071915

Four things God cannot do (Part 1)

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

This is a message based on two scriptures:

The first scripture is found in Psalm and the second in the Book of Deuteronomy.

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. ² Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalms 90:1-2 KJV)

“You were shown [these things] so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him.” (Deuteronomy 4:35 HCSB)

Today we will embark on a four part article titled “What God Cannot Do.”

Our subject, in the light of the verses we have before us today, sound a little unscriptural.  Yet, I submit to you today that there are many false gods, but there is only ONE true and living God, who is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.  He holds all power in His mighty hands and yet, there are four things God cannot do, simply because He is God.

The first thing I want you to note is that God Cannot Die.

Questions are always asked, sincere questions regarding God and His existence.  One summer at youth camp in the eastern mountains of Tennessee, a seventh grader came to me at the end of the worship service and asked, “Where did God come from.”  Not long ago, a nine year old asked, “How old in God, really?”  One adult asked, “Is God really living today and where does He live.”  The Bible answers these questions and many more that you can ask.

The scripture plainly says, “…From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”  How long is “everlasting?”  There are no measurements or calculations of time whereby man can answer that question.  The finite mind cannot conceive the meaning of everlasting.  The never ending existence of our God is something we will never understand in this world-this side of heaven. 

Isaiah tells us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Job tells us that God, “does great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number.” (Job 9:10)

Look up and look as far as your eyes can see toward heaven.  There in the bright, blue sky, you can see the sun, which scientist tell us is 93 million miles away.  At night, we can see the stars, which according to science are farther away than the sun; yet, God’s precious Word tells us that God’s ways and thoughts are just that much higher than our ways and our thoughts.  That is the reason the finite mind cannot understand the everlasting eternity through which God will live.

God’s calendar and time clock do not travel in accordance with our estimation of time.  Man deals in years, whereas God deals in centuries.  It was the Apostle Peter who said that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

Our text says that God is FROM everlasting TO everlasting.  That means that God has always been, He has always been God, and He will continue to be God through the everlasting ages of eternity ahead.

You may say that since I am a preacher, I understand that, but since you are not, you do not understand that.  I want you to understand this: we are not supposed to understand it.  We are to take it all by faith!  Remember that the writer of Hebrews said, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)  In this day men are saved and kept by faith which comes by hearing the Word of God.  It is through the Word of God we come to know God.  And the Word of God tells us that God cannot die; He is from everlasting to everlasting. 

As long as Jesus tarries and waits for His return, our friends and family will die.  Sometimes we stand next to the open grave of the one dear to our hearts and Paul reminds us that death will be the last enemy to be destroyed.  He writes, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”  (1 Corinthians 15:26)  But praise God, death cannot and will not rob us of God, for He has the power over death, hell and the grave.  Before the mountains, He was!  And when the mountains have been moved out of their places, when “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10), our God will still be, and He will still be God!  He cannot die!

That is the reason that we know God as our Father and Christ as our Savior  and we can boost of everlasting life.  We are born of an everlasting Father, we have become His everlasting children.  Our earthly life will pass unless Jesus comes for His own during our natural lifetime; but praise God, we who are born of the Spirit have everlasting life, because our Father in heaven is from everlasting to everlasting!

Until next time…

(Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of the Rockford Baptist Church in Rockford, Alabama.  You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at fuller0717@gmail.com.)

Standing Sure

Standing Sure in a troubled time

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

We are living in troubled, difficult times.  As believers were are facing more than ever before things which I forefathers only dreamed of happening.  Christians are taking a beating!  We need to be reminded of three things today.

You have been called His children.

It is by adoption that you are no longer children of darkness and of the evil one.  No, as a believer, you are called sons and daughter of the most high, most holy God.  As His children you will be seen and judged by others by your response to difficult times which come in your life.  They will watch and see how you react or respond; their judgment will be fair as they test you strength and confidence by a simple test.

Children are a representation of the parents.  If you see a child who is a bully, most likely they have a parent who is a bully; a child who is depressed will most likely have a parent who abuses them or puts them down; and the list goes on.  Yes, the child is a mirror of their parents.  My father use to say, “If you see an ugly kid, follow them home and you will find an ugly mother or father.”  His statement, while humorous, was applicable to the biblical standard: God’s children will reveal God.  We have been called His children!

You have been placed above.

In Ephesians 2, Paul gives these words:

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient.  We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.  But God…made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!  He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:1-10 HCSB)

Here we find that we once were one way, but in Christ we are now something different.  We once were dead, sinners, under the penalty of a death sentence; but becomes of Christ and His grace we are now alive, made new, changed, recreated and in fellowship with the Heavenly Father.

