Grow Stronger Roots

Guest Post: Choices

Guest Post from a dear friend of over 30 years, brother in Christ and very successful entrepreneur and business builder. He has been a great mentor, teacher, and trainer to me, not just in business, but life itself. Robert Wittig knows all about choices and the impact of those choices on life, but keeps his focus on the most important decision of his life.

Choice: Now or Never — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

One of my major themes as I grow older is that “All Choices Have Consequences.” Think very carefully about this choice. – YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DECISION.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”—2 Peter 3:9

The most important decision that you’ll ever make is far more important than what career path you choose or whom you marry, as important as those decisions are.

No, the most important decision that you’ll ever make is what you will do with Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sin. He paid for every wrong you’ve ever committed, and He rose from the dead. Now He stands at the door of your life and knocks. He says that if you’ll hear His voice and open the door, He will come in.

The question is, will you open the door? Or, will you pretend that you don’t see Him? To refuse to open the door when He’s clearly there knocking is a rejection. So you can either open the door and ask Christ to come in, or you can leave the door closed and effectively say to Him, “I don’t want You in my life.”

Is that what you want to do? Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30 NKJV). Your choice today is saying “yes” or “no” to Jesus. And here’s the result of your choice: Heaven or Hell.

Hell is real, and the last thing God wants is for anyone made in His image to spend eternity in this horrible place created for the devil and his angels. You will have to practically climb over Jesus to get there. But if you are determined, then God will allow you to pursue the course you want. And you’ll have no one to blame but yourself on that final day.

Instead, what God wants is for you to be forgiven. God wants you to go to Heaven. He wants a relationship with you, a friendship with you. And He wants it to start now.

God Knows Me

Since I have begun working on my degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary, I have not had as much time to write like I was and wanted, but here is another great post from my great friend and Brother in Christ, Pastor Harry Connor, who earned his Masters of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary

God Knows me. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Psalm 139:1

Notice two things from this brief statement. First, it recognizes the fact that God knows us, is intimately acquainted with us. Second, it is a prayer. It is a prayer from the psalmist, talking to God, and recognizing God’s ever-presence with him.

This is the essence of walking with God. It is allowing our realization of God’s constant presence with us, and intimate knowledge of us, to lead us to talk to God. Walking with God means speaking to God any time, anywhere, while we are doing anything.

It is learning to talk to God constantly, because we have come to realize that God is constantly with us. There is never a time when we can say, “God’s opinion of this does not matter.” Nor is there ever a time when we should feel, “God is not here with me; he does not care about this situation in my life.”

Our goal, like the psalmist expresses, should be to live in a deep awareness of the intimate knowledge that God has of us, of our circumstances, and even of our thought life. And such an awareness should lead us to talk to God through the ins and outs, the ups and downs, of everyday life.

Gratitude

I was just putting together a new post about Gratitude, (I will still post mine later: A study in John 9) when my dear friend and brother in Christ sent this for posting; Pastor Harry Connor, who earned his Masters of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary

Gratitude Feb 13, 2021 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands… Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name . Psalm 100:1,4

Thanksgiving above all involves communication with God. This is why the psalmist specifies that our thanksgiving is to be “unto the Lord”, within “his gates” and “his courts”, and expressed “unto him”. Thanksgiving only takes place when we are talking to God. Paul tells us to always be thankful, 1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

We can try to develop a contented heart, we can express to others how grateful we are but it is not thanksgiving until we are talking to God and expressing our appreciation to him directly. Contentedness is not thanksgiving. Expressing a general sense of “being blessed” is not thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is you telling God, “Thank you!” Therefore, thanksgiving is only happening when prayer is happening.

However, it is also true that there is a public aspect to giving thanks. This is why gratitude is in the Bible constantly connected to the public proclamation of God’s glory. Here the psalmist exhorts “all lands” to make a joyful noise. Even while we are talking to God, there is also an element of thanksgiving that is public worship and proclamation as well.

