grow by learning january thru march 2010

GROW BY LEARNING January thruMarch 2010

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This book of Blogs from Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher ofRivers of Joy Baptist Church. My dear wife Charity has help me tomake my blog readable. Hope you enjoy reading them.

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Contents

The Start of a new year Two Thousand and Ten

Charles E. Whisnant

Bible Class 509

Tiger Wood's Redempton

Lexmark Collection Cars

Bob Temple Preaching January 2010

Should We Have Services Sunday

What A Family

Our Conception of Christian Living

Granddaughters January 2010

Charles Whisnant and Charity's 40.6 Anniversary.

Wednesday Night Bible Study

Are Your Serious About Your Spiritual Life

Salvation is a continuous working out its holiness in us

Roanoke Baptist Temple of 1963-1966 Is Now a RescueMission

Memorial Service in Roanoke, Virginia

Roanoke Baptist Temple and now a Rescue Mission

The Active Willful Neglect of God Glory

Reasons How God Can Bless Your Church

The Gospel Is.....

Monday, January 25, 2010

Charles Whisnant Teaching Chapter by Chapter

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church Photos 2009

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Computer Virus Hits

Update on the Computer

Randy and Barbara Webb Family

Bowling

Why Do Preachers Think They Can Sing?

Faith Is The Result of The New Birth

Charles H. Spurgeon Sermons

The Atoning Work of Christ

Real Love Is Not Clean Water but the Living Water

the church is the body of Christ

Until You Know You Are A Sinner, You Will Not Know You NeedA Saviour

350 Years of Baptist In America Were

Is The Teaching And Learning Doctrine Important?

God’s Right To Judge Mankind

God Is The Energizer of Life Part two

Trip to Lexington Februay 2010

SEVEN THINGS A PASTOR NEEDS TO REMEMBER

WAYS TO GLORIFY THE LORD

LEADERSHIP IS BEST DONE BY THE PASTOR WHEN

Union Mills Confectionery

GOD IS TO BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIED

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE VICTORYCIRCLE

GROW BY LEARNING BOGGERS POST 2007

Spiritual Discipline

NOTHING HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY IN THE CHRISTIAN

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GOSPEL DRIVEN CENTERED CHURCH

A NEW BLOGGER FOR THE STUDY OF ROMANS

THE EXPERIENCES OF MINISTRIES SEEM TO BE THESAME

GOD SAVES PEOPLE FROM EVERY GROUP

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?

SON KYLE AND GRANDDAUGHTER

THE LORD IS PATIENCE WITH US WHEN WE ARE NOT

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF LEARNING THE WORDOFGOD

THE DESIRE TO BE HONEST WITH WISDOM

Adam and Eve Redemption By Faith Video

Three Reasons Why We Should Not Complain To God

THE RESULTS OF GOD RELEASING MEN PART ONE

23 Results from God Releasing Man To Their Desires

The Philippian Kind of Church

HOW WE ARE TO WORSHIP GOD

WHY SHOULD WE QUIT COMPLAINING?

HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE

GOD IS PRESENTED AS SAVIOR

What About The Moral Folks

HOW DO YOU WORSHIP AND PRAY

What Did Jesus Really Achieve on the Cross?

Everette Whisnant, my DAD

TEN QUESTIONS UNCHURCHED PEOPLE USUALLY DON'TASK

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The Start of a new year Two Thousand and TenSaturday, January 02, 2010Sometimes just for the enjoyment of music I guess, click here

We begin another year. Its a new beginning by the calendar date. We can build on thepasted and remember the future is here, as they say its the first day of the rest of yourlife. So start today and make this day a day to be proud of.

While I am here, here is a quote:

• “The gospel as recorded in Scripture is as broad as creation. Since the church hasbeen sent to make known this good news in all of life, in actions and in words, thechurch’s mission is, likewise, as broad as creation.”- Mike Goheen and Craig Bartholomew

The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. Its more than just Matthew 1:1, but John1:1 AND Acts 1:1 and Philippians 1:1 and Romans 1:1-5 too.

Remember its not about physical beauty that really counts, its the inward beauty youhave with the Lord Jesus Christ. Really.

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:48AM (-06:00)

Charles E. WhisnantSunday, January 03, 2010


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Bible Class 509Monday, January 04, 2010

Mrs. Bernice Fail, (member of FBC inAltoona, Ks.) said as she was leaving thechurch, "Pastor Charles, its like being incollege when you teach us the Word ofGod." Charity said, "When you preach, youhave to think, its like taking class 509."

I do not try to teach on a college level, buttry to explain the text in which I amteaching. I don't try to speak from the little

knowledge I have in my head at the moment I am teaching. I spend a lot of time studyingfrom those who have a greater understanding of the text than I do.

I have a sermon manuscript before me when I am preaching, and give out an outline ofthe sermon to the people so they can follow alone. If they wish to study more later in theweek.

While most preacher it seems, preach on a fifth grade level on purpose, I have refused todo that. Because adults are not 5th graders. Besides as we have learned on the otherhand we don't know as much as a fifth grader do we?

Here you have Christians who have been saved for 20 years still on a fifth grade Biblelevel. And I desire to see them grow in the knowledge of wisdom of the Lord.

I know we are told to take a deep subject and made it simple. I think my teaching issimple. I have seen Theological Journals in which I can't understand at all.

The content of the message is propounded to say the leased. God's word while simple, isdeep in in thought. Obedience. Simple right? To live it is not.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 10:07AM (-06:00)

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Tiger Wood's RedemptonMonday, January 04, 2010Brtit Hume did great on O'Rally Monday. He was totally one with his comment. I hopesomeone will put his comment on YouTube.

I have recently taught that God “calls us to obedience” and not to results. Brit thejournalist had the opportunity to offer a safe professional journalistic response to theconversation about Tiger Woods. I commend him because he chose to stand inobedience to God and support of his faith. Adda boy Brit. Now we need to keep in mindthat he (Brit) could very well be the new target for what he said on national TV. Let’s keepBrit in our prayers.

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 07:43PM (-06:00)

Lexmark Collection CarsTuesday, January 05, 2010

Amazing, we are in the moment of time, Itook this photo at 5:57 and posted it onFacebook at 5:57 and then posted thephoto on my Blogger at 5:59 p.m.

Thanks to Brian Williams for sending metwo Lexmark 1/64 collection cars. Mycollection is growing. Brian is April 'shusband, who is the daugher of my lovely

sister Ellen, who is the daughter to my wonderful Mom Pauline Whisnant, and they all livein Texas.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 04:57PM (-06:00)

Bob Temple Preaching January 2010Wednesday, January 06, 2010This past Sunday January 03 2010 my father in law Bob Temple spoke for us at theRivers of Joy Baptist Church. From Romans 5:1- 3 and Romans 5:4-5. Three words wehave seen on a wall.

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1. Faith2. Hope3. Love

The idea we need to put into action those nouns.

1. Believe2. Dream3. Image


Should We Have Services SundayFriday, January 08, 2010

Honest to goodness is this Thursday orFriday? So what happen to Thursday! Itmust have been all the blowing white snowthat was fallen on my head.

SO DO WE WORSHIP AND HAVEFELLOWSHIP AT RIVERS OF JOYBAPTIST CHURCH ON SUNDAY?I think of the mail carrier, rain, sleet or

snow, hail, or high water, they always deliver the mail. So why should't Christians alwaysfind a way to come to church.Its going to be a little bitter cold Sunday, there will be snowin the yard.... I understand reasons people don't come to church, I understand there aregood reasons not to come to church. There are some bad reasons why people don'tcome to church. Here is what I am saying, as I have said a number of times over theyears, if you can get out 6 a.m. in the morning to go to work, then you should be able toget out at 9:30 a.m. and come an worship.And if you are old and unable to drive, then you need to say home.

Remember folks who are not old and are able to drive will not come to worship the Lord9

and have fellowship with us.

If you can get into your car Sunday, then I would say, you might be able to come. Justsaying.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:27PM (-06:00)

What A FamilySaturday, January 09, 2010

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:30PM(-06:00)

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Our Conception of Christian LivingSunday, January 10, 2010Our conception of Christian living

(J. R. Miller, "Being Christians on Weekdays" 1888)

True religion is intensely practical. Only so far as it dominates one's life--is it real. Wemust get the commandments out of God's Word--and give them a place in the hard, dustypaths of our earthly toil and struggle. We must get them off the tables of stone--and havethem written on the walls of our own hearts! We must bring the Golden Rule--into ourdaily, actual life.

We are too apt to imagine, that holiness consists in mere good feeling toward God. Itdoes not! It consists in obedience in heart and life to the divine requirements. To be holyis, first, to be set apart for God and devoted to God's service, and it necessarily followsthat we must live for God.

Our hands are God's--and can fitly be used only in doing His work; our feet are God's--and may be employed only in walking in His ways and running His errands; our lips areGod's--and should speak words only that honor Him and bless others; our hearts areGod's--and must not be profaned by thoughts and affections that are not pure.

True holiness is no vague sentiment--it is intensely practical. It is nothing less than thebringing of every thought and feeling and act--into obedience to Christ! We are quite indanger of leaving out the element of obedience, in our conception of Christian living. If wedo this, our religion loses its strength and grandeur--and becomes weak, nerveless andforceless.

Our religion must touch every part of our life--and transform it all into the beauty ofholiness.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:46AM (-06:00)

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Granddaughters January 2010Wednesday, January 13, 2010


Charles Whisnant and Charity's 40.6Anniversary.Friday, January 15, 2010Charity calls: "Do you want a date night?" I said, "What for?" She said, "Its our 40 1/2wedding anniversary!" Okay I said, let's have a date.

So we had dinner and went to a movie. Yep a movie, the first one since 1999 or 2000.We saw the Blind Side with Sandra B. And the movie was great.

And we had a great time. Charity said, we need to do this again. Maybe the 14th of next12

month it will be our 40.7 wedding anniverary.

She might have something.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 01:49PM (-06:00)

Wednesday Night Bible StudySaturday, January 16, 2010The Role of Members 2 of 2 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

Should Christians desire to study togetheron Wednesday Night the Word o fGod?Saundra and BobDanny, Dorthy Janet, Shyann, CharityKindraBill, Linda, Lois, C, Dr. Who JimmyFrankie, Pauline, Richard, Mary and AssocPastor Bill

Should Christians desire to hear theteaching of the Word of God, and havefe l lowsh ip w i th o ther be l ievers inWednesday N ight?Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:16PM(-06:00)

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Are Your Serious About Your Spiritual LifeMonday, January 18, 2010Let me ask this: ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE?

POINT ONE: The Christian is to work out, bring out, and commanded to keep on doingan action as one’s general habit or life-style. To produce on the outside of your life whatis on the inside of our life. What is planted by grace on the inside is to be made visible inyour conduct what God has worked in.

THEOLOGICAL: What God has worked by the way of salvation we are to work out by theway of sanctification.

The call for maximum work. Maximum effort. Bring forth, to give intense commitment tothe result of the salvation placed in us to do its designed purpose.

C.T. Studd (1860 -1931)• Christ's call is to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers butsinners to repentance; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, andcathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of cleveressays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men fromthe devil's clutches and the very jaws of Hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the LordJesus Christ.

• I felt something wrong with my relationship to the LORD, and so I am reading throughthe entire New Testament to check all the commands in case I have unwittingly violatedany of them.”Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:07AM (-06:00)

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Salvation is a continuous working out its holinessin usTuesday, January 19, 2010SALVATION DOESN'T STOP AFTER WE FIRST RECEIVE GOD'S GRACE

What God has worked by the way of salvation in us, we are to work out by the way ofsanctification. Romans 1:20

The call for maximum work. Maximum effort. Meaning "bring forth", "to give intensecommitment" to the result of the salvation placed in us to do its designed purpose.

• 1 Corinthians 9:27, Romans 12:1-2

Salvation is a continuous work in progress, i.e. called sanctification. We are continuouscalled to be obedience to the commands of Christ. They work for our holiness. They workof our spiritual health.We are not to careless live our lives. There is to be a daily discipline of right thinking, rightacting, taking in the right stuff that will produce in us the right kind of spiritural food for ourdaily living.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 07:04AM (-06:00)

Roanoke Baptist Temple of 1963-1966 Is Now aRescue MissionFriday, January 22, 2010

The map of the location of Roanoke BaptistTemple as was shown by Google in 2010.The mission provides sleeping and washingaccommodations to homeless men andwomen, a free cafeteria, free medical clinic,thrift store, free year-long live-in addictionrecovery program for men and for women,a family shelter, and a summer rural day-camp for children.The Roanoke Rescue Mission is a Christianmission located in downtown Roanoke,Virginia. The mission is the largesthomeless shelter in the state of Virginia. Itis part of the City Mission movement.See the photos here and see here the workat the Rescue Mission in Roanoke

While in Roanoke Virginia this week, I tookthese photos of the building that was in1962-1966 the Roanoke Baptist Temple. Iwill say more next time.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 08:04PM(-06:00) 15

Memorial Service in Roanoke, VirginiaSaturday, January 23, 2010

Charles, Dolly, Joyce and Buddy

This week I had the joy of speaking inRoanoke Virginia, my home town as a childand youth, and until I finished High Schoolin 1966. My Dad, Everette Whisnant,pastored in Roanoke from 1954 until hedied in February 1966.