In verse 6 the verse says that we are “seated in heavenly places.”  Kind of hard to comprehend, would you not say?  We live in society of sin; but we are seated in a place that is akin to heaven.

Physically, you are in this world.  You and I are walking in the mire, muck, and mud of this old sinful, crumbling, sad world.  Spiritually, you are “seated in heavenly places.”  You are a child of the king, with privileges at the seat of the Savior.  You are welcomed to the banquet table.  You are His by adoption and a part of the family of royalty.  Sure, we may be in the world but we are not of this world.

It is not easy; but then nothing in life really is easy.  When we live in a sin-sick, hell-bent world it is hard to realize our spiritual placement.  But then that is the reason we have the word of God, prayers of the saints and fellowship with brothers and sisters.  These are vital to our everyday life, yet so easily we take them all for granted.

You have been steadied by a Firm Foundation.

In Timothy, Paul writes to the young preacher boy these words which we should allow to penetrate our hearts and lives: “God’s solid foundation stands firm…” (2 Timothy 2:19)

When the tides of life seem to roll in, when the coaster you are on makes a sudden, drastic decline, and when all of the world seems to be turned upside down, remember you are placed on the foundation that will not, cannot move.  The world may be crumbling before your very eyes, but the Fathers world is being made new.

His foundation is based on four important principles.  One is that His foundation is based on a Son.  The Son of God that came into this world to bring the good news of peace and love, life and hope.  His Son lived in this world as a peasant, walking among the people of common standing, and never-not once-sinning.  This foundation is based on a Son, who is a Savior.  God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was sent into your world and my world to redeem mankind, but His willingness to die the death of a criminal.  He gave His life so I might have life!  The Son, who became a Savior, gives security to all who come to Him.  He makes eternal promises to us that are sure and secure.  Not one of His will escape the big hand of God.  And lasting, this Son who is the Savior giving security is a soon returning King.  Oh, yes, my friend; believer you are His and there is nothing else that can be done to earn your salvation and because you are His He is coming one day; one glorious day; to take us out of this sinful world and take us a place that cannot be touched or tainted by sin and sorrow, death and dying, hopelessness and despair.  We will be at home with Him, “seated in Heavenly places” for all of eternity.  Oh, what a glorious day that will be! 

That’s my foundation!  I stand strong on that ground, promised by His mighty, true Word!  I stand there now, here, and hereafter!  Because “all other ground is sinking sand…”

Amen!

(Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of the Rockford Baptist Church in Rockford, Alabama.  You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at fuller0717@gmail.com) 

Freedom's sure foundation

Freedom based on a sure foundation

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

I wrote last year the following except on one of my blogs.  I thought it to be timely in light of the trends in America, today.  I have changed a few things to bring it up-to-dat, but for the vast majority it is exactly as published.

We were once a great nation, a country admired by others and yet we seem to become more of an example of apathy.  A laughing stock, decried as a nation which is in more dead than alive.  Once proclaimed as a shining light we have allowed darkness to cloud the light.  Others see it and wonder what might become of this great nation.

While America sleeps, lulled into acceptance of whatever bodes well with the masses, our freedoms are being eroded, erased and replaced by things foreign to the intent of the original thoughts and intents of the Freedom Fighters of 239 years ago.

Oh my, wake up, America!  It is time we got on our knees and hit our feet and proclaimed freedom from sea to shining sea.

Our freedom is based on a firm foundation.  It has within the core the stones of Morality, Education, Law and Faith.

This is basically nothing more than a biblical worldview.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV)

When we turn to God we will find true freedom.  The only true and abiding freedom is found in Jesus Christ.  By placing Him as first in our life, giving Him all that are and every hope to be, and trusting His leadership we will be free.  Turn in the pages of the Word of God and see this is truth.

It is a proven fact that a nation which exalts God, will be a nation God blesses.  Over and over throughout the pages of the Old Testament we see that God is kind and giving to that nation which will stand for Him, even in the midst of sure defeat.  David wrote, “Happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh— the people He has chosen to be His own possession!” (Psalm 33:12 HCSB)

When He is sought, surrendered to and solely attached himself to the only way for hope and life, blessings were sure to come.

We know this to be true in our own lives.  God said, “[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 HCSB)

When we place Him as the center of our lives, we are truly at peace.  Solomon gave wise counsel to his son and it still rings true in the life of the Christian in the 21^st Century:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 HCSB)

We must also remember He works all things to His own pleasure.  (Romans 8:28)  He will reveal His will and we are to submit to His purposes for our lives.  This we were created for.