So thanksgiving is first and foremost prayer. Yet it is not biblical thanksgiving if it remains only and always private. True thanksgiving overflows in public, prayerful proclamation of the goodness and glory of God. Thanksgiving is private, grateful prayer gone public!

Unity Now More Than Ever Christian

The following is a guest post from my Pastor, whom I take note every time he speaks. Not because I think him a great man, but because I count him a great man of God; who preaches, teaches, and lives a life of Biblical truth. Imperfect in this world, but perfected through the blood of Jesus Christ for eternal life. Pastor James Clidence of Freedom Baptist Church.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

This verse’s truth has traversed through the ages. We are all different. Each one of us has different likes and dislikes. We have different humor, political leanings, personal opinions, and standards. Yet the Bible teaches us that in spite of our differences, we can dwell in unity. Well, how is this unity obtained? Some may say that it is obtained by further dividing. In our current age, it seems that we only associate with people who have similar interests, but Biblically that is not how we gain unity. I say to you that the only way we as people of God will unify together is through prayer. Ephesians 4:26, Acts 2:44; Acts 2:46-47 all give us how we are unified. Through prayer we give ourselves more to the Holy Spirit, so by prayer, as we are all more given, we can more be unified.

This does not mean all of us will be exactly the same, and we should rejoice in that! All of us are different. God has given us all gifts that we can use to further reach out with the Gospel. We should not disparage someone because of how they reach out, instead rejoice that the Gospel is given out!

When a church is unified in the Spirit, we can rejoice like the Bible says in Psalm 133, but when the church is divided. It can not stand (Mark 3:25).I write this as a challenge and a warning. Each and everyone of us can be used by Satan to break the unity. Gossip, negativity, unloving speech, hatred, unBiblical based criticism, etc. can lead to disunity. We need to always be wary of what we say and do.

From our Clothes’ to the Tips of our Noses

Following is a guest post from a very dear friend and Brother in Christ. Pastor Barry Seacrest: Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Seaford.

Please consider the following, reading it slowly. I write it for me. I needed to write this out and publicize it as a witness.

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. No question. God has pointed out to this preacher’s heart that I must lead my people to be aware

.Christ “looking on my heart” involves every decency, including modestly and reverently, appropriately, cautiously dawning the doorstep where we come together as a people. This also includes modesty everywhere because what is in my heart permeates my trichotomy. As I studied Ex. 30-31 this morning, the physical representations (shadows of the past) scream loudly that even the way I smell ought to be a thought in reaching out to this present age. God looooves details and decency. We don’t.

Coming into the “congregation of the righteous” has been a special, distinct and preparatory process mentally, spiritually and even physically, for 1000s of years, but not in the last 40 or so. We aren’t evolving. We are devolving. We don’t know better than the millions who have gone before us… but instead Christ’s words are finding meaning, “will there be faith in the earth?”

If we plan to give our best, will that be in my trichotomy? Any place that is set aside for His people to come and worship together should be uniquely viewed. It always has been, even upper rooms and places of low degree…that’s what makes us peculiar and the place of worship in the congregation, a special one. We no longer seem to reverently present body, soul and spirit to Him as carefully as we once did. The “temples” are not coming together in an attitude of reverence as we fellowship. “My best” seems to only include my tithe, and a few inner details of the heart, if that. From the beginning, however, God longed for us, by the washing of the water of the Word to yield offerings that included our trichotomy. This is no longer important (heart, soul and body). Sad.

What does my devotion look like to Him in my trichotomy? Personally, I have decided I no longer care what is acceptable to the present age. What is acceptable becomes more slovenly every year. Styles, whether of the heart, soul or body are ridiculous and unimportant to God. He wants purity, through Christ. He wants the best I have. That may look different for different people, but it will always be the best I have. I pray He will work in me to give Him all. The best I have, whatever that be, must be the only offering.

Perhaps others will give differently. That will be their choice. Maybe giving uniquely from the way I give or yielding something distinct from me in their trichotomy is all they know. In that case, I am sure God will only hold them accountable for what they know. However, I can’t give what they give knowing what I know. I have been taught different. I will be held accountable for knowing that my trichotomy must yield up the best I have, from the deepest molecule of my heart to the very fabric I decide to place on my outer shell. He must have my best as we come together in that special place.

