Jesus said, “If one loves Him, he will keep His commandments.” One’s doctrine, or theology, must be in harmony with God’s Word. In another place Jesus said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” The one who bases his relationship to God upon experience alone, is doctrinally unstable with shallow roots, so that when the experiences of life seem set against him, he is easily drawn away by the false teachings of the Evil One.

The Late Dr. Adrian Rogers often called these people, “Alka-Seltzer” people. They are people of fizz, warm and emotional, who respond easily to emotional appeals, but they are shallow, superficial, and rootless. They only want to be happy and will follow what ever seems to make them so, even if it is only temporary.

Churches are full of stony-hearted people. They simply do not understand the demands of the cross, nor do they desire to understand it. At the first sign of difficulty, they look for something else; something which will entertain them of make them feel good. They want an easy Christianity without trials.

Are you one of these? Are you like the rich young ruler who went away sorrowfully when he learned the real demands of the Gospel? Do you hunger and thirst to understand the basis of God’s great love for you, or are you one who simply bases your faith upon a series of experiences. If you are, I say to you this morning, “Repent! Ask God to take away your stony heart, and the Bible promises he will give you a heart of flesh.” A heart which will be able to learn and allow you to base your faith upon His Word.

This was not Communism where government pooled resources and doled them out equally to all, but rather a voluntary recognition that God had blessed them with everything they possessed and they were simply the caretakers. Brothers and sisters in Christ experienced the generosity of one another as genuine family. There was no recrimination for those who had need and no hesitancy on the part of those who had plenty.

A tangible result of that attitude of fellowship was that they had great power in witnessing and uncountable numbers were added to the church. That we have lost that is evident in the fact that we often sit in a worship service and know little of the affairs of those around us. We go to our homes, and watch football, or play games without involving ourselves in the lives of those with whom worship. Throughout the busy week little social interaction takes place outside a few close friends and family. How can one approach a virtual stranger and share his fears, joys, and concerns? Must the church remain an impassive body unresponsive to the genuine needs of brothers and sisters in Christ simply because we choose not to engage them on a personal and intimate level?

I believe church should have a reputation as a safe harbor where truth is presented in love by caring people genuinely interested in the general welfare. Rather, it is often represented as a cold body which rejects the imperfect. Strife, bickering, unforgiveness, and jealousy within the body give the lie to the message that Christ can meet one’s needs and lift his burdens, because what he sees in the church is no different than what he experiences at home and at work.

So the world asks, “Why do you claim that Christ is the answer? Your life is little different than ours, and we can sleep late on Sunday Mornings.”

The missing element, I believe, is genuine fellowship, and the only way we’re going to reverse the trend toward irrelevance in the local church is for those who claim Christ as Lord, to begin opening themselves in a vulnerable way to others so that the world might see genuine fellowship in us. Will you commit yourself to expanding your area of genuine concern by involving yourself with someone within the body who you don’t know much about? Invite them to your home for dinner, or coffee and cake. Choose this day to grow the fellowship within your local assembly so that the world will know you are different.

Joy to the World…It blares from digitally enhanced church steeples even as anxious shoppers within its sound trudge from store to store only to be confronted by short-tempered, ill-mannered, and inconsiderate shoppers and shop keepers.

Where is the “Joy” in Christmas? Everywhere one turns he hears, mumbling, grumbling, groaning, and complaining. The oft heard comment, “I just don’t have enough time,” reflects the consternation the Christmas Season brings.

I think it is time to take stock of what Christmas should be all about. It should be a time of willing self-sacrifice, not grudging dutiful drudgery. It should reflect the willing sacrifice Jesus Christ made when He left the glories of heaven to be born as a vulnerable human being during a time of poverty and political oppression, so that He could offer Himself a sacrifice for the sin of the world.

Should we approach the purchase of gifts as an opportunity to express our love and appreciation of those for whom the gifts are intended, we might be less frustrated in our search. Those people with whom we deal are simply obstacles placed there by the enemy to challenge our resolve to act in Christ-like love to those who serve us in our pursuits.

