Put Off, Put On...

Thanks to "Blue Letter Bible" for this:

"Put Off" Scriptural Insight "Put On"
1.	Lack of love	1Jo 4:7,8,20	Jhn 15:12	Love
2.	Judging	Mat 7:1,2	Jhn 8:9; Jhn 15:22	Let God search my heart
3.	Bitterness	Hbr 12:15	Eph 4:32	Tenderhearted and forgiving
4.	Unforgiving Sprit	Mar 11:26	Col 3:13	Forgiving spirit
5.	Selfishness	Phl 2:21	Jhn 12:24	Self denial
6.	Pride	Pro 16:5	Jam 4:6	Humility
7.	Boasting (Conceit)	1Cr 4:7	Phl 2:3	Esteeming others
8.	Stubbornness	1Sa 15:23	Rom 6:13	Brokenness
9.	Disrespect for authority	Act 23:5	Hbr 13:17	Honor authority
10.	Rebellion	1Sa 15:23	Hbr 13:17	Submission
11.	Disobedience	1Sa 12:15	Deu 11:27	Obedience
12.	Impatience	Jam 1:2-4	Hbr 10:36	Patience
13.	Ungratefulness	Rom 1:21	Eph 5:20	Gratefulness
14.	Covetousness	Luk 12:15	Hbr 13:5	Contentment
15.	Discontent	Hbr 13:5	1Ti 6:8	Contentment
16.	Murmuring/ Complaining	Phl 2:14	Hbr 13:15	Praise
17.	Irritation of others	Gal 5:26	Phl 2:3,4	Preferring in love
18.	Jealousy	Gal 5:26	1Cr 13:4	Trust
19.	Strife/Contention	Pro 13:10	Jam 3:17	Peace
20.	Retaliation (Getting even)	Pro 24:29	Rom 12:19,20	Return good for evil
21.	Losing temper	Pro 25:28	Pro 16:32	Self-control
22.	Anger	Pro 29:22	Gal 5:22,23	Self-control
23.	Wrath	Jam 1:19,20	Pro 15:1	Soft answer
24.	Easily irritated	1Cr 13:5	Pro 19:11	Not easily provoked
25.	Hatred	Mat 5:21,22	1Cr 13:3	Love
26.	Murder	Exd 20:13	Rom 13:10	Love
27.	Gossip	1Ti 5:13	Eph 4:29	Edifying speech
28.	Evil speaking	Jam 4:11	Pro 15:30	Good report
29.	Critical spirit	Gal 5:15	Col 3:12	Kindness
30.	Lying	Eph 4:25	Zec 8:16	Speak truth
31.	Profanity	Pro 4:24	Pro 15:4	Pure speech
32.	Idle words	Mat 12:36	Pro 21:23	Bridle tongue
33.	Wrong motives	1Sa 16:7	1Cr 10:31	Spiritual motives
34.	Evil thoughts	Mat 5:19,20	Phl 4:8	Pure thoughts
35.	Complacency	Rev 3:15	Rev 3:19	Zeal
36.	Laziness	Pro 20:4	Pro 6:6-11	Diligence
37.	Slothfulness (Not doing best)	Pro 18:9	Col 3:23	Wholeheartedness
38.	Hypocrisy	Job 8:13	1Th 2:3	Sincerity
39.	Idolatry	Deu 11:16	Col 1:18	Worship God only
40.	Left first love	Rev 2:4	Rev 2:5	Fervent devotion
41.	Lack of rejoicing always	Phl 4:4	1Th 5:18	Rejoice
42.	Worry/Fear	Mat 6:25-32	1Pe 5:7	Trust
43.	Unbelief	Hbr 3:12	Hbr 11:1,6	Faith
44.	Unfaithfulness	Pro 25:19	Luk 16:10-12	Faithfulness
45.	Neglect of Bible study	2Ti 3:14-17	Psa 1:2	Bible study/Meditation
46.	Prayerlessness	Luk 18:1	Mat 26:41	Praying
47.	No burden for the lost	Mat 9:36-38	Act 1:8	Compassion/Witnessing
48.	Burying talents	Luk 12:48	1Cr 4:2	Developing abilities
49.	Irresponsibility (Family/Work)	Luk 16:12	Luk 16:10	Responsibility
50.	Procrastination	Pro 10:5	Pro 27:1	Diligence
51.	Irreverence in church	Ecc 5:1	Psa 89:7	Reverence
52.	Inhospitable	1Pe 4:9	Rom 12:13	Hospitable
53.	Cheating	2Cr 4:2	2Cr 8:21	Honesty
54.	Stealing	Pro 29:24	Eph 4:28	Working/Giving
55.	Lack of moderation	Pro 11:1	1Cr 9:25	Temperance
56.	Gluttony	Pro 23:21	1Cr 9:27	Discipline
57.	Wrong friends	Psa 1:1	Pro 13:20	Godly friends
58.	Temporal values	Mat 6:19-21	2Cr 4:18	Eternal value
59.	Love of money/Greed	1Ti 6:9,10	Mat 6:33	Love God
60.	Stinginess	1Jo 3:17	Pro 11:24,25	Generosity
61.	Moral impurity	1Th 4:7	1Th 4:4	Moral purity
62.	Fornication	1Cr 6:18	1Th 4:3	Abstinence
63.	Lust	1Pe 2:11	Tts 2:12	Pure desires
64.	Adultery	Mat 5:27,28	Pro 5:14-19	Marital fidelity
65.	Homosexuality	Lev 18:22	1Th 4:4,5	Moral purity
66.	Incest	Lev 18:6	1Cr 7:2,5	Moral purity
67.	Pornography	Psa 101:3	Phl 4:8	Pure thoughts
68.	Immodest dress	Pro 7:10	1Ti 2:9	Modesty
69.	Flirtation	Pro 7:21	1Pe 3:4	Gentle, quiet spirit
70.	Worldly entertainment	Pro 21:17	Gal 5:16	Spiritual pursuits
71.	Fleshly music	Eph 4:29,30	Eph 5:19	Edifying music
72.	Bodily harm	1Cr 3:16,17	1Cr 6:19,20	Glorify God in body
73.	Alcoholism	Pro 20:1	Pro 23:30	Abstinence
74.	Following the crowd	Pro 1:10	Pro 3:7	God-fearing
75.	Witchcraft/ Astrology/ Horoscopes	Deu 18:10,11	Deu 6:5	Worship of God
76.	Gambling	Pro 28:20,22	Luk 16:11	Good stewardship
77.	Preferential treatment	Jam 2:1-9	Luk 6:31	Love neighbor as self
78.	Presumption on the future	Pro 27:1	Jam 4:14-16	Trust God's will

