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The Power of God’s Word By Byron Foxx
he Bible is the only book I know that can absolutely move this nation back to God! The Bible is alive! Christians love it, sinners need it, and it is a weapon against the devil! Read it today! All preachers should commit themselves to preaching and teaching the infallible, inerrant, inspired, Godbreathed Word of God! My soul is troubled for any pastor, church, or institution that begins to doubt the Word of God. You have likely heard folks say it is full of errors, fables, and inaccuracies. NO! The Bible is the immutable, unchanging Word of God.
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• You can build your life on the Book. • You can build your home on the Book. • You can build every aspiration on the Book. • The church is built on the Book. • My hope of going to Heaven is found in the Book! Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. —Psalm 119:105
August 2017 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 Editor: Byron Foxx Managing Editor: Tim Cruse
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. —2 Timothy 3:16–17 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. —Hebrews 4:12 The Bible begins in Genesis to unfold the great revelation of Almighty God Jehovah. Without the Bible we would never know Him. Without the Bible we would not know about creation. Without the Bible, we would not know the marvelous story of redemption. Hallelujah for the Bible! O bless the Lord! I know the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It brings assurance of salvation upon repentance and belief in our loving Saviour, Jesus! I don’t want the science of the liberals.
We would love to hear from you! Please write to Editor@GodBlessAmericaCrusade.com
THE GRASS WITHERETH, THE FLOWER FADETH: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOR EVER. —Isaiah 40:8
I don’t want to read about a cosmic egg. I’m not interested in a “fire mist swirling in space.” Voltaire said, “Within a hundred years there will not be a Bible on the face of the earth except as an antiquarian curiosity.” The infidel Hume said, “I see the twilight of Christianity.” However! The Lord still reigns, the Bible is still the greatest book, and salvation is still available to all! Give me the Bible. Give me the Book. The queen of all science is theology. We should read and study the Bible, not just for facts, read and study it for TRUTH!
BYRON FOXX is an evangelist, music publisher, songwriter, and the founder and president of Bible Truth Music.
GBA Magazine Digital Expanded Issue features more articles! Go to: GBAmag.com
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Are You Remaining Faithful? By Dr. David Gibbs, Jr.
hroughout the years, while traveling for legal meetings and preaching, God has allowed me to meet some of the best ministries in America. Not only were they pleasant, kind, and generous people, but they all had one other thing in common: they were faithful to the Lord. Year after year, these dear people faithfully minister to their fellow believers and the unsaved in their communities. One of the most important things to remember in the Christian life is not to be deterred by what seems to be a lack of results when serving the Lord. He has simply called each of us to be faithful and obedient. I think of the great missionary J. Hudson Taylor who went years without seeing anyone saved on the field, but stayed faithful, knowing that God would bring the increase in His time. Stay faithful to the calling. First Corinthians 4:2 states “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” When God saved you, you became a steward of many things,
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including the Gospel. As you maintain His calling in your life, one of the most important things you can do is remain faithful. The Scriptures also remind us that an unfaithful man is as bad as a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. Anyone who has had dental issues knows how painful that can be, and the irritation that persists. God wants dependable, faithful people who will carry on without reminders. We have the honor to help churches who are faithfully running bus routes to give the Gospel out. We help preachers, tract distributors, ministry workers who are behind the scenes, and many others who on this earth may never see the rewards of their labor. But remember that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Christian Law Association is here to assist you with legal issues and questions for a variety of items that unfortunately come against us when we serve the Lord. We received a call just last week about a zoning issue a church was having because a bar was wanting to serve
alcohol just down the street. A Christian businessman called to make sure he was allowed to play Christian music in his office. We daily receive calls from ministries asking how to prevent them from being forced to perform same-sex unions in their facilities. Be faithful to pray for these issues and for our nation to turn to God and His Word as the moral compass once again. Pray for revival and for God to receive all the honor. Pray for wisdom for our attorneys and staff to have God’s power as we serve. Pray for safety for our team as they travel around the country for meetings. You make a difference for the Lord when you stay faithful in prayers, Bible reading and meditation, and continue in your labor of love for Him.
DR. DAVID GIBBS, JR. is an author and founder of the Christian Law Association.
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The Central Figure of the Church 5 ASPECTS OF CHRIST’S MINISTRY TO THE CHURCH By T. Kevan Bartlett
The early “infancy period” of the church is fascinating to read about in the book of Acts. In just a few years’ time, local churches of baptized believers were established in dozens of cities in the Mediterranean region. They had no steeples or stained glass, no buildings, no busses, no organized Sunday school, no media advertising, no youth groups, or kids clubs. No gospel tracts, no Bible-study books were available. Their only written Bible was the Old Testament. In spite of their lack of many tools that churches use today, notice what happens in Acts 2:47: “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” We see something magnificent for the cause of Christ. The assembly of believers did not have all of the “stuff” we are accustomed to churches having. But, what they did have was the power of God at work in their individual lives— through the indwelling Holy Spirit— channeled through their local church. Let’s consider the central figure of the church. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.—Acts 2:38 Peter’s message in Acts 2:14–36 articulates that Jesus Christ is the central figure, the primary thrust, the key Person of all that is happening. Sadly, much of what is done in the name of religion, today, has little or nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Let us be clear: Jesus Christ must be the central figure of each local church. 1. JESUS IS THE FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH —Matthew 16:18b Jesus speaks of His identification with the church when He says, “My church.” He is not talking about just any group. Rather, He is identifying with His assembly, His “called-out” ones.