The driver who swerves into the parking place ahead of you, the shopper whose self-centered dash upends your load of packages, the clerk whose aching feet and splitting headache override her normally courteous behavior, and the myriad of others you encounter are simply opportunities to demonstrate that the Angels were not wrong. They did bring good tidings of great joy, and Issac Watts is correct, we can have joy.

Joy which is dependent upon perfect external conditions is not really joy at all. Joy is an expression of an internal condition which naturally flows from an ongoing and growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

JOY TO THE WORLD!!! THE LORD IS COME!!!

A great gift for any loved one is when you choose to put aside some habit or indulgence in order to make another’s life more full and meaningful. Several destructive habits and indulgences which steal one’s time and wreck relationships include, but are in no way limited to:

Alcohol
Tobacco
Computer Games
Pornography
Gossip

During the Christmas Season, that indulgence most often bring destruction is the use of alcohol a beverage. Misery will greet huge numbers of homes this season because of the destructive nature of alcohol and the hold it takes on men when they imbibe.

This season, purpose to give your loved ones the gift of a sober, rational, and whole person by choosing to stay away from the deadly brew.

Johnny Sanders Pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Downsville, La. Copied the following poem off the wall of Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman several years ago. The author is unknown to this writer.

THE BAR
The name of each saloon is bar,
The fittest of its names by far.
A bar to Heaven, a door to hell;
Whoever named it, named it well.
A bar to manliness and wealth,
A door to want and broken health.
A bar to honor, pride, and fame,
A door to grief, sin, and shame.
A bar to hopes, a bar to prayers,
A door to darkness and despair.
A bar to honored, useful life,
A door to brawling, senseless strife.
A bar to all that’s true and brave,
A door to every drunkard’s grave.
A bar to joy that home imparts,
A door to tears and aching hearts.
A bar to Heaven, a door to hell,
Whoever named it named it well.

Christmas is a time of severe stress for many families. There never seems to be enough money, and the demand on ones time during this season is enormous. The tendency to become irritable and short-tempered is a warning that stress is becoming a problem on ones life. How does one deal effectively with stress so that it does not adversely affect relationships and turn a time of joy into a time of drudgery and frustration?

I believe the greatest stress buster available is to remember that you are not your own. If you are a genuine Believer, you have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and if God loves you enough to pay such a price for you, then surely He loves you enough to provide the where withal to enjoy that life He has given you. I believe the “all things” He freely gives us is the abundant and fruitful life. He says in another place, “I am come that you might have life, and that more abundantly.”

Remember this: God is only bringing that into your life which will more effectively mold you and make you into His image. Don’t kick against the goads. Realize He will take your load if you will trust Him enough to give it to Him.

During this Christmas season, we would be better served by trying to discover what He would have us do, rather than trying to please everyone else. He will never lead you and me to dig ourselves into a financial hole. We must learn to appreciate what He gives instead of wishing we had something else, or lived somewhere else, or were able to buy more expensive gifts. We can be sure that He has provided what we need to carry out what He wants us to do.

We must also eliminate those activities which He does not lead us to participate in. Never is there more need for a “Don’t Do” list than during the Christmas Season. The stress of trying to juggle church, family, work, school, and community events is far too great if we are planning our own schedule. We must spend time in earnest prayer seeking to know His schedule for our lives, then act accordingly. He will provide us with the time, energy, and enthusiasm necessary to keep His schedule. If we continue to operate according to our own schedule, then we can expect frustration, tiredness, anger, and fear.

“Come unto Me all you who labor and are burdened down I will give you rest.” That is His promise. He cannot lie. Let us learn to rest in Him during this, the most tumultuous and stressful time of the year. Let us allow Him to turn the stress into joy because of what it means in our lives.

Today’s Believers need a return to an emphasis upon being “Intemerate.” We often seem to glorify those who have lived recklessly in their earlier years while remaining curiously silent concerning those whose lives have consistently reflected a lifestyle modeled after Christ. Such exaltation leads youth, and seemingly adults, to believe that such a time of wildness is necessary if one is to have a “great testimony.”

