philmorgan.org

ATTENTION: Blog Moved

2010-02-10T09:00:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

I've moved this blog over to a self-hosted Wordpress site. Check it out at www.philmorgan.org

Phil

A Great Mystery

2009-04-19T21:16:00.003-04:00

This morning's Message Outline:

4/19/09 - First Assembly of God

"A Great Mystery"

Ephesians 5:22-33

Christian marriage is not an end in itself. Marriage is God’s living illustration of His relationship with His people – Christ’s relationship to His bride, the Church.

1. Jesus is the Founder and Head of the Church (v23-24)

2. Jesus is the greatest Lover of the Church (v25)

3. Jesus is the Perfector of the Church (v26-27)

Church Membership classes commence Sunday morning, May 17th, at 9.30am. If you attend First Assembly and have not yet become a member we invite you to join us for this 4 week series.

CLICK HERE to download this message as an audio podcast, or listen online streaming, and / or download the full notes.

Phil

Town Hall for Hope event

2009-04-15T09:43:00.009-04:00

We are very pleased to be hosting Dave Ramsey's nationwide "Town Hall for Hope".

Next Thursday night, April 23rd at 8.00pm.

[Note: the event is at our church facility -

not at the local Town Hall.]

Last year we ran Dave's "Financial Peace University" training course at First Assembly, and it was one of the best-attended, most talked-about programs we've had. So many people were encouraged and helped very practically with getting their finances in better shape. This is just THE best stuff out there on personal financial management ... bar none ... no question!

What a timely course it turned out to be with what has ensued over the following months in our economy, and the fear and gloom that has gripped so many people as a result.

This one night event is designed to give people back hope, and some real answers and strategies for their families. If you live in the Danbury area, don't miss being with us next Thursday night! If you live further away, this event is being beamed live via internet into churches all over the place so go to www.townhallforhope.com and find out the nearest venue to where you live. There's also a cool video on that page for everyone to watch that will just get you excited about what next week's event is all about.

This is a no-cost event. Just come, and bring all your friends! I look forward to seeing you there.

Phil

Easter's Joy

2009-04-13T15:00:00.006-04:00

Yesterday's Message Outline:

Easter Sunday 4/12/09 - First Assembly of God

"Easter's Joy"

John 20:19-20

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is MORE than just a historical fact ; MORE than simply a theological truth; MORE than a doctrinal statement (though it IS all of these things). The resurrection is the most wonderful, practical, liberating comfort for believers. To know that Jesus is alive!

1. The Distress of not Knowing that Jesus is Risen

2. The Distrust of not Believing that Jesus is Risen

3. The Joy of Knowing that Jesus is Risen

CLICK HERE to download this message as an audio podcast, or listen online streaming, and / or download the full notes.

Please Note: We apologize that there is no audio podcast available of Good Friday's message. The full notes, however, can be downloaded at the same link above.

Phil

Quotes for chewing on #3 – Piper: a prayer for eternal perspective

2009-04-06T16:45:00.001-04:00

“Fight for us, O God, that we not drift numb and blind and foolish into vain and empty excitements. Life is too short, too precious, too painful to waste on worldly bubbles that burst. Heaven is too great, hell is too horrible, eternity is too long that we should putter around on the porch of eternity."

John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, p.72.

Do You Think He Will Not Come?

2009-04-05T15:28:00.004-04:00

This morning's Message Outline:

Palm Sunday 4/5/09 - First Assembly of God

"Do You Think He Will Not Come?"

John 11:56

So, will He come to Jerusalem? Does He dare? The question is about to be resoundly answered. Absolutely He will come!

1. He’ll come because it was for this purpose that He took on flesh

2. He’ll come because no man holds His destiny

3. He’ll come because this week is the apex of eternity

Once again in 2009 the same question is being asked. 2 Peter 3:3-10.

He will come. Are you ready?

CLICK HERE to download this message as an audio podcast, or listen online streaming, and / or download the full notes.

Phil

Palm Sunday & Holy Week

2009-04-04T15:21:00.010-04:00

Tomorrow we begin “Holy Week”, the central event of the Christian calendar. If you’re in the Danbury area we hope you’ll come out and join us at First Assembly for our Palm Sunday service at 10.45am.

My message tomorrow morning is titled “Do you think He will not come?” from John 11:56. A question that was asked in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, that was powerfully answered by God, and is being asked again in 2009. I can’t wait to preach what I’ve felt God putting on my heart for this very special day.

Join us also for our regular Sunday Night Revival Prayer meeting at 6.00pm.

A look forward to Good Friday morning, we’ll be having a one hour communion service together at 9.00am. Our theme will be “The True Agony of the Cross.” A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to the physical suffering Jesus endured at the Cross. Films like “The Passion of the Christ” have emphasized it for us. Jesus DID suffer a horrific death, but the Scriptures show very clearly that the TRUE agony He bore was not primarily the physical torture. Something else caused Him to sweat drops of blood in anticipation. Don’t miss our Good Friday service!

Then our week will climax on next Easter Sunday morning with the celebration that “He is Risen!”

Looking forward to sharing this wonderful week with you, and giving all the honor, praise, adoration and glory to our Savior. He alone is worthy!

Phil

The Uniqueness of God

2009-04-03T10:26:00.012-04:00

The Book of Deuteronomy recounts Moses "farewell" at the end of his life. He is preparing the people of Israel to move into the Promised Land under the leadership of his successor Joshua. Moses himself would not go in with them.

The name "Deuteronomy" comes from two words: "deuteros" meaning "two" or "second", and "nomos" meaning "law" - so it is "the second giving of the law". Moses is repeating all of God's requirements to a new generation of Israelites. Their parents had been delivered from slavery in Egypt, but faltered at the opportunity to enter the Promised Land through fear, and so they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years until this new generation came up to once again be given the opportunity to obey God.

That's the context.

I've been musing on Deuteronomy chapter 4 this week, where we read about a number of aspects of God's uniqueness.

He alone is God, and there is none like Him. Of course, in reality there are no other "gods" to even pretend to compare with Him, but even the so-called gods that exist as fantasies in the imagination of men cannot compare with His glory.

Usually, when men get outside the realm of reality and create fictional places and people, they are better, stronger, richer, greater. This is how we entertain ourselves with Utopian bliss. What if a man was indestructible and could fly? Ah yes, Superman! Better than a man with our mundane limitations. Or a James Bond, or a Sherlock Holmes, etc, etc.

But when it comes to God, all of man's wildest imaginations about how powerful such a being might be pale into insignificance beside the reality! The only true and living God is actually greater by far than all that men could dream up. God Himself points this out to us in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

This truth is all over the Bible, of course, but in this one passage in Deuteronomy chapter 4, just look at the ways that God is shown to be unique:

No other "god" is near to His people whenever they call (v7).

No other "god" has such righteous law (v8).

No other "god" is a merciful covenant-keeping God (v31).

No other "god" is a speaking God (v33).

No other "god" powerfully delivered a chosen people for Himself (v34).

Check the other religions of the world for yourself! None have a god like the True and Living God, Jehovah.

In all man's idolatrous and imaginitive scheming over 6000 years of history, not ONE of their "gods" is worthy to compare with the glory and beauty of their real Creator.

Phil

Congratulations Alli!

2009-04-02T20:05:00.006-04:00

My amazing wife ...

recently completed studies with the Danbury Nurses Aide Training School, and on Monday she sat for the Connecticut State Exam and passed with flying colors! She is now a Certified Nurses Aide (CNA). Tomorrow she's off to add CPR training to her skills. Is there anything this gal can't do, and pack into a lifetime?

Congratulations, honey!

Phil

Quotes for chewing on #2 - Calvin on the Pastor's voice

2009-03-28T15:36:00.003-04:00

"The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both."

John Calvin, Commentaries on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, Baker p.296

Sermon - "The Madhouse of the Universe"

2009-03-26T18:05:00.008-04:00

Oswald J. Smith was the Pastor of The People's Church in Toronto, Canada.

He had a burning passion for evangelism, and over the course of his ministry raised millions of dollars for the cause of world missions. He popularized the Faith Promise system of prioritizing missions giving that is still used in thousands of local churches.

"The Madhouse of the Universe" is an evangelistic sermon he preached on the subject of hell. Based on a simple idea and outline, Smith's imagery is vivid and compelling. CLICK HERE to read this classic sermon.

Phil

Quotes for chewing on #1 - Piper on the rightful centrality of God's glory in our lives

2009-03-26T11:21:00.005-04:00

"We were made to know and treasure the glory of God above all things; and when we trade that treasure for images, everything is disordered. The sun of God's glory was made to shine at the center of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in their proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything flies apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to it's flaming, all-attracting place at the center."

John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, p.15.

BOOK REVIEW - "Why We're Not Emergent"

2009-03-23T09:46:00.006-04:00

Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be), by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008.

