By David J. Stewart | July 2012
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Psalms 119:67
and 71, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy
word. ... It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn
thy statutes.”
Ladies and gentleman, affliction is a good thing.
Affliction is a good thing if you let God have His way with your soul as His
child. The Bible plainly teaches in Hebrews 12:5-8 that God whips (beats) His
children, and that's exactly the Greek meaning of the word “scourgeth” in verse
6. God doesn't whip nor beat us in anger for His own pleasure, but for our own
good (verse 10). Note that all Scripture reference are only from the trustworthy
King James Bible...
Hebrews 12:5-8, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto
you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,
nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are
partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
The Bible says in Philippians 2:4-5 that Jesus
looked upon the things of OTHERS. Christ is our example to follow as believers.
Jesus lived beyond himself, caring and helping the needy, burdened and
afflicted, and so should we...
“Without concern we're not
Christlike. Without concern we're not Christlike. Ah, watch yourself.
... Now your greatest need as a Christian, and of every Christian, is a
concern for lost and dying people. Without concern we're not Christlike.
You have no claim to Christlikeness unless you're concerned about
others. Without concern we're not obeying the Scriptures.”
—Pastor
Lee Roberson (1909-2007), from the needful sermon,
'The Revival America Needs'
It is so important that we
care, for it is the foundation of everything else in our life. The Bible
commands us as Christian believers to care about the THINGS WHICH ARE
JESUS CHRIST'S (Philippians 2:21). We ought to care about
truth. We ought to care about justice. We ought to care about honesty. We
ought to care about morality. We ought to care about others. Most people
don't care anymore, because they've been desensitized by television, worldly
music, the brainwashing newsmedia, indoctrinating Hollywood movies, liberal
books and magazines, and apostasy in our churches that have lulled
churchgoers into a comatose state of indifference.
Be careful of your friends.
Friends will make you or break you. I'd rather have no friend than wrong
friends. I got into the ministry for God, and I'm not going to allow mankind to
hinder me from serving God. People come and go, but God's always the same! Amen!
Stay away from negative people. Don't run from the hard times in God's will.
Stay in church. There's a growing trend in our nation to continually criticize
preachers and pastors for everything and anything. Don't join the crowd that
condemns preachers instead of praying for preachers.
Stay in God's will. Stay away
from the wrong kinds of people. Don't let your poor health drag you down
spiritually. Use your infirmities for God's glory and Christ's sake. Some of the
weak parts of your body may be the very thing that's bringing you closer to God.
Decide to let your sickness make you instead of break you. Decide not to become
bitter in the dark times. Amen! Lamentations 3:6, “He hath set me in dark
places, as they that be dead of old.” If you are in a dark place, God is all
you need! Don't let the Devil steal your spirit. Bitterness is a choice, and it
is spiritual suicide. Let go, let God!
Some people are disappointed.
Let your disappointment make you better not bitter.
Isaiah 51:7, “Hearken
unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law;
fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.”
I love
Brother Hyles (1926-2001)! This sorry nation owes Pastor
Jack Hyles a debt of gratitude that cannot adequately be
expressed in words. Millions of people's lives have been saved
from Hell, changed for God, and blessed tremendously under
Pastor Hyles' 55-years of ministry. America needs a handful of
preachers like Dr. Jack Hyles, who uncompromisingly preached
against sin . . .
“Do you know
what's wrong? Before you know it, you will turn to sin if
you don't keep sin exceeding sinful. I'm not going to get to
the place where I say, 'we at First Baptist Church look with
disfavor on the movies.' No Sir! I'm going to say, 'That
dirty Hollywood crowd is sending our nation to Hell.' I'm
going to say, 'Young people, stay out of the movie houses!
Stay out of them! Stay away from the Hollywood crowd! Stay
away from the adulterous kind of sinful crowd, and turn your
television off when one comes on.”
—Pastor
Jack Hyles, from the timeless sermon,
'The Church First'
America could be brought back to
God if preachers would start preaching again! |
“It is the only happy life to live for the
salvation of souls.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody
The Promise of Eternal
Life
The Bible tells us that salvation
comes only to those who enter through the DOOR into Heaven. John 10:1,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the
sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber.” This door is the STRAIGHT GATE which leadeth unto life...
Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
