"Ramblings of this Old Man"

Knowing a man by the books he keeps.

This Old Man’s Library tells on him;

“As you are what you believe.”

Sharing with you where my treasures were found.

The first section of my library is Prayer and here is where I offer you the first opportunity to become a fellow treasure hunter.

Good Hunting and my prayers will be with you !

The Lord’s Prayer, R.T. Kendall

Credo, Ray Pritchard

Beyond all you could ask or Think, Ray Pritchard

Too Busy Not To Pray, Bill Hybels

Prayer the Great Adventure, David Jeremiah

The Prayer Matrix, David Jeremiah

Prayer, Richard J. Foster

Prayer, Philip Yancy

A Praying Life, Paul E. Miller

The Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson

Beyond Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson

The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson

Experiencing Prayer with Jesus, Henry & Norman Blackaby

Talking with my Father, Ray C. Stedman

The Power of Prayer, R.A. Torrey

With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray.

"The Ramblings of this Old Man"

One of my favorite devotionals;

“My Utmost for His Highest”

Excerpt from today’s reading “Held by the Grip of God” :

"Remember your call is not simply to convey your testimony, but also to preach the gospel."

Philippians 3:14 (KJV)
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

To this I ask with lovingkindness; will you be with me ?
brother george (gospel speaker)

Listen now, "God is Calling"

Romans 10:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

We must take God's great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News.

How will your loved ones and neighbors hear it unless someone tells them?

Is God calling you to tell them and to take a part in making his message known in your community?

Think of one person who needs to hear the Good News, and think of something you can do to help him or her hear it. Then take that step as soon as possible.

Lifestyle Evangelism (one's living proclaims the gospel) and Confrontational Evangelism (declaring the message).  Both should be used together in promoting the gospel.

Because we have been reconciled to God, we have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same. When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and people. We are given that responsibility of bringing others to him.

Excerpts & paraphrases from the Life Application Study Bible.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit:

What did Paul say; Unknown Languages - Tongues ?

Paul says;1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV) “ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ”      

Paul says;1 Corinthians 14:2 (KJV) “ For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Paul says; 1 Corinthians 14:4 (KJV) ” He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Paul says, 1 Corinthians 14:14 (KJV) “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

Paul says; 1 Corinthians 14:19 (KJV) ” Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

Paul says;1 Corinthians 14:20 (KJV) ” Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” 

Paul says; 1 Corinthians 14:28 (KJV) ” But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.” 

Those who speak in tongues should follow the guidelines; those who do not speak in tongues ought not seek the gift as a sign of salvation or of special closeness with God, for it is neither. It is a gift of God, given only to whomever God chooses. If a person has not experienced the gift of tongues, he or she ought not seek it but seek what gifts God has given. 

(Life Application Study Bible)

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants # 9

Reuben Archer Torrey (1856 – 1928)
(Note; February 2012 issue of “DECISION” published Torrey’s Classic Sermon “The Gospel for Today”)

Torrey served as superintendent of the “Moody Bible Institute” and pastor of the Chicago Avenue Church which was the “Moody Church”. He also conducted evangelistic meetings for many years and served as Dean of the “Bible Institute of Los Angeles” also pastoring the Church of the Open Door.

Torrey preached classics such as “Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God”

Torrey an Evangelist and Bible Teacher once challenged a skeptic student to earnestly search for the truth by offering this prayer: ”Oh, God, if there be any God and thou dost answer prayer, show me whether Jesus Christ is the Son, and if He is, I will accept Him as my Savior and confess Him before the world.”

Torrey further requested in the spirit of an earnest search for the truth that the skeptic should read a few verses from the gospel of John slowly and thoughtfully daily each time asking God before he read to give him the light. Soon this skeptic found that by putting oneself into the right attitude towards God he came to a place where he received the direct testimony of the Holy Spirit that this Bible is God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #8

Edward McKendree Bounds (1835 – 1913)

Methodist Pastor, Itinerant Evangelist, Attorney, Author of 8 classic books on prayer.

He served as Chaplin in the confederate States Army and was taken prisoner twice.

Bounds was known to spend many hours daily on his knees in fervent prayer and considered prayer the highest form of ministry.

E.M. Bounds once stated; “What the church needs are people whom the Holy Spirit can use – people fully surrendered to God, people devoted to holiness, people willing to sacrifice all for the cause of Christ.”

The spirit of devotion puts God into all things.