This book has been reviewed quite extensively around the internet since it's publication last year. I bought a copy quite early, but had not gotten around to reading it.

The ideas postulated by the very nebulous group that come under the umbrella term of the "emergent church", is clearly nothing more or other than a regurgitation of the standard liberal theology that rose (and largely fizzled as a real force) in the 20th Century. Emergents claim to be a "revolution" in the church for a postmodern generation, but there is absolutely nothing new in what they are saying, so any thought of being revolutionary is quite ridiculous.

The authors of this book are far less blunt in their writing than I have been in the paragraph above, but their conclusion is the same. I should mention that they have a website where you can download a sample chapter.

This is a good read, and I believe every committed, Bible-believing Christian ought to know something about this movement. (If only to steer others from it, and back to orthodox Christianity.) It's written in a popular style, with the authors alternating chapters. DeYoung is the more pastoral and theological of the two; Kluck the more amusing and provocative. If you want a more scholarly treatment of the subject, D.A.Carson's contribution ("Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church") has been very well received.

My only complaint with the book is that I found it a little repetitive after the first few chapters, and was tempted to start skimming.

For me: 3 and 1/2 stars out of 5.

Phil

Seek ... do ... teach

2009-03-19T10:24:00.009-04:00

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra7:10)

I love this character, Ezra. He was an honorable man, chosen by God to lead in the rebuilding of the Temple. He was not a warrior or a king; nor even a thundering prophet. He was a “plain” man, faithful to his calling as “a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses” (v6). In other words, he was a “workman in the Word” (see 2 Timothy 2:15).

Note what verse 10 says. Ezra gave himself with a serious commitment to “seeking”, “doing” and “teaching” the Word of God. Some people might see these skills, this occupation, as mundane and unglamorous, but God seeks out such a servant to use for His purposes – for “He has magnified His Word above all His Name”. (Psalm 138:2)

Ezra’s distinction was in his devotion to his calling. He “prepared his heart” for it. A lot of people have been deemed great Christian leaders for their charisma or natural leadership ability, but the Christians who have changed the course of world history for God’s glory have been those that have buried themselves in the Word of God, seeking to know His message, and have meticulously applied it to their own lives to be changed by it, and only then have emerged to teach it to others. This is the only right order – “SEEKING” (studying) … “DOING” … then “TEACHING”.

Think of St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, and others, who “though dead yet still speak” … men bent over parchments and books by lamplight, wrestling with the great truths of God, and emerging broken and humbled, walking with a spiritual “limp” as real as Jacob’s physical limp after his wrestling match with God (Genesis 32). And only then did they dare to open their mouths and with trembling lips instruct others.

What a contrast to the flippancy of our day. The spotlight seems to fall on any novice who can tell a joke with good timing. If a preacher comes out with something that seems ”new” and pithy, it is received with oohs and aahs, regardless of whether it has any substantive basis in rightly interpreted Scripture.

Thank God there are still Ezras. In fact, there is a growing column of “soldiers of the Book”, who love God’s Word and are dedicated to SEEKING, DOING and only then TEACHING it. We need more.

There is a clear challenge here, of course, to pastors and preachers. But not exclusively. Every Christian ought to be a seeker, a doer, and a teacher of God’s Word. Can I challenge you with the following:

Avoid “soundbyte” Christianity, where we live on a diet of sermonettes and bumper sticker slogans. Don’t look for “3 steps to a happier life” – learn everything God’s Word has to say about living for His glory. It will take you a lifetime.

Prayerfully read God’s Word every day.Learn to study God’s Word (take some training in how to rightly interpret the Bible. CLICK HERE for a resource I highly recommend).

Eagerly participate in Bible Study opportunities at your church. Be there when it's being taught, sit up the front, take notes; be determined to get everything you can!

Be sure to put what you are learning into practice in your own life; don’t allow hypocrisy in your life by “knowing and teaching” but not LIVING it.

Share the truth with others. Tell the gospel to unbelievers, and share the encouragement and correction of God’s Word with other committed Christians to build them up.

Phil

Paul's burden

2009-03-13T00:39:00.013-04:00

"For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles ... that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel" (Ephesians 3:1, 6)

We see here what was driving Paul in his passion for preaching the gospel. He had a very evident love for the Lord, and also a love for people; for precious lost souls. He said “I am Christ's prisoner FOR YOU GENTILES." "I wouldn’t be in this prison cell, except for my love for you, that you hear and know the truth, and come to Christ."

It's the same burden that he conveys in Romans 1:14, "I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel ..."

He was a prisoner. He was a debtor. He saw their faces when he was lying down at night trying to sleep. He was haunted by the sound of their footsteps marching toward the precipice of hell without Christ, and therefore with no hope.

God is always looking for the man or woman that He can yoke His passion for souls to. Such people have changed time and eternity by their prayers and preaching.

“Oh mother! Mother! The thud of these Christless feet on their way to hell breaks my heart!” (Willie Burns, at age 17, later used by God to start revivals in Scotland and China)

"I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts…no amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic love for human souls." (David Brainerd)

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for." (Charles Spurgeon)

These men had caught a glimpse of the lake of fire; they had smelled it's rising sulphur. Do WE have any idea what an eternity in hell will be like?

Listen to the words of Jonathan Edwards:

"Thus it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it; the infinite might, and majesty, and terribleness of the omnipotent God shall be magnified upon you, in the ineffable strength of your torments. You shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and when you shall be in this state of suffering, the glorious inhabitants of heaven shall go forth and look on the awful spectacle, that they may see what the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty is; and when they have seen it, they will fall down and adore that great power and majesty. Isa. 66:23,24. 'And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.'
"It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh, who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble, faint representation of it; it is inexpressible and inconceivable: For 'who knows the power of God's anger?'"
(Excerpted from "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God")

If we would only shake off our apathy and stupor, and get this same vision before our eyes, it would drive us to 2 certain things:

To examine ourselves and make sure WE are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

To reach out to others like nothing else on earth matters at all. “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Many will scoff and call this "alarmist". But if the flames are real (and God's Word leaves us in no doubt that they are), we will very shortly wish that we had screamed ourselves to the last breath raising the alarm.

Phil

New Sermon Podcast

2009-03-09T21:52:00.005-04:00

BLOG ANNOUNCEMENT: Now you can listen to some of the weekly messages I preach at First Assembly online.

Scroll down to the bottom of this blog page and you'll find my new Sermon Media Player Podcast.

For now, I've uploaded a selection of messages that I had readily available on CD. I'll post a few more through this week, and then my plan (my good intention) will be to upload a brand new message each Monday.

If you have a listen and find the messages helpful, you can subscribe to receive each new weekly update automatically downloaded to your iTunes / iPod. If you think they're worthwhile, tell a friend.

Phil

Changed Church Service schedule tomorrow

2008-12-20T19:24:00.006-05:00

Important Announcement for all First Assembly of God church family.

Hope you managed to stay warm and dry today, and dug yourself out after the good 8 inch New England snow storm yesterday.

Well, we're watching the forecast and it looks like we're going to be hit again overnight tonight and into tomorrow. SO ...

There will NO Sunday School or Growth Groups at 9.30am.

We are moving our 10.45am service to 2.00pm - this will be our only service for the day.

I hope these arrangements will help so that as many people as possible can get out for one great service together tomorrow. We'll see you at 2.00pm!

CLICK HERE for our local weather forecast.

Pastor Phil

Christmas ... it's about the cross!

2008-12-18T13:19:00.003-05:00

Enjoy the video. For more great songs by Go Fish, check out their web site at http://www.gofishguys.com/

Phil

Wretched Radio

2008-12-03T09:49:00.017-05:00

OK, it's time to admit it ... My name's Phil, and I have been a "Way of the Master Radio" junkie. (All together now: "Hi Phil")

I've been used to getting the podcast every day and listening in my car while driving. It's an excellent program, hosted by Todd Friel, promoting sound theology, sane discernment, and passionate evangelism. We would have some disagreements on peripheral issues of the faith (perpetuity of some spiritual gifts, etc) - but on the essentials of the nature of God and His salvation plan ... united! Great stuff.

It pains me to say it, but I feel a lot more affinity with Todd & Co than I do with many of today's pentecostal and charismatic preachers who have abandoned the gospel of the New Testament. Traded it in for man-centered craziness.

WELL ... as of December 1st ...
the show is no more! (At least - not by the old name.)

Aaaaargh!

BUT the good news is that it has been relaunched under the new name "Wretched Radio" which aligns it with the Family Net TV Show "Wretched". Both shows are hosted by Todd Friel.

Phew!

If you haven't tuned in yet, I highly recommend it. CLICK HERE to visit their web site. You can download a sample segment. If you want the archive of daily podcasts, plus access to all the TV programs, and some other great privileges, you can sign up to be a member very inexpensively. Well worth it!

Enjoy!

Phil

Precious!