The National Monument of the Forefathers stands proudly in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  It is a statue of greatness as it commemorates the Pilgrims planting the colony of Plymouth and the contribution they made to the great nation at large.  It is an eighty-one-foot-tall structure made of granite which provides a matrix for how a free society is built on the Biblical ideals and worldviews, as was accomplished by these earlier settlers.

Matrix: “Something within which something else develops, originates, or takes shape; a mold or a die.” (Webster)

“The monument is composed of numerous statues; the more prominent is the heroic figure of Faith, standing with her right hand pointed to the heavens and the other holding a Bible.  At the base of the pedestal where Faith stands are four seated statues representing Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty-emblems of the principles upon which the Pilgrims built their Commonwealth, each also having a symbol referring to the Bible that Faith possesses.  Flanking these allegorical figures are smaller engravings representing more components of the template of liberty.”

It is said there are many engravings upon the monument, containing quotes from various sources.  One is that of Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Plantation.  It speaks to the truth that these Pilgrims were the “Parents of Our Republic.”  The quote is:

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the name of Jehovah have all praise.”

David Barton wrote:

“The monument provides is a matrix of liberty based upon a worldview of our forefathers.  Their ideas gave birth to the most free, prosperous, virtuous, and just nation the world has ever seen.  If we apply these principles today and build according to the successful pattern, we can expect the same results.”

George Washington is said to have commented, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and a Bible.” 

Faith is the basic makeup of the foundation.  Interlaced within the foundation are the principles of morality, law and education.  When we examine all that has transpired we see that faith is the basic tenant, a faith in some authority in order to determine what is considered correct or lawful behavior.  That authority being the Bible and the God of Creation.  All else has grown out of that basic tenant.  

We have the Declaration of Independence, the laws of the land, the principle of education, science, medicine and everything else that we have because under the surface is faith and faith is God, the Bible, Truth. 

It was Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and Father of Medicine in America who said:

“Christianity is the only true and perfect religion…As mankind adopts its principles and obeys it precepts, they will be wise and happy.”

God Bless America!

(Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of the Rockford Baptist Church in Rockford, Alabama.  You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at fuller0717@gmail.com)

Freedom to Be Heard

Declaring freedom

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

We celebrated our freedom as a country last Saturday.  Two Hundred Thirty Nine years ago our founding fathers placed their lives on the line to proclaim freedom.  It was Richard Henry Lee of Virginia standing before the Second Continental Congress who presented a resolution, which in part stated, “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

Congress appointed a committee of five men to hammer out a formal Declaration of Independence.  These men were: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman.  It was Thomas Jefferson who was asked by the other four members of the committee to do the actual writing.

Working feverously, the committee presented the document to congress on June 28, 1776.  As is common with any delegation or body, they did not immediately discuss the Declaration, instead focusing attention the resolution by Lee, which was formally adopted on July 2 when the United States of America declared independence from Great Britain.  Turning to the committee’s statement, Congress continued to discuss the document on July 3.

It was on July 4, after several alterations were made, that Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, and in bold, decisive strokes John Hancock of Massachusetts, serving as President of the body, signed the document.  All others members of Congress signed it as well and copies were prepared and rushed to the legislatures of the newly created states.  It was not until July 8 the Declaration was officially proclaimed in Philadelphia.

A most cherished statement, the document which was written by Thomas Jefferson has inspired others with its noble ideas and remarkable eloquence.  Yet, what should not be obscured is the practical position of the document.  There are three major purposes set forth which are most beautiful when examined with understanding. 

First, there is the Preamble and reasons for separation.  It was document meant to win public support for the cause of independence.  Here in the introduction we find listed twenty seven “reasons for separation” from Great Britain.  The king is seen as an evil ruler who was aiming to establish absolute tyranny over the colonies.  The harsh indictments are seen clearly in the grievances, as George III is said to have “forbidden, plundered, refused, constrained” in his response and treatment of the people.

We see the opposite is true of the colonist.  They are pictured as patient, submissive and longsuffering citizens, wanting to make things work out without conflict.  It is stated, “We have petitioned…we have warned…we have reminded…we have appealed.”

Secondly, we find the body of the document to reveal a new theory of government.  This is where we see why this document has lasting effect and admiration.  In the opening paragraph, Jefferson clearly and simply states the basic principles of democracy: “…all men are created equal…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; …among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  The phrase, “unalienable rights,” speaks of rights which cannot be taken away from the people-not by any government, not even by the people themselves.