Wonderful McEvangelism!

Yes, I'm serious! Deadly serious!

Today was a great day for reaching out to the lost. A good friend and I were at the local McDonald's. I was working on my laptop, creating a WOTM / Biblical evangelism slide show. Then came a bus. At least a dozen college students came in, mostly guys. Since Brian and I were sitting under the wall mounted TV (as usual) we also had plenty of seats left where we were sitting. So we invited them to use some of our "space". They took us up on it.

We found out they were traveling back to the University of Illinois campus. Brian, who was quick to walk through the open door he saw, asked them if, as college students, they would be willing to take an "intelligence test". They said "sure!".

I happened to have a stack of the tests. Brian picked one off the pad and began leading them through the questions. They had a great time and got a clear presentation of the gospel! They all took some tracts with them and even shook our hands and thanked us for speaking with them!

We had a great time, as did they. After they left, we were thankful for the opportunity and that the Lord had helped us to be obedient to Him. And, we thought of them passing those tracts around on the bus!

Do you go out of your way to share the Gospel with the unsaved? Do you really believe that people die and go to hell forever?

In these dark days, it behooves us to get our eyes away from what the devil is doing and what the Lord wants us to do.

Rick Warren Said What???

Here you go; Rick Warren at his own apostate best. If you really, really, really can't understand what is wrong with Warren, then listen and weep.

The Demise of Gospel Preaching in the Modern Evangelical Church

Bob DeWaay of CIC Ministries has written some articles on this "relevant" issue. So far, it's a two parter.

Part one
Part two

Are You Available?

Got your attention? I hope so!

As I learn to relax and see God work, I'm finding that personal evangelism is easy. Nothing to fear, really, (at least nothing violent). And all it takes is "being available".

No, I don't mean "friendship evangelism" where you never really give someone the gospel, but rather being available in a conspicuous sort of way.

