 22, 2009) stating: “This policy is the result of the city’s commitment to showcase the rich diversity found in Roanoke. Inasmuch as the invocation is an official part of every Council meeting and is listed on the agenda and is delivered as part of the opening ceremony, along with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, all invocations delivered by the clergy must be nonsectarian in nature, and should not be used to advance a particular religion or to disparage another faith or belief, but offer a time of reflection and encouragement.”
I telephoned Stephanie Moon for clarification. I asked her if this meant that the Name of Jesus could not be used in the invocation. She said that is what it means. I then told her that if I could not conscientiously comply with that policy, does that mean my invitation to have the February 2 City Council invocation has been rescinded, taken away and refused? She said, yes, that is the case. I reminded her that this is a denial of my Constitutional Rights of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. She very cheerfully said, yes, she knew that!
Since I had already prepared my prayer thoughts for the City Council invocation (following Sherman Lea’s censure in the media, but before Harold Sumner’s repeat performance), I thought it might be of some interest to share this prayer. Here is “the Prayer That Would Have Been Prayed”.
“O, Lord, there seems to be a lot of controversy lately about whether it is right for Christians to pray to you, the Christian’s God, for our government leaders. But actually, we have been commanded by You to do just that in the words of the inspired Apostle Paul: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2).
“So therefore we do today pray for these who lead our city, that You will bless them each one and their families with good health and long life, and that You will grant them the wisdom, self-control, and patient endurance to conduct the affairs of this city and its citizens in a right, fair, and honest way. Our forefathers and –mothers, those
who established this nation, these states and cities, called upon You and acknowledged Your divine leading in this great experiment in democracy and freedom, and we believe it is right for us to do so, also.
“Dear Heavenly Father, You have heard the question raised by some of whether it is right for Christians to pray publicly in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; but we can only reply to those who would silence us as did the First Century believers when commanded not to speak in the Name of Jesus, who said, “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, You judge… We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 4:19; 5:29).
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Stephanie Moon stated in our conversation that the city will be sued at law if Jesus’ Name appears in any more City Council invocations. Of course, there is always a “bottom line”!
Fortunately we do not have to have a City Council Meeting in order to pray for our city officials! We can always do so privately and in our Churches (so far). Let us do so! And, following our Lord’s commands, let us also pray for those who have made us their enemies for His sake—the A.C.L.U., the atheists, humanists, pagans, cults, false Christians, and those who put money before principle!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
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