I was asked to speak at Frances CopperPruett's funeral. She was 87 years old. You might asked why was I asked. I had not seenFrances in a number of years. But I had known her in my father's church when I wasseven years old. She was my first girl friend. She was the same age as my mother too.Frances and her kids loved us and Dad and Mom. She was a great help to the church.And for the rest of her life was involved in her gospel music, playing the piano, taughtSunday School class at Garden City Baptist Church and enjoyed traveling and her family.

I loved her family too. She had five children. Bill and Kenny Copper who have pass waysome years ago. Joyce and Dolly (Darlene) and Buddy (James).

I reconnected with Joyce, Dolly and Buddy after some fifty years. It seemed we picked upwhere we left off.

Dolly and her husband Bob were so kind to me. Dolly called me to ask if I would comeand hold the service for her Mom. Dolly and I were in high school together at JeffersonHigh School. And they drove me all over parts of Roanoke. Thanks Dolly and Bob somuch for your gift and love.

After the service we went to where Joyce and here husband Jimmy live and had a greattime of fellowship and eating. And we had a great time with Buddy and his wife Anita. Wehad a great time with all the families and friends.

While we were sad about the home heaven bound Mrs. Cooper as I knew her, we werehappy to know she gave her life to the Lord, and to see her family after so many yearsapart.16

Its amazing after 55 years you still have in your heart a love for those who you knew. Aseed was planted and it grew for all these years.


Roanoke Baptist Temple and now a RescueMissionSaturday, January 23, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 09:42AM (-06:00)

The Active Willful Neglect of God GlorySunday, January 24, 2010Romans 1 1 24 10 Outline The Active Willful Neglect Of God View more documents fromCharles E. Whisnant.

This morning I preached from Romans 1:20


Reasons How God Can Bless Your ChurchMonday, January 25, 2010

Lois and Jimmy Grant and grandson,members of Rivers of Joy Bill Bower, Assoc. Pastor of Rivers of JoyBaptist Church, Minford, Ohio

1A DEFINE MY PRESENT GOD-GIVENROLES (Spiritual giftedness)

2 A D E T E R M I N E S P E C I F I C ,THEOLOGICALLY INFORMED GOALSAND

3A TRANSFER THESE GOALS INTO MYSCHEDULE.

For God to be able to bless our workethic…… the above three areas need to beaddressed.

Wrong Reasons to Love the Church 17

• Don’t love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won’tdo enough.• Don’t love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and willlet you down.• Don’t love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all thosethings get old.• Don’t love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships changeand people move.

Love the church because of who shed his blood to obtain the church. Love the churchbecause of who the church belongs to. Love the church because of who the churchworships. Love the church because you love Jesus Christ and his glory. Love the churchbecause Jesus is worthy and faithful and true. Love the church because Jesus loves thechurch.


The Gospel Is.....Monday, January 25, 2010My friends, I do not believe it is preaching Christ and him crucified, to give people a batchof philosophy every Sunday morning and evening, and neglect the truths of this HolyBook. I do not believe it is preaching Christ and him crucified, to leave out the maincardinal doctrines of the Word of God, and preach a religion which is all a mist and ahaze, without any definite truths whatever.

I take it that man does not preach Christ and him crucified, who can get through asermon without mentioning Christ's name once; nor does that man preach Christ and himcrucified, who leaves out the Holy Spirit's work, who never says a word about the HolyGhost, so that indeed the hearers might say, "We do not so much as know whether therebe a Holy Ghost."

And I have my own private opinion, that there is no such thing as preaching Christ andhim crucified, unless you preach what now-a-days is called Calvinism. I have my ownideas, and those I always state boldly. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism. Calvinism isthe gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do notpreach justification by faith without works; not unless we preach the sovereignty of God inhis dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal,immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor, I think, can we preach the gospel, unless webase it upon the peculiar redemption which Christ made for his elect and chosen people;nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, andsuffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation, after having believed.

Such a gospel I abhor. The gospel of the Bible is not such a gospel as that. We preachChrist and him crucified in a different fashion, and to all gainsayers we reply, "We havenot so learned Christ."Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 03:54PM (-06:00)

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Monday, January 25, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 03:59PM (-06:00)

Charles Whisnant Teaching Chapter by ChapterMonday, January 25, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 04:23PM (-06:00)

Rivers of Joy Baptist ChurchTuesday, January 26, 2010

Outline from Charles Sermon SundayMorning

THE ACTIVE WILLFUL NEGLECT OF GOD’S TRUTH LEADS TO EMPTYSPECULATION

Romans 1:21

January 24, 2010 Pastor/Teacher Charles E. Whisnant

BECAUSE 1360 THAT, WHEN THEY KNEW 1097 GOD, THEY GLORIFIED 1392 HIMNOT AS GOD, NEITHER WERE THANKFUL2168; BUT BECAME VAIN 3154 IN THEIRIMAGINATIONS 1261, AND THEIR FOOLISH801 HEART2588 WAS DARKENED 4654

Romans 1:21 For even though they knew (AAPMPN) God, they did not honor Him asGod or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heartwas darkened (3SAPI).

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“Two things never live up to their billing: the circus and sin.”

“It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edgethe man away from the Light and out into nothing. Murder is no better than lies if lyingdoes the trick.”—C. S. Lewis

“The punishment of sin is sin.”—Augustine

The basis for God’s wrath against the Gentiles and the fact that they are without excuseis that they suppress the truth about God and have exchanged the glory of God for idols(1:18-23)

The basis for God’s wrath against the Gentiles is that although they knew God, andclaimed to be wise, they neither glorified him nor gave thanks to him, but instead theybecame futile in their thinking, darkened in their foolish heart, and exchanged the glory ofGod for idolatry (1:21-23).

THEY KNEW

· God has given mankind the means to know personally the existence of God and toknow His divine attributes. Men have knowledge of God’s being and character. Acts17:27.

THEY DID NOT GLORIFY HIM AS GOD

· About the worst thing you can say about a man is a man who is not thankful to God.

· They give the glory to another, they did not praise Him, or magnify Him, they did notplace Him into the position of power and immense honor that He truly deserved.

· They made a choice of their will. They made a deliberate choice not (absolutecancellation) to honor or glorify Him.

· Mankind is to respond to the Truth given. Truth demands a response. The response? Toglorify Him as the Great Creator.

· It’s the main thing for a man: to glorify God: I Corin. 10:31; Romans 11:36;Psa. 73:15-281 Chronicles 16:24-29


Rivers of Joy Baptist Church Photos 2009Tuesday, January 26, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 02:36PM (-06:00)

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Computer Virus HitsFriday, January 29, 2010

This is my office at home.

Its Friday. My computer at the home officegot a v i rus o f the major k ind onWednesday. I should get it back today. I amnot in the church pastor's study. I set up anew Lexmark printer, etc. yesterday.

I don't have all the information on thispastor's office computer as I do in the homeoffice computer, therefore I can not uploadthe different information I would like too.

But I am working on a external memory in which I will be able to get information fromhome to the office.

I love working out of the church pastor's office. But since so much of my work is on thecomputer its hard to do as much as I would like. But I am working of that problem.

Sunday I hope to be in Romans Sunday Morning. I hope I have not lost all my notes too.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 09:05AM (-06:00)

Update on the ComputerFriday, January 29, 2010

I have my computer back and am setting uphere in the home office.

I have to upload all the software that I havebefore the virus hit.

This is a challenge but okay.


Randy and Barbara Webb FamilySunday, January 31, 2010I took this photo from Barbara's Facebook. I was glad to see the photo. Charity and Ihave known Randy since Pleasant Valley Ranch in Perrsyville, Ohio back in the late 70's.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:49AM (-06:00)

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BowlingMonday, February 01, 2010

On Saturday Charity and I went bowlingwith a family and friends from the church. Ihad not bowled in twenty years. But I had agood time trying to get back in form. (whichI didn't).

We hope at least once a month we canmake this a church activity. Maybe I will getin form after a few months.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:01AM(-06:00)

Why Do Preachers Think They Can Sing?Monday, February 01, 2010

Why Do Preachers Think They Can Sing?Well many really can. While I enjoy singingsome, my thinking is always on preachingand teaching. But twice now Charity and Ihave sung. We are getting a little better.


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Faith Is The Result of The New BirthTuesday, February 02, 2010THE CHANNEL or conduit IN WHICH GOD USES TO BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE INTHE HEART: TO AWAKENED THE MIND TO THE REALITY OF THE GOSPEL OFJESUS CHRIST. AT THAT MOMENT IT’S LIKE YOU PUT YOUR FINGER IN ANELECTRIC OUTLET. THERE IS AN IMMEDITATED REACTION. CHARITY AND ITOUCHED LIP’S SUNDAY AND THE ELECTRIC SHOCK WE FELTED KNOCK USBACK FROM EACH OTHER IN THE INSTANCE WE FELT THE SHOCK. 1 John 5:1

God’s Begetting Causes Our Believing

John says this plainly in 1 John 5:1. This is the clearest text in the New Testament on therelationship between faith and the new birth. Watch the verbs closely as I read 1 John5:1, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.”

Here is what John Stott says on this verse, and I agree totally:• The combination of present tense (believes) and perfect tense [has been born] is

important. It shows clearly that believing is the consequence, not the cause, of thenew birth. Our present, continuing activity of believing is the result, and therefore,the evidence, of our past experience of new birth by which we became and remainGod’s children. (The Letters of John, 175)

The Divine Power of God in and throughthe preaching/teaching of the Gospel whenconnected with the spiritual deadness ofman’s heart and at that moment isawakened to the reality of Jesus Christ.Believing happens; faith is activated whenthe New Birth occurs.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 05:13AM(-06:00)

Charles H. Spurgeon SermonsTuesday, February 02, 2010CHARLES H. SPURGEON SERMONS

• Charles H. Spurgeon sermons has been used by more preachers than any otherpreacher I think. I remember on of my first experience preaching outside my homechurch was in North Caroline, at my father's friends church. That Sunday Morning Ipreached a sermon that Charles Spurgeon had preached. I was only about 17 yearsold. I had no idea of the impact of Charles Spurgeon. I knew that Dad had a set ofhis sermons in his own library and I was reading the sermons. So I thought it wouldbe good to take on of the sermons and try to preach it. Of course I had not been toseminary and had little idea about the art of preaching. But that was the beginningof my learing to preach.

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Simply recording Spurgeon's messages was a labor-intensive process in those daysbefore electronic sound-capture was commonplace. Spurgeon spoke extemporaneously,without the use of a manuscript. (He normally took only half a used envelope or a similarscrap of paper into the pulpit with him, containing just a handwritten, bare-bones outline.)Two or three stenographers would record his words as he spoke. Their transcriptionswould be compared and combined, insuring that very few words were missed. Theneither Spurgeon himself (usually), his trusted secretary (especially in later years), oranother qualified editor (beginning around the turn of the century) would edit thetranscript for publication. I own several pages of edited transcripts with emendationsscrawled into the margins by Spurgeon's own distinctive hand, and he was a meticulouseditor. (It is some consolation to me as a rather halting preacher to see that some of thestunning eloquence of the published sermons was added during the editorial process. Allthat genius wasn't straight off the top of Spurgeon's head when he preached-thoughmuch of it was.) The task of editing and proofreading sermons was a massive one, andthe stress of so many relentless deadlines no doubt complicated Spurgeon's frequenthealth problems. It may well have hastened his death.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 08:40PM (-06:00)

The Atoning Work of ChristThursday, February 04, 2010The atoning work of Christ and the attributes of God

"[saving faith is demonstrated]...by the Word of God having come in divine power to thesoul so that my self-complacency is shattered and my self-righteousness isrenounced...by the Holy Spirit convicting me of my woeful, guilty, and lost condition. ... byhaving had revealed to me the suitability and [ALL] sufficiency of Christ to meet mydesperate case and by a divinely given faith causing me to lay hold of and rest upon Himas my only hope... by the marks of the new nature within me - a love for God; an appetitefor spiritual things; a longing for holiness; a seeking after conformity to Christ" - A.W. Pink

The gospel of Christ in general is this: It is the good tidings that God has revealedconcerning Christ. More largely it is this: As all mankind was lost in Adam and becamethe children of wrath, put under the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallenangels and has reserved them in the chains of eternal darkness, yet He has thought uponthe children of men and has provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himselfagain...Namely, the second person of the Trinity takes man's nature upon Himself, andbecomes the Head of a second covenant, standing charged with sin. He answers for it bysuffering what the law and divine justice required, and by making satisfaction by keepingthe law perfectly, which satisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as asweet savor of rest for the souls that are given to Him...And now this mediation of Christis, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nationor rank, freely offering this atonement unto sinners for atonement, requiring them tobelieve in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins,but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness24

shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall through Him be receivedinto the number of those who shall have the image of God again to be renewed untothem, and they they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.Jeremiah BurroughsPosted by Charles E. Whisnant at 08:54AM (-06:00)

Real Love Is Not Clean Water but the LivingWaterThursday, February 04, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 01:51PM (-06:00)

the church is the body of ChristThursday, February 04, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 03:53PM (-06:00)

Until You Know You Are A Sinner, You Will NotKnow You Need A SaviourSaturday, February 06, 2010William Newell writes that

• "The silliness of these "modern" shallow-pan days! How men are rushing back to the oldpagan pit out of which God’s Word and His gospel would have delivered them!

