Phil. 4:13

Out of context, Philippians 4:13 is used as a blank-check promise for whatever is desired—money, promotion, dieting, dreaming, competing, etc. But in context, it is a verse about contentment.  In any circumstance, the apostle Paul had learned to be content by depending on Christ who infused him with the strength to persevere. Twisting scripture reveals a twisted heart and dishonors the Author of scripture. Believing scripture, IN CONTEXT, reveals our faith and honors the worthy One.

Feeding Sheep, …

Feeding Sheep,
Starving goats,
Exposing wolves,
Worshiping The Shepherd!

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Seek His face, in His book!

Jeremiah 23:29

The jack hammer of truth does infinitely more good than the feather duster of indulgence.  God’s messengers use a big hammer!  False prophets use feather dusters.  Soft teaching creates hard hearts. Hard teaching breaks hard hearts and brings new hearts!

Royal Wedding

Prince marries commoner. This is our story.

To expand, the High Prince of Heaven chooses the lowest outsiders, who are also disloyal rebels, and changes them into an adoring bride awaiting His upward call.

Cheap and Easy Doctrine

“He who sells cheapest shall have most customers; the devil knows that it is a cheap and easy doctrine which pleases the flesh, and he doubts not but he shall have customers enough.” (Thomas Watson)

Goose bumps and liver quivers

“The Goose Bump Church Of The Itching Ears”—”Make me feel good and tell me what I want to hear.” Too much of that these days.

Great men of God??

There are no great men of God… just tiny, unworthy, sinful men who are touched, changed and blessed by a merciful and kind and faithful and great God!! Enough of the celebrity and star worship in the church. Enough of being impressed by clay!
“Father …glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee…: John 17:1

Smooth-Talkers

Beware of any so-called spokesmen for God that only speak/write/blog/sing about smooth, desirable, ear-tickling things (See Isaiah 30:9,10) and leave out the hard sayings and demands —-like repentance-(Mark 1:15 and it’s accompanying fruit-Luke 3:8,) grace that leads to godliness (Titus 2:11-15),  obedience (Romans 6),  suffering for His Name (2 Tim.3:12), the Lordship of Christ (Luke 6:46),  judgment to come (Romans 2:4-6), the wrath of God (Matt.3:7), etc..
These people-pleasing smooth talkers are not sent by God. They love wealth, popularity,  power,and position.
A syrupy sermon devoid of sound doctrine and delivered by  a smiling preacher may be Satan’s greatest tool of deceit in our day.
Sorry this post wasn’t entertaining.  And when did entertainment become head of the church?
Be discerning.  Be Bereans-Acts 17:11;  Insist on the whole counsel of God -Acts 20:27
With love,
Allen

Dusty Bible

‘These hath God married,

and none can e’er part,

dust on the Bible,

and drought in the heart.”

“History of Heresy” by Phil Johnson

God-Fearers or God-Wannabe’s?

One of my favorite blogs is Biblical Christianity, by Dan Phillips. The following is his entry for 07-08-2010 as well as a comment by reader Terry Rayburn. Now , ponder and profit.–Pastor Allen

The difference between fearing God, and trying to be God:

It only surfaces when God crosses your will, or your preferred way of thinking. The God-fearer says, “God differs from me; I must be wrong, and I must change.”The God-wannabe says, “God differs from me; He must be wrong, and I must change Him.”

(Now the comment)

The God-wannabe thinking is WAY more pervasive than meets the casual eye.

From the smallest complaint about the weather to Sinatra’s “My Way”, the wisdom and goodness of the Lord are, at best, doubted. From the simple poem “Invictus” to the worldwide multi-billion dollar false religions, the true God is denied or spit on.

We’re not immune to it as believers, and it’s good to catch ourselves and realize what we’re really saying when we grumble about Providence.

[Soft piano in the background]

“If I ruled the world, Every day would be the first day of Spring….”

Of course if every day were the first day of Spring, Tennessee would be overrun by ticks and fleas, there would be no vegetative mature growth and harvest, and the animals and people would starve, until they cried out, “Okay, you take it back over, God!”

As the late J. Vernon McGee might say in his Texas drawl, “Puny li’l man…thinks he knows better’n the Lawud”.

Josiah Grauman Testimony

Eat, Don’t Argue!

Posted by Allen Cantrell

 

Jeremiah 15:16

Read! Then ask yourselves:

1) Have I found His word? 