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5 (KJV)
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #7

Dwight Lyman Moody (1837 – 1899)
D.L. Moody was on the battlefield during the Civil War serving with the U.S. Christian Commission holding gospel meetings and distributing tracts.

After the war he became president of the Y.M.C.A. and built one of the largest congregations in Chicago. However in 1871, “The Great Chicago Fire” destroyed a third of Chicago including the Y.M.C.A. building also Moody’s church and home.

Thus began Moody’s Evangelistic crusades and he enjoyed preaching from;
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (KJV)
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

“Brothers think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

D.L. Moody established a school for evangelist that he named “The Chicago Evangelization Society”, however after his death it was renamed “The Moody Bible Institute”.

D.L. Moody once said,  “ I lack many things, but I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got.” 

Now let us ask ourselves,
“What am I doing for the Master with what I have got ?”

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #6

Andrew Murray (1828 – 1917)

Preacher, Evangelist, First President of Y.M.C.A., and Author of 250 Christian Books.

Among his famous books were; With Christ in the School of Prayer, Absolute Surrender, Abide in Christ, Waiting on God, and The True Vine.

Andrew Murray’s Life Long Prayer was; “May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love,  and joy of God’s presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love.”

Andrew Murray put it in a nut shell when he said;
“Here is the secret of a flourishing church: every believer being a witness for Jesus. Here is the cause of a church’s weakness: so few are willing in daily life to testify that Jesus is Lord.”

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #5

Frederick Brotherton Meyer (1847 – 1929)

Meyer’s life motto;
Make the most of me that can be made for Thy glory.
To this motto he was held true ; a Baptist Pastor, evangelist, social reformer, author of forty books, preacher of 16,000 sermons and Key player in the Keswick Convention.

Meyer became pastor of The Christ Church of London in 1895. This church of a hundred grew to over two thousand members within two years. After fifteen years of pastoring, Meyer began a ministry of conference preaching and evangelism. 

Spurgeon said, "Meyer preaches as a man who has seen God face to face."

I offer a few lines and thoughts to ponder from one of his writings; “An Audience of One”

What a revolution would come to us all if it became our one fixed aim and ambition to stand before God and always do those things that are pleasing in His sight-and His sight alone.  What if every decision, every action, every word were determined solely on the basis of “standing before God”?

1 Samuel 6:20 (KJV)
And the men of Bethshemesh said,
“Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?
and to whom shall he go up from us”?

Ezra 9:15 (KJV)
O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #4

George Mac Donald combining his passion of literature and ministry became one of the inspiring giants of faith.  An author of children’s stories, a poet, editor, novelist, clergyman and man of God died in 1905 at the age of 81 years.

George Mac Donald wrote,
“You have got to save your own soul first, and then the souls of your neighbors, if they will let you. And for this reason you must cultivate, not a spirit of criticism, but the talents that attract people to the hearing of the Word of God.”

George Mac Donald's “Life Awakens Life” he stated,
“If anyone is desirous of spreading the Truth, let him apply himself to doing it.”

Luke 11:28 (KJV) (Jesus was speaking)
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #3

Robert Murray McCheyne, (1813-1843)

A brief life of thirty years, but his vibrant ministry continued to reap fruit long after his passing. He so often professed: ”Live so as to be missed.” In fact more than six thousand people attended his funeral.

McCheyne’s church flourished growing in membership and spiritual fervor. He stimulate people with Bible studies, service projects to aid the poor, evangelistic outreaches, also the increasing of praise and worship in his services. McCheyne credits his ministry success to his devotional life, prayer, meditation and Bible study.

If you have ever wondered where God wants you,

then consider this Devotional of Robert Murray McCheyne;

“Live for Christ Where You Are”

1 Corinthians 12:18-19 (KJV)

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

McCheyne said;

Everyone has his peculiar work assigned him and should not leave it. Learn, dear friends, to keep to your own work. When the Lord has hung up a lamp in one corner, is there no presumption in removing it to another ? Is not the Lord wiser than man ? Each of you has your work to do for Christ where you are.

1 Corinthians 7:20 (KJV)

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

“Only Live for Christ where you are.”

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #2

There is always a story behind a classic and the wife of Oswald Chambers has provided us that story.

Oswald Chambers lived from 1874 to 1917 dying at the age of 43 with only three books published.