• They suck up sin; they welter in wickedness; they profess to be wise! They sit at the feetof "professors" whose breath is spiritual cyanide. They idolize the hog-sty doctrines of arotten Freud: and count themselves "wise"!

• They say, "God is not a person; men evolved from monkeys; morals are mere oldhabits; self- enjoyment, self-expression, indulgence of all desires—this, " they say, "is thepath of wisdom."

• It is the path of those who go quickly down to the pit and on to judgment!

• The very morals of Sodom, as our Lord foretold, are rushing fast upon us, and God willbring again the awful doom of Sodom (Lk 17:28-31).

• This is a strange introduction to the gospel of God’s grace, we answer, It lies herebefore us, this awful indictment of Romans One, and cannot be evaded!

• Moreover, until man knows his state of sin, he wants no grace. Shall pardon be spokenof beforethe sinner is proved a sinner?

• While the evidence is being brought in, the whole attention of the court is upon that.25

• If the evidence of guilt be insufficient or inconclusive, there is no necessity for a pardon!

• Preachers and teachers have soft pedaled sin, until the fear Of God is vanishing away.

• McCheyne used to Say, "A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hands of God" Apreacher who avoids telling men the truth about their sin as here revealed, is the best toolof the devil. (2Ti 4:3, 4, Acts 20:30, Heb 13:9)"Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 09:37AM (-06:00)

350 Years of Baptist In America WereSaturday, February 06, 2010Kenneth Good, in his book, Are Baptists Calvinists?, does a good job of tracing theCalvinistic influence that Vedder speaks of to the Baptist Bible Union and the GeneralAssociation of Regular Baptists. (pp.188-216) All the various Fundamental Baptist groupshave their roots back to this same source. Whether Fundamental or Southern, mostBaptist churches of our day have for their Articles of Faith but a version of the NewHampshire Confession of 1833, with certain modifications. Although The New HampshireConfession is more moderate in tone than the Philadelphia Confession, it was drawn upprecisely to combat the message of the Free Will Baptists which was becoming popularat the time in that area. (Baptist Confessions of Faith, Lumpkin, p. 360) Therefore it stillretained its distinctly Calvinistic theology purposely, and that for polemical reasons. It hasalways puzzled me why the longest single section of that confession has always beenomitted by modern day Baptists. It is article ix, "Of God's Purpose of Grace."

"We believe that Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which hegraciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent withthe free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that itis a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy,and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer,praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use ofmeans in the highest degree; that it is ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe thegospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regardto ourselves, demands and deserves our utmost diligence." (Ibid, p. 364)

It has always seemed to me that any Baptist group, wishing to stand with the mainstreamof the venerable Baptist past and desiring to be true to the gospel, would be proud toinclude such a biblical and Baptistic statement in its Articles of Faith. In fact, if purposelydone, it seems to me to be historically dishonest to have omitted it, particularly whensuch Articles were and are set forth as representing the historic Baptist position.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 08:04PM (-06:00)

Is The Teaching And Learning DoctrineImportant?Saturday, February 06, 2010IS THE TEACHING AND LEARNING DOCTRINE IMPORTANT?

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Pastor/Teacher Charles E. Whisnant

One of the fundamental marks of liberalism is its constant attack against "doctrine." Agrowing number of people are now saying, "Doctrine is not important. Jesus is important.Let's lay aside our petty doctrinal differences and get back to Jesus."

Bible doctrine is SO IMPORTANT that God made sure 2 John 9-11 was recorded:"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. Hethat abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there comeany unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid himGod speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." If doctrine isnot important, then these verses do not mean anything. Doctrine is of utmost importance!

The word doctrine means: "instruction, teaching." Therefore, the "doctrine of Christ" is theinstruction or teaching that Christ gave. Is the teaching of Christ important? Is the truthimportant? Is sound doctrine important? YES! A thousand times YES!

Just how important is the doctrine or teaching of Christ? Paul told Timothy to "giveattendance to...doctrine" and "charge some that they teach no other doctrine" (1 Timothy4:13,16; 1:). Titus was told to "speak the things which become sound doctrine" (Titus 2:).Paul warned that some " will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3), that we are as"children" when we are "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine"(Ephesians 4:), and to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to thedoctrine" (Romans 16:17). Elders are to be able "by sound doctrine both to exhort andconvict the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9). Every Christian is to "hold fast the form of soundwords" (doctrine) and "earnestly contend for the faith" (doctrine) (2 Timothy 1:13 Jude 3).Therefore, we see not only the importance of doctrine but also the strict warning toanyone who would pervert or change Christ's doctrine.

If doctrine is unimportant, then what parts can be changed? Can we do away with thedoctrine of: the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the church of Christ, the acts of worship,the plan of salvation? If any point of doctrine can be changed, then WHO has the right tochange it and HOW FAR can he go in changing it? Let's submit to Christ's doctrine, fortherein only do we purify our souls (1 Peter 1:22).


God’s Right To Judge MankindSaturday, February 06, 2010Romans 1:22 # 45.23 February 07 2010Pastor/Teacher Charles E. Whisnant

Romans 1:22 Professing (PAPMPN) to be wise, they became fools (3SPAPI)

Romans 1:23 and exchanged (3PAAI) the glory of the incorruptible God for an image inthe form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures

• PROFESSING (alleging, asserting, affirming) TO BE WISE: phaskontes (PAPMPN)einai (PAN) sophoi:

• (Ro 11:25; Pr 25:14; 26:12; Is 47:10; Jer 8:8,9; 10:14; Mt 6:23; 1Co 1:19, 20, 21; 27

3:18,19)

As you know it’s always being my goal to discover the depth of Scripture. I do get excitedabout what I am learning from God’s Word.

Romans is about the Good News, but for the Good News to be good, we need to knowwhat the bad news is. And the bad news is, we are all under the wrath of God. We are allsinners and with out some good news we are all bound to go to HELL for all eternity. Thatis forever. So we need good news.

On the TV News they give us all the bad news without, or with little good news.Jesus spoke more on the negative. He had more to say about judgment, destruction,damnation, Hell, than anybody recorded in scripture.

• For contempt of others.• For unwillingness to forsake sin.• For falsely professing to follow Christ.• For assuming Jewish lineage can save.• For rejecting the Messengers of Christ• For failing to fear and reverence God.

From the beginning Jesus’ testimony was clear. God is a God of judgment and wrath whowill punish sin.

So Paul does the same, he first warns men about the wrath of God. And Paul answersthe question: “Is God fair?” Is God unloving? How? By defending God’s right to respondin judgment.

• God has a right to judge: Romans 1:18-23.• Paul gives FOUR REASONS FOR THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD’S

JUDGMENT: 1A REVELATION:

1. God has given the truth of God.• Man is responsible for responding properly to the revelation of God:• • Acts 14:15, 17:23,27, John 1:9

2A REJECTION:

• 1. Men have rejected the revealed creation of God, and refuse to thank and glorifyHim.

• 2. Rejecting the light of God’s knowledge in their consciences, men now arrogatedto themselves wisdom, and became—what? Fools! “The fear of the Lord is thebeginning”—of both knowledge and wisdom (Pr 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Ps 111:10-; Job28:28).

That is the characterization of the entire human race apart from regeneration. Rom 2:23Man refuses to glorify God and thus praises himself. Daniel 4:30-37 Nebuchadnezar

3A RATIONALIZATION:

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1B Professing (5335) (phasko from phemi = to say or affirm) means to affirm, allege,pretend, profess. The idea conveyed by this verb is that one is speaking with an air ofcertainty, stating something with a high degree of confidence The English word assertwhich means to affirm or declare positively or with assurance and often even forcefully oraggressively. The idea of assert implies stating confidently without need for proof orregard for evidence.

• Man rationalizes his sin and proves his utter foolishness by devising and believinghis own philosophies about God, the universe, and himself

2B They Became fools (3471) (moraino from morós = foolish and root of our Englishmoron = very stupid person) can refer to physical sloth or dullness, but mainly is areference (and especially in the present context) to one's intellectual life. It means tocause content of certain thoughts to become devoid of meaning or even to cause them tobecome nonsense.

• Rejecting the light of God’s knowledge in their consciences, men now arrogated tothemselves wisdom, and became—what? Fools! “The fear of the Lord is thebeginning”—of both knowledge and wisdom (Pr 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Ps 111:10-; Job28:28).

THREE WAYS THEY HAVE BECOME FOOLS:

1B COMPROMISE: THEISTIC EVOLUTION:

2B LIBERAL THEOLOGY:

3B PSYCHOLOGYPosted by Charles E. Whisnant at 09:08PM (-06:00)

God Is The Energizer of Life Part twoSunday, February 07, 2010Philippians 2:12-13Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/TeacherFebruary 2010

Philippians 2:13 for it is (3SPAI) God who is at work (PAPMSN) in you, both to will (PAN)and to work (PAN) for His good pleasure

SUPERNATURAL WORKREQUIRESSUPERNATURAL ENERGY

The Christian life is a disciplined spiritual life. Paul is calling for a personal sanctification,personal godliness and spiritual maturity.

Work (1754) (energeo from energes = active, operative, at work in turn from en = in +érgon = work)

• refers to active, efficient, effectual fervent work. God energizes His children to obey 29

and serve Him; His power enables their sanctification. THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TWO-FOLD

1B The Christian working 100% out what is on the inside.

2B The Lord working 100% on what is on the inside.

Remember: Whatever is being produced in your life for the glory of God is beingproduced by God, He is at work in you. So which one is it? You or God bringing aboutyour salvation?

FIVE KEY TRUTHS ABOUT GOD WE MUST UNDERSTAND.

1B HIS PERSON: It is God in person working in you.

2B HIS POWER: It is God’s power who is working in you.

• It is God who is energizing the fulfillment of His own command in us.

3B HIS PRESENCE: It is God who is in you, working out His will.

• Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Psalms 139:3

His presence is always present in your life from the first day to the last day on earth andinto eternity. Always sustaining, supporting, upholding, strengthening, shielding, neverout of His care.

4B HIS PURPOSE: He is trying to develop something very specific in us. Thus He isworking in us both to will and do His good pleasure.

BOTH TO WILL AND TO WORK: kai to thelein (PAN) kai to energein (PAN):

• 1 King 8:58; 1 Chro 29:14-18; Ezra 1:1,5, 7:27; Nehemiah 2:4; Psalms 110:3; 119:36;Psalms 141:4; Proverbs 21:1; John 6:45, 65; Ephesians 2:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Titus3:4-5; I Peter 1:3

There are two things God wants to energize in us!

1. Our Will and2. Our Work.• Psalms 110:3; Ezra 1:5; 7:27; Proverbs 21:1• God is working in you on your will to produce the intent, the will to do what He

desires.

HOW DOES GOD PRODUCE IN US TO MOVE OUR WILL?

1B HOLY DISCONTENT:

• You are discontent with your holiness, your spiritual state. He wants you to hate sin.

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2B HOLY ASPIRATION:

• A Strong desire to achieve something higher or greater: knowledge, wisdom, to belike Paul, Peter, James and John

3B HIS PLEASURE:• Why is God doing all this in you…..for His good pleasure. For His satisfaction. He

wants to cause us to do what pleases Him.


Trip to Lexington Februay 2010Tuesday, February 09, 2010Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 07:06AM (-06:00)

SEVEN THINGS A PASTOR NEEDS TOREMEMBERWednesday, February 10, 2010

Seven Great Lessons of a Faithful Pastor

1. Dead orthodoxy is deadly.

2. Tradition is a wonderful servant but aterrible master.

3. God blesses preaching that is scriptural,personal, and evangelical.

4. Do not neglect the Lord's Supper.

5. Fear God, not people.

6. Doctrinal fidelity and evangelistic fervor do not have to be at odds.

7. Passion and courage are no excuses for a harsh spirit.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 07:22AM (-06:00)

WAYS TO GLORIFY THE LORDThursday, February 11, 2010WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO GLORIFY THE LORD?