Unlike bygone days, today’s societal mores serve as little restraint for those who go forth to “sow some wild oats.” Reckless living today is seen in not just the hidden fulfillment of lust between teens, but in the open disregard of Biblical standards even by those who profess to believe God’s Word as they live together without marriage, and indulge in all manner of hedonistic activities with the tacit approval of society at large, and the New Testament Church in particular.

While some may argue that the New Testament Church condemns such reckless living, the lie is proven in the widespread disregard for the Biblical injunction to deal in loving, yet firm discipline with those who claim the name of Christ, yet continue in “temerate” living.

A return to emphasizing “purity” and “holiness” with the corresponding disciplinary action of local New Testament Churches toward those who flaunt their hedonistic lifestyle is absolutely essential, it seems to this writer, if we are to rebuild a society which reflects Christian principles.

Should you and I purpose to live our lives consistent with New Testament teachings, we could become a force within those local churches where we congregate as the family of God. Those local assemblies could begin once again to believe and act on Christ’s injunction to be salt and light to the world, by transforming the society around us, rather than conforming to that society.

During this Thanksgiving Season, let’s look around and give thanks for those among us who have lived “Intemerate” lives as an example for us all that one need not live a degrading and reckless lifestyle, but that God can keep us from such, and that is perhaps a greater work than deliverance from such a lifestyle.

Are there really many of us who have not doubted? Haven’t most of us longed from time to time for some sign of God’s concern for our welfare? Has there not been a time when we have asked with John the Baptist, “Jesus are you really the one, or should we be looking for our hope in another place?”

I’m here to tell you that most of us have doubted from time to time. None of us has perfect faith. I’m reminded of the woman who told Dwight L. Moody that she had been a Christian for forty years and never had a doubt. He replied, “Madame, I doubt you’re really saved.” Listen, I’m not encouraging doubt. I believe like the man who said that we need to feed our faith while starving our doubts. However, having doubts is not a sign of unbelief. Unbelievers don’t have doubts, they just don’t believe.

Thomas was dedicated to Jesus, but he had some doubts. If you’re struggling with doubts today, do what Thomas did. He had a fresh encounter with Jesus. When Jesus appeared several days after Thomas had expressed his doubts, Jesus challenged him to satisfy those doubts. He said, “Thomas, put your fingers in the holes in my body.” I tell you Jesus Christ wants to satisfy your doubts also. He wants you to spend time with Him to renew your relationship with Him. He wants you to try Him, and to prove Him.

I’m really thankful that God doesn’t hold my honest doubts against me. I’m also thankful that I don’t have to wallow in my doubts, but that I can come to Him with my honest doubts and He will receive me without condemnation. Jesus sent word to John the Baptist to indicate that He was indeed the promised one. Jesus did not chastize John the Baptist or Thomas. He satisfied their doubts.

Go to the Lord today with your honest doubts. He will receive you, and satisfy those doubts.

In the 1920′s, about thirty years after Melville’s death, the world began to so appreciate the nuances and depth of Moby Dick that another; heretofore unpublished novel, Billy Budd was published and widely read.

The contemporary psyche, with its demands of instant gratification, could learn a valuable lesson from Melville. Much of the good we do is never known until we’ve passed from this existence to our eternal reward. Now is not the to quit, give up, or run away simply because one has not seen an immediate reward for his labors.

In the Christian life, we are taught to live our lives in such a way as to deflect praise from ourselves; but in reality when we don’t feel appreciated, we become distraught or embittered. Should you and I learn that our real purpose is simply to worship Holy God, and enjoy His eternal presence, we would not become distraught over the slights of this world.