It is clear the purpose of government is to “secure these rights.”  In order to the government obtains authority through the governed.  He wrote, “Their just powers [are derived] from the consent of the governed” and the people have the right to correct the government, control the government and chastise the government when it begins to act like a tyrant: “It is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.”

It is clear that the declaration states the right of the American colonist to revolt against the British rulers.  These theories outlined in the Declaration were an invitation to all men, in all times, to assume the right to rule themselves and to accept as truth that knowledge to which their reason had guided them.

Lastly, we see a formal declaration of war.  The last paragraph contains the announcement that war existed.  Thomas Paine had predicted there were practical advantages for the Patriots, but it also came with grave consequences.  Should the Patriots fail in making good on their claim to independence, the revolutionary leaders could be judged guilty of treason against the British Crown and executed as traitors.

In the document this is said to be done as they pledged “our lives,” knowing this possibility.  They were willing to give up all they had; their “lives…fortunes…sacred honor” to the success of winning the struggle and these were not idle words of political rhetoric.  Every man who bent, with quill in hand, signing the document knew the possible results and must have had some deep sense of anxiety, yet they willingly sacrificed all for the cause.  They pledged all and failure would be ruin.

Therefore let us not lose sight of what made us free and forever proclaim freedom.  Do so by voting, do so by staying informed, do so by calling legislators with your opinions regarding pressing matters before our lawmakers, and do so by standing for truth and justice.

God bless America!

(Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of the Rockford Baptist Church in Rockford, Alabama.  You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at fuller0717@gmail.com.)

http://stonedwitnesses.blogspot.com/2014/07/declaring-freedom.html

Time to Choose

Time to Choose!

July 5, 2015 AM RBC

With all the flag flapping and monument movers; the marriage issues and the offending of political correctness going on in the nation, it has made me do so thinking..

Yes, I have thought about moving to some island and letting the liberals have it all to themselves.  I have also thought about hunkering down, barricading myself and my family in our palace and daring anyone to “Tread on Me.”  Yet, with those and many other thoughts, I have come to a conclusion.

Read the following scripture:

“Then Jeshurun became fat and rebelled— you became fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation. They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with detestable practices. They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known, new gods that had just arrived, which your fathers did not fear. You ignored the Rock who gave you birth; you forgot the God who gave birth to you. When the LORD saw ⌊this⌋, He despised ⌊them⌋, provoked ⌊to anger⌋ by His sons and daughters. He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will become of them, for they are a perverse generation— unfaithful children. (Deuteronomy 32:15-20 HCSB)

The leader Moses, stands before his people, preparing them to enter into the Promised Land.  He has recounted for them the wonderful blessings God has bestowed on them, how He has cared for them, carrying them through the wilderness, providing for them both physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Moses has now some to a place and time, when they are getting ready to actually cross into Canaan.  The law has been given, the commands have been sounded and Moses says, “Alright, boys, it is time to choose.”

He begins this section of his sermon with the name “Jeshurun.”  It is an illustration of great importance, for the name means, “righteous,” which literally means, “the upright one.”  Talking to the people who are chosen by God as His own special people, Moses refers to the “righteous” in an effort to warn them that they must choose the right path and walk in it.  To turn from the path would be sure disaster.

In stronger terms, God uses this term to remind Israel of His calling and to severely rebuke any possibility of apostasy.  If they fail to follow His path there will be consequences, sure punishment and sorrow laden with sorrow.  We see them as they become blessed beyond measure, affluent with bountiful provisions.  But they become rebellious against God, unthankful and disobedient.

While America may not be “chosen” as the special child of God it is a nation that has enjoyed a bountiful blessing of God’s provision.  The laws of our land are laws based on the Ten Commandments, given by God, yet tossed to the side as if garbage.  Resources have flowed like “milk and honey” in the land, but have any been thankful?  Churches have flourished yet government and liberals have established barriers and roadblocks have every turn.  Education and social assistance began in the church, the church gave it away and the government has made it all a laughing stock.  History is full of God’s goodness and care, but are we mindful of it?  Rebellion has become common place among the nation, will we ever learn that God is in control and not man? 

The scripture speaks of making a choice, choosing God’s ways.  Now is the time to choose.

In Deuteronomy 32:15-20 we see:

God gives the power to choose (15).  He did not create robots, but individuals with a mind and will.  The freedom of choice is ours and we can choose to love and obey God, which results in blessings (16) or we can choose to reject God which results in death (17-18).

The death spoken of is not necessarily physical death.  Many have incurred “living death” as they have chosen their way over God’s way and live in a rotten existence.  Some nations have chosen their way, vices, and plans only to experience the death of nation; Rome crumbled from within.  And the list goes on and one.