Lately, a good friend and brother in Christ and I have been hanging out at the local McDonald's. We just had two stores updated (rebuilt), complete with television, etc. These places are designed more for "sitting and chatting" than the old ones. We sit at the table under the wall-mounted television (which you can't hear anyway)...which is the direction alot of people are looking (of course). It's a good place to sit and do some Bible study. And we've had a few people just come up and approach us and ask questions. Yes, we have tracts with us and, yes, they are happy to take them (they are from Living Waters, after all!). It took some time to get used to this because in my youth (early 70's) I worked at a McDonald's here in town (one that was recently rebuilt) and I'd clean tables periodically....and more than once I was told to advise loitering customers to either buy something or leave. Not so any more because they have to compete with Starbucks and all these other places that are built around being social.

That's good for evangelism!

Remember, James tells us that faith that doesn't provide for the physical needs of another (when we have the means to help) is dead faith. How true this is for spiritual needs as well!

The next step: develop a slide presentation that includes the message at NeedGod.com and let it run on the laptop while we sit (There is even an electrical outlet there). As you know, anytime someone sees a computer screen, they tend to be very curious what is there. Why not use that tendency to expose them to the Gospel?

Hmmm. I wonder if I can get the video from my laptop onto the big screen TV on the wall?

Hang out like this to do your study. No, it's not "showing off". It's making yourself available. And if no one approaches you, what have you lost? Nothing! You've spent time in God's Word!

But in any case, don't let inertia keep you on the sidelines. Get out there!

Testimony on Global Warming

David Barton has a wonderfully done presentation on "environmental science" at Worldview Network, which he recently gave before the U.S. Senate. You owe it to yourself to give it a read. It's very satisfying to see material like this provided to our leaders, especially how he stands for the reliability of the Scriptures.

Bad Ways to Determine Good Worship

Old Truth can be trusted to give, well, good old truth. Here is a series on "Bad Ways to Determine Good Worship".

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Oil and Water

A couple of posts ago, I alluded to Christianity and politics. Trying to "protect our rights"...as if they are rights and not commands from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil Johnson over at Team Pyro has written an article that I believe best represents the Biblical position on this topic.

It's short but very clear.

Ten Ways to Grow Your Church Without God

In view of my previous entry on keeping the main point the main point, here's a program worth listening to from Christian Worldview Network.

Keep the Main Thing the Main ThingPart Two

The "main thing" is the obedience of true faith. And you will show others what you really believe by what you do.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"

The test, in its most general sense, is conformity to Christ. A life of obedience to God's revealed Word. That's why those in Matthew 7 are referred to as "...you who practice lawlessness". In other words, "...you who act as though I didn't give you a law". The wise are those who hear and obey and are thus like the man who "built on the rock" as Jesus stated.

Obedience is downplayed so much today. I recall the first church I attended back in '98 after my conversion. The pastor was doing a series in Revelation. More than once he encouraged us to read the book because it promises a blessing for "...everyone who reads it." Notice the period there, it is significant. He left out "...and obeys...". Years later, you wonder how this could have blown by you at the time. And I think "Why Didn't I Speak Up?" Simply a lack of discernment on my part, being so young in the faith.

Which brings me back to my original point. Obedience. It is one of the tests that John's first epistle gives us to help us distinguish "possessors" from mere "professors".

How can anyone be saved unless they obey the Gospel? Those who "...obey not the Gospel of God" face an eternity in Hell separated from God and anything Good and Right and Holy. And how can they obey what they haven't heard?...and as Paul states in Romans 10, "How can they hear without a preacher?" So the logical conclusion is that our greatest commission is also our greatest Omission -- honing our lives down to the fine point of preaching the saving gospel of repentance and faith.

It's so subversive. Not long ago, an otherwise "conservative" radio network, which I will not name here, removed a well-known Bible teaching program because of a language issue. The teacher in question began to use words which were arguably inappropriate for public broadcast. And I had no problem with that. But at the same time, they have no problem with scheduling programming from those who deny the necessity for repentance in the Gospel message. Ok, so the lesson here is that coarse language isn't ok, but a false Gospel is? Without repentance, there is no salvation, but hey, we're more concerned with purity of speech. The network owner also made a point of railing against non-KJV translations of the Bible as "heretical" and "blasphemous", while operating a station that hosts non-KJV based bible-teaching programs.

No, I'm not "KJV-only", but you tell me what you really believe by what you do.