BY CONFESSING JESUS AS LORD: Philippians 2:11

BY MAKING IT OUR GOAL TO GLORIFY HIM 1 Corinthians 10:31 31

BY CONFESSING OUR SIN Joshua 7:19

BY TRUSTING IN HIM Romans 4:20

BY PRAISING HIM Psalms 50:23; Psalms 145

BY PRAYING John 14:13

BY MINISTERING OUR GIFTS 1Peter 4:10-11

BY PROCLAIMING THE WORD 2 Thess 3:1; 1 Thess 1:8

BY MORAL PURITY 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

BY TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT CHRIST 2 Corinthians 4:15

BY BEARING MUCH FRUIT John 5:8; John 15:5, 15:16


LEADERSHIP IS BEST DONE BY THE PASTORWHENFriday, February 12, 2010

PASTORS OR LEADERS

• No form of leadership a pastor provides is more decisive than his proclamation ofScripture. Preaching both defines the priorities for your church and fuels theimplementation of those priorities in the church. We must never sever theconnection in our minds between leadership—providing direction for thechurch—and your preaching plan. It’s that preaching plan, and its execution, thatprovide the most powerful and biblically rooted leadership. And I’m not just speakingabout the “leadership opportunity” on any given Sunday. The preaching diet over aperiod of time will be the most formative, shaping influence on a church.

• If all this is true, what then? If you’re a senior pastor, then nothing you do this weekis more important than, nor should it supplant, your prayerful preparation for thepreaching of God’s Word. If you serve on a pastoral team with a specialized sphereof ministry, you should be thinking about how the Sunday preaching can be appliedin the life of the church in your sphere. If you’re a member of a church, there is nomore important moment for you than when you sit under the teaching of God’s

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Word, hearing his voice, and receiving direction for your life as a part of yourchurch.

• THUS PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OFTHE PASTOR/TEACHER'S MINISTRY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCHBODY.


Union Mills ConfectioneryFriday, February 12, 2010Union Mills Small Feb2010 View more documents from Charles E. Whisnant.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 07:05AM (-06:00)

GOD IS TO BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIEDMonday, February 15, 2010GOD IS HOLY – So He always does what’s right.GOD IS LOVING – So He is always concerned with our best.GOD IS GRACIOUS – So He always forgives.GOD IS MERCIFUL – So He always holds back the fullness of judgment.GOD IS JUST –So He is always fair.GOD IS GENEROUS – So He always gives more than enough.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 05:57AM (-06:00)

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH AND THEVICTORY CIRCLEMonday, February 15, 2010SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2010

There was the NASCAR Daytona 500,There was the NBA All StarsThere was the Winter OlympicsThere was the PBA Masters BowlingThere was the NHRA Funny Car RaceThere was the College BasketballThere was the Tennis GamesThere was the PGA GolfAnd Rivers of Joy Baptist Church in Minford Ohio was having a great time in theirservices.

Of course you would expect the pastor/teacher to say that. Well know always. But thereare times you might say the worship, fellowship and services were a bit better.

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So what would make one service better than another when you are doing the samethings each week? The singing is always good, the fellowship is always good. Andgenerally I really enjoy teaching and preaching each week.

And the attendance should not be a factor, having visitors is always a good sign, andpeople not walking out while I preach is a good sign. Kidding.

We do have a really small church. Really small. But again we have a great group ofpeople who do love the Lord and generally love to fellowship and like hearing theteaching of the word of God.

One member said to a former member last week. "You know, our problem before wasthat we were not getting spiritually feed by the Word of God, and we are now."

I know personally that the joy I had Sunday was as much joy as any of the winners had inthe sporting events mention above.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:23AM (-06:00)

GROW BY LEARNING BOGGERS POST 2007Monday, February 15, 2010Grow By Learning[2) 2007 View more documents from Charles E. Whisnant.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 07:56PM (-06:00)

Spiritual DisciplineWednesday, February 17, 2010According to 1 Timothy 4:7-8 physical exercise, while beneficial, is no where near ascritically important as spiritual exercise! We are also told in Romans 8:29 and 1 John 3:2that Christians are in the process of becoming like Christ. While believers are in theprocess of becoming like Jesus, the writer of Hebrews 12:14 teaches us that we are notmerely to wait for holiness we are to pursue it. But how? The answer is discipline!“The word discipline was disappeared from our minds, our mouths, our pulpits, and ourculture. We hardly know what discipline means in modern American society. And yet,there is no other way to attain godliness. Discipline is the path to godliness.”- Jay AdamsConcerning discipline two things must be understood:1. Discipline is the necessary key to accomplishing anything in this life.2. Discipline without direction and desire is drudgery.That is true in regards to any kind of discipline, but it is especially true concerning thespiritual disciplines. Discipline is not an end to itself, it’s the means to an end. Referringagain to 1 Timothy 4:7-8 we learn that spiritual discipline is for the purpose of godliness.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 05:39PM (-06:00)

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NOTHING HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY IN THECHRISTIAN LIFEThursday, February 18, 2010Nothing happens automatically in the Christian life.

Christians learning to THINK. Critical Thinking.

Critical thinking gives due consideration to the evidence, the context of judgment, therelevant criteria for making the judgment well, the applicable methods or techniques forforming the judgment, and the applicable theoretical constructs for understanding theproblem and the question at hand. Critical thinking employs not only logic but broadintellectual criteria such as clarity, credibility, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth,breadth, significance and fairness. Definition

Thinking is often casual and informal, whereas critical thinking deliberately evaluates thequality of thinking.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE

Understand that spiritual discernment means being ready to admit to weakness orlimitation in that very gift; being willing to abandon “shortcuts” in return for the demandingspiritual disciplines that produce lasting fruit; and resisting the temptation to judge thehearts of others.Lloyd-Jones makes a great point in the quote below. The only thing I would add is thatmany people today think that simple preaching of doctrine will automatically lead to atransformed life. Lloyd-Jones is right when he says we must be taught to think. We needpractical guidance to help us apply the wondrous truths of the gospel, or we will remainstunted and immature Christians. Where is the preaching that will help us live asChristians?

NOTHING HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Nothing happens automatically in the Christian life. That is a very profound principle, for Ibelieve that most of our troubles arise from the fact that we tend to assume that they dohappen automatically.

We persist in holding on to a semi-magical notion of regeneration which teaches that,because of what has happened to us, the rest of the story is, quite simply, ‘they all livedhappily ever after’.But of course we know that that is not true . . .Obviously the antidote to that is

• to think,• to have an understanding,• to reason the thing out thoroughly.

The world does not do that. The trouble with the world, ultimately, according to theteaching of the Bible, is that it does not think. If only people thought, most of theirproblems would be solved . . .

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The fallacy of the humanist is, of course, that he believes that all you have to do thereforeis to tell people to think. But as long as they are sinners they will not think. (As our studyin Romans 1 tell us, I have added)) These elemental forces are so much stronger thanthe rational forces that ‘man in sin’ is always irrational.

When we become Christians we still need to enforce this self-same principle. Even theChristian does not think automatically; he has to be taught to think—hence the NewTestament .

Why were they ever written? If a man who becomes a Christian automatically does theright thing, why did the Apostle ever have to write these epistles? Or if you can receiveyour sanctification as one act, one blessing, why were these epistles ever written? Herethey are, full of reason, full of argument, full of demonstrations, full of analogies andcomparisons. Why? In order to teach us how to think, in order to teach us how to workthese things out, and how to gain understanding.David Martyn. Lloyd-Jones, Life in the Spirit in Marriage, Home & Work : An Exposition ofEphesians 5:18 to 6:9 (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974, c1973), 209.

Sanctification happens in our life as Philippians 2:12-13 tell us, but as I have said, wehave to put forth the effort to think on the spiritual things of the Word of God and thenGod gives us the will to do His will for His good pleasure.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 09:08AM (-06:00)

GOSPEL DRIVEN CENTERED CHURCHFriday, February 19, 2010Gospel Driven Centered Church 2 of 5 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.


A NEW BLOGGER FOR THE STUDY OFROMANSSaturday, February 20, 2010

I have added another BLOGGER for theexpress purpose of posting the outline andnotes from my study of the book ofR O M A N S .http://charlesromans.blogspot.com/ . What Iam going to do is post all the outlines that Ihave so far from the study of Romans. Thisprocess will take a few weeks to complete.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 08:18AM(-06:00)

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THE EXPERIENCES OF MINISTRIES SEEM TOBE THE SAMEMonday, February 22, 2010My experience in ministry seems never to change. The same events usually happen evertime, in every church. I must say, if the experience didn't prove to be what was workedout by the Lord I would be rather discourage to say the least.

I don't necessary believe one can question my hearts desire to be the kind of teacher Idesire to me. The question seems to be the interpretation of Scripture that I make withscripture.

What I have learned over the years, it seems that pastors are not willing to teach publiclywhat they really believe in private. I think the reason why preachers don't preach from thetext is because they are not willing to teach the truth from the text.

The Scripture seems to be clear about what it teaches. But over the years preachershave avoided teaching the truth about the text, and thus the members have not learnedthe scriptures.

Then when a preacher really began to teach the text and what it is really saying, thepeople throw a fit. "Well its not what we have been taught by our pastors in the past." Thetruth is they are right, they haven't.

Many fundamental preach preaches on topic of sin, and legalism, and stuff that are not inthe scripture, and fail to teach the Word of God, and thus the people are ignorant of thetruth.

In every cast that I have confronted are people who say, "You are not Baptist." "Youteach the doctrine of Calvinism." "You don't preach to us,you teach."

While I do believe its more of a personality, or control issue, they often leave the church.They are willing to get back into a church like the one they had and didn't really like in thefirst place.They are more willing to listen to a preacher who just tells them how sinful they are, andgives an altar call, and is in control of the church. And where you are simply saved whenyou just invite Jesus into your heart at the end of some sermon and Just as I am is sung.That is the way its always been.

Good Christian people get so caught up in these things that they are not willing to reallylisten to what they are saying or even believe.

I have never tried to pressure people to believe any doctrine. But I don't skip doctrine. Allmy preaching is teaching doctrine. I try my best to teach people how to study the people.To examine what I preach, I am not afraid of examination of what I preach, as a matter offact I welcome it.

I am not afraid to change my position if my current position is incorrect. But I firmlybelieve after carefully studying the text I am correct to teach the text to the people beforeme.

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I continue to view others who are much smarter than I in matters of interpretation. I don'tchange my position just because some Dr. says so, but after carefully viewing hisposition again mind.

There will always be two sides to the same doctrine position. I have to agree that someare not going to change their position.

I am forced to preach the verse that I am current's in and not back down from what Ibelieve it says. As a pastor/teacher I have been given the responsibility to teach the wordas I have studied it.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 06:16PM (-06:00)

GOD SAVES PEOPLE FROM EVERY GROUPTuesday, February 23, 2010God Saves People From Every Nation from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.


HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?Tuesday, February 23, 2010Keep Believing MinistriesTupelo, MississippiJanuary 17, 2010

How Do You Measure Success?2 Corinthians 3:1-3Would you hire this man as your pastor?

*Arrested many times.*In and out of prison.*Often run out of town.*Never built a building.*Never spoke on television.*Never had a website.*Never had a Facebook page.*Never owned his own home.*Had to work on the side to support himself.*Never stayed very long in one place.*Not a skilled public speaker.*Unimpressive appearance.*Sometimes preaches for hours at a time.*Seems to get involved in public controversies.

Most churches would take a pass on a man like that. After all, you can’t trust your pulpit38

to just anyone who comes along. And that’s why the Apostle Paul would not feel at homein many of our churches today.

Every year I spend a good part of my time talking with pastors. I love pastors and I lovespending time with them. Sometimes I’ll ask, “How is it going?” and then sit back and waitfor the answer. Just as I typed that sentence, I shrugged my shoulders, as if to say, “Itdepends.” It depends on who is asking and when and where and why. And it depends onwhat day you ask.

Success in the ministry is notoriously hard to define. Even if we have met all our goals,have we truly been successful in the eyes of the Lord?

How do we measure success in the ministry?

That’s the question Paul faced in 2 Corinthians. He had to justify himself because a groupof critics had virtually taken over the church, filling the people’s minds with baseaccusations against Paul’s character and his conduct. “You can’t trust him. Look howfickle he is. He says he’s coming for a visit, then he doesn’t show up. How do you knowhe’s not a fake?"

Part of Paul’s answer comes in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 where he declares that the realmeasure of his ministry is the lives changed by the Holy Spirit. That constitutes truesuccess in the eyes of the Lord.

It’s not about programs or buildings.It’s not about budgets or titles.It’s not about a big reputation.

I. Inadequate Measures of Success“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people,letters of recommendation to you or from you?" (2 Corinthians 3:1).

Paul says, “I don’t need to boast and I don’t need a letter of reference to prove the validityof my ministry."

That’s different from the way we do things today.

Sometimes we measure success by our degrees. So we go to college for four years toget a BA or a BS. Then we may go to graduate school for an MA or an MBA. Some willseek a professional degree, such as an MD, JD, DDS, or DMin. Those with a scholarlybent will pursue a PhD so they are qualified to write or teach at the highest levels. So inthe end the extremely studious person may have a string of degrees after his name, suchas BA, MA, PhD.