Jesus speaks of His relationship. He says, “I will build.” We are energized by His activity, by His power. He is engaged with His people and He propels them to progress. Jesus is speaking of His victory, “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The church will victoriously endure—not because of those who are in the church. It will victoriously endure because of He who founded it! 2. JESUS IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH —Ephesians 2.19–20 The church is not only founded by Jesus Christ; it is founded upon Jesus Christ. It is specifically on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that the church is based. Without Jesus’ work of redemption there would be no need for a church. 3. JESUS IS THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CHURCH —Ephesians 2:21–22 Your life is a work in progress. God is building you in Christ. Our church is a work in progress. God is building us together in Christ. Just like the simple song says, “He’s Still Workin’ on Me.” Our churches can sing “He’s Still Workin’ on Us.” Who we are is all about Jesus. So, what we do should be all about Jesus. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.—Titus 2:13–14 4. JESUS IS THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE CHURCH —Ephesians 1:20–22 The Founder of the church is not dead. He is not in a grave with a memorial monument to Him and to His vision. We serve a living Saviour! Our Founder is alive and still leading as, the Head of the church. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body,
the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.—Colossians 1:17–18 It may come as “news” to some people, but let it be clear: the Head of the church is not the membership. The Head of the church is not the Deacon Board. The Head of the church is not the Pastor. The Head of the church is JESUS CHRIST! Any and all human leadership within the church is under submission to the authoritative Head—our Lord Jesus Christ! Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.—1 Corinthians 11:1 5. JESUS FASHIONS THE CHURCH —Romans 12:5 A great pastor from a generation ago, Dr. Jack Hudson, used to say, “You make much of Jesus; He will make much of you.” If our Church will make much of Jesus, He will make much of our church. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.—2 Thessalonians 1:12 The disturbing trends we see in many churches today seem to indicate that they want to present themselves less and less like Jesus, but more and more like the world and the culture. (The same world and culture that Jesus came to save people out of.) You can certainly draw a crowd by putting on a show and making people feel good about themselves. But, that is not a New Testament church. The measurement of a church is not in its size, or its buildings, or its offerings. The true measurement of a church is in its likeness to Christ. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.—John 12:32 T. KEVAN BARTLETT is the senior pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.
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The Pastor’s Heart 7 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PASTOR By Mike Norris
he pastor is unique in the life of a church. He is the undershepherd who carries the burden of leadership. Some pastors will feel compelled to please people, but the sincere pastor is always trying to please the Lord. Few church members understand their pastor’s intense desire to please God. What burdens weigh on a godly pastor? What responsibilities does the average pastor shoulder? The pastor carries the responsibility to take care of himself, his family, and his church. Robert Murray M’Cheyne was a Scottish pastor and preacher in the early nineteenth century. He gave his life to serving Christ, but at the age of twenty-nine he passed away in a typhus epidemic. On his deathbed, he said, “God gave me a horse and a message. I have killed the horse and I can no longer deliver the message.” M’Cheyne felt a sadness, not for the loss of his own life, but for the loss of opportunity to preach the Gospel. He bore a heart of service and deep desire to teach the Word of God to others. This is the heart of a pastor. Today the risks involved with the calling of the pastor are increasing. Studies have shown that most pastors face high levels of stress, work over sixty hours a week, and have struggled with depression or burn out; but there have always been risks tied with preaching— study the life of the Apostle Paul. While we may not face religious persecution today in America, that could change. But every sincere pastor would be willing to give his life if it meant fulfilling his calling from God. Despite the risks, the statistics, and the expectations, pastors desire to please God. What are some of the burdens a pastor faces? What goes through the heart and mind of a pastor?
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A DEEP LOVE FOR THE WORD OF GOD
A pastor thinks differently when he reads his Bible. The average church member will read the Bible devotionally. Some will deepen their reading with intense study, but the pastor surrounds his life around the ministry of the Word. If a pastor doesn’t love to plunge into the Scriptures, he needs to have his heart checked. His primary job is preaching the Word of God and preparing himself for those sermons. This is why the first deacons were called in Acts 6. The Apostles saw the needs of the widows, but they knew it was not proper to walk away from the ministry of prayer and the Word to meet those needs themselves. They found deacons—godly servants—who could meet some important needs while the the Apostles continued their study. A pastor studies the Bible like a website. On each webpage are links to other related webpages. Natural curiosity leads the reader to a network of information on any topic of choice. A pastor will look at Scripture in the same way. Verses are linked together with other verses. With a passion to mine truth out of Scripture, a pastor will follow a chain of references to understand the “full counsel of God.” Preaching is communication, and the Word of God is the main message. The average Christian does not fully understand it, but the pastor’s job is to explain it. PRAYER FOR POWER A pastor prepares his sermons through intense study, but he knows that power in the presentation comes from the Holy Spirit. If a pastor fails to pray fervently, he does not walk away from his greatest source for power in ministry–he walks away from his only source for power. God gives His vision for the church to the pastor through time in prayer. The pastor can’t delegate this crucial meeting with God to anyone else, because God only gives this vision to His undershepherd. It is paramount that a pastor has time for extended, fervent prayer.