By Pastor Barry Secrest
First Baptist Church, Seaford, DE

Needful Things

SInce I have begun working on my degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary, I have not had as much time to write like I was and wanted, but here is another great post from my great friend and Brother in Christ, Pastor Harry Connor, who earned his Masters of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary

One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42

One thing is needful. How difficult it is to learn this lesson!

Martha meant well, and so do we oftentimes. There are a thousand things that call for our attention each day. There are obligations to fulfill, schedules to be kept, and people to be pleased. But in the midst of the daily hubbub, whether you are a homemaker or a chief financial officer, do not forget that one thing is needful.

A promising career is not needful. The approval of peers is not needful. A well-padded retirement account is not needful. Even the affection of family members is not needful. One thing—and one thing alone is absolutely essential.

What could possibly be that important, in every culture and for every person? Jesus tells us: it was exactly what Mary hath chosen. The one thing that is needful is to sit “at Jesus’ feet” and “hear his word” (v.39).

We must make time in the busyness of our daily lives to spend at the feet of Jesus, submitting ourselves to his will and opening our hearts to him in prayer. We must be willing to say “No” to the countless distractions that threaten to pull us away from Him throughout the day. We must hear his Word, which He has shared and preserved for us in the Bible.

Isaiah40:8 “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

A close personal fellowship with Jesus Christ is not just part of Christianity, it is Christianity. It is not just part of life, it is the only life that matters. It is the purpose for which you were created and it is the only thing which shall not be taken away from you by disaster or even death.

I leave you with a quote from Charles Stanley that may open your eyes to what our relationship with God should be: “We fulfill our eternal purpose when our lives honor the LORD and reflect His Glory.” What pleases a human father more that to hear, your child looks just like you: He even acts like you? God takes pleasure in spiritual children who reflect His character.

The Gospel Message

The Gospel Message Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? – John 11:26

In this single verse containing Jesus’ words, we find a statement and a question. No statement, no question, could be more important for every reader to consider.

Jesus stakes his own word and his own person on this promise , if you are spiritually alive and put your trust and hope in him, then you will never die. That is quite a promise! Especially in the face of all the decay, destruction, and death with which we are surrounded on a daily basis. Is it possible to escape death, to defy the laws of nature? Jesus says it is. But not in our own strength, science, or ingenuity. Only in Jesus can we access the power of a never-ending life.

If Jesus is honest, if Jesus is wise, if Jesus is good then his assurance is peace-granting, hope-infusing, and pain-relieving. Believers do not pass away, but pass on to a better and eternal and abundant life. Christians do not die; they depart for home.

For now, we cannot see or experience or test or prove the promises of Jesus. We have to trust him, that he is not just showing us the way, but is the Way; that he is not just telling the truth, but is the Truth; that he is not only speaking of life, but is the Life.

Jesus’ question, then, could not be more important, or more pointed: do you believe Jesus? Do you trust in Jesus? To anyone, to everyone, to whomsoever puts their trust in Jesus and believes his word, the promise is yours. So live like you are going to live forever.

Path to God: Faith or Fear

Many Christians have a very unhealthy view of God and who He is. Fear, instead of faith, drives us to this corrupted view of worship and service.

As a pastor, I hear it all the time (sometimes tongue-in-cheek, and sometimes seriously): “I better be at church on Sunday or God is going to be mad at me”

Atheist behavioral psychologist John Watson said in his lectures on Behaviourism: “If the fear element were dropped out of any religion, that religion could not long survive”

Is this true of Biblical Christianity? It should not be. Remembering 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” let us examine a thought.

Have we, as Christians, incorporated fear so much into our teaching, preaching, & worship that we have lost what our true relationship with God should be? One of grace, peace, acceptance and love. One of a loving Father with His arms wide open instead of an abusive Father waiting to come home to punish us. One of a God who loved us so much He sacrificially gave His only begotten Son to deliver us from sin and re-establish communion with Him, instead of a God who is sitting on the edge of His throne waiting for us to mess up so He can sever our connection.