And of course these things matter. We pay attention to them. We put our degrees up onthe wall. We want people to know we went to Georgia Tech or Miami or to Notre Dame orPrinceton or Multnomah or Biola. And it’s not just those letters. We gain status, we makefriends, we network, we may meet our spouse at college or in graduate school, and whenwe graduate, having a degree from a particular school may land us a job some day. So itdoes matter.

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Sometimes we ordain people to the ministry. That’s important because it means that acertain group of well-respected people examined you carefully regarding your testimony,your background, your education, your doctrine, your spiritual life, and your call to theministry. In some denominations a candidate without ordination papers will not beconsidered for the pastorate. We put our ordination paper on the wall. It’s a mark ofaccomplishment, a sign that someone, somewhere has checked us out and we passmuster.

Often we measure pastors by church size. Probably nothing matters more than this. Goto any ministerial gathering and after the initial greetings, someone is sure to ask, “Howlarge is your church?” or “How many are you running in Sunday School?” That mattersbecause 50 is better than 25, 100 is better than 50, 500 is better than 100, 1000 is betterthan 500, 2000 is better than 1000, and anything over 2000 is considered a megachurch.And these days there are quite a few churches in America that draw more than 7000people very Sunday. Currently the largest church in America attracts over 40,000 people.And around the world there are mega-megachurches that number over 100,000 or200,000.

There are other ways of looking at success. Who do you know? How well are youconnected? Do you know a senator? How many millionaires attend your church? Do youhave Bill Gates’ cell phone number? Do you Twitter with Shania Twain? Do you drop byand say hi to Donald Trump when you are in New York? Have you met PresidentObama? Will Peyton Manning return your calls? Did you eat lunch with Chuck Colson lastweek? On and on it goes. Because we live in a celebrity culture, it matters to all of us whowe know. Knowing important people gives you clout, it helps you get things done, and itelevates you in the minds of others.

But these things, the “letters of recommendation” that Paul is talking about, the approvaland recognition of others and the applause of the world, these are not the true measuresof success.

God views it differently.

II. The One Thing That Matters MostIt’s all about lives changed by the Holy Spirit. See how Paul explains it in verses 2-3:

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. Youshow that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink butwith the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

As far as Paul was concerned, the real proof of his ministry was the changed lives of hishearers. As he preached the gospel, the Holy Spirit applied it to his hearers so that whenthey believed in Jesus, their lives were completely changed. Corinth was a thoroughlypagan city, given over to idol worship and gross sexual immorality. As a seaport town, ithad a reputation for sensuality to the point that “to corinthianize” had become a by-wordin the first century. It meant to live on the level of brute sexual appetites. Corinth was aplace where you could say that truly “anything goes.” So when the gospel entered with itspromise of life transformation through the power of Jesus Christ, sinners were converted,and some of them were radically changed. Paul had written about that in his first letter to40

the Corinthians:

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes norhomosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers norswindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

In today’s world we tend to regard that as a “hard passage” that makes us squirmbecause it seems so negative-and it is! But that’s not the end of the story. Read on toverse 11:

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you werejustified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The most important part of this text is the first phrase of verse 11: “And that is what someof you were.” In those eight words we find the entire Christian faith. The effective powerof all that we believe is summed up in those few words. Christianity is supremely areligion of conversion. Everything we say and everything we believe is built upon onefundamental and revolutionary premise: You don’t have to stay the way you are. Your lifecan be radically changed by God. The miracle of conversion happens when the life ofGod intersects with human personality. Once God enters the picture, your life will neverbe the same again. Until then, you may be religious and you may be a very good personand you may obey all the rules of the church, but you have not been converted.

Let’s just write it down for the whole world to understand. The Christians at Corinth were .. .

Wicked no more.Immoral no more.Idolaters no more.Adulterers no more.Homosexuals no more.Thieves no more.Greedy no more.Drunkards no more.Slanderers no more.Swindlers no more.

Talk about a change. Can you imagine the impact in Corinth when an idol worshipercame to Christ and his buddies at the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love,wondered what happened to him. Why didn’t he come around anymore? Why didn’t heoffer sacrifices? Why did he partake in sexual escapades with the many priestessesattached to the temple? Why didn’t he join in the bacchanalian celebrations? Whathappened to him? “I met some people who told me about Jesus, and he changed my lifecompletely."

Or suppose a woman was one of those priestesses who practiced a form of religiousprostitution. What would her friends say when suddenly she stopped plying her trade? 41

Her answer would blow their minds.

Or here is a man in Corinth who has lived a homosexual lifestyle. But no more. He hasbeen washed, cleansed, sanctified, given a new heart, a new life, a new direction. Yes,the temptations remain, but the direction of his life has been altered forever. Can youimagine what his friends would say when he declared, “I’m not going to do thatanymore"?

There is another way to say it. Conversion is the miracle whereby God changes thetenses of your life:

This is what you were.This is what you are.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ can do it, and we believe that only Jesus has the life-changing power to utterly transform your life from the inside out. That’s what happened tothe first-century believers in the seaport town of Corinth. It could happen to you today asyou read these words.

How did this radical change take place among those who heard his message? Theseformer idol-worshiping pagans were now . . .

Visibly Different

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody” (v. 2).It’s a wonderful thing when your conversion is so real that no one can deny the change inyour life.

Followers of Christ

“You show that you are a letter from Christ” (v. 3). Their lives were like a letter fromChrist, written in their hearts, plain and clear for the whole world to see.

Supernaturally Changed

“Written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God” (v. 3). They had not beenchanged by “joining the church” or “walking an aisle” or “signing a card." Those thingshave no power to change us. Only the Holy Spirit working within can write God’s truth inour hearts.

Internally Transformed

“Not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (v. 3). The Ten Commandmentswere written on stone, giving them permanence as a rule of life for ancient Israel. Ifsomeone said, “Is it okay to sleep with my neighbor’s wife?” the answer was, “Check outthe tablets. What do they say?” Rules can do many things. They can tell you right andwrong, and they can provide guidance in tough situations. Only the gospel can change usfrom the inside out.42

Christians are “living epistles,” letters that anyone can read. Christianity written on thesoul is

Legible,Persuasive,Enduring,Irrefutable.

Jesus is the writer, the Holy Spirit is the ink, you are the letter!

You are writing a Gospel,A chapter each day,by the deeds you do and by the words you say.People read what you write, whether faithful or true.Just what is the Gospel according to you?

So what is the real mark of a successful ministry? It must be the lives changed by thepreaching of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s why the proof of theministry can never be simply counting nickels and noses or listing degrees or bookswritten or places preached or the size of your Sunday School or how many services youhave or how big your budget is or who came to speak for you or who serves on yourBoard of Reference or how long you’ve been in the ministry.

Michael Andrus makes a telling observation on this very point:

Paul never gives us any attendance statistics from his churches; never tells us how manybaptisms were performed in a given year; never reports on the number of new programshe started; and he never even tells us how the giving was doing compared to budget!

We count those things and say, “Well, if you’ve got those, you’ve got a successfulministry.” Paul said, “I’m not playing that game." He wouldn’t ask for letters of referencenor would he provide any. He simply said, “If you want to know about my ministry, checkout the people who listen to me. Look at what God has done in their lives.”

Living epistles.Living proof.

That’s the only thing that matters. The rest is just details. And a lot of it is just ministerialwindow-dressing.

III. The Source of Our SuccessIf you take this passage as a standard, it means that God measures our success in termsof lives changed. He’s evidently not that impressed by the size of our budget or by thestained glass in our sanctuary. The One who hung the stars in space doesn’t really carehow many books we’ve written or how much money we make or whether or not we seeour name in lights. 43

He’s Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth.Like we’re going to impress him?I think not.

I’ve already said that the proof of our ministry is lives changed by the Holy Spirit. So whodoes the changing? (This isn’t a trick question.)

The Holy Spirit (who is God himself).

If lives are truly changed under our ministry, God did it!

He has arranged things so that we get the honor and privilege of serving him. To us hecommitted the message of reconciliation and told us to go into the world and preach it inevery nation, saying to one and all, “Be reconciled to God."

We do the preaching.God does the saving.

We do the praying.God does the answering.

And it is God who takes the message we preach and writes it on the hearts of those whohear. And let us be thankful about that. If we had to save people, no one would ever besaved. I can preach from sunrise to sunset, I can preach till the cows come home, but ifGod doesn’t work, no one will ever be saved. A wonderful old hymn from the colonial erasays it this way:

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

I don’t know how you feel about this, but I’m very happy that “all is vain unless the Spiritof the Holy One comes down” because that means it doesn’t all depend on me.

My success depends on the Lord!Not partly, but entirely.

Three Simple ConclusionsLet me draw three simple conclusions from this and we will be done.

First, I have a part to play and I must do my part. I am called to preach and teach theWord of God. The where and the how and the when are not specified. Circumstanceschange all the time. Look at Paul’s life. He had great success in one city and was run outof the next. He stayed in one city for months and in another for three or four weeks. Hewas loved and hated, admired and reviled, praised and criticized wherever he went.Some of the churches he started had major problems. Not everyone who heard him44

believed his message. Not all of his disciples stayed true to the Master. And yet hedetermined to go wherever he was led, to become “all things to all men” so that by God’sgrace, he might win some to Christ.

Was Paul successful? From the perspective of twenty centuries later, we know theanswer is yes. But he ended up in jail in Rome (twice!) and evidently died by beheadingat the order of Nero.

In 1 Corinthians 4:1 Paul reveals a key secret of success in the ministry. “It is requiredthat those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." There it is, plain for all to see.

Be faithful.That’s what God wants from you and me.

Be faithful to our calling.Be faithful to the Lord.Be faithful to preach the Word.

That is my part and I must do my part. No one else can do it for me.

Second, I won’t really know how successful I’ve been until I get to heaven. Several yearsago I watched Larry King interview Billy Graham. At one point he asked Dr. Graham,“How many people have been saved under your ministry?” Without missing a beat, BillyGraham answered, “I have no idea.” “You have no idea?” “No, only the Lord knows that."

Here’s a man who has preached to more people in person than anyone else in history.And hundreds of millions have seen him on TV. He is the best-known evangelist inChristian history. But when you ask how many have been saved, he says, “I have noidea.” You can count decisions but only the Lord knows the true heart condition of thosewho come forward.

His attitude is exactly right.

Whatever success we have in serving the Lord comes because the Lord himself grantedit to us. Since we don’t save anyone, all the glory belongs to the Lord alone.

Third, I shouldn’t bother comparing myself with anyone else. Years ago I heard Dr.Vernon Grounds, longtime president of Denver Seminary, share a story from a time in hisearly ministry when he was bring harshly criticized for some stands he had taken. Themen criticizing him felt he should have been stronger or stated things more forcefully ordone things a different way. They were so vocal that he could not ignore them. Eventuallyhe became angry and discouraged. Then the Lord impressed upon his heart the passagein John 21:20-22 where Peter, evidently feeling a bit of apostolic competition, asks theLord what will happen to the Apostle John. Here is the Lord’s answer in verse 22, “If Iwant him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." It’s apolite way of saying, “What happens to John is none of your business.” The King JamesVersion renders the last phrase this way, "Follow thou me.”

“Follow thou me.”

Dr. Grounds said the Lord used those three words to set him free.

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“Follow me, and don’t worry about anyone else.”“Follow me, and I’ll take care of the others.”“Follow me, and you’ll have plenty to do.

Here is our calling put simply:

Feed God’s sheep.Be faithful.Follow Jesus.

If we do that, we are successful already, and when our work is done, we will discover thatthe Lord made more of what we did than we knew while we were on the earth. Theapplause of heaven will welcome us home, and that’s the only success that reallymatters.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 02:43PM (-06:00)

SON KYLE AND GRANDDAUGHTERTuesday, February 23, 2010


THE LORD IS PATIENCE WITH US WHEN WEARE NOTMonday, March 01, 2010

How could you not be glad with just awonderful granddaughter You don't want to say everything onFacebook or any other social network, ofcourse. But there are some who like toknow what we are doing from time to time.Personally I have a personal interest in myfriends and family. I enjoy knowing how Imight be of better service and how to praybetter.

We live in a society of those who are notreally interested in others, only themselves. To those we would hope the Lord will callthem unto salvation.

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Our home was broken into last week, and they took a lot of things, but they are things. Alittle shaken but we are find.

On another note, while I am sad about our personal experience, and lost, I will confess byjoy out weight my sadness in other matters.

In every church I have been the pastor, what is so amazing, those who were responsiblefor me coming to the church, have over time decided to leave the church. Experienceover the last 40 years have proven this out. Every time a pastor comes and a pastorgoes, you aways have people to leave and come.

Those who say they would never leave the church no matter what, usually are the firstones to leave. From my first church I was the pastor in 1971, to second in 1980 and thenin 1997 and 2001 and now in 2010. You are usually shaken and discouraged and believeyou have failed in your effort and that you have failed the Lord. You believe the Lord'swork is hurt and recovering is going to be hard to accomplished.