Oswald’s most famous book “My Utmost for His Highest” was published in 1927 some eighteen years after his death.

Now, for the best of the story; Oswald called his wife “Beloved Disciple” shortened to B.D. resulting in her nickname “Biddy” and for the rest of her life she was “Biddy Chambers”. The significance of that is why more than forty books bearing Oswald Chambers name was published after his death with the initials “B.C.”

Biddy Cambers calling was to give the world Oswald’s words. As Oswald gave daily lectures from 1911 to 1917 Biddy recorded his words verbatim in Pittman’s shorthand.

Let Us Keep To The Point

Philippians 1:20 (KJV)
 According to my earnest expectation and my hope,
that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
that with all boldness, as always,
so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death.

“My Utmost for His Highest”  “My eager desire and hope being that I never feel ashamed.” We shall all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus on the point He asked us to yield to Him.

This book is not the Bible but a treasure of God’s Word and it gives a message to be lived.

Oswald Chambers keeps you to the point;

“The basis of Faith is Jesus Christ”

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #1

In Deuteronomy 32:35 KJV; The Lord said; 
”To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompence;”

In 1741, at the beginning of “The Great Awakening”
Johnathan Edwards preached his sermon
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.
Thus raising the question:
“What shall I do to be saved ?”

Edwards answers, in his sermon, 
”God’s Gift to Every Believer” 

“The prospect of eternal glory in the enjoyment
of God from God’s own promise In Christ.”

“That peace, which results from true faith,
Passes understanding; that joy is unspeakable.”

"Christ gives His Spirit, who calms the mind
like a refreshing breeze of wind.”

 John 16:33 (KJV)
"These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world. "

Pray that God will use you to introduce Jesus
to your family and that they will come to
believe in him.

Acts 16:31 (KJV)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Do not miss that gift of joy

Tozer’s definition; what he believes true worship to be:

“Worship is to feel  in the heart”

Do you have that joy to worship our Lord with feeling?

Ephesians 5:19-20 (KJV)

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our lives are intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. (Life Application Study Bible)

Getting Focused on the Teaching

Acts 10:29b-33

"May I ask why you sent for me?" Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

Thoughts for Today:

Peter opens with a really good question: "May I ask why you sent for me?" Sometimes people forget why they come to church. Is it out of habit? Is it to see friends or make your wife happy? It helps every once in a while to stop for a minute and ask yourself that question "Why am I sitting here today? What do I hope to gain? What were the life events that led to me being here?" In our passage today, Peter asks Cornelius, "May I ask why you sent for me?" Cornelius stopped for a minute, and thought about why he was there -- he recounted to everyone present the events that led to Peter's arrival. As a result he made this statement: "Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

How different would the Sunday morning sermon be for you if you began with this thought in mind –

 "I am in church today in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded my Pastor to tell me."

Too often we listen passively -- we even have difficulty remembering on Monday what was preached about on Sunday -- so what chance do we have to apply any of the teaching. We have a tendency to look at God's Word spoken through our pastor as simply "feel good" advice for the moment -- rather than God speaking directly to us.

Questions to Ponder:

Can you remember what was preached about this past Sunday morning? Did you take notes? Did you review your notes? Maybe it's time we paid closer attention to what God has commanded our pastor to tell us. Think about the sermon now -- what one thing sticks out in your mind? Could this be your personal message, your personal instructions from God for today, for this week? Make every effort to apply one thing you heard from our pastor this past Sunday?

Pocket Testament League Daily Devotional; #130

Prayer (Daily Bread Devotional)

Lord, I need your help
that I will control my
thoughts and words
today. I want to be a
blessing to others, to
lift them up that they
may see Your goodness,
Amen

Our Daily Bread “Fragile Loads”;

Reading my thoughts ,

How easily I could pass judgments on another,
without knowing all the facts.

How often I could become impatient with another,
when I have no idea of their burdens.

How tempted I am to lose patience with another,
before remembering how patient God has been
with me. 

How wrong I am to be losing patience with another.

Let me say “Thank You Jesus” and give thanks for
reminding me of how much God forgives all of us.

Ephesians 4:31,32 (KJV)

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you,
with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you.

We can bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit by the way we live. Paul warns us against unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger, harsh words, slander, and bad attitudes toward others. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Are you bringing sorrow or pleasing God with your attitudes and actions? Act in love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending his Son to die for your sins. 

(Life Application Study Bible.)