When God is made Lord, in control and bowed to then life comes.  Therefore we are to choose life (19-20).

Other verse come to mind as we celebrate our freedom as a Nation:

“Happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh— the people He has chosen to be His own possession!” (Psalm 33:12HCSB)

“My soul, praise the LORD, and do not forget all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2 HCSB)

“My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands…” (Proverbs 3:1 HCSB)

A post on Facebook got me to thinking clearly regarding all of the things transpiring in our world today:

“I want to start this statement by saying I am a Christian...I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ as Savior and the Holy Spirit as my guide. I believe in the inerrant Word of God and know that it is the ultimate instruction book on how to live our lives. I do not hate anyone...but I do hate sin. I try to live my life according to God's Word, but also know that I am not perfect...neither are the ones reading this or anyone else. But we are getting so caught up in the fact that someone has taken down a flag and sin is being legalized that we forget that true FREEDOM comes through CHRIST. Sure they say PRAYER is illegal in certain places and atheist and some liberals have tried to limit where and when it can be said, but God is everywhere and listening all the time. The battle we as Christians face is not of the WORLD, but in the spiritual realm. Wanna fight the good fight? Then pray....not for the flying of a flag or necessarily for legislation, but for the ones who are allowed to make these decisions to get right with God! Not their form of right, but God's. Not our will as we make it, but God's perfect will. Have the compassion of Christ for people you dislike or don't agree with. Forgive them and yourselves. Pray for them and yourselves. You cannot out do God. He is sovereign, still on the throne and will not be mocked. As Christians, we need to refocus our attention away from the news and be about the Father's business sharing the Good News in a lost and dying world. Put away our differences and stop fighting among ourselves. In the past 4 weeks, here in this small Rockford Baptist Church, God has shown us HIS power despite what is going on in the world. 12 DECISIONS FOR CHRIST HAVE BEEN MADE...I'm not caught up in the number, but in the Glory it brings God. See despite all that is going on....people are still searching for peace and finding it in Christ. We as a unified Church of the one living God should be together in prayer to save the world through the power of the cross...not the power of Washington.” (Tina Self Fuller) 

Franklin Graham wrote:

“The President had the White House lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. This is outrageous—a real slap in the face to the millions of Americans who do not support same-sex marriage and whose voice is being ignored. God is the one who gave the rainbow, and it was associated with His judgment. God sent a flood to wipe out the entire world because mankind had become so wicked and violent. One man, Noah, was found righteous and escaped God’s judgment with his family. The rainbow was a sign to Noah that God would not use the flood again to judge the world. But one day God is going to judge sin—all sin. Only those who are found righteous will be able to escape His judgment. That righteousness comes through faith, believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who took our sins and shed His blood on the cross for each and every one. So, when we see the gay pride rainbow splashed on business advertisements and many people’s Facebook pages, may it remind all of us of God’s judgment to come.  Are you ready? Are your sins forgiven?

Oh, my how we need to be reminded:

“We need to become One Nation Under God again.”

“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Attributed to Abraham Lincoln

“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Ronald Reagan

Choosing life means that we will:

Study- Take the Word of God and watch the times play out before our very eyes.  We are to treasure God’s Word in our heart and study it so that we may be a prepared workman.  God’s Word is clearly as timely time as the Wall Street Journal.  Take it in hand, read it, and meditate on it; it will secure you in the time we live in.

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.” (Psalm 1:1-6HCSB)

By the way, God’s Word is God’s Word.  It has stood the times and will to the very end.  When this world is in ashes and exist no more, God’s Word will still stand.  Those in leadership can belittle it, take from it, attempt to change it, and pay no attention it, but that in no way will diminish that it is the Word of God.  So, take it and hide it; cherish it and treasure it and be ready.

Pray- We are reminded in the Word of God to pray without ceasing, at all times, and to allow our prayers to be confessions and transformational (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The elements to pray are to be reminded we are called, to be humble, pray and seek His face.  In return He will hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.  That is a promise from the God hand person-God the Father!

Oh, we need to pray America!  We need to turn our hearts to Him, pray for those in leadership, pray for our churches and our homes!  Pray! 

Live- So that others see Jesus.  Remember, our lives reflect what we believe.  Therefore it is imperative, more than at any other time, to live in public what we do in private.  Live for Jesus!

Share- The Gospel.  The Good News.  Cannot debate.  That is something no one can debate.  It is clear and a non-debatable issue.