2008-11-22T08:35:00.008-05:00

1 Peter 2:7 - “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious…”

This was the text that Charles Haddon Spurgeon took for the first sermon he ever preached. He was just 16 years of age at the time, and he was asked to preached to a group of farmers in a small cottage in the village of Teversham. Some years later he said: “I do not think I could have said anything upon any other text, but Christ was precious to my soul.”

And that's about all I want to blog today. Jesus is precious to ME.

1. He is precious to me because of who He is.

The King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords, Co-partner of the eternal throne of God Almighty, Creator of the rolling spheres and Sustainer of all things. The Self-existent God who needed nothing, had to prove nothing, was challenged by nothing. Yet He set His love on the sons of men whom He had made. And when mankind rebelled and went astray (every one of us, without exception, the Bible says), He left all the glories of Heaven behind in a moment, just as He had planned to do, and subjected Himself to poverty, and mistreatment, and rejection – to stand by our side.

Jesus, our Savior, the eternal God, is good. Worthy of glory, and worthy of honor, and worthy of praise. He is precious to me because of who He is.

2. He is precious to me because of all that He has done.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

His humiliation took Him all the way to the Cross. He suffered and died there in my place - in OUR place. In His death He paid the price for our sins, satisfying the demands of Holy justice. God can now justly commute our death sentence. Having made that payment in His own blood, Jesus rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven where He now lives interceding for us. He’s applying the victory that He won for us, over and over again – blessing our lives. He salvages us from sins, He saves us from ourselves, He makes us holy through the power of His Holy Spirit, He heals, He leads us, He provides, He empowers us, He’s preparing a place for us, He’s coming again for us!

Oh, Jesus is precious to me for all that He has done.

3. He is precious to me because I am precious to Him.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Jesus came to stand by our side, not because we were calling for Him – we weren’t. He came because He knew we needed Him. Because He knew there was no other way. And because He loves us with an everlasting love.

Jesus esteems US as precious. Precious enough for Him to seek and to save us. Doesn’t that amaze you? Doesn’t it change everything?

Andrae Crouch used to sing:

“I don’t know why Jesus loved me
I don’t know why He cared,
I don’t know why He sacrificed His life,
Oh, but I’m glad, so glad He did.”

Phil

Viva La Reformacion!

2008-11-08T08:40:00.008-05:00

I have been sensing the dealings of God in my heart for some months now; speaking with other pastors and church leaders I am encouraged that many are feeling challenged in remarkably similar ways. It’s my conviction that God is preparing a remnant in the church for an awakening. Indeed it’s already underway in seed form.

I began to share my heart on some of this in our Sunday night prayer meeting this past weekend, in a message entitled “What’s wrong with the gospel” (Part 1).

When you consider the days we are living in, and look into the Scriptures for light to understand the times, several facts are self-evident. I am not claiming any prophetic authority for these things; they are my observations.

1. America is under the judgment of God.

I am not referring to the outcome of the recent election here at all. Time will reveal whether the new government is a blessing or curse to the people. Our role as Christians, according to Romans chapter 13, is (1) to accept that God, Who is sovereign, has superintended the appointments, and (2) to submit to their laws and leadership in all matters that do not require us to break the higher law of God. (3) We must continually pray for the President, and all others in office, in order that “we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Timothy 2:2)

Some of President-elect Obama's policies are clearly anti-Christian. His willingness to condone the continuing wholesale slaughter of the unborn through a Freedom of Choice Act (which he is on record stating he will sign as his first order of business in office), and his enthusiastic support of same-sex marriage legislation are just two of the most blatant examples. For Christians these are not political issues that we can be divided on in good conscience. These are moral issues that we must be united on because we are bound by the plain teaching of God's Word and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

But let us be clear. Barack Obama is NOT the instigator of these blights; he himself is the product of a morally decayed society that has been headed down this road for some years. I am not at all convinced that his opponent would have offered any godlier leadership (although his policies on the two issues above would have been more palatable for Christians). John McCain is also the product of a society morally adrift. His personal life sadly bears the marks of that.

The politics aside, though, there are clear evidences of God's judgment against America. The present financial crisis is just a part of it - the result of years of greed and covetousness. Some have pointed to the recent increase in natural disasters, which quite possibly are the hand of God. To scoff at that possibility, as I’ve heard church leaders in this country doing, shows an ignorance of Biblical teaching.

But in the end, how do we know the judgment of God is already here? Because we are seeing flagrant immoral perversions not only commonplace now, but celebrated and boasted about. What the Bible calls "vile affections", men and women leaving natural relations and "burning in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error." (Romans 1:27) Disease will not stop, or even slow, them in their pursuit of sin.

Isaiah warns a nation of judicial consequences for their amoral ways, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

Christians talk about how God will have to judge America because of immorality, but actually Romans chapter 1 makes it very clear that these things we are seeing ARE the judgment of God already! It is clear evidence that God has "given the society over" to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). The end result is "unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful." (Romans 1:31).

Do you think we're not already there? Turn on the evening news tonight and see for yourself.

But then, secondly, there is (if you can imagine it) an even WORSE predicament:

2. The American CHURCH is under the judgment of God.

(Please note: I am using the term “the American church”, but having lived in both Britain and Australia also, I know that I could just as easily use the term “the Western church”. The problems are not restricted to the USA, although she has been the source of much of the rot.)

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

Amos prophesied to the Northern Kingdom of Judah just about 30 years before they were carried off into captivity. It is a warning that because the people continued to reject God, they were about to face His hand of judgment. The captivity they would endure, with all its deprivations, would be terrible, but the greater loss would be the ensuing silence from Heaven. A “famine of THE WORD OF GOD”.

Israel had experienced this in her history before. Leading up to the days of the prophet Samuel, “the word of the Lord was rare” (1 Samuel 3:1). There was a lack of true spokesmen for God. We know there were those who held the office of priests, and presumably there were those that claimed to be prophets, but something was terribly wrong with the ministry of God’s word.

Such seasons of spiritual famine are God’s judgment on His people when they ignore His word and live carelessly.

The American church for some years has been experiencing a famine of the word, and the scandalous fact is that we have not even realized it! Our Christian bookstores are jammed with countless resources, our television and radio airwaves are flooded with preaching and teaching, all with the grand result that our people have never been more spiritually malnourished and STARVING for the word of God. If you want evidence of that fact, just look at how easily false teaching is swallowed today. Every novel idea, no matter how banal or heretical, is welcomed with audience “oohs” and “aahs”. What is that but proof of spiritual malnourishment? Listen to the word of God: “To a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7).

The most terrible result of this famine of the word that we have been enduring is that we have, in large part, lost the very core of our Christian truth – the gospel itself. We have mangled it until it has degenerated into “come to Jesus and He’ll give you a better life”. The law of God, sin, judgment, hell, repentance, and holiness are all out of vogue, and the result is a half-gospel that is robbed of its power to save.

A half-gospel is NOT a gospel. A pseudo-gospel produces only pseudo faith, not saving faith. We need to keep before us Paul’s positive instruction – and yet such a grave warning: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

We are in a desperate condition, and surely it is because we are under the dealings of God, for “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17).

But this is where there is great hope.

3. When God has chastised His people in the past it has been for the purpose of ultimately delivering them.

Whenever the church has experienced the grace of God in revival, it has followed on the heels of spiritual dearth and declension. The history of awakenings shows that, in the providence of God, it is always allowed to become darkest just before His dawn.

Some Biblical examples of this principle:

(1) Romans 8:20 says that, “the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;” Here is the big picture of human history. God has cursed the very ground of this world, allowing the ravages of sin to run their course, for the ultimate purpose of redemption.

(2) In the Old Testament we read about God allowing Israel to be carried off into exile, not because He was finished with them, but for their discipline so that He might yet bring them back and fulfill His purposes through them.

(3) God works by this principle right down to individual persons. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about the immoral member, and told them to “deliver such an one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh” (1 Corinthians 5:5). The church’s discipline, even to the point of excommunication, was designed in the hope of ultimately seeing the sinner humbled and restored. (And evidently he was – 2 Corinthians 2:6-8).

The point I would make is that God’s judgment on the Church in America is not the signal that He has determined to cast us away, but rather that He is disciplining us for our restoration. When we recover our desperation for Him, the light will flood in again for our revival.

Which brings us to the moment at hand.

4. A largely unnoticed reformation is underway in the Church.

I realize there are several groups that have made a claim like this in recent years. The so-called “Emergent Church Movement” talk about a revolution, but what they are preaching (regurgitated liberalism) simply does not have the power to revolutionize anything. Thankfully!

Before he died, revivalist Leonard Ravenhill said in a radio interview that he was quite sure there would be another revival in America. He believed that there would be no superstars at the helm of it, but rather that it would come about through local churches, in answer to fervent prayer, and in the normal course of pastoral preaching. (He referenced the ministry of Jonathan Edwards and other New England ministers of the Great Awakening as a model of this.)