2) Am I feasting upon it? 

3) Does it cause my heart to rejoice? 

4) Do I know (because of number 3)  the power of His calling? 

 

“Two learned doctors were angrily disputing the nature of food, and allowing their meal to lie untasted; while nearby, a simple farmer was eating heartily of that which was set before him.

Just so, the religious world is full of quibblers, critics, and debaters, who, like the doctors—argue over religious controversies, without profit either to themselves or others. Those are far happier, who imitate the farmer—and feed upon the Word of God, which is the true food of the soul.

Questioning with honesty and candor is not to be condemned, when the object is to “prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.” But to treat Scripture as if it were a football to be kicked from man to man—is irreverence, if not worse!

Study the Word of God; lay hold upon it, and spend your time in feasting upon precious truth! Reader, argue, if you please—but remember that communion with the Lord Jesus gives infinitely more enjoyment than disputing can ever afford you. Eat—don’t argue!”

                                                                                                  –C.H. Spurgeon

Notable Quote

Posted by Allen Cantrell

 

“The reason men do not fear God is because they entertain slight thoughts of Him: ‘Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself’ (Psalm 50:21).”

                                                                             -Thomas Watson (1620-1686)

The Moral Man’s Tragic Mistake

Posted by Allen Cantrell

 

[Some people being very moral have] “nothing to do with the business of repentance. They are so good, that they scorn God’s offer of mercy. Indeed these are often in the worst condition: these are they who think they need no repentance (Luke 15:7). Their morality undoes them. They make a “savior” of it, and so on this rock they suffer shipwreck. Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only nature refined. A moral man is but old Adam dressed in fine clothes. The king’s image counterfeited and stamped upon brass will not go current. The moral person seems to have the image of God—but he is only brass metal, which will never pass for current. Morality is insufficient for salvation. Though the life is moralized, the lust may be unmortified. The heart may be full of pride and atheism. Under the fair leaves of a tree, there may be a worm. I am not saying, repent that you are moral—but that you are no more than moral. Satan entered into the house that had just been swept and garnished (Luke 11:26). This is the emblem of a moral man, who is swept by civility and garnished with common gifts—but is not washed by true repentance. The unclean spirit enters into such a one. If morality were sufficient to salvation, Christ need not have died. The moral man has a fair lamp—but it lacks the oil of grace.”

 

                                                        -Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance

Eternal Punishment

Posted by Allen Cantrell

 

Beware of manufacturing a god of your own: a god who is all mercy but not just, a god who is all love but not holy, a god who has a heaven for everybody but a hell for none, a god who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and bad in eternity.  Such a god is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him.  He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.

Beware of making selections from your Bible to suit your taste. Dare not to say, ‘I believe this verse, for I like it. I refuse that, for I cannot reconcile it with my views’. Nay! But O man, who art thou that repliest against God? By what right do you talk in this way? Surely it were better to say over EVERY chapter in the word, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth”. Ah! If men would do this, they would never deny the unquenchable fire.

                                                                             -J.C. Ryle {from ‘Fire, Fire!’}

J.C. Ryle Quote

Posted By Allen Cantrell

 

“True Christianity! Let us mind that word true. There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster, it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the authentic reality that called itself Christianity in the beginning.
There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a profession of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any fight about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self–denial and watching and warring they know literally nothing at all.
Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is a fight.”

                                                                          -J.C. Ryle, from the book Holiness

"Quotes of Note"

Posted by Allen Cantrell

 

“The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day “evangelist.” He announces a Savior from Hell, rather than a Savior from sin. So many are fatally deceived who wish to escape the lake of fire but have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness. The great Physician saves those who are sick of sin, who long to be delivered from its God-dishonoring works, and its soul-defiling pollutions.”

                                                                                                          – A.W. Pink

                                                                                                         1886 – 1952

"Quotes of Note"

Posted by Allen Cantrell

 

“Our Lord’s solemn words, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” are as important today as when first uttered. No dispensational distinctions, important as these are in understanding and interpreting God’s ways with man, can alter this truth. No one was ever saved in any dispensation except by grace. Neither sacrificial observances, nor ritual service, nor works of law ever had any part in justifying the ungodly. Nor were any sinners ever saved by grace until they repented. Repentance is not opposed to grace; it is the recognition of the need of grace.”

                                                                                         – Harry Ironside

                                                                                              1876-1951