Debates lead to quarrels and in the end anger, bitterness, and labeling.  Debating is what is giving so many a black eye today.  They are so busy trying to be heard, they are forsaking the main thing of life.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel…” (Romans 1:16)

The gospel is the answer!  It covers all of the problems of life today!  It is simply that Jesus was born and lived; died and rose again; and He ascended and will descend.  That is the Good News; it is the Gospel!  It saves sinners and sanctifies saints.    

Make a choice- Take a stand and stay there.  If you find that it is good to stand with the world, then so be it; if you choose to take a stand with God and right, then so be it.  But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!

While we choose life by trusting Christ as Savior (Romans 10:9-10) then may we let others hear the truth.  Elected officials and high courts as we showing the firm ground on which we stand and that firm ground is the Rock, and that Rock is Jesus!

Amen!

Persecuted Christians

Persecuted Christians

When we examine the issue of persecuted Christians around the world, we realize how dangerous it is to believe in Jesus Christ.

Fifty countries have been identified as places of persecuted for Christians.  North Korea is at the number one spot, with between 50,000-70,000 imprisoned for their stalwart faith in Christ.  These individuals have found themselves locked away with prison camps.  For those still “free” they have no food and are always looking over their shoulders as they are aware that the government sends spies to search for believers.  Constant fear is the way of life for these faithful believers.

Afghanistan comes in at number five.  Christians with an Afghan nationality come from a Muslim background and should they be found to following “the way” are severely mistreated and ultimately killed for their faith.

An average of 180 Christians are killed each month for their faith.  Take a moment and think about that number.  It is the just a few more than the average church in America!  Most are persecuted by Islamic extremists.

In March of this year, a video was released by ISIS declaring war on “THE CROSS” as twenty one Christians are beheaded.  How would you fare should this come to America?

Now that’s the world, but how about what is happening on American soil.  We may not be persecuted to death, but we are being persecuted for our faith in Christ alone.  Anti-Christian sentiment is growing at breakneck speed as reported by Charisma News.  The Family Research Council and Liberty Instituted reported-in Charisma News-there were 600 cases of persecuted Christians las year compared to 1,200 this year alone.

The list is long and disturbing regarding those who have been marked for persecution, but three stood out to me:

A college student is asked to remove her cross during student orientation, so are not to offend an incoming freshmen class.

An Air Force Senior Master Sargent got in trouble when asked by a commanding officer (please read “asked” as “commanded”) to answer how he felt about gay marriage.

NFL running back Craig James was booted from FOX News because of his firm beliefs in Christ.

It appears the First Amendment rights are at stake at the junction in American history.  Instead of being protected, Christians are being targets for discrimination, treated with hatred and as the enemy.

Here is a question we must all ponder: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Are you living in such a way that you would be held for the cause of Christ and persecuted for your faith?

Now we are seeing Churches being attacked for the cause of Christ!  In Charleston, nine people died during a prayer meeting; gunned now by an extremist; in Memphis a church was shot at during a Wednesday night Choir practice; in Richmond a knife-wielding man disrupted a prayer vigil for the Charleston church.  And on we go!

What are we to do?  When the foundations are being eroded and faith is called into question, what are we to do?

In Ephesians 6, we read:

“Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19-20 HCSB)

This section of scripture comes on the tail end of Paul’s admonition to “Take up the full armor of God.”

 “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.” (Ephesians 6:10-17 HCSB)

Ending these clothing requirements for the believer, the old Apostle sounds the alarm, requiring that we pray.  Pray at all times, pray without ceasing, and when you think you have prayed enough, you best pray some more.  This is the best and proper way to live the life of Christ.  Stay in constant communication with Him.

There is also a few other things I would add to that requirement.  In a world of persecution we must live…

FAITH

When you open the Bible, God’s Holy Word, to the book of Hebrews, particularly chapter eleven, you will read:

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.” (Hebrews 11:1-3 HCSB)

Among those precious words you find example after example of men and women who lived a life in faith in difficult, troublesome times.  There is Abraham, Moses, David, Noah, Rahab; all examples of a life lived for God.  Devoted to the call of God on their lives.

These are our examples, listed in “The Hall of Faith.”  They remind us that faith carried them and will carries us through and into eternal life.

FIRM

In 1 Corinthians 15, we read:

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 HCSB)

This reminds me of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” (Matthew 7:24-27 HCSB)

How can we be firm in a world that is turning soft and seems to be falling into the abyss?