God is raising up a corps of faithful gospel preachers in this land. Paul Washer, in his recent sermon “Ten Indictments Against the Modern Church in America” said,

"There is a great awakening going on in this country. And not only in this country, but in Europe where I have been, and in South America, and in many other places, I see young men going back to the rock from which we were cut. They are reading Spurgeon, and Whitefield; they’re still listening to Ravenhill and Martyn Lloyd Jones and Tozer and Wesley. And it’s a great, incredible movement! Just because popular media and Christianity Today haven’t discovered what’s going on, I want you to know that I would never have dreamed fifteen years ago that I would see the awakening that I’m seeing.”

Don’t get all excited about “fantastic” stories you may hear by the PR machines of man-made “revivals”. Don’t run to this meeting or that meeting because you hear miracles have broken out. PRAY!

Pastor, don’t go looking for another conference to give you the latest fad answer to church growth – preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lead your church in Biblical evangelism. Get the message right, and then proclaim it fearlessly. Let your ministry honor God whether your congregation grows or shrinks. Have the courage to ignore the pressure to produce worldly success, and seek the approval of God rather than men.

This reformation must be a movement back to God’s truth at all costs. The true gospel delivered unto us once for all time by the apostles.

The signs of the return of Jesus are all about us; there cannot be any question about it any longer. I see two things on the horizon: HOSTILITY and HARVEST. I expect things are going to get so much harder – and at the same time, so much more wonderful for true followers of Jesus Christ. Let the Word of God loose in the power of the Spirit, and it will bring about a purifying of God’s people. False converts / lukewarm Christians will either fall away OR GET SAVED AND ON FIRE.

Are you ready? We must every day expect the return of our Lord Jesus, and He is coming for a spotless bride. To that end, and for His glory alone … Viva la reformacion!

Phil

10 Indictments

2008-11-03T12:07:00.007-05:00

On October 23rd, Paul Washer preached in Atlanta, a sermon entitled "10 Indictments Against the Modern Church in America".

Links have popped up all over the internet to watch or listen to it.

Every Christian needs to hear it through at least once. Every preacher and pastor more than once. So let me give you the links ...

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD THE AUDIO

In summary, here at the 10 Indictments:

1. A practical denial of the sufficiency of Scripture.
2. An ignorance of God.
3. A failure to address man’s malady.
4. Ignorance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
5. An ignorance of the doctrine of Regeneration.
6. Ignorance regarding the nature of the Church.
7. A lack of loving and compassionate Church discipline.
8. A silence on Separation.
9. Psychology and Sociology have replaced the Scriptures with regards to the family.
10. A lack of discipline.

Phil

BOOK REVIEW

2008-10-30T22:21:00.005-04:00

Highly Recommended!

I've been through Mark Cahill's book "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven" not once but TWICE this past week. It's just an inspiring read with page after page of practical helps to share your faith with anyone, and laced throughout with stirring stories from Mark's own experience.

From the wild streets of South Beach in the wee hours of the morning, to airplanes and shopping malls, to poignant moments of one-on-one encounter with some of America's best known athletes, Mark is sold out to the adventure of preaching the gospel with as many people as he can.

There are similar books that have been written over the years, but what sets this one apart for me is the author's grasp of the Biblical gospel. Here is a thoroughly 21st century evangelist, telling riveting stories in a popular and engaging style, but not compromising the message in the way that most of today's evangelism does. His chapter entitled "Guilty!" is essential reading for every Christian.

If you haven't read it yet ... go order a copy NOW!

Phil

Focus on election '08

2008-10-26T14:13:00.012-04:00

If you weren't at First Assembly this morning, here's a brief summary of my message. (I took a one week break from our current series preaching through Ephesians to address next week's election.)

A Christian Voter's Guide

In just 9 days Americans will be voting to elect a new President. Whatever the outcome is, this WILL be a historic election.

Our world has seen unprecedented upheaval over the past decade, and people everywhere are wondering what the next decade holds in store. People are very anxious about the global economy; wars and rumors of wars; there also remains the very real and ever-present threat of terrorism; and many other domestic issues.

This morning I’d like to take a few minutes just to speak to you from God’s Word about your responsibility as a Christian at this election. Before I do that, our General Superintendent, Dr. George Wood, has prepared a short video message to all our Assemblies of God churches. We’re going to watch that together right now. [Watch the video here]

Read: Romans 13:1-7

Romans 13 is the classic passage in all the Bible about how we are to relate to our local, state and federal government. Christians are blessed to be citizens of a heavenly kingdom...

Our citizenship is in heaven - Philippians 3:20
We have been conveyed into the kingdom of God's dear Son – Colossians 1:13

As such, we are described as "sojourners and pilgrims" in this world - 1 Peter 2:11

When the forefathers were fighting the Revolutionary War to establish these United States of America, one of their catch-cries was “No king but King Jesus”. That was the heart of the founders of this nation. They wouldn’t bow to the English monarch, or any other man. They certainly gave their loyalty to this Union, but it was a secondary citizenship to their allegiance to God and His kingdom.

Listen, NO earthly kingdom is eternal. The great proclamation we read in Revelation 11:15, is that one day loud voices will call through the streets of heaven, reverberating out to the ends of the universe, “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”

On that day, the world super power of the United States, along with the British Empire, and the massive Republic of China, and the European Economic Union, will ALL have passed into the annals of history as “yesterday’s ideas” – remembered alongside the Roman Empire, and the Persian Empire, and the Babylonian and the Alexandrian, and the Egyptian Empires, and every OTHER former kingdom. ALL finished. And the Lord Jesus shall reign over HIS one eternal Kingdom that encompasses and supersedes all.

That is our future, Christian. Don’t build your stock in this world. Heaven is our home.

BUT, having said that, for this short period of time while we live on earth, we DO have a DUAL citizenship. Our hearts may be in heaven already, but we do live out our lives on the earth – part of earthly societies, and under the government of men. And the Bible is very clear that we are to recognize that, and see the responsibilities of this DUAL citizenship.

We are to be very good citizens here. Christians ought to be the BEST citizens that America has! The truest of patriots.

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ began and thrived 2000 years ago during the time of the Roman Empire. Paul wrote to Christians in the worldwide capital city of Rome about their responsibility. Peter did also, to Christians dispersed in outlying areas of the Empire. Using Paul's comments here in Romans 13:1-7 as our starting point, let's review a couple of the basic directives we have as Christians concerning human governments.

1. Governments are Appointed BY God

Which government is Paul talking about? The term he uses is “higher powers” / “higher authorities”. It surely encompasses Federal, State, City governments. Includes police and courts of law.

We are to be “subject”. In willing submission.

God may give a leader to lead in His purposes, according to His Word. He may give a leader as judgment, to bring the nation to her knees in prayer. But He WILL appoint the leader.

2. Governments are Accountable TO God

Paul gives us here the reason that God establishes human government. And this reveals what God expects of those he sets in these positions - to execute justice. It would be good for our leaders to read these verses from time to time. (See v4-5).

We are to submit to our rulers recognizing that their power is delegated by the Lord. HE is our ultimate King. That means that we obey our earthly authorities “as unto the Lord”.

And here is where there is a caveat to our obedience. No earthly authority is a law unto themselves. They are accountable to God – and every one will stand before Him. Each one is being, and will be, evaluated by God.

The Bible clearly teaches us that if earthly rulers contradict God’s law, we are to obey the higher law of God. Acts 4:18-20. (It’s not a question of disobeying man, but rather of obeying God.)

We have brothers and sisters around the world this morning who are in prisons, persecuted and tortured for sharing their faith in Jesus. Many of them could avoid that treatment if only they would promise to keep their faith to themselves. The authorities wouldn’t bother them for being a Christian if they never told anybody else. But they see this as the command of their Lord Jesus – to “go into all the world and preach the good news”. So who are they to obey? God or men? They will not stop, and they’re suffering for it. (What would they think of us, with all our freedoms, when we DON’T share our faith?)

So, there is a time for civil disobedience. A time to obey God rather than men. HOWEVER, we’d better be sure that we ARE acting because of obedience to God’s law, and not just for our own opinion’s sake!

Well, all that being said, what are we instructed to do at this election. What would God have Christians to do.

A) VOTE!

Let’s go back to that Romans 13:1 text again. That verse indicates that God is the source of political governments. He not only establishes the rulers … but also the way the government rules and operates. That means that the democratic system of government God placed in America. And since our system allots individual citizens to participate in choosing their leaders through, Christians not only have a national right to vote, they have a God given responsibility to be involved and vote in the system God ordained for this country.

We cannot continue to allow false ideologies to fill the vacuum created simply by our lack of voice and involvement. Next week … VOTE!

B) VOTE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES

As a Christian, all your rights and allegiances have been turned over to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you sought Him about your vote? Have you consulted what He has said in His Word about the issues involved?