I don’t pretend to know how Melville felt when he died without having experienced the appreciation those in later generations would have lavished upon him. But I do know that we, who serve Christ, have an eternal reward for our faithfulness. We may never know the extent of our success in life, but we can have confidence that each day is a day lived to bring honor and glory to Holy God. We can know that we are living each day focused on Him and His plan for our lives. We can face the challenging beginning of our lives with assurance that He who guides our steps will also light the path we are to travel. We can accept the middle years of life with appreciation for His provision, knowing that it is He who has brought us to this point. We can embrace the last years of life with the calm assurance that He stands ready to usher us into the great unknown of eternity.

I don’t know how you feel about where you are today; but my prayer is that you will allow Jesus Christ to be the “Boss” of your life. When He is “Boss,” there is a great sense of peace and joy, which cannot be manufactured, nor feigned.

If you don’t have real peace and joy, no matter your situation, then why don’t you cry out today to Jesus Christ who will draw you to Himself. It might be that God has brought you to this point just so you can hear His call. You see, you can’t come to Christ except He calls, and I’m convinced that He doesn’t always call. If you sense a need of Christ today, it is because He has touched your heart. Turn to Him, trust Him, He will change your heart and place within you the desire to follow and obey Him.

In Scripture, “faithfulness” is the word used to express “dependability.” Today’s frenetic society needs to realize that faithfulness is often a more desirable trait than speed. The parable of “The Tortoise and The Hare” demonstrates that faithfulness often results in more positive results than undisciplined speed.

Scripture teaches that God is faithful in that He has sent His promised Messiah, and that He will return one day for those whose names are written in The Lamb’s Book of Life.

You and I are also called upon to be faithful. Faithfulness in life means that others can depend upon us. We will do the right thing for the right reasons. Fathers are depended upon to set Christ-like examples for children and to provide for their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Mothers are depended upon to nurture and teach children how to live effectively in this world.

Today’s parents often seem to pre-occupied with themselves to care for their children properly. I remember my own Mother who worked at a secular job, then washed, ironed, and folded clothes so my sisters and I could have clean neat clothes to wear. She used a ringer type washing machine which required that each piece be hand fed through the ringer. Yet, she always had a little time for us. I’m amazed at today’s Mother’s who have such labor saving devices, yet never seem to have time for their children. Faithfulness requires doing what needs to be done, even though one is tired.

Father’s who work hard and come home, only to be ensconced in their favorite chair with their beverage of choice until time for supper, and then bed are hardly examples of faithfulness. Boys need Dad to play ball, hunt, fish, and just spend time with them. That time together is when principles of life are caught as well as taught.

David Bishop’s Panhard Auto only averaged a speed of 15 miles per hour, but it completed the course. Mom and Dad, perhaps it is time to engage in some preventative maintenance with your children. Preparing them for the long journey so that they, too, might complete the course without breaking down.

Children are extremely open to being taught principles by which to live. Despots have long recognized that fact. Communists often boasted: “Give us your child for the first ten years of his life, and we’ll have him forever.

God instructed Moses to have the children learn about Him. We’re told in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, “Listen, The Lord our God is one Lord: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your might. You must keep these words in your heart, and you must teach them diligently to your children and you shall talk about them continually as you go through life. Morning, evening, and night must be given over to so learning these truths, that they will be as clear as signs before your eyes. You must keep them in prominent places within your home, so they can be readily seen.”

God was telling us of the importance of learning truth and teaching it to our children. If our children learn God’s truth at an early age, and it becomes a vital part of their lives, even though they might be led temporarily astray, they will usually return to the God of their Youth.

As parents and grandparents, we must be diligent to see that our children receive the ongoing training they desperately need to succeed in this present age. If we don’t teach them God’s truth, the enemy will send a messenger to teach them the world’s error.

Purpose today to have your children and/or grandchildren in an environment where they can learn God’s truth. Be consistent. Be persistent. Make sure they are in a Bible teaching Church at every opportunity so that church becomes a way of life for them. Teach them daily of your trust and faith in God’s mercy.

Put away those things in your life which appear inconsistent, or incompatible with the life God calls you to live, so that your children will one day rise up and give thanks for your consistent lifestyle.