“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them”

II Timothy 3:14

 

I recently read, “When Benjamin Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he didn’t try to persuade them by talking about it; instead, he hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket before his own door.   Then he kept the glass brightly polished, and carefully and religiously lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk.   It wasn’t long before Franklin’s neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their homes, and soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and took up the matter with interest and enthusiasm.”

I want you to be encouraged to, “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.”  The path you continue down in Christ Jesus and His Word, which you have been taught, will be a powerful example for those around you.   As a Christian, you are being watched.   The lost watch to see how sincere you are about that which you have spoken to them about.  The saints watch to see how serious you are about Christ as not only Saviour, but as Lord of your life.   As we desire to be more Christ like and live Holy Spirit filled lives we are presenting a pattern for others, and when that pattern is based on the Lord Jesus and the Word of God that we have been taught by many along the way it will shine like those lanterns up and down those streets in Philadelphia, so many years ago. 

 Our faithfulness to God will speak mightily and it will have an effect on many today and tomorrow.  We may never know here on this earth what impact we have had upon those around us.  It is first and foremost about being faithful to God and not about putting on a show for man.   By setting a godly example, you will present a pattern for the young and old alike.  Consider that when you set such an example, you will be a stepping stone for the next generation to witness today and an example for them to emulate in the future.

During this time of the year, the emphasis seems to be more and more about lights and decorations and the true meaning of Christmas is buried under a landslide of commercialism and secular celebration.  We can be a light that leads those around us to the true light of the world-For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord-Luke 2:11. Set the example this season that will bring glory to God and the Good News of the Gospel to a lost world.

I find it interesting that almost anything goes when it comes to the world and it's so called philosophies, standards and freedom of choice. Many will stand for what they believe and are not afraid to let their voice and their choices heard and known.  The list can go on and on including abortion, adultery, fornication and same sex marriage.  Throw in foul mouthed language and the complete disregard for even a shred of a moral standard either in print or on the television.  One can have any thought, feeling or desire and wear it loudly and proudly.

 Anything goes- except, when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible. Many become irritated, aggravated and agitated at the mere mention of the God of the Bible.  The line is drawn in the sand of intolerance.  Don't be surprised, darkness cannot stand light and salt irritates.  I remember my own feelings and thoughts before I was saved when Christ would be mention and His Word spoken.  The conviction was deep and uncomfortable.  Thank God!  Remember, “The word of God is quick, and powerful, sharper than any two edged 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). 

We are quickly approaching the time of year when we have set aside time to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, the opposition will be great, It has been and always will be great but, O my friends the opportunities will be plenty. Stand and stand some more for the truth; for the Gospel! Continue to present and proclaim the Word of God.  Now is not the time to stop.  This is a call to continue to share the truth in love to a dark and lost world.

“My son forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.”   Proverbs 3:1-2





For a train to be able to continue in the direction that it is traveling there must be two individual rails laid down beside one another.  These make up the tracks.  Now spiritually speaking from our text we are to have our mind as one rail and our heart as the other rail and these two will make up the track that our lives will travel upon.  We remember God’s law with our minds.  We set God’s word into our minds as we read it and meditate upon it. This way we will not forget it!  Allow your heart to be a harbor that keeps God’s commandments in it.  With the mind and heart given to God’s Word there will be less space available for the world’s junk and room for the devil to roam.  The importance of daily consumption of God’s Word is vital to both mind and heart and this will In turn have a direct effect on choices and decisions one makes.  It will also greatly affect our position (i.e. closeness to God or fellowship with the world).  Don’t forget to forget not.

No one will ever be able to make the argument that they were able to live a life that was void of God; filled with sin and empty of God’s Word and commandments and that any good was added to such a life.  But the life of those who forget not and keep God’s commandments will be blessed with length of days, long life and peace. Read verse two again and specifically, “Shall they add to thee.”  The word “they” is speaking of God’s law and commandments.  Matthew Henry wrote, “As grace increases, peace shall increase; and of the increase of Christ’s government and peace, in the heart as well as in the world, there shall be no end.  Great and growing peace have those that love the law.”  God’s Word leads one to God and in any and every situation in life God’s promises will be an anchor for the troubled soul; a light in the dark and strength that endures  Proverbs 4:13 says, “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is life.” 

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John 1:29

I recently read, “At a service conducted in London by Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, a hardened criminal came forward to the altar seeking salvation.  Dr. Morgan knelt beside him and pointed him to Jesus the Lamb of God who could cleanse him from all his sins, and he who had been a great sinner believed and was converted.