In every church that I have been the pastor, the church body was in disarray before I evergot there. I really don't know why the Lord challenges me with these churches.

And I go into the leadership positing with the idea that I might be able to pull out thechurch from disarray. And there is a group that is willing to work with you and seechange, and then there is the other group that believes they don't need change.

What I have learned over time, those who really love the Lord and love the church andwant to see the church grow and are willing to follow our leadership, the church doesgrow. On the other hand when those who will fight you on every decision you are makingand changes you make, the church is in disarray and the spirit of the Lord is broken andthe church can not grow.

Then in time you realized that the Lord was in the midst's and that He is watching overthings, since the Church is His to began with, and in time He will correct the problem if westay faithful and the people will follow the leadership of the Lord.

What I am most joyful about today is how our people have responded to disruption andchange in our church. I am not one who will paint a good picture if there is not one. WhatI have learned that if the Lord is going to bless a church, then we need to trust Him in theprocess.

Today I gleam from the past, that the LORD is working in our midst, trust Him when youare discouraged, trust the Lord that He is guiding you, and what I have found He knowsand we trust Him for the outcome. I know you are thinking, okay what is going on. AfterSunday, I can say, everything is going to be just fine at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church.


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THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF LEARNINGTHE WORD OFGODFriday, March 05, 2010

N o w t h i s i s a w o n d e r f u l l i t t l egranddaughter, Briley Whisnant, I justwanted to put this photo on.THE NEW OFFICE SCHEDULE: RIVERSOF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH. MARCH 2010 I must say, I am having to get adjusted tomy new schedule. I have brought all mypastoral/ teaching and books and bindersfrom the house over to the pastor's studyand office. It is hard to believe that all thebooks, binders, and tapes, etc. that were inmy house are not in the office. I had to buy

four bookcases that have five shelves to put the binders on this week. That is in additionto the ones I already had set up. Now its wall to wall bookcases.I remember in Fort Worth, Texas back in 1966 I had one bookcase. Then in 1971 atMadison Baptist Church in Minford, Ohio I had maybe four book cases. Then in 1980 atFirst Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas, I had a room filled with binders, and books. I hadcome where around two thousands plus. Then in 1983 after going to the Shepherd'sConference, and again in 1990 I took a different approach to learning the Word andpreaching/teaching.Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. book "Toward An Exegetical Theology" Biblical Exegesis forPreaching and Teaching. I attended the Shepherd's Conference in October 1983 and myteaching took an 180 degree change. I had never heard or read a book on how to preachand teach the word of God, well in the form of this book.Haddon W. Robinson's book "Biblical Preaching" The Development and Delivery ofExpository Messages. Now these two books, was really different than what I had learned.I thought the best sermon material was from Oliver B. Greene, John R. Rice, and CharlesH. Spurgeon. Now they were good, but as to how the were able to know all that stuffabout Ephesians was amazing to me. The Holy Spirit didn't seem to give me thatinformation, no matter how hard I prayed.So I had to build a total different kind of Biblical library. If I remember I bought FritzRienecker / Cleon Rogers book: "Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament." I couldn'teven say "LINGUISTIC", I practiced that word for days with Charity.Of course I had never heard of such a book. To have a deeper understanding of God'sWord was always a desire of mind. I have always loved the Word, and loved studying.But now I wanted to learn for myself these truths.I learned that the Holy Spirit is the only true teaching of the Word of God. Nevertheless,the petition for the Holy Spirit does not exclude earnest and energetic study.Over the next few years, our church, First Baptist Church was gracious to allow me to buythe needed books I needed for the teaching of the Word of God. And Kurt Nunnenkampwas gracious to build me wall to wall beautiful book shelves. I had a wonderful pastor'sstudy office.While I used John MacArthur, Jr. as the key to my study, I wanted to know how he did it.So now since 1983 I have been learning this wonderful Word of God, in a new andwonderful way. Of course I have always loved to study since 1963, and read some greatbooks but never had I known the joy of learning the Word of God in this new and

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wonderful way.I didn't know what a CD or a DVD was, I didn't know about the Internet. Only books. Itwas not until 2003 did I get the Internet and another whole world open up for me.Now I have generally technical books about teaching and preaching, and when I am in abook, like Philippians, I buy those books on the subject. And now of course there are somany great websites that have put the books on the Internet.I don't believe the Holy Spirit is offended if we study a lot of other material to help usunderstanding the Word of God.


THE DESIRE TO BE HONEST WITH WISDOMWednesday, March 10, 2010

Post 1, 300-This Grow By Learning Blog or Weblog orreally a Journal was and is to be about ourpersonal experiences. I am keeping ajournal of our experience over the last 50years of our life. And I have done that. Ofcourse I could have keep this Blog private,but have chosen to open this journey towhom ever wants to read it. A private look

into the life of me. Its my blog and therefore will reflect my thinking and idea andexperiences, from my view point.-Too many (and maybe it is the way it should be) have a personification of what they wantto public to see them as, when in reality they are just the opposite. The public seems tobelieve what they see in a person is what they really are, really. Of course we know thatis rarely the truth.

How you see me preaching or teaching at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, and how I amwhen I am now at this writing, in the office on Wednesday could be a another story alltogether.

What I write in this blog or any of the other websites I am on, should reflect what I am,rather than what I hope to be. What I say should be the truth rather than having to backtrack my position the next day.

Of course there are times to keep quite is wisdom. I usually no not reveal all the fact wentwriting about an even in my life. Sometimes I forget all the facts.

Some have said, you know there will be those who will read your blog. Yes. I usually donot write thinking I might be better off not saying this because someone might read this. Ifthat would be the case I wouldn't write at all.

And I don't write to paint a picture of myself in any other light than the light I think I am in.

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With all that said, I am doing good. The reality of life is that sinful people to sinful thingsand sometimes sinful people cause you harm and steal from you and do hurtful things toyou. On any giving day, I experience joy and happiness as well as disappointment andsorrow. But at the end of the day with Christ's help I lay down at night and think the Lordfor His comfort he give me.

Every single day, I grow by learning that Christ is Lord, and I seek wisdom from the Lorddaily that I might be where He wants me to be, think what He wants me to think.


Adam and Eve Redemption By Faith VideoFriday, March 12, 2010Adam and Eve's Faith in God 1 of 2 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

What you have here in this amazing little section is the introduction of salvation, theintroduction of redemption.Outline from Charles e. WhisnantGenesis 3:20-21

Here you have:

1. The true “proto” evangelism.2. The first gospel.3. The first promises of the gospel unfolded, the plan of salvation.

And here is the point: Adam had been lied by the serpent, and so had Eve, and they nowknew it. They knew it because they expected to be like God. And instead, they wereunlike God.

Instead of entering into some new level of relationship to God, they were totally cut offfrom God. They knew well now, that the devil was a liar, and they wanted him crushedand they wanted to be delivered.

BETWEEN THE CURSE THAT ENDS IN 3:19 AND THE NAMING OF EVE IN V 20ADAM BECAME A BELIEVER IN GOD.

It is essential to understand here that Adam is exercising faith. The woman will have ason, and that son will triumph over Satan. And that Son will restore paradise, and thatSon will rescue the lost. He didn’t doubt God’s promise. Just like Abraham did.

1. Adam couldn’t see it. Eve was the mother of absolutely nobody. But he believed thatout of her would come a Savior to destroy Satan and rescue man from the devil’styranny. He believed it.Adam named the woman “EVE”. And Eve accepted the name, they were exercising faith.Hebrews 11:1, and 2:11.

• And faith can’t really exist without repentance. Inbuilt in Adam’s faith wasrepentance.50

• If you say you believe God, you have to say you no longer believe Satan.• Adam was saying, I need a deliverer, I need a rescuer, I need someone to come

and crush the serpent’s head, and I need someone to come and rescue me from thetempter.

• Repentance involved for Adam a dramatic change. His attitude toward Satanchanged as much as his attitude toward God.

• Adam was no longer seduced and deceived by Satan.


Three Reasons Why We Should Not ComplainTo GodMonday, March 15, 2010WHY SHOULD WE QUIT COMPLAINING? PART THREECharles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher March 14, 2010 Philippians 2:15

THREE REASONS WHY WE ARE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT GLORIFies GOD AND STOPCOMPLAINING1A STOP COMPLAINING FOR YOUR SAKE: vs 152A WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REASON FOR OBEDIENCE, IT IS FOR THE SAKEOF THE UNSAVED..3A THE THIRD REASON: FOR THE SAKE OF THE PASTOR: vs 16‘THAT I MIGHT REJOICE IN THE DAY OF CHRIST. “THAT I HAVE NOT RUN IN VAIN, NEITHER LABOURED IN VAIN.I want to glorify God., I do that best when I run, labour in this life to bring about His gloryin others. So in that day when I have to give an account of my labour, I want to be able tosay that my labour has not been in vain. Hebrews 13:17; 3 John 4; Romans 15:17-18;Isaiah 49:6; I Corinthians 15:58.As Paul looked forward to the Day of Christ: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23. The day of theChristians rewards.Paul wanted a full reward, and he wanted to rejoice when he got to heaven. And he coulddo that if those under his ministry remained faithful while on earth. Paul said you willencourage my heart, throughout all eternity, by being faithful.The greatest joy of any servant is the obedience of his flock..Lord, whatever You are doing at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, don’t do it without me.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 12:35PM (-05:00)

THE RESULTS OF GOD RELEASING MENPART ONETuesday, March 16, 2010The Result of Fallen Man Without God 1 of 2 from

From Romans 1:28-32 the results of men rejecting God as God and God releasing themto do the desires of their hearts.

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 08:00AM (-05:00) 51

23 Results from God Releasing Man To TheirDesiresWednesday, March 17, 2010Romans 1:29-31 give twenty three results of wrong attitudes when men ignore God andGod and then God gives them over to their own desires.

23 Results of the Nature of Fallen Men 2 of 2 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.


The Philippian Kind of ChurchTuesday, March 23, 2010It is church life like this [Philippians 2:16-30] that really conquers the world, as it did theancient world. Men and women saw something in the Christian society that they hadnever seen anywhere else.”

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Life of Joy and Peace (Grand Rapids, 1989), page 225.

I have loved preaching or teaching from Philippians over the last year. If we couldbecome the kind of church body that Paul speaks of here in Philippians we would havethe kind of church Paul had.


HOW WE ARE TO WORSHIP GODTuesday, March 23, 2010Offer God no worship that is clearly contrary to His nature and perfections, but such as issuited to Him as he is revealed to you in His Word.

Thus Christ teacheth us, to worship God as he is:

1A GOD IS SPIRIT:

• therefore they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23and 24\\

2A GOD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE: and infinitely distant from us;

• therefore Him with admiration, and make not either visible or mental images of him;nor debase him by undue resemblance of Him to any of His creatures.

3A GOD IS OMNIPORESENT: and

• therefore you may everywhere lift up holy hands to Him, I Timothy 2:8. And youmust always worship Him as in His sight.

4A GOD IS OMNISCIENT: and52

• knoweth your hearts and thus let your heart be employed and watched in Hisworship.

5A GOD IS MOST WISE:

• therefore not to be worshipped playfully as a toy, as children are pleased to do, butwith wise and rational worship.

6A GOD IS MOST GREAT:

• and therefore to be worshipped with the greatest reverence and seriousness; andnot presumptuously with a careless mind or wandering thoughts or rudeexpressions.

7A GOD IS MOST GOOD AND GRACIOUS:

• and therefore not be worshipped with backwardness, unwillingness, and weariness,but with great delight.

8A GOD IS MOST MERCIFUL IN CHRIST:

• and therefore not to be worship despairingly, but in joyful hope.9A GOD IS TRUE AND FAITHFUL:

• and therefore to be worshipped believingly and confidently, and not in distrust andunbelief.

10A GOD IS MOST HOLY:

• and therefore to be worshipped by holy persons, in a holy manner, and not byunholy hearts or lips, nor in a common manner, as if we had to do but with a man.

11A HE IS THE MAKER OF YOUR SOULS AND BODIES:

• and therefore to be worshippied both with soul and body.12A HE IS YOUR REDEEMER AND SAVIOUR:

• therefore to be worshipped by you as sinners in the humble sense of your sinsense of His mercy, and all in order to your further cleansing, healing and recovery.

13A HE IS YOUR REGENERATOR AND SANCTIFIER:

• and therefore to be worshipped not in the confidence of your natural sufficiency, butby the light and love, and life of the Holy Spirit.

14A HE IS YOUR ABSOLUTE LORD AND THE OWNER OF YOU AND ALL YOU HAVE:

• and therefore to be worshipped with the absolute resignation of yourself and all,and honored with your substance, and not hypocritically, with exceptions andreserves.

15A HE IS YOUR SOVEREIGN KING:

• and therefore to be worshipped according to His laws, with an obedient kind ofworship, and not after the traditions of men, nor the will or wisdom of the flesh.