Don’t vote just because you’ve always voted for a particular party. You see, our ultimate allegiance should not be to any political party. It should belong to God. Don’t let some media outlet or movie producer or Hollywood actor or even friend or family member ultimately influence the way you vote. God and His word should have ultimate sway in that matter. You see, if He is Lord of all, doesn’t that mean God should be Lord when it comes to which lever we pull in a voting booth?

Don’t vote for your comfort. Go to the Word of God to vote on the issues that matter most to Him.

The problem we all face is trying to find out which candidate God would have us vote for. That’s why every believer ought to research the candidates. Study the debates. Read and look on line for voter guides, which indicate what their past actions were concerning issues that are important to God.

In the video we watched a moment ago, our Superintendent has made much of the issue of LIFE in this election. Protecting all life – particularly the most vulnerable – the unborn. I personally believe that has been the #1 issue for every election in America since Roe V Wade. 50 million lives lost. If we buried those children in 2 foot by 3 foot plots side by side that would need a cemetery over 100 square miles in size!

The problem is, many Christians have what has been called recently “foetus fatigue”. Many are tired of hearing about it. They think maybe there are other issues. But there IS no greater issue than this genocide.

In every election, the future of the nation hangs in the balance. Let’s let our faith in the Living God, who loves us without end and who leads us into all truth help shape that future. And may God bless America.

This week, join us in concerted prayer. And then, whoever IS elected (whether they were our choice or not), we will have the responsibility to honor them and continue to pray for them daily for the next four years.

Phil

Competition ended!

2008-10-24T22:10:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to our winner ... Terry Kelly!

Terry's entry: "From Here To Eternity". Very clever.

After reading all the entries, I've decided to keep the blog name simply "philmorgan.org". But I do appreciate the ideas.

Terry, your copy of "The Evidence Bible" will be on it's way very shortly. Enjoy! (I know you'll love it, and I hope it will help you share the gospel with others.)

Phil

Screening in full tonight!

2008-10-22T10:02:00.013-04:00

TONIGHT at 7.00pm we are screening the film "The Privileged Planet" at our church.

Last week we concluded our 6 week Wednesday night series, "The Case for a Creator", and tonight's film is a follow-up that we are really excited to present.

The producers describe this film, and the landmark book it is based on:

Is Earth merely an insignificant speck in a vast and meaningless universe? On the contrary: The Privileged Planet shows that this cherished assumption of materialism is dead wrong. In this provocative book, Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay W. Richards present a staggering array of evidence that exposes the hollowness of this modern dogma. They demonstrate that our planet is exquisitely fit not only to support life, but also to give us the best view of the universe, as if Earth were designed both for life and for scientific discovery. Readers are taken on a scientific odyssey from a history of tectonic plates, to the wonders of water and solar eclipses, to our location in the Milky Way, to the laws that govern the universe, and to the beginning of cosmic time. The Privileged Planet contains astounding findings that should lead any individual to reevaluate and even to reconsider our very purpose on what so many have dismissed as nothing more than an accident of cosmic evolution.

This is a great opportunity to bring friends and family along. They'll be fascinated, and see the unmistakable hand of the Creator.

Where are we? First Assembly of God, 133 Junction Road, Brookfield, CT.

We'd love to see you!

P.S. Don't forget - there's just a couple more days for you to enter my "Name my blog" competition and win yourself a copy of "The Evidence Bible". CLICK HERE for details.

Phil

WIN the Evidence Bible!

2008-10-17T09:34:00.009-04:00

I'm giving away a free copy of The Evidence Bible - and YOU'VE got a really good chance to win it.

CLICK HERE to read all about this great Bible. You will love it!

OK, here's the deal. I want to come up with a new name for this blog. Whoever submits the suggestion that I end up using will get the book - that simple. It'll be shipped directly to you from Living Waters, wherever you are in the world.

The competition is open for one week ... until 10pm Friday night (USA EST) October 24th.

Here's a couple of points about the blog to start your thought process.

You might use a play on my name (Phil Morgan if you forgot)

The blog is about passionate Christianity, evangelism, eternity, heaven and hell, the Biblical gospel, preaching law and grace, great Christians from church history who changed the world

OK ... let's have those ideas - just submit a comment to this post.

Phil

Giving away MILLION$

2008-10-16T21:22:00.011-04:00

Gospel tracts that people ask you for more of!

That's the claim that Ray Comfort and Way of the Master ministries make. They produce a whole selection of very cool tracts that grab interest, and then present a very Biblical gospel message.

Their most popular tract is this "million dollar bill" (see above) that is so real looking, people have to examine it closely to see it's "not legal tender".

I've been handing these out, and it's true - people love them! Just today, for example, I handed one to a toll booth attendant on the New Jersey Turnpike (those good folks NEED something to break the monotony - I've never seen one smile before, but this lady laughed out loud when she saw the bill.) Then I gave one to our waitress in Friendly's - she was too busy to read it right then, but she took it and tucked it in her apron for later. Finally, this evening I gave one to a girl on the cash register at Lowes Hardware. She said, "This is awesome! I'm going to try and buy a Big Mac at McDonald's and ask for the change!" As I walked away, she and another girl were reading the gospel message on it together.

Folks, this is one of the easiest ways to start passing out tracts. CLICK HERE to go to Living Waters website and order yourself a pack. Keep a few in your billfold, wallet or purse, and just hand them over everytime you pay for something (pay with real money first, or they might think you're trying to pull a scam!)

Check out this video of actors John Travolta and Holly Hunter taking one of these million dollar bills ...

Living Waters say that they've now printed 18 million of these tracts. Assuming they've all been given away (which is not possible) that means there are 287,000,000 Americans still haven't seen one. I'd say that gives us all plenty of scope!

Pastor Phil

New Morgan Family domino toppling record set!

2008-10-13T11:15:00.005-04:00

The Morgan Family record for domino toppling was broken in resounding fashion on Monday morning, October 13th, 2008.

For those interested in the technical stats ...

Number of dominos toppled: 154

Terrain negotiated: 2 bridges and one tunnel

Terrain material: Lego

Estimated crowd in attendance: 8

Construction time: 1.2 hours

Pastor Phil

Update on "One unnoticed life"

2008-10-12T14:41:00.005-04:00

The Story of Jenner of George Street.

I wanted to use the video I inserted in my last post in my sermon this morning, so I did some additional research just to satisfy myself that all the facts of the story are indeed correct. Here's what I found out ...

1. The story is indeed TRUE. It is the subject of a book that was published under the title "Jenner of George Street".

2. In the video, the evangelist has the name incorrect. This is because the name was relayed to him in a telephone conversation, and he misheard the spelling. Not Genor but Jenner. Frank Jenner.

3. I believe the evangelist speaking on the video is Dave Smethurst. (Interesting fact - I attended Bible College many moons ago with his son, Paul.)

If you haven't watched the video yet, scroll down to my last entry and take 9 minutes to check it out now. I was able to show it in our church this morning, and people were really impacted.

Pastor Phil

One unnoticed life

2008-10-10T09:28:00.003-04:00

Every Christian needs to take 10 minutes out to watch this video!

It's the story of Mr.Genor. An elderly man who lived in Sydney, Australia. As a young sailor he was wonderfully saved, and so grateful to God that he promised he would try and tell 10 people a day about Jesus. To the best of his ability he kept that promise. In his retirement years he stood on George Street and simply handed out gospel tracts, asking people whether they were saved, and if they died that night did they know where they would go.

Until 2 weeks before his death, Mr.Genor never knew of one person that had ever given their life to Christ as a result of his faithful witness.

This video is his story. Watch it now before you read any further!

In recent years we have been told that "street witnessing", "gospel tracts", "open air preaching", "confrontational evangelism", etc, are outmoded forms of evangelism and are ineffective. Just about every popular book and resource being published on the subject of evangelism today scorns such methods and proposes that "friendship evangelism" or "relational evanglism" is the way we must engage.

Now firstly let me say that I have no objection to the idea of friendship evangelism per se. I believe we certainly SHOULD be seeking to share our faith with every person we are in relationship with - family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. We do build a platform of trust with those who know us well that gives us an extraordinary opportunity to share the gospel very powerfully (providing we are living what we preach - if not, we do detriment to the gospel).

However, I have a few concerns about friendship evangelism:

1) The idea of cultivating a friendship with an unbeliever SOLELY for the unstated purpose of winning them to Christ should be named for what it is ... deceitful. And how can you build a true friendship on an agenda like that?

2) If you are in friendship with an unbeliever, don't wait too long before sharing the gospel. My experience is that Christians who haven't shared the gospel early in a relationship rarely ever do. It becomes harder, not easier, to do so as time passes if there hasn't already been a previous verbal witness.