I firmly believe that the church is a place to find what we need for daily living.  When I talk about the church, I am not focusing on a building of mortar and rocks, but I am talking about people of flesh and blood.  The church is the body of Christ!  We ought to not forsake the assembly of believers where we learn and grow; are encouraged and spend time with other believers who are experiencing the same struggles and heartaches we are in our lives. (Acts 2: 41-47)

Daily we who call ourselves by the name of Christ should live out of beliefs in the public square.  Others should not see us, but Christ in us.  We should be out in the world, being salt and light; making a difference in the world.  What we do in the church house we should do in the public square.

Yet, above all be humble.  It was Christ who is our ultimate guide. He lived in such a way that others marveled at His life.  Oh, that others would see me and think of Him.

FINAL

James writes:

“Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!” (James 5:7-9 HCSB)

God’s reward for loving Him and living with Him is eternal life.  One day, our greatest desire to hear the words of the Father say, “Well done, thou God and faithful servant…”

For we will escape the temporal bonds of this life of struggle and trouble and turmoil to be with Him for all of eternity.  It is there, where there will be no pain, suffering, sickness or death, sorrow or tears (Revelation 21), we will be with the Father and the Son.  Oh, that will be glory for me.

Until then, I will live for Jesus who died for me!

Praise the Lord!

(This was a message by Dr. Jeff Fuller at Rockford Baptist Church on June 21, 2015 during the Sunday morning service.)

These are some rambling thoughts regarding my dad.  Mostly incomplete but I may come back next week and brush them up.  Thanks for taking the time to read.

Memories of Dad #1

Father’s Day is fast approaching and I am recalling my own dad this week.  Both sorrow and joy; happiness and sadness fill my every moment.  It causes me to be slightly moody, extra sensitive, and weepy as memories escape from my eyes.

Dad passed from this life to eternity just three years ago this November.  His life was filled with both hurt and happiness.  Born at the end of the Great Depression, he knew what it meant to grow up hard.  He was raised on a farm which was the way the family of five survived.  Hard work, manual labor and scraping by were constant companions.  After graduating from Lawrence County High School he worked various jobs-one of which was Hayes Aircraft-but conservationism became his calling.  He worked for the Soil Conservation Service for 30+ years.  He served as a technician in Cullman County, Marshall County, Talladega County and DeKalb County.  I do not believe he would have left that job if they had not pretty much made him retire.

His life was made complete by the people and places he was able to meet and make a difference in relation to conserving the land.  Farmers and business people alike respected his opinion.  He was well thought of and known.  He is sorely missed.

This Father’s Day would have been his 51^st year as a father, a daddy.  They say that any man can be a father, but few can be a daddy.  That is true of John Fuller.  He was my father, born to him in 1964; but he was my daddy because he was there for me.  I still find myself, even after almost three years picking up the phone to dial his number and ask him some stupid question because I cannot for the life of me figure something out.

He would be a might disgusted with me about my progress with the little patio I am trying to build; the fact that I let the AC on the car go so long before getting it fixed; and the truck needing a paint job.  Then he would be so proud of the other things which far outweigh the smaller things.  Sometimes I just want to hear him talk to me.

I miss him a great deal. 

He was my hero. 

   

Memories of Dad #2

I read this morning a fitting thought for me today:

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory that no one can steal.”

Memories have flooded back over the past few weeks, particularly last week while at youth camp at Camp Toknowhim in Pisgah, Alabama.  These memories were good and healthy, but choked me up as well.

Pisgah is just across the Jackson County line from DeKalb County on Sand Mountain and a few miles from Henagar, Alabama.  Of course, DeKalb County is where I spent the greatest past of my “growing up years” in the home of a conservationist, my dad John Fuller.

From Rockford, to get to Pisgah, you must enter DeKalb County from the south on Interstate 59 and go up the mountain at various places.  On this trip we came in from Gadsden and stopped in Fort Payne, then traveled toward Henagar from Terrapin Hills.  On both sides of the interstate, along the county roads and through the small communities the land is dotted by farms, both large and small.

As I led the little convoy, my eyes caught the chicken houses, the barns, the cattle grazing in the pastures, and ponds and lakes.  Such beautiful sites which caused me to reflect on life in DeKalb County and the work my dad performed all over the county and later in adjoining counties.  He sat with farmers under large oak trees (some of those trees are no longer three since the tornadoes of 2011) sipping ice tea and talking about cattle and the right way to care for them.  Or the ponds and lakes scattered all over the area which he designed and helped build, filling them with a variety of fish for recreation.  Or the houses he helped farmers build to break down chicken litter in order to use it for fertilizer; or the reclaiming of strip mines after they had caused a great deal of problems on the mountain; or the work he performed on the watershed committee among Marshal/DeKalb/Jackson County.