I know we don’t mean to depict God this way, but do our statements, posts, messages, and teachings paint God in a negative light to believers (or unbelievers) or a positive light to believers. Are we so scared to mess up, that we can never focus on our growing relationship with Him?

I.E. We often think of the imminent return of Christ from a fearful perspective instead of a glorious occasion. We preach “You better be living right when Jesus comes” instead of “Watch for the clouds, He is coming again!” Both statements are valid, but a hard focus on the first conditions us to be fearful of his coming while a main-concentration on the second leads to a exciting thought (which thereby will cause us to live right).

I.E.2. Our mindset normally is: “If I sin, then God will be mad at me.” We (myself included), in one way or another, state this often in our messages of sanctification. While God is angry at sin (the Bible teaches clearly about that), a “hard focus” on that fact will lead to an unhealthy view of God as a supreme dictator who is waiting for us to fail. This hard focus also leads into a strong “works-based” salvation mindset that is corrupting our churches right under our noses.

Even in our invitation to Christianity, we overly-incorporate fear into the salvation plan. I understand the lost have every reason to be fearful. If they die in their sins, they will spend eternity in Hell, and they should be warned. We though have leaned on that to drive someone to salvation and force them to make a profession instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to do the saving work in their hearts (John 6:44). Remember, it is not our job to save someone, it is the Holy Spirits job. YOU DON’T NEED TO SCARE THEM for them to make a profession. The Holy Spirit will draw them when He draws them (Titus 3:5).

We have painted salvation to the world as a free ticket out of hell, instead of a reconnection with God. All based on our fear-led teaching.

Christians, I submit that we need to Biblically recondition ourselves. We need to pray for God to change our hearts to not focus so much on fear and start relying on faith. Faith in the God who has engraved us in the palm of His hand (Isa 49:16). Faith in the God who promises He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5).

Five Tips to Overcome Distractions in Prayer and Bible Study — Inspiring Passion for Jesus Christ

This is a re-blog post from Inspiring Passion for Jesus Christ. I thought it to make some great points for those new to or struggling with Bible Study on a regular basis.
Staying consistent in one’s devotional life can be a challenge for anyone. At times, we all struggle to remain focused and steadfast in a daily time of prayer and Bible study. Here are five quick tips to help you overcome distractions in prayer and Bible study. 1. Set a consistent and specific time and place. […]
Five Tips to Overcome Distractions in Prayer and Bible Study — Inspiring Passion for Jesus Christ

Man of Faith

Another submission from my great friend and Brother in Christ, Pastor Harry Connor, who earned his Masters of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary

Man of Faith The father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:24

This father brought his afflicted son, who had suffered from childhood, to see if Jesus would heal him. He first ran into Jesus’ disciples and asked them for help, but they could not. By the time he finally gained Jesus’ attention, there had to be a growing doubt in his mind as to whether his son could ever be healed. And the instant he comes into the presence of Jesus, his son wallows on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

He timidly puts his request to Jesus, “If thou canst do anything, help us.” Only to have Jesus throw the ball back in his court, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible. ”How this father must have struggled to find the right words, the right response. Finally, through his tears, he gives this confession: First, he calls Jesus his Lord. He knows Jesus has authority that is not of this world and humbles himself before him. Then he cries out, “I believe!” This is not an arrogant presumption that he has the faith Jesus requires, but a sincere statement of why he came to Jesus in the first place. Finally, he admits his fear and doubt, and runs to the right place for help: “Help thou mine unbelief.” Without realizing it, this father displayed exactly what great faith looks like!

Genuine faith does not trust in one’s own ability to believe, to work, or to obey. True faith looks to Christ to fulfill all our gaping inadequacies. Do you feel yourself doubting? Falling? Giving in? Don’t try to hide your struggles or difficulties from Jesus; take them to him, confess them to him, and let his grace supply your every need.