3) We need to heed the warning of Scripture that "friendship with the world is hostility toward God" (James 4:4). Now, before every Christian reader starts jumping up and down, let me be quick to say that verse is NOT saying we should not be friends with unbelievers. Jesus Himself was accused of being a "friend of sinners" because of His love for lost people. James is talking about friendship with the world's values and philosophy; it's sin. BUT many a Christian has been drawn back to worldliness and proved themselves unfit for the kingdom because they continued to be influenced by unsaved friends. Your first love must be Christ, and your first responsibility is your walk with Him. If that means severing old relationships that tempt you with your old life, you should do so. Pluck out your eye if you have to! (Matthew 18:9) But follow Christ with no other pretenders to the throne of your heart; allow no distractions.

But, by all means practise friendship evangelism with your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors who don't know Christ. I don't think we need books and seminars about that, it's just simply living the Christian life!

In defense of street witnessing & open air preaching

The criticisms of more confrontational or direct forms of evangelism are usually argued on the basis that "this is a different generation and they don't respond to such methods".

Please note, this argument is based solely on reasoning or rationalizing. It is not based on Scripture or even any consideration of past history.

Some points you should consider:

1) Street witnessing & open air preaching have a long and distinguished history dating back to the first apostles. The book of Acts has numerous examples of it. Some of the greatest preachers of the Christian church took their message to the streets and open fields to arrest the attention of people who would never be reached otherwise. George Whitefield and John Wesley are outstanding, but not the only, examples. Leonard Ravenhill used it very effectively after the second world war. Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron are spearheading a movement that demonstrating it's effectiveness still today. Check out their website at www.wayofthemaster.com

2) The same arguments ("this is a new generation, they won't respond" ... blah blah blah) were thrown at Whitefield and Wesley in their day! Thank God they didn't listen.

3) In Ephesians chapter 4 we read about the leadership gift in the church of "the evangelist". Some people are given by the Lord to help mobilize the church in evangelism. However, I defy anyone to find me where in Scripture we are told that there is a spiritual gift of "evangelism" that some Christians have and some don't. We are ALL included in the Great Commission. And the promise to us all in Acts 1:8 was that the Holy Spirit would make us "witnesses" (martyrs) for Jesus.

Conclusion:

The two ideas of (1) Friendship Evangelism as the preferred method to reach people today, and (2) the spiritual gift of evangelism given only to a portion of Christians BOTH seem to me very clearly to be nothing more than lying strategies of Satan to limit the outreach activity of the Church. And we have bought into these lies because it is very comforting and convenient for us to do so. It rationalizes our apathy and insecurities.

Every believer ought to be taking every opportunity to share the faith with as many people as possible, in every way possible.

Now, if you find the thought of speaking to a stranger about Jesus scary ... join the club! EVERY Christians finds these things intimidating. But we know what is in the balance: people's eternity. What does the inconvenience we feel for a moment matter in light of that?

Start small. Get some good gospel tracts and just leave them in conspicuous places - with your tip at a restaurant, etc. See how many places you can come up with. Then you might pluck up the courage to hand a few out (like old Mr.Genor). Finally ask God to give you the confidence to speak to some people.

Mr.Genor's testimony screams to us today ... one simple, unnoticed, but faithful life can change the world and eternity.

Pastor Phil

The Few

2008-09-29T10:58:00.005-04:00

Psalm 8:4 "What is man that You are mindful of him?"

David, with even the limited information about the universe that he could observe, was overwhelmed by the immensity of the Creator who stands transcendentally outside of it all as it's Designer and Sustainer. Today we have so much more understanding of that enormity of creation; the billions of galaxies spinning in precision and beauty. David's exclamation seems more timely than ever. "What is man that You are mindful of him?"

And yet the Bible teaches us about the Creator that, not only does He take an interest in mankind, but He reveals Himself to individual people. He hears their cries in prayer. He intervenes in their lives. Gives them assignments. Provides for their needs in extraordinary ways.

One of the things many people have struggled with is accepting that God could have any individual interest in one person on a planet hosting more than 6 billion such human beings. But for a glimpse of understanding we are, ironically, flung back to the expanses of the gigantic universe again.

God has created billions of galaxies in the known universe. When you begin to study the discoveries of modern astronomy the numbers are simply staggering. Incomprehensible. Each galaxy contains millions of stars, solar systems and planets. He keeps all of this ordered in perfect precision. Once you begin to wrestle with such immensity - such unfathomable numbers - a group of 6 billion people quickly becomes apparent for what it truly is by Divine standards ...... THE FEW.

When we consider a million people by our personal standards of measurement, governed primarily by the number of relationships we can meaningfully sustain, it is an enormous crowd. But to the God who contains the multiplied trillions of intricacies in the universe, it is but a handful.

SO, when you come to thinking of God, by faith you must cast aside human standards of measure and scope, for we are dealing with the One to Whom these are meaningless. At the privileged place in this colossal universe God has made, the small blue planet we call earth, He has a comparitively tiny number of human beings He purposefully created and lovingly watches and cares for.

Pastor Phil

"There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, 'Behold I am wise.' But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with the solemn exclamation, 'I am but of yesterday, and know nothing.' No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon. January 7th, 1855. He was 20 years old.)

New study series ... starts this Wednesday

2008-09-08T19:54:00.004-04:00

In recent months we've taken a very different approach to our Wednesday night Bible studies, and the feedback we've received from people who've attended has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

We've been running short series (6 to 13 weeks), not just lecture format, not just films, not just small groups, but in fact a combination of all different kinds of teaching and learning together. We've included media, music, small group interactions, live lecture spots, group prayer ... you name it.

The series we've run so far have included ...

"Financial Peace" (a la Dave Ramsey)

"The Life You've always Wanted" (based on the book by John Ortberg)

"When God's People Pray" (a series by Jim Cymbala)

We're very excited to invite you to join us this Wednesday night (September 10th) as we commence a brand new series:

"The Case for a Creator"

Based on the best-selling book by former atheist and award-winning Chicago Tribune journalist Lee Strobel. Strobel has discovered that science, far from being the enemy of faith, now provides a solid foundation for belief in God. New scientific discoveries point to the incredible complexity of our universe, a complexity best explained by the existence of a Creator.

I've finished watching all the Lee Strobel video clips that we'll be watching as part of our time together over the next 6 weeks, and I have to say that they are stunning.

Join us, and bring a friend - atheists, agnostics ... ALL are welcome to be our guests.

WHERE: First Assembly of God, 133 Junction Road, Brookfield, CT.

WHEN: Wednesday evenings starting September 10th.

TIME: 7.00pm sharp!

See you there!

Pastor Phil

Romans 3

2008-08-30T06:40:00.011-04:00

In the last few posts I've written about our urgent need to return to preaching the law of God. (Scroll down to read them).

For most of the church's 2000 year history this was the accepted norm for gospel preaching. Today, however, it seems such a radical idea that one has to defend it.

Well, let's take a look at just one chapter in Romans - chapter 3. The apostle Paul, who wrote in numerous places in his letters to the churches about the law, gives us understanding of its role in the gospel and the conversion of sinners.

1. To whom is the law directed?

Verse 19 - "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

There's the answer: "those who are under the law". That is, all those who have not yet come under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. (See Romans 8:2) The unbeliever.

2. What does the law accomplish?

Verse 19 - It silences all arguments and objections by bringing the conviction of sin. "... that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be guilty before God." There is certainly a place for apologetics - reasoning together with unbelievers about the truth. These arguments, however, are usually only aimed at the intellect and have limited results. But the law of God goes directly to the conscience of man.

3. Who is saved by the law?

Verse 20 - "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

The answer is plain, that no one is saved by the law! It's function is to bring "the knowledge of sin". As D.L.Moody said, "The law can drive a man only to Calvary, and no further."

Notice again that emphatic "no flesh". If a person objects to simply clinging to Christ, and decides instead that (since the law of the Lord is perfect) they are going to try keeping the law to justify themselves before God, they will find themselves only condemned by it. The natural man has already broken it (and thereby stands as a guilty lawbreaker before God), and in his sin nature cannot keep it fully no matter how hard he tries in the future.

This "no flesh" statement also confirms that both Jews and gentiles are the same under the law. Keeping of the law is not a path that will save any Jew, despite the false teaching of some Christian preachers who are no real friends to Israel. If you love the Jewish people you will point them to Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation. (Their own consciences bear witness that they are only condemned under the law).

4. Now that grace has come, is the need for the law ended?

Verse 31 - "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."

Is the law now made void by the New Testament? No! It fulfills exactly the same role as it always has. It is the "schoolmaster" which drives us to Christ to be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24) When we come to faith in Christ we "establish the law" - we show it's effectiveness, because if we have abandoned all to put on Christ by faith it can only be that we have come under conviction of our sin. The law, then, has fulfilled it's function in us to bring us to Christ.

So, paradoxically, it is only the Christian (not the religious or the moral man who is trying to keep the law and makes their boast in the law) who truly "establishes" or shows the power of the law.

Pastor Phil

The perfect law of God

2008-08-27T23:27:00.009-04:00

In today's church, the mere mention of the preaching of "law" incites looks of disdain and suspicion. Ever heard Christians say something like this? ...

"Surely to preach law makes you a legalist, and doesn't the Bible teach against that?"

"The law is Old Testament, and now that Jesus has come all of that has been done away with!"

"People don't need to hear about law - they need to hear about grace."

In fact, the routine training of preachers today usually includes the idea, fostered by the pragmatic philosophy of the church growth movement, that it is not expedient to tell people about their sin or failure - instead we must tell people only about a God who loves them no matter what they have done. Preach positive messages that do not offend, and you'll keep people coming back to hear more.

These ideas are 180 degrees, diametrically opposed to Biblical evangelism. The preachers of the New Testament, beginning with Jesus Himself and continuing through the apostles, made it their normal practise to preach "Man's need and God's gift". They declared to people that they were sinners who needed to repent, appealing to their consciences by the law of God, they allowed the Holy Spirit to do His great work of conviction in people's hearts, and THEN (and only then) told of God's gracious answer in the death of Christ to put away sin.

Is the law an outdated message? Is it now superceded in such a way as to have no part to play?

NO! This is a misnomer. Psalm 19:7 tells us that "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." There is nothing wrong with the law - the failure is with sinful man who in his fallen nature cannot keep it. So, can we be saved by the keeping of the law? NO! Every one of us have already broken it, and stand condemned by it, and thereby cut off from a holy God.

We need to understand the PURPOSE of the law. 1 Timothy 1:8 says "But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully". Notice this is a New Testament text, and Paul (a New Testament apostle) teaches that "the law IS good" ... present tense. But it must be used lawfully; that is "rightly" or "correctly", or "for the purpose it was designed for".

He goes on in the very next verse (1:9) to say, "knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine..."

In order to be saved, men must "repent and believe". Repent of their sin, and believe on (cling to, trust in and rely on) Jesus Christ as their only Savior. But how will a person repent unless he sees himself a sinner in need of forgiveness? This is the role of the law. It is to show us how hopelessly short of God's moral standard we fall, and as such we are under His judgment.

Here is the Biblical principle ... it is "Law to the proud, Grace to the humble". Galatians 3:24 tells us, "Therefore the law was our tutor (schoolmaster) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." The law is given as the canon to blast apart man's self-righteousness and expose his conscience to the full and unrelenting gaze of Almighty God. Only when his pride is thus broken, and he sees his desperate need will God's grace be precious to him. The message of God's grace is meaningless and irrelavent to people, until they see their sinfulness.

John Wesley told young preachers that they ought to preach "90% law and 10% grace". Some might think this just hyperbole, and if not then it is an extreme view to say the least. But think about it. The real battle is to get sinful man to recognize his true condition. Once this is accomplished and a person is trembling under the knowledge of God's wrath against their sin, you only need the simplest presentation of the gracious gospel of salvation in Jesus and they will cling to Him immediately.

In discarding the preaching of the law, modern evangelism has given up the real power of God to bring about true repentance. A repentance-less gospel is no gospel at all. There is no true work of salvation without it. Hence, your preaching will produce false converts and a powerless church. Far from saving people, you will only achieve the hardening of their hearts in self-righteousness and false assurance.

May God bring us back to the old gospel, and we shall have the old power!

Pastor Phil

Wisdom from some guys the Church loves ...

2008-08-24T00:28:00.011-04:00

Admiring them and eulogizing them is a poor replacement for listening to them and learning from them!

"Evermore the Law must prepare the way for the gospel. To overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the Church with false converts ... Time will make this plain." - Charles Finney

(Time HAS indeed made it plain! See my last post)

"Satan, the god of all dissension stirs up daily new sects. And last of all which of all others I should never have foreseen or once suspected, he has raised up a sect such as teach that men should not be terrified by the law, but gently exhorted by the preaching of the grace of Christ." (Martin Luther)

"I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel who does not preach the Law."

"Lower the Law and you dim the light by which man perceives his guilt; this is a very serious loss to the sinner rather than a gain; for it lessens the likelihood of his conviction and conversion. I say you have deprived the gospel of its ablest auxiliary [its most powerful weapon] when you have set aside the Law. You have taken away from it the schoolmaster that is to bring men to Christ . . . They will never accept grace till they tremble before a just and holy Law. Therefore the Law serves a most necessary purpose, and it must not be removed from its place." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

"First, then, before you can speak peace to your hearts, you must be made to see, made to feel, made to weep over, made to bewail, your actual transgressions against the Law of God." (George Whitefield)

"...it is the ordinary method of the Spirit of God to convict sinners by the Law. It is this which, being set home on the conscience, generally breaketh the rocks in pieces. It is more especially this part of the Word of God which is quick and powerful, full of life and energy and sharper than any two-edged sword."

"Before I can preach love, mercy and grace I must preach sin, law and judgment."(John Wesley)

"Ask Paul why [the Law] was given. Here is his answer, 'That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God' (Romans 3:19). The Law stops every man's mouth. I can always tell a man who is near the kingdom of God; his mouth is stopped. This, then, is why God gives us the Law—to show us ourselves in our true colors."

"The law can only chase a man to Calvary, no further." (D.L.Moody)

And what more shall we say? Time fails us to tell of John Wycliffe, John Newton, Jonathan Edwards, C.S.Lewis, J.I.Packer, John Bunyan, A.W.Pink, St.Augustine, Matthew Henry, J.C.Ryle, A.B.Earle, A.W.Tozer, D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Stott, John MacArthur, and a multitude of others who God has used to preach His perfect Law (which "converts the soul" Psalm 19:7), and shut men up under that Law, and bring them to the foot of a blood-stained cross.

Pastor Phil

The "R" word

2008-08-21T22:34:00.009-04:00

Here are the scandalous observable facts:

80-90% of people who are recorded as making "a decision for Christ" in today's Evangelical churches do not go on to committed discipleship. They are lost to the faith within a very short time, many of them immediately.

These people will generally be harder to reach again in the future (for simple reasons that we will discuss another day).

Of the 10-20% that can still be found in church attendance a year later, many join the swelling ranks of evangelicals who demonstrate little or no difference in lifestyle than unbelievers.

What are we to make of this state of affairs? Quite simply this: the Church is full of false conversions.

How has this happened? It is the natural (entirely predictable) result of the "gospel" that is now preached from the majority of Evangelical pulpits worldwide. We are simply not preaching the same message that was fearlessly declared by Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, George Whitefield, C.H.Spurgeon, D.L.Moody, Charles G.Finney, and a host of others who God so powerfully used to bring untold numbers of unbelievers to thoroughly committed faith in Christ. Our "gospel" in fact is not the same gospel that was preached by the Church-at-large up until the 20th century.

What is the difference? During the last 100 years a monumental shift has taken place. Biblical evangelism (as laid down in the New Testament and modeled in the teaching of Jesus Himself and the early church) uses the Law of God to expose to men their sinfulness and the wrathful judgment that they are subject to when they must stand before a holy God and give an account. Only when a person is convicted of these realities by the Holy Spirit will they truly REPENT and cling to Jesus Christ as their only Savior.

You can sum up the deficiency of today's Church in one word. The "R" word. The missing grace. REPENTANCE.

What is the 'gospel' we are preaching today then? There is no doubt that Ray Comfort has accurately diagnosed the problem when he writes:

"The tragedy of modern evangelism is that, around the turn of the twentieth Century, the church forsook the Law in its capacity to convert the soul and drive sinners to Christ. Modern evangelism therefore had to find another reason for sinners to respond to the gospel, and the reason it chose was the issue of 'life enhancement.' The gospel degenerated into 'Jesus Christ will give you peace, joy, love, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.' Something like this is usually said, 'You will never find true happiness until you come to the Lord. You have a ‘God-shaped vacuum’ in your heart that only He can fill. God will heal your marriage and take away that addiction problem. He’ll get you out of financial difficulty and be your best friend.'" (Ray Comfort, The Problem with the Modern Gospel.")

If right now you are saying to yourself, "What's wrong with that? That sounds like the gospel to me!" - you need to be taken back into God's Word to see the real message of true gospel preaching:

1. Bookmark this blog now to read future posts which will continue on this vital subject.
2. Add your question or comment to these posts and let's have some good discussion about it.
3. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you get Ray Comfort's book "Revival's Golden Key". You can download it for free ... HERE. If you're not a reader, you can watch a video summary of the same concepts entitled "Hell's Best Kept Secret" ... HERE.

Change MUST come!

Pastor Phil

The peril of loving men's praise

2008-08-19T23:52:00.009-04:00

What a tragic verse of Scripture! John 12:42-43, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

These men came to believe in Jesus (they believed He was who He said He was) but they wouldn’t confess Him openly because they were afraid they’d be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated).

Their habit was so formed in them to love the praise of men, and their identity became so tied up with it, that they could not lay it down when Christ came. Here was the Promised One. They’d studied the prophets words about Him. They had taught others about the promises. Here He was at last – and they began to believe it! Time and eternity were in the balance – but they were still afraid to lose their standing, their reputation. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Proverbs 29:25 says “The fear of man brings a snare (a trap)”.

What a great stronghold it is! Once the fear of man has its vice-like grip on you, it’s a very difficult thing to break free from. It can take many forms:

1) Intimidation
2) An over-concern with popularity
3) A fear of rejection
4) A fear of persecution
5) A fear of being in a minority

It occurs to me that one of the key characteristics of a truly revived heart – a mark by which you can know that God is making progress with you – is when the fear of man is broken. You see, the revived heart cares ONLY to please God.

The antidote to the fear of man is the fear of God. When you have a true reverence for God there’s no room any longer for the fear of man.

Listen to these words of the Apostle Paul: 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God." AND Galatians 1:10, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."

This is not Paul being arrogant. But he has only one real concern – pleasing God. He’s truly living for an audience of One. What a liberating way to live!

And this is how God wants US to live. Not afraid of men nor devils. What does the Word say? 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.”

Pastor Phil

I'll take a resurrection please!

2008-08-18T19:55:00.000-04:00

While there is still life people believe that God can yet heal, preserve, save. Once death has come, however, everyone sees it as too late. But Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25)

Jesus had been called to come to His friend Lazarus who was gravely ill. But Jesus delayed, and by the time He arrived Lazarus was already dead. Disappointed and heartbroken, Mary and Martha greeted Jesus by saying that if only He'd made it on time their brother would not be in the grave.

How often do we think God is too late? He didn't answer in the manner or according to the schedule that we were expecting. Now it's all over. God didn't make it on time.

Sometimes God will prefer to glorify His name by a resurrection rather than a preservation or healing.

Recently my good friend, Pastor Vinny Provenzano, was sharing with a group of us out of Ezra chapter 4. In that chapter we read how the enemies of God's people disrupted the rebuilding of the Temple. The last verse of the chapter (v24) has the melancholy words, "Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia." That means the project stopped for 15 years. The people had been so envisioned, so excited - but the work "died".

But then in the very next verse (Ezra 5:1), God sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, with the Word of the Lord. And so suddenly the building recommenced. The vision was resurrected.

In Nehemiah's day there was similar opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls by an enemy, but the work was NOT stopped. The enemy was overcome and the work was completed in record time. Why didn't God do the same in Ezra's time?

Sometimes God will prefer to glorify His name by a resurrection rather than a preservation or healing.

In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37), the death was so set in that it wasn't a scene of mere corpses, but dry bones; bleached skeletons. Clearly it wasn't even a recent death. This army had been slain for a long time.

God asked Ezekiel, "Son of man, can these bones live?" The prophet answered "Lord, You know." This is not a lack of faith. It is a recognition that there is a sovereignty about the work of God. If God does not move it cannot be done. WE cannot raise the dead.

What will our answer be to the Lord? Do we have the faith to believe that no matter how great the death, yet God knows what He will yet do? Can we say, "You ARE the resurrection and the life."

Maybe you're part of a church or a ministry that doesn't just seem "sick" any longer, it seems to be dead. Once there was life and vitality. Why was it allowed to die? Why didn't God intervene?

Perhaps God wants to encourage you with His word today that sometimes He just will prefer to glorify His name by a resurrection.

Pastor Phil

"It will be better for you if I go"

2008-08-17T20:56:00.000-04:00

Can you imagine the disciples faces when they heard those words?

John 16:7. Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."

This verse has been opening up to me more and more. There are so many ways in which we can realize the truth of what Jesus said. Jesus was actually eager to depart so that the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had been WITH the disciples during His earthly ministry, but by the Spirit He would come to be IN them. On earth He had only been able to be in one place at one time, but, by the Spirit's indwelling, the Church would take the presence of the Lord simultaneously to the uttermost parts of the earth.

The more you study this verse and compare it with the experience of the early church, the more applications you find of its truth. More is done in the believers life by the indwelling power of God than through any work Jesus could effect by an external influence. Samuel Chadwick wrote, "Inwardness is the distinctive feature of the Spirit. The Son of God reveals and works from without, but the Spirit of God dwells and works from within."

Here's another example that I've just been musing on. In Luke 11:1-4 we're told that, at the disciples request, Jesus TAUGHT them to pray. He gave them that wonderful model that we have come to call "The Lord's Prayer" (it's really the disciples prayer ... the Lord's prayer is better used to describe John 17). Jesus, the Master of prayer, TAUGHT them to pray.

But notice the very different language when we come to Romans 8:26. The indwelling Holy Spirit does not only teach us to pray (He certainly is our teacher), but it says that he HELPS us to pray. Again the external influence has moved inward for something far more glorious.

I've been reading William Gurnall's outstanding work "The Christian in Complete Armour", and I was greatly blessed to read this passage that is a powerful commentary on Romans 8:26 ...

"Even in acts of worship our strength is in the Lord. Consider prayer. Would we pray? Where will we find topics for our prayers? Alas, 'We know not what we should pray for as we ought' (Rom 8:26). Let us alone, and we will soon pray ourselves into some temptation or other, and beg for the very thing God knows we should not have. To protect us, then, God puts words in our mouths (Hos 14:2). But without some heart-heating affections to thaw the tap, the words will freeze on our lips. We may search in vain the corridors of our own hearts and the drafty corners of our souls. We will not find a spark upon our own hearth, unless it is some strange fire of our own desires, which will not do. No, the fire that thaws the iciness of the heart must come from heaven - a gift from God, who is 'a consuming fire' (Heb 12:29).

"First the Spirit stretches Himself upon the soul, as the prophet on the child; then the soul will begin to kindle and put forth some heavenly heat in its affections. At last the Spirit melts the heart, and prayer flows from the lips of the believer as naturally as tears from the eyes. And though the saint is the speaker, the author of the prayer is God. So we see that both the strength to pray and the prayer itself are from God."

I believe in the Holy Ghost!

Pastor Phil

What's in a name?

2008-08-16T11:57:00.000-04:00

I came up with so many different names for this blog.

Some were too cryptic, some were too boring, some sounded high-falutin', and some were just plain lame.

In the end I asked myself "What am I all about?" The answer to that question took about 3 seconds.

God has brought me to the place in my life and in service for Him where I finally know that without Him I can do (precisely) nothing. (John 15:5) Nada. Zilch.

Oh, we all know that!

Yeah, yeah. I "knew" it for years too. But now I do know it ... really ... with understanding and with conviction. That doesn't mean there isn't still a huge part of me that wants to jump in and make things happen by my own strength and "wisdom". I have a hunch I'll be battling that temptation for the rest of my life. But I'm learning every day to wait on God for His strength and leadings, and just be obedient.

I'm no longer surprised when I read that Moses was held out in the wilderness for 40 years before God called him back to Egypt to lead the Israelites. That's about how long it can take to get it. I'm 41 years old, and I think I finally got it.

Jesus gave his disciples a three year intensive crash course before ascending into heaven. And some of His last words to them were that they should "tarry" in Jerusalem (that means "sit down" and "wait") until they were clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49) The Holy Spirit would come as Christ's Advocate and bring them the mind and presence of Christ continuously. Without Him they could do nothing.

Just a few minutes later Jesus was taken up out of their sight, and an angel repeated the instruction to get them moving. (Acts 1:10-11) It was THAT important. It's like the angel was saying "You heard the Lord ... hurry up and wait!" And the disciples obeyed.

Of course we all know what happened about 10 days later on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came as promised, and the Church was animated with His life and power. They could never be the same again.

Now some would say, "Well that's it. The time of 'tarrying' was done. The disciples waited, and the Spirit came." Yes ... and NO! Yes, the Spirit came and thrust the church out into mission. But I put it to you that those disciples never lost sight of their call to "tarry". Their story, recorded in the book of Acts, is a story of prayer meetings, of waiting times, of "tarrying".

They waited for empowerment. They waited for boldness. They waited for instructions. As a result, they were continually filled with the Spirit and bore fruit as Jesus said they would. These were the people who "turned the world upside down". (Acts 17:6)

We need to reclaim the lost art of tarrying. The Church has never been so busy and yet so barren. We are living the Laodicean tragedy, for "(we) say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that (we) are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." (Rev 3:17) That is always the sum total of what the Church can produce when she will not tarry.

So, by the grace of God I intend to tarry. Every day God is helping me. I see His power at work. I sense His presence more and more. And my need to tarry is not diminished, it is increased. Because the minute I say "I can take it from here", I am done. Nothing will be achieved of any consequence from that moment.

Samuel Chadwick said it over a hundred years ago, "Christianity is hopeless without the Holy Ghost." Amen!

Pastor Phil