16A HE IS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER:

• and therefore all these holy dispositions should be summed up into the strongestreadiness, and rest in Him with the greatest joy, and thirst after the full fruition ofHim with the greatest of your desires, and press towards Him for Himself with themost fervent and over-eager suits. 53


WHY SHOULD WE QUIT COMPLAINING?Tuesday, March 23, 2010WHY SHOULD WE QUIT COMPLAINING? PART THREE

Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher March 14, 2010 Philippians 2:15

THREE REASONS WHY WE ARE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT GLORIFies GOD AND STOPCOMPLAINING

1A STOP COMPLAINING FOR YOUR SAKE: vs 15

"THAT" YE MIGHT BE"

• BLAMELESS A life that cannot be criticized as to temper or conduct.

• HARMLESS A life that cannot be criticized as being mixed with the evil of this world. Unmixedwith the allos of this world. Matthew 10:16;Romans 16:19

• WITHOUT REBUKE Unblemished without blame or fault. Used as a tombstone inscription describing thecharacter of a young child and those who died prematurely without the stain of life..Pure, simple, unmixed, faultless. Why? We are the…….

• SONS OF GOD You are to be becoming a proper child of God. A believable kind of life thatwould say, "I am a real, pure child of God." John 1:12;11:52;Romans 8:16,17,21; 9:8;I John 3:1,2, 10; 5:2

2A WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REASON FOR OBEDIENCE, IT IS FORTHE SAKE OF THE UNSAVED.

SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD: is the subject• IN THE MIDST OF :

Christ haters, morally warped world, spiritually damaged. Christians are inthis kind of world.

• A CROOKED Hardhearted, mockers, and corrupt. A rebellious, disorderly or evil state.

• PERVERSE The nature of men, man's behavior is twisted by bad teaching.

• NATION: GENERATION• WORLD

The fallen moral character. Man chooses to follow Satan rather than54

Christ.The whole culture has deviated from the standard of God which is righteousness, and inthat deviation they have become distorted, and twisted, and their thinking is soconvoluted that we would never expect the nature of man to understand the things ofGod. Those standards are to them foolishness.

We are to reach this perverse and crooked world in two ways:

1A What we are. 2B What we say.

AMONG WHOM YOU SHINE AS LIGHT: Matthew 5:14, John 1:4, 8:12.

We demonstrate the light of God. The life of God. Life and Light are one. 2 Corinthians4:6.Eph 5:8.

You sent out an impulse of light. You light other people. They may feel the vibration ofyour own holiness. WE AFFECT EVERY ONE WE COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACHDAY.

'SHOW ME YOUR REDEEMED LIFE AND I MIGHT BE INCLINE TO BELIEVE IN YOURREDEEMER."

Vs. 15 is our CHARACTER. Vs. 16 is our CONTENT.

• 'HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE." Vs. 16.To give attention to. Holding out, holding forth. What is that? Shine forth the light. TheGospel.

3A THE THIRD REASON: FOR THE SAKE OF THE PASTOR: vs 16

'THAT I MIGHT REJOICE IN THE DAY OF CHRIST. "

THAT I HAVE NOT RUN IN VAIN, NEITHER LABOURED IN VAIN.

I want to glorify God., I do that best when I run, labour in this life to bring about His gloryin others. So in that day when I have to give an account of my labour, I want to be able tosay that my labour has not been in vain. Hebrews 13:17; 3 John 4; Romans 15:17-18;Isaiah 49:6; I Corinthians 15:58.

As Paul looked forward to the Day of Christ: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23. The day of theChristians rewards.

Paul wanted a full reward, and he wanted to rejoice when he got to heaven. And he coulddo that if those under his ministry remained faithful while on earth. Paul said you willencourage my heart, throughout all eternity, by being faithful.

The greatest joy of any servant is the obedience of his flock..

Lord, whatever You are doing at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, don't do it without me.

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 03:38PM (-05:00) 55

HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFETuesday, March 23, 2010CHARLES E. WHISNANT, PASTOR/TEACHER

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH, MINFORD OHIO STATE ROUTE 139 ANDSHADY LANE

It is church life like this [Philippians 2:16-30] that really conquers the world, as it did theancient world. Men and women saw something in the Christian society that they hadnever seen anywhere else."

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Life of Joy and Peace (Grand Rapids, 1989), page 225.

INTRODUCTION:

We have been learning in PHILIPPIANS the PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING. Do wenot understand the CHRISTIAN LIFE as LIFE, and REALLY LIVING LIFE? Does not theBible teach us that being a CHRISTIAN is a transformation from DEATH unto NEWLIFE? Well the way many "Christians" live you would think they are still dead! You wouldthink that many Christian's lives are filled with tragedies and calamities, lost jobs andhorrible accidents. You would think from the lives of a lot of Christians that their liveshave been hit with storms, drought and blizzards. Most of Christian living seems to be"partly cloudy with 20% chance of sunshine." Thus long-faced, heavy-hearted attitudehas now invaded the ranks of Christianity.

The whole theme of Philippians is JOY. JOY "the gigantic secret of the Christian". Haveyou found Christians who are now rejoicing outwardly in their NEW LIFE IN CHRIST? Doyou know many Christians who are genuine in their enthusiasm, and where their attitudesare uplifting and positive?

How many Christians do you know personally well enough that you can say that theyreally are expressing in conduct and content the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How manypeople do you know who are living above their circumstances. They possess a well-developed sense of humor, a smile on their face, and it causes you to say, "What is it thatenables them to be like that?" They are essentially different! It's more than being moral,it's being spiritually alive.

We want to talk about those who are really holding forth the word of life in this twisted andperverse nation and what it means to be holding forth the word of life?

My prayer is that the Spirit of Christ will convict your heart and that you will pray thatChrist will help you begin to hold forth the Word of Life in a new and refreshing waytoday.

*******************************************************************************************

THE CHRISTIAN'S DESCRIPTION IN THE WORLD AS A CHILD OF GOD: Philippians2:12-16:

1A THERE IS TO BE PURPOSE AND POWER: vs. 12-1356

The Christian life takes all you can do and all the power of God.

2A THERE IS TO BE GOOD ATTTIUDE AND ACTION: vs. 14-16

The Christian life is to have the right conduct and content.

3A THERE IS TO BE SERIOUSNESS AND JOY: vs. 17-18

The Christian life is a model of spiritual servants of Christ.

4A THERE IS TO BE DISTINCTIVE QUALITIES IN THE TRUE CHRISTIANS 3:1-3

THE DESIGN OF PHILIPPIANS IS TO HELP THE CHRISTIAN REJOICE BEING ACHRISTIAN.

• Paul's thought in Philippians is serious, his analogy is often very serious, "I maynever get out of this situation alive. It may be God's will that my life be poured out asa sacrifice. Even if that is so, even if it means the end of my life, this pouring out ofmy days on your behalf is worth every moment. Even if this imprisonment is my last,I rejoice every moment. "

THE CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD IS TO BE:

1B AS A CHILD OF GOD (Jesus Christ)

1C AS LIGHT: Shining as a luminary (star, moon)

2D To stand out in society, to expose the hidden things of darkness and to warn peopleagainst certain consequences which will happen unless they pay heed and give attentionto the Christian message.

3D To be the light upon which others can see illustrated the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2B CURRENT TREND:

1C The mistaken ideal that at the present time only preachers are to hold forth the Wordof God and not each member of the Body of Christ

2C It is no longer the habit or fashion for people to attend a place of worship.

3C To assume that this country is Christian, and thus no need to preach the gospel. Thisis a false assumption.

3B THE DUTIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS

1C The propagation of the gospel.

4B WHY ARE WE TO BE OBEDIENT TO THE WILL AND COMMANDS OF JESUSCHRIST.

WHY ARE WE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT OUR BEHAVIOUR AND CONDUCT ANDATTTIUDE?

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1C The ultimate goal is? So that we will have a believable message.

2C It's all designed to enable us, ultimately, to hold forth the Word of Life into the worldwho needs the message of Jesus Christ.

3C To expose the hidden things of darkness to a lost world.

5B WHO THEN IS TO HOLD FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE:

1C Good people. Moral people. Upright people. They can expose the hidden things ofdarkness, but most stop there. Our morality and ethics are but an introduction to ourgospel.

2C True Believers. All that I do and say, and all that I refrain from doing , is nothing but akind of instruction to my soul.

6B THE CHRISTIAN IN THIS WORLD AND LIFE:

1C Is essentially positive in position. He not only exposes darkness but shows the light.

2C As Christians, we are because of the gospel. It's to be perfectly plain and clear toeverybody that the thing that is responsible for us is this gospel, this Word of Life. All ourconduct and conversation, our behavior, our every activity should point to the gospel ofJesus and we are holding up, putting forth the Word of Life.

3C The Christian man or woman has life.

7B WHAT DOES 'HOLD FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE" TELL US ABOUT THEGOSPEL?

1C The gospel is not philosophy. Colossians 2:8, I Corinthians 1:17. It is not a collectionof thoughts & ideas.

2C The gospel is a living Word. Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 23:29, Romans 1:16. It is notmerely a theory, an idea, a point of view, something to be considered, something to beinterested in, something to analyze.

8B WHY IS THE GOSPEL CALLED THE WORD OF LIFE.

1C First and foremost the Word that tells us about Life. Tells us that we are deadspiritually, and that there is another kind of life, and we are to live in communion withGod, John 17:3.

2C Secondly, it is also the Word that gives life: James 1:18, I Peter 1:23.

3C Thirdly, it is the Word that supports life. I Peter 2:2

4C Lastly, it is the Word that shows us how to live this life.

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 03:41PM (-05:00)58

GOD IS PRESENTED AS SAVIORWednesday, March 24, 2010GOD IS PRESENTED AS SAVIOR

GENESIS 3:20-24

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, Minford, Ohio

God by nature is a Savior of sinners.I Timothy 1:1, 4:10, Titus 1:3-4,

• To save them from sin,• to save them from the consequence of sin,• to save them from the power of sin,• to save them even from the presence of sin.

God is presented as a Savior:Genesis 3:20-24

• We find Him being introduced as the Savior• We discover here the introduction of His plan of redemption.• We hit upon here the indication that He is bringing salvation to sinful people.

FOUR COMPONENTS OF SALVATION:

From man's side there are essentially two components of salvation: faith and hope.

• Built into faith is repentance. And a belief in God that God would do what He saidHe would do.

From God's side two things are necessary: atonement and security.

• God has to provide a right way for the purpose of being able to give the atonementto cover our sin, and then he has to hold onto us to keep us saved until we get toglory.

THE INDISPENSABLE ELEMENTS OF SALVATION:

• The salvation of sinners.• Their deliverance from sin.• Their deliverance from death and hell. By faith and hope.• Through divine atonement and security.

GOD PROVIDES A MEANS FOR SALVATION IN THE ATONEMENT.

• Genesis 2:21: God provides the means for sin."The Lord God made garments ofskins."

• Atonement is a covering for sinners provides by the death of an innocent substitute.• Isaiah 53 gives us the picture of Jesus Christ as the sinners substitute.• God had every right to kill Adam and Eve instantaneously, but as Savior, He brings

a substitute, slays the substitute and covers the sinners' shame and guilt by thedeath of a substitute; His judgment, His justice, His wrath being satisfied by thedeath of the substitute. Which is the purpose of the death of Jesus on the Cross. 2Corinthians 5:21

So, then, the first element of salvation introduced to us is faith; faith in the fact that Godhas provided a deliverer. The second element of salvation, faith would be pointless, 59

unless God has provided atonement, and He has. Now the third component, or buildingblock in salvation is:

Salvation requires security: The assurance that salvation will not be taken away.Vs 22 "Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowinggood and evil; now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, andeat, and live forever.:

• Knowing good and evil in that Adam knew it, because he experienced it.• Now knowing evil, Adam didn't like it, and would have tried to alleviate its

circumstances.• Now looking for some way to get out of the mess you have gotten yourself in.

The shame, dying, the moral, physical and spiritual consequence.• Knowing the impact, how can it be rectify to turn that around? Head toward the tree

of life!• So, "Eve, we must get back to that tree of life, and we will live. If we eat of the tree

of live we will live forever." Adam. Believing they would have counteract the effectsof death.

Verse 22 is an introductory clause, but there's no completing clause. It's God just saying,

• "I know what he's going to do, he is going right to that tree of life, and he's going toreach out, and he's going to say if I can get that tree of life, and eat, it, I'll live forever, and alleviate the consequences of my sin. Well, God said, I can't let him dothat."

• Verses 23 "Therefore, the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden."LITTLE FOOT NOTE HERE:

• The Garden of Eden was still there, the tree of life was still there, paradise was stillthere. And could have possible being there until the Flood, or long before that diedout.

Had Adam and Eve eaten of the tree of life they would have lived forever.

• The eternal life in the tree of life is not in the botany of the tree. It's not in thechemical of the fruit. Simply by divine decree that tree would gave life.