I remembers the stories.  One was the day he came back to the office after getting a contract signed by Randy Owen for a wildlife refuge they were working on and his secretary was trying to figure a legal way to get a copy of the autograph.  Another was a confrontation in the big woods with a couple of rough necks who though he was a revenuer.  Then the time he was walking a field to build terraces and found a ripe, ready patch of marijuana. 

The one that still to this day causes me to laugh out loud is about a bull that attacked his truck.  He and one of the part-timers-a helper-were at a farm and had gone through a gate, which he had the keys to and closed it and locked it behind them.  After taking care of the job they had come to do, which was to stake out a place for a pond, they were observing the cattle as they got to the gate.  The heifers seemed to be rather restless and slowly moving in their direction.  He and the part-timer got out to unlock the gate.  As dad was searching for the key a big bull starting charging toward the truck.  He quickly got the lock undone, left the part-timer with the gate and began to move the truck, but not fast enough.  The bull made contact with the rear of the truck and pushed him through the gate, as his helper was closing it as fast as possible without getting caught in the crossfire.  Needless to say Mr. Bull was on the path of aggression and beating the gate with his head as dad was locking it and backing away.

Both men took a deep breath as they stood looking at the bull with a locked gate between them.  Dad inspected the damage done to his fender, bumper and tailgate.  He shook his head in disgust and then laughed, out loud; a deep, rumbling laugh.  The reason: he knew that no one would believe that Teddy Gentry’s prize bull had attacked his truck and nearly took him out.  Yet, off to the office he went to fill out the needed paperwork.

Yes, lately these are the memories I seem to continue to think about and which can never be taken away.

DeKalb County was good to me dad and our family.  I learned a lot about life by watching him.

I remember a time when farmers were having a difficult time and some were even having to sell out or going bankrupt because of the tough economy.  Some men cornered dad one day, asking about inside information on some land which they were interested in.  They were actually attempting to get the land for a price which was neither fair nor ethical.  They were seeking dad’s help in persuading the farmers to take the price being offered.  Dad quickly and very matter-of-fact put them men in their place.

He worked hard and long hours, sometimes without compensation, to protect the farmers.  He helped them get through the rough times by sharing new and innovative ways to make the most of their land and work.  Constantly taking the side of the farmer and their interest.  Dad was very well respected in that area.  His advice and thoughts were something farmers took seriously.

He allowed himself to be spent helping others. 

Memories of Dad #3   

As a young boy, probably five or six, I would tag along with dad on some of his weekend jobs.  To make a little extra money he would do surveying for a local company.  We were in Talladega then and he would leave out early on Saturday morning with a lunch pail for both of us.  We would climb into whatever was the choice automobile for him at the time.  (We may get back to that later) 

One job he did was the survey for the new high school in Talladega.  I believe it was the summer of 1971 or ’72 (the school was completed in 1973 so it may have been earlier) and we were cutting through the underbrush as he was carrying the survey equipment.  I learned that I was to follow his path, watch him and everything would be alright.  He taught me to step on a log before crossing it, what it meant not to move the boundary lines, and how to enjoy God’s great outdoors.

We would eat our lunch under a tree beside the truck.  The best thing was to stop at the old country store and get a moon pie and RC Cola. 

One Saturday he wanted to drive out to a site where he was overseeing a huge lake being built off of Highway 77.  It was a ways off of the highway on the Talladega side of where Speedway Boulevard begins outside of Lincoln.  We rode out an old logging road which had been recently been run over by a grader, through a forest of pines, to an expansive opening.  It was huge to a little boys eyes.  More than that there, slowly moving along below is were some of the largest earth movers I had ever seen.

The contractor in charge came up to speak to dad; the conversation meant nothing to me because I was watching the activity of dump trucks, front end loaders, tractors as each slowly, methodically were moving dirt and digging dirt and creating a huge crater in the ground.  This was so much different from the small sand box I had at home with all the little toy equipment and not at all like the tractors on the various farms visited as I was growing up.

Then the contractor asked if I would like to drive one of the tractors.  I was beyond happy now!  He led me along the edge of the soon to be lake, hoisted me up on a machine with tires that seemed larger than life, and seated me in the driver’s seat.  He took time to show me the variety of levers, paddles, gauges, and other devices.  Then he came into the cab and we started moved around the lip of the hole.  Slowly, the huge machine rumbled and groaned as he let me lift and lower the bucket, dig a little dirt, and “drive” this larger than life.  It was a day I still recall and the smell and sounds still assault me from time to time; the mixture of fresh soil, diesel and the rumbles, groaning, loud talking.

More later...