Then Dr. Morgan saw the Mayor of the city, a man of high morals and greatly respected, kneeling at the same altar, and to him, as to the criminal, he pointed out the Lamb of God who alone could take away sins.  In humble self-surrender, the Mayor, too, accepted Jesus as his Saviour.  A short time before this, the Mayor had sentenced the criminal to imprisonment; and there at the altar, the two shook hands while tears of joy ran down their cheeks.”

Sometimes we are quick to forget the wonderful truth of the “whosoever” in the Bible.  We like to compare ourselves to those around us.  We say, “I was lost but not near as lost as that man or woman or that boy or girl.”  The Bible says, “As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE: THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD. THEY ARE ALL GONE OUT OF THE WAY, THEY ARE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROVITABLE; THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT, ONE” (Romans 3:10-12).  A powerful reminder of where the redeemed in Christ Jesus once stood.

The way has been made for the saving of one’s soul, but the lost sinner must come to Christ. God the Father draws the lost while the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God work in tandem to convict the lost of their sin (what a picture of the trinity!)  The price has been paid by Jesus Christ for whosoever to come. Thru Christ their debt of sin can be cleansed, cleaned and wiped away.  For the banker or the brawler, God has provided, for the highly esteemed and the not so esteemed, God has provided.  God has provided- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16.)  God's Word brings forth a wonderful invitation, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18.)

Our time is short and our days are numbered and so we move forward by faith while nurturing a burden and brokenness for the lost. O let us be about prayer. O let us be filled with the Holy Spirit. O let us continue with a fire and fervency in our service for the Living God! O that we would take serious that which was serious enough that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 Let's continue to pray for the “whosoever.”  Let’s continue to go to the “whosoever.” Never forget we were at one time a part of the whosoever, thank God for that!

I recently was given this quote, “Do not be afraid of being maligned, be afraid only of building on a false premise on quicksand for it shall not stand.” Our nation has positioned its self upon a false premise and in turn is sinking deep in quicksand.  War has been declared upon the Word of God within the border of our country.  Our communities are suffering the consequences of such foolishness.  Many churches have added to the spiritual decline with their lackadaisical approach to scripture.  Do not be afraid of being maligned for your love and your stand when it comes to the Word of God. Stand strong in Christ Jesus and the power of His might.

I want to give you four wonderful reminders that are taken straight from God’s Word:


I. It is True- Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalm 119:160

II. It is Tried- Thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it. Psalm 119:140

III. It is Timeless- Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89

IV. It Teaches- The entrance of thy words giveth life; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm 119:130

God’s Word is a firm and fixed foundation- Dear believer, stand firm when others doubt and degrade the Word and you will be a bright and shining light in a dark and lost world.

I want to thank all of those who prayed for the meeting that I preached at Berean Missionary Baptist Church.  The Lord met with us! It was a wonderful time and many shared how the preaching of God’s Word stirred their hearts and spoke to them in a powerful way.  Amen and Amen!!  The folks at Berean Baptist were a blessing to me and my wife.  Pastor McDonald and his wife have a real love for their people!

Thanks for praying and thanks for visiting!

                                                                    Bro. Tracy

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

I John5:12

 
“O victory in Jesus, My Saviour, forever, He sought me and  bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved  me ere I knew him and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.”

Victory in Jesus

When I was saved at the age of thirty-six I was not familiar with the hymns.  To me a hymn was what my mom did to my pants when I was growing up so my pant legs would not drag on the ground.  But that all changed a short while after I was saved.  I remember sitting in the pew at Lifeway Baptist Church on a Sunday morning my friend Bro. Tony Brown was leading the music (and still is serving faithfully today) and he called out page #341- Victory in Jesus, and as the piano took off and five hundred plus voices began to sing I nearly jumped out of my seat and nearly came unglued! I didn’t know the melody and was not familiar with the words. Those words began to tell my story; the story of my sins and my glorious Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ!!  I felt like grabbing that Christian flag and taking off running around that place.  My friend it was so fresh in my heart; in my soul and in my mind of who I was when I called on the Lord Jesus to save me.  I was not that far removed from being that ungodly and wretched man who was dead in his trespasses and sins.   

I never ever want that fire to be extinguished. I want it to burn white hot for as long as my Lord has me upon this earth.  The saving of my soul is just as real and powerful to me today than it ever has been.  How about you? Has your zeal for the Saviour and the saving of your soul faded?  Take the time to look back and remember who you were and where it was you were headed before you were gloriously, victoriously and eternally saved.  Victory… Sweet Victory!

Remember:

I. The Victory is Soul Saving.

II. The Victory is Satisfying.

III. The Victory is Sweet.