• Had they eaten of the tree, they would have lived forever. Only one problem! They would have lived forever as wicked, depraved, fallen sinners. That's notgood.

• God has something much better. "Just go and die and I'll raise you in a new kind oflife without sin." Good right? Right.

• ETERNAL LIFE AS A FALLEN SINNER, THAT'S WHAT HELL IS.• If they had eaten of the tree of life, they would have sentenced themselves to the

most gruesome kind of living.• They had seen death. Remember? God had killed the animal. And they didn't want

that.• Death would have been a just punishment, God could have said, "Go ahead, and

sentence yourself to a hell of uninterrupted, eternal wretchedness.BUT GOD… He wouldn't do that? YOU KNOW WHY?


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What About The Moral FolksFriday, March 26, 2010ROMANS 2:1-3

Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher

Romans 2:1 Therefore you have (2SPAI) no excuse, (KJV= "O man ) everyone * of you who passes judgment (PAPMSN) , forin that which you judge (2SPAI) another, you condemn (2SPAI)yourself; for you who judge (PAPMSN) practice (2SPAI)the samethings. (NASB: Lockman)

Overview: Those who have checked out on God, have been a banned by God.

WHAT ABOUT THE BASIC GOOD MORAL FOLKS?

• Those who agree with Paul's statement in chapter one• Those who believe since they are moral people they believe they are Christians.• But is it true that they are all that moral, really?

THERE IS THE KEY:

Many appear not to be idolatrous; they are the "professing Christian." While they agreewith Paul they cannot maintain this outward virtue system of value. They cannot restraintheir own sinfulness, so they cover over their real darkness with light.

Many people believe they are moral enough to get to heaven

THE WHOLE BASIS OF THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL:

In order to appreciate the force of the apostle's reasoning in this and the following verses,it should be remembered that the principal ground on which the Jews expected to beaccepted by God was the covenant which he had made with their father Abraham, inwhich he promised to be a God to Abraham and to his descendants after him. The Jewsbelieved that this promise guaranteed salvation for all who retained their connection withAbraham through the observance of the law and the rite of circumcision. Therefore, theyexpected to be regarded and treated not so much as individuals, each dealt withaccording to his personal character, but as a community to whom salvation was assuredby the promise made to Abraham.

• Is only understood in so far as they understand that they stand guilty before God,whether they are listed in chapter one or not.

• The Jews in Paul's day believed they didn't stand in judgment with God, they wereexempt.

• The Jews believed that God would wipe out the Gentiles but not them. 61

• The Jews believed salvation by works. Legalism. Because they were a nation thatkept traditions.

• The Jews believed they were no consequences to their personal sins. They wereunder the covenant.

• The moral, self-righteous people are the hardest people to reach.THERE ARE SIX REASONS FOR THE JUDGMENT OF GOD ON ALL MEN 1-16

1. Knowledge2. Truth3. Guilt4. Deeds5. Impartiality6. Motive

1A KNOWLEDGE: vs 1

Therefore (1352) (dio) is a term of conclusion could refer to what Paul has just said in thelast half of Romans 1. the facts upon which Paul bases his conclusion ("you are withoutexcuse") follow instead of precede the "therefore".

The Jews knew the truth.

"O MAN." Any man, any moralist, those who say I am not any of those in chapter one.

"INEXCUSABLE." They had a more complete knowledge.

"THOU ART THEY JUDGEST." If you know the standard whereby to judge then youknow the standard.

For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemneth thyself for thou that judgest doestthe same things:

• Matthew 7:1-3 (15-20) The Lord says…..James 3:1 says… You are doing the same things as you judge someone else

• Matthew 5:21-32 What do you mean I have done these things.

• Self righteous people make no mistakes. They misunderstand the height of God's law

• They misunderstand the depth of their sin.• So, the logic of our Lord is clear and convincing. You who condemn others prove

that you know the law. And in your knowledge of the law you condemn yourselvesbecause you are doing the same things. The conscience that makes you aware ofwrong in others, writes your own sentence. Pretty devastating, isn't it? To the self-righteous religious Jew and the moralist, He says you're just as bad as everybodyelse, you're just covering it up on the outside and God will judge on the basis ofknowledge.

2A TRUTH: 2-3

Correspondence Between Paul and Seneca, A.D. 61-65

Lucius Annaeus Senecahttp://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc50.html

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Born in Spain in 4 BC, Lucius Annaeus Seneca was educated in Rome and becamefamous not only as a playwright, but as an orator and philosopher as well. He served astutor to the young Nero, and when the boy became Emperor in 54 AD, he retainedSeneca as his advisor. For several years, Seneca exerted a calming influence on theyoung emperor. After he retired in AD 62, however, he lost favor with his former pupil,and in AD 65, he was accused of conspiring against Nero and was forced to commitsuicide. Seneca was perhaps best known, however, for his scenes of violence andhorror.


HOW DO YOU WORSHIP AND PRAYFriday, March 26, 2010

GOD IS YOUR ABSOLUTE LORD ANDOWNER OF EVERY THAN YOU HAVE

• and therefore to be worshipped with the absolute resignation of yourself and all, andhonored with your substance, and not hypocritically, with exceptions andreserves.As I serve the Lord, I often say, "Am I really giving my all to the Lord?" Toooften we have departmentalize our life. Home, Family, Wife, Children, Work, andthen Church life. When we approach the LORD its, well, let me take a few minuteshere and talk to God about what I need to ask Him.

Can I say we need to learn better to speak to the Lord with our whole heart and give HIMour time. Rather than the quick minute we might have between meals. I am so guilty ofthat at times.

This is the LORD we are talking to, not some coach or boss or friend, this is the HOLYGOD, the Eternal Heavenly Father of our Salvation we are addressing.Focus clearly onHIM and clearly speak to Him in a way that is most holy, while we ourselves are holy inour attitude toward Him.May I say, this is the focus of our thinking. Let us be careful how we worship HIM.Posted by Charles E. Whisnant at 09:32AM (-05:00)

What Did Jesus Really Achieve on the Cross?Saturday, March 27, 2010WHAT DID JESUS REALLY ACHIEVE ON THE CROSS?

CHARLES E. WHISNANT 63

MARCH 28, 2010

What did Jesus actually accomplish on the cross? Who did He accomplish it for. Who didJesus die for?

Some one asked, "What do you do?" I said, "I am a Teacher of Theology at Rivers of JoyBaptist Church, in Minford, Ohio." "Oh! What is that may I ask?" I said, "I teach the Biblefrom God's point of view." "Really!"

Now we know that the reason why Christ died on the Cross was for the ATONEMENT OFOUR SINS. The death of Christ was necessary for God to be able to forgive us of oursins and make it possible that God could save us. Our sins were forgiven as a result ofChrist's death on the Cross.

Today's message is a theological message. We all know about the Cross, we know thatJesus Christ did die on the cross. We know that Jesus Christ had to die on the Cross,even though we might not know why exactly.

We might know the why? But we might not know for whom did Christ die? And we mightnot know what did Christ accomplish in His death on the Cross. So let us look at thistoday.

Generally most people will say that Jesus Christ died for "everybody, of course!"

So we are going to look into this matter of whom did Christ die for.

Here is the question: Did Jesus die for those who had already died before the Cross?

Many people before 33 AD had died who were awaiting eternity in hell. And when Jesusdie He knew it would do them no good.

Here is the question then: Did Jesus bear the punishment for their sins?

In the Old Testament, where the sacrifice offerings were made, just exactly did it do forthe other nations? Did the sacrifice actually pay for, and cover the sins of everyone in thewhole world? And if true, why was God still angry with these other nations? If Divinewrath is satisfied by ;means of the lamb's propitiatory sacrifice for sin, then God's anger isaverted, and He is happy rather than angry with people, right?

Isaiah 53:4-11. Vs. 11. Whose iniquities does Jesus bear? Those who He maderighteous. Cf. Matthew 1:21.

What was Jesus intention of the Cross? Jesus will save His people from their sins.Matthew 20:28. John 10:11, 14-16, 26-30.John 17:6-11. Jesus said, I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatchthem out of my hand."

What are you saying Pastor, Teacher of Theology? Jesus's intercession here was not foreveryone in the world, but for those the Father gave to Him

CHRIST ON THE CROSS DIED FOR HIS BRIDE.64

Acts 10:28 and Ephesians 5:25-29.

So what did the death of Christ on the cross accomplished: "Christ died for our sins." 1Corinthians 15:3.Which means that His death paid the debt those sins created. His deathremoved the wrath of God from me. His death purchased heaven for me. It reallyaccomplished those thing!"

So the question is, what would the death of Christ mean to the unbeliever in hell. Wastheir debt for sin paid for? Why is he paying again in hell? Was the wrath lifted? Thecurse removed?

You might say, as I have in the pasted. "The only reason people go to hell is becauses ofthe sin of rejecting Jesus, not because of all the other sins of their life." Is this true? Well,not really. Colossians 3:5-6. So people will who reject Jesus really will be punished fortheir specific sins, not just for rejecting Jesus.

In what sense did Christ taste death for the sins of those in hell? Are they still guilty fortheir sins and still suffer punishment for their sins, and if so what happen on the cross fortheir sins? 'Was their sins cancelled?

Here is what Christ did on the cross. Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 9:28:Isaiah 53:4-6. Jesus obtained by His blood is the wiping out of all my sins, covering them,bearing them in His own body, so that they can never bring me to ruin.

Did Christ's sacrifice perfect for all time everybody on the planet? Surely not. Unless youbelieve in universalism, that everyone will be saved.

John 15:13-16; Galatians 2:20.

So who did Christ save? Revelation 5:9-10. Jesus redeemed by His blood people out ofevery tribe, tongue, people and nation.

Revelation 7:9-10 tells us a great multitude that no one could number will be save.

Well what about I John 2:2? The whole world means people of all kinds, including Jews,Gentiles, Greeks and Romans..

John 6:37-38. The Son loses none of those given to Him by the Father.

Well what about Hebrews 2:9? Doesn't everyone mean everyone? No, not always. Notethen verse 10-13.

Christ's work on the cross achieved all of the Divine purpose for it. From eternity Goddesigned the plan that He would save millions and Christ died on the Cross not in vain,but gave Himself for His sheep, His Church and finished the work of redemption for all inthis number. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone,based on Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.


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Everette Whisnant, my DADTuesday, March 30, 2010

My Dad was my Dad and Pastor until hedied in 1966. He was the rock of my life,and when he died in February of 1966, theyear I was finishing up High School, I wasreally lost in my life, it took a while to adjustto him being gone. But by God's grace wewere able to continue. Today I still miss himas much as I did when he died.

I was able to go back to Roanoke Virginiato preach the funeral of Frances Stultz Pruett (she was a Cooper when I knew here) I wasable to visit with my long time play mates, who were Frances children, Buddy, Joyce, andDolly and some of their family. My heart rejoiced.

I still have Dolly's phone message still on my phone at the office, and I play the messagetoo.

Well, they were in our church when I was growing up, and Dad loved them very much.

Also I was able to learn that Margie Pugh was in town, but was not able to see her, butlater I was able to call her on the phone. Her Mom and Dad were just a great part of ourchurch in Roanoke, and we loved them so much.

I received a email from Margie today, and wanted to post what she said about Dad.

• Just thinking Everett's favorite topic was "Sitting on the stool of do nothing." He usedthis in many a sermon. I can still remember him saying Christians should always bedoing something for Christ. He has a job for each of us and each and every job isimportant. Whither it be helping others, working in the church, teaching, preaching,etc. God did not mean for us to take our salvation and sit on our little stool of donothing and wait for his coming...He meant for us to carry his word in words, actionand deeds to our fellow man.

• I have used this sermon in teaching Sunday school, childrens church, and even inmy home when I do lessons for the kids here a couple times a week in the evenings(even the grown-ups like to join in). Daddy particularly liked to join my classes hereat the house.

Just thinking about this and had a minuet and thought I would ask.


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TEN QUESTIONS UNCHURCHED PEOPLEUSUALLY DON'T ASKWednesday, March 31, 2010TEN QUESTION UNCHURCHED PEOPLE DO NOT OFTEN ASK

#1 – “What do you do to disciple people?” (This question is usually asked by people whowant to ‘microwave” spiritually, not understand that they themselves actually becamemature in the “crock pot.”)

#2 – “Who is speaking this weekend?” (They usually don’t care about the WHO…it’s theWHAT that matters to them.)

#3 – “Are you reformed in your theology?” (Most of them have no idea what in the heckthis means!)

#4 – “Is your church spirit filled?”

#5 – “What version of the Bible do you use?” (Many unchurched people don’t even reallyknow there are different versions!)

#6 – “What denomination are you affiliated with?”

#7 – “How many different activities can I sign my family up for in order to add to theinsane schedule that we already have?”

#8 – “Does your pastor teach exegetically through the Scriptures?”

#9 – “Are there lots of crosses and pictures of Jesus in your church?”

#10 – “Are you guys pre trib, mid trib, post trib or partial trib?”


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