CONSTANT PREPARATION Along with continual prayer and Bible study, a pastor is always looking for life examples of Bible principles. He can find a seed thought in almost anything. Even when meeting a stranger on an airplane, a spark of truth may spring from that conversation. If the pastor is walking with God, the Holy Spirit will tell him, “Use this to teach the people about Me.” Jesus was always using everyday circumstances to teach truth. One day Jesus set a little child on his lap; He was greeting the children as someone who loves kids. The disciples tried to shoo the children away, they saw the children as an annoyance. Jesus used this opportunity to teach the disciples about the faith of a child. The pastor looks for truth in small events. Everything is an illustration of the Word of God. He never knows when a new sermon may come along. TRAINING OTHERS The constant preparation for preaching is—at its core—part of the pastor’s burden to train others. He has a desire to transfer knowledge from the Word of God to the next generation. This is done on many levels. Some pastors train through the Sunday School. Some train their ministry’s leadership team. God allows some ministries to begin a Bible institute or even full-time Bible college. The pastor is responsible for training others through his teaching and example. People learn as much from a model as they do a lesson. Great teaching churches carry a contagious fervency—something the student can carry into his life, his family, and his church. LOVE FOR FAMILY No amount of training can replace the pastor’s relationship with his family. If the pastor loses his marriage or children, he has lost his ministry. The qualifications of a pastor are high—the husband of one wife (not divorced) and Continued on pg. 9
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January 3-5, 2018
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Continued from pg. 7
able to keep his children in order. But the pastor cannot demand that his marriage be good; he can’t force his children to live pleasing to the Lord. He has to have the influence of the Holy Spirit in his home. The average pastor puts in over sixty hours a week—a big job. It takes effort to make time for the family. He must be able to recharge. One of the best things a church can do for their own spiritual health is allow the pastor the time to take care of his family. Jesus came aside for a while, and it’s necessary for a pastor to do the same. There was a generation in fundamentalism that could be best described as driven. Pastors were intensely focused on the work of God, but some pastor’s lost their marriages in the process. This is one of the greatest fears of a pastor. Our pastors had to step back to nurture their families as they served God. THE BURDEN OF FINANCES It’s important for the church to take care
of their pastor and his family because the pastor carries the financial burden of the church. All eyes are on the pastor to lead financially. He knows that if the finances go bad, he will be the one who leaves. The church may hire accountants and business managers to track the finances, but no one feels the pressure like the pastor. The buck stops with him. One of the best ways a church can help its pastor is by meeting his family’s needs. Some pastors struggle with their personal finances and may take advantage of the church’s generosity, but most are willing to give everything they have to the ministry—life and finances. In most independent Baptist churches, the pastor is one of the top givers. By dollar amount, there may be church members that give more, but proportionally, the pastor often sacrifices the most. KEEPING YOURSELF RIGHT A pastor wants to produce for the Lord as long as he can. He has the burden to stay sharp physically, mentally, and spiritually. There have been men who have preached with tremendous health
problems, but a pastor must stay healthy for his family and church. Time with God is vital for a pastor’s spiritual health. A pastor never wants to walk into a pulpit feeling like he is not right with the Lord. He may not have committed some wicked sin, but he doesn’t want anything between himself and God. The responsibility to preach is too great. When he steps into the pulpit, the people look at him and think, “Bring it to us. Pull the hot bread right out from the oven.” Pastors are just people. As my dad said, “We all put our pants on one leg at a time.” They are all men of flesh, but they want so much to be filled with the power of God. Very few pastors feel they are up to the task, but they have a sincere desire to faithfully serve God. A pastor just wants to please God.
MIKE NORRIS is a the senior pastor of Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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IN YOUR CORNER Down for the Count – “Day 1... Day 2... Day... ” , but wait, on the 3rd day, the Lord Jesus Christ arose victoriously from the grave! He is, indeed, the undisputed Champion of Love! It was love that put Him on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin so you would not have to. He proved that truth and love win over all. He wants you to know that: Love, worth, hope, & purpose are all found in Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Our sin has separated us from God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Jesus Christ paid sin’s penalty. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Salvation is by faith in Him. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Believing that He paid the penalty for your sin by His sacri ce on the cross and resurrection from the dead, call upon the Lord Jesus Christ right now. Ask Him to forgive your sin and give you eternal life. He has promised, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)
Please consider committing to The Hour That Makes The Difference | Bible Reading and Prayer, at least 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, during the 12 o’clock hour (midday or midnight). “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
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GOD BLESS AMERICA
AUGUST 2017
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The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone "That All the Earth May Know" I Samuel 17:46
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Sunday, August 27, 2017
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Pastor Clarence Sexton Celebrating 50 Years in the Ministry
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