And listen to so much of what passes for "Christian Radio" in general. Constant appeals to call your legislators to "protect our rights". Well, I believe in representative government and I do believe I'm responsible to vote and speak my mind. But listen closely and determine how much time is spent on the priority of delivering the pure gospel to the lost? Eventually, I have given up traditional "Christian Radio" because I find a perpetual undue thrust on trying to "protect our freedoms".

Yes, I love America. Yes, I love whatever freedoms we have left. But the greater mandate is going out of our way to spread the saving Gospel to the lost, not sitting by our phones calling Washington to protect us from the liberals. We don't have a "right" to spread the Gospel, we have a mandate to do it even if society falls down around us. When Paul was in jail, he preached the Gospel, not his desire to protect his -- or anyone else's -- rights. The same for the others.

Like the issue with the "potty mouthed pastor", here we go again. Washing the outside of the cup and not being so concerned with the inside. The core. The reason we're here, which is the message of repentance and faith toward God.

I remember a statement from J. Vernon McGee years ago. He talked about sharpening your life down to a sharp point. He was referring to "forgetting what is behind and pressing on to the high calling of God" (my paraphrase). Our High Calling is evangelism. That is the point. Period. Everything else is a diversion; a rabbit-chase from the devil.

Mark those who teach falsehoods? Sure. Then move on and get back to the Gospel. We aren't to be "professional fault finders". We can remove all the falsehoods we want and leave the lost in a vacuum. But isn't it better to just proclaim the truth and let it take over?

There. You have my point. Now, let's get back to the fine point of taking the Gospel to the lost.

The Dangers of Contemplative Prayer

As many of you know, I recently left the Baptist General Conference. Part of the reason I did this is because of the inroads made in the denomination (among others) by emergent "theologian" Erwin McManus at Bethel Seminary. Indeed, like many denominations, they are embracing this "teacher" as legitimate. As his falsehoods saturate the church, you'll hear more about "contemplative prayer".

From Christian Worldview Network...

"Churches pushing contemplative prayer, best-selling "Christian" authors push contemplative prayer. What is contemplative prayer and why is it dangerous? A former New Ager tells us in this 16 minute interview with Brannon Howse. Pass this on to your friends so they can be warned and warn others that this is sweeping through churches along with "Christian" yoga."

Click here to listen now. and consider yourself warned.

Keep the Main Thing the Main ThingPart One

From Luke 17 (and pardon me if I meander):

7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

Back in my false conversion days, I just didn't understand this verse. I recall reading it and thinking "Boy, God sure seems to be a tyrant here. No 'attaboys', no pat on the back. Just a 'hat in hand' approach to God".

Again, that was in my pre-conversion days.

I bring up this verse because it has been on my mind recently. The Lord has been telling me, in a sense, that it is time to revisit this Scripture.

Years ago, I had bought the social gospel. The "pray and you're in and it's sin to question it" gospel. The one that says if you say a prayer (which is really a work) God is stuck with you no matter what. I really thought that way, deep inside.

Boy, was I wrong.

If it is one thing that the Lord has been clarifying to me over the past three years, it is the issue of obedience.

The Lord has a lot to say about obedience. The first and sixteenth chapter of Romans tells us of "the obedience of faith", which is to say that real faith, saving faith, leads to obedience. Don't believe me? Read Matthew chapter 7. Yes, the infamous "Lord, Lord" warning.

We don't work to be saved, but if we are really saved, we will obey. It's called Lordship and I'd argue that those who stand against Lordship really don't know who Christ is.

That's why, I think in part, I've been pushing so hard on personal evangelism. If we aren't here to warn the lost, what are we here for? And let me clarify, the real gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ includes the message of sin, righteousness and judgment as well as repentance and faith. Law to the proud, grace to those humbled by the law.

Do I evangelize as consistently as I should? No. But I'm geting more consistent, by God's grace.

I've come to a fork in the road with this post. More later. Don't know whether to turn to the left or the right, so keep posted.

A Letter From Hell.

Here's a post for those of you who are complacent about reaching the lost, who are "seeker sensitive" and otherwise think evangelism is some sort of game we play.

The time is now. Time is short. Just go out and do it.

Why American Churches Are In Big Trouble & What We Can Do

You'll want to view this video by Woodrow Kroll over at WorldView Tube.