Gossip Town Alfred Smith Have you ever heard of Gossip Town, On the Shores of Falsehood Bay, Wher old Rumor with rustling gown, Is going the live long day?   It isn’t far to Gossip Town, For people who want to go… The Idleness Trail will take you down, In just an hour or so.   The Thoughtless Road is a popular route, And most folks start that way, But its steep downgrade; if you don’t watch out, You’ll land in Falsehood Bay!   You’ll glide through the Alley of Vicious Town, And into the Tunnel of Hate, Then crossing the Add-to Bridge, you walk Right into the city gate.   The Principal Street is called “They Say,” And “I’ve Heard” is the Public Well; And Breezes that blow from Falsehood Bay Are laden with “Don’t you Tell!”     In the midst of the town is the Tell Tale Park, You’re never quite safe while you’re there, For its owner is Madam Suspicious [...]

The Scriptures speak much about the relationship that exists between a father and his children. This is a heart relationship. Children’s hearts are such a tender thing. As a general rule fathers have their children’s heart when they are little. Gradually over time this relationship of trust can be lost through the actions or inactions of the father. Satan, the world, the flesh are in competition for the heart of every child. How sad it is that subtly over time a heart can be stolen or lost without even a father realizing. Fathers ought to have a goal of keeping their child’s heart. They ought to help the child protect his heart with all diligence as out of it are the issues of life. The tender, innocent heart must be guarded. Father’s must help their child in this pursuit. Woe be to the father who does not set boundaries to help his child guard his heart. An unguarded heart is one that is soon [...]

II Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  Consider some truths about spiritual strength for the Christian life. 1. Commanded. There is no place for weakness in the ranks of Jesus Christ. This command is not optional. It is a command. 2. Context. The strength is needed because of the sufferings that will come to those who will not be ashamed of the gospel and be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel. 3. Christ. The Grace for the Christian is not found in himself. This is not a “Army Strong” type of strength. Grace is sufficient for any battle and is found in Christ Jesus who filleth all in all. 4. Conflict. The world would have us believe that grace is only for the weak. Strong men in the world have no need of grace. The Believer knows that he is weak and in need of grace. Thus a strong man is [...]

The Anatomy of an Divine Appointment Acts 8 Philip the Evangelist was being used by the Lord to see souls converted to the Saviour in the town of Samaria. There were souls believing and great joy among the people. God asks Philip to leave this area of ministry and go toward the south. Philip is about to be used by God for a Divine Appointment to witness. Somewhere down south God has been working on the heart of a man who is ready to receive Christ. What are some of the components of a Divine Appointment? God’s Providence: God’s Divine plan for souls to be saved God had been meeting with Philip in Samaria and there is Spiritual Fruit. God asks Philip to Get up and Go! God’s Preacher: A Man with an intimate relationship with the Lord A Faithful Man: The Lord is able to entrust to Philip this task because he is already working for the Lord. A Surrendered Man: [...]

Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: The pleasure and purpose of God for the life of the Apostle Paul is evident. God had separated this man from his mother’s womb for His special purpose. This purpose involved Apostleship, Sanctification, and Preaching of Christ to the heathen. This special calling is not on the basis of merit, but strictly upon the Grace of God. While the Lord does not call men and women to be Apostles today, He certainly does call believers out of this world and to be identified with His dear Son. He as well calls all believers to be a preacher of the Gospel of His Son. God desires that His Son Jesus would be revealed in each believer. Christ indwells the heart of the believer [...]

FORGIVENess-What God’s Word says God’s Word is just that, the Words of God. What does God teach about my forgiving another who has wronged me or another? Many times we have heard the words, “I can’t forgive.” We can properly translate this statement as, “I won’t forgive.” Forgiveness is really a choice of the will, whether we feel like forgiving or not. God has commanded us to forgive. Really forgiveness is one of man’s most basic needs, because he is born a sinner-breaking the laws of God. The ground is very level when it comes to the need of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God have not only the divine mandate to forgive, but the divine motivation stemming from their own forgiveness. Forgiveness is not forgetting but rather choosing to releases one from the guilt who has wronged me! Forgiveness not only releases the offender but also the offended. 1. Jesus teaches us that we are to forgive: Matthew 5:23-24: If I [...]

The prophet Samuel records the capture of the Ark of the Covenant from God’s people and the placement of this spoil of war in the temple of the Philistine god Dagon. Dagon is said to be a god of fertility; part fish and part man. This was the god in whom they gloated in the defeat of Samson. The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence, power, and provision of God. It was completed by the mercy seat, the place of atonement. It contained the Aaron’s rod which budded, the golden pot of manna, and stones with God’s commandments upon them. Truly when the Ark of God was taken, the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel. The Philistines thought that their god had given them this great victory over the God of the Israelites. In just the chapter before the Philistines found themselves in fear as the Ark of God entered the camp of Israel and they shouted so that the earth [...]

Biblical Local Church Ministry I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. One of Paul’s purpose statements for writing to the young pastor, Timothy is found in this text. What should be the behavior visible in the local assembly? Edifying the Believers Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Establishing in Spiritual Growth Ephesians 4:13-14 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie [...]

January Continue in the Grace of God Acts 13:43 “...many...followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” February Continue in Love Jn. 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” March Continue Witnessing Acts 26:22 “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great...” April Continue in Holiness I Tim. 2:15 “...continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” May Continue in Doctrine I Tim. 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them...” June Continue Seeking God I Chron. 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” July Continue in the Faith Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” August Continue Following the Lord 1 Sam. 12:14 “If [...]

“Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”   Jeremiah 18:3-4 LESSONS FROM THE POTTER’S HOUSE God is the Loving, Caring, Skillful and Sovereign Potter – We are His vessels. All belong to Him by creation; believers belong by redemption. God has an Individual and Intricate Design for Each Vessel – His plan is best, good, wonderful and perfect. We must not resist. A Vessel can be Marred and Scarred – There’s no deficiency in the Potter, only in the clay which is often hard, selfish, stubborn, unbending, unyielded and unusable. Grace can Remake the Vessel – Disgraced, disfigured clay can only hope that the Potter’s mercies will start over and mold anew. Vessels must be Sincerely Submitted and Stay Sanctified